Newsmakers

Community
Springfield Family YMCA received a $4,900 donation from PepsiCo. Each of the seven branches – Bolivar Area YMCA, Camp Wakonda, the child care branch, Monett Area YMCA, Jones YMCA, Tri-Lakes Family YMCA and Ward YMCA – will receive $700 to fund new and existing programs intended to build families and community spirit.

Education
York Elementary School teacher Jean Ratcliff was named Springfield Public Schools’ Starcatcher for February. The monthly award is presented to an employee who demonstrates a commitment to the mission, belief and vision of the district. Ratcliff has taught at York for three years. She created a self-esteem program for fourth- and fifth-grade girls called Pizzazz Girls, which focuses on academic success, respect for self and others, and responsibility and leadership.
SMSU history professor Marc Cooper secured a three-year, $983,000 grant for a consortium of public schools. The group, led by Republic R-III School District, will participate in the American History Education Enhancement Project. The project is designed to construct and implement a Master of Arts graduate program for middle- and high-school teachers. The money will cover the tuition costs of 27 teachers to receive 32 graduate-level credits, laptop computers and broadband Internet for their homes.
Young America’s Foundation chose College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout as one of its top 10 conservative colleges. YAF’s list focuses on the overall experiences that colleges offer.

Financial
Mid-Missouri Bank announced the promotion of Doug Buckner to senior vice president. His duties include commercial and construction lending. Buckner has been in the banking business for 24 years and has been with Mid-Missouri Bank since 2000. Mid-Missouri Bank has offices in Springfield, Bolivar, Lebanon, Stockton, El Dorado Springs and Deepwater.
BKD LLP announced two staff additions. Sherri R. Falk and Victoria A. Smith joined the company as staff consultants in the medical billing area. They assist with general consulting services in the health care industry.

Government
Aubrey Pete Harris joined the city of Republic as director of Finance. Prior to joining the city, Harris served eight years as financial manager for the Federal Highway Administration’s Division Office in Little Rock, Ark. Additionally, Republic named Toby Schaefer network administrator for the city. Schaefer spent three years as network technician for the Nixa School District.
Hospitality
The Embassy Suites Hotel Out-door World in Grapevine, Texas, a John Q. Hammons Hotels Inc. property, received a four-diamond rating from AAA for the second consecutive year. The four-diamond rating is given to upscale properties that offer exceptional accommodations. The property is connected to a Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World.
Super 8 Motel in Nixa was named to the Pride of Super 8 after receiving a perfect housekeeping score on a recent quality assurance inspection. Pride of Super 8 properties rank quality assurance, including maintenance, housekeeping, front-desk service, customer service and staff professionalism.
Branson’s Myer Hotels was mentioned in a Feb. 14 Time magazine article as a participant in cleanhotels.com. The Web site, created by the Cincinnati group, Citizens for Community Values, is intended to serve as a resource for travelers looking to find hotels that do not offer pay-per-view adult movies in their rooms.

Insurance
Barker-Phillips-Jackson Vice President Paula Goodin was elected to the insurance company’s board of directors as its assistant secretary.

Law
J. Chandler Gregg joined The Strong Law Firm PC as an associate. Gregg, who earned a juris doctorate from the University of Missouri-Columbia, focuses on personal injury and product liability law. Also, the firm’s three shareholders – Tom Strong, Steve Garner and Steve Harrell – were recognized in the 2005–2006 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. The shareholders were selected by their peers in the legal profession for their work in personal injury litigation.
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