Newsmakers

Jack Ball Architects PC hired Jeremy Eggerman as an architectural drafter. Eggerman prepares drawings of buildings for the firm’s clients and architects. He was formerly employed at Keystone Architects PC.

Business advisers

Rick Huntsinger was appointed chief operating officer of Sunbelt of the Ozarks. He manages brokers in Springfield, Joplin, Branson and northwest Arkansas. Huntsinger recently sold his ownership interest in Arkansas Surgical Supply and before that was employed with Computype, a bar code production and system management company.

Community

Gloria Roling, executive director of Leadership Springfield, and Vickie Hicks, marketing coordinator for Kirkpatrick Phillips and Miller CPAs, attended the 25th annual leadership conference, “Fanning the Flame Within, Inspiring Leaders, Building Organizations and Strengthening Communities.” The conference, presented by the Community Leadership Association, was held in Atlanta April 28-May 1.

Big Brothers Big Sisters announced four new additions to its board of directors: Jim Robeson, who has been with 3M for 19 years; Aaron Buerge, co-owner of First National Bank; Becky Hosp, health service manager for Concentra Medical Centers; and Noah Dorrance, who holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications. Robeson also was named BBBS of Missouri’s Big Brother of the Year.

Sandy Jones, of Bolivar, was appointed in April by Gov. Blunt and confirmed by the Missouri Senate as a member of the Missouri Women’s Council. Jones, the executive secretary to the president of Ozarks Technical Community College, serves a three-year term. The council has 15 members – 11 appointed by the governor, two state senators and two state representatives.

Stacy Burks, district office director for U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, was chosen to participate in Leadership Missouri, a seven-month leadership enhancement program sponsored by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The program is designed to enhance the leadership skills of current and emerging leaders through an in-depth exploration of the state’s economic, political and social issues.

Boys & Girls Town May 13 honored Springfield citizen Ellen Head for her $50,000 donation. Head’s gift kicks off an expansion of the Independent Supported Living Program and will help refurbish a home that will house up to nine young adults. The home should be ready for occupancy by fall.

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder presented the Lieutenant Governor’s Service Awards during

a ceremony May 10 at the State Capitol. Among 11 recipients was Sherita

Henderson, who works in the service learning program at Bailey Alternative High School. The award is presented to distinguished Missouri members of national service programs.

Construction

Queen City Roofing and Contracting Co. promoted Charles Dobson to company president. Dobson, 51, joined the company in 1985 as a roof mechanic and has served in several key supervisory and management positions, including foreman, superintendent and director of field operations.

Education

Laynah Rogers, freshman seminar coordinator at Evangel University, was one of nine individuals who received the Distin-guished Service Award at the 2005 national Alpha Chi convention in St. Louis in April. The award is given to individuals whose service has influenced society. Rogers is the founding sponsor of Evangel’s Alpha Chi chapter, a national honor fraternity.

Darren Crowder was named director of admissions at Southwest Baptist University, where he has served as acting director since September 2004. As director, Crowder plans the school’s undergraduate recruitment strategies and goals. He previously served as SBU’s student recruiter for southwest Missouri.

The American College Counseling Association named Joyce Thomas of OTC this year’s recipient of the Professional Leadership Award. The award was presented at the ACCA National Conference in Atlanta this spring. Thomas is the director of counseling and career resources at OTC.

Environment

Floyd Gilzow joined the Missouri Department of Natural Resources as its deputy director for policy. Gilzow previously served as executive director of the Upper White River Basin Foundation. In his new position, he will oversee the agency’s policy development on key environmental issues, including federal and interstate topics.

Human resources

The Springfield Area Human Resource Association was awarded Superior Merit Chapter designation by the Society for Human Resource Management in Alexandria, Va. The award was presented for SAHRA’s work in perpetuating and supporting the mission of the organization in 2004. SAHRA received a certificate, a

special banner and recognition in SHRM’s publications and its conferences.

Insurance

Cathy Powell, health insurance professional with Ollis & Co., attended the First National Multi-Life LTCi Boot Camp in Kansas City May 2–3. The national intercompany seminar focused on employer-sponsored multilife long-term care insurance plans. At Ollis & Co., Powell specializes in senior health insurance, long-term care insurance, Medicare supplemental insurance and individual health insurance.

Ollis & Co. Commercial Lines Account Executive David Endacott completed the property and casualty portion of the Certified Insurance Counselor program. Endacott has completed four of the five programs required by the insurance institute to earn the Certified Insurance Counselor accreditation.

Nixon & Lindstrom Insurance hired Springfield native Chad Munsey as an employee benefit specialist in the group health insurance department. Munsey has three years of insurance industry experience.

Law

Joseph Passanise was elected president of the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers at the group’s April 23 meeting in Kansas City. Passanise is partner with Dee Wampler, specializing in criminal defense work in federal, state and municipal court. He was previously recognized by the Missouri Bar Association as an outstanding attorney.

Joseph D. Sheppard III, shareholder of Carnahan, Evans, Cantwell & Brown PC, was elected as a fellow of the American Bar Association. Election as a fellow serves as recognition of a lawyer whose professional, public and private career has demonstrated outstanding dedication to the welfare of the community, the traditions of the profession, and the maintenance and advancement of the association’s objectives.

Utility

Empire District Electric Company announced its company officers. They are Kenneth Allen, William Gipson and Bill Helton, directors; William Gipson, president and CEO; Bradley Beecher, Ronald Gatz, David Gibson, Gregory Knapp and Michael Palmer, vice presidents; Janet Watson, secretary-treasurer; and Darryl Coit, assistant secretary and assistant treasurer.

[[In-content Ad]]