Newsmakers in Banking and Finance

Jim Payne was appointed Regions’ mortgage loan officer for the Springfield region. Payne, who has more than 17 years of mortgage lending experience, works at the South Campbell Avenue location.

Dennis Martinez was promoted to vice president and partner with Marketing Financial, a consultative wholesale service provider for more than 30 companies throughout the Midwest. Martinez manages programs in retirement, legacy planning and business solutions and partnership alliance at the corporate level. He offers annuities, insurance and investment services.

Rebecca Roberts was named market president for U.S. Bank in the Tri-Lakes area, covering branches in Forsyth, Branson and Branson West. She leads a 20-member team assisting customers with savings, lending and investment needs. Prior to joining U.S. Bank in 2003 as branch manager in Forsyth, Roberts worked as treasurer of Taney County. She also spent more than 14 years with the Missouri Department of Revenue. Roberts continues to serve as branch manager of U.S. Bank’s Forsyth office.

Jill O. Morrison joined Kirkpatrick, Phillips & Miller, CPAs, PC as a staff accountant. She holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Missouri Southern State University. Morrison recently relocated to Springfield from the St. Louis area, where she worked as a staff accountant in the corporate offices of Waterway Gas & Wash Co. Prior to that, Morrison spent seven years in public accounting. In her new position, she assists with general tax and accounting engagements.

Jeff Johnson joined Metropolitan National Bank as an assistant vice president. He previously was a commercial loan officer with Great Southern Bank. In his new position at Metropolitan’s Nixa branch, Johnson specializes in lending for commercial and residential real estate.

BKD LLP announced a staff promotion and a transfer. George S. “Chip” Storey was promoted to senior manager with the firm. Storey, an associate director of tax services, assists the director with management and quality control of the firm’s tax practice, including internal peer reviews and tax communications. He also assists with technical tax matters and the development of firmwide tax resources. Prior to joining BKD’s administration in 2003, Storey provided tax planning and preparation services at the firm’s Springfield office. Storey is a 1995 graduate of Southwest Missouri State University.

Bryan B. Bodnar was transferred to the firm’s administration office in Springfield as associate director of accounting and auditing services. Previously, Bodnar, a 1998 graduate of the University of Oklahoma, worked for seven years in BKD’s Tulsa, Okla., office. In his new position, he works with other associate directors to assist in administering the firm’s quality control functions. His duties also include review of assurance engagements, providing technical support and training to BKD auditors and performing internal office inspections and peer reviews.

Diana Alexander joined Davis Lynn & Moots PC, a certified public accounting firm as an executive assistant. She processes accounts payable and assists with inventory, word processing and spreadsheets. Alexander previously worked for several years with Great Southern Bank.

John Darrow, data processing administrator received Guaranty Bank’s first-quarter Guaranty’s Greatest Award for going above and beyond his job performance in employee and customer service. Darrow was nominated by his peers, and he received a trophy and prizes.

UMB Bank presented Urban Neighborhoods Alliance with a $7,500 unrestricted charitable contribution to help pay for operating expenses and the continuation of programs offered by UNA. The money was presented on behalf of UMB Bank and its community development corporation.

Sheri Shaffer was promoted to vice president of banking for The Commerce Trust Co. Shaffer has 20 years of banking and lending experience, most recently as assistant vice president and small-business banking specialist for Commerce. In her new position, Shaffer is responsible for providing customized banking and borrowing solutions for professionals, executives and individuals with high net worth.

Karen Favor was promoted to regional retail sales manager with Commerce Bank. She has nine years of banking, lending and sales administration experience with Commerce, having served in several key positions, including financial services manager, sales assistant and, most recently, branch manager. In her new position, Favor is responsible for managing programs to support the bank’s retail sales strategies, growth goals and relationship management objectives.

Empire Bank announced several staff additions and promotions. Shelly Titus joined Empire Bank as senior vice president and retail market manager. A former Commerce Bank retail sales manager, she has more than 15 years of experience in retail management, banking management and human resources. Titus is a graduate of SMSU, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in organizational communications and human resources management. In her new position, she is responsible for leading Empire’s retail division and coordinating sales and service quality programs for 14 southwest Missouri branches.

J.J. Zind joined Empire Bank as residential lending officer. She has seven years of experience as a marketing representative for Great American Title and Hogan Land Title. Zind is responsible for new loan generation and Realtor business development.

Linda Case was promoted to senior vice president of human resources. Case joined Empire Bank in 1994. She is a graduate of the American Bankers Association Graduate School of Human Resource Management at the University of Colorado and is a certified senior professional in human resources Case is responsible for personnel and human resource management, including employment training, employee relations, compensation, benefits and compliance.

Cindy Harding was promoted to vice president and Bank Secrecy Act/anti-money laundering officer for Empire Bank, which she joined in 1977. In her new position, she is a liaison to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network through the Bank Secrecy Act and Patriot Act provisions. Harding also provides information and support to bank personnel and customers, and local and federal law enforcement agencies in the prevention and investigation of all types of financial crime and money laundering.

Loyce Rushen was promoted to vice president and dealer services for Empire Bank, where she has worked since 1998. Rushen has more than 15 years of experience in the automobile finance industry. She holds a Bachelor of Science in finance from SMSU. In her new position, Rushen is responsible for the management and development of Empire’s dealer services department, primarily indirect lending.

Jay Swartz was promoted to assistant vice president and consumer loan officer. He joined Empire Bank in 1993, working in retail banking and consumer loans. Swartz, a graduate of Drury University, is responsible for consumer loan development and collections.

Denise Worsham was promoted to loan officer at Empire Bank’s Fair Grove banking center. She has worked for Empire in retail banking and lending since 1994 and has consumer, commercial and mortgage loan experience.