Branson Newsmakers

Sarah Hammons joined the Branson/ Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau as leisure group sales specialist. Hammons has a bachelor’s degree in entertainment management and a master’s degree in business administration. She services leisure groups, including motor coach groups, students and travel agent groups with an emphasis on selling family, military and class reunion packages to the Branson area.

The Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors has announced its officers and directors who took office Jan. 1: Nelda Lies, ERA Table Rock Realty, president; Janetta Cole, James River Realty, president-elect; Kathy Clark, Carol Jones, Realtors, secretary-treasurer; and Steve Critchfield, Commercial One Brokers LLC, immediate past president. The 2007 directors: Booker Cox III, Foggy River Realty LLC; Jim Elder, AUX ARCS Real Estate Inc., Ralph Guminski, Lakeside Realty Services Inc.; Doug Lay, Murney Associates; R. Layne Morrill, Shepherd of the Hills; Michelle Nordin, Kimberling Hills Real Estate; Pam Pace, Carol Jones, Realtors; Don Smith, Branson USA Realty LLC; and Mark Weisz, Weisz Commercial Realty.

Additionally, the Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors named Karen Bisplinghoff of Branson Homes & Land as 2006 Realtor of the Year and Charlie Gerken of Gerken & Associates as 2006 Rookie of the Year.