Supplements

CURRENT ISSUE

six people honored for taking their faith into the marketplace

Story by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

For some people living their faith is not an option; it’s a way of life. The Messenger honored six of those people Sept. 17 at a special reception and dinner in their honor at St. Nicholas Parish center in O’Fallon.

The Messenger sponsors this dinner because we feel strongly that people should notice those who speak from their faith and use their faith as a guiding principle in their work.

We take our cue from St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians: “We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.” (Cor. 4:7)

Our message to those who are honored is: Let your (earthen) vessels continue to be filled to overflowing and shared among the people of God as an example to all who walk in faith.

A committee from the diocese reads the nomination forms and from that information recipients are selected.
Following is information about each of this year’s recipients, not complete by any means, but it should give readers an idea of why these people were honored.

Geri Boyer, SS. Peter & Paul Parish, Waterloo
If we searched for someone who embodied the principles and ideals of Faith in the Marketplace we need look no further than Geri Boyer, a business woman who leads with her faith.

Kaskaskia Engineering Group, LLC (KEG), the company she started with her partner, Marsia Geldert-Murphey, five years ago, now has three locations in Illinois: Belleville, Taylorville and Peoria.

Before KEG became a reality, Geri was thinking about quitting engineering altogether. It just wasn’t the career that she thought it would be. It was more about money than the people, the projects and the impact the project would have on the environment.

Today, all that has changed, and information about the company states the core values at the beginning: faith, respect for the individual, trust, striving for ultimate potential, gratitude, service to humanity and partnership.

Who shares their personal and professional philosophy like that? Hardly anybody, but Geri and her partner decided this was the way they wanted to run their business, and over the last five years, the business has done nothing but grow.

The company’s core values give Geri and her colleagues the chance to “live the dream” and to conduct their business in a way that respects each individual and project.

“Marsia and I had an idea and where we wanted to see growth, what we wanted to be and how we could get there,” Geri said. “Through the process, we came to our current values.”

At the very heart of each person and each project is faith. Here’s how KEG describes faith: “Faith assures us that we are not in this alone. We believe that God, in whatever form, has a role in our success. We believe and trust in ourselves, each other and our clients. We are co-creators with God, and we trust our projects will make the world a better place.”If that’s your core, your “starting place,” how could you possibly go wrong? The other values, just as well described in the company brochure, also promote a good way to live.

“I couldn’t get up and come into work without my faith,” Geri said. “I ask myself every day: ‘How can I be of service?’ It makes me more mindful of living it.”

Geri’s executive assistant, Kathleen Gunter, described Geri as “an incredibly forceful woman,” as she echoed Geri’s attitude about KEG.

“KEG’s purpose is to make the world a better place.” Who could argue or dispute that’s the best way to live and work within any and every company: to try to make the world a better place.

“Through partnership with our clients and regulatory agencies, we plan, design and build projects that enhance communities, spur economic development and respect the environment,” Kathleen said.

Geri readily admits that KEG’s classification as a “disadvantaged business enterprise” because it is owned by women, has helped. What has really worked in their favor, she said, is that when a company partners with them only because they must, they find out their degree of competency equals or exceeds others in the field.

Kathleen said: “The engineering field is still primarily a ‘man’s world.’ Geri and Marsia’s primary adversity has been overcoming the ‘good ole boy system’ to create a thriving, women-owned company. Geri’s leadership has helped more than triple KEG’s earnings in just over four years.”

These days, KEG has no trouble finding highly skilled and qualified engineers who want to work for the company.
“Some who wouldn’t have considered coming in the beginning, now would not consider leaving,” Geri said.
Geri is married to Deacon Doug Boyer, and the couple belongs to SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Waterloo. They have two grown children, Matt and Rebecca.

Steve Clement, St. Luke Parish, Belleville
A mother’s philosophy: “We’ve all been put on this earth to help each other get through, and we’ve all been given certain talents.”

Pharmacist Steve Clement ends by saying: “And I love to talk.”

He’s talking about medicines; he’s talking about health; and he’s talking with his friends who are often his customers.
“My favorite part of coming to work every day,” he said, “is that I look forward to the challenge.”

Steve opened his pharmacy in 1984 at Copper Bend in Belleville, and in spite of pharmacies at big box and chain stores, he said business is “booming.”

Often when someone walks through the door, Steve knows them by name, and he probably knows about their family as well.

Steve also knows that while he wants to help everybody, he knows that he can’t. His faith helps him overcome the challenges on days when he can’t help. “If I didn’t believe in God, I couldn’t do this job,” he said.

