Newsmakers

Education

Carrol Lund, teacher of Japanese and French at Kickapoo High School, was named Springfield Public Schools' Teacher of the Year for 2004-05. Other finalists were Cary Sikes, first-grade teacher at Sherwood Elementary School; Nancy Wedgeworth, speech and debate teacher at Parkview High School; Leanna Jackson, special education teacher at Central High School; and Marla Standage, teacher of the Wonder Years pre-school program at Robberson Elementary School.

Kristie Gallion, library media specialist at Mark Twain and York elementary schools, was named 2004 Linda Luke Librarian of the Year. She was honored for her initiation of several innovative programs at Mark Twain, including the student assistants program that trains students to perform library tasks. The award, which included an $800 cash award, is named in memory of Linda Luke, a school librarian who was killed in an automobile accident.

Finance

Tammy Brewer joined Citizens National Bank of Springfield as branch operations officer at the bank's 3212 S. Glenstone location. She has 24 years of experience in the Springfield banking market.

Floral

Joe Schaffitzel joined the design team at Linda's Flowers. He has been in the floral industry for more than 40 years and has served on the Presidential Inaugural design team. He also holds several other industry awards and designations.

Government

Beth West, city clerk for the city of Republic, earned the Missouri Registered City Clerk designation from the Missouri City Clerks and Finance Officers Association and SMSU.

The designation required many hours of classroom instruction, years of on-the-job experience and quality service to the community and to the profession. West has been an employee with the city of Republic since 1999.

Insurance

Kathy Lang, CLU, of American Family Insurance, received the Missouri Midland Central Health Line Leader 2003 honor at the Missouri Midland 2003 Honors Convention at Lake of the Ozarks. The award is given to the top sales agent selling American Family Health Insurance products.

Tourism

Paula Frazier was named director of sales and marketing for Wonders of Wildlife American National Fish and Wildlife Museum. She has 22 years of business management experience, working most recently in the Branson tourism industry. In Branson, she served as sales manager for Yakov Smirnoff, Wayne Newton and Tony Orlando. She also served as general manager of Ripley's Believe it or Not!, where she received the Franchise of the Year Award in 1999. Frazier, who holds a bachelor's degree in business management from Oakland University in Rochester, Mich., also was director of sales for the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Transportation

Hubert Bearden was named a 2003 Independent Contractor of the Year for Roehl Transport. The award honors drivers who meet or exceed the company's standards for service and safety. Bearden joined Roehl in 2001. He is a driver in the independent contractor fleet.

Utilities

Roddy Rogers, director of water engineering for City Utilities of Springfield, was selected as chair-elect of the Missouri Section of the American Water Works Association at its annual conference. The organization works to advance the knowledge of the design, construction, operation and management of water utilities, and to apply that knowledge to solve problems and meet challenges in production and distribution of safe and adequate water supplies.