Accounting Scott Gold and Jamie McDonald, both of Springfield, were elected partners by their BKD LLP peers. BKD also promoted Andy Williams, of Springfield, to senior manager and named Jennifer Wormington senior managing consultant and Jeffrey Gann senior managing adviser.
Banking Empire Bank promoted Amy Sharp to assistant vice president/retail sales manager over eight Empire Bank branches. Sharp, who earned a bachelor’s in finance from Missouri State University, has more than 10 years of banking experience.
Education Southwest Baptist University mathematics professors Kevin Hopkins and Bob Glasgow presented abstracts at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Meeting. The meeting was attended by 8,000 people and featured nearly 700 sessions.
Pipkin Middle School humanities/social studies teacher Julia Armstrong was named the Springfield Public Schools 2011–12 Teacher of the Year.
Drury University professors Erin Kenny and Elizabeth Gackstetter Nichols were awarded Fulbright Fellowships for the 2011–12 academic year. Kenny will work for 10 months in Tanzania at Mzumbe University, teaching graduate level courses for the Center for Gender Development and conducting research with Nyakusa women commodity farmers. Nichols will teach at Universidad Central de Venezuela, where she will continue her research in literature and popular culture. The goal of her work is to examine the complex interrelationship between the visual and written images of westernized European beauty in Venezuela.
Drury education professor Joye Norris was named associate provost for access and outreach at Missouri State University. The move is effective July 1, pending MSU Board of Governors approval.
Carol Shoptaugh, professor of psychology and coordinator of the industrial/organizational psychology graduate program at MSU, received the 2011 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. Gov. Jay Nixon and members of the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education recognized Shoptaugh and 13 other faculty members from each participating higher education institution in the state. The recognition is based on effective teaching, advising and service.
Engineering Environmental Works Inc. hired Matt Richardson as associate scientist. Richardson most recently worked at Pinnacle Engineering in Minneapolis as a project scientist. He received his bachelor’s in biology from Drury University and his master’s in business administration from the Minnesota School of Business.
Health Care Dr. Roger Buzbee of Buzbee Dental in Springfield was recognized as a highly-trained Regional Facilitator for the AgilityGuard, which manufactures fitted mouth guards for athletes. Buzbee Dental has been appointed as an AgilityGuard regional center for the Midwest Region.
St. John’s has named several new staff members. Dr. Steven Braun joined St. John’s Clinic-Radiation Oncology. Braun received his medical degree from the University Of Kansas School Of Medicine. Bruce Kater joined St. John’s Eye Specialists-Optometry-Surgery Center. Kater received his medical education from the University Of Houston School of Optometry. Anna Sell joined St. John’s Medical Research Institute as a level I research scientist. Sell earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology. Ted Shockley was named director for the emergency department at St. John’s Hospital. Shockley, a graduate of the Burge School of Nursing, has 13 years of experience with the hospital. Kris Strong was named interim nursing director of orthopedics and brings more than 18 years of nursing experience. Staci Fletcher was promoted to assistant director of Mercy Central Access. Fletcher has been with the hospital since 1998.
Nonprofit Sharyn Wagoner, of Springfield, was one of two volunteers from across the country to receive the 2010 Volunteer of the Year award from the Nationwide Tour. Wagoner has volunteered for the Price Cutter Charity Championship, a Nationwide Tour event in Springfield, for 18 years and, since 2003, she has served as tournament chairwoman.
The White River Valley Historical Society received a Heritage Advocate Award honorable mention by nonprofit Heritage Preservation and the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.
The Commercial Club of Springfield elected Martin Dowman, Mona Pieron and Anne Dezort to three-year terms on its board of directors.
Services Coffee Ethic barista Jacque DesMarais, of Springfield, placed third in the Specialty Coffee Association of America’s South Central Regional Barista Championship held in St. Louis. Baristas from Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi participated in the competition. DesMarais’ finish qualified her for the national competition in Houston, Texas.[[In-content Ad]]
A franchise store of a Branson West-based quilting business made its Queen City debut; Grateful Vase launched in Lebanon; and Branson entertainment venue The Social Birdy had its grand opening.
