Newsmakers

The Southeast Rotary Club named Springfield Police Officer Kevin Sweckard Officer of the Year. The award recognizes a public service employee who goes above and beyond in daily efforts for the community. Sweckard is assigned to the Community Oriented Police Section.

Education

Drury University’s Community Literacy Program received $8,394 from the Darr Family Foundation. The literacy program provides one-on-one reading and writing tutoring for elementary students, matching children in the Boyd Elementary service area with Drury students majoring in education.

Tim Dilg was promoted to principal of Springfield Catholic High School, beginning July 1. Dilg has a master’s degree in secondary education from Drury. In seven years at Springfield Catholic, Dilg has served in a variety of positions including elementary and high school coach, English teacher, high school academic adviser and assistant high school principal.

Springfield Catholic Schools hired Cheryl Hall as principal of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Elementary School. Hall has master’s degrees in elementary education and administration. Hall has served as a teacher and summer school principal for Springfield Public Schools for seven years.

Ozarks Technical Community College Tech Prep student Andrew Neil was named one of the Missouri Tech Prep Students of the Year. Neil, a student at Willard High School, was chosen based on commitment to career and technical education, academic achievement, involvement in school or community and leadership.

The Missouri Colleges Fund received two donations to help educate students in member private liberal-arts colleges and universities, including Evangel, Drury and Southwest Baptist universities. The Herman T. & Phenie R. Pott Foundation contributed $35,000, and Edward Jones contributed $17,000.

Entertainment

Nancy Bright was promoted to acting general manager of the Missouri Entertainment and Event Center. Bright has been with Ozark Empire Fair for eight years, serving most recently as assistant manager.

Finance

Gary Schafer II is the newest partner at BKD LLP. Schafer has 12 years of experience providing audit and assurance services to manufacturing, retail and service businesses. As a certified management accountant, he also consults on financial and management issues, including due diligence on mergers and acquisitions and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reporting and compliance. He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Missouri State University.

Government

Randall Angst, of Lebanon, joined the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board. Angst, a Missouri State University graduate, is the owner of Bailey’s Television Inc. and previously served as a state representative for the 146th district.

The U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Greg Kays, of Lebanon, to be a U.S. District Court Judge for the Western District of Missouri. Kays most recently served as a state circuit court judge.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources awarded nearly $1.68 million in grants to the 20 solid waste management districts in Missouri. District O, which includes Christian, Dallas, Greene, Polk and Webster counties, received $59,923.

Health Care

Dr. James Bonucchi joined CoxHealth’s Center for Internal Medicine. Bonucchi earned his medical degree in endocrinology at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Iowa.

Dr. Matthew Green joined Cox Family Practice and Obstetrics of Monett. Green earned his medical degree from Oklahoma State University and completed his residency with the Cox Family Medicine Residency program.

Diana Liermann was hired as the resident manager of The Fremont, an assisted-living community for people age 55 and older, scheduled to open this summer. Liermann has a degree in gerontology from MSU.

Dr. Scott Henke joined St. John’s Clinic–Emergency Medicine. Henke received his medical degree from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, and completed an internal medicine residency with Doctors Hospital of Stark County in Massillon, Ohio.

St. John’s Clinic cardiologist Dr. Lakshmi Parvathaneni was appointed an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation at MSU. Parvathaneni is involved in the department in a series of research initiatives in the realm of women’s wellness.

Dr. Bruce Hedgepeth joined St. John’s Breast Center. Hedgepeth received his medical education from the University of Arizona College of Medicine and completed his residency training with Southern Illinois University.

Dr. Robert Cavagnol joined St. John’s Clinic–General & Specialty Surgery. Cavagnol received his medical education from Wayne State University in Detroit and completed his residency with University Hospital at the University of Cincinnati.

Dr. Brent Gibson joined St. John’s Clinic–Occupational Medicine. Gibson received his medical education at the Medical College of Georgia, School of Medicine, and completed his residency training with the National Capital Consortium in Washington, D.C.

The Pregnancy Care Center in Springfield appointed three members to its Board of Directors: Darrell Decker, Debbie Johnson and Judd McNaughton. The board provides expertise and recruits financial support for the center.

Jamille Twedt, a registered nurse with Skaggs Community Health Center in Branson, received the Florence Nightingale Memorial Award for the region. Twedt, a registered nurse since 1978, has been with Skaggs since 1998.

Oxford HealthCare appointed Elizabeth Lee as director of hospice. Lee has 30 years of hospice experience, including involvement in developing Midwest Palliative and Hospice CareCenter and founding board membership with The Children’s Place Association of Chicago.

Insurance

Paul Atchley, of Nixa, attended a life insurance seminar in Rock Island, Ill., as a representative with Modern Woodmen of America. The program focused on helping families with insurance plans, annuities and fraternal member benefits.

Blake E. Evans joined SMI Group, a division of BancorpSouth Insurance, as a full-time commercial lines property/casualty producer. Evans had been an intern for SMI Group since June 2006 and graduated from Drury in May with a degree in communications.

Law

David Ransin of David W. Ransin PC was named Best Solo Practitioner in Missouri for 2007 by Missouri Lawyers Weekly. Ransin’s practice is limited to catastrophic injury and death litigation, primarily from car, motorcycle and tractor-trailer crashes.

Retail

Reliable RV received the 2008 Circle of Excellence award from Winnebago Industries Inc. The award is given for excellence in customer satisfaction, based on sales and customer response.

Reliable Mazda earned Mazda Gold Cup certification for 2008 for dedication to customer satisfaction. Mazda Gold Cup is the highest honor a dealer can receive from Mazda.

ABC Supply Co. Inc. promoted Jeff Durr to managing partner.

Previously the manager of the company’s Springfield store, Durr has been with ABC Supply since 1998. Durr will continue to oversee the Springfield branch while becoming a member of the company’s National Branch Advisory Board.

Technology

ISG Technology Inc. hired three new staff members. Dave Sharon is senior account executive specializing in sales, account management and consultation. Sharon has 20 years of experience in telecommunications and technology.

Bill Riley is senior Cisco engineer specializing in IP telephony, network communications and security. Riley has nine years of experience in the telecommunications and technology industries.

Jackie Jennings is service coordinator. Jennings has more than 25 years of customer service experience, with 15 years as a service administrator.

Utilities

Empire District Electric Co. promoted Lance Burbridge to director of commercial operations–east, which covers the Joplin, Branson, Aurora and Bolivar areas. Burbridge has been with Empire since 1972. [[In-content Ad]]