Newsmakers

Architecture

Esterly Schneider & Associates Inc. hired Gloria Roling to oversee the development of new and existing business clients, markets and partnerships. Roling also was recently appointed to the city of Springfield's Planning and Zoning Commission.

Jack Ball & Associates Architects' Ryan M. Faust received The American Institute of Architects Springfield's 2009 Young Architects Forum Service Award.

Community

The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame announced its 2010 class, which includes Southwest Baptist University tennis coach John Bryant; Kickapoo High School basketball coach Roy Green; Joplin's Parkwood High School football coach Dewey Combs; Branson cyclist and Silver Dollar City co-founder Peter Herschend; and Springfield swimmer Ellen Gale Hopkins Green. 

Education

Bernie Dana, associate professor of business at Evangel University, was re-elected as board chairman for the American Health Care Association's National Quality Award Program. Dana began working for Evangel in 2001, and previously spent 28 years as an executive and consultant in the long-term health care industry.

The Missouri State Council of Mathematic Teachers named Immaculate Conception Elementary teacher Jean Weissler Outstanding Middle School Math Teacher of the Year. Weissler has worked at Springfield Catholic Schools for 19 years and served as math competition coach for 18 years.

Nixa Public Schools received the Distinction in Performance accreditation from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. It is the fourth consecutive year the district has received the award, which recognizes academic performance in the state's 14 academic standards, including scores from state tests, gradation rates and ACT scores.

Southwest Baptist University physical therapy professor Amber Fleer and instructor Kelly Coleman were recognized by the school's board of trustees for becoming orthopaedic specialists through the American Board of Physical Therapy.

Reggie Hoskins joined Ozarks Technical Community College's Center for Workforce Development as business manager and work force specialist.

Hoskins has more than 30 years of experience, including time with Kraft Foods and Oscar Meyer Foods.

Springfield Public Schools received authorization from the International Baccalaureate Organization to list the Middle Years program at Pipkin Middle School and Central High School as an IB World School, making it one of only two in Missouri. The IB Middle Years Program is a five-year international education program for sixth-10th-grade students.

Government

David Richards was appointed to the State Historical Records Advisory Board, which promotes and supports identification and preservation of historical records. Richards has been head of the special collections and archives department at Missouri State University's Duane G. Meyer LIbrary since 1997, and he served on the state board 2003-07.

Health Care

Citizens Memorial Healthcare received a $500,000 Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's rural development division. The grant provides broadband, telecommunication and distance learning services to the rural parts of the CMH service area.

Seven Springfield nonprofits received grants from the Missouri Foundation for Health: Citizens Memorial Healthcare, $200,000; Advocates for a Healthy Community Inc., $282,425; The Kitchen Inc., $154,430; Springfield-Greene County Health Department, $20,302; Home Parenteral Services, $10,171; Isabel's House, $19,076; and Polk County House of Hope, $19,980. The grants support access to primary care, health literacy and strategic planning.

Clarke Orthopedic Clinic and Surgical Center received reaccreditation from the Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation. The center was reaccredited for the maximum three years, following an evaluation by the commission.

Hospitality

Elliott Lodging's two Candlewood Suites in Springfield received awards at the national annual meeting of the InterContinental Hotel Group. Candlewood Suites on Republic Road was named top new hotel, and the North Glenstone Avenue property received the IHG Quality Excellence Award.

Insurance

Hollister-based Connell Insurance received the 2009 Purveyor of the Year Award from the Missouri Restaurant Association. Connell helped develop the MRA Insurance Trust for workers' compensation insurance and has been the organization's endorsed insurance provider for 20 years.

Nonprofit

Sue George, an early childhood education professor at Missouri State University, received the MS Achievement Award from the Mid-America Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The award recognizes contributions to the MS movement in the past year. George was diagnosed with MS in the mid-1990s and has been involved with Bike MS since 1999, running the overnight rally at the event for the last two years.

The Safety Council of the Ozarks received grants from four businesses to support the Car Seats for Kids program. Donations came from Sam's Club in south Springfield, Walmart Supercenter on South Campbell Avenue, Caterpillar Inc. in Pomona and Lockton Cos. LLC in Kansas City. The program provides education on the use and installation of child safety seats.

Ozarks Regional YMCA received a $5,000 grant from the JC Penney after-school fund. The grant allows the YMCA to provide financial assistance to new and previously enrolled students in kindergarten-fifth grade who cannot afford to participate in after-school programs.

Services

Bug Zero Inc.'s Michael Woodring and Charles Valentine completed a training program at Bed Bug University in New Jersey. The three-day pest control program focused on managing bed bug infestations in homes, hotels and apartments.

Transportation

The Ozarks Chapter of the Institute of Transportation Engineers presented its 2009 Professional Recognition Awards. The Missouri Department of Transportation District 8 in Springfield received the Transportation Achievement Award-Operations, for the diverging-diamond interchange at Interstate 44 and Kansas Expressway. The office also received the award in the facilities category, along with the city of Springfield and Greene County, for road improvements related to the Springfield-Branson National Airport's midfield terminal. The Transportation Achievement Award-Private Company went to the Springfield office of Olsson Associates, for its designs of an east-west arterial road connecting U.S. Highway 65 to Campbell Avenue, a Route CC corridor in Christian County and an east-west connection in Taney County. Distinguished Service Awards went to Gary Ludlam and Harry Price for lifetime achievement, and the Transportation Professional of the Year Award went to Springfield Director of Aviation Gary Cyr for oversight of the new terminal.