Newsmakers

Elliott, Robinson & Co. LLP announced several staff changes, most notably Greg Kollmeyer's appointment as partner. Kollmeyer has been with Elliott, Robinson since July 1992, beginning as a staff accountant. Also, six-year employee Kim Bartelsmeyer was named a manager in the firm, and four-year employees Jeff Hoskins and Mike Pittsenbarger were promoted to senior accountants.

Automotive

Terry Farrow and Mark Melton, service advisers with Rick's Automotive, received the Accredited Automotive Manager designation from the Automotive Service Association during its annual convention in Las Vegas. The AAM recognizes industry professionals who have successfully completed the required course work, earned a minimum of 120 credits of continuing education and passed a final exam.

Banking

UMB Bank appointed Darla Marler as Treasury management officer of its Springfield commercial department. Marler specializes in Treasury management services and is responsible for developing and growing banking relationships with various businesses. Before working at UMB, Marler was a commercial banker for Guaranty Bank in Springfield.

Community

Boys & Girls Town of Missouri's Springfield campus received a $23,000 grant from the St. John's Foundation for Community Health. The grant will help expand Boys & Girls Town's Healthy Alternatives program, which is designed to help youth identify self-defeating behavior and develop mentally and physically healthy responses.

The Ozarks Area Community Action Corp. recently received two grants that will provide additional resources to its Head Start program. Target Corp. gave a $1,000 matching grant toward the Reading Is Fundamental program, and Kraft Foods Inc. gave $2,000 to help OACAC partner with Stretch-N-Grow to provide students with the basics of proper exercise and nutrition.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield received three used vehicles from the Heart of the Ozarks Sertoma Club. The vehicles - two large vans and a school bus - cost the Sertoma Club about $60,000, which was raised during the group's Thursday night bingo games.

The Boys & Girls Club also received 500 new books through a donation from the Central High School Band and booster club. The books were sent to Central's band by Scholastic Books for hosting a Scholastic Book Fair in December at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds.

Julie Conway joined the staff of Good Samaritan Boys Ranch as public relations and fund development director. She is responsible for fund-raising, special events and marketing for the nonprofit organization, which provides residential care and treatment for boys ages 12 to 18. Conway has 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector.

Finance

Sonya Adams and Rhonda Braker graduated from LFE Institute Inc., a Springfield-based developer of financial literacy curriculum. Adams, a certified LFE counselor who runs Counseling Cent$, provides financial counseling and management to individuals and families in the Springfield area. Braker, a certified LFE instructor who operates as a sole practitioner, provides financial literacy education to area employees.

Springfield Trust Co. assistant trust administrators Martha Huff, Laura Kiesel and Joe Cleveland recently completed Level I of Cannon Financial Institute's trust course. The training focused primarily on trust and estate administration, updated tax issues and estate planning.

Government

Doris Carlin, president of The Doris Carlin Team Inc. and a broker/owner of PRO 100 Inc. Realtors in Joplin, was appointed to the Missouri Real Estate Commission. The seven-member commission issues state real estate licenses, audits real estate escrow accounts and investigates complaints against real estate licensees.