Newsmakers

Children's services

Denise Bredfeldt was named executive director of Every Kid Counts, a public/private organization dedicated to ensuring that Greene County children grow up in a healthy environment. Bredfeldt has more than 20 years of experience in business. She previously managed several subsidiary companies for Springfield Remanufactur-ing Holdings Corporation.

Community

Judith Lee Nelson was named the executive director of the Greater Ozarks Chapter of the American Red Cross. She has more than 30 years of volunteer experience with the Red Cross. Most recently, Nelson served as assistant vice president and director of community initiatives, agency relations and allocations with the United Way of Central New Mexico. She worked with the American Red Cross in Albuquerque, N.M., where she served on the statewide disaster action team. She also is a certified instructor trainer in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid.

Tammy Leigh joined Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation as resource development specialist. She is responsible for bringing additional resources to the agency via methods including fundraising activities and philanthropic contributions. Leigh has 16 years of experience in advertising, marketing and development. Prior to joining OACAC, her experience included working as the marketing and development director for Springfield Little Theatre and director of communications for the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Education

Kimberlea Gray, communications arts teacher at Parkview High School, was recently certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Gray, an English teacher, is among 8,195 elementary and secondary school teachers nationwide who received the certification this year. Missouri has 199 national board-certified teachers; Gray is the first Springfield teacher to earn certification, according to board officials. The certification assesses teaching portfolios, student work samples, videotapes and written exercises that test the teacher's understanding of subject matter and how to teach it to students. The national board certification is open to all teachers who have a baccalaureate degree and three years of teaching experience in public or private schools. The certification is valid for 10 years.

John Taylor, PhD, was named a Sam M. Walton Free Enterprise Fellow for the Students in Free Enterprise team at Drury University. Taylor received his bachelor's degree in German language and literature from Drury in 1997. In 1999, he earned his master's degree in German and European studies from Georgetown University, where he also earned his PhD in 2003. He is now faculty advisor for Kappa Alpha, and he is an assistant professor of German, teaching courses in the language department and the interdisciplinary studies center at Drury University.

Engineering

Matt Redington, PE, joined Scott Consulting Engineers PC as a project manager. Redington earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Iowa State University and an MBA from the University of Nebraska. He has experience in design and project management of bridge and transportation projects, and stormwater and watershed plans. He is part of Scott Consulting's transportation department, providing engineering services to clients in the public and private sectors.

Financial services

Lisa Pearson of Lisa's Bookkeeping and Office Training has become a certified Quickbooks professional advisor. To obtain the certification, she completed four interactive self-study courses and passed online tests with a minimum 90 percent proficiency. Required coursework included installation and user set-up, tools to optimize client support, payroll, job-costing purchase orders and industry-specific issues.

Rick Imhoff was appointed president and chief executive officer of Sterling Trust. Imhoff, a certified financial planner, has more than 25 years of experience in financial planning, investment management and trusts. He has a bachelor's degree in business administration from Drury University.

Ruth Campbell was promoted to branch manager of Commerce Bank's Willard banking center. She is responsible for new business development, customer service and overall management of the branch and its staff. Campbell has held lending and sales positions with Commerce, most recently serving as financial services manager for the Willard location.