Branson/Tri-Lakes News: Branson Newsmakers

Arvest Bank promoted Lance Nicholson to Gretna Road branch manager and hired Chad Buckwalter as commercial lender there.

Nicholson, previously an assistant branch manager, started at Arvest 11 years ago as a teller in northwest Arkansas. Buckwalter has 23 years of banking experience at Bank of America, Blue Ridge Bank and Trust and Citizens Bank and Trust.

Chamber

Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce hired Kathleen Bullock as director of tourism development and Ladona Johnson as director of member services. Bullock formerly was the director of catering at Chateau on the Lake at Branson.

Chamber President and CEO Ross Summers was elected to the board of directors of the American Bus Association during its recent convention in Virginia Beach, Va.

Health Care

Dr. Mona Harrison Afrassiab, a board-certified physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, joined the medical staff at Skaggs Community Health Center. She previously served Moberly Regional Medical Center as vice chief of staff and as medical director of the hospital’s department of obstetrics and gynecology.

She also was clinical assistant professor at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Tourism

Rob McCormick joined Mount Pleasant Winery as general manager of its tasting and bottling facility in Branson, which opened to the public March 1.

McCormick previously spent two years as general manager of Branson’s Stone Hill Winery.

Mark Hartman retired March 27 as general manager of the Hilton properties in Branson. Hartman managed the openings and operations of the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing Hotel in February 2007, and the Branson Convention Center and Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel in September 2007.

During his 25 years with Hilton, Hartman opened and/or managed 15 hotels and meeting centers. Hartman, who holds a degree in soil and water conservation, plans to remain in the Branson area and focus on projects related to protecting the Ozarks environment.