Accounting BKD Wealth Advisors LLC promoted certified public accountant Rhonda Christopher to senior managing adviser for the firm’s Springfield office. Christopher, who holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Missouri State University, has 28 years’ experience with BKD LLP and joined BKD Wealth Advisors in 2010, serving most recently as the Springfield office director.
Davis, Lynn & Moots PC named Whitney Griffin a staff accountant for the firm’s audit department. Griffin holds a master’s degree in accounting from Missouri State University and is a CPA.
Banking Metropolitan National Bank promoted five staff members. Tiffany McClain now serves as an executive assistant and officer. McClain, who previously worked as an executive assistant, joined the bank in March 2012. Whitley Lancaster was promoted to human resources specialist from a human resources assistant. She has two years’ experience with Metropolitan. Harlie Oost was named retail float manager. Oost joined Metropolitan National Bank in 2006 and has worked in several positions – most recently as a retail float supervisor. Renee Jenkins was promoted to vice president and loan administration manager. Jenkins, who formerly worked as an assistant vice president and loan administration manager, joined Metropolitan in 2007. Melody Conner was named retail training manager. Conner, who has 15 years experience with the bank, had worked as a retail trainer.
Michael Frerking joined Guaranty Bank as senior vice president and residential lending manager. Frerking, who worked most recently at Liberty Bank as president of its mortgage division, is a graduate of MSU and brings 20 years of mortgage lending experience to Guaranty.
Education Dianne Slattery and Kerry Slattery, professors of technology and construction management at MSU, were awarded a $181,000 research contract from the Illinois Department of Transportation through the Illinois Center for Transportation. The funds are being used to help the transportation organization improve the planning of highway construction.
Andrea Weber, assistant director of student engagement for fraternity and sorority life at MSU, was named the dean for the 2014 Earl A. Webb Academy of Principled Leaders. The academy serves as the original training program for new chapter presidents offered by a North American Interfraternity Conference member fraternity.
Finance BKD Corporate Finance LLC, a subsidiary of BKD, promoted Austin Propst, a registered Financial Industry Regulatory Authority investment banking representative, to vice president. In the role, Propst manages corporate finance engagements, including mergers and acquisitions, company divestitures and debt and equity financing.
Fitness Professional boxer Will Grover joined The Bodysmith as a fitness instructor. Grover, who brings 14 years of related experience to the position, is coaching and managing in the The Pit, the boxing gym in the basement of The Bodysmith.
Health Care U.S. News & World Report ranked CoxHealth and Mercy Hospital Springfield among the top 10 hospitals in Missouri. CoxHealth ranked No. 7 and Mercy was listed at No. 10. Both health care providers were listed among the Best Hospitals in Southwest Missouri for 2013–14. CoxHealth was recognized as high performing in gastroenterology and surgery, gynecology, nephrology and pulmonology. Mercy was honored for gynecology and pulmonology.
Manufacturing Window manufacturers WinTech Inc. of Monett was honored as the “Make It In America” Manufacturer of the Week for July 1-5 by the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership. WinTech was nominated for inclusion in the program by Missouri Enterprise, the organization that manages the Manufacturing Extension Partnership in Missouri.
Media Jessica Drews of the Bolivar Herald-Free Press was one of two journalists selected for the Missouri Outstanding Young Journalist Award from the Missouri Press by Association. Drews, a reporter, photographer, editor and page designer who graduated from Southwest Baptist University in 2009, will be honored at an MPA awards ceremony in September in Kansas City.
Real Estate First American Title Insurance Co. listed Keith and Kim Chaffin and Bud Hogan, owners of Hogan Land Title Co., among its Top 10 agencies for 2012.
Technology St. Louis-based Tech Electronics, which operates a Springfield office, was named a Top Family Owned Business for 2013 by St. Louis Small Business Monthly.
Rolla-based Brewer Science, which operates locally out of the Roy Blunt Jordan Valley Innovation Center, was listed among top workplaces in a survey conducted by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for its company culture and employee satisfaction. The employee survey measured worker satisfaction in opportunities for growth, fairness and workplace resources.
This installment of Springfield Business Journal’s Architects & Engineers Project Report showcases 26 endeavors by area design and engineering professionals.
