Newsmakers

The Kiwanis Club of Downtown Springfield announced three new members: Jenny Reynolds, vice president of marketing at CU Community Credit Union; Andy Thompson, senior consultant at BKD LLP; and Andrew Wiemer, regional director of admissions at Drury University.

Education

Five Evangel University students attended the annual Council for Exceptional Children Convention & Expo in Boston. Jeanine Bartels, Sarah Gleason, Dana Kincaid, Michael Ogle and Lauren Silva made Evangel’s first trip to the conference, which includes workshops on teaching students with special needs.

Evangel awarded 12 incoming freshmen with the 2008 Founders Scholarship, the highest academic scholarship available from the university. Two freshmen, Allison Berner of Augusta, Kan., and Adam Grumke, of Blue Springs, will receive full-tuition scholarships. Ten half-tuition scholarships also were awarded.

Margaret Butler, librarian at Cherokee Middle School, was named the 2008 Linda Luke Librarian of the Year by the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools. Butler received an $800 cash award and the Cherokee library will receive a $200 cash award.

Wave Nunnally, professor of early Judaism and Christian origins at Evangel, received a second place 2008 Higher Goals award at the Evangelical Press Association’s annual convention in Portland, Ore. Nunnally was awarded for his article, “The Sins of Generational Curse,” in Enrichment journal.

Mark Kelton, Evangel associate professor of communication, presented a paper at the American Educational Research Association meeting in New York City. Kelton’s paper, “The Relationship Between Communication Styles of College Presidents and Use of Power in Leadership,” is based on his dissertation research.

Fuel

Curtis Jared, co-founder of Cody’s Convenience Stores, was named president and CEO of the company. Jared, who has a degree in business from Drury, has been with the parent company of Cody’s, Jared Enterprises, for more than six years. Cody’s also promoted Tom Cook and Bruce Mueller. Cook, who has 21 years of experience in the convenience store industry and has been with Cody’s since 2006, is vice president of store operations. Mueller, who most recently served as store manager, is district manager.

Government

Thomas Pinegar, president of Pinegar Chevrolet Inc., was appointed to the Life Sciences Research Board. The appointment is subject to Missouri Senate confirmation for a term ending April 8, 2012.

Health Care

Carol Gourley joined The Gardens Assisted Living as director of nursing. Gourley is a licensed practicing nurse with several years of health care experience.

BKD Health Care Group promoted Rodney Dwyer and Aaron Rickard to senior consultant.

Dwyer, who has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s of business administration from Columbia College, provides consulting services to home-care providers.

Rickard, who has a bachelor’s degree in finance from Missouri State University and a master’s in business administration from St. Louis University, provides financial consulting services to nursing home facilities and community health centers.

Insurance

American National Property and Casualty Co. announced several promotions.

ANPAC promoted Kristee Buff to assistant vice president of human resources. Buff most recently served as the company’s human resources director.

Stuart Paulson was promoted to vice president, deputy general counsel, assistant corporate secretary. Paulson most recently served as assistant vice president, deputy general counsel.

Konrad Hendrickson was promoted to assistant vice president, associate general counsel, commercial-agribusiness claims officer from associate general counsel.

Greg Eck and Donna Pearcy were promoted to assistant vice president, assistant controller from assistant controller.

Real Estate

Murney Associates, Realtors ranked among the top 100 performing real estate firms in the country according to the 2007 Power Broker report, a product of Real Estate Magazine publisher RISMedia. The company ranked 69th nationally among firms in Sold Residential Transaction Sides for 2008. [[In-content Ad]]