Newsmakers

The Arc of the Ozarks added Richard Dunn and Cindy Jared-Smith to its board of directors. Dunn, president of The Foundation of the Council of Churches of the Ozarks, has a graduate degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in social work. Jared-Smith of CRW Properties Inc. received an undergraduate degree from Drury University in 1999 and is following in the philanthropic footsteps of her grandfather, Clarence Wheeler.

Economic development

Greg Williams, senior vice president of economic development with the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, received the President’s Award at the Missouri Economic Development Council’s Spring Conference. Williams was recognized for helping to secure funds for the Taimerica Study, which looked at the effectiveness of Missouri’s incentive programs, and for helping to craft legislation addressing the state’s business climate.

The Table Rock Lake Area Chamber of Commerce and White River Valley Electric Co-op made a $5,000 contribution to the Kimberling City Lodging Association to help finance the B.A.S.S. Fishing Tournament. The association helps fund the tournament because of its regional financial impact.

Education

Central High School senior Sara Clingan won the 2005 state mock trial competition at the St. Louis County Courthouse. As a team, Central took fifth place in the tournament. It’s the second year the team has advanced to the state elimination rounds; Central is the only team outside of St. Louis to advance past the quarterfinals in the past two years.

Kevin Hawkins, Glendale High School Choir director, was named Springfield Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year for 2005-2006. Hawkins is in his eighth year at Glendale, during which time his choirs have performed across the country and won numerous awards.

Jim Hillman joined Southwest Baptist University’s staff as director of human resources. Hillman previously worked for O’Sullivan Industries Inc. in Lamar, where he served for the past 10 years as vice president of human resources. Hillman has a Bachelor of Science degree in business and marketing from Southwest Missouri State University.

Insurance

Michelle Davolt joined Nixon & Lindstrom Insurance to work in the group health service department. She has been in the insurance business for five years and is a native of southwest Missouri.

M.J. Kelly Co., of Springfield, won the award for Managing General Agency of the Year at the Kansas Association of Professional Insurance Agents annual convention. The convention also included a charity golf tournament and continuing education activities.

Law

Husch & Eppenberger LLC added Jessica Johns and Richard A. Russell to its staff. Johns is an associate attorney in the firm’s general business litigation practice group. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law in 2004. Russell is an associate attorney in the firm’s corporate practice group, having earned his Juris Doctor from Rutgers University School of Law in 2004.

Media

Springfield Business Journal News Editor Eric Olson was recognized nationally for writing an investigative report on Bass Pro Shops’ nationwide expansion using public financing.

The Alliance of Area Business Publications honored Olson and SBJ during its Editorial Excellence Awards ceremony June 11 in Detroit, Mich. SBJ received a bronze award in the Best Investigative Reporting category for the piece.

Real estate

Jeff Mosley of Carol Jones Realtors received the Master of Real Estate designation from the Missouri Association of Realtors.

The award was given in recognition of Mosley’s completion of several advanced real estate education classes, his status as an accredited buyer representative and a graduate of the Realtor Institute.

Sales

SBJ columnist Jeffrey Gitomer’s latest book, “The Little Red Book of Selling: 12.5 Principles of Sales Greatness,” was selected as a Top 10 Outstanding Book of the Year according to the Independent Publisher Book Awards 2005, in the category of Business Breakthrough of the Year.