Arts
Branson Arts Council named Jim Barber executive director. He succeeds the retiring Bonnie Herrmann, who served in the position for 12 years. Barber, a longtime Branson entertainer and marketing professional, plans to continue working as an independent marketing adviser.
Banking and Finance
Qualified Pension Services Inc. promoted Andrea Flores to marketing director. She has 16 years of experience in business administration, employee relations, benefits, operations management and strategic recruitment.
Mid-Missouri Bank hired Alyssa Hardy as a personal banker. She’s worked in the banking industry for two years and is a current student at Missouri State University.
Education Jordan Burns, a graduate of Evangel University who teaches business classes at Nixa High School, was recognized as one of Missouri’s Outstanding Beginning Teachers at the spring conference of the Missouri Association of Colleges for Teacher Education.
MSU’s Board of Governors elected Husch Blackwell LLP partner Virginia Fry as chairwoman and Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin as vice chairwoman. It’s the first time the school’s board will be led by two women.
Nixa Public Schools promoted Jared Webster to succeed Lori Wilson as head principal of Nixa Junior High, effective July 1. Webster has served as the assistant principal at Nixa High School since 2012 and previously taught science classes for six years.
Ozark School District board members Tom Bass and Shane Nelson were re-elected, and Jeff Laney, who graduated from Ozark in 1992, was newly elected. All three members will serve three-year terms.
Members of Nixa’s Future Business Leaders of America chapter placed in five separate categories at the State Leadership Conference at Missouri State University. Students Nicole Dixon, Reagan Gunter, Sophia Jackson, Ryan Knutson, Mark Meads and Carson Young will represent the school at the 2017 National Leadership Conference.
Health Care
Mercy internal medicine specialist Dr. J.T. Rogers received the first Harold K. Bengsch Award, developed by the Springfield-Greene County Health Department. Organizers say Rogers’ work is marked by stubborn advocacy for public health, including for flu vaccinations and banning smoking. As a surprise, Bengsch also was awarded an honorary Bengsch Award in recognition of his 45 years, 21 as director, serving the Health Department.
U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt received the American Association for Cancer Research’s 2017 Distinguished Public Service Award for efforts to significantly increase funding for the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute.
Hospitality
Choice Hotels International Inc. issued a 2017 Platinum Award to Comfort Inn and Suites-Branson Meadows and a Gold Award to Comfort Inn at Thousand Hills, both properties of Myer Hotels Inc.
Sales and Service
Branson Tourism Center won Southwest Missouri’s Better Business Bureau 2017 Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics. Over the last 14 years, The center has sold nearly 5 million show and attraction tickets and hundreds of thousands of room nights.
