Newsmakers: Feb. 5-11, 2024

Accounting
Brian Collier of KPM CPAs & Advisors earned his certified public accounting license through the American Institute of CPAs and was promoted to senior with the firm. Specializing in tax services, he holds a bachelor’s in accounting from Missouri State University.

Compound Planning – a digital family office for entrepreneurs, professionals and retirees – hired CPA Kristin Carter as head of tax advisory. She previously worked as senior vice president and chief tax officer for Central Trust Co. and has 16 years of tax compliance and planning experience.

Banking & Finance
The Ozark Highlands Group of Morgan Stanley was named to Forbes’ 2024 list of America’s Best In-State Wealth Management Teams. In partnership with Shook Research, the selections are based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings to measure best practices, client retention, industry experience, credentials and compliance, as well as assets under management and revenue.

Equipment
Elkins-Swyers Co. Inc. hired Brendan Sebern as customer relations manager and product specialist. He has eight years of industry experience in voter election products and services.

Health Care
Citizens Memorial Hospital hired April Donovan as a family nurse practitioner at the Ash Grove Family Medical Center. With 16 years of industry experience, she also provides health care services to long-term care residents of the Ash Grove Healthcare Facility and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from South Dakota State University.

Law
Carnahan Evans PC appointed Shawn P. Battagler and James E. Meadows as shareholders. With a practice focused on corporate and rural electric cooperative law, Battagler has experience as a managing member of Andereck Evans LLC, where he practiced 1999-2022, and he holds a Juris Doctor and bachelor’s in political science from University of Missouri-Columbia. Meadows is a member of the firm’s litigation and business law groups and holds a Juris Doctor from University of Missouri-Columbia and a bachelor’s in political science and government from Drury University.

Marketing
ADsmith Marketing & Advertising promoted Hillary West to vice president of media services/client relations and Amy Hietter to director of brand strategy. West has 20 years of experience with the firm and is responsible for directing traditional media services with the marketing and creative team, leading assigned accounts, establishing financial goals, and mentoring and acquiring new talent. Hietter, in her second stint at ADsmith – working for a national firm in between, leads team members in strategic planning and branding, and creates and executes marketing plans for clients.

Nonprofit
Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce named its 2024 board officers and added board members:

Rich Callahan of 14 Mill Market, president; Summer Lampe of Xtreme Exteriors, vice president; Kristen Haseltine of Show Me Christian County, secretary; David Liss of Nixa Public Schools, treasurer; and Eric Albers of Insight Design Architects and Tricia Chapman of Nixa Public Schools, directors.