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Two Cape Girardeau community members are joining Mercy Southeast’s board of directors: Brent Anderson and Julia Koester.
Mercy Southeast’s board provides governance and oversight, ensuring the hospital and its services adhere to legal, ethical and patient safety standards, all with a focus on Mercy’s mission and vision. Both Anderson and Koester will serve terms through June 2027.
Anderson is the president and partner of PAJCO Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Rhodes Convenience Stores, where he’s worked for 20 years.
"Mercy’s mission and vision of bringing to life the healing ministry of Jesus through care and service as they continue to pursue the goal to get health care right really resonated with my personal faith-based values and core beliefs,” Anderson said. “I'm looking forward to collaborating and working with the respected community leaders already serving as Mercy board members as well as the tremendous leadership team at Mercy Southeast."
A native of Scott City, Missouri, and a former football student-athlete and graduate of Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO), Anderson is married to his wife of 22 years, Julie Anderson, also a SEMO graduate. They are members of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau and have two children, both of whom are student-athletes at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri, and SEMO respectively.
Koester is an associate circuit judge for the 32nd Judicial Circuit, appointed by former Missouri Gov. Mike Parson in July 2020. Prior to her appointment, she was an assistant prosecuting attorney for Cape Girardeau County for 13 years. She holds a bachelor’s in finance from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, and a juris doctor from Saint Louis University School of Law.
“Being on the board at Mercy Southeast allows me to make a difference, which is something I’ve always aimed to do in both my personal and professional dealings,” Koester said. “I’m looking forward to serving the community in this way.”
A member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau, Koester and her husband have three children. In her free time, she cheers on their children in sporting events.
