Newsmakers

Community

The Co-Operative Sertoma Club of Springfield held its annual installation and awards banquet in August at Twin Oaks Country Club and installed officers for the 2003-04 year.

The individuals and their offices are: Norma Buckler, president; Charles Stewart, president-elect; Donna Riseman, secretary; Brian Lescar, treasurer; and sergeant-at-arms Jerry Shaddy. Judy Jowett, president of Camp Quality USA, received the Co-Operative Sertomas Service to Mankind Award for her contributions to the community.

Jowetts nomination also was submitted at the district level.

The following members also received awards: Dixie Keltner, Senator III and IV Awards; Beverly Hemphill, Senator V Award; and Barbara Ingalsbe, Co-Operative Sertoman of the Year Award.

The club also is funding college scholarships for six local scholars, a $500 monthly scholarship to the Boys & Girls Club, and a total of $10,000 in donations to Reading Roundup.

Education

Paul Kim, PhD, joined Vatterott College as vice president and chief information officer. Kim has eight years of experience in education and technology. He established Stanford Universitys information technology department for the School of Education, and he was the director of information technology for the University of Phoenix.

Ozarks Technical Community College announced two staff additions.

Jeffrey Wisdom joined OTC as coordinator of distance learning and instructional technology. Wisdom holds a bachelors degree in political science in economics from Austin Peay State University and a masters of business administration from the University of Memphis.

Tatum Isenberger joined OTC as the coordinator of admissions. She previously taught history at Willard High School.

She holds a bachelors degree in education from Southwest Missouri State University.

Equipment

Jim Whitworth was named vice president and general manager of Berry Tractor and Equipment Company. Whitworth has been with Berry Tractor since 1986, and he continues as general manager of Missouri for Berry Tractor. He manages the day-to-day operations for all Kansas and Missouri locations.

Financial services

Benjamin E. Bramer joined BKD Wealth Advisors LLC as compliance officer. Bramer, who works in BKDs Springfield headquarters, is responsible for exams, registrations and filings related to the Securities and Exchange Commission, NASD and state agencies. Bramer also is responsible for BKD Wealth Advisors regulatory compliance and internal branch office policies and procedures. Bramer holds a bachelors degree in finance from SMSU. He has three years of experience with NASD, a private-sector, not-for-profit provider of financial regulatory services.

Carter Peters joined Southern Missouri Bank of Marshfield as senior vice president and chief financial officer. Peters holds a bachelors degree in accounting from SMSU and was formerly a certified public accountant at BKD LLP for 11 years. In his new position, Peters primary responsibility is the oversight of the accounting and finance function of the bank and its holding company, Southern Missouri Bancshares Inc.

Whitlock Selim & Keehn LLP announced one staff addition and three promotions.

Sarah Tittsworth joined the firm as a staff accountant. She earned her bachelors degree in accounting from SMSU. During her education, she worked as a teller for Signature Bank. Following her graduation from SMSU, she completed an internship and Whitlock Selim & Keehn before joining the firm full-time. She will sit for the Certified Public Accounting examination in November.

Avery Hudson was promoted to senior accountant with the firm. Hudson earned her CPA designation in May. Prior to her promotion to senior accountant, Hudson worked for two years as an auditor and tax preparer at the firm.

In her new position, she serves as the in-charge accountant on client audits and she coordinates the preparation of tax returns.

Jennifer Cochran and Jennifer Silliman were promoted to supervisor positions with Whitlock Selim & Keehn. Cochran has been with the firm since 1995 when she joined the accounting services staff. Cochran earned her bachelors degree from SMSU. As a supervisor, she oversees the firms accounting services area and continues to specialize in corporate tax returns.

Silliman joined Whitlock, Selim & Keehn as a part-time accountant in 1993. She earned her bachelors degree in accounting and business administration from Drury University. After graduation in 1995, she began working at the firm full-time. In her new position, Silliman performs firm administration duties and continues her specialization in individual, trust and estate tax returns.

Tim San joined Guaranty Bank as a senior vice president of commercial lending. He has more than 28 years of real estate and commercial lending experience. Swan earned his bachelors degree in finance and a masters of business administration from SMSU.

