Education Missouri State University biology professor Janice Greene earned the Missouri Environmental Education Association 2009 Outstanding Lifetime Environmental Education Service Award.
Abigale Ehlers, MSU instructor of hospitality and restaurant administration, was a finalist for Alliance for Community Trees’ Volunteer of the Year. Ehlers received the honor for her work as chairwoman of Springfield’s Tree City USA Citizens’ Advisory Committee.
Thomas Lane, assistant to the vice president and director of Plaster Student Union at MSU, was named president-elect of the Association of College Unions International Board of Trustees. Lane will serve a three-year term.
Evangel University students won Springfield City Council’s and Greene County Commission’s Excellence in Community Visioning Challenge Award. The school also earned recognition for top written proposal and excellence in engagement. Ozarks Technical Community College won a methodology award; Drury University won a feasibility award; and Springfield Public Schools won a most visionary award.
Drury’s Students in Free Enterprise Team qualified for nationals for the 13th consecutive year after winning a regional league championship in Rogers, Ark. Two projects were finalists: the Ozarks Carbon Exchange Fund, in the environmental sustainability category; and Women Inspiring Student Endeavors, in success skills category.
Finance Eric Lankford joined Arvest Bank as a member of its treasury management team. He supervises growth, profitability and product development of the bank’s treasury management services. Lankford was vice president, branch manager and loan officer at BankTennessee and is a graduate of Cumberland University and Southeastern School of Banking.
Brandy Buckler was promoted from senior to supervisor at BKD LLP. She provides audit services for the firm’s national financial services group and national not-for-profit and government group. She has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accountancy from MSU.
Jessica Bouray was promoted from staff consultant to supervising consultant at BKD. A member of BKD’s health care billing services, she coordinates billing outsourcing services for home care and long-term care providers. She has an associate degree in accounting from Ozarks Technical Community College.
Aaron Rickard was promoted to supervising consultant at BKD. A member of BKD’s national health care group, he provides management-consulting services for hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and community health centers. He has a bachelor’s in finance from MSU and a master in business administration from Saint Louis University.
Health Care The stroke care program at Skaggs Regional Medical Center earned a Gold Seal of Approval from The Joint Commission following an onsite review during which Skaggs displayed it is following recommendations for primary stroke centers outlined by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association.
Insurance Pam Keyes, insurance agent, account manager and supervisor for the personal insurance department at Akers & Arney, was named Outstanding Customer Service Representative of the Year by the Missouri Association of Insurance Agents and the National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research.[[In-content Ad]]
A relocation to Nixa from Republic and a rebranding occurred for Aspen Elevated Health; Kuick Noodles LLC opened; and Phelps County Bank launched a new southwest Springfield branch.
