Banking
Modern Woodmen of America hired Crystal Christman as a financial adviser. She has 13 years of experience in financial management.
Civic
The Springfield-Greene County Health Department created the Harold K. Bengsch Award to honor Bengsch’s service to the public health system. He worked for the Health Department for 45 years, serving as director for 20 years, before retiring in 2004.
Nine local businesspeople made the annual list of the 50 Missourians You Should Know by Ingram’s Magazine. They are, in alphabetical order: Shawn Askinosie, CEO, Askinosie Chocolate; Steve Edwards, president and CEO, CoxHealth; Jim Ferguson, president, Heart of America Beverage Co.; Howard Fisk, owner, J. Howard Fisk Limousines Inc.; Michael Garrett, retired Monett attorney and judge; Chris Hamon, CEO, White River Valley Electric Cooperative; Ron Hill, owner, Euro World Design; Brooks Miller, president and CEO, Jordan Valley Community Health Center; and Richard Ollis, CEO, Ollis/Akers/Arney.
The city of Springfield named David Pennington interim fire chief. He temporarily succeeds David Hall, who retired from the Fire Department and took an emergency preparedness job with Missouri State University. Pennington began his fire service career as a volunteer with the Logan-Rogersville Fire Protection District in 1994.
Education
The Springfield Public Schools Board of Education extended Superintendent John Jungmann’s contract through the 2019-20 school year. The board unanimously voted to extend his contract for a third time since he was hired July 1, 2014.
Nixa Public Schools hired Brigette Golmen as principal of Mathews Elementary beginning with the 2017-18 school year. She has worked in education for 13 years and the last four years as principal for McCulloch Elementary in Republic.
Hollister Middle School was named a professional learning communities exemplary school by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Bolivar Technical College added seven instructors to teach in its professional nursing, practical nursing and medical assistant programs: Tami Glessner, Angela Clark, Machelle Bentz, Crystal Ericksen, Denise Smith, Erin Mock and Richard Tucker.
College of the Ozarks was named in The Princeton Review’s book, “Colleges That Pay You Back: The 200 Schools That Give You the Best Bang for Your Tuition Buck.” C of O is listed among nine “tuition-free schools.”
Nixa Public Schools earned four international awards for episodes of QuickNews TV in the AVA Digital Awards. Out of 2,500 entries from the United States, Canada and 16 other countries, Nixa earned gold for videos “Rube Goldberg Machines at JTSD” and “Double Robot,” as well as honorable mentions for “Flexible Seating” and “The Nest Event.”
Two Springfield Public Schools teachers received national recognition. Reed Academy teacher Maida Russell was named the 2016 Missouri Council of Teachers of Mathematics Outstanding Educator-Middle School. Tammy Stine of Bowerman Elementary School was selected as a Presidential Finalist for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. The Presidential Awards are the nation’s highest honors for teachers of mathematics and science.
