Advertising Morgan Allen accepted the position of digital content producer at ADsmith Marketing & Advertising. Allen, who earned a bachelor’s in marketing from Missouri State University, works with the digital media director to create digital strategies, campaigns and content for clients.
ADsmith Marketing & Advertising hired Trevor Akin as art director. Akin, whose design work is managed by the senior art director, has 19 years of industry experience, previously working at Schilling/Sellmeyer & Associates, The Nicholson Agency and Thomas & Associates.
Banking & Finance Debbie Jatho and Lacy Martin were promoted to retail group managers for Commerce Bank’s Springfield region. Jatho, the former vice president and branch manager for Commerce’s Kansas Expressway branch with 20 years of experience, oversees the branches located on Glenstone, Boonville, Sunshine, Willard and at Missouri State University. Martin, who has 17 years of banking experience, is expanding her role from vice president and branch manager of the Battlefield Banking Center to oversight of Nixa, Ozark, Republic and southwest Springfield banking centers.
Commerce Bank’s Drew Spencer, a vice president and portfolio manager, received the certified financial planner designation from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards. Spencer passed an examination covering the financial planning process, risk management, investments, tax planning and management, retirement and employee benefits, and estate planning. Spencer, who holds a bachelor’s from University of Missouri and a master’s from MSU, has 14 years of banking experience, including 10 years in portfolio and cash management.
Jeff Layman, a senior vice president, senior portfolio manager and wealth adviser with The Layman Group in Springfield and Kansas City, earned Morgan Stanley’s portfolio management director designation. Layman received advanced training and demonstrated competence in skills to help investors manage and monitor the performance of their investments.
Jill Manley was promoted to credit officer for BancorpSouth. She joined the bank in 2009 as a credit analyst and has six years of banking experience. Manley received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Construction Sam Bradley, owner of Sam Bradley Homes, was appointed to the National Association of Home Builders Single Family Small Volume Committee. Bradley is helping to develop programs for the marketing, financing, design and production of homes.
Education MSU’s College of Business and School of Accountancy have maintained business accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International. Based on quality standards and a commitment to continuous improvement, fewer than 5 percent of the world’s business program have earned AACSB International accreditation.
Southwest Baptist University theater instructor Jonathan Wehmeyer received a certificate of merit for his set design on SBU’s production of “Between the Crosses” at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Darren Farris, access control coordinator at SBU, earned the certified protection officer title, the second-highest security designation administered by the International Federation of Protection Officers.
Charlotte Marsch was named SBU’s director of marketing and communications, in charge of developing and implementing the university’s marketing plan, editing printed materials and media relations. Marsch is a former editor of the Bolivar Herald-Free Press.
Troy Bethards, an associate professor of business administration at SBU, was promoted to the dean of SBU’s College of Business and Computer Science, effective June 1. Bethards, a 1993 SBU alumni with a master’s from MSU and a doctorate in business administration from Anderson University, joined the faculty at SBU in 2000. eatre Festival in Lincoln, Neb.
Springfield Public Schools named Stephanie Young as principal of Delaware Elementary School beginning in the 2013–14 school year. Young has worked for the district since 2001, serving as Truman Elementary principal since 2006 and as the summer school coordinator for special education since 2005.
Dr. Lance Ratcliff joined Cox College as vice president of academic affairs. Ratcliff served as dean of business and science at Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell and previously was chairman of the University of Central Missouri’s nutrition department. Ratcliff, a registered dietitian, earned his master’s and doctorate degrees in nutrition and food science at Auburn University and completed a dietetic internship at Winthrop University.
Gordon Pace, superintendent of Ozark School District, was hired as a faculty member at Evangel University. Upon his retirement from the Ozark district this summer, he will serve as coordinator of Evangel’s educational leadership master’s program. Pace has served as Ozark superintendent since 2005, and for the past several years, he also has taught a night class at Evangel.
Entrepreneurship Alliance Industries LLC owner and President Brenda Ryan was named Small-Business Person of the Year during the third annual Minorities in Business Heritage Awards ceremony. Other honorees were Charlotte Hardin, assistant to the head of the professional education unit for diversity initiatives and strategic planning at Missouri State University, for the Achievement Award; Phil Snider, senior minister at Brentwood Christian Church and founder of the Greater Springfield Center for Diversity and Reconciliation, for the Advocacy Award; and Rosalyn Thomas, a longtime educator and civic leader in Springfield, for the Community Service Award.
Peggy Barton of Great American Title Agency was honored as Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, and Christine Daues’ Granolove LLC was named Woman-Owned Startup of the Year at Drury University’s 2013 Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium. Barton and Daues are the first recipients of the awards.
Government Springfield Fire Department technician Shaun Sigrest was named Fire Chief magazine’s 2012 Emergency Vehicle Technician of the Year. Sigrest beat out five finalists at the 25th annual Apparatus Specification and Vehicle Maintenance Symposium in Buena Vista, Fla. Sigrest oversees the operation of Springfield’s 20 front-line fire apparatus and three reserve companies.
Insurance Craig Henley joined Baron Financial Group LLC as a property and casualty sales representative. Henley, who also is licensed in life and health insurance, worked previously as a Northwestern Mutual financial adviser.
Law Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association appointed its 2013 officers: President Chip Sheppard of Carnahan, Evans, Cantwell and Brown PC; President-elect Dwayne Fulk of Polsinelli Shughart PC; Treasurer Steven Harrell of Bruer Wooddell & Harrell PC; Secretary Catherine Reade of Haden, Cowherd & Bullock LLC. The bar also welcomed five new members to its board of directors: Eric Jensen, Branden Twibell, Doug Harpool, Laurel Stevenson and Mark McQueary.
Katherine O’Dell and RachelRiso were hired by Baird, Lightner, Millsap & Harpool PC. O’Dell, a graduate of the Saint Louis University School of Law, practiced law previously at Cofman & Bolourtchi Law Firm in St. Louis. Riso previously worked at Daniel, Powell & Brewer LLC and was named a Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2011.
Legal Services of Southern Missouri created the Consumer Fraud Task Force and appointed members Judy Mills of the Better Business Bureau; Joe Stokes and Tonya Raines of Consumer Credit Counseling of Springfield; Ron Carrier of the Missouri attorney general’s office; and Doug Kays, Deanna Scott, Summer Masterson and Sharon Alexander of Legal Services of Southern Missouri. The task force also includes representatives from the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Federal Trade Commission, Springfield Police Department and the Greene County Sheriff’s Department.
Marketing Kristin Binford was promoted to EDCO Group Inc.’s director of marketing. Binford holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from MSU and an MBA in strategy from Drury University.
Media KRBK-TV promoted Craig Carnesi to general sales manager from senior account executive. Carnesi’s industry experience includes stints as studio-camera operator in San Antonio and as on-air meteorologist for KSPR.
Nonprofit Ozarks Food Harvest named Linda Leicht and Tommy Smith to its volunteer board of directors. Leicht is the opinion page editor of the Springfield News-Leader, and Smith is vice president of merchandising and marketing at Associated Wholesale Grocers.
The Monett Junior Chamber installed Brittie Oakley and Jon Hagar to its executive board, also known as Missouri Jaycees. Oakley serves as vice president, and Hagar serves as chaplain.
Mary Collette won the 2013 McReynolds Award at a ceremony held at the State Capitol Rotunda in Jefferson City. Collette, a former Springfield City Councilwoman, received the award for her work in helping to revitalize Springfield’s Commercial Street historic district.[[In-content Ad]]
