Newsmakers: March 19-25, 2018

Banking and Finance
Chris Owens joined Bank of Bolivar as senior vice president at the bank headquarters. With 22 years of industry experience, he most recently worked as president of Southern Missouri Bank of Marshfield.

Bank of Bolivar added Chan Crooker and Melissa Smith, both previous officers at Southern Missouri Bank of Marshfield. They work in vice president roles and serve the greater Fair Grove market.

Matt Good joined Central Bank of the Ozarks as a business development specialist. He is active with the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Rotary International and the North Springfield Betterment Association.

Central Bank promoted Kendal Dingus and Tyler Phillips to loan officers, as well as Marlene Giebler to retail officer and manager of the Nixa banking center. In the mortgage department, Dingus specializes in home equity lines of credit, and he has 12 years of financial industry experience. Phillips focuses on commercial and consumer lending, and has 10 years of experience, recently serving as branch manager of the Glen Isle branch. Giebler has 10 years of experience, including banking center manager on South Glenstone Avenue.

Communications
Gold Mountain Communications LLC appointed Senior Vice President Ian McGuire to an equity partner. He has been with the company since its 2009 inception and assumes additional oversight in company budgeting and finance.

Education
Missouri State University’s Model United Nations team received several awards during the Midwest MUN conference in St. Louis. Junior Shelby Collier was named Outstanding International Press Delegate for representing British Broadcasting Co. MSU seniors John Duffey and Claire Kidwell received an Outstanding Position Paper award for representing China in the Economic and Social Council. Seniors Mitch Truelove and Jaren Newman earned Outstanding Delegation honors during a crisis simulation in Security Council South. The team represented the People’s Republic of China during the conference.

Government
Springfield City Council reappointed Mary Cullers to the Board of Equalization. Her term expires April 1, 2021.

Council appointed Ryan Kelly and David Troyer to the Citizen’s Tax Oversight Committee, replacing Jason Krebs and Jennifer Nelson-Colwell, respectively. Kelly’s term expires May 1, 2019, and Troyer’s term expires May 1, 2021.

Council also appointed Matthew Cadle to the Landmarks Board and Lonney Smith to the Building Trades Examination and Certification Board. Cadle’s term expires Nov. 1. Smith replaces Richard Glenn, with a term set to expire Oct. 1, 2019.

Hospitality
Comfort Inn & Suites at Branson Meadows and Quality Inn West, owned by Myer Hotels of Branson, won Platinum awards from Choice Hotels International. The awards represent the top 3 percent of hotels of each Choice Hotels International brand, based on guest satisfaction, quality, room condition, cleanliness and service.

Insurance
American Family Insurance agent Jeff Yoakam completed the company’s American Star Excellence in Customer Experience Certification Program.