Newsmakers

Pellham Phillips Architects and Engineers announced two staff changes. The company promoted Cheryl Doran to director of operations. Doran has been with the company since 1997 and also serves as a senior interior designer for the firm. Richard Hughen joined the firm as architectural intern. With experience in multiple facets of architecture, he works on design, facilities assessments and assistance with construction documents.

Communications

Deep LLC, a division of Springfield-based Marlin Network, was selected by Nestle Brands Co. to develop and implement communication programs targeting the food service industry and out-of-home consumers. Brands the company will provide creative support for include Stouffer’s, Chefmate, Minor’s, Trio, Nescafe and Nestle Coffee Mate.

Arthur Mallory, longtime board member of the Writers Hall of Fame of America, was elected as the nonprofit charitable organization’s national CEO and chairman of the board. Mallory replaces Bob Noble of Noble Communications. Mallory is a longtime southwest Missouri educator and was Missouri State University president 1967–1971. The Writers Hall of Fame of America was founded in Springfield in 1994; it inducts professional writers, recognizes young writers through writing contests, seminars and workshops, and awards college scholarships to high school seniors.

Community

Gov. Matt Blunt honored Ralph Manley as a Boy Scouts Ozarks Trails Council Distinguished Citizen. The recent presentation at Hickory Hills Country Club recognizes Manley for his work as a home builder, a community leader and a World War II veteran. The honor is the highest level of community recognition the Boy Scouts awards.

Parenting Life Skills Center named Chef Brad Lyons of the Tower Club Honorary Lifetime Board Member. The award was presented during its Oct. 20 Wine, Linen & Song event at the Tower Club. Lyons has been donating time to the center, a nonprofit organization devoted to preventing child abuse and neglect, for more than a decade.

The Family Violence Center, Child Advocacy Center Inc., Court Appointed Special Advocates of Southwest Missouri and Legal Services of Southern Missouri are among the 121 victim service agencies in Missouri receiving more than $7.4 million through the Victims of Crimes Act grant funding. The act, passed by Congress in 1984, assists states in providing high quality services to improve the health and well being of crime victims.

Economic Development

Rob O’Brian, director of the Joplin Area of Chamber of Commerce, received the Leadership in Economic Development Award during the 23rd annual Governor’s Conference on Workforce Development, presented by the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

Also at the governor’s conference, Springfieldian Greg Lee Deckard received an Individual Achievement Award for the Ozarks region.

Education

Two faculty members and a student group from Missouri State University’s marketing department were recently recognized by national organizations. Charles Hermans, associate professor of marketing, and the MSU Marketing Club received an American Marketing Association Foundation Collegiate Chapter Community Service Grant of $685 to assist in the improvement of Habitat for Humanity’s marketing and public relations. Diana Haytko, associate professor of marketing, received the Houghton-Mifflin Pride and Ferrell Teaching Innovation Award. The $250 award was for her innovation, “The Price is Right: An Experiential Pricing Concepts Game,” which will be featured in an issue of the Marketing Education Review.

Nancy Dalton was the recipient of the 2005 Ozarks Technical Community College Faculty Excellence in Education Award. Dalton, an OTC employee since 1998, coordinates the Emergency Medical Technician – Paramedic program. She is a licensed paramedic and a graduate of Penn Valley Community College.

Springfield Public Schools raised more than $55,800 in cash and donated hygiene kits, clothing, toys and nonperishable food to aid victims of the recent hurricanes on the Gulf Coast. Aid went to American Red Cross, Convoy of Hope and displaced students enrolled in Springfield schools. Of the schools in the district, students, parents and staff of Cherokee Middle School raised more than $6,100, the most in the district. Students of Reed Middle School, some of whom were in Cozumel last summer during Hurricane Emily, collected more than $3,300. Springfield Public Schools is still accepting students displaced by hurricanes Katrina and Rita; there are currently 32 displaced students in Springfield schools.

University of Phoenix added Michael Bard as associate campus director in Springfield. Bard was formerly director of operations and student services for the Springfield campus. He also has been involved in academic counseling in Springfield and in Colorado Springs, Colo. In his new position, Bard oversees operations, academics and community involvement.

Engineering

URS Corp., a San Francisco-based publicly traded transportation engineering and design firm, recently opened a Springfield office and hired several new members for its design team. Brad Tate has 14 years of experience in planning, design and management of urban streets, highways and storm-water projects for city and state agencies. Chris Johnson has 10 years of experience in design and management of rural and urban roadway projects, including six years with the Missouri Department of Transportation. Mike Holesapple has a technical background in substructure and superstructure design for bridges, hydraulic structures and analysis. His areas of expertise include bridge, highway and structural design. Chris Cover has 14 years of civil engineering design and drafting experience. He works on land title surveys, as well as residential projects, commercial developments, storm drainage and sewer collection and treatment systems. The company offers planning and design for transportation, hazardous waste, industrial processing and water/waste-water projects.

Government

U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt was recognized by the Family Research Council as a True Blue member of Congress for his commitment to the family. The award honors representatives of the House who have shown leadership and commitment to the defense of family, faith and freedom.

Health Care

Springfield Neurological and Spine Institute LLC neurosurgeon Dr. Robert D. Strang is now certified through the American Board of Neurological Surgery.

Law

Springfield attorney Bill Hart, with Husch & Eppenberger LLC, was named a Missouri/ Kansas Super Lawyer by Law & Politics magazine. The selections are made by peer nomination via 25,000 ballots sent to nearly 50,000 Missouri and Kansas lawyers. Hart’s areas of practice are business/corporate, real estate transactions and land use.

Real Estate

LaDon Mortgage added Kelly Rathke and Tim Millikin as mortgage specialists. Rathke has 18 years of experience in property management in the Dallas market and recently joined the National Association of Professional Mortgage Women. Millikin has 20 years of experience in customer service and management, most recently as a field service manager for Dish Network.

Larry Milton, CCIM, of Branson Hills Realty and Mark Weisz, CCIM, of Weisz Commercial Realty completed the CCIM Partner Sale Transaction of the Year. Milton and Weisz partnered to represent eight landowners of 126 acres in Branson Hills adjacent to the Highway 65 interchange.

The Ozark Diversified Development-owned property will have a new regional retail center called Branson Hills Plaza featuring Home Depot, Target and TJ Maxx in Phase I, which is expected to open in the spring.