Newsmakers

Advertising

Toni Marra was promoted to national/regional accounts manager at OnMedia Cable Ad Sales, the ad sales division of Mediacom. Marra joined the OnMedia staff in 1986.

Mary Chalender, general manager of OnMedia, was honored as 2003 Manager of the Year by the Cable Advertising Bureau. The award was based on achievement in advertising sales, marketing and management. Chalender helped open the office in 1984 as account executive and was promoted to general manager in 2003.

Noble and Associates hired Peter Gibbons as senior vice president and director of innovation. Gibbons previously served as senior director of research, development and strategy at Burger King Corporation. Gibbons uses his background in food science and technology to develop product innovation and menu management strategies for food-company clients. He also is a founding member of the Research Chef's Association and was a nominee for the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association Gold Plate Award and a finalist for the Nation's Restaurant News Menu Masters Award. He is currently an adviser to the Culinary Institute of America's president.

Chamber

Ann Elwell, communications manager for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, was chosen to participate in Leadership Missouri. The program is sponsored by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry and helps business, government and civic leaders better understand the operations of Missouri business and government. A session is held once a month for seven months.

Community

John Simmons received the 2004 Service to Community Award at Drury University's Annual Alumni Reunion Weekend. The award focuses on the global community. Simmons served as chair for the art and architecture departments at Drury from 1969 to 1983. He also served as chair of the humanities department from 1977 to 1981. Simmons volunteered with the Peace Corps and served as country director of the Peace Corps in Tunisia for three years. He was also a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State where he continues to work.

Court Appointed Special Advocates of Southwest Missouri announced new members of its Board of Directors. Dan Derges, community bank president of The Bank, previously served as board member for United Way of the Ozarks and president and board member of Junior Achievement of Springfield. Ron Penney is a senior financial adviser at Penney, Murray and Associates, a financial advisory branch of American Express Financial Inc.

Education

Kelvin Pamperien was named director of instructional improvement for Springfield Public Schools. Pamperien provides onsite day-to-day leadership for the district's curriculum and Instruction department. He previously served as principal of Glendale High School for four years. His qualifications include 20 years of SPS work experience, education, math expertise, leadership skills and a background in curriculum and instruction training.

Community

Robin Brown was named executive director for Lost and Found, a not-for-profit children's grief center. Brown has been with the center since 2002 and helped develop the organization, founded in 2001.

Health care

CoxHealth was named one of the country's top 50 urology centers by U.S. News and World Report magazine for the second year in a row. The recognition is based on the hospital's reputation, death rate and care-related factors such as nursing and patient services.

The Springfield-Greene County Health Department and 15 area partners were given the Show-Me Public Health Award for extraordinary performance at the Southwest Missouri Childcare Provider Health Conference in the fall. The conference provided health screenings, immunizations, tuberculosis skin tests, required education and emotional support for child-care providers from 28 counties in southwest Missouri.