Newsmakers

The Springfield Family YMCA recently received a $955,000 challenge grant from the Mabee Foundation. The YMCA has one year to match the grant with private donations. The funds would go toward new YMCA facilities in Bolivar and Hollister. Mabee Foundation is a Tulsa, Okla.-based nonprofit corporation that gives to charitable organizations.

The Rotary Clubs of Springfield presented five area charities with $70,000, the proceeds of the 2005 Rock N Ribs festival. The five charities are Boys & Girls Town of Missouri, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Good Samaritan Boys Ranch, Ronald McDonald House and Boy Scouts of America. The Springfield Family YMCA also received a $2,500 grant from the Rotary Clubs.

Gov. Matt Blunt appointed Harold Bengsch, of Springfield, to serve as a public member of the Missouri Homeland Security Council. The council is under the direction of Mark James, Public Safety director, who recently took over as homeland security director when Michael Chapman resigned Sept. 8. Bengsch served in the public health field for 45 years, about half of those as Springfield-Greene County Health Department director, before becoming a Greene County commissioner in 2004.

Development

Debi Richardson was hired as area specialist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Area Office in Springfield. Richardson replaces Vickie Umfleet who retired in March. Richardson delivers USDA programs to 13 southwest Missouri counties in Area 5. Richardson previously worked for Missouri State University for eight years.

Gov. Matt Blunt made an interim appointment of Loren Cook II to the Missouri Housing Development Commission. Cook is the owner and vice president of customer relations/public relations for Springfield-based Loren Cook Co., which produces industrial and commercial fans and blowers. Cook’s appointment is subject to Senate confirmation for a term ending on Oct. 13, 2008.

Education

Several Evangel University professors presented seminars at the 2005 Teen Challenge Regional Conference in Hot Springs, Ark. Jeff Fulks addressed “How to Stay Healthy in the Ministry” and “Knowing When it’s Time to Adjust, Move On and Negotiate Change in Ministry.” Grant Jones presented “The Fishbowl Syndrome” and “Fostering Intimacy in a Fishbowl.” Geoffrey Sutton led sessions on boundaries and burnout. Sutton also wrote an article, along with Evangel graduate student Eloise Thomas that will be published in the American Journal of Pastoral Counseling. The article, on forgiveness and restoration, examines factors that might be associated with restoring pastors following a transgression within a faith community.

Heather Marie Sims was named a Drury University Judge Warren L. White Scholar for 2005. The award is named for 1904 Drury alumnus Warren L. White, who served 36 years as a Greene County circuit judge, retiring in 1960. The award is given to first-year students for academic excellence.

Bingham Elementary School Principal Joe Wooderson has retired after more than 25 years with Springfield Public Schools. Wooderson will be teaching at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar. He became Bingham’s principal in 1998. Central High School Assistant Principal Darrell Johnson will replace Wooderson at Bingham.

Environment

The city of Springfield’s Brownfields Team received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 7 Partnership Award for the revitalization of the brownfield areas in center city and Jordan Valley Park. Brownfields Coordinator Vern Morgan, Environmental Engineer Doug Durrington and Development Economist Bill Weaver accepted the award at a ceremony in Kansas City, Kan. Springfield has put to use four brownfield grants totaling $650,000 since 1999.

Finance

Summer Massey was appointed vice president/business banking sales manager for Regions Bank’s commercial lending department. She holds a Masters in Business Administration degree from Missouri State University.

Liberty Bank announced two staff additions. Vern Lewis joined Liberty Bank as president of its new Branson location. Lewis has 23 years of banking and commercial loan experience. He holds a master’s degree from Central Missouri State University. Mark Kyle joins Lewis in Branson as assistant vice president of commercial lending. Kyle, who holds a degree in finance and management from MSU, has nearly 20 years of experience in lending and business development in the Branson market.

Insurance

Wickizer & Clutter Independent Adjusters named Tracy Young a casualty claim representative, specializing in casualty and third-party insurance. Jeff Davis, a property claims representative, has been named head of the company’s new acquisition, Infrared Imaging. Also at Wickizer & Clutter, Chuck Conyers joined company to form National Claims Consulting Investigations LLC. Conyers has been an expert witness in fire cause and origin in the Western District of Missouri Federal Court. His new venture will offer consulting and investigative services for insurance carriers.

Law

Clifford S. Brown, a shareholder of Carnahan, Evans, Cantwell & Brown & PC, was selected as one of the leading trust and estate attorneys in the 2006 edition of “The Best Lawyers in America.” This is his 11th consecutive appearance in the yearly publication that recognizes attorneys in their individual practice areas.

Richard C. Miller of Monsees, Miller, Mayer, Presley & Amick PC’s Springfield office was elected to the board of governors of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America at its recent convention in Toronto. Miller also was elected secretary/treasurer for ATLA’s products liability section. Miller’s work focuses on defective products, consumer fraud claims and whistle-blower cases.

Police

Four members of the Springfield Police Department received service awards. Officers Grant Story and Steve Miller each received a Meritorious Service Award for helping to evacuate residents from a burning apartment complex. Officers Thomas Spence and Fred Beck each received a Command Commendation for their efforts to rescue and revive the driver of a tractor-trailer unit that was involved in an accident.

Real Estate

Tom Dapp, owner of New Horizons Computer Learning Centers in Rogers, Ark., received a Missouri real estate brokers license. Dapp will be specializing in commercial real estate and is in the early stages of forming a commercial properties investment company.

Retail

Eighty-three year old flower shop Wickman’s Garden Village was named a 2004 Top Florist by FTD, a provider of consumer-direct floral services and products. The award was based on customer service and sales.

Wickman’s also added three new employees. Suzanne Beaver is manager of the garden center in Monett. She has 11 years of nursery and gardening experience. Alicia Neil is customer service clerk and cashier in both Monett and Springfield. Neil has a horticulture degree from Missouri State University. Shane Winkler is garden center sales associate and landscaping technician. Winkler has five years’ experience in landscaping and lawn care.

Technology

The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce displayed its new digital brochure at the American Chamber of Commerce Executives’ annual convention in St. Louis. The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce and ISI Technologies created the digital brochure, found at www.joplincc.webbrochure.net, to highlight the services and benefits of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce.

Transportation

Central Freight Lines Inc. named David Ausbury to the terminal manager post at the company’s Springfield-Joplin facility. Ausbury is the former Springfield terminal manager for USF Dugan.

Utilities

In its July/August issue, Platts Power magazine named Empire District Electric Co.’s Asbury power plant one of the top plants for 2005. The Asbury plant has served customers in southwest Missouri since it first came on line in 1970.

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