Participants for Recommendation 

Negotiated Rulemaking for Higher Education 2023-2024 

Josh Divine, Solicitor General in the Missouri Attorney General's Office, suggests that the 

committee should include a constituency group of individuals who can represent the concerns of 

individuals who have not taken out student loans. This group would be able to speak to the 

fairness concerns that may arise with certain programs. Several Justices on the U.S. Supreme 

Court raised these concerns during an oral argument earlier this year. 

Below are several potential candidates, any one of whom could be a primary or alternate 

negotiator. Their bios are self-written with only slight editing for consistency. 

Senator Mike Bernskoetter 

(b)(6) 

Biographical information: 

Senator Mike Bernskoetter, a Republican, took the oath of office on Jan. 9, 2019, to serve 

the residents of the 6th Senatorial District. He began his second and final term on 

January 4, 2023. 

Before being elected to the Missouri Senate, Sen. Bernskoetter served as the 

representative for the 59th District in the Missouri House of Representatives. First elected 

in 2010, he served eight years in the Missouri House. 

In addition to his legislative duties, Sen. Bernskoetter and his wife, Jeannette, have 

owned and operated Art's Pest Control for 37 years since 1986. They also own and 

operate a cow/calf farm operation. Senator Bernskoetter and his wife are members at 

Immaculate Conception Parish. 

Senator Bernskoetter is a member of many business and community organizations. 

Senator Bernskoetter also served as president of the Missouri Pest Management 

Association and has received that organization's John Veatch Award and Man of the 

Year Award for his work in the pest control industry. 

During Senator Bernskoetter's tenure in the Senate, he has received recognition as 

Missouri Cattlemen's Association 2019 Legislator of the Year; 2019 Missouri Corn 

Growers Association Public Service Award; 2019 Conservation Legislator of the Year; 

Missouri Pork Association 2020 Outstanding Legislator Award; Missouri Rural 

Cooperatives 2021 Legislative Leadership Award; 2022 Public Official Achievement 

Award from the Missouri Park and Recreation Association; and 2022 Legislative 

Appreciation Award from Missouri Society of Professional Surveyors. 

Senator Bernskoetter is a graduate of Helias High School of Jefferson City. 
Born in Jefferson City, Sen. Bernskoetter is a lifelong resident of Cole County and 

currently lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Jeannette. They have four children and 

eight grandchildren. 

Alex Williams 

(b)(6) 

Biographical information: 

Alex Williams is the Chief Operating Officer and Founder of Getting Floor'D LLC, a 

family and veteran-owned floor-covering store in Branson, Missouri. He is also a combat 

veteran and Captain in the Missouri Army National Guard as a UH-60 Blackhawk 

Helicopter pilot, member of the Finance Committee of the City of Branson, member of 

the Branson Chamber of Commerce Proactive Government Committee, and a member of 

the Branson-Hollister Rotary Club. 

Alex earned his Bachelor of Science degree from College of the Ozarks in 2016, Masters 

Degree from Missouri State University in 2020, and is a Doctoral Candidate at Liberty 

University slated for completion in the Summer of 2024. The complete cost of his 

education was covered through the College of the Ozarks' work-study program and 

through the education and incentives programs of the United States Army and Missouri 

Army National Guard. 

Alex has been married to his wife Katie for 7 years and they are residents of Branson, 

Missouri (b)(6) 

(b)(6) Alex's career aspirations are to continue to serve his 

community in positions of increased responsibility, by way of elected office. Alex is a 

candidate for the Branson School Board in the upcoming April 2024 election. 

Betsy Miller 

(b)(6) 

Biographical information: 

I'm a 4th generation resident of Springfield, Missouri. I went to Parkvicw It igh School 

and Missouri State University. 

I started a small business here in 1997. My company is 2B Organized, which is a 

professional organizing firm. When I started my company, this was a very new industry 

and there was no social media, HGTV, etc. Fast forward to current day. I have 

franchised my company and currently have 15 locations across the country. 

I have volunteered in my community for at least 25 years. I've been a member of several 

business and civic organizations. I'm a past recipient of the 40 under 40 award as well as 

one of Springfield's most influential women.