Financial Newsmakers

Davis, Lynn & Moots PC announced two promotions and two new team members. Jon Cummings was promoted to in-charge accountant. He is a graduate of Arkansas State University. Laura Dowell was also promoted to in-charge accountant. She is a graduate of Southwest Missouri State University. Jessica Lane joined the firm as staff accountant. She is a graduate of Drury University and her responsibilities include audit, accounting and tax services. Shawna Edwards joined the firm as an executive assistant.

Tom Howard was promoted to executive vice president at Metropolitan National Bank. Howard joined the bank in January 2002 as a senior vice president. Previous experience includes senior vice president at Guaranty Federal. After attending SMSU, Howard graduated from the Missouri School of Banking and the National Commercial Lending School.

Kathleen Norris was promoted to vice president and trust officer at Springfield Trust Company. She joined the firm nine years ago and has 19 years of experience in banking.

Jeremy Loftin joined Springfield Trust Company as an associate portfolio manager, assisting in security selection and portfolio management. He graduated from Drury University with a bachelor's degree in business administration and is working toward his master of business administration.

Shelley Igert was named operations manager at The Bank's Fremont location. She joined The Bank in 1997 and has seven years of banking experience.

William Tracy Watkins was named vice president of commercial loans at Citizens National Bank of Springfield. Watkins brings 17 years of experience to the position. He earned a bachelor's degree in accounting at SMSU and a degree in advanced financial management at the University of Wisconsin.

Deni Patrick joined Great Southern Bank as a branch administration regional manager. Her responsibilities include managing sales and operations of 14 branches. She has 13 years of banking experience.

U.S. Bank recently honored several employees from Missouri with the company's quarterly Pinnacle Award, recognizing outstanding achievement and performance. Employees included in the honors were Theresa Mann, branch manager, 1261 N. Highway 60 East, Republic; and Debbie Branison, branch manager at 2825 N. Kansas Expressway, Springfield.

BKD LLP added three interns to its Springfield office. Joining the firm are James R. Ashley, who is expected to graduate from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2004, with a bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting; Sherry D. Husbands, a 2002 graduate of SMSU with bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting; and Benjamin M. Stone, who will graduate in 2003 from Drury University with a bachelor's degree in accounting and business administration.

Three new staff accountants joined the Springfield office of BKD LLP. Jonni M. Hubbs, a 2002 cum laude graduate of SMSU with a bachelor's degree in accounting; Sarah R. Norris, a 2002 graduate of Drury University with a bachelor's degree with honors in accounting; Megan L. Potocnik, a 2002 summa cum laude graduate of Evangel University with a bachelor's degree in accounting; and Daniel W. Williams, a 2002 summa cum laude graduate of Evangel University with a bachelor's degree in accounting.

S. Richard Royster was named director of tax services for BKD LLP. His responsibilities include overseeing quality control of the firm's tax practice, including the preparation and filing of more than 40,000 tax returns. Royster has more than 30 years of tax and estate planning experience with high-income individuals, businesses and manufacturers.