Newsmakers

Gov. Matt Blunt appointed Jim Bracht, president and CEO of OakStar Bank, to the state Linked Deposits Review Committee, pending Senate confirmation.

Community

Gail Noggle is the new executive director of the Republic Chamber of Commerce. Noggle, a former financial planner, sold Gail Noggle Signature Investment Services in May 2005 to Michael Richardson of Joplin-based Richardson Financial Services Inc. She began as director of the Republic chamber at the end of March.

Springfield City Council added several new members to area boards and commissions. Springfield-Greene County Parks Department Director Jodie Adams was sworn in to the University of Missouri Extension Council. Richard Walker was appointed to the Traffic Advisory Board while Edward Griesbaum and James Sellars were reappointed. Bob Roberts, Millicent Lewis, Norm Ridder, Judith Gonzalez, Sandra D’Angelo, Veronica Lowe and Stephanie Montgomery were appointed to the Mayor’s Commission on Children.

Jessica Franklin was named development associate for Boys & Girls Town of Missouri in Springfield. Franklin is responsible for assisting with all fund-raising activities in the Springfield region. She conducts donor prospect research, processes donations and establishes and maintains relationships with donors and volunteers.

Gov. Matt Blunt appointed Polk County Sheriff Steven Bruce to the Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission, pending Senate confirmation.

Education

Velynda Cameron, early childhood instructor at Ozarks Technical Community College, was one of 45 early childhood professionals selected as a peer reviewer for the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Cameron will visit colleges across the country to evaluate their early childhood education programs and compare them to the standards set for accreditation eligibility.

Two southwest Missouri high school seniors were offered appointments to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. Kickapoo High School senior Jay Twitty and Joplin McAuley Catholic High School senior Edgar Conrad were nominated by Rep. Roy Blunt.

Insurance

Employee Benefit Design promoted Anita Baughman to client development coordinator and hired an account manager and sales support associate. In her new role, Baughman implements and maintains value-added services and online resources. Jessica Church is a new account manager, coordinating with insurance carriers to place client’s employee benefit coverage. Megan Bolte is a sales support associate.

Employee Benefit Design agent Drew Burns attended a Principal Financial Co. seminar in Houston. The two-day course focused on consumer-driven health plans, including health savings accounts, health reimbursement arrangements, individual retirement accounts and wellness programs.

Marla DeStefano was named American National Property and Casualty’s Leader of the Quarter for the fourth quarter of 2005. DeStefano is the manager of claims services.

Journalism

Eric Olson was promoted to editor at Springfield Business Journal. Olson, who has been with the publication for six years, previously served as news editor. He has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and broadcasting from Olivet Nazarene University south of Chicago.

Law

Gary R. Long, an attorney with Carnahan, Evans, Cantwell & Brown PC, was accepted to the 2006 class of Leadership Missouri. Through the program, leaders statewide enhance their leadership skills so they can take an active role in state advancement.

Long concentrates his practice in business litigation, construction disputes, commercial and real estate law, creditors’ rights and appellate practice.

The Springfield Area Legal Support Professionals named Nancy Ketron its Outstanding New Member and Legal Secretary of the Year at the annual Bosses’ Night at Twin Oaks Country Club. Ketron’s boss, attorney Robert B. Hankins, was named Boss of the Year.

Retail

The Springfield location of Play It Again Sports was honored as the top-performing store in its chain for the fifth-straight year in a March 20 event in Reno, Nev. The local store, 1300 E. Battlefield Road, had sales of more than $3 million last year, the best in the 400-store chain. It also received the Concept Award for selling more used products than any other store.

Alloy Fasteners was awarded the 2005 Vendor of the Year Award from Tracker Marine Group. The company, a stainless steel fastener manufacturer and distributor with its national distribution center in Springfield, was one of just six companies recognized for outstanding service, innovation, quality, delivery and cost control from among more than 700 suppliers.

Lee Beasley was named general manager of the new Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Branson. Beasley, a 16-year Bass Pro employee, began in the company’s information technology department and has worked as a store salesperson.

Sales

Celebrated Occasions, a Springfield-based invitation and stationery company, received a Carlson Craft Social Division award recognizing exemplary dealer service for 2005.

Each year Carlson Craft, a national wholesale printing company, presents a few select dealers with the award for outstanding performance and exceptional sales achievements.

Document Solutions of Springfield was recognized by Xerox Corp. as a 2005 Premier Agent for outstanding achievements. Premier Agent status is based on exceptional success in customer service, sales performance and significant investments made in the business.

Technology

Nathaniel Hall, network security systems administrator for Ozarks Technical Community College, earned his third certification from SANS, the SysAdmin, Audit, Network, Security Institute. He also was invited to join the SANS Advisory Board after scoring well on the certification exams.