Newsmakers

Automotive

Christian County Collision Repair was recently approved as a participant in the Certified First Network of quality-rated auto body repair centers. To be eligible, Christian County Collision demonstrated high levels of customer satisfaction as measured by Customer Research Inc., and was inspected by auditors from Underwriters Laboratories Inc., who determined that the company met or exceeded the network's standards for repair equipment, technician training and facilities.

Banking

Lisa Markle was named assistant vice president of bookkeeping and customer service at Citizens National Bank. Her duties include supervision of daily bank operations. Markle, a CNB employee for four years, earned her bachelor's degree in business administration from Southwest Missouri State University.

Karen Lancaster joined Commerce Bank's Bolivar location as a residential real estate lender. She is responsible for business development and customer service related to the bank's full line of mortgage-lending products. She has approximately three years of banking and mortgage lending experience. Prior to joining Commerce, Lancaster worked for the Bolivar branch of a regional mortgage lending franchise.

Chamber

Athena C. Fitts, owner of Leo's Pride Inc. Cleaning and Restoration, received the 2003 Woman of the Year Award from the Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce.

Community

Denise L. Gibson joined Ozarks Food Harvest as director of development and communications. She has more than 20 years of experience in marketing and business development for national advertising agencies specializing in the food industry. Gibson is a graduate of SMSU and began her career with Noble & Associates. Most recently prior to joining Ozarks Food Harvest, Gibson was employed by The Marlin Company in a management role. In her new position, she is responsible for donor cultivation, public relations and strategic marketing planning.

Education

Bryan Arata, Parkview High School and Pipkin Middle School orchestra teacher, received Springfield Public Schools' Starcatcher Award for February. The award is presented monthly to an SPS employee who demonstrates a commitment to the mission, belief and vision of the school district. Employees are nominated by building principals and peers.

Health care

Burrell Behavioral Health received the National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Communication Training from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The awards program highlights communication achievements that promote children's mental health. Burrell's Show Me Kids project was selected for the award. It is a collaborative effort of many child-centered agencies and it serves Barry, Christian, Greene, Lawrence, Stone and Taney counties.

Insurance

Pat Ahlstrand joined Nixon & Lindstrom Insurance as a commercial lines producer. A native of Springfield, Ahlstrand has three years of experience in the insurance business.

Aaron Sharpe, CIC, CPCU, was named Nixon & Lindstrom's Agent of the Year for 2003. He is a two-time recipient of the award, which recognizes diligence in professional development and sales. He has been a business insurance producer for Nixon & Lindstrom since 1998.

Industrial

Dan Beeman, vice president of human resources for American Dehydrated Foods in Springfield, was elected to serve a three-year term on the board of directors for Associated Industries of Missouri. The board sets policies that govern Associated Industries as it represents its membership in government, before administrative agencies and before the courts.