Accounting BKD LLP promoted Jane Ballenger, Melissa Preator and Kelli Walker to senior associates in accounting outsourcing services. Ballenger and Preator provide accounting, tax and financial management to clients, while Walker offers preparation of payroll and payroll tax returns.
BKD also promoted Kale Dempsey, Angela Fisher, Kathryn Holmes, Matthew Pryor and Tyler Smithson to senior associates. Dempsey provides audit services to clients, including not-for-profit organizations. Fisher, Holmes and Pryor are members of the firm’s manufacturing/distribution group, and Pryor serves on the health care group as well. Smithson is a member of BKD’s financial services group.
Banking & Finance BluCurrent Credit Union promoted Jackie Lawhon to director of finance from accounting manager. Lawhon, who holds a bachelor’s in business administration from Drury University, works primarily in investments, payment and liquidity functions.
Ozark Bank hired Greg Pringle as a credit analyst and loan review officer. Pringle, who holds a bachelor’s in business administration from Southwest Baptist University, has 10 years of industry experience.
Education Neal Lopinot and Dustin Thompson, faculty members at the Center for Archaeological Research at Missouri State University, were awarded $20,355 in grant funding from the U.S. Corps of Engineers, Kansas City district, and David Miller and Associates Inc. The funding supports researchers as they look for known, buried steamboat wrecks that might be affected by a wetlands rehabilitation project in the lower Missouri River Valley.
MSU agricultural research professor Wenping Qiu received $10,170 from the Missouri Department of Agriculture for a collaborative study on epidemics and the transmission of the grapevine vein clearing virus in Missouri vineyards.
The Management Development Institute at MSU selected Jeffrey Schmedeke as assistant director. Schmedeke has 20 years of public and private experience and previously worked as a management consultant and program manager. He holds a master’s in global development from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and a bachelor’s in political science from Millikin University.
Nixa Public Schools received the 2014 Leadership Through Communication Award from Blackboard, the National School Public Relations Association and the American Association of School Administrators. The annual award recognizes Nixa Superintendent Stephen Kleinsmith and Director of Communications Zac Rantz for demonstrating leadership in the enhancement of school-to-parent communication.
The Nixa school district also received Missouri School Public Relations Association’s Award of Excellence for Kleinsmith’s article, “Superintendent Reacts to D on Grade Card.” The award came alongside three awards of merit and three awards of commendation for recent district publication efforts.
The Missouri Community College Association board elected directors J. Howard Fisk, Ozarks Technical Community College trustee, and Zachary Zweigle, a history and geography instructor and OTC’s assistant to the vice chancellor for advancement, student affairs and workforce development.
Global University and the city of Springfield honored the school’s longtime employee Alice Northcutt by declaring Nov. 13 Alice Northcutt Day. Honored as she was retiring, Northcutt worked for the school for 19 years, serving as executive administrator of Global University’s Graduate School of Theology.
Nancy Pace-Miller, assistant professor of communication at Evangel University, presented a workshop titled “Using Your Strengths” at the 2013 National College Media Convention in New Orleans.
Enactus named Missouri State and Southwest Baptist universities among the Sam’s Club 2013–14 Step Up for Small Business Project Partnership. Each of the 100 participating teams receives a $1,500 grant to support a small business through improved practices.
Engineering Professional Engineer Rick Todd joined the Springfield office of Horner & Shifrin Inc. as a project manager in the environmental engineering department. His duties include managing water and wastewater treatment projects and assisting with Missouri marketing operations.
Government E.Republic’s Center for Digital Government and the Digital Communities Program listed the city of Springfield among its top-ranked cities in the 2013 Digital Cities Survey. Springfield ranked No. 10 among cities with populations of 125,000 to 249,000 for improving transparency with open government initiatives and access to city services via mobile apps.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce awarded the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce with a three-star accreditation for its sound policies, effective organizational procedures and positive community impact.
Gov. Jay Nixon appointed Jacinda Sheppard, of Ava, as recorder of deeds for Douglas County. Sheppard, who succeeds Tina Boyd, has served as deputy recorder of deeds in the county since 2010.
Health Care Citizens Memorial Hospital Auxiliary was recognized by the Missouri Association of Hospital Auxiliaries for volunteer services to the health care community. Honored in the category of 151-300 members, 235 CMH auxiliary members volunteered more than 33,600 hours and contributed $217,462 between June 2012 and May 2013.
CoxHealth Registered Nurse Gloria Beitler received the Moore Excellence in Nursing Award from the Missouri Association of Occupational Health Nurses. Beitler also was voted president-elect for the association for 2014 and 2015.
Nonprofit The Association of Fundraising Professionals Ozarks Region Chapter and the Ozarks Health Advocacy Foundation honored individuals and groups during the 2013 National Philanthropy Day Luncheon: Patricia Webb, OHAF Child Health Advocate of the Year; Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc., Outstanding Philanthropic Business/Corporation; The JP Morgan Chase Foundation, Outstanding Philanthropic Foundation; Randy Voss of Voss Auto Haus, Outstanding Fundraiser of the Year; Fox KRBK, Outstanding Media Organization; Beth and John Raidel of Ridewell Corp., Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year; Springfield Arts Collaborative, Outstanding Fundraising Campaign/Event; and fourth-grader Madasyn Clark, Outstanding Youth Philanthropist.
Sports Minor League Baseball and the Sports Turf Managers Association selected Hammons Field as the 2013 Double-A Field of the Year.
Technology Corporate Business Systems promoted Tyson Johns to president from chief financial officer. Johns, who has six years of experience, is a certified public accountant with a bachelor’s in finance and accounting and an MBA from MSU.
This installment of Springfield Business Journal’s Architects & Engineers Project Report showcases 26 endeavors by area design and engineering professionals.
