Newsmakers

Hillary West, a media buyer with Adsmith Communications, recently attended the Media Buying Academy in Dallas. The four-day course taught media buyers how to analyze research and how to evaluate each advertising medium/station/publication. It also addressed negotiation techniques and other topics. West’s duties with Adsmith include media plan development, media analysis, negotiation and buying. She has a bachelor of science degree from Southwest Missouri State University.

Business brokers

Dan Machnicki, a business broker with Sunbelt Business Advisors, recently became a member of Sunbelt’s Million-Dollar Roundtable. To qualify for membership, Machnicki acted as intermediary in the sale of more than $1 million in existing businesses in the Ozarks in the past 12 months.

Education

Kim Fitzgerald was named director of the career planning and placement center for Southwest Baptist University’s Bolivar campus. She replaces Kay Johnson, who is retiring. Fitzgerald holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Louisiana-Monroe, and a master’s degree in business administration from SBU. She previously worked at Mid-Missouri Bank in Bolivar, serving as assistant to the vice president and personal banker.

Finance

Tammy Weller, CPA, was promoted to manager with Kirkpatrick Phillips & Miller CPAs PC. Weller, who has 15 years of experience with KPM, specializes in auto dealerships and estate planning and taxation. She holds a bachelor of science degree from Arkansas State University, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Jeff Robinson joined The Commerce Trust Company’s Springfield operation as vice president and wealth management consultant. In his new position, he is responsible for the development of new investment management business for both personal and institutional clients. Robinson is a candidate for certified financial planner. Previously, he was a trust officer and administrator for The Commerce Trust Company in St. Louis.

Health care

Dr. Tracy Davis joined Barnett Family Dental in Ozark. Davis received her bachelor’s degree at the University of Missouri-Columbia, and her doctorate of dental surgery from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Among her credits is a grand prize award in clinical research on digital dental imaging, presented at the American Dental Association conference.

Bob Jefferson, administrator of Creekside at Elfindale, recently attended Vetter Foundation’s Fall Administrators’ Conference in Overland Park, Kan. Each year, Vetter Health Services sends its long-term care administrators to the conference.

Medical Consulting Group announced staff additions. Pat Thomas, RN, BS, joined the firm’s consulting team. Thomas has more than 25 years of experience, with specialization in ophthalmology and ambulatory surgery centers since 1983. Her experience includes facility administration, operating room management, state licensure and certification, quality assurance and staff recruitment and training. In her position with Medical Consulting Group, Thomas focuses on ambulatory surgery center staff hiring and training, policies and procedures implementation, licensure and accreditation preparedness, and ongoing operational support services.

Adam Jones joined Medical Consulting Group’s creative advertising team as a graphic designer. Jones worked in Kansas City as a freelance artist for several clients nationwide. He is a graduate of Temple University, where he earned a journalism degree with emphasis in media design and photojournalism.

Cheryl Espinosa joined Medical Consulting Group’s creative advertising team as a copywriter. She has a degree in English from the University of Missouri-Rolla. She is completing a graduate degree in professional writing at SMSU. Prior to coming to Springfield, she was a community education representative for Missouri Home Care. Jones and Espinosa work on advertising and promotional materials for the company’s national medical practice clients.

Dr. Andy Wright of St. John’s National Avenue OB/Gyn recently attended the American Academy of Dermatology 2004, held July 28-Aug. 1 in New York City. He completed courses on topics including hair loss in women, skin of color and managing difficult wounds.

Law

Springfield attorney Dee Wampler recently returned from Marion, Ill., and Paducah, Ky., where he participated in taping a Christian television program with talk show host Julie Nolan and Rev. Zach Strong with TCT Television Network. Wampler discussed his book, “The Myth of Separation Between Church and State,” for the program, which is to be aired in October.

Manufacturing

Ridewell Suspensions, a manufacturer of suspensions for the truck, trailer, bus and recreational vehicle industries, announced two staff changes.

Rick Rickman was named vice president of sales for the company. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Arizona State University and a master’s degree in business administration from Sul Ross University. Prior to joining Ridewell, Rickman was director of sales for Watson & Chalin Manufacturing Inc. He has been in the suspension industry for nearly 10 years and has more than 20 years of experience in sales, marketing, financial and administration. Rickman replaces Jerry Steele, who retired from the vice president of sales position.

Steele has agreed to extend his tenure with Ridewell Suspensions. He will continue to serve the organization in several capacities, including customer service and trade show representation. Steele has been in the transportation industry for nearly 40 years.

Restaurants

Dave Hammonds, general manager of Olive Garden’s Springfield restaurant, received the company’s Diamond Club Award.

He is one of only 26 general managers selected from the 543 Olive Garden restaurants in North America to be selected for Diamond Club membership. To receive the honor, a general manager’s restaurant must demonstrate outstanding guest satisfaction results and achieve exceptional financial performance in the company’s previous fiscal year.

Malissa Hauswirth was promoted to vice president of strategic marketing and brand development for Ozark Restaurants Inc.

In her newly created position, Hauswirth continues to handle marketing for all of the company’s brands – KFC, Taco Bell, Long John Silvers, A & W and Rib Crib Restaurants – and she also deals with troubleshooting during brand growth and provides guidance during the development of goals and objectives. She has degrees in management and accounting, and she has been with Ozark Restaurants Inc. for five years. The company owns 30 restaurants in southwest Missouri.