Newsmakers: April 20-26, 2026

Banking & Finance
Guaranty Bank named Heather Ramsey as executive vice president and chief deposit officer. Ramsey has more than 10 years of experience with Guaranty Bank and over 35 years in the banking industry. Ramsey has a business administration bachelor’s from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Education
The Ozark School District Board of Education voted to promote Elizabeth Dawson to executive director of special services, effective July 1. Dawson, who has served as principal of the Tiger Paw Early Childhood Center for five years, started her education career in 2006. Dawson has an undergraduate degree in communications sciences and disorders and a master’s in speech-language pathology from Missouri State University. Additionally, she earned her specialist in educational administration degree and doctorate in educational leadership from William Woods University.

Zac Rantz, chief communication officer and safety coordinator for Nixa Public Schools, received the Missouri School Public Relations Association’s Spirit Award in recognition of his public relations work. A Nixa High School graduate, Rantz has a bachelor’s and master’s from Drury University.

Entertainment
The Ozarks Lunkers signed Tirri Jones as The Arena League football team’s starting quarterback for the 2026 season. Jones played collegiately at Morgan State University and has professional experience with Fan Controlled Football, the National Arena League and IFA Rebellion Chihuahua.

Government
Gov. Mike Kehoe tapped Springfieldians Julia Murray and Trisha Turner for state posts. Murray, who works as senior director of patient care advocacy at LucyRx, was appointed to the Missouri State Board of Nursing. Appointed to the State Lottery Commission, Turner is a product solutions consultant for Jack Henry & Associates Inc.

Health Care
Dr. Zadesha Gordon joined Citizens Memorial Hospital’s Community Springs Healthcare Facility in El Dorado Springs as its new medical director. A specialist in geriatric medicine, Gordon earned her medical degree from the American University of Antigua, as well as her internal medicine residency at the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University and a fellowship in geriatric medicine at Harvard Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

CMH announced the addition of Brandon Barnes to the CMH Heart Institute Clinic medical staff. With six years of nursing experience at CoxHealth and Mercy hospitals in Springfield, Barnes has a bachelor’s in nursing from Southwest Baptist University and a master’s in nursing and family nurse practitioner certification from Cox College.

Law
Andy Peebles, a shareholder and attorney with Carnahan Evans PC, was named a fellow by the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. The only person selected from Missouri, Peebles is a 2019 Heart of America Fellows Institute graduate. Peebles earned a bachelor’s in history and Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri.

Tourism
Jackson Thompson, director of the Dickerson Park Zoo, was named to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ inaugural Director’s Edge cohort made up of CEO and directors of AZA-accredited zoos, aquariums and related organizations. Director’s Edge is a professional development series. In 2024, Thompson became director of the Dickerson Park Zoo, where he’s been an employee since 2004