Newsmakers: June 9-15, 2025

Accounting
Forvis Mazars LLP’s southern Missouri practice promoted Abby Brewer, Tori Cross, Diane Deulen, Becca Faulconer, Scotti George and Justin Stockam to senior manager. Brewer, who provides tax services to real estate developers, investors and management companies, has a bachelor’s in accounting and finance from Drury University. An auditor for clients in the home care and hospice, long-term care and education industries, Cross has a bachelor’s and master’s in accounting from the University of Missouri. With a bachelor’s in business administration from Drury and master’s in health care administration from Webster University, Deulen is a member of Forvis Mazars’ health care performance improvement practice unit. Faulconer, who has a bachelor’s in accounting from Drury, provides audit and consulting services for financial institutions and nonprofits. George, whose practice includes Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement and cost report preparation services, has a master’s in accounting and information management from the University of Texas. With a bachelor’s in accounting from Evangel University and MBA from Missouri State University, Stockam provides tax and consulting services in industries including construction and retail.

Education
The team of business consultants at the Efactory’s Missouri Small Business Development Center at Missouri State University was recognized with one of the Top Overall Performance Awards for fiscal 2024 at the University of Missouri Extension’s Business and Communities Professional Development Conference. The award recognizes the team’s ability to deliver measurable client success and make a lasting impact on small businesses in southwest Missouri. Individual awards for Missouri SBDC at MSU employees went to Lance Coffman, regional business consultant, with the FY2024 Capitalization Impact Generation Award; Tara Horton, assistant director of training at the Efactory, for 25 years of service; Chrystal Irons, director of business support and training and  director of Missouri SBDC at MSU, for 15 years of service; Sandra Smart, technology and commercialization specialist, with a top three FY2024 Capitalization Impact Generation Award and Capitalization Events Impact Generation Award; and Mel Steele, regional business consultant at MSU-West Plains, with the Team Player award.

Health Care
Citizens Memorial Hospital hired licensed clinical social worker Justin Johns to join the medical staff at the CMH Addiction Recovery Program in Bolivar. With more than 12 years of experience as a counselor, Johns has a bachelor’s in psychology and master’s in social work from Missouri State University.

Nonprofit
Drew Lewis Foundation Inc. hired Michelle Hethcoat as development coordinator. With experience in nonprofit administration, donor relations, grant writing and community engagement, Hethcoat is pursuing a master’s in communications and certificate in diversity, equity and inclusion at Drury University.