Newsmakers: April 24-30, 2023

Accounting
KPM CPAs & Advisors added Shelly Lea as benefits and human resources coordinator. She previously served as a senior HR coordinator at American National and has nine years of experience. Lea holds a bachelor’s in hospitality and restaurant administration from Missouri State University, as well as HR certificates from MSU and the HR Certification Institute.

Banking & Finance
Arvest Wealth Management was named to the National Association of Plan Advisors’ list of the nation’s top defined contribution adviser teams with assets under advisement over $100 million. It’s the firm’s second year in a row recognized by NAPA.

Education
Drury University named Alex Riddle as executive director of facilities. He has 30 years of experience as an operations manager and methods engineer, including stints at Thorco Industries, Paul Mueller Co., Honeywell International and The Boeing Co. Riddle, who holds a bachelor’s in drafting and design, with a minor in industrial management, from Missouri State University, most recently operated Riddle Ranch, his family’s 320-acre cattle ranch in Carthage.

Darin Poe was named director of the AG Ministry Leaders of Tomorrow Project at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. With funding from a $5 million grant from the Lilly Endowment, he is responsible for the design, deployment and management of new and innovative theological training to local church leaders and to provide a pathway to advanced ministerial degrees. Poe has 35 years of experience, including 22 years as youth director for the AG Southern Missouri District, and he holds a bachelor’s in history and a master’s in organizational leadership from Evangel University, as well as a doctorate in organizational leadership from Southeastern University.

College of the Ozarks was readmitted to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, effective in the fall semester when teams for men’s and women’s basketball, cross country and track and field, as well as women’s volleyball and men’s baseball will compete in the NAIA. The college will continue its membership in the National Christian College Athletic Association.

Health Care
Citizens Memorial Hospital added Dr. Marcello A. Assmann to its emergency medicine staff. He previously worked as an emergency medicine physician at Mercy Hospital Springfield and in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, as well as stints as an emergency medical technician, paramedic and emergency department nurse, including with CMH, 2010-14. Assmann holds a doctorate in medicine from Ross University in West Indies and completed residency at Texas Tech University’s School of Medicine.

Insurance
John Akers, vice president of benefits at Ollis/Akers/Arney, was recognized by the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors for 25 consecutive years as a certified insurance counselor. The designation requires at least 16 hours of coursework annually and covers benefits, property and casualty, agency management, personal lines, commercial lines, and liability insurance.

Media
Springfield Business Journal hired Michael Farabee as a business strategist in the advertising department. He previously managed accounts in pharmaceuticals and environmental services and worked in golf course business management and operations. Farabee also served three years in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Nonprofit
Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri Inc. added Suzanne Cronkhite as director of advancement, responsible for the social services agency’s annual and capital campaigns. She previously worked as development director for Springfield Catholic Schools and held development roles for Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph and the Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri.