Accounting Lynda Jochims joined the Missouri State University Small Business & Technology Development Center as an accounting specialist. Jochims has a background in accounting, financial management and payroll processing and holds a bachelor’s in accounting from Mount Marty College in South Dakota.
Sanford & Associates PC named Certified Public Accountant James Lea a partner and changed the firm’s name to Sanford, Lea & Associates. Lea, who holds a bachelor’s from Drury University, has worked for the company for seven years.
Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants named The Whitlock Co. partner David Myers board chairman. He began serving a one-year term July 1.
Architecture Joey Hamm joined Butler, Rosenbury & Partners Inc. as an intern architect. Hamm received an architecture degree in May from the University of Arkansas.
Banking and Finance Metropolitan National Bank promoted Michelle Burke to assistan vice president and loan officer in Kimberling City. Previously a loan officer for the bank in Branson West, Burke holds a bachelor’s in secondary education with an emphasis in social studies from Missouri Southern State University.
Education Evangel University named Michael Kolstad vice president for university advancement. The Evangel alumnus has served as chairman of the school’s music department since 2007.
Gov. Jay Nixon appointed William Gipson, of Shell Knob, to the Missouri Southern State University Board of Governors. Gipson has worked with Empire District Electric Co. (NYSE: EDE) for 30 years and currently serves as a company director.
Community Eight Springfield-area leaders were named in the 2014 Ingram’s Magazine 50 Missourians You Should Know. Published in June, among those listed whose careers and companies have shaped their communities and the state were Brian Fogle, president of Community Foundation of the Ozarks; Sam Hamra, founder of Hamra Enterprises; Peter Herschend, co-founder of Herschend Family Entertainment Corp.; Hal Higdon, chancellor at Ozarks Technical Community College; John Holstein, a partner with Polsinelli PC; Kim Inman, CEO of Missouri Association of Manufacturers; Bob Noble, founder of Noble Communications Co.; and Ross Summers, president and CEO at Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau. Ingram’s list also included United Way of Greater St. Louis CEO Orvin Kimbrough, who serves on the Missouri State University Board of Governors.
Government The city of Springfield’s Finance Department earned a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association. Established in 1945 to help municipalities improve accounting principles, Springfield was recognized for its comprehensive annual reporting process.
Health Care Darla Marler was hired by Preferred Hospice of Southwest Missouri as administrator of the company’s Ozark office. Marler, who most recently worked as marketing director for Phoenix Home Health Care, oversees the Ozark office’s 12-county service area.
The Missouri Foundation for Health awarded CoxHealth a $400,000 grant to help consumers sign up for health insurance through the state’s exchange. The 18-month grant covers full-time certified application counselors, the licensing of several additional CoxHealth employees, outreach and education opportunities, and necessary equipment. Mercy Health Foundation Springfield, which picked up $200,000 of the roughly $4.5 million in grants doled out by MFH to educate Missourians on health care options.
Law Nixon appointed Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association Executive Director Crista Hogan to a six-year term with the Missouri Public Defender Commission, subject to Senate confirmation. The commission is responsible for hiring the state’s public defender director and providing administrative oversight for the system.
Nonprofit The Hospice Compassus program serving the Springfield and Osceola areas achieved Level II partnership with We Honor Veterans, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Designed to improve end-of-life care for American veterans, the designation recognizes Hospice Compassus’ commitment to build organizational capacity through training and community outreach.
The Community Foundation of the Ozarks appointed three new board members: Mitch Holmes of Edward Jones in Branson, Jared Lightle of Leggett & Platt (NYSE: LEG) in Carthage and Jean Twitty, former Greene County assessor. Officers added for 2014–15 are Richard Cavender, chairman; Stephanie Stenger Montgomery, vice chairwoman; Roger “Dusty” Shaw, treasurer; Jami Peebles, secretary; Mark Nelson, investment advisory board chairman; Gloria Galanes, chairwoman emeritus; and Karen Miller and Gary Powell, at-large members.
Scott Tillman was the first recipient of the Big Picture Award presented by the Downtown Springfield Association for contributions to the downtown community. Owner of Tillman Redevelopment LLC, Tillman began developing in center city in 1997, and current projects include the Woolworth building and College Station. The DSA also presented the Business of the Year award to clothing retailer Modern Society, based on public votes. Cameron Rose of Brentwood Management received the 2014 DSA Volunteer award for his time donated to the organization.
Retail At the 2014 Missouri State Wine Competition, Walnut Grove-based 7C’s Winery’s mead varieties earned six medals, including gold for its Alfalfa Mead. The Governor’s Cup honor, recognizing the best wine in Missouri, went to Hermann-based Stone Hill Winery’s 2012 Cross J Norton. Stone Hill took home 51 awards, which are selected by a panel of nine judges from across the U.S and one industry judge.
Recreation Yahoo Travel said the Top of the Rock golf course and Buffalo Ridge Springs Golf Course at Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale ranked among the top 10 most searched golf destinations on Yahoo.com. Big Cedar took the national spotlight in June with the inaugural Big Cedar Lodge Legends of Golf Tournament.[[In-content Ad]]
The first southwest Missouri location of EarthWise Pet, a national chain of pet supply stores, opened; Grey Oak Investments LLC relocated; and Hot Bowl by Everyday Thai LLC got its start.
