Newsmakers

The Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants awarded nine scholarships to local residents study accounting. Christine Frohling, Tom Haldiman, Eric Laing, Jessica Lucas, Ravika Persaud, Emily Petelin, Carrie Winston, Benjamin Zachary and Heather Smith received $1,000 scholarships to attend various colleges and universities. Petelin was the highest-rated applicant and received an additional $1,000 through the society’s first Don Breimeier Memorial Scholarship.

Architecture

Scott Murrell joined Lohmeyer-Russell Architecture. He has 18 years of experience, primarily in construction administration. In his new position, he heads the construction administration services department. He is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma School of Architecture.

Lohmeyer-Russell also announced it is opening a new northwest Arkansas branch office in Bella Vista, Ark., to serve the growing number of clients in the region.

Automotive

Tom McFall was named senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer at O’Reilly Automotive Inc. McFall, who served as CFO for CSK Auto’s Midwest operations, succeeds Jim Batten, who will stay on as company treasurer. McFall has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Michigan State University and is a certified public accountant.

Banking

Delilah Johnson joined Great Southern Bank as its Summit Club director and marketing assistant. Johnson will be responsible for promoting and directing activities for the Summit Club, a group for customers ages 50 and older. She has 25 years of experience in banking, most recently with The Seymour Bank as a branch manager and loan officer.

Communication

Springfield-based Telec Inc. received the Bronze Circle and Excellence in Sales awards from Technology Assurance Group at its national convention in San Diego, Calif. TAG, a national organization of independently owned telecommunication companies, gives the awards based on financial performance and customer satisfaction.

Community

Mary Casada was named director of foster care management for Boys & Girls Town of Missouri in Springfield. She is responsible for overseeing the collaboration of Boys & Girls Town, Missouri Baptist and Presbyterian children’s services, which provides foster care case management services for Greene County foster children. She previously spent five years as director of the Ozarks Family Resource Center.

Junior League of Springfield received a $500,000 pledge from the O’Reilly/ Wooten Family Foundations to fund the development of a local crisis nursery. The contribution was announced during JLS’ recent annual meeting at Hickory Hills Country Club. The money is part of $1.3 million that has been pledged toward the Crisis Nursery of the Ozarks, which would help prevent child abuse and neglect. JLS named Missouri first lady Melanie Blunt the nursery’s honorary chair.

The 2006 class of Lakes Area Leadership produced 23 graduates: Eudell Aldridge, city of Branson; Elizabeth Andrews, College of the Ozarks; Matt Behrend, Myer Hotels; Anthony Burke, Chateau on the Lake; Sherry Clouse-Day, Skaggs Community Health Center; Jacob Fleig, Branson Ridge Winery; Roger Frieze, Ozark Mountain Bank; Charlie Gerken, Gerken & Associates; Rhonda Haden, Connell Insurance; Sue Head, College of the Ozarks; Janice Hedgpeth, National Enzyme Co.; Sam Hedrick, Silver Dollar City; Cathy Hubert, Branson/ Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce; Scott Jacobson, Ozark Mountain Bank; Debi Lipper, Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce; Mike Novak, Branson Fire & Rescue; Tim Scott, Branson Bank; Jim Slagter, The Vacation Channel; Mendy Stuart, Fairfield Branson; Cindy Thomas, Dixie Stampede; Joan Westfall, Christian Action Ministries; Heather Womack, Creative Printing; and Jeff Wright, Kirkpatrick, Phillips & Miller CPAs.

Community Foundation of the Ozarks hired Carol Silvey as senior associate for development. Silvey has been with Missouri State University for 37 years, working as a history professor and as director of development for the MSU West Plains campus. Her new position with CFO begins July 1.

Design

Springfield-based production firm Brawner & Associates added Heath Lane to its full-time design team. Lane has been assistant professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and production manager at Michigan Technical University’s Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts.

Education

Brian Leftridge, a May graduate of Ozarks Technical Community College’s turf and landscape program, was chosen as one of 13 students to participate as interns with the grounds crew of the Boston Red Sox. Leftridge, who has worked at Hammons Field and Rivercut golf course, will be with Fenway Park’s crew through October.

Qian Qian, assistant professor of art and design at MSU, was named one of the Top 20 Under 30 visual artists by Print Magazine. Qian’s work was featured in the March/April issue of Print, just weeks after his video work was displayed at the 2006 Winter Olympics. Qian has done work for Harper’s Bazaar and Plugzine magazines.

Jonathan Taylor Ross, a senior at Kickapoo High School, has been offered an appointment to attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. He was nominated by U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt. Ross, a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, Junior Engineer Technical Society, Math Club and Spanish Club, begins classes this summer.

Don Clinkenbeard was selected as president of the Ozarks Technical Community College Board of Trustees. Clinkenbeard, a charter board member, also was re-elected to a six-year term. Additionally, Don Wessel was elected vice president, new board member Larry Snyder was chosen as secretary, and Dolores Brooks was named board treasurer.

Bernie Dana, assistant professor of business at Evangel University, was retained by the American Health Care Association to serve as a quality adviser to the AHCA Quality Improvement Committee for 2006. Dana provides advice and direction to the committee, which is one of the association’s six strategic planning committees. AHCA represents more than 11,000 nursing and assisted-living facilities.

Health Care

Orthopaedic Specialists of Springfield made two staff announcements. Dr. Hugh Harris rejoined the clinic after serving two years on active military duty, and Dr. Michael Grillot passed his board recertification for surgery of the hand.

St. John’s Health System’s Life Line air medical service received full accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems. The service received full accreditation on the first attempt, a feat reached by only 35 percent of applying programs.

Daniel Ruggeri, founding partner of Employee Benefit Design, was appointed as the large group representative for Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Missouri’s advisory council. Ruggeri brings more than 20 years of employee benefit experience to the council, which focuses on cost-control initiatives and improved communications.

Travel

Grand Crowne Travel hired Roi Williamson as executive travel director. Williamson has worked 29 years in the travel industry, including eight years as general manager for AAA Wyoming.