Awards |amp| Achievements

Awards & Achievements

by Brandy Colbert

SBJ Intern

Angela Antkowiak, district manager of programs for the American Diabetes Association in Springfield, was recently appointed to the Missouri Diabetes Control Program Advisory Board. Antkowiak works on educational outreach programs for the association and is a well-known public speaker.

The Association for Women in Commun-ications announced the following board members for 2001-2002: Alexis Brown, president; Marci Bowling, president-elect; Melinda Mancuso, treasurer; Dana Norberg, secretary/ newsletter; Margaret Castrey and Linda Putman, membership; Julie Short, publicity; Mitzie Zerr, site managment; Kathy Sammon and Sheila Barcomb, student liaison/scholarship; Betty Neal, career development/progress of women; and Kristi Hinton, First Amendment.

Gloria Beitler, RN, COHN, clinical coordinator of Cox Occupational Medicine and Worker's Compensation Center, has achieved certified occupational health nurse status.

Jill Bishop, director of marketing/business development for Postal Federal Community Credit Union, was awarded the 2001 Herbert C. Hunter/Thomas R. Charrette Scholarship to the Credit Union National Association Marketing Management School. The school, which assembled a top-notch curriculum and faculty to teach the latest trends in marketing, market research and campaigns, was held in Miami Beach, Fla.

The following students and members of the Boys & Girls Club of Springfield were awarded college scholarships for the 2001-2002 school year: Christina Bryant, Renee Brewer, Jody Carey, Erica Carpenter, Nikki Edwards, Lori Flood, Alana Graves, Nick Haas, Natalie Hamilton, Chris Highfill, Alicia Hoyt, Kevin Hughes, Tina Huskisson, Patrick Johnson, Richard Johnson, Penny Jones, Ravonda Lewis, Latoya Martin, Noe Martinez, Jennifer Meeker, Brittany Melton, Sherree Ostergaard, Vance Salmon, Nick Talbert, Lacey Tindle, Junior Vaughn, Greg Vaughn, Justin Walker, Jeremy Walker, Brandi Walton, Latisha Wells and Aundrea Winstead. The scholarships total $74,000 and are awarded from seven separate funds that make up the scholarship program.

Boy Scouting in the Ozarks received a $3,700 donation from a month of Amazing Fun-Raising at the IMAX Entertainment Complex in Branson. The fund raiser included educational displays, rappelling demonstrations and special hands-on activities to create awareness for Boy Scout Venturing programs.

The Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks received $10,000 from the Rally for a Cure Golf Tournament. The foundation provides support services to families dealing with breast cancer.

Carolyn Campbell was named Member of the Year by the Association for Women in Communications. Campbell contributed significantly to the association by developing and maintaining an online newsletter to communicate professionally to current and prospective members.

The Children's Trust Fund Board of Directors has awarded more than $1.3 million in fiscal year 2002 to 45 community-based organizations and agencies throughout Missouri to provide programs and services that help support families to reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect. The benefitting organizations in southwest Missouri are: Boys & Girls Town of Missouri, Springfield; Burrell Behavioral Health, Springfield; Parenting Life Skills Center, Springfield; and Taney County Health Department, Hollister.

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks recently announced the establishment of 94 new charitable endowment funds. Contributions to establish these new funds and additions to existing funds this year total more than $6.5 million. The foundation also announced two new affiliate funds: the Willow Springs Community Foundation, led by Tom Hilmes, president, and Robin Logue, director; and the Finley River Community Foundation, led by Carole Collins, president.

Court Appointed Special Advocates was approved to receive a $5,000 grant from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, which will help fund its new document and printing center. CASA will use the new center to print posters, CASA volunteer training manuals, flyers, brochures, etc.

Court Appointed Special Advocates was awarded a grant from the National CASA Association in the amount of $40,000 over a two-year period to expand advocacy for abused and neglected children in Greene County.

Eric Crane, president of Copy Products Inc. of Springfield, received the Crystal Lion Award for his organization from William Burgess, district sales manager for Konica Business Technologies Inc. Copy Products Inc. met the conditions for the categories of sales growth and sales performance.