Sister Grace Mueller, SSND, parish life coordinator at St. Luke, Steve’s parish, said: “Steve personifies the role of the laity in living out his baptismal call to bring Christ to the world.”

Part of what others see as Steve living his faith is his role as a mentor to pharmacy students.
David Liston, a pharmacy student who will graduate in May 2012, said: “This is the absolute dream job for a pharmacist.”

David works for what he describes as “a large retail pharmacy. With them you have to meet quotas and make money. Copper Bend is not like that. The priority here is the people.”

And while David will intern at the pharmacy and leave, Steve’s step-daughter, Tina Pierce, also talked of Steve’s love of people.

“He’s one of the few people in the pharmacy that still puts people first. He’ll leave (family) outings to take care of nursing home patients or someone released from the hospital,” Tina said.

Steve has made some tough decisions as a pharmacist and business person. When the federal government originally said all pharmacies must carry Plan B, an abortifacient, a substance that induces an abortion, Steve said “no.”
“I wasn’t worried,” he said, and eventually pharmacists sued the state, and “now there is no longer a mandate to carry Plan B,” he said.
People who describe Steve, constantly use the word “caring.” Here’s an example from Vernon Hesse, one of Steve’s patients.

“As a 92-year-old man who has had many medical needs over the years, I’m very grateful to Steve Clement. He has always been patient and sits down with me to answer my questions and concerns and makes suggestions as to what would be best for me,” Vernon said.

Steve also works closely with insurance companies and local doctors, long-time friend and business associate, Marilyn Rossi said.

“Steve spends many hours learning both the legal issues and insurance regulations,” Marilyn said. “He is able to suggest to the doctor medications that will provide the best benefit to the patient.”

Mindful of future pharmacists, Steve has a practice of allowing high school students to “shadow” him on Saturdays, Marilyn said. “The students spend the day with him,” to see if they are interested in pursuing pharmacy as a career.
“His love for his profession is contagious, and his patients look to him not only for answers on medications but also to comfort them while they are dealing with difficult health issues,” Marilyn said. “He truly cares about every person that comes through his door.”

Steve is married to Elaine. He has four grown step-children.

Tom Grimmig, St. Clare Parish, O’Fallon
Not just a “numbers guy,” Tom Grimmig “walks the walk” in the accounting department at Charter Communications where he has worked for the last 11 years.

While he’s been crunching numbers, he has also been actively involved in his faith at St. Clare Parish in O’Fallon where he and his family belong.

A “utility” player at work, Tom works with special projects at Charter.

After Tom discovered no recycling program was available at work, he began taking things home to add to his recycling. Now the company provides paper recycling containers.

He believes firmly in “reduce, reuse, recycle.” Often, people ignore the reducing and the reusing, he said. Tom takes plastic utensils home to wash and then reuse.

His “thirst for information and experience” to nourish his faith was quenched to some extent when he attended a JustFaith program at St. Clare. The program, he said “is where the rubber meets the road with faith.”

Tom joined the Catholic church in 2001, and he has been spreading the word about faith whenever and wherever he can.

“I try to let happen what happens,” he said. “If the opportunity or situation comes up where I can talk about faith, I put my two cents in.”

As part of his “faith cents” he sends an email to 87 people on his “list” every day with readings, a saint for the day and a short reflection. He gets material from the USCCB web site.

Tom has changed his way of viewing stewardship of the earth as his faith has grown, and the Grimmig family is living that faith.

He has become a beekeeper; he uses a wood-burning stove to heat the house, and the family “old school’s” the laundry by hanging clothes on a line outside to dry. Of course, they have a garden.

“Everything we do has an impact on the planet — the food we eat and the resources we use.”

After his experiences with JustFaith, Tom said he was very “gung ho,” but he realized he couldn’t change the world. “The only person I can change is myself,” he said, “but my change impacts others.”
Tom said his boss, Jennifer, has been supportive of his efforts to “change” his workplace.

“If faith is a way of life, and work is part of life, how can you not talk about faith?”
Tom and his wife, Deanna have a 7- and a 10-year-old at home.

Mark Kabat, St. Mary Parish, Mt. Vernon
Mark Kabat took his “financial curiosity” and has used it for more than 20 years in banking to help people secure loans, and in some cases, discouraged them from applying for a loan if that was best for them.

“Sometimes it’s best to tell somebody it can’t happen,” Mark said. “There’s a value in telling people ‘no.’ It’s not what you want to say.”

