Awards & Achievements

Several members of the Springfield Home Builders Association recently attended the National Association of Home Builders convention in Dallas. John Doran, Sam Bradley and Hershel Johns attended as members of the NAHB board of directors. Louise Henson, executive officer of the local association, also attended as a member of the national Executive Officers Council. She also chairs the awards committee for the EOC.

Glenn Kristek, owner of Wickman Gardens, and Greg Hatley, a landscaper for Wickman Gardens, recently received their commercial applicator's recertifications for insect and disease control. Commercial applicators must be recertified every three years and are tested on up-to-date information on pesticides and new products on the market. Anyone who charges a fee to determine the need for the use of pesticides, supervises the use of pesticides or uses pesticides on land belonging to another is required by the Missouri Department of Agriculture to be licensed.

Kirk and Barbara Hewitt, of Coldwell Banker Vanguard, Realtors, were recently listed among the top residential real estate agents in the nation. The Best of the Biggest, a report published by the real estate publishing company Real Trends Inc., named the Hewitts, along with nearly 4,000 other top agents, for the honor. The Best of the Biggest is a followup to the Big Brokers Report, which ranks the top 350 residential brokerages in the United States, plus a list of up-and-comers for a total of 500 companies.

Kevin Harrel, of Marshfield, recently completed the certified arborist exam administered through the International Society of Aboriculture and the local chapter of the ISA. Harrel is the plant health care manager for T-N-T Tree Service Inc., located in Springfield.

Russel Caldwell, owner of Caldwell Construction, has achieved the status of certified graduate remodeler from the National Association of Home Builders. This is the highest certification a remodeling contractor can receive from the national association. To achieve this distinction, Caldwell completed a prescribed course of study and passed several exams in the course of the last year.

Steve Waddell, AIFD, flower shop manager at Wickman Gardens, along with Linda Norman, Salt Box Gift Shop manager, and Donna Kristek, owner of Wickman Gardens, recently attended market in Dallas, Texas, purchasing new spring and summer merchandise.

Glenn and Donna Kristek, owners of Wickman Gardens, along with Nikki Petitt, perennial department manager; Donna Elliott, tropical plant department assistant manager; and Bonnie Johnson, tropical plant department manager, recently attended the Western Association of Nurserymen's annual meeting in Kansas City where they participated in training sessions, including "Low Maintenance Commercial Landscapes."

Tim Roth, CCIM, of Rankin & Co., has been nominated by the Springfield Jaycees as one of Missouri's 10 Outstanding Young Americans. Roth's civic contributions will be recognized at the Jaycees' Feb. 7 awards banquet at Lodge of the Four Seasons in Lake of the Ozarks.

Hollis H. "Bert" Brower Jr., owner and operator of Water Technology of the Ozarks on Highway 160 in Nixa, has been elected president of the Missouri Water Quality Association for a two-year term. MWQA members include owners and operators of residential and commercial water-treatment-equipment businesses and allied support industries. Water Technology of the Ozarks is a residential and commercial water-treatment dealer that offers a wide variety of services. Water Technology performs water analysis through its Lakeland Laboratories division, and manufactures ultraviolet water purifiers, ozone air purifiers and chemical specialty products.[[In-content Ad]]