Newsmakers

Allison White joined The Team Inc. as account coordinator. She helps coordinate work for a number of The Team’s clients. White has a bachelor’s degree in advertising and promotions from Missouri State University and was an intern with the Springfield Cardinals.

Community

Sandy Howard, vice president of public affairs with the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, received the Gift of Time award from the city of Springfield. Howard is vice chairwoman of Isabel’s House, a crisis nursery run by Junior League of Springfield, and she also serves on boards for the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools, Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks and the Mayor’s Commission for Children. The city has awarded the Gift of Time to Ozarks volunteers since 1991.

Bobbi Box was hired as sports sales manager at the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau. She replaces Larry Krauck, who joined Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theatre in Branson as special events director.

The Nixa R-II School Board received a $1,000 donation from the Rotary Club of Nixa. The donation will be used to help fund the purchase and installation of new playground equipment at Nixa High Pointe Elementary School.

Boys & Girls Town of Missouri’s Springfield campus received a $10,000 grant from the JPMorgan Chase Foundation. The grant will enable the agency to provide a campus computer lab and research center for children receiving treatment for abuse and neglect and who are living in residential care.

Environment

Drury University received a $17,992 grant from Missouri Solid Waste District O to support the school’s campuswide recycling program. The funds will go toward recycling bins for each university dorm room and signage for the school recycling facility.

Finance

Empire Bank added Tom Rankin to its board of directors. Rankin serves as a senior adviser for Sperry Van Ness/Rankin Co., specializing in commercial real estate sales in southwest Missouri. Rankin founded Rankin Co. LLC in 1990.

Chris de Leon, vice president and senior financial consultant for U.S. Bancorp Investments, became board certified in estate planning. De Leon has a bachelor’s degree in finance from MSU and has more than 20 years of experience in financial services.

Health Care

Four St. John’s Health System nurses received certification in orthopedic nursing. They are Deborah Kern, Regina Van der Bogart, Kelly Shepard and Twila Chambers.

St. John’s Health System received a perfect score from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid in its Physician Group Practice Demonstration program. The yearlong program is designed to enhance the quality of care for diabetes patients and study the effect of improved proactive care on costs.

Insurance

PJC Insurance added Donna Allen as an inside sales producer in the fleet trucking department. Allen has more than 19 years of experience in the insurance industry. [[In-content Ad]]