Over the last three years, we’ve heard nothing but bad news about banks and financial institutions, especially the people who work in them. Enter Mark Kabat, who is as comfortable teaching religious education to young people of his parish, St. Mary in Mt. Vernon as he is discussing the stock market.
Talking about his faith is not difficult for Mark.

Mark came to his interview with a book under his arm, a book he said was “great.” It was “The Rhythm of Life” by Matthew Kelly. “It’s about making yourself better, being the best person you can be,” Mark said, recommending the book enthusiastically.

Mark speaks just as positively about his role at Farm Credit Services (FCS) of Illinois, a bank he recently joined, after, he said a great number of years at People’s National Bank.

FCS works with farmers and agribusiness, Mark said. “I do what I can to benefit the customer and the bank.”
Mark looks back and sees 2008, the struggles many people had and the anxiety everyone was carrying.
Leading with his faith, Mark said he had to “reassure people as best we could that their money was safe.”

That wasn’t always easy as stories unfolded in the media about bank failures and unscrupulous business practices.
Mark’s customers could rely on his integrity and his high ethical standards. He learned from those who went before him what it meant to be Catholic and to be honest.

Quoting Matthew Kelly, Mark said: “We become the stories we listen to.”

Mark points to his family, his frugal grandparents and to three uncles who made an impact on him.
His third uncle is Oblate Father Frank Wagner.

At People’s National Bank, Mark had a solid gold reputation, described by his former employer, Hunt Bonan.
“I know of no one that has over the years earned more respect from his customers than Mark,” Hunt said. “From time to time Mark had to deal with difficult issues concerning customers. He is a good listener who tries to work with customers in whatever way possible to help alleviate the stress that financial problems can bring.”

James Flagg, vice president and commercial banker, who has known Mark for 15 years, said that living a faith-filled Christian life while doing business in contemporary society is “challenging. Ethics, character, values and faith in the workforce and workplace are necessary attributes.”
James said Mark “exhibits all of these qualities.”

Mark is married to Lori and the couple has three children.

Mary Beth Mezo, St. Mary Parish, Mt. Vernon
If you could bottle energy and enthusiasm, the bottle would be labeled “Mary Beth Mezo.” A caution on the back of that bottle would say: “Use sparingly; a little Mezo magic goes a long way.”

Besides being a partner in “Smokin’ T’s, LLC,” a barbecue business her husband Tony and their long-time friend, Troy Heitmeyer formed, Mary Beth is a special education teacher at Mt. Vernon High School, the director of the high school plays and she plays for and directs the church choir.

These are just a few of the “jobs” she enthusiastically takes on daily, weekly or whenever a need arises.
In terms of barbecue, Mary Beth is in charge of the presentation when the group goes to barbecue contests.
“It’s not just a meat contest anymore,” Mary Beth said as the three sat around the dining room table at the Mezo home recently.

If it doesn’t “look right,” the judges at the contest may decide it probably wouldn’t taste as good as somebody else’s that had “the look,” whatever that might be.

They took eighth overall at a recent contest in Cape Girardeau, Mo., in a field of 46 teams.

And while all three of the partners have day jobs, they’re serious about their barbecue. They’re getting ready to market a sauce that they’re calling “the brown sauce.” Catchy? You decide.

As Tony and Troy became better and better in the barbecue department, Mary Beth was out drumming up business. This is how it went: John Kabat (brother of Mark who is also being recognized this year) teaches agriculture classes at Mt. Vernon High School.

The FFA (Future Farmers of America) club, which John sponsors, hosts an annual fund raiser selling barbecued pork.

“John raises the hogs, and I begged him to let Smokin’ Ts barbecue the meat,” Mary Beth said.
Finally, John agreed, and he told Mary Beth it was a relief not to worry about cooking the meat. A real entrepreneur and savvy business woman, Mary Beth has volunteered Smokin’ Ts to cook meat for parish and Catholic school events and fund raisers.

“They donate their time and efforts” in cooking the meat, Mary Beth said, “and I offer moral support.”

In addition to volunteering Smokin’ Ts, Mary Beth also directs high school plays. The thespian group performs a play for 2,800 children every year, free of charge. Anyone interested in “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” can talk to Mary Beth about tickets.

“I really enjoy what I’m doing and Tony never complains” about the time away from home. “You have to have faith to work with any kids, to show them the difference between right and wrong,” Mary Beth said. “Ethics play a part in the barbecue contests too; you could cheat, but we don’t.”

