Arts
The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded Springfield Art Museum a $14,670 grant as part of its 2016 Sparks! Ignition Grant for Museums program. The local museum is one of seven in North America to receive the grant funding for innovative projects at the intersection of museum programming and community service.
Communications
Mid-West Family Broadcasting hired Kevin Watkins as a marketing team member. He has nearly 20 years of experience in marketing and business management, including stints in the Sam’s Club optical department, at Textbucks Bookstore and past experience with Mid-West Family Broadcasting.
Springfield Business Journal hired Marty Goodnight as chief revenue officer, a newly created position. He has 17 years of media sales experience for Knight Ridder, McClatchy and Gannett, and most recently worked for Whitaker Publishing.
Springfield Sign & Neon named Michal Moss Early director of marketing. The first to hold the position for the company, she most recently worked for Metropolitan National Bank/Bear State Bank as senior vice president of business development and marketing.
Community The Springfield-Greene County Park Board’s Cooper Tennis Complex was named the 2016 U.S. Tennis Association Outstanding Tennis Facility Award recipient. Recognizing excellence in physical design, usage and programming, this is Cooper’s second time earning the award since it opened in 1994. Awards will be given Sept. 1–12 to facilities in four categories.
Education
Sigma Chi Pi inducted Douglas Oss Sr., Donna Krstulovich and Earl Creps into its 2016 honor society, which is sponsored by the Alliance for Assemblies of God Higher Education. The Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, which is part of Evangel University, nominates three graduates who satisfy scholastic, character and leadership qualifications and who graduated in the past 10 years. Oss, who is recently retired, is the founding director of the Cordas C. Burnett Center for Biblical Preaching; Krstulovich is an international trainer with Global Initiative: Reaching Muslim Peoples and started two missional cafes in Eurasia; and Creps is lead pastor of 360church in California.
Online MBA Today ranked Missouri State University second in the nation for its online MBA program with an emphasis in cybersecurity. More than 350 online MBA programs in cybersecurity were ranked on tuition cost, accreditation, early career salary, prestige and overall graduation rates.
Financial
Lawing Financial adviser Brandon Lee joined the firm’s Springfield office. Working out of Lawing Financial’s Overland Park office, he has specialized in investment management and retirement planning.
Health Care CoxHealth was recognized as a Most Wired hospital in the 2016 Most Wired Survey by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine. In conjunction with the American Hospital Association, the survey measures how hospitals across the country are adopting information technology, including cybersecurity, to improve patient care.
Nonprofit
The Rotaract Club named Matthew Suarez its 2015-16 Member of the Year. An investment assistant for Central Trust Co., Suarez is active in Rotaract meetings, community service, social activities and the Rock’n Ribs committee.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks received the Agency of the Year award at the Big Brothers Big Sisters National Conference in Orlando. The local agency was chosen out of 307 agencies nationwide.
The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities International accredited The Arc of the Ozarks for three years. Valid through March 31, 2019, the accreditation recognizes a service provider’s commitment to continually improving services, encouraging feedback and serving the community.
The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce received the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives 2016-17 Award for Educational Attainment. Six of 27 organizations were selected for the one-time $40,000 award intended to boost programs that help employees achieve college degrees or skill certificates.
Real Estate
Hogan Land Title Co. hired Maggie Crosby as marketing and construction disbursing assistant for its Springfield offices. She has a business degree from Missouri State University with an emphasis in fashion merchandising and product quality.
Technology
The Missouri State University Small Business Technology & Development Center named Chrystal Irons as the 2016 Missouri State Star. Irons, who is the director of the organization, was honored by America’s Small Business Technology & Development Center for performing as the state’s outstanding business counselor and her contributions to local business growth. She recently was promoted to director from the business development specialist position for Christian and Taney counties.
