Accounting Elliott, Robinson & Co. LLP hired Kristy Pruitt and Meghan Lukavsky as paraprofessionals. With 10 years of public accounting experience, Pruitt holds a bachelor’s in accounting from Missouri State University. Lukavsky, who is working to attain an accounting bachelor’s from MSU, works out of the company’s Nixa office.
Banking and Finance E. Mark Ellman, an investment adviser representative with MetLife Securities Inc., was accepted into Ed Slott’s Elite IRA Advisor Group. Members meets educational requirements and commit to IRA training with Ed Slott and Co. Ellman, a certified financial planner who holds a bachelor’s from Benedictine University, also recently attended Ed Slott training on new retirement and tax laws in Orlando, Fla.
Guaranty Bank promoted Micah Scott to vice president of small business banking. Scott, who started with the bank in 2008 as a credit analyst, holds a finance degree from MSU.
Metropolitan National Bank branches in Nixa and Ozark participated in the annual Battle of the Banks and raised $1,340 for Care to Learn to meet health, hunger and hygiene needs for students. In all, the event raised $7,300 for Care to Learn.
Empire Bank promoted Joselyn Baldner to senior vice president and retail market manager. With 16 years of retail banking experience, she has worked 11 years in a variety of roles for Empire.
Construction and Design Heather Bradley-Geary joined Vecino Group as special needs housing developer. She formerly worked for eight years at the Missouri Housing and Development Commission, where she established the Community Initiatives Department, which provides oversight for homeless assistance programs.
Springfield Sign & Neon hired Scott Dunlap as a draftsman. Dunlap, who has several years of related experience, holds a bachelor’s in psychology from Missouri Southern State University.
Education Global University appointed the Rev. Nick Alfaro as director of Hispanic ministries. Alfaro, an ordained Assemblies of God minister, was the lead Spanish sales representative for My Healthy Church through the AG National Leadership and Resource Center.
Ozarks Technical Community College named Laura French coordinator of public information. French formerly worked as community partner coordinator for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks. She holds a bachelor’s in arts administration from Drury University.
Andrea Battaglia, Drury’s director of alumni relations and annual giving, was named public relations chairwoman for the Missouri Parent Teacher Association, and she was appointed to the MPTA’s board of managers.
Health Care Dr. Blake Keaster joined Parkcrest Dental Group. With a bachelor’s from MSU, he earned his doctorate in dentistry from the University of Oklahoma.
AmeriPride Home Care promoted Sheila Boutwell to marketing director. She has several years of marketing experience and holds a bachelor’s in socio-political communications from MSU.
Therapy Support Inc. promoted Cliff Stepp to CEO. Stepp, who has worked for the medical-equipment firm since 2007, worked most recently as executive vice president of therapy support.
The Greene County Medical Society Alliance awarded $12,100 in grants to three organizations: theNational Alliance on Mental Illness of Southwest Missouri, the Springfield Workshop Foundation and Cherish Kids. The funds raised are designed to help the health and wellbeing of those with special needs.
Nonprofit Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Springfield received a $7,316 grant from the National Foundation for Credit Counseling to provide financial counseling for military members and their families.
The Missouri Small Business & Technology Development Centers gave Isabel Eisenhauer the Missouri State Star Award for contributions to local business growth. Eisenhauer, a business development specialist with the Small Business & Technology Development Center, has a bachelor’s in business administration and an MBA in management information systems from Northern Arizona University.
Mackenzie Lee joined Safe and Sober Inc. as director. Lee earned a bachelor’s in public relations from Harding University and worked at the university’s public relations office for three years.
Tim Williams was named president of the Heart of the Ozarks Sertoma Club. The organization also elected officers Conrad Griggs, vice president; Lance O’Neal, secretary; Billy Hixon, treasurer; and Gerald Love, sergeant at arms.
This installment of Springfield Business Journal’s Architects & Engineers Project Report showcases 26 endeavors by area design and engineering professionals.