Joann Dapp and the staff of Cookies by Design raised $230 for Court Appointed Special Advocates during a Valentine fund raiser. Clientele and CASA supporters voted on Valentine's boxes decorated by CASA staff with a donation to CASA and received a free cookie. Also, 24 cookie bouquets decorated in CASA's heart theme were centerpieces at the sixth annual Affair of the Heart Auction Feb. 16, 2001 at Twin Oaks Country Club. Cookies by Design also provides a birthday cookie bouquet to the more than 135 child advocates and board members who volunteer their time with CASA.

Downhome Productions announced a new dealership with Vari-Lite Inc. Vari-Lite has been a lighting industry leader in intelligent fixtures for more than 21 years. Downhome Productions has been in business for more than 16 years and has offices in Nixa and in Nashville, Tenn.

Drury University's board of trustees elected five new members: Shaila Aery, president and chief operating officer of the Hawthorn Group in Washington, D.C.; Henry Givens Jr., PhD, president of Harris-Stowe State College in St. Louis; John Hammon, MD, a professor of surgery in the department of cardiothoracic surgery at Bowman Gray Medical School, Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C.; William F. (Rick) Lester, managing partner of The Resource Group for the Arts in Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Lyle Reed, principal of Bois D'Arc Partners, an investment firm in Irving, Texas.

Duane Epperson, senior sales engineer with Computers Plus Inc., has received is the Cisco certified design associate certification and completed the continuing certification requirements to maintain his status as a Compaq accredited system engineer. CCDA certified professionals can design routed and switched networks involving LAN, WAN, and dial access services for businesses and organizations networks. Compaq ASE Certification enables him to provide CPI customers with advanced networking, systems integration and support for Compaq systems.

Lt. Don Fuhr and Lt. Ron Hartman of the Springfield Police Department recently graduated from Northwestern University Center for Public Safety's School of Police Staff and Command. The 10-week SPSC is designed to prepare top and mid-level law enforcement managers and supervisors for senior agency positions.

Curtis Gilbert, a spring 2001 computer information technology graduate from Ozarks Technical Community College represented the state of Missouri at the Phi Beta Lambda National Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla. Gilbert won third place in Information Management against state representatives from across the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Guam, the Cayman Islands and Department of Defense Schools worldwide. Phi Beta Lambda is a professional association for students pursuing business careers.

Ted Hamilton, senior vice president of Signature Bank, received the 2001 Vendor of the Year Award from Aire-Master of America for his 25 year partnership with the Aire-Master franchise system.

The Hulston Cancer Center of Cox Health Systems has received a three-year approval from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. The center was recognized for its comprehensive, high-quality cancer care, as well as compliance with the commision's 47 mandatory standards of care.

Integrated Solutions Group of Springfield was the only Compaq Service Partner in an eight-state Compaq Computer Corporation district to achieve a premier status rating. This rating is a compilation of scores taken from customer satisfaction ratings and an Operational Performance Index score.

Herman Johansen, a registered representative of MONY Securities Corporation, visited the Atlanta headquarters of The Enterprise Group of Funds. During the visit, Johansen met with money managers of Enterprise and discussed mutual fund management and retirement plan administration capabilities with several officers of the firm.

Todd Johnson, a Shelter Insurance Cos. agent in Springfield, was named to the firm's Conference of Champions for 2001. Overall agency operations and customer service were among the qualifications that were to be met.

The following are members of the 2001-2002 executive committee for Junior League of Springfield, Missouri Inc.: Rochelle Buckner, vice president of membership; Mary Craven, president elect; Jill Headley, recording secretary; Lagena Scott, vice president of finance/marketing; Karen Shannon, president; and Kathy Steinberg, vice president of community.

Russ Kemp and Kathryn Watkins of Employer Advantage recently earned certification as Professional in Human Resources from the Human Resource Certification Institute.

