Newsmakers: Jan. 11-17, 2016

Banking & Finance
Guaranty Bank President and CEO Shaun Burke attended the American Bankers Association Community Bankers Council and the ABA Government Relations Council Administrative Committee joint meeting in Washington, D.C. Burke is in the second year of his term on the ABA council.

Springfield First Community Bank hired Steve Mayfield as a mortgage lender and vice president. He has 28 years of experience in real estate, financing and management.

Education
Central High School teacher Jenny Cummins received the 2015 ProStart Educator Award from the Springfield/Branson Chapter of the Missouri Restaurant Association. A $1,000 grant will help purchase an industrial refrigerator for student use.

College of the Ozarks was ranked No. 2 in the Best Value Colleges and Universities in Missouri by Best Value Schools for 2015. The list rated colleges based on affordability, selectivity and student success before and after graduation.

Kickapoo High School teacher Jami Jansen was voted Outstanding Missouri Project Lead the Way Teacher. She was nominated and voted on by peer teachers in the statewide organization.

Government
The Springfield Finance Department received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the eighth year in a row from the Government Finance Officers Association. The city satisfied nationally recognized guidelines for effective budgeting covering 35 criteria.

BKD LLP issued an “unmodified” opinion on an independent audit of the city of Springfield’s financials. In earning the highest level given, the equity of the city at the close of the most recent fiscal year was $798 million, up by $43.8 million compared to the prior year.

The Springfield Regional Police and Fire Training Center produced three graduates: Nathan Fetters, formerly of the Camden County (Mo.) Sheriff’s Department; Stephen Layton, formerly of the Rogers (Ark.) Police Department; and David Stires, formerly of the Marin County (Calif.) Sheriff’s Department. After six weeks of field training, the officers will be assigned to the SPD’s Uniform Operations Bureau.

Health
Adam Wright was named manager of the CoxHealth Fitness Center in Branson. He is a certified personal trainer with more than 14 years of experience.

Nonprofit
Bolivar Rotary Club named Ed Kurtz as 2015 Rotarian of the Year. He works as president of Design Group Architects Ltd.

Community Partnership of the Ozarks received a $703,332 grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health to make parent education available to all residents of Greene County over the next three years. Collaborative agencies plan to teach best practices, dubbed Triple P-Positive Parenting Programs.