Newsmakers: July 7-13, 2025

Accounting
Becky Harmon and Kristi Wilkins, who both have more than 25 years of industry experience, were appointed by KPM CPAs & Advisors to lead the firm’s accounting outsourcing consulting and tax departments, respectively. Harmon has a bachelor’s in accounting and business management from William Woods University, and Wilkins has a bachelor’s in accounting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Banking & Finance
OMB Bank hired Katie Bradford and Courtney McMonigle. Bradford, who joined the bank’s mortgage team in Springfield as a mortgage loan officer, has a 25-year mortgage career and most recently worked as a mortgage loan originator for Stockmens Bank. McMonigle, who started her banking career in 2003 and most recently worked as a financial crimes investor for Hawthorn Bank, joined OMB Bank’s compliance team as its Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering officer.

Additionally, OMB Bank expanded its executive leadership team to seven people with the promotion of Jessica Sims and Michelle Sullivan to executive vice president roles in addition to their positions as chief of staff and chief risk officer, respectively. With a banking career that started in 2004, Sims has worked at OMB Bank since 2016. An OMB Bank employee who started with the company this year, Sullivan has more than 20 years of banking and compliance experience.

Health Care
Shannon Gronniger, a member of the environmental services team at Citizens Memorial Hospital’s Colonial Springs Healthcare Center in Buffalo, was honored with a National Ceca Award from the Ceca Foundation. Gronniger, who received a $2,500 cash prize and an engraved commemorative trophy, was recognized for her work to promote well-being and quality of life for those in her care.

Nonprofit
United Way Ozarks Region hired Addie Ferber and Brandon Jenson and promoted Janelle Mitchell. The nonprofit’s director of communication and events, Ferber most recently worked as manager of special events and video production at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. Jenson, who joined United Way Ozarks Region in the newly created role of director of community impact, is a member of Springfield City Council and previously worked for the Missouri Department of Economic Development. The local United Way chapter’s newly promoted vice president of resource development, Mitchell joined the organization in 2023 as director of resource development.

Care to Learn hired Rachael Walsh as vice president of development, a newly created position for the nonprofit with a focus on fundraising, corporate partnerships, grants, special events and development initiatives. Walsh, who most recently served as vice president of resource development for United Way Ozarks Region, has more than a decade of nonprofit leadership, fundraising and community engagement experience.

Michael P. Mergen, shareholder at Hall Ansley PC, joined the Champion Athletes of the Ozarks Board of Directors. Mergen, who has a Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri School of Law, has a legal career spanning nearly four decades.

Retired banker Bob Hammerschmidt was elected to the Crosslines Community Outreach Board of Directors for a three-year term, with the option to renew in 2028. During his nearly 40-year banking career, Hammerschmidt was a longtime executive for Commerce Bank.