The Child Advocacy Center presented the John P. Ferguson Award for Child Advocacy to Judge Tom Mountjoy and Dr. Jim Blaine. The two brought together an ad hoc committee that grew into an exploratory conference on the Missouri State University campus. After several meetings and nationwide research, the two met in Jefferson City with then-Gov. Mel Carnahan to request funds for the center, which aids in child abuse investigation.
Three Evangel University graduates will receive World Changer scholarships to attend Regent University School of Law in Virginia Beach, Va. Jared Clay is a 2009 magna cum laude Evangel graduate with a double major in legal studies and history. He was named Outstanding Graduate in Legal Studies. Kathleen Keffer is a 2009 summa cum laude Evangel graduate with a legal studies major and French minor. She received the Kendrick-Karmakovic-Holsinger Award for Oustanding Achievement in Social Science. Charity Kinney is a 2007 cum laude Evangel graduate with a double major in government and social science and a concentration in French. The scholarships are renewable annually.
Justin R. Watkins joined the Springfield office of Polsinelli Shughart PC, practicing in the business litigation group. Watkins focuses his practice on civil litigation. He previously spent two years as an assistant public defender for the Missouri State Public Defender System. He earned his undergraduate degree from Valparaiso University and is a 2007 summa cum laude graduate of The John Marshall Law School, graduating first in his class.
Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP, which has 33 attorneys in its Springfield office, announced two recent honors.
The firm was recognized among the 2009 Top Trademark Firms by Intellectual Property Magazine Today, based on the total number of U.S. utility patents the firms obtained on behalf of clients in 2008. Husch Blackwell Sanders ranked No. 7 among the 277 firms on the list, reporting a 12 percent increase in trademark work from 2007 to 2008.
Husch Blackwell Sanders also was named among the Top 100 firms for diversity by MultiCultural Law Magazine. The firm has created a diversity council that meets monthly as part of the diversity steering committee, and its members launched Diversity eNews.
The Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association presented several awards at its May 1 Law Day Lunch. Kenneth Reid received the 2009 Distinguished Attorney Award, the highest honor bestowed by SMBA. The Hon. Richard Dorr received the Excellence in the Judiciary Award. Morey Mechlin receivd the Liberty Bell Award, and Marsha Jackson received the Equal Access to Justice Award. Area students were awarded for essays and posters, and SMBA also gave $6,500 in scholarships to law school students Andrea Long, who attends Tulsa University, and Lucinda Housley at University of Missouri.
James Conkright joined Haden, Cowherd & Bullock LLC as a partner. Conkright's practice focuses on defense litigation arising from medical malpractice, product defect, professional negligence and vehicular accidents. Conkright has more than 32 years of legal experience, including stints with Sanders, Conkright & Warren and Husch Blackwell Sanders, both in Kansas City.
This installment of Springfield Business Journal’s Architects & Engineers Project Report showcases 26 endeavors by area design and engineering professionals.