Three new members were added to the Lost & Found organization's Board of Directors: Greg Aleshire of Aleshire, Robb & Sivils, P.C.; Christina King of KY-3 News; and Brad Thomas, vice president/assistant general manager of Silver Dollar City. Lost & Found is a non-profit service dedicated to helping children, teens and their families move through the healing process after the death of a loved one.

Anthony D. Lynn, a CPA and shareholder with Davis, Lynn & Moots PC of Springfield, recently served as instructor for two courses offered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants in St. Louis. Lynn was one of only a few practitioners nationwide who have received AICPA approval to serve as an instructor for these courses, which were prepared under the guidance of the AICPA Peer Review Board and are designed to help practitioners and firms to understand the realities, opportunities and challenges posed by the peer review program for firms in the audit and accounting profession.

Kathy Martin of Great Southern Travel completed extensive training by the American Society of Travel Agents certified specialist program to become an expert in special interest travel.

Robert Meyer, co-owner of Meyer Implement Company, was appointed to the Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority by Gov. Bob Holden.

Kevin Mickus, SMSU professor of geography, geology and planning, was awarded $3,000 from the Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research for his study of remote sensing procedures, which will allow researchers to analyze the amount of damage caused by oil fires during the Gulf War. The research will be used by students in remote sensing classes.

Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance Company's Communications Department won four awards at the 2001 Insurance Marketing Communications Association showcase. The department won the SAMMY, the top overall award; an Award of Excellence for its Commercial Lines Sales Promotion to Producers/Agents for its iNet, EZ-App Marketing Plan; an Award of Excellence for MEM's 1999 annual report, "Formula for Success," and an Award of Excellence for its public relations campaign, WorkSAFE Week 2000.

Lynn and Janet Morris, owners of Family Pharmacy, represented their 13-year pharmacy division at the Missouri Pharmacy Convention at the Tan-Tar-A Resort at Lake of the Ozarks. Lynn Morris attended several hours of continuing education programs, which included innovative ideas for pharmacy practice and using the internet in the practice.

Physical therapists Geoff Mosley and Jason Shaw of Missouri Rehabilitation Center in Mt. Vernon have received their 10-year board certification as clinical specialists in neurologic physical therapy. They are two of only three neurological clinical specialists in Missouri.

Jody Muller of Cornerstone Jewelry received a first place award and Best of Show for jewelry design at the Leadership Conference & Annual Convention of the Missouri Jewelers & Watchmakers Association.

Carol Murrow, MA, PHR, was recognized by Webster University as its Distinguished Graduate for 2000-2001. The Distinguished Graduate Honor is awarded annually to a student who has exhibited both academic and professional excellence.

The National Enzyme Company's Research and Development team designed n.zimesPA and n.zimesPA-L, two proprietary blends as a safe alternative to pancreatin. The National Enzyme Company is a developer and manufacturer of enzyme-based dietary supplements.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration presented a Certificate of Appreciation, the highest award bestowed by the NHTSA, for outstanding efforts in DWI enforcement to the following members of the Springfield Police Department's DWI Enforcement Unit: Lt. Ray Worley; Cpl. Darren Whisnant; and officers Shawn Patton, Bari Reed, Brian Reeves and Doug Wilson.

Bob Noble, president and chief executive officer of marketing-communications agency Noble & Associates, was named the region's top marketing communications Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young. Noble, the only winner from southwest Missouri, will be inducted into the Entrepreneur of the Year Hall of Fame. Noble & Associates also ranked No. 83 among the top 100 national advertising agencies and number 36 among the top 50 Midwest agencies in a list recently released by Adweek Magazine.

Oakland Lubrication Co. Inc. of Nixa has been certified by Equilon's Distributor Product Quality Assurance program. This quality certification is the lubricant industry's most stringent national inspection program for bulk lubricant handling and packaging.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration awarded GE Springfield the highest form of recognition, the Voluntary Protection Program Star Status. OSHA began VPP as a cooperative effort to ensure safer workplaces in the United States. Only 649 of six million work sites nationwide have received this honor for excellent safety and health programs and rates.

