Newsmakers: Aug. 11-17, 2025

Accounting
KPM CPAs & Advisors hired Zane Kvasnicka as a business valuation specialist in the firm’s management consulting practice. A certified public accountant, Kvasnicka has three years of experience in business valuation and strategic advisory. He has a bachelor’s and master’s in accounting from the University of Kansas.

Banking & Finance
Shawn Daniel joined Guaranty Bank as senior vice president and regional commercial manager. With nearly 20 years of banking industry experience, Daniel has a Bachelor of Business Administration in management and marketing from Pittsburg State University.

Great Southern Bank promoted Kyle Calton, Audra Miller and Jenny Wasson. The company’s new controller, Calton oversees bank accounting, Securities and Exchange Commission and regulatory reporting, and regulatory exam support. Miller, who is now managing director of credit risk and oversees credit risk, appraisal review and other financial and regulatory reporting responsibilities, has a bachelor’s in economics from Oklahoma State University and a master’s in accounting and financial analysis from Northeastern State University. Wasson, who has worked at Great Southern bank for 14 years, was promoted to vice president and director of loan operations, through which she oversees loan operations, construction services and legal.

Nathan Valis was hired by Arvest Bank as a branch sales manager in Springfield. Valis, who attended Missouri State University and holds a Missouri life insurance license, has eight years of industry experience.

Central Bank promoted Sheena Carroll to retail sales manager and retail officer and appointed Paulina Aguillon as a business intern. Carroll has 17 years of financial industry experience, including four years at Central Bank. Paulina has an associate degree in business and is pursuing a bachelor’s in accounting at Missouri State University.

Information Technology
Pitt Technology Group promoted Jacob Butcher to director of information technology services. Butcher previously served as client lead in the company’s IT division for seven years.

Law
The 31st Judicial Circuit in Greene County was recognized by the Supreme Court of Missouri with the O’Toole Award and the Permanency Award. The O’Toole Award recognizes excellence in serving and timely delivery of justice, and the Permanency Award honors court staffers and volunteers for their work to protect children who have been abused or neglected.

The Springfield Police Department received the Missouri Blue Shield designation from the state Department of Public Safety. Gov. Mike Kehoe in January signed an executive order to create the Missouri Blue Shield Program, which recognizes commitment to public safety and support of law enforcement.

Tourism
Visit Springfield, Missouri hired Andrea Copeland as vice president of marketing. With nearly a decade of marketing and creative leadership experience, Copeland most recently served as director of marketing at Southwest Baptist University. Copeland has a bachelor’s in graphic design from Evangel University and an MBA in marketing from SBU.

Workforce
The Missouri Job Center Ozark Region received a clean financial monitoring report from Booth Management Consulting, which is contracted through the Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development to evaluate the accounting principles and financial management of grants, programs and services for each region. The financial monitoring covered the period from July 1, 2024, to Dec. 31, 2024.