Troy describes Mary Beth’s ethics this way: “The only real ethical issue I have seen her face regarding the barbecue is that we were offered to be paid for our work at one point. She simply refused any sort of compensation for her work for the parish. Plain and simple.”

Judge Milton Wharton, St. Augustine of Hippo Parish, East St. Louis
After 35 years as a judge, the Hon. Milton Wharton is philosophical about his role on the bench and the view he has from his office window on the fourth floor of the St. Clair County Courthouse.

“I can see mostly white children playing on a playground (at Cathedral Grade School), and from the right I see children going into court on their way to failure. I often contemplate this, and but for my faith, I would give up,” Judge Wharton said.

For a number of years, the judge was in charge of juvenile court in St. Clair County. “I try my best when young people come before me to encourage them to change direction or take advantage of resources available so they can have a life without looking over their shoulder to see if a policeman is coming.”

The judge has had experience in juvenile, civil, divorce, traffic and criminal courts. “The hardest court,” he said, “is the one dealing with divorce or dissolution of marriage when child custody is an issue. I recognize there’s going to be a split and this is not like King Solomon, but I’m going to have to make a decision affecting the life of a child who has split emotions and allegiances and love for both parents.”

A particular case that the judge considers one of the worst involves a mother who lost 11 children in a fire, allegedly while she was out gambling, the judge said.

He received a number of letters about the case that shocked him, he said, because they did not lament the loss of life of almost a dozen children, but talked about the mother’s status as a “welfare recipient rather than the tragic loss of life that had occurred.”

However, the judge smiles as he remembers the “success” stories. One he remembers was moving a young girl “in an untenable family situation” into a “great foster care situation.”

From time to time, he said, someone will approach him to tell him that something he said “touched them” or somehow made a difference in their lives. “That’s what makes it all worthwhile,” he said.

In his own life, the judge gives a great deal of credit for his attitudes and beliefs to the sisters who taught him over the years. However, before he began his Catholic school “career,” he went to a public school where he encountered injustice in its most basic form.

Here’s the judge’s story: “On the first day of school, we had a sandbox with little town figures in it. The teacher had brought her daughter, a toddler, to that first day. At some point, the little girl ended up with sand in her hair. “The teacher asked who did it” but no one took credit for the deed. The teacher decided that she could make sure the guilty child received a just punishment for the “crime” even if that child did not admit to his/her guilt and kept silent.

The teacher “took all of the children into the basement and had the custodian paddle every child. Eventually, the injustice got to me. That distaste for injustice has stayed with me,” he said. “I was 5 years old.”

His father worked construction in East St. Louis, and a strike forced him to take a job in Milwaukee, Wis., where he later relocated his son until the strike ended.

That was when the young Milton met his first religious teacher, Sister Mary Hildegard, at St. Francis, the German Catholic school where his father enrolled him.

He remembers Sister Hildegard asking him whether she was going to be a teacher that day or a policeman.
Sister Hildegard also assessed Milton’s size and weight and asked him if he’d had any breakfast or dinner and then whether he had any money.

He told her he had a quarter. She took his quarter and sent another child to get him something to eat — three jelly rolls, a meal he remembers to this day.

When his father went out of town for construction jobs, Milton stayed at the convent with the sisters, eventually returning to East St. Louis when the strike ended.

On returning, he met the Dominican sisters who became his teachers. “They instilled in me a sense of duty,” he said. These were people “who have made sacrifices for their faith.”
As his teachers, the judge said: “They provided structure in my life when I needed it. When I reached a stage when I wanted to rebel, they ignored me.” That seemed to work well for him.

As a young defense lawyer, he said he attended preliminary hearings at the jail for people who could not make bail.
At hearings one Friday in the room also used as a chapel he looked at all the people whose lives were spiraling downward.

“I felt so useless in the situation,” he said. “I looked at the judge and thought maybe there is a place where I can have a bigger impact.”

People in the diocese that he knows and admires include Sister Julia Huiskamp, Joe Hubbard and Diane Sonneman.
“I noticed their ability to remain focused and not be overcome with frustration that would seem inherent in the overwhelming tasks confronting anyone to do good. That’s faith in action. I’ve been able to borrow a little of that.”
Judge Wharton is married to Patricia Wharton, and their daughter, Bernadette just left for her first year of college at Harvard.

All of this year’s recipients have much more of a story than we were able to tell here.
We hope these glimpses of their lives will give readers a chance to know them in light of the faith they share with people in their world, making our world a more faith-filled place.
We look forward to discovering many people of faith in the years to come.