Newsmakers

Liberty Bank hired Laura Beaver as cash management sales representative, Kristin Carlton as a credit analyst and Ramona Henderson as a loan assistant. Liberty Mortgage named Bernadean McAfee a mortgage loan originator.

Community

Bianca Flokstra, a 2006 graduate of Evangel University, was accepted into the Peace Corps. Flokstra will leave for Burkina Faso in September to become a small-business development volunteer. Her work will include training entrepreneurs and enhancing local business skills. There are 102 volunteers currently serving the Peace Corps in Burkina Faso.

Developmental Center of the Ozarks promoted Joyce Sims to therapy coordinator. She has been an occupational therapist in the area for many years and is certified in sensory integration and neurological development training.

Lake Country Soccer named Kelly Ross as its new executive director. Ross comes to Springfield from Milwaukee, Wis., where he served as executive director of the Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association.

The Doula Foundation of Mid-America received four grants totaling $77,380 from various local companies. Donors were Missouri Foundation for Health, Ozarks Health Advocacy Foundation, O’Reilly Auto Parts and the Ollis Family Foundation Fund.

Lisa Nally, Ozarks Regional YMCA corporate board president, was chosen as one of 24 YMCA-USA delegates during the 2006 General Assembly of YMCAs. As a delegate, Nally will help dictate the direction of YMCA of the USA and determine the future course of the national YMCA movement.

Construction

Republic-based Woodco Inc. added two project managers. Todd Keilholz is the manager for the Reserves at Prairie Glen, Bella Rose, Executive Suites and Highland Ridge apartment projects. He has 20 years of experience in construction. Tim Haffner is project manager for the Long Creek Patio Home project.

Education

Missouri State University added Bernard McCarthy as the director of the university’s Community and Social Issues Institute. He also will be a visiting professor teaching a course on terrorism and homeland security. He was previously chairman of the department of criminal justice and legal studies at the University of Central Florida.

Finance

The Signature Bank promoted Missey Hayward to financial services officer at the bank’s East Kearney branch. Hayward has eight years of experience in the banking industry, including the last three years with The Signature Bank. She had been the bank’s financial services manager since 2004.

Health Care

CoxHealth Internal Auditor Lori Cantrell was named a certified internal auditor by the Institute of Internal Auditors. The designation is awarded to internal audit professionals who complete a four-part examination and meet standards of character, education and experience.

St. John’s Health System made the following additions to its medical staff:

Dr. Oakley LaRue joined St. John’s Clinic-Rogersville-Family Medicine. LaRue earned her medical degree from the University of Arkansas for the Medical Sciences, Little Rock, and completed her residency at Cox Family Medicine Residency program.

Dr. Christopher Pittman joined St. John’s Clinic-Strafford-Family Medicine. He earned his medical degree from University of Arkansas for the Medical Sciences, Little Rock, and completed his residency at Cox Family Medicine Residency program.

Dr. Roger Merk joined St. John’s Clinic-Emergency Medicine. Merk received his medical education from Creighton University Medical School and completed an emergency medicine residency with Saginaw Cooperative Hospitals Inc. in Saginaw, Mich.

Dr. Adam Newman joined St. John’s Clinic-Plastic Surgery. He completed a residency with the University of Kansas Medical Center and is a member of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society of Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Kristen Coller joined St. John’s Clinic-Hospitalists. Coller received her medical education from Quillen College of Medicine in Johnson City, Tenn. She completed a residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and a Palliative Care Fellowship at Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care.

Dr. Zach Coller joined St. John’s Clinic-Pulmonology. He received his medical education at St. Louis University and completed an internal medicine residency at Vanderbilt University. He also completed a pulmonary and critical care medicine fellowship at University of Kansas Medical Center.

Dr. Nathan Kim joined St. John’s Clinic-Radiation Oncology. Kim received his medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine and completed a radiation oncology residency with Vanderbilt.

Dr. Daniel Sherwood will join St. John’s Clinic-Shell Knob on Sept. 1. He earned his medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. He completed his internship and residency with Georgetown University/Providence Hospital Family Practice Residency Program in Washington D.C.

Insurance

Nixon & Lindstrom Insurance added Charlotte Arnold as a commercial lines customer service representative. Arnold, who has experience in all lines of insurance, handles commercial property and casualty accounts for the company.

Andrea and Trevor Croley of Croley Insurance & Financial were recognized within the Top 50 Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield producers in Missouri. Andrea Croley also recently attended the America Health Insurance Plans conference in San Diego, which provided information on technology, market trends and political policies affecting health care.

Hollister-based Connell Insurance Inc. was host of a workers’ compensation seminar. More than 100 local business representatives attended the event, which featured a presentation from Victorine Mahon, the chief administrative law judge for the Springfield adjudication office.

The Society of Certified Insurance Counselors recognized Rodney Rahn of Barker-Phillips-Jackson for 10 years of successfully maintaining the CIC designation. The designation denotes significant commitment to advanced industry knowledge and customer service.

American Family Insurance agent Alan Humphreys was recognized for customer satisfaction excellence under the J.D. Power and Associates Distinguished Insurance Agency Program. Humphreys has been an American Family agent in Ozark since 1993.[[In-content Ad]]