Newsmakers

Community
Nancy Bright, Ozark Empire Fair-grounds’ commercial exhibits director, was elected to a three-year term on the Missouri Association of Fairs and Festivals Board at the annual MAFF convention. She is secretary of the 11-member board and represents District 5 of the association, which consists of 16 southwest Missouri counties. Bright has been on Ozark Empire Fairgrounds’ staff for six years.
Gabrielle Duda was named National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Walk chair and development coordinator for the Springfield area. Duda is planning the events throughout the Ozarks associated with the April 2 walk.
Evelyn Honea, director of information systems for the city of Springfield, was promoted to assistant city manager, a position held by Bob Cumley. Cumley was promoted to deputy city manager, a new city title.
Honea, a certified public accountant, has worked for the city for 23 years, including 17 years as assistant director of Finance before moving to her information systems position in 1999. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from University of North Texas and a master’s degree in public administration from SMSU.
The Nixa Fire Protection District was awarded $149,110 from the federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program for fire operations and firefighter safety. The grant requires a 10 percent match from the fire district.
The district will use the grant money to purchase new fire hose and accessories along with 40 sets of protective fire gear. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security administers and awards grant money to fire departments through a selective application process.
Denny Bond, community bank president for UMB Bank in Monett, joined the Monett Area YMCA board. Bond will serve as chairman for Monett Area YMCA’s annual sustaining campaign, which raises funds to finance the organization and its programs. He also will help determine guidelines and procedures for the conduct of the YMCA in Monett. The Monett Area YMCA branch is a part of the Springfield Family YMCA.

Insurance
Croley Insurance & Financial announced several staff additions. Christina Davis-McMullan is a property and casualty insurance agent. She has 10 years of experience and previously worked for the Rod McMullan agency in Albuquerque, N.M. Michelle Walton is an administrative assistant. She has degrees in business and insurance from SMSU. Amanda Marlowe, a recent graduate of Everton High School, is a customer service representative.

Education
Southwest Missouri State University student governor Kelli A. Wolf was given
honorable mention to USA Today’s All-USA College Academic Team. The newspaper chose Wolf out of more than 600 students nationwide who the newspaper said excel not only in scholarship but also in leadership roles on- and off-campus. Wolf is a junior accounting major with minors in Spanish and economics.
The Foundation for Springfield Public Schools gave four teachers its 2005 Kids’ Choice Award. They are: Maria Thomas, Horace Mann Elementary fourth-grade teacher; Jennifer Webb, Pershing Middle School academic recovery teacher; Julie West, Parkview High School foreign language teacher; and Cathy Carleton, Bailey Alternative School science and art teacher.
John M. Carnahan III, a shareholder and founder of Carnahan, Evans, Cantwell & Brown PC, was confirmed by the Missouri Senate to serve on the University of Missouri board of curators. The Senate confirmation follows Gov. Matt Blunt’s nomination on Jan. 25. Carnahan will serve a six-year term on the board, representing the 7th Congressional District.
The Assemblies of God Theological Seminary received a $30,000 grant from The Chatlos Foundation Inc. in Longwood, Fla., for its Master of Arts in Theological Studies degree completion program. The nontraditional program enables participants to attend class one night a week and earn a master’s degree in 18 to 22 months without leaving their full-time jobs.
Chuck Kroeger, SMSU director of environmental management, received a $10,000 grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for the “Solid Waste Assessment: Springfield Campus of SMSU” project. The grant will be used to contract a consultant to perform a campuswide solid waste assessment and identify areas for potential improvement in handling solid waste generated throughout the campus.

Engineering
The American Council of Engineering Companies of Missouri awarded a Springfield firm the Distinguished Service Award during its 31st annual awards banquet at the DoubleTree Hotel in St. Louis. Scott Consulting Engineers PC was honored for 25 years of service. Distinguished Service Awards are presented to member firms in their 25th year of business and thereafter at 10-year intervals, with special recognition of 50th and 100th anniversaries.

Health care
Springfield veterinarians Philip R. Brown and Michael Pfander recently attended the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association Convention at Tan-Tar-A resort in Osage Beach.
At the meeting, Brown and Pfander attended an extensive continuing education program developed to enhance veterinarians’ knowledge and skills to better serve clients. Brown works at the Animal Care Center and Pfander works at Cottage Veterinary Hospital.

Politics
Republican State Rep. Brad Roark is the new chair of the House Committee on General Laws and vice-chair of the House Committee on Financial Institu-tions. Roark is serving his third term in the Missouri House of Representatives, where he represents northern Greene County.

Sales
Illinois-based fashion jewelry company Lia Sophia announced the promotion of Mary Ribble from adviser to Springfield unit manager. The company also announced that Paula Linneman and Marci Moad are the top honors winners in Springfield for its Excellent Beginnings Program. Formerly called Lady Remington, Lia Sophia is a direct-selling opportunity offering fashion accessories through personalized in-home shows.
Jeff and Kym Russell, owners of Russell Cellular and Satellite in Springfield, received Alltel Corp.’s national Top Agent of the Year award for 2004 during a recent banquet at Branson’s Chateau on the Lake. The distinction was based on record-setting sales and service figures.
Russell Cellular and Satellite also named Mike Frost assistant sales manager for the store’s regional outlets in Hoxie, Paragould, Newport, and Jones-boro, Ark. Frost, a native of West Plains, has been with Russell Cellular since 2002, serving as a sales representative and senior wireless representative. He has an associate degree from SMSU-West Plains.
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