Newsmakers

Walton Construction Co. announced three promotions in its Springfield division. Darren Beck, Adam Parks and Darren Wagner were promoted to project manager. Beck joined Walton in 2004 and primarily works on industrial, educational and religious facilities. Parks, who joined Walton in 2005, is managing a new courtroom facility and 280-bed jail project for Taney County. Wagner has seven years of experience in project management and estimating for site grading. All three men have bachelor’s degrees in construction management from Missouri State University.

Education

Nicholas Reasor represented the Evangel University Students in Free Enterprise at the AIG Credit Counseling Challenge training seminar in New York City. Reasor is a freshman management major. The seminar is part of a three-year program that concludes in fall 2010.

Engineering

Springfield-based Anderson Engineering Inc. announced several new hires and promotions.

John T. Snider is engineering department manager and geotechnical engineer in Anderson’s Joplin office. Snider has more than 23 years of engineering experience, including nine years as a geotechnical engineer and materials testing engineer for Miller Engineers & Scientists in Sheboygan, Wis. He also served nearly 10 years in the U.S. Army as an engineering leader and commander.

Brandon Keith is associate engineer in the engineering and materials departments in the Springfield office. He is a 2000 graduate of Missouri Institute of Science & Technology, formerly University of Missouri-Rolla.

Dylan Gideon is a design engineer in the Springfield office. He graduated from Missouri S&T in December.

Lynn Evans is a staff engineer in the Springfield office. She received a master’s degree in civil engineering with specialization in transportation engineering from University of Illinois.

Steven Brady and Neil Brady were promoted. Steven Brady is CEO and chairman of the board. He has a bachelor’s degree from Missouri S&T and a master’s degree from the University of Florida and had been president of the firm since 1992. Neil Brady is president. He is a Missouri S&T graduate who joined the firm in 1995.

Environment

Springfield-based Environmental Works promoted Charley Welch to operations manager in its Kansas City, Kan., regional office. He joined the company in 2000 as an environmental technician in the Springfield office and most recently was a senior field supervisor. He is now responsible for the overall management of EWI Kansas City field services.

Finance

BKD Wealth Advisors promoted Chad D. Tillery to supervising adviser. He assists in coordinating investments, retirement and benefit planning, insurance, tax and estate planning needs for high net-worth families and business owners. He has a bachelor’s degree in personal finance planning from Kansas State University.

BKD promoted Jeremy Clopton to senior consultant. Clopton graduated from Drury University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. As a member of BKD’s forensic and consulting division, he assists clients with fraud investigations, fraud prevention and data mining services.

Government

Lee Ferber, of Springfield, was one of nine members selected by Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon to serve on the Reynolds County Educational Enrichment Fund.

The fund is one of two set up following the state’s $179.5 million settlement with AmerenUE over the collapse of the Taum Sauk Reservoir in Reynolds County in December 2005.

Gov. Matt Blunt announced several appointments to state boards and commissions. Patrick Chambers, of Nevada, is a member of the Independent Living Council. He is director of services for independent living with On My Own Inc. and attended Central Missouri State University.

Emily Pohlsander, of Bolivar, is a member of the State Interagency Coordinating Council. She is a stay-at-home mother who previously worked for two newspapers and as an administrative assistant for a bank in North Carolina. Pohlsander has a bachelor’s degree from MSU.

Ron Boyer, of Fair Grove, was appointed to the Air Conservation Commission. He is chief operating officer of Surefire Strategies LLC and has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from MSU.

Health Care

Karen Hood, director of financial aid at Cox College of Nursing and Health Sciences, was a scheduled presenter at the Missouri Association of Student Financial Aid Personnel Spring Conference 2008. She represented the private school industry in a panel discussion and presentation regarding campus-based aid. Hood joined Cox College in 2005 and oversees federal financial aid.

Insurance

Doug Robertson and Paul Spuhl, Springfield agents for Farmers Insurance Group, completed the Career Agents Course at the University of Farmers in Agoura Hills, Calif. The five-day course is targeted to enhance the professional skills of Farmers’ agents.

Danny A. O’Neal, vice president of Southern Missouri Bank of Marshfield, qualified for the Court of the Table of the Million Dollar Round Table. Insurance professionals with Achieving Court of the Table status are selected for their knowledge, client service and ethical conduct.

Law

Deanna Scott, director of litigation for Legal Services of Southern Missouri, was elected to The Missouri Bar Board of Governors. She represents the 44 counties comprising the Missouri Southern Court of Appeals District. Scott fills one of three seats added for members with unique experience or knowledge, or diverse characteristics.

Utility

Missouri Institute of Cooperatives recognized Springfield resident and former rural electric cooperative leader Neil Adams with its Cooperative Heritage Award. The award honors individuals who were instrumental in the development of cooperatives in Missouri. Adams was the first general manager of Associated Electric Cooperative, leading the company from 1962–71. Springfield-based AECI generates wholesale power supply for six regional generation and transmission cooperatives and 39 local distribution cooperatives in Missouri.