Newsmakers

Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce announced its board of directors for 2005. Officers are: Randell Wallace, Lathrop & Gage LC, chairman; D.K. Hirner, Drury University, chairman-elect; Mike Briggs, Willow Brook Foods Inc., vice chairman, economic development; Mike Peters, St. John’s Health System, vice chairman, public affairs; Pat Bly, SBC, vice chairman, membership; Gail Noggle, Gail Noggle Signature Investments, vice chairman, community development/special events; Charles Rodgers, BKD LLP, treasurer; and Jim Batten, O’Reilly Auto Parts, assistant treasurer.

Hollister Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2005 board of directors comprises Tom Keohan, chairman; Curt McLaughlin, vice chairman; Misty Clark, secretary; Peter Weaver, treasurer; Dave Willard, ex-officio; Dawn Decker, president and CEO; D. Todd Aeschliman; Glen Cameron; Tony Espey; Budd Fitzpatrick; Rhonda Hall; Ron Martin; Brian Roberts; Jerry Shackette; and Rick Wiggins.

Education

Southwest Baptist University’s A team claimed top honors at the annual Association of Computing Machinery programming contest recently held on the Southwest Missouri State University campus. Seniors Pam Clodfelter and Jeremy Matheny and junior Danny Miller earned the title of the best collegiate programmers in Missouri. SBU’s B team, made up of senior Vicki Martin, sophomore Jeremy Pruett and freshman Michael Vandvender, finished 11th in the state.

Kenneth Rutherford, assistant professor of political science at SMSU, was one of 14 inductees into the University of Colorado Heritage Center’s Hall of Excellence, which honors alumni who have gained national and international recognition. Rutherford, an advocate for the removal of land mines, holds two degrees from the University of Colorado.

Dennis Schmitt, SMSU professor of

agriculture, received a grant for $33,993 from the American National Fish and Wildlife Museum for his work, “Noninvasive Reproductive Steroid Hormone Estimates from Fecal Samples of North American Otters.” Grant money came from proceeds from Tracy Byrd’s “Concert for Conservation” broadcast on TNN in 2000 and facilitated through Wonders of Wildlife.

Debi Richardson, community development coordinator of SMSU’s Center for Resource Planning and Management, received a $24,000 grant from the village of Diggins for the construction of a wastewater treatment facility and collection system.

Finance

Duke Harshberger joined the Springfield office of The Commerce Trust Co. as vice president and institutional relationship manager. He is responsible for providing trust and asset management services for institutions and businesses, and oversees retirement and qualified plan management and administration, foundation and endowment management, and custodial services. He previously served as vice president and team leader for The Commerce Trust Co.’s Kansas City office.

The U.S. Small Business Administration named Liberty Bank the No. 1 producer of small business loans for the seventh consecutive year. SBA figures showed Liberty Bank produced 82 SBA loans for area businesses in fiscal 2004, totaling $20.7 million.

Eric K. Peterson was appointed to a three-year term on the Securities America Quality Council, an advisory council of Securities America representatives. Peterson has been an independent registered representative for the company since 2001.

Law

Thomas E. Rykowski joined the Springfield office of Evans & Dixon LLC as an attorney in the firm’s civil litigation and workers’ compensation practices.

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