Newsmakers

Community

The Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau announced its 2009 board of directors. New members are Erik Fjeseth, Battlefield Mall manager; Tim O'Reilly, Doubletree Hotel owner; Kevin Mackey, Springfield Brewing Co. manager; and Randall Blackwood, Missouri State University director of athletic and entertainment facilities.

BKD LLP partner Andy Lear was named Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce's 2009 board chairman. He succeeds Doug Pitt of ServiceWorld Computer Center. Other members of the executive committee are Chairman-elect Tim Rosenbury of Butler, Rosenbury & Partners; Vice Chairman of Community Development and Special Events Bonnie Keller of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks; Vice Chairman of Economic Development John Schaefer of Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Co.; Vice Chairman of Membership Dwayne Fulk of The Law Firm of Neale and Newman; Vice Chairman of Public Affairs Jerry Harmison of Harmison & Pearman PC; Treasurer Scott Miller of City Utilities; and Assistant Treasurer Mark McNay of SMC Packaging Group.

Education

Missouri State University's Harry Cook and Herb Lunday received the Excellence in Community Service Award. Employees must be nominated and full-time staff members for three years to receive the award, which recognizes community efforts and volunteer work. They each receive a plaque and $1,200 cash award.

MSU honored six employees with its Staff Excellence in University Service Award. Casey Comoroski, Melissa J. Jett, Pam Morrissey, Nicole Rovig, Doug Sampson and Roger Tuttle received the award, which honors full-time administrative, professional and support staff who have at least one year at MSU and strive to go beyond the call of duty in a special situation. The recipients each receive a $1,500 cash award.

Financial

Waddell & Reed Financial Advisors hired Brent Davis and Shweta N. Agarwal to serve the Springfield area. Davis most recently was a specifications editor for PB2 Architecture & Engineering in Rogers, Ark., and Agarwal was a software developer for PHS Computer consultants for six years.



Government

Gov. Jay Nixon named Col. Stephen L. Danner, of Hollister, as designee for adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard. Danner oversees the Army and Air National Guard units the federal government assigns to Missouri. He has been in the military for more than 30 years and has received several awards including the Meritorious Service Medal and National Defense Medal with two Bronze Service Stars. He earned a law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law in 1980.

Health Care

Butterfield Residential Care Center and Citizens Memorial Healthcare Facility in Bolivar, and Colonial Springs Healthcare Center in Buffalo, all received highest remarks during a recertification visit for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Star Status designation, a voluntary protection program that improves and rewards employee safety measures in long-term-care facilities.