Banking Becky Wright was promoted to banking center manager/retail officer at Empire Bank’s south Ozark branch. She has 12 years of banking experience.
Education Evangel University honored four former members of its staff for service to the university as part of its Trees of Honor program: Twila Edwards, professor emeritus, English and New Testament; Bill Gunn, director of food services; Jesse Peterson, music department chairman; and Ward Williams, professor emeritus, academic dean. Trees were planted on their behalf.
Evangel professors Peggy Reed and Robert Bartels participated in the Missouri Conference of the Association for the Education of Young Children. Their presentation, “Helping Young Children Grow: Pre-Literacy Activities from School to Home,” demonstrated activities that teachers and parents can use to develop preschool-age children.
Doug Olena, an adjunct philosophy professor at Evangel, received a doctor of philosophy degree from Cardiff University in Cardiff, Wales.
Evangel’s alumni association presented three Distinguished Service Awards to staff during its homecoming banquet: Duane Huechteman, professor of mathematics; Rebecca “Becky” Huechteman, professor of education; and Bill Ayres, user specialist in the information services department.
Drury University named its 2011 Distinguished Alumni: Dr. D. Gregory Farwell, a physician and associate professor at the University of California, for career achievement; Lisa Esposito, a 13-year teacher of philosophy and religion at Drury, for the faculty award; Dr. Amber Campbell, who provides OB-GYN services in Benton County, for the young alumni award; and David Scott, a pastor at Arch United Methodist Church in Hannibal, for community service.
Environment Nick Henry joined Environmental Works Inc. as an associate scientist. Henry, who received his bachelor’s degree from Drury, most recently worked for Great River Associates Inc.
Health Care CoxHealth added seven staff members: Drs. Whitney Cline and Ann Hilmo, Newborn Medicine Specialists clinic; Dr. Nana Gaisie, Springfield Inpatient Physicians; Dr. Greg West, Diagnostic Clinic; Jennifer Aldridge, family nurse practitioner, CoxHealth Center-Marshfield; Dr. Allison Heider, Family and Occupational Medicine of Monett; and Dr. Elizabeth Stover Lucore, Family Practice and Obstetrics of Monett.
Jordan Valley Dental Clinic hired dentists Megan Westrich and Katie Skahan. Westrich is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry, and Skahan graduated from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry.
St. John’s nurse Karin Steinle earned the certified safe patient handling professional designation through the hospital’s Transfer Safety Program.
Nonprofit Ozarks Counseling Center received $6,500 from the William T. Kemper Foundation and $1,000 from the Commerce Bancshares Foundation to fund technology upgrades.
The Southwest Missouri Chapter of the Association of Information Technology Professionals appointed two board members: Russell Andrews, director of information technology for Penmac Personnel Services Inc. and Pentec; and Whitney Johnson, client executive for Huber & Associates Inc.[[In-content Ad]]
Adrianna Norris became a first-time business owner with the opening of Finley River Chiropractic; PaPPo’s Pizzeria & Pub launched its newest location; and Huey Magoo’s opened its second store in the Ozarks.