Newsmakers: Dec. 25-31, 2023

Banking & Finance
Encore Bank added banking veteran Debra Yeager as vice president and commercial relationship manager. She’s worked in the industry since 1983 and was named a top branch manager for six consecutive years at two of her previous employers.

Phelps County Bank hired Casey Pyle as senior vice president and market executive in Springfield. He previously worked three years as community president for Simmons Bank. He’s charged with recruiting staff as Rolla-based Phelps County Bank enters the market.

Education
College of the Ozarks and its Keeter Center hotel and restaurant each received TripAdvisor 2023 Travelers’ Choice awards. Based on traveler/diner feedback, honorees rate in the top 10% of TripAdvisor listings worldwide. C of O is described as a destination with activities including two museums, an old-fashioned grist mill, greenhouses and a stained-glass studio.

Heath Care
Nicole Breedlove was promoted to recruiting manager in human resources for Citizens Memorial Hospital and the Citizens Memorial Health Care Foundation. She started working at CMH as a recruiter in 2021 and now oversees five staff recruiters and creates recruiting initiatives and advertising campaigns. Breedlove holds a bachelor’s in business management and a master’s in health care business administration from Southwest Baptist University.

Law
Van Pelt & Van Pelt PC received a Tier I ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Law Firms in America by Best Lawyers. The firm was recognized for family law in the Springfield area, based on client and lawyer evaluations, peer reviews and submitted information.

Spencer Fane LLP hired Kristen O’Neal as an of counsel attorney in the firm’s litigation and dispute resolution practice group. With litigation experience in transportation, insurance coverage and educational matters, she earned a Juris Doctor from University of Missouri-Kansas City’s School of Law and she completed an internship in the Jackson County Circuit Court.

Nonprofit
The Springfield-Greene County Library District Board of Trustees appointed Associate Director Jim Schmidt as interim library director, effective Dec. 30, as the group conducts a search for a permanent director. Fifteen-year Director Regina Greer Cooper plans to retire at year’s end.

The Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce awarded banker Tammy Kelley as Ambassador of the Year. The executive vice president and chief financial officer at Table Rock Community Bank joined the chamber ambassador program in 2021.

Danielle Wise joined the Ozarks Regional YMCA as vice president of development. With experience in nonprofit development and marketing roles, she oversees development and strategic communication for six YMCA branches, the school-aged services and Camp Wakonda.

Harmony House promoted Kyle Hall to marketing and communications director and hired Becky Reser as manager of employee engagement and human resources.  Hall previously served as facilities and security coordinator, and has worked in marketing, branding, social media and photography/videography through his own company, Lilac Productions LLC. Reser has 17 years of industry experience, most recently managing the HR department for Reliable Chevrolet.

Transportation
Wilson Logistics Inc. promoted Jeff Fields to director of safety over the driver training, claims and compliance programs. With over two decades of transportation experience, he’s worked six years with the company, most recently as safety manager, and previously was a trainer and independent contract driver.