Newsmakers in Financial Services

U.S. Bank announced two staff additions. Gregory Box joined U.S. Bank’s commercial services group, providing commercial lending and cash management solutions for the domestic and foreign needs of area businesses. He has 17 years of experience in commercial financial services and banking, and five years of experience as a business consultant and trainer. Box holds a degree in business administration from Drury University and an executive master of business administration degree from Wake Forest University.

Katie Schear was named a relationship manager with U.S. Bank’s commercial loan group. She has six years of experience in banking, with prior experience as a credit analyst, relationship manager and bookkeeper. Schear, a graduate of the University of Missouri, previously was with Regions Bank.

Peoples Bank of the Ozarks added Melinda O’Quinn as branch operations manager at the bank’s Springfield facility and Kellie Richardson as mortgage loan processor at the bank’s mortgage banking center. O’Quinn has more than 16 years of experience in the financial services industry, and Richardson has more than 17 years of experience in mortgage lending.

Mid-Missouri Bank added Matthew J. Riley and Tim Swan as senior vice presidents with responsibilities in commercial lending and business development. Riley has 23 years of experience in banking, with nine of those in the local market. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and a Master of Business Administration from St. Louis University. Swan has 32 years of experience in banking and real estate appraising. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and a Master of Business Administration from Missouri State University.

Cody Hanson, of Springfield, an assistant bank examiner with the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration’s division of finance, attended the Financial Institutions Analysis School April 16–20 at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.’s Sediman Training Center in Arlington, Va.

Empire Bank announced two staff promotions. Andy Hall was promoted to vice president, banking center manager/loan officer of Empire Bank, responsible for managing the retail operations, lending and development of the Empire Bank’s Fair Grove location. He has a bachelor’s degree in finance from Missouri State University.

Jan Richner was promoted to assistant vice president, banking center manager/ loan officer, responsible for managing the retail, lending and development aspects of Empire Bank’s Pleasant Hope location.

David L. Yaktine, CLU, ChFC, managing director for Northwestern Mutual Financial Network in Springfield, qualified for the company’s Outstanding Achievement in Recruiting and Sales Award, in recognition of his personal sales and office development efforts. He will be honored at the company’s 150th annual meeting in July.

Chris Sweet joined The Commerce Trust Co. as senior vice president and market executive, with overall responsibility of managing The Commerce Trust Co. in the Springfield region. Sweet has more than 18 years of experience in the investment management industry, most recently as a financial adviser for Raymond James Financial Services Inc. He is a graduate of Central Missouri State University, and he holds Series 7, 66 and 63 securities licenses, in addition to being a graduate of the Cannon Financial Institute at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

Old Missouri National Bank announced a staff promotion and a change to its board of directors. Michelle Batson was promoted to operations officer/branch manager at OMNB’s West Sunshine Street location. She supervises new accounts and teller functions, and manages all branch operations, including customer development. Batson, who joined OMNB in July 2006, holds her Series 6 and 63 securities licenses and has nearly 20 years of banking experience.

Arthur Blume, a founding stockholder and director of OMNB, has resigned from the boards of directors of JamesMark Bankshares and OMNB. Blume, a business owner who now lives outside the Springfield area, remains a stockholder in OMNB.

Nadia Cavner, an executive vice president with The Signature Bank, was named a member of Putnam Investments’ 34th Annual Golden Scale Council. This is the 15th consecutive year Cavner was recognized by Putnam. The Golden Scale Council comprises investment professionals nationwide who are recognized for their service and advice to investors. Cavner, who is responsible for more than 800 shareholder accounts, ranked No. 5 in 2006 for sales of Putnam funds in the financial institution division, and No. 1 in the state of Missouri across the bank, financial adviser and broker-dealer divisions.

The Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants has awarded scholarships to four local students: Julia Moyer, Emily Petelin, Whitney Thomas and Carrie Winston. Moyer and Winston are students at Drury University. Petelin and Thomas are seniors at Missouri State University. They are among 51 Missouri students to receive MSCPA scholarships.

Mandy Shelton joined CU Community Credit Union as a loan officer in the consumer lending department, assisting members with auto, home equity and personal loans, Shelton, a Springfield native, has four years of experience in the mortgage industry.

CU Community Credit Union also announced two staff promotions. Patti Stewart was promoted to member service supervisor. Stewart, who has five years of experience in financial services, oversees the administration of services to credit union members and prospective members. Stephanie Thomas was promoted to senior loan officer. Thomas, who has nine years of credit union experience including four years with CU Community Credit Union, helps members with consumer loan needs. [[In-content Ad]]