Banking and Finance Sterling Huff Jr. joined Liberty Bank as a senior vice president and commercial lender. Huff has worked 25 years in financial services, most recently as executive vice president of Southern Missouri Bank of Marshfield.
Bank of Little Rock Mortgage added Jeff Widmeyer as production manager to its Springfield mortgage lending department. Widmeyer has 18 years of experience.
Metropolitan National Bank promoted Melody Conner, Missy Conner and Harlie Oost to assistant vice president positions. Melody Conner manages retail training, Missy Conner is over secondary market mortgage operations, and Oost serves as retail float manager.
Kenny Gott, executive vice president and financial adviser at Piatchek & Associates, was appointed to a second board term with the Springfield Area Human Resources Association. Gott also was reinstated as chairman of the government affairs committee.
Mid-Missouri Bank promoted Craig Millington to commercial loan officer. He has an MBA from MSU and seven years of experience.
Business Development The University of Missouri Extension Business Development Program honored 19 Missouri businesses with 2015 Excellence in Business awards, and five operate locally: Branson Travel Office, Employee Screening Services of Missouri, Foxhole Technology, Restoring Hope and Theodosia Family Medical Clinic. Award criteria includes job creation, government contracting and revenue generation.
O’Reilly Development Co. added Beverly Anderson as controller and Jennifer Dean as finance and portfolio manager. Anderson has worked 21 years in accounting, and Dean has 10 years of management experience.
Education Springfield Public Schools selected Mike Dawson as chief learning officer. Currently serