Newsmakers

Dake Wells Architecture received four design awards from the American Institute of Architects in this year’s DA08 awards program. The System, a Paul Mitchell Partner School, received a Citation Award; Stoutland Schools received a Merit Award; and Joel E. Barber Elementary School received an Honor Award, the program’s highest honor, and an Award for Small Schools.

Community

Queen City Sertoma Club appointed new officers at its annual Awards & Installation Banquet. Mary Anne Rose, PriceCutter Stores Inc., was installed as president. Other officers include Shanna Snider, president-elect; Merissa Angell, vice president; Kate Plank, secretary; Jackie Wright, treasurer; and Teresa Lynch, sergeant-at-arms.

Warren Davis, owner of Davis Properties, was named to The Arc of the Ozarks Board of Directors. Davis is a Drury University graduate.

Ten Ozarks area volunteers were chosen as Volunteers of the Year at the 2008 Gift of Time Volunteer Recognition and Award Luncheon. Awarded volunteers include: Derva Trower, Center for the Blind of the Assemblies of God; Nora Young, Court Appointed Special Advocates; Sharyn Wagoner, Good Samaritan Boys Ranch; Henry J. “Jack” Rolfe, Long-term Care Ombudsman; Ralph Bowman, CoxHealth; Retha Bowman, CoxHealth; John Webb, Disabled American Veterans; Patricia Haas, The Greater Ozarks Chapter of the Compassionate Friends; Clyde Jones, Southwest Missouri Office on Aging; and Nancy Walker, Ozark County Senior Center.

Education

The Missouri Juvenile Justice Association named Greene County Juvenile Office’s Road to Reunification Program the 2008 Innovative Program Award for Excellence in a Juvenile Court Program.

Employment

Spherion Corp. announced two new employees. The company hired Anthony John as business development manager for its Springfield office. John has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brigham Young University. Janelle Durington joined Spherion as client service supervisor of the Springfield office. Durington has a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management from Missouri Southern State University.

Government

The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators named the Missouri Dealer Renewal Process Improvement Team in the Department of Revenue the International Award winner in customer service excellence.

Three area nonprofit organizations received approval for tax credits from the Missouri Department of Economic Development’s Neighborhood Assistance Program. Horses of Hope in Buffalo will receive $295,295; Christian Associates of Table Rock Lake in Kimberling City will receive $185,009; and The Boys & Girls Club of Springfield will receive $152,664.

Cecil Richardson, a graduate of Evangel University, was promoted to major general and named U.S. Air Force Chief of Chaplains, following a nomination by President George W. Bush. Prior to this appointment, Richardson served as U.S. Air Force Deputy Chief of Chaplains.

The team that developed Gov. Matt Blunt’s Missouri Accountability Portal initiative earned an American Business Award. The Information Technology Services Division Team won the Best MIS and IT Team Category for the development of www.mapyourtaxes.mo.gov.

Robert Shotts, of Lebanon, was named to the Missouri Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors and Landscape Architects. Shotts is president of Robert S. Shotts Inc. and a managing member for Ruble, Riggs and Shotts LLC.

J. Howard Fisk, of Springfield, was named to the Missouri Workforce Investment Board. Fisk is the president of J. Howard Fisk Limousine Inc.

Ronald Kemp, of Bolivar, was named to the State Committee of Marital and Family Therapists. Kemp is the founder and director of the Family Institute of the Ozarks.

Health Care

Oxford HealthCare promoted Kim Sisk to executive director of in-home services. Sisk is responsible for planning, organizing and directing all day-to-day operations of the division throughout 25 southwest Missouri counties. Sisk most recently served as the agency’s in-home services director for Springfield.

Orthodontics specialist Dr. Frank Sharp received board certification through the voluntary examination process of The American Board of Orthodontics.

Dan Burns, employee benefit specialist for Employee Benefit Design, is now a member of Cox HealthPlans’ 2008 Million Dollar Club. The honor goes to agents with a book of business of more than $1 million in premiums with Cox HealthPlans through 2007. Burns has been an owner of Employee Benefit Design since 1997.

Pregnancy Care Center in Springfield received a $5,000 challenge grant from the Darr Family Foundation. The grant is for the “Cares Campaign – Capital Campaign for Growth,” which will allow Pregnancy Care Center to relocate its services to a larger facility.

Insurance

Tom and Andrea Croley of Croley Insurance and Financial attended the 2008 Institute for America’s Health Insurance Plans in San Francisco, which covers topics related to legislation, trends and innovations in health care. They also participated in a wellness consultation program at the California Health and Longevity Institute.