SoutheastHEALTH Board Members

Robert G. Neff

Board Chairman

Mr. Neff is dealer and General Manager of Ford Groves in Cape Girardeau. A St. Louis native, he is a graduate of the University of Missouri – St. Louis. Mr. Neff has been a Board member since 2003.

Frank M. Kinder

Vice Chairman

Mr. Kinder is President, General Manager, of Red Letter Communications, Inc. A Cape Girardeau native, he is a Tulane University graduate with an MBA from the University of Virginia, Darden School. Mr. Kinder has been a Board member since 2009. Southeast’s Pediatric Unit is named in honor of his late father, Dr. James A. Kinder, Jr.

Jay B. Knudtson

Secretary

Mr. Knudtson is Executive Vice President and Board Member of First Missouri State Bank. He is a former Mayor of Cape Girardeau and currently serves on the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents. Mr. Knudtson was raised in Rochester, MN and attended the University of Minnesota. He has served on the SoutheastHEALTH Board since 2003. He is Chair-elect of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce.

Stanley Crader

Treasurer

Mr. Crader is President of Crader Distributing, an exclusive distributor for Stihl products. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia and is the past Chair of the Southeast Missouri State University Foundation Board of Directors.

James J. Dufek

Dr. Dufek is a Professor of Mass Media at Southeast Missouri State University as the coordinator of the TV and Film option. He serves on the national Board of Directors for the Media Communication Association – International and is a founding member of the Missouri Motion Media Association, which supports the Missouri Film Commission. Dr. Dufek has served on the SoutheastHEALTH Board since 2006.

Kevin E. Ford

A native of Cape Girardeau, Mr. Ford has served on the SoutheastHEALTH Board since 2008. His father, Walter Joe Ford, served on the Board for more than 20 years. Mr. Ford and his son Josh, own Ford and Sons Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau. He is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA.

Steve Green

Mr. Green was born and raised in Sikeston, MO and is currently Senior Vice President with First Missouri State Bank in Cape Girardeau. He has served on the SoutheastHEALTH Board since 2010. Mr. Green holds a degree in finance from the University of Missouri – Columbia.

Christopher L. Hutson

Mr. Hutson is a Cape Girardeau native and has served on the SoutheastHEALTH Board since 2004. His late father Charles Hutson served on the Hospital Board many years and was instrumental in conceptualization and construction of Southeast’s first medical office building, Southeast Medical Plaza. His late grandfather, Glenn Hutson, also served on the Southeast Hospital Board. Mr. Hutson and his brother Dave are owners of Hutson’s Fine Furniture in Cape Girardeau. He is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University.

Michael D. Kohlfeld

Mr. Kohlfeld is a Cape Girardeau native and, along with his family, owns Kohlfeld Distributing Co. He has served on the SoutheastHEALTH Board since 1992 and is a former Board chairman. Mr. Kohlfeld is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University and has been actively involved with the University’s Booster Club.

Charles Kruse

Mr. Kruse was President of the Missouri Farm Bureau for 18 years and was appointed Director of Agriculture for Missouri by former Missouri Governor John Ashcroft. He is a 16-year veteran of the Missouri Army National Guard, attaining the rank of Brigadier General. He holds an MS degree from the University of Missouri – Columbia. Mr. Kruse maintains a farming operation in the Dexter, MO area.

Benjamin F. Lewis

Mr. Lewis has been a SoutheastHEALTH Board member since 1992. He is a Circuit Court Judge for the 32nd Judicial Circuit, which includes Bollinger, Cape Girardeau and Perry counties. Mr. Lewis was in private practice from 1981 to 2004, with the exception of 1991-1994 when he served as Associate Circuit Judge in Cape Girardeau County. He received his BA degree from Southeast Missouri State University and JD degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City.

Christine Mackey-Ross

Ms. Mackey-Ross is Managing Partner of the central region and leader of the physician/clinical integration practice at Witt/Kieffer Executive Search Firm in St. Louis. Prior to joining the firm, she had multiple roles in nursing administration and as an Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist. Ms. Mackey-Ross holds an MBA degree from Washington University in St. Louis; a Bachelor of Nursing degree from Saint Louis University; and an RN degree from Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing in Evansville, IN.

Gabriel Soto, MD, PhD

Dr. Soto is a cardiologist with Cardiovascular Consultants specializing in electrophysiology. He holds an MD degree from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Dr. Soto was named to the Board in 2016.

A.M. Spradling, III

Mr. Spradling is a Cape Girardeau native and has been an attorney in Cape since 1974 at the firm established by his late father. He graduated from Southeast Missouri State University and the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law. Mr. Spradling has served on the Board since 1996 and is a former member of the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents. He also served as Mayor of Cape Girardeau.

Burl Stamp

Mr. Stamp is originally from Cape Girardeau and founded Stamp & Chase, a healthcare-focused consulting firm based in St. Louis. He also is a consulting principal with the national healthcare consulting firm PYA. Mr. Stamp is former CEO of Phoenix Children’s Hospital and was an executive with St. Louis Children’s Hospital and BJC Healthcare System. He holds an MBA degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a BS in Business Administration from Southeast Missouri State University.

Greg Mathis

Chairman
Mr. Mathis, a native of Stoddard County, owns Rainey-Mathis Funeral Homes in Dexter and Bernie, MO. He has served as Stoddard County Coroner and is currently serving as Stoddard County Presiding Commissioner.

Brian Robison

Vice Chairman

Mr. Robison is a Puxico, MO native and graduate of Southeast Missouri State University. He is a Vice President of W.W. Wood Products, Inc., a kitchen and bath cabinet manufacturer in Dudley, MO, with national distribution of Shiloh, Aspect and Eclipse product lines.

Michelle Aycock

Secretary/Treasurer

Mark Avery

Mr. Avery is Complex Manager of Tyson Foods’ Dexter facility. He is a graduate of Southern Arkansas University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agribusiness and holds a Master’s Degree in General Agriculture from the University of Arkansas.  Mr. Avery’s community involvement includes serving as Sioux District Commissioner with the Boy Scouts of America. 

Clay Crosson

Mr. Crosson is President and Chief Operating Officer for Americare Senior Living in Sikeston. He holds a MBA from Middle Tennessee State University and a business degree from the University of Tennessee. He has served as National Chairman for the American College of Health Care Administrators and currently serves on boards for LTC 100 and Senior Care 100.

Jay B. Knudtson

Mr. Knudtson is Executive Vice President and Board Member of First Missouri State Bank. He is a former Mayor of Cape Girardeau and currently serves on the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents. Mr. Knudtson was raised in Rochester, MN and attended the University of Minnesota. He has served on the SoutheastHEALTH Board since 2003. He is Chair-elect of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce.

Steve McPheeters

Mr. McPheeters is Senior Vice President for MRV Banks in Cape Girardeau. His other banking experience includes serving as Community Bank President at First State Bank in Sikeston. He also has served as Executive Director of the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce. For 11 years, Mr. McPheeters was with Noranda Aluminum as Superintendent of Communications, Training and Development and as Manager of St. Jude Industrial Park.

John M. Thompson

Mr. Thompson is President and Bank Director of The Bank of Missouri. A Jackson, MO, native, he graduated from Southeast Missouri State University. He served in a Board capacity at SoutheastHEALTH since 2001.