Newsmakers

Architecture

Cecily Laney earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Laney is an associate architect with Sam A. Winn & Associates Architects PC, where she has worked since 1999.

Education

Evangel University assistant professor Bernie Dana was the keynote speaker for the 11th annual Assisted Living Symposium, sponsored by the Texas Health Care Association. Dana presented "Effective Leadership: Finding the Path to Performance Excellence," as well as a professional development program on decision making and problem solving.

Evangel professor Alina Lehnert earned her doctorate in organizational leadership with emphasis in human resource development from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va. Lehnert teaches organizational leadership and is also associate director of leadership and strength development for the university.

Pepsi-Cola awarded four Missouri State University students public affairs scholarships, worth $1,000 each. The recipients are Melissa Fagan, Andrew Keaster, Blake Keaster and Joshua Snowden.

Finance

Charles Greene joined the local advisory board of directors for Commerce Bank's Springfield region. Greene is a partner at Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP, working primarily in business law, commercial real estate, and mergers and acquisitions.

Paula Dougherty of Ameriprise Financial Services was named a platinum adviser. She is one of about 15 percent of the 10,000 Ameriprise advisers nationally to achieve the status, based on completion of specialized training and advanced industry recognized qualifications.

Becky Bonner joined Central Trust & Investment Co. as vice president, relationship manager. Bonner is responsible for the trust administration departments in the Springfield and Branson offices of Central Trust & Investment, an affiliate of Central Bancompany. Bonner has a business administration degree from Drury University and is a certified Individual Retirement Account Services Professional.

Hospitality

Comfort Suites Medical District in Springfield was named Inn of the Year by Choice Hotels International Inc., franchisor of the Comfort Suites brand. Comfort Suites Medical District has been No. 1 in overall scores for 14 consecutive months, based on guest satisfaction and quality assurance scores and unannounced on-site inspections.

Human Resources

J. Miles Personnel Services received a Top 10 Agency award from Inter-City Personnel Associates Inc. IPA is a group of 250 recruiting agencies across the country; the award recognizes the top 10 based on volume of business closed in 2008.

Insurance

Andrea and Trevor Croley of Croley Insurance and Financial received honors from Cox HealthPlans. Andrea was named a million-dollar producer, while Trevor was named a top individual producer for the health plan provider.

Kirk Reisner, principal at Advisor Insurance Agency LLC in Willard, achieved the certified insurance counselor designation from the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors. Reisner is a graduate of MSU's insurance and risk management program and also holds the associate in claims designation.

Manufacturing

Askinosie Chocolate received a silver medal from the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade in the chocolate category for the company's Del Tambo Ecuador chocolate bar. The company was one of five silver medalists nationwide among confectioners and chocolate makers.

Media

Randy Raley joined Journal Broadcast Group as on-air broadcaster for News Talk KSGF-AM/FM. Raley has more than 30 years in radio, including program director and on-air announcing duties in Kansas City, Iowa and Illinois. He has a communications degree from the University of Iowa.

The Glendale High School Falcon Yearbook and Quill Magazine both placed fifth in best of show categories during the National Scholastic Press Association's National Spring High School Journalism Convention. Glendale student Will Marrs also won a superior award in news writing, and student Zack Lee received an honorable mention award in sports writing.

Real Estate

Randell Wallace, partner with the Springfield office of Lathrop & Gage LLP, and Greg Williams, CEO of the Springfield Business Development Corp., represented SBDC at the Area Development Consultants Forum in Chicago. The forum, entitled "Optimizing Success: What Your Board Needs to Know," discussed best practices for economic developers.

Ethel Curbow, Realtor with Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realtors, received several awards at the Coldwell Banker International Business Conference. She was named No. 1 Sales Associate in Missouri, as well as one of the Top 10 for the nine-state northern region. She also was honored as a member of the company's International Sterling Society, whose members represent the top 8 percent of sales associates worldwide.

Aaron Wilken of Wilken LLC Realtors was named the Greater Springfield Board of Realtors 2008 Broker of the Year, and Laurie Anderson of Coldwell Banker Vanguard earned GSBOR's 2008 Salesperson of the Year honors.

Greater Springfield Board of Realtors CEO Sharon Wells and GSBOR Executive Assistant Sylvia Derks received the certified executive designation from the National Association of Realtors.

Lydia Akers joined the Brenda Cardin Team at Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realtors. Akers, formerly a second-grade teacher, works in residential home sales and has a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Sales

Jenna Davis of Xerox Document Solutions of Springfield received the 2008 President's Award, given to Xerox employees for outstanding performance in company product sales and customer satisfaction.

Service

Rick's Automotive received the Best Dressed Shop award from the Automotive Service Association of Missouri/Kansas. The award was presented during the organization's annual High-Tech Training & Expo in Overland Park, Kan.

Transportation

Lawrence and Barbara Schmidt, of Marshfield, received the Contractor Team of the Month award from Con-way Truckload. The two have a combined 74 years of driving experience.