ArtsEnoch Morris, director of development and sales at Juanita K. Hammons Hall of the Performing Arts, secured two grants totaling more than $27,000 to support arts programs. The Missouri Arts Council awarded a grant for $17,431 to help the hall host artistic presentations, and master classes and workshops for art students. An additional $10,833 award was provided by the Mid-America Arts Alliance through its Community Engagement with Touring Artists program.
Banking & FinanceNadia Cavner, executive vice president of BancorpSouth, was named Franklin Templeton Investments’ top U.S. adviser in 2011 in the firm’s investment banking division. This is the 10th consecutive year Cavner has received the distinction.
Charles Jackson joined New York Life as a financial services professional. Jackson brings 25 years of marketing experience and 15 years as owner and operator of All American Security Systems and Covert Security Systems.
Kelly Pounds was promoted to BancorpSouth credit officer and regional credit manager. Pounds, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Missouri State University, joined BancorpSouth in 2009 as a credit analyst and has seven years of banking experience.
EducationMichael Stout, an assistant professor of sociology at Missouri State University, was listed among the 50 Sociology Professors You Should Be Following on Twitter by
WorldWideLearn.com. The professors on the list were selected based on number of followers, activity and quality of tweets, and their employers.
Southwest Baptist University named four professionals to its Computer and Information Sciences Advisory Board:
Neil Anderson of American National Property and Casualty Co.;
John Carr of O’Reilly Automotive Inc.;
Kirk Hay of Jack Henry & Associates Inc.; and
Damon Overboe of Accenture LLP.
Hal Higdon, chancellor of Ozarks Technical Community College received the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction from Phi Theta Kappa, an international society for two-year college students. Out of more than 12,000 chapters, only 10 presidents or chancellors are selected annually to receive the award recognizing support for faculty or students.
HospitalityShelby Williams joined University Plaza as an event and catering manager. Williams previously worked as operations manager for 425 Events and Catering and as sales and marketing director for Ramada Oasis.
LawF. Richard Van Pelt of Van Pelt & Van Pelt PC was chosen for inclusion in the 2012 edition of the Best Lawyers in America for family law. Selection is based on a peer review survey comprising confidential evaluations.
MarketingOzark Fitness Centers hired
Alexandra “Lexy” Smith as marketing director. Smith, who earned a bachelor’s in journalism and a master’s in advertising at the University of Missouri, specializes in strategic planning and social media marketing.
NonprofitBob Horton joined the Better Business Bureau of Southwest Missouri as a business relations specialist. Horton has worked as executive director for the Urban Neighborhood Alliance and as an owner of Har-Bell Athletic Goods.
The Ozarks Food Harvest Board of Directors elected volunteer officers
Todd Sherman of Kraft Foods, president;
Mike Pinkston of Bank of America, president-elect;
Kenny Ross of Morelock-Ross Builders, secretary; and
Joy Ward of KPM CPAs; treasurer. The individuals were appointed to serve two-year terms.
Three Ozarks Greenways volunteers were recognized by the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation for their efforts to provide bicycle paths and pedestrian walkways in the city. Springfield traffic engineer
David Hutchison and bicycle historian
James Allen received the 2012 Distinguished Service awards. Bicycle advocate and instructor
Coy Hart was presented the federation’s Special Lifetime Achievement Award.
Radhika Kaula and
Tara Rawlins joined the Springfield chapter of SCORE as volunteer business mentors. Kaula, who received a Master of Business Administration from MSU in 2006, teaches business and computer classes at Ozarks Technical Community College. Rawlins owns Raw Marketing LLC, which specializes in social media and marketing for nonprofits.
Watershed Committee of the Ozarks hired
Mike Kromrey as executive director to succeed Loring Bullard. Kromrey is charged with preserving and protecting Springfield and Greene County’s water supplies. He is working alongside the recently hired Watershed Center Coordinator
Rob Hunt, who is leading educational tours and providing education and outreach efforts.
Hollister-based
Connell Insurance was given a seat on the Taney County Business Development Partnership board. The nonprofit group is working with public and private partners to assist in economic development focusing on nontourism industries.
