Newsmakers

BKD LLP promoted six employees to senior accountant. Kristy R. Bork is an auditor for community health centers. She graduated in 2003 from Missouri State University with an accounting degree and in 2004 with a Master of Accountancy. Makesha C. Davis provides tax services for financial institutions. She graduated in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from MSU. Bradley S. Gregg provides tax services for nursing facility clients. Gregg graduated in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. Sara E. Griffin provides audit services for clients. She graduated in 2004 from MSU with an accounting degree and in 2005 with a Master of Accountancy. Stacey R. Kaden provides tax services for real estate and hospital clients. She graduated in 2003 from Truman State University in Kirksville with an accounting degree and in 2004 with a Master of Accountancy. Lindsey D. Oakley is an auditor for real estate, not-for-profit and government clients. She graduated in 2004 from MSU with an accounting degree and in 2005 with a Master of Accountancy.

Architecture

Sam A. Winn & Associates Architects PC added four staff members. Kim Stokes, who has an administrative management degree from MSU, is administrative assistant. Jessi Mueller, who graduated from Drury University with a degree in architecture, is a full-time intern architect. Christine Friederich and Laura Bergman rejoined Sam A. Winn as intern architects; both are in their final year of architecture degree work at Drury.

Community

Keri Robinson joined the National Kidney Foundation of Kansas and Western Missouri as director of the group’s regional office in Springfield. Robinson previously served as development director for the Alzheimer’s Association. She is a graduate of MSU, where she served as assistant director of annual funds for the college.

Natalie Murdock joined United Way of the Ozarks as marketing and communication director. She previously worked as development director for GYN Cancers Alliance and for Ozarks Public Broadcasting as membership coordinator. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis on public relations from MSU.

Ozarks Food Harvest received two donations. Metropolitan National Bank gave $1,000 to help support the Food for Thought program, which provides at-risk children with backpacks filled with nutritious food for the weekend. MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger gave $7,000 to help offset expenses associated with food distribution.

The Assemblies of God elected five executives to its leadership team during its 52nd General Council in Indianapolis. George O. Wood is the 12th general superintendent. Wood has served as general secretary of the denomination and assistant superintendent of the Southern California District. L. Alton Garrison is assistant general superintendent. Garrison has served as executive director of Assemblies of God U.S. Missions and superintendent of the Arkansas District. John Palmer is general secretary. Palmer has served as executive Presbyter of the North Central Region, and he founded Come Alongside Ministries in 2006 to provide consultation to pastors of small churches. Zollie L. Smith Jr. is executive director of U.S. Missions, becoming the first black person to be elected to the denomination’s executive leadership team. Smith was the executive secretary of the New Jersey District and has served as president of the National Black Fellowship of the Assemblies of God. L. John Bueno was re-elected to a four-year term as executive director of World Missions.

Education

MSU recognized faculty accomplishments during its annual faculty luncheon. Missouri State Foundation Awards in Teaching were presented to Kishor Shah in mathematics and Daniel Beckman in biology. The Missouri State Foundation Awards in Research were presented to Paul Durham in biology and Mike Reed in physics, astronomy and materials science. The Missouri State Foundation Awards in Service were presented to Mark Richter in chemistry and Mark Biggs in media, journalism and film. The Excellence in Community Service Award went to Richard Johnson in computer information systems and Bradley Fisher in psychology.