Great Southern names two new board members

Kevin Ausburn

Springfield-based Great Southern Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq: GSBC) is adding two new members to its board of directors.

Housing Plus LLC principal Debbie Shantz Hart and SMC Packaging Group Chairman and CEO Kevin Ausburn are scheduled to join the board March 1, according to a news release.

“We value diversity of talent, knowledge and experience in our board members, and I am confident that these new members will contribute a wealth of knowledge,” Great Southern President and CEO Joe Turner said in the release.

Hart, who last year served as board chairwoman for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, previously worked as vice president and general counsel for John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts and overall has more than 25 years of law experience. Since 2008, she’s developed affordable housing in Missouri and Oklahoma under Housing Plus.

A certified public accountant, Ausburn has served on several boards, including as vice president of the Springfield Business Development Corp. His volunteer work also includes stints on the Boy Scouts of America Ozark Trails Council board, Association of Independent Corrugated Converters board and the Good Government Committee, according to the release.

Great Southern’s board currently has eight members: William and Joe Turner, Julie Turner Brown, Larry Frazier, William Barclay, Tom Carlson, Earl Steinert and Doug Pitt. Spokeswoman Kelly Polonus said via email one of the new appointees will succeed Grant Haden, who died in November. Another is an additional seat. The board has a capacity of 10 members, she said.

The operator of Great Southern Bank reported 2016 net income of $45.3 million, a 2.5 percent decrease compared with $46.5 million a year earlier.

GSBC shares were trading at $50.15 as of 8:51 a.m., compared with a 52-week range of $34.48 to $56.70.

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