Newsmakers

ADSmith Communications made several staff changes. Amanda Scruggs joined the company to work on media buying, analysis and accounting services. Hillary West was promoted to vice president of client services, where she oversees media purchasing and analysis, advertisement copy and creative theme development. Janel Heape was promoted to vice president of operations, where she supervises daily office operations and accounting services.

ADSmith also signed a partnership with Ruell Chappell of Ruell Chappell Music and Sales on Hold. Chappell will provide creative direction, copywriting and broadcast production services to selected clients.

Noble & Associates added Bud Alston as a vice president in the agency’s Food-Away-From-Home division, where he leads a team that serves food service equipment company Enodis. Alston’s division focuses on restaurant, hotel, vending and recreation products.

Law

Shawn Askinosie was selected as a Missouri-Kansas Super Lawyer by Law & Politics Magazine. He was selected through a balloting process sent to 25,000 active lawyers in Missouri and Kansas who have been practicing law for at least five years. Askinosie practices criminal defense in Springfield with attorney John Gore.

Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin elected J. Michael Bridges as partner in the firm’s Springfield office. He has been a member of the litigation department since 1996, after beginning his legal career as a law clerk in the Missouri Court of Appeals. Bridges earned his juris doctor from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law.

Manufacturing

Missouri Enterprise presented K&S Wire Products of Neosho with the Missouri Impact! Award for Continuous Improvement in Manufacturing Excellence. K&S Wire Products was honored for its manufacturing achievements and for its growth since opening 10 years ago. The award was presented in a ceremony at the company’s newly expanded Neosho facility.

Medical

St. John’s Health System named A. James Budzinski senior vice president and chief financial officer. Budzinski, who took the position March 6, was selected after a five-month nationwide search and interview process. He previously served 11 years as chief financial officer at Sparrow Health Systems in Lansing, Mich. He replaces Kim Day, who was promoted to president and CEO last fall.

Dr. Paul N. Arnold was selected by his colleagues as a Best Doctor in America for 2005–06. Arnold is one of three ophthalmologists in Missouri to receive the honor. Arnold and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Arnold, practice in Springfield at Arnold Vision, an eye clinic and surgical center.

Family Pharmacy pharmacists Lynn Morris and David Allen attended the Missouri Pharmacy Association Fall Leadership Conference at the Lake of the Ozarks Lodge of the Four Seasons. The two earned seven hours of continuing education in topics including Medicare Part D.

Sales

Uniform service company Clean Uniform added Duane Sherman as sales manager of the Joplin office. Sherman oversees all sales activity in the southwest Missouri region.

Greg Shryer of Westlake Ace Hardware in Springfield was honored by Ace Hardware Corp. as one of the top-performing retail associates in the country. The quarterly recognition program honors individuals who are committed to Ace’s Vision 21 process, a strategic plan aimed at enhancing retailers’ success. Shryer will receive a $500 cash award, along with an engraved watch and a display plaque.