Newsmakers

Springfield-Branson Regional Airport named Shawn Schroeder assistant director of aviation. Schroeder previously served as assistant director of aviation at Valley International Airport in Harlingen, Texas. Schroeder is responsible for directing airport safety, security and inspection programs, airport police, aircraft fire and rescue, and airfield and building maintenance.

Community

The Ozark Region Council of Local Elected Officials, Workforce Investment Board and Youth Council announced Lakes Country Resource Centers as the new Workforce Investment Act youth services provider. Lakes Country Resource Centers, a division of Alternative Opportunities Inc., provides eligible youth with work-readiness training, employment assistance and leadership development.

Court Appointed Special Advocates of Southwest Missouri was awarded certification by the National CASA Association. The certification recognizes that CASA of Southwest Missouri is in compliance with national CASA standards for quality child advocacy. The CASA program utilizes trained community volunteers to speak for the best interests of abused and neglected children.

Construction

Larry Snyder & Co. announced several new additions and a promotion. Jeffrey Dawdy, Tracey Bradshaw and Carson Cash are project managers, each overseeing management of assigned construction jobs. Donnie Volentine is project manager, Fran Morin is chief estimator, Karl Severson is building estimator, and Eddie Campbell is estimator and project manager. Amanda Norman was promoted to assistant contract administrator.

Michael Clotfelter joined Butler, Rosenbury & Partners Inc. as an intern architect in the company’s retail and entertainment studio, aiding in design and production. Clotfelter graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in architecture.

Economy

Ondria Wohlfeil and Deidre McCormick were among 70 participants in the annual Heartland Economic Development Course at Elm’s Resort & Spa in Excelsior Springs. Wohlfeil, Taney County economic development director, and McCormick, economic development director for the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, used the course to gain a better understanding of the full range of economic strategies, as well as the effects of global competition on local economies.

Education

Naomi Yates retired after 37 years working in the Evangel University financial aid office. At the time of her retirement, she also served as graduate and professional studies financial aid specialist. In 2003, Yates was recognized by the Missouri Association of Student Financial Aid Personnel for 35 years of service, the first person in Missouri ever to be honored for this length of service. She also received Evangel’s Distinguished Service Award in 1995.

Evangel professors Chip Stanek and Cameron Pace traveled with six communication students to attend the Missouri Broadcast Educators Association Conference in Osage Beach. Nathan Padgett won first place in the Web site category for www.crusadermedia.com, and two groups of Evangel students won first place awards in the documentary film and dramatic video categories.

Gov. Matt Blunt appointed Carolyn S. Pinegar to serve on the Southwest Missouri State University Board of Governors. Pinegar, a Springfield native and SMSU graduate, owns several area enterprises, including automobile companies, cattle operations and real estate. Her appointment is subject to Senate confirmation for a term ending Jan. 1, 2011.

Springfield’s Glendale High School named Renee Temple girls’ varsity basketball coach. Temple has been a physical education and health instructor at Pershing Middle School since 1988. She was assistant girls’ junior varsity basketball coach at Glendale from 1988 to 1997 and at Parkview High School from 1998 to the present. Temple replaces Tina Robbins, who coached at Glendale for six years.

Suzanne George, acting director of the early childhood education and family development program at SMSU, received a $125,625 grant from Burrell Behavioral Health for the Early Learning Opportunities Project for Greene County Missouri. The focus of the program is to coordinate community efforts to increase, support and better utilize early learning opportunities for children less than 7 years old and their families. The grant is funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Finance

Marina Wiley joined Pension Consultants Inc. as client manager for the client services team. Wiley was previously director of retirement plans for Fidelity National Financial Inc. in Jacksonville, Fla. In her new position, she is responsible for advising and directing retirement plan committees regarding all aspects of fiduciary accountability.

Health care

Debbie Cain of CoxHealth Home Parenteral Services is one of three new appointees to the National Home Infusion Association board of directors, announced at the association’s annual conference in New Orleans. Cain is vice president of operations and director of nursing for Home Parenteral Services.

Dr. Samir Garcia joined Springfield Inpatient Physicians. He earned his medical degree at the National University of Nicaragua and completed his internship and residency at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, Ill. Garcia is board-certified in internal medicine and is a member of the Society of Hospital Medicine.

Insurance

Barker-Phillips-Jackson elected Gail Mills secretary of the company’s board of directors at its annual meeting. Mills began with Barker-Phillips-Jackson in 1984, and she was elected to the board in 1998.

Law

Gov. Matt Blunt named Robert C. Carter associate circuit judge for the 44th Circuit Court in Douglas County. Carter, who resides in Clever, is a partner at Keck & Carter LLC in Springfield.

He previously worked with Newberry & Keck LLC. His background is in municipal defense, insurance defense and personal injury claims.

Manufacturing

Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Co. promoted two employees: Sally Hargis to vice president of corporate strategy and Martin J. Meyers to vice president and chief financial officer. Hargis, daughter of CEO Edwin “Cookie” Rice Jr., worked in media advertising for 10 years before joining her family’s business in 1990. Meyers, a Drury alumnus, has been with the company since 1986.

Real estate

Mid-Missouri Mortgage Co. announced several new hires and a promotion: Jan Robbins was hired as a vice president. She previously worked for John Q. Hammons Hotels Inc. Heather Kloepper and John Groves joined the firm as loan officers, and Shanda Green was hired as a loan production assistant. Tim Melton was promoted to vice president.

Mid-Missouri Mortgage Co. affiliate Mid-Land Mortgage hired Angie Cirtin as a mortgage loan planner and Nancy Chambers as a mortgage loan specialist.

Shirley LaCore, owner and publisher of Branson-based Parade of Homes Publications Inc., attended the National Republican Congressional Committee’s annual Congressional Tax Summit and 2005 Tax Reform Workshop in Washington, D.C. At the event – attended by 2,500 people including President Bush and first lady Laura Bush – LaCore was named 2004 Business Woman of the Year for Missouri.

Utility

White River Valley Electric Cooperative in Branson received two Communicator Awards for communication excellence. The electric cooperative received an Award of Distinction for its entry in the video competition, “Commitment to Community,” which was produced by The Vacation Channel Productions. The cooperative also received honorable mention in the writing/column category for General Manager Chris Hamon’s piece, “Our Greatest Cooperative, the USA.”

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