Newsmakers

Pellham Phillips Architects and Engineers added three staff members. Pat Pierce, who has an associate of arts degree from Hawkeye Community College and ran her own architectural consulting firm, is architectural project manager. She works on hospitality projects, such as the Chateau on the Lake of the Ozarks. Jeff Cockrum is an architectural drafter/ detailer. He is a graduate of Draughan’s Business College and has several years of drafting experience. Carri Williamson joined the firm as a draftsman. She is a graduate of Vatterott College and also has an associate degree in business from Ozarks Technical Community College.

Business Development

The American Society of Quality named Missouri Enterprise Project Manager Shelly Hillhouse a Six Sigma Black Belt. Six Sigma is a systematic, data-driven, continuous-improvement methodology that enables companies to meet customer expectations. Missouri Enterprise is a not-for-profit corporation that provides business and technical assistance to Missouri companies.

Communications

Lindsay Stange-Bauer joined voice and data communications company Telec Inc. as a customer advocate. Stange-Bauer has a bachelor’s degree in business management from Missouri State University.

Community

George O. Wood started as Assemblies of God general superintendent. Wood, who spent the past 14 years as AG general secretary, succeeds Thomas E. Trask. Wood’s newly elected executive leadership team includes Assistant General Superintendent Alton Garrison, General Secretary John Palmer and Executive Director of U.S. Missions Zollie Smith Jr.

Ozarks Food Harvest received a $30,430 donation from Community Foundation of the Ozarks to help support its Food for Thought program, which provides at-risk children with a backpack full of food to take home on weekends. Ozark Food Harvest distributes more than 4 million pounds of food annually to its network of more than 300 hunger relief agencies across 29 Ozarks counties.

Springfield-Greene County Park Board Director Jodie Adams received several awards for her contributions to parks, recreation and sports throughout the nation. She received the United States Tennis Association Lifetime Achievement Award and was chosen as one of the American Academy for Parks and Recreation Administration Top 125 Administrators. She also was sworn in as the National Park and Recreation Association’s President-Elect for 2007 and 2008. Adams has worked for the Springfield-Greene County Park Board for 32 years.

Boys & Girls Town of Missouri received more than $26,000 through a grant from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. The grant will enable Greene County youth at Boys & Girls Town to participate in the Adventure Therapy program at the Meramec Wilderness Learning Ranch. The program seeks to develop character and integrity through outdoor experiences.

Several Springfield area projects have secured funding in the U.S. Senate spending bill. The Ready to Learn Program will receive $600,000 for development and expansion as well as equipment and technology. Missouri State University will receive $1 million to purchase equipment and technology for the Distance Learning Project on the West Plains campus. The Crisis Nursery of the Ozarks will receive $200,000 for programming, equipment services and curriculum.

Jim D. Morris of Morris Oil Co. was inducted into the Dunklin County Hall of Honor. Morris was recognized for his lifetime achievements and philanthropy.

Education

Southwest Baptist University received a 2007 Marketing Recruitment Excellence Award from Noel-Levitz, a higher education consulting firm specializing in strategic planning for enrollment and student success. The award recognizes state-of-the-art programs, services and strategies that have increased campus student enrollment.

CitiFoundation donated $102,000 to the Missouri Colleges Fund. The money is to be distributed by member schools as scholarships, based on financial need. The contribution will underwrite 30 $3,400 scholarships. Drury and Evangel universities in Springfield, and Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar are MCF members.

Drury University professor Rabindra Roy received a $249,487 grant from the National Institutes of Health. The grant will fund three years of research on bioanalytical chemistry. Roy has conducted research for more than 40 years at Drury and has received more than $3.5 million in grant funds.

Victor M. Agruso III, a 1982 Drury graduate, and his wife, Lili, made a $500,000 planned gift to Drury’s behavioral sciences program. The gift will help to establish the Victor M. Agruso Jr. Endowment for the Behavioral Sciences and also will facilitate research.

Webco Inc. donated six welding machines, valued at $4,500, to the Ozarks Technical Community College Foundation. The machines will be used for short-term welding programs offered through OTC’s Center for Workforce Development and will provide training for welders to work on stainless steel, aluminum and carbon steel.

Five MSU students received the school’s Citizen Scholar Award: Joseph Driscoll, a junior management major from Brandsville; Hollie Elliott, a senior agriculture communications major from Springfield; Elizabeth Keller, a counseling graduate student from Lincoln; Robert G. Stange, a business graduate student from Farmington; and David Vinyard, a chemistry graduate student from Stockton. The award recognizes full-time students who have made significant accomplishments while enrolled at MSU.

Government

Three local residents were appointed to state boards and commissions. Karen L. Benson, of Mount Vernon, will serve on the Governor’s Council on Disability. Benson is a patient assistance coordinator at the Missouri Rehabilitation Center who holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Oral Roberts University and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Northeastern State University. Karen M. Prescott, of Springfield, will serve on the State Milk Board. Prescott is a public health investigator for Springfield/Greene County Health Department who holds a bachelor’s degree in food science from Kansas State University. Gary E. Maddox, of Willard, will serve on the State Rehabilitation Council. Maddox is executive director of the Southwest Center for Independent Living. He is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Madison University.

Health Care

Dr. LaVonne Berg, endocrinologist with Citizens Memorial Healthcare Endocrinology Center in Bolivar, attended the American Thyroid Association meeting in New York City. The main topic was investigational research on new therapies for thyroid cancer, along with talks about the effect of thyroid disease on pregnancy and older patients.

The Missouri Foundation for Health distributed $1.98 million in grants to seven southwest Missouri organizations to improve health care opportunities for state residents. St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin received $679,882 to develop a program that educates and empowers people with Type II diabetes, encouraging them to play a more active role in their treatment. Forest Institute of Professional Psychology received $348,754 for its Vitality, Vim and Vigor obesity-prevention program for at-risk families in Springfield. Ozarks Regional YMCA received $346,019 to support the Healthy Kids Academy, a program for children emphasizing nutrition education and physical activity. Polk County Health Center in Bolivar received $349,166 to expand the organization’s five-county effort in southwest Missouri to promote healthy eating and increased physical activity among residents. Council of Churches of the Ozarks received $50,000 to expand its door-to-door transportation service for elderly and disabled clients, families and caregivers. Isabel’s House received $51,360 to provide shelter and aid to area child abuse victims. McAuley Counseling Services Inc. received $100,000 to help provide mental health services to the underserved.

Insurance

Springfield-based Employee Benefit Design LLC hired Kathy Valdemar and promoted Andrew Burns. Valdemar joined the agency as an account manager. She has worked in employee benefits and property and casualty since 1995. Burns was promoted to wellness coordinator. He has worked in the employee benefits industry since 2004.

Joshua Layne, an insurance agent for Farmers Insurance Group in Rogersville, completed the Career Agents Course at the University of Farmers. The five-day course in Agoura Hills, Calif., trains agents how to choose the right insurance for Farmers customers.