Newsmakers: Aug. 20-26, 2018

Architecture
Hood-Rich Inc. hired Pat Pierce as an architect and project manager. A member of the American Institute of Architects, she has 30 years of experience in architecture.

Butler, Rosenbury & Partners Inc. added Amber Summers as intern architect and Collin Tucker as student architectural intern. Summers earned a master of architecture and a minor in regional and community planning from Kansas State University this year, and Tucker is a fifth-year architecture student at Drury University.

Banking & Finance
Ryan Bowling, Guaranty Bank’s online marketing specialist, was awarded the Certified Financial Marketing Professional designation from the Institute of Certified Bankers, a subsidiary of the American Bankers Association. The designation is earned by individuals who demonstrate excellence in the field of financial services marketing.

Hagan, Tucker, Schmitt & Gintz LLC added Thomas Ridge and Amanda Mullen as staff accountants. Both graduated from Missouri State University with bachelor’s degrees in accounting.

American National added Hannah Vale as a multiple lines agent and opened her office in south Springfield.

BKD LLP promoted Garrett Smith and Jenna Vickers to senior associates. A graduate of Drury University and Missouri State University with a bachelor’s in psychology and a master of accountancy, Smith is a member of BKD National Financial Services Group. A graduate of Southwest Baptist University with a bachelor’s in accounting and information assurance, Vickers is a member of BKD’s National Manufacturing & Distribution and Higher Education groups.

Education
U.school added Terri Johnson, a partner in Creative 3 LLC, as a science specialist. She has co-developed more than 100 learning products for elementary children and has 25 years of experience in education, previously owning Fiction, Facts & Fun LLC.

Energy
Sun Solar was named the top residential solar installer in Missouri for the fifth-straight year on Solar Power World’s list of the top solar contractors. The company ranked 135 out of 450 solar companies nationwide in 2018.

Sun Solar added Eugene Han as general counsel and vice president of the commercial division. He has 17 years of experience in transaction, corporate and intellectual property law.

Lodging
Myer Hotels Inc. had five properties receive the 2018 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence: Best Western Music Capital Inn, Best Western Center Pointe Inn, Comfort Inn & Suites Branson Meadows, Comfort Inn at Thousand Hills and Quality Inn West.

Nonprofit
Ozarks Food Harvest Inc. received an $8,000 general operating grant from The Darden Foundation. The food bank serves 261,300 unduplicated individuals each year in 28 counties throughout the Ozarks.

Real Estate
Real estate agent Amy Molea moved her team, Home Sweet Springfield, to Keller Williams. She spent nearly eight years with Murney Associates, Realtors.

Transportation
Jon Finnell, the manager of Summit Idealease of Springfield, earned platinum status in the company’s President’s Club during his first year of eligibility. The Springfield office also received an Idealease recognition along with 13 other national locations.

Utilities
City Utilities’ Natural Gas Department received the System Operational Achievement Recognition Award at the American Public Gas Association annual conference. The award highlights a commitment to system integrity and improvement, employee safety and workforce development.