Newsmakers: Jan. 13-19, 2025

Accounting
Bonnie Croney joined KPM CPAs & Advisors as information technology project specialist. A certified project management professional with the Project Management Institute, Croney has more than 10 years of experience in her field.

Banking & Finance
The Bank of Missouri hired Lacy Mehrhoff and promoted Austyn M. Morgan. Mehrhoff, who was named mortgage loan officer, is a College of the Ozarks graduate with more than 20 years of mortgage banking experience. Morgan, who is pursuing a bachelor’s in finance at Missouri State University, was promoted to branch manager of the company’s 2920 E. Chestnut Expressway location in Springfield.

Education
The Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks received TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best recognition for its Dobyns Dining restaurant. The honor is based on reviews collected over a 12-month period.

The Missouri Community College Association recognized Rick’s Automotive in Springfield with its Distinguished Business & Industry Award. A longtime supporter of Ozarks Technical Community College, Rick’s Automotive was recognized for its educational partnership that supports economic activity, students and educational programs.

Flooring
Mouery’s Flooring hired Abby Danielson and Lauren Steffen as showroom consultants and interior designers. Both are Missouri State University graduates with interior design degrees.

Health Care
Healthgrades recognized Mercy Hospital Springfield in its 2025 Specialty Excellence Awards. The Springfield hospital was No. 1 in Missouri for joint replacement and orthopedic surgery, and it also ranked on the America’s 100 Best Hospitals list for joint replacement, orthopedic surgery and outpatient orthopedic surgery.

The Taney County Health Department reached a milestone of more than 1,000 people who have completed Question, Persuade, Refer gatekeeper training to help prevent suicide. QPR training teaches people how to spot warning signs, offer hope and help connect individuals with resources.

Citizens Memorial Hospital, Cox Medical Center Branson, Mercy Hospital Lebanon and Mercy Hospital Springfield received top A grades on the nonprofit Leapfrog Group’s fall hospital safety grades list. Leapfrog analyzes up to 30 performance metrics, including rates of preventable errors, injuries and infections, for the list. Safety grades are updated twice a year.

Citizens Memorial Hospital was certified as an Acute Stroke Ready Center by DNV, recognizing the Bolivar health system for its ability to care for strokes and stroke-related medical problems. CMH offers 24/7 telestroke coverage in partnership with CoxHealth.

Law
The Springfield Police Department promoted Eric Reece to major from captain. Reece, who began his career in 1998 in the 44th police academy, oversees the SPD’s Uniform Operations Bureau as major.

Manufacturing
Austin, Texas-based Vital Farms Inc.’s Egg Central Station facility in Springfield achieved gold level certification through the city of Springfield’s Yard Ethic program. Egg Central Station is the first commercial awardee of the program, which encourages and rewards environmentally friendly yard care. Egg Central Station’s environmentally friendly practices include roughly 35% tree canopy coverage of the property, the creation of an outdoor employee break space and the reduction of waste.

Trucking
Laura Gates, president of TransLand, was named to the Missouri Trucking Association Board of Directors. Gates has more than 25 years of experience at the company.