Newsmakers

Architects

Gerri Kielhofner, AIA, and Terrance Thedell, AIA, architects and shareholders with Butler, Rosenbury & Partners, passed the Construction Documents Technology and Certified Construction Specifier exams, making them certified by the Construction Specifications Institute. Being CSI-certified enhances communication among all disciplines of nonresidential building design and construction, and meets the industrys need for a common system of organizing and presenting construction information.

Community

AAA Travel presented a check for $3,000 to the Ronald McDonald House, made possible by the Alaska Benefit Cruise, which was held June 18.

Contractors

Springfield Contractors Association announced its 2004 officers. Elected were: Tim Wilson, president; David Roling, vice president; Joe Tucker, treasurer; King Coltrin, secretary; Rick Quint, past president; Don Jones, general counsel; and David Anderson, Charles Slavens, Jay Miller and Mike DeLong were elected for new terms on the board of directors. Bill Adams, Mel Brooks, Danny Edwards, Debra Ferguson, John Griesemer, Cliff Kennedy, John Melton and Bill Nesbitt were re-elected as continuing members of the board.

Education

Paul Nowak, Ernest R. Breech Chair of Finance at Drury University, received a Fulbright Senior Specialists grant in business administration at the University of Ljubljana Faculty of Economics. The Fulbright Senior Specialists Program offers two- to six-week grants to leading U.S. academics and professionals to support curricular and faculty development and institutional planning at academic institutions in 140 countries.

Health care

Dr. Ted C. Scott joined the medical staff of Skaggs Community Health Center, specializing in general and laparascopic surgery. Scott earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, and he completed an internal medicine residency at Baylor University Medical Center, also in Dallas. After four years of private practice in Lubbock, Texas, Scott completed a five-year general surgery residency program at Texas Tech University Health Science Center in Lubbock and at Lubbock General Hospital. Most recently, Scott saw patients at Texas Tech University Health Science Center, where he also was an associate clinical professor of surgery.

Dr. Cary Marquis joined Southwest Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Marquis received his medical degree from Kansas University School of Medicine and completed his residency in the physical medicine and rehabilitation department of Kansas Medical Center.

Dr. Victor M. Pace joined Elfindale Family Medicine. Pace is board certified in family practice. He earned his medical degree at the University of Missouri and completed his residency at Memorial Medical Center in Savannah, Ga.

Bob Jefferson, administrator of Creekside at Elfindale, attended a three-day administrators conference hosted by the Vetter Foundation in Osage Beach. The conferences theme Whale Done! focused on building energy for positive and productive outcomes and helping administrators and caregivers learn to improve their relationships at work in order to provide the best care and atmosphere.

Sam F. Hamra received the Distinguished Service Award from the University of Missouri-Columbia Alumni Association during its 36th annual awards ceremony. The Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor awarded to an MU alumnus. Established in 1956, the award recognizes outstanding service by an individual whose efforts and support have added to MUs excellence. Hamra is CEO of Hamra Enterprises. He owns and operates 23 Wendys restaurants in Missouri and 32 Panera Bread restaurants in Chicago and Boston. He also is the governmental relations attorney for the cities of Branson and St. Robert. In September, he received the MU Law Schools Citation of Merit Award.

Golf

Rick Grayson, teaching professional at the Connie Morris Golf Learning Center at Rivercut Golf Course, was selected by Golf Digest as one of the best teachers in the state of Missouri. The ranking is based on a survey of golfers and 1,500 teaching professionals across the United States. Grayson also is listed by Golf Magazine as one of the Top 100 golf instructors in America.

Hospitality

The Sheraton Hawthorn Park Hotel announced two promotions and three staff additions.

Melanie Tharp was promoted to controller. She began her employment with the Sheraton in 2002. In her new position, her responsibilities include accounts receivable and payroll.

Leslie Hackler was promoted to executive meeting manager. She joined the Sheraton in February as the corporate sales manager. Her responsibilities include selling meeting space, sleeping rooms and catering functions.

Heather McGuigan joined the Sheraton in May as the catering manager. She earned her degree at Southwest Missouri State University and has worked in the hospitality industry from Alaska to California.

Dennis Dea, CEC, joined the Sheraton as the executive chef. Prior to joining the Sheraton, Dea was the chef at the University of Iowa, and most recently at the University of Missouri. He was selected as one of the chefs for the 2002 Winter Olympics and he has 30 years of experience.

Cindy Reed joined the Sheraton as sales manager. She has worked in the Springfield hospitality industry for more than 23 years and was previously employed with the John Q. Hammons Company.

Law

Scott E. Garrett was named a member of the law firm Husch & Eppenberger LLC, effective Jan. 1. Garretts experience includes representing businesses and individuals in state and federal courts in many jurisdictions. Garrett practices in the firms general business litigation and franchise law practice groups.

Marie Swope, Greene County Juvenile Detention Centers superintendent at Juvenile Court, received a 2003 Teens, Crime and the Community Award of Excellence for her commitment to educating youth about crime prevention and her facilitation of their participation in service to their schools and the community. Swope received a $250 cash award to support her efforts, and a plaque of recognition.

Gary R. Long joined the law firm of Lathrop & Gage LC as an associate in the firms Springfield office. Long earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri in 1998 and his juris doctor from the University of Missouri School of Law earlier this year. Longs practice is focused on business litigation.

Dee Wampler recently returned from participating in the Canadian Christian Legal Society Annual Conference at Niagara Falls, Ontario. The conference was attended by 150 attorneys, jurists and law students from across Canada. Wampler was a featured speaker on The Trial of Christ, and presented his film on the trial of Christ compiled from five Hollywood movies.