Newsmakers

Protel Communications was recognized by SBC Communications for outstanding sales at the 2005 Presidents Club meeting at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego. President Steve Thompson and manager Shane Taylor were awarded trophies for DSL sales and incremental revenues.

Community

Rotary Sunrise of Springfield honored four local charitable community organizations at its general membership meeting with contributions from club members. Developmental Center of the Ozarks, YMCA Strong Kids Fund, Family Violence Center and the Glendale High School Band each received a $1,000 donation from the club.

The League of Women Voters of Southwest Missouri elected Rick Hopkins as its new president. Hopkins sits on the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Advisory Council, is immediate past president of Missouri Organic Association and is president of American Pasturage Inc.

Education

Diana Duncan-Atnip, physical education teacher at Wilder Elementary, was named Springfield Public Schools’ Starcatcher for May. She has served 22 years in the district as an elementary PE teacher. At Wilder, she developed juggling and cup-stacking activities for kids. The award is presented monthly to an employee who demonstrates a commitment to the mission, belief and vision of the district.

Peter Herschend was elected president of the Missouri State Board of Education. Herschend was appointed to the board in December 1991 and has been vice president of the board since 2002. He also is co-owner and vice chairman of Herschend Family Entertainment Corp. in Branson, which owns Silver Dollar City, Celebration City and other properties.

Springfield School Board announced several new assignments for the 2005-2006 school year. Lesa Conn-Haase was named principal at Sherwood Elementary, David Schmitz was named principal of Cherokee Middle School and Jason Newell was named assistant principal at Pleasant View Elementary-Middle School. Additionally, Elizabeth Cooper will become assistant to the principal at Wilson’s Creek 5-6 School, Rhonda Mammen will be the new coordinator of counseling, and Stephanie Young will be assistant to the principal at a yet-to-be-determined elementary school.

Finance

Great Southern Financial Services, a branch of Raymond James Financial Services Inc., announced that Connie L. Hopper has joined the company’s East Sunshine office as a financial adviser. Hopper is responsible for developing new business and maintaining strong working relationships with existing customers. She has 17 years’ experience with Stifel Nicolaus & Co. Inc.

Government

Gov. Matt Blunt appointed two local citizens to the State Military Preparedness and Enhancement Commission. Kent D. Thomas is chancellor of Southwest Missouri State University-West Plains. He served 24 years in the U.S. Army before joining SMSU. Dalton Wright is president and owner of Lebanon Publishing Co., Richland Publishing Co., Ozark County Times Publishing Co., Webster County Publishing Inc. and the Pulaski County Democrat Inc.

Roderick Nunn was named director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development’s Division of Workforce Development. The division provides programs and services for job training, career counseling and skills development at nearly 40 Missouri Career Centers throughout the state. Nunn most recently served as assistant director for the Office of Special Finance for the Philadelphia School District.

Health care

The Internship Program at Forest Institute of Professional Psychology was awarded accredited status by the American Psychological Association. Internship is the final phase of multiyear training required to become a doctor of professional psychology. Forest Institute’s doctoral program has been accredited by the APA since 1994.

Wanda Allen was awarded the Lillian Hutcheson Award at the Citizens Memorial Healthcare Auxiliary Appreciation Banquet April 29. The award honors Allen for her dedication to the organization and her volunteerism. Allen has been a charter member of the auxiliary for 23 years and is a past president.

Gary Levine joined Mercy Health Plans as vice president of business development. He will focus on new market development for the health plan. Previously, he was vice president of retail marketing for Catalina Health Resource and executive vice president of marketing of Medicine Shoppe International, a Cardinal Health company. Levine holds a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

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