Butler, Rosenbury & Partners was named a Top Design Firm nationally by Hotel & Motel Management magazine based on lodging revenue June 2007-June 2008. Current BRP hospitality studio clients include John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, HCW LLC, Spring Mountain Hotel LLC and Dunn Hospitality Group.
BRP also was selected as one of 15 design firms in this year's Hilton Architect's Roundtable Program. BRP representatives will attend a three-day event in January in Wisconsin to learn more about Hilton Hotels Corp.'s building standards. BRP has worked on 23 projects nationwide for Hilton-brand hotels, including Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn properties.
Banking
Jamie Harrod joined the board of Arvest Bank Springfield. Harrod, president of Liberty Dock Co. in Springfield, has more than 30 years of corporate and private business experience, including co-founding The Great Outdoors Grill Co. in Joplin.
Arvest added Shaun Kellar and Casondra Harris to its West Republic Road branch. Kellar brings five years of banking experience to his role as branch manager. He has a degree in business finance from Missouri State University. Harris also has five years of banking experience and serves as assistant manager.
Community
Lake Country Soccer appointed Dan Wichmer as president for a two-year term. Wichmer, city attorney for the city of Springfield, oversees a nine-member volunteer board. Chad Jaeger, Jerry Harmison and Scott Henderson also were appointed to the organization's board of directors.
Education
The Foundation for Springfield Public Schools elected new officers for its 2008-09 board. Kim Sullivan of Morelock-Ross is president; Allen Kunkel of Missouri State University is president-elect; Stephanie Montgomery of Ron Stenger Cos. is secretary; Beau Barrett of Kirkpatrick, Phillips & Miller CPAs PC is treasurer; and Tony Shalloup is past president. Also new to the foundation board are community volunteer Jana Bachus, Anne Liners Brett of Cox College, Phil Grafft of Fitzgerald First Realty, Joseph Reid of Lathrop & Gage LC and Nancy Riggs of Penmac.
Government
Gov. Matt Blunt appointed the Missouri Complete Count Committee, which will work to ensure the state is accurately represented in the 2010 census. Blunt appointed two people from the Springfield area: Springfield Mayor Tom Carlson and Camden County Presiding Commissioner Carolyn Loraine. Their terms end in June 2011.
Health Care
Springfield-based Clinvest Clinical Research is participating in a study with PHT Corp., a manufacturer of electronic diaries for monitoring patients' pain. Clinvest will measure cognitive deficits during migraine attacks; the company has conducted more than 200 Phase II-IV clinical research trials at its Springfield facility.
Insurance
Debra Wehner joined Employee Benefit Design LLC as an employee benefits producer. Wehner has 20 years of experience, most recently with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, and she also has her Health Insurance Associate designation. She specializes in new group business development of medical, dental, life, vision, employee-assistance and flex programs.
Law
Richard Van Pelt and Kay Ann Van Pelt of Van Pelt & Van Pelt PC were named Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers for 2008. The honor recognizes the top 5 percent of attorneys in Missouri and Kansas chosen by their peers and through independent research.
Rachel A. Riso joined Daniel, Wesley, Powell & Brewer as an associate. Riso has a bachelor's degree from University of Northern Iowa and a law degree from University of Kansas School of Law. Her primary areas of practice are civil trials and appeals, insurance defense, personal injury and family law.
Springfield event venue Belamour LLC gained new ownership; The Wok on West Bypass opened; and Hawk Barber & Shop closed on a business purchase that expanded its footprint to Ozark.
