Newsmakers

Hammer’s Autoworks Inc. was recognized by the Inter-Industry Conference On Auto Collision Repair for its continued Gold Class status for more than 10 consecutive years. Gold Glass status is for businesses that provide efficient, safe and high-quality collision repairs. Hammer’s Autoworks has been providing collision repairs in the Springfield area since 1963.

Community

Several area family support workers received family support practice credentials through the Family Development Credentialing Program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Individuals who received their credentials are: Jeanette Haghayeghi, Parenting Life Skills Center-Partners for a Better Tomorrow; Tom Carroll, Parenting Life Skills Center-Better Beginnings; Susan Wilkerson, Theresa Moore and Janell Sanders, Ozarks Area Community Action Corp. Head Start; Jennifer Stuckey, Family Medical Care Center; Shari Wiley, Casandra Davis Heath and Jane Knabb, Family Violence Center; and Leigh Woodworth, counselor in private practice. The 90-hour program, “Empowerment Skills for Family Workers,” trains front-line workers in a collaborative, strengths-based approach that supports families in achieving goals for self-reliance.

Education

For the fourth consecutive year, Springfield Public Schools earned the state’s Distinction in Performance Award in recognition of the district’s academic progress and achievement in the 2004-05 school year. The Springfield district is among 178 Missouri public school systems to receive the award from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The award recognizes progress in MAP and ACT test scores and attendance and dropout rates. To qualify, the district met 11 of 12 standards and scored at least 91 of 100 possible points, including all of the MAP-based measures.

Missouri State University announced several staff accomplishments. Sally Rowe, assistant director of the MSU Career Center, achieved master career counselor status from the National Career Development Association. In order to achieve the designation, a career counselor must display sufficient knowledge of the six major career development competencies as described by the NCDA: career development theory, individual counseling skills, individual/group assessment, information/resources, diverse populations and ethical/legal issues.

David Richards, Ph.D., head of MSU’s special collections and archives department, was awarded a $49,260 grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission for the University Archives Processing Report. The funds are an extension of a previous two-year grant from the commission that provided for a survey of various campus offices and the collection of more than 500 linear feet of records during MSU’s Centennial Celebration. The new funds will pay for the processing of the documents gathered.

Christopher Craig, Ph.D., associate dean of MSU’s College of Education, was awarded a $9,000 grant from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for paraprofessional tuition reimbursement. The money will be used for paraprofessionals in public schools to pursue additional education.

Hospitality

Barbara Withers, executive director of Elliott Lodging, was honored for 25 years of service at the company. When she began Elliott Lodging handled a few apartments; today, Elliott Lodging owns and operates 12 hotels in southwest Missouri. Withers also serves as chairwoman of the Springfield Hotel & Motel Association.

Law

Springfield Attorney Rick Van Pelt was named a 2005 Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyer in the area of family law by Law and Politics Magazine. Selections are made by peer nomination. Van Pelt has practiced family law in Springfield since 1983.

Three members of the Springfield office of Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin also were named Super Lawyers in Missouri/Kansas: David Agee, Virginia Fry and Robert Penninger.

Restaurant

Panera Bread’s first franchisees, Jim and Gaynell Magers of Springfield, and Dr. Tom and Sue Stees of Tulsa, Okla., of Traditional Bakery Inc./Oklahoma City Bakery Inc., were recently honored at the national Panera Bread Family Reunion in Las Vegas. TBI/OKC, which has its headquarters in Springfield, was chosen as the Panera Bread Featured Franchisee. TBI/OKC has opened 26 bakery cafés in southwest Missouri, Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas.