Newsmakers: April 14-20, 2025

Architecture
BRP Architects hired Maks Buzhduga and Cole Vincent. An architectural designer at the firm, Buzhduga has a master’s in architecture from Drury University. Vincent, who joins the firm in his second stint as an architectural student intern, is a fifth-year student at Drury’s Hammons School of Architecture, where he’s pursuing a master’s in the subject.

Banking & Finance
Brandon Bowenschulte joined Regent Bank as a vice president and commercial relationship manager. With more than 10 years of commercial banking experience, Bowenschulte has a master’s in finance from University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Branson Bank promoted Joseph Cherek Jr. to portfolio officer and government loan specialist, a position through which he manages the day-to-day operations of the company’s credit department. With a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Nebraska-Omaha, Cherek has more than 11 years of banking industry experience.

Kennedie Essick joined Table Rock Community Bank as branch manager of the company’s Springfield location. Essick has more than five years of banking experience, with roles including personal banker, assistant manager and corporate services officer.

Table Rock Community Bank promoted Nicole Essary to branch manager of its Crane location. With more than a decade of banking experience, she joined the company in 2021 as a loan assistant.

Education
Chocolate University, an experiential education program from Askinosie Chocolate and Drury University, named its class of 2025 to participate in a six-month preparatory course that culminates with a trip to Tanzania. The selected students are Sonali Agrawal of Jackson Reed High School (Washington, D.C.), Madeleine Bauer of Central High School, Max Brown of Central High School, Will Beykirch of Springfield Catholic High School, Cadence Gelner of Springfield Catholic High School, Gentry Goode of Central High School, Aven Goodnight of Nixa High School, Hailey Hakan of Kickapoo High School, Sarah Han of Springfield Catholic High School, Chase Haustein of Kickapoo High School, Hayden Hradek of Republic High School, Eli Kromrey of Central High School, Lance Rosebrough of Reeds Spring High School, Ella Steele of Nixa High School and Vanessa Smith, a homeschool student.

Law
The Piatchek Law Firm LLC is marking 20 years in business this year. The firm’s most recent hire is attorney Stacy Tomlin Harmon. Harmon practices primarily in the areas of criminal defense, family law and civil matters. Harmon has her bachelor’s in psychology and her Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri.

Nonprofit
Lyndi Carnelison and Glenn Schulz were appointed to the Skaggs Foundation Board of Directors. Carnelison serves as marketing officer at Branson Bank, where she’s worked since 2006. A member of the city of Branson Board of Aldermen, Schulz is retired from the industrial automation field.