Health care

Katherine M. Tynes received the Missouri Association for Play Therapys 2003 award for outstanding implementation of play therapy in a private or agency setting. Tynes is a registered supervisor for play therapists, and she is in private practice at Tynes & Associates in Springfield.

Lynn Morris and Michael Langston, pharmacists and owners of the Family Pharmacy stores in southwest Missouri, attended the 46th annual NACDS Pharmacy & Technology Conference in Philadelphia. More than 2,600 registered participants attended the event, which included 27 education seminars and the largest technology exhibit of the year for chain drug stores.

Family Nurse Practitioner Linda Climer rejoined Skaggs Medical West in Kimberling City. She earned her undergraduate degree at Southwest Baptist University and a masters degree from SMSU. Climer has 16 years of nursing experience and more than five years of experience as a nurse practitioner. Prior to returning to Skaggs, Climer was employed at St. Johns Regional Health Center in Springfield. In her new position, Climer works in collaboration with Skaggs Medical Wests physicians and physician assistant to provide complete family medical care.

Hospitality

John Q. Hammons Hotels Inc. announced two staff changes.

Chief Financial Officer Paul Muellner was appointed to executive vice president. As executive vice president and CFO, Muellner continues to direct all financial functions of the company, including the companys finance department, controller, auditing staff, information technology, investor relations and providing strategic financial leadership, and counsel to guide the company. Muellner earned a bachelors degree in accounting from the University of Maryland and a masters degree in accounting from American University. Prior to his promotion to CFO, Muellner served as John Q. Hammons Hotels vice president and corporate controller.

Debra Mallonee Shantz was named senior vice president and general counsel for John Q. Hammons Hotels Inc. With an extensive legal background, Shantz has more than 15 years of experience, including more than eight years with John Q. Hammons Hotels Inc. She previously served the company as vice president and corporate counsel for John. Q. Hammons Hotels Inc. Prior to joining the company, she was a partner with Farrington & Curtis, which is now Husch & Eppenberger. Shantz earned her bachelors degree at SMSU and her juris doctorate at the University of Missouri at Columbia.

Insurance

Joyce A. Jones, vice president of the Springfield Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, received the Robert L. Rose Professional Development Award presented by the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. Each year NAIFA recognizes local and state association members in its federation who provide exemplary professional development programs and events for members.

Law

Springfield attorney Dee Wampler was a guest Sept. 22 on Fox Networks OReilly Factor. He was interviewed by host Bill OReilly regarding the prosecution of emergency-room nurse Leslie A. Brown. Missouris Child Abuse Hotline Statute was recently declared unconstitutional by Greene County Circuit Court Judge Calvin Holden, and the case received national publicity and has been featured internationally in nurse and medical publications.

Manufacturing

Ron Ekins was appointed international area manager for Paul Mueller company, handling its business activities in Japan and other markets that will be assigned to him. Ekins is a certified food service professional, and a graduate of Brigham Young University, where he earned a bachelor of arts in Asian studies, with a minor in Japanese. He also holds a masters degree in international management from the American Graduate School of International Management.

Pest Control

Ivan and Terri Eftink, owners of Bug Zero Inc., attended a convention for Associated Pest Control Services in Traverse City, Mich.

Service

Howard Feagan, president of Over-All Service, a plumbing, heating and air service company, and the companys lead technician, Daymon Scriven, received certificates of appreciation for assistance given to the American Red Cross in getting its temporary headquarters operational during recent storms.

Feagan and Scriven are members of the Springfield Mechanical Contractors Association and Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Union 178. Scriven also has completed his third 40-hour instructors course for the United Association Instructors Training Program. The recent course, Mechanical Equipment Service, was held in Ann Arbor, Mich. Scriven has been an instructor for Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Union 178 for four years.

Transportation

Eric Hartin joined O & S Trucking Inc. as Midwest and warehouse outside sales associate. Hartin is a graduate of the University of Missouri. He has 14 years of transportation sales experience. Hartin is responsible for developing freight lanes and utilizing warehouse space in the Midwest.

Work force

Chuck Matthews, youth services director for the local Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation, was voted president-elect of the Missouri Association for Workforce Development at its recent annual conference. He will begin a three-year term July 2004 as the state associations president.