Newsmakers

Larry Barnett joined Southern Missouri Bank of Marshfield as vice president in lending. Barnett, a Marshfield native, has more than 34 years of experience in the banking industry.

Citizens National Bank promoted Tracy Watkins, Kim Strain and Amy Crane. Watkins is senior vice president of commercial lending. He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Missouri State University and a financial management degree from the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin. He has 21 years of banking experience and has been with CNB since 2003. Strain is vice president of loan review. She has a bachelor’s degree in finance and management and a Master of Business Administration from MSU. She has 17 years of banking experience. Crane is branch operations officer and is responsible for supervising the teller and new accounts operations at the bank’s East Sunshine Street location. She has a bachelor’s degree in business from Indiana University and seven years of banking experience.

Jessica O’Sullivan joined Guaranty Bank as a commercial loan assistant. She assists lenders with completing documentation for commercial loan origination, processing and closing as well as providing administrative assistance within the department. She has more than five years of banking experience.

Empire Bank named Scott McDonald Nixa community president. He has 10 years of banking experience – most recently as vice president of Empire Bank’s Nixa branch. He has a bachelor’s degree in finance from MSU and is completing his master’s degree in business administration.

Michelle Louden joined The Bank of Missouri as an assistant commercial loan officer. She has three years of banking experience and 10 years of experience in the insurance industry. She previously was a senior commercial loan assistant for Liberty Bank, with an emphasis on U.S. Small Business Administration loan origination.

Community

Experience Works Inc. added two employees to its staff that aids seniors with their job skills. Pam Cotter is employment and training coordinator for Christian, Dallas, Greene, Stone and Taney counties. Susan Jackson-Falls is business and community liaison for the Missouri/Illinois region, which covers 104 Missouri counties and 62 Illinois counties.

Robin Rees, marketing officer for Peoples Bank of the Ozarks, was elected vice chairman of the board for the Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce. It is Rees’ second year serving on the board of directors.

Two Drury University employees received the Building Lives award at Habitat for Humanity of Springfield’s annual award ceremony. Traci Sooter, associate professor of architecture, and Rick Jakeman, director of leadership and volunteer development, received the award, given annually as a special recognition for those who further the goals and projects of Habitat Springfield.

Construction

Bret McGowne, local Wood ReNew & Tile Too! franchise owner, was recognized with the franchise system’s Most Valuable Promoter Award at the company’s annual convention in Nashville, Tenn. He also received the awards for Best Networker and Largest Percentage of Reseals in 2007.

Education

Eliezer Oyola, Spanish professor at Evangel University, presented a paper at the National Association of Hispanic and Latino Studies national conference in Baton Rouge, La. Oyola’s paper, titled “Culture, Identity and Coexistence in a Post-9/11 Democracy,” was one of 500 selected from more than 1,100 submissions.

Evangel promoted Cathy Williams to registrar. Williams has worked at Evangel for more than 20 years, most recently serving as assistant registrar.

Health Care

Citizens Memorial Healthcare added urologist Dr. John A. Boullier to its staff. Boullier attended medical school at St. Louis University School of Medicine, where he also completed an internship and general surgery and urology residencies.

Family Pharmacy Inc. announced its annual company award winners. Steve Lindwedel was named Employee of the Year, and Tera Sanders was Pharmacist of the Year. Also, four employees were inducted into the Family Pharmacy Hall of Fame: Jerry Kling, Vickie Melton, Larry Cook and Jim McLaughlin.

Hospitality

Elliott Lodging added Steve Hager and Shelby Williams to the company’s hotel management team. Hager is general manager for the south Springfield Baymont Inn & Suites. Hager, who has eight years of hotel experience, also serves as GM of the Arbor Suites at the Mall. Williams is Elliott Lodging’s sales director. He began in the hotel sales and marketing business in 2003.[[In-content Ad]]