Newsmakers

Advocacy

Mike Schilling, former state legislator from Springfield, was hired by the Missouri Partnership on Smoking or Health as the local coordinator of the group's advocacy for smoke-free public facilities and workplaces in Springfield. Schilling's duties include coordinating grassroots volunteers, committees and MPSH partner organizations to build local coalitions.

Banking

Mark Clark was hired at U.S. Bank as vice president in commercial lending. Clark previously worked for U.S. Bank in the Trenton/Chillicothe markets. He has 20 years of experience in credit and property analysis and production throughout the country.

Christy McCue was promoted to commercial lender at U.S. Bank. McCue has 10 years of banking experience.

Shannon Thomason, internal audit manager at Great Southern Bank, was selected to serve a three-year term on the Missouri Bankers Association's Compliance Committee. The committee plans the annual Compliance Conference and provides input to MBA staff regarding needed compliance-related education, products and services for MBA members. Thomason has eight years of experience in the financial services industry. Carrie L. Rossow was promoted to construction loan originator at Great Southern Bank. Rossow is responsible for originating single-family construction loans for individuals and builders. She has been with Great Southern Bank since 1999.

Literacy

David Harrison, children's author and Springfield businessman, received the Missouri Association of School Librarians 2004 Friend of School Libraries award. Harrison is responsible for several programs designed to benefit students and school library media centers, such as Sky High on Reading and Reading Roundup. He has also participated in numerous Children's Literature Festivals throughout Missouri. In 1994, Harrison received the Missouri IRA Literacy Award, and in 2000, he received the Missouri Governor's Humanities Award.

Media

Eric Olson was promoted to news editor of Springfield Business Journal. He joined the staff of SBJ in 2000, and previously served as list researcher and reporter for the organization. Olson holds a bachelor of arts degree in communications from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill. In the newly created news editor position, Olson is responsible for coordinating the news content of the publication. He also will continue to do in-depth reporting.

Jean St. James was hired as sales manager for two Springfield radio stations, Power 96.5 KSPW and Z106.7 KZRQ. St. James previously worked as director of sales for nine radio stations in Columbia. She entered the radio field in 1991 and has held various positions in the industry including account executive, marketing consultant and sales manager.

Transportation

Mike Wilson, a fleet driver for Milor Inc. in the owner/operator division of O & S Trucking Inc., was awarded the title of O & S Driver of the Month for June. Wilson joined the company in July 2003. Winners of the award have had no service failures, no accidents or incidents, no log violations and no maintenance issues. Wilson is qualified to compete for Driver of the Year.