Newsmakers

Theta Alpha Delta, the Evangel University chapter of the American Criminal Justice Association, attended the Association’s Region 3 annual conference in Liberal, Kan. College students from nine states attended the conference, which included a job fair, workshops and competitions. Evangel won trophies in all categories: academic testing, criminal investigation team, firearms team, physical agility

obstacle course and firearms team competition.

Education

Earle Doman, dean of students at Missouri State University, received the James J. Rhatigan Outstanding Dean Award at the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators’ conference. The award is presented to a dean who has sustained professional service in student personnel work, high-level competency in administrative skills, innovative responses to student needs and leadership in community and university affairs.

Nixa R-2 School District received the Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce Impact Award and was named Chamber Member of the Year. The school district was recognized for its educational practices, parent and community involvement, and for being Nixa’s largest employer.

Southwest Baptist University’s competitive programming team finished in the Top 10 at the IBM-sponsored Mid-Central Region Battle of the Brains for computer science students. SBU was the top-ranked Christian school in the Mid-Central Region and the top school competing without students from a graduate program.

Engineering

The Ozark Chapter of the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers presented $979 to the Science, Technology, Engineering & Math Club at Buffalo Prairie Middle School in Buffalo. The grant money, from MSPE’s State Educational Foundation, will be used to purchase materials and supplies for hands-on engineering activities.

Environment

Environmental Works Inc. was one of four firms to be awarded an estimated $1.5 million contract by the state of Missouri to provide hazardous substance cleanup and disposal services on a statewide level. Under the contract, EWI will provide emergency response services for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and nonemergency service for other state agencies.

Suzan Gonder, principal scientist and division manager of railroad services at Environmental Works, received the 2007 Silver Spike Award for Outstanding Performance by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co. EWI has provided environmental services to BNSF since its inception in 1992. Gonder has worked with BNSF for nine years and is the railroad’s primary contact at EWI.

The American Tree Farm System, a program of the American Forest Foundation, chose Missouri Tree Farm Inspector Ryan Dawson as Central States Region 2006 National Inspector of the Year. Dawson, of El Dorado Springs, has been a volunteer inspector for the Missouri Tree Farm System for more than two years. He covers three counties in west-central Missouri working with landowners on a variety of forest types.

Health Care

Springfield general dentist Dr. John Hume received the Distinguished Service Award at the 2007 Missouri Dental Association House of Delegates. The award recognized his years of service and dedication to the dental profession. He received his dental degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry and joined the MDA in 1975.

Hospitality

Elliott Lodging promoted Olivia Nunn to general manager. Nunn previously served as a customer service manager; under her guidance the hotel had a 20 percent sales increase in 2007.

Five associates of John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts’ Residence Inn by Marriott-Joplin received $100 awards during the hotel’s third quarter 2007 Safety Initiative. They were Allen Cleveland, Tommy Reinschmidt, Laqueta Gentry, Melissa Henderson and Cheryl Bertling. Awards are offered at the end of each quarter during which the hotel does not experience a safety incident.

Insurance

Janet Nothnagel and Donna Allen of PJC Insurance attended the annual National Association of Insurance Women International Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The two represented the local chapter, Insurance Association of the Ozarks, and participated in various educational workshops, professional seminars, a trade show and general business sessions.

Nothnagel, the company’s executive agency coordinator, also received the Insurance Professional of the Year award from Insurance Association of the Ozarks. She has been a member of the association for more than 16 years and has served as a board member on various local, state and regional committees. She served as president during the 2006–07 year.

PJC also announced that Melissa Shelton joined the company’s personal lines department. She has more than seven years of experience in personal and commercial lines sales in Missouri and Arkansas.

Law

MSU hired Clifton M. “Clif” Smart III as its general counsel. Smith has more than 15 years of experience practicing law with The Strong Law Firm PC, primarily representing individuals and entities in catastrophic injury, medical malpractice and commercial cases.