Newsmakers: June 23-29, 2025

Accounting
Nine local certified public accountants made the inaugural America’s Best-In-State CPAs list published by Forbes. Criteria included expertise, innovation, thought leadership, experience and service. Those recognized are Carrie Brown, partner, Elliott, Robinson & Co. LLP; William Ladd, CEO and partner, Duckett Ladd LLP; Gary Schafer, managing partner of southern Missouri practice unit, Forvis Mazars LLP; Ryan Sivill, partner, Forvis Mazars; Matthew Solidum, managing partner, Elliott, Robinson & Co.; Angela Morelock, partner, Forvis Mazars; Juli Pascoe, partner, Forvis Mazars; Erica Smith, partner, Forvis Mazars; and Kristen Wannenmacher Bright, partner, Forvis Mazars.

Education
The Ozark School District hired Landon Gray as executive director of finance and business services, effective July 1. Currently superintendent of the Sparta School District since 2021, Gray has more than 20 years of education experience.

The Missouri State High School Activities Association and the National Federation of State High School Associations presented Allison Fleetwood, theater department head at Nixa Public Schools, with the Missouri Outstanding Theatre Educator of the Year Award. Fleetwood was recognized for contributions to the Nixa district, as well as the arts and theater throughout Missouri.

Seven Missouri State University students received scholarships from the Associated General Contractors of Missouri. Noah Wilson, of Springfield, a construction design and project management major at MSU, received $4,200 via the Oliver J. Coulson CLC Memorial Scholarship, which is supported by the Young Executives Club and Construction Leadership Council. MSU students selected to receive $2,200 apiece, with awards supported by the AGCMO Education Foundation, are Colin Archer, of Rogersville, construction management major; Jessica Greenland, of Springfield, construction management major; Sidney McLaughlin, of Stillwater, Oklahoma, construction management major; Sam Meyer, of St. Louis, construction management major; Olivia Roush, of Lexington, construction management major; and Lana Stephens, of Springfield, data analytics major.

Health Care
Dr. Curtis P. Schreiber, a neurologist and dementia specialist with Citizens Memorial Hospital’s Missouri Memory Center and its research department, presented on the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease during the 2025 International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases and Related Neurological Disorders in Vienna, Austria. Schreiber, who has practiced for more than three decades, was honored for SBJ’s Health Care Champions awards in 2022.

Nonprofit
The Springfield chapter of the Youth Empowerment Project, supported by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks Inc., presented a combined $10,000 in grants to six nonprofit organizations to serve area young people and promote community service projects. The nonprofit groups receiving the funds are the American Indian Center of Springfield, $2,025; Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield, $1,500; Empower: abilities, $1,200; Isabel’s House, $2,400; Ozarks Food Harvest, $1,000; and The Rebound Foundation, $1,875.