Newsmakers

Michael Garner joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks’ Board of Directors. Garner, assistant vice president at UMB Bank, will be assisting BBBS with fund raising, event coordination and financial reviews.

Two local communities received Assistance to Firefighters Grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Branson received $308,196 over five years through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response program, which will be used to increase staffing to improve 24-hour response to emergencies. Bolivar received $33,250 so the department can have its own cascade system to refill air bottles on firefighter breathing apparatuses.

Urban Districts Alliance received an $11,950 grant from Community Foundation of the Ozarks for the beautification of 26 tree wells on Park Central East and Park Central West. The beautification project should be done in the spring.

Education

Tom Strong received Missouri State University’s Bronze Bear Award. Strong, founder and managing partner of The Strong Law Firm, is the seventh recipient of the award, which is presented to those who have exhibited “extraordinary achievement and/or outstanding support.” Strong, a 1952 alumnus, is immediate past president of the Missouri State University Foundation Board of Directors and past president of the Alumni Association. The award will be presented during Dec. 15 commencement ceremonies.

The MSU Alumni Association also honored five former faculty members during its Homecoming Dinner and Awards Ceremony. Robert Bradley and Russell Keeling received the Award of Appreciation, which honors retired faculty and staff members for achievement in their professional or academic fields. John Eilermann Jr. received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award. Virginia Fry and James Wachtman received the Outstanding Alumni Award.

Greenwood Laboratory School dedicated its newly renovated library as the Horace and “Pete” Haseltine Library. The dedication recognizes an endowment from Rick and Mary McQueary, both from Greenwood’s class of 1971, in honor of Mary’s parents. The endowment will supplement the funding provided routinely by MSU.

Evangel University senior Katie Helwig spent the summer as an intern at fashion enterprise Escada. A management major from Hollister, Helwig set up and arranged storefront displays and did accounting work for the company. She was one of two visual merchandising interns selected by the New York City firm from among thousands of applicants.

Government

State Rep. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa, received the Distinguished Legislator Award from the Missouri Community College Association at its annual convention. The award is granted each year to senators and representatives who demonstrate dedication to higher education and the community college system. Four representatives and three senators were chosen this year.

Health Care

Dr. Gerry Catapang was a guest lecturer for the Cutting Edge in Rehabilitation Medicine Seminar at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Manila, Philippines. Catapang presented “Therapeutic Efficacy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy Over Conventional Physical Therapy” and “Golf Body Screen and Golf-Specific Performance Training.” He is the owner of Physical Therapy Care, Manual Physical Therapy and Industrial Rehab Center in Springfield.

St. John’s Health System added several new physicians. Dr. Basher Mohsen joined St. John’s Clinic-Rolla-Neurology. He received medical education from the University of Damascus in Syria and completed his residency at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia. Dr. Sabrina J. Schmidt joined St. John’s Clinic-Aurora. She received her medical education from the University of Missouri School of Medicine in Kansas City and completed her residency with Mercy Health Systems in Janeville, Wis. Dr. William Campbell joined St. John’s Clinic-Occupational Medicine-West. He completed his medical training at the University of Louisville and completed a residency at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa. Dr. John Thorson joined St. John’s Clinic-Pathology. He received medical training from the University of Iowa College of Medicine and residency at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University Medical Center in St. Louis.

Dr. Keith LaFerriere, facial plastic surgeon with St. John’s Clinic, presented six lectures on successful surgical techniques in facial rejuvenation at a conference in Vienna, Austria. The Facial Plastic Surgery Elite conference was sponsored by the European Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery.

St. John’s Hospital in Springfield and Mid-America Transplant Services received a Medal of Honor from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for achieving and sustaining an organ donation conversion rate of at least 75 percent for at least one year. MTS serves as the regional organ procurement organization for parts of Missouri, southern Illinois and northern Arkansas.

Hospitality

John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts LLC received the Holiday Inn Newcomer Award for its Holiday Inn Express & Suites Springfield facility. The hotel opened in March 2005 and has consistently been ranked among the top 30 hotels in the Holiday Inn Express system. It has maintained an overall satisfaction score of 95 percent or higher since February.

Law

Heather Rooney joined Husch & Eppenberger’s general business litigation practice group. Rooney graduated with highest honors from Drake University Law School in May and also received the school’s Drake Law Review Best Article award for her note on the Supreme Court decision concerning the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

Three Springfield attorneys were selected among the Top 100 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers for 2006. The honorees are Steven Garner of Strong Law Firm; Rodney Loomer of Turner Reid Duncan Loomer & Patton; and Dee Wampler of Law Offices of Dee Wampler & Joseph Passanise.

Three members of Lowther Johnson Attorneys At Law LLC were named in the Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers list for 2006. Bill Joyner was named a Super Lawyer for civil litigation defense. Lisa Ghan Blumenstock was named Super Lawyer for family law. And Gregg Groves was named Super Lawyer for employment litigation.

Sales

Brian Gelner, vice president of Springfield-based Premium Beverage Sales, was elected to the board of directors for the Missouri Beer Wholesalers Association. MBWA promotes the responsible consumption of beer and develops programs to benefit all member companies.

Security

U.S. Security Associates, an Atlanta-based uniformed security service company with offices in Joplin and Springfield, was selected as one of the world’s 40 Best Employee Learning and Development Organizations by the American Society for Training and Development. Criteria for selection as an award winner include a company’s ability to demonstrate success as a result of employee training and development.

Travel

Karen Garrison of Great Southern Travel was designated as a Grand River Cruise Specialist after completing a training program. The designation names Garrison as an expert adviser for river cruise and tour travelers. [[In-content Ad]]