Newsmakers

Communications
Charles Roberts was hired as video post production editor at Associated Video Producers. Roberts has 25 years of experience in video production, most recently as production manager for WMOR TV in Tampa, Fla.

Community
Jerry Shackette, associate professor of hotel and restaurant management at College of the Ozarks, was elected treasurer of the Hollister Area Chamber of Commerce.
Champion Athletes of the Ozarks recognized local volunteers for their efforts to teach athletes: Scott Bailes, Rob Ballowe, Chelsea Brown, Zack Gillis, Melissa and Ryan Saner, Steve Shepard, Ron and Ruth Spargo, and Team Price Cutter.

Government
The Nixa Fire Protection District received a $123,705 Assistance to Firefighters Grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The grant, which requires 10 percent local matching funds, will help the department purchase new equipment.
Taney County was awarded a $175,000 Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant. The money will be used to retrofit 23 public buildings with energy-efficient lighting.
 
Health care
Dr. Russell Bond of CoxHealth Southwest Spine and Sports passed the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation’s sports medicine subspecialty exam.
CoxHealth’s neurodiagnostics lab earned a five-year accreditation in electroencephalogram from the Laboratory Accreditation Board of the American Board of Registered Electroencephalgraphic and Evoked Potential Technologists.
Gerry Catapang, orthopedic physical therapist at Manual Physical Therapy and Industrial Rehab Center PC, gave a lecture to the International Honorary Society of Women Educators.
The lecture, called “The significance of orthopedic physical therapy in detecting the cause of pain,” was based on Catapang’s article recently published in the Advance Magazine for Physical Therapy and Rehab Medicine.

Real Estate
Four Murney Associates Realtors were honored at the Greater Springfield Board of Realtors 2009 Awards Celebration. Ava Snyder received the Margaret Martin cooperative Spirit Award. Brian Jared received the Realtor Salesperson of the Year Award. Mike Green earned the Rookie of the Year Award; he sold, leased or listed $1 million of property in his first year. Stella Lee was honored as Women’s Council Member of the Year.

Retail
Jeff Salyers, owner of Play It Again Sports’ Springfield franchise, attended the company’s winter conference and trade show in Las Vegas.

Sports
Lance Kettering was named director of the Greater Springfield Area Sports Commission board of directors. He also serves as sports sales manager for the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau. Kettering has a Master of Business Administration from Missouri State University.
Sean Saunders, the teaching professional and tournament director at Deer Lake Golf Course, was elected into the Professional Golfers’ Association of America membership.

Transportation
Brian D. Rhodes, of Sparta, truck driver for Con-way Truckload, won third place in the Truckload Carriers Association’s Company Equipment Driver of the Year contest. Rhodes has driven for Con-way Truckload since 1995, logging more than 1.5 million accident-free truckload miles.
O&S Trucking was honored as Commercial Carrier Journal’s 2010 Innovator of the Year. O&S earned the designation for its ability to reduce the number of loads it takes to carry the same amount of freight.

Veterinary
Philip Brown, veterinarian at The Animal Care Center, attended the Missouri Academy of Veterinary Practice meeting in St. Charles. The academy is the professional education portion of the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association.
Several area veterinarians attended the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association Convention at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Convention Center in St. Charles. Drs. Michael Pfander of Cottage Veterinary Hospital, Michael Opsomer of Gentle Care Animal Hospital, Philip Brown of Animal Care Center, Ellen Ratliff of Fair Grove Veterinary Service and Frankie Bowers of Animal Clinic of the Ozarks took part in the convention’s continuing education programs.