Newsmakers

Bank of America ranked No. 1 on Fortune magazine’s list of the “World’s Most Admired Companies” in the mega bank industry for the second consecutive year. The company also ranked No. 9 on the Fortune 500 list of America’s largest corporations ranked by annual revenues, up from No. 12 last year.

Marion Lambert, senior bank examiner for the finance division at the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration, attended the Barrett School of Banking May 20–25 at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tenn. The school promotes effective leadership and management skills. Lambert, a Missouri State University graduate, has been with the division since January 1999.

Ann Marie Baker, president of UMB Bank in Springfield, received the Franklin Kenworthy Award for Outstanding Leadership. The award is given to a Leadership Springfield graduate every year. Baker, who has been with UMB Bank for more than 20 years, also is Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce board chairwoman.

Community

Pat Gartland was elected president of Heart of the Ozarks Sertoma Club of Springfield. He replaced Rick Muenks, who is now Sertoma Board President. Gartland has been executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield for the past five years. Other newly elected officers include Jim Wright, vice president; John Travers, secretary; Darwin Reese, treasurer; Powell McHaney, sergeant-at-arms, and Bob Chancellor, bulletin secretary.

The Rotary Club of Springfield awarded a total of $10,000 in grants to 17 local nonprofit organizations. The club awards grants each year as part of its community outreach efforts.

Education

Robert Wyatt, director of Drury University’s Breech School of Business Administration, was named an American Council on Education Fellow for the 2007-08 school year. Wyatt, an accounting professor, is one of 39 fellows chosen this year. Fellows attend three weeklong seminars on higher education and spend the year researching administrative activities to learn more about higher-education issues.

Gov. Blunt appointed Gordon A. Elliott to the MSU Board of Governors. Elliott, a senior partner at Elliott, Robinson & Co., has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from MSU. His term will end Jan. 1, 2013.

Government

Barry Rowell was named Springfield fire chief, replacing Dan Whisler, who retired June 22. Rowell joined the Springfield Fire Department as a firefighter in 1985. Rowell, who has been assistant fire chief since 2004, coordinated the department’s response to the January ice storm.

Gov. Matt Blunt reappointed Peggy S. Pearl to serve on the Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board. Pearl is a professor of early childhood and family studies at Missouri State University. She received a bachelor’s degree from MSU, a master’s degree from Central Missouri State University and a doctorate in vocational home economics education from the University of Arkansas. Her term will end April 17, 2009.

Blunt reappointed John F. Morrison, of Nixa, to serve on the Citizen’s Advisory Commission for Marketing Agricultural Products. Morrison is executive director of the Ozark Empire Grocers Association. His term will end April 10, 2011.