The following three health care facilities have earned acceptance into the national Occupational Safety and Health Admini-stration's Voluntary Protection Program: Butter-field Residential Care Center, Star Status; Citizen's Memorial Health care Facility, Star Status; and Parkview Health Care Facility, Merit Status. Star Status is OSHA's highest achievement.

Ozarks Coca-Cola Bottling Company has been named among the top eight best performing service departments in the Midwest and among the top 25 in the nation. Jesse Thomas will represent the Midwest region at the annual Coca-Cola Certified Technicians' Roundtable in Atlanta, Ga. The CST Roundtable recognizes field service technicians who exemplify outstanding performance.

Todd Parnell, former chairman of the Ozarks Regional Economic Partnership and president of The Bank, was named Missouri's Volunteer of the Year by the Missouri Economic Development Council.

The Pediatric Center, Pediatric Specialty Clinic and Pediatric Associates of Springfield Inc., were recently named to the Hot Shots 2000 list by the Missouri Department of Health. The list recognizes clinics for appropriately immunizing at least 90 percent of the 2-year-olds they served during the year 2000.

Premier Turbines of Neosho has was named a winner of the 2001 Missouri Industry of the Year Award in the medium company classification. The award, sponsored by Associated Industries of Missouri, the Mid-Missouri Business Journal and the St. Louis Business Journal, annually recognizes the best and brightest Missouri businesses that have become leaders in making Missouri a better place to live and work.

Robert Roundtree, general manager of City Utilities of Springfield, was recognized as an honorary business inductee of Beta Gamma Sigma, the academic honor society for Collegiate Schools of Business.

Shirley Shedd, chair of the communication department at Evangel University, was one of 33 professors to receive an Excellence in Education certificate at the Delta Kappa Gamma state convention awards luncheon. She was recognized for her service as faculty adviser of the student newspaper and also was the first recipient of the Sheridan C. Barker Adviser of the Year award given by the Society for Collegiate Journalists.

Kelvin Simmons was named chairman of the Missouri Public Service Commission by Gov. Bob Holden.

Norman J. Simon, DO, was recently appointed to the Missouri Arthritis Advisory Board. Simon is a board-certified rheumatologist associated with St. John's Health System in Springfield, who provides adult and pediatric rheumatologic services in the southwest Missouri region. He received his bachelor of arts in pre-medical sciences from California State University in Long Beach, Calif., and went on to study osteopathy, internal medicine and rheumatology.

Anthony Simones, professor of political science at SMSU, participated in a nationwide study of money and politics conducted by the Center for the Study of Election and Democracy at Brigham Young University. The study examined 17 of the most competitive congressional elections in 2000. Simones monitored and researched the Ashcroft-Carnahan race.

Smurfit-Stone of Springfield, a corrugated container complex, won top honors for outstanding performance at the corporation's annual shareholders meeting.

The Southwest Standard, Southwest Missouri State University's student newspaper, recently received the following awards at the Missouri College Media Association Convention at the University of Missouri-Columbia: Justin Ballard second place in feature photography and honorable mention in news photography; Michael Brothers first place in news writing; Dana Dominguez honorable mention in sports photography; Rachel R. Johnson second place and honorable mention in sports writing; Adam Letterman first place in photo page and second place in entertainment review; Courtney Maxcy honorable mention in page one design; Ben McCall honorable mention in photography; and Emily Rusinko honorable mention in news writing. The Standard also received an honorable mention for its overall quality.

Spay Neuter Clinic of the Ozarks has been awarded a $4, 622 grant from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. The grant, made possible by the Edith M. Short Fund and Ida Rolf Fund, is being used to spay and neuter companion animals belonging to low-income people in Greene County, particularly those who are elderly and disabled.

The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce announced the appointment of five business and community leaders to one-year terms on the chamber board of directors. Those appointed were Robert Bezanson, Cox Health Systems; Dave Coonrod, Greene County; Dr. Jack Ernst, Springfield Public Schools; Bill Perkin, Way2Bid, and Jack Stack, Springfield Business and Development Corporation president

The following are the newly elected members to the board of directors for Springfield's Best Locally Owned Companies: Kelly Kirkpatrick, Murney Associates; Joseph Ollis, Ollis and Company; Jim Quesenberry, Corporate Business Systems; and Tony Shalloup, City Utilities.

The Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors selected officers for the 2002 calendar year. The new officers are: Bob Edwards, president; Jane Hood, vice president; Ann Robbins, treasurer; and Ron Armitage, assistant treasurer.

Marnie Tally, coordinator of the Cox Health Systems Infant Hearing Screening Program, has been selected to consult and train audiologists across Missouri to comply with a state mandate that requires universal hearing screens for newborns born on or after Jan. 1, 2002.

Jack Thurman of BKD Investment Advisors LLC was designated a certified management analyst through the Investment Management Consultants Association.

Dr. Don Tosh, chairman of the science and technology department and a professor of mathematics at Evangel University, has been elected as president-elect by Kappa Mu Epsilon, a national mathematics honor society.

The Travel Group received a Recognition of Excellence from Image Tours Inc. for its contribution of $3,000 to the World War II Memorial Fund for the year 2000.

John R. Twitty, deputy general manager and chief operating officer of City Utilities of Springfield, was recently named to the board of directors of the American Public Power Association for a three-year term.

The following people were elected to the Urban Districts Alliance Board: Bob Horton, president; Jim Wheaton, president-elect; Joe Hosmer, treasurer; and Dianne Elizabeth, secretary. The new board members of the UDA are: Mark Gundlach, Kyle McClure, Joe Turner and Rusty Worley.

The video production department of The Vacation Channel took the first place award in the Station Sponsored Community Event category for the broadcast of the "Annual Branson Adoration Parade" at the 2001 Missouri Broadcasters Association Awards Competition. The awards were presented at the Association's Annual Awards Banquet, held this year at The Chateau on the Lake in Branson. The channel's weekly children's show "Kids Connection" was honored with the first place award in the Children's Programming category. In the Commercial Production category, Tim Dennis and Robin Jackson of the Mel Tillis Theatre received a Certificate of Merit for a series of commercials produced throughout the year.

Vatterott College's Springfield campus gave diplomas to the following students who completed training in a range of advanced career training disciplines: Craig Austin, Lisa Heiman, Kelli McCann and Toni McFarland, computer aided drafting and design; Jane Carpenter computer applications specialist; Preston Brown, Linda Harsh, Pam Hartle, Erik Johnson, Donald Leader, Jason Loflin and Bobby Stamper, computer programming; Randy Buckingham, Richard Callaway, Jason Carstairs, Scott Coburn, Diana Heater, Richard Rafail, Rocky Tash, Jr., Shawn Tennison, and Kurt Wade, computer technology; Shawndra Altic, Christine Emrick, Michelle Miller, and Kathy Thornborrow, dental assistant; Robert Amlie and Daniel Johnston, heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics; Nina Allen, Barbara Jewell, Nancy Meador, Janice Parker, Janel Payne, Michele Shockley, Brandy Van Horn, and Lisa Winfrey, medical office assistant. The following students received associate of occupational studies degrees: Melissa Milford and Paul Osborne, computer aided drafting technology); James Anderson and James Cantrell, computer programming and Web development; Tim Brown, Harold Doane, III, Philip Finken, Dayna Grell, Jason Hogan, Eric Renner, and David Storno, computer systems and network technology.

Springfield-based sales, marketing and management consulting firm Whitaker Marketing has been designated sales and marketing counsel by Liberty Bank of southwest Missouri. Whitaker Marketing is responsible for coordinating the marketing efforts of the bank.

Loren Winter of Medical Insurance Resources Inc. has been presented the Chairman's Award by Ceres Group, Inc. This award is the highest honor by Ceres in the sales organization.

Robert Wyatt, PhD, assistant professor of accounting, was named a Sam M. Walton Free Enterprise Fellow for Drury's Students in Free Enterprise team.The Sam M. Walton Fellowship is named for the founder of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Walton fellows advise, train and motivate SIFE teams.