BCI Increases Staff to Accommodate Growth

In less than six months, Boone Center, Inc. (BCI) has significantly increased its staff structure and reorganized roles due to the growing demand of its programs and services. BCI, a human resource and logistics business headquartered in St. Peters, has delivered business processing services for over 50 years. Its nonprofit, Boone Center, helps adults with disabilities find meaningful employment through programs that partner with businesses.

The staffing structure increased starting with the hire of Elizabeth Arciszewski. Arciszewski joins BCI as its employment support specialist and will report to Katie Jones, who is now BCI’s director of Organizational Employment Services and Political Action. Most recently, Arciszewski was a special education para-educator at Francis Howell School District where she assisted students with disabilities. Arciszewski has also worked for the YMCA in various roles such as a day camp counselor, early childhood center assistant teacher, and a Y-Club support staff member.

New staff also includes Phil Berg. Berg joins BCI as director of Human Resources. Berg has more than 15 years of experience in Human Resource Management with previous leadership positions at multiple organizations such as Pedestal Foods, Easterseals Midwest (formerly Life Skills), Edward Jones, MERS Missouri Goodwill Industries, and the State of Missouri's Office of Administration, in Jefferson City. Phil holds multiple Human Resource certifications, including certification as a Senior HR Professional from the Society of Human Resources Management and he is a Qualified Developmental Disabilities Professional.

Dee Gerstenkorn joins BCI as its manager of the Marketing and Communications department. Gerstenkorn brings vast experience in copywriting, photography, website maintenance, graphic design, grant writing, advertising, email marketing, and additional communication services. Her experience spans over 25 years with her most recent work as a communication and marketing consultant. Her clients included the City of St. Charles IT Department, the Greater Saint Charles Convention & Visitors Bureau, and several other St. Charles-based small businesses.

BCI also hired Don Shelton to help with operations. Shelton joins as BCI’s production planner to assist Jack Guthrie, who is now BCI’s chief operations officer. Most recently, Shelton was an estimator and assisted in technical support at Nestle Purina. At Nestle Purina he improved quoting response time by 10 percent and increased cost efficiency by seven percent. Prior to Nestle Purina, Shelton was a job developer at Alternative Opportunities Inc., a nonprofit company dedicated to serving individuals with mental health needs.

From the need of increasing staff, BCI has also reorganized positions. Martha Harting, former chief financial officer is now BCI’s chief business officer. Jack Guthrie, former senior director of supply chain, is now BCI’s chief operating officer.

"Both Jack and Martha have proved over their time here that they deserved these promotions. Their business acumen and heart for the mission earned them their promotions," says Tony Spielberg, BCI’s chief executive officer. “BCI is growing in need and we believe this staffing structure is the best way to continue meeting our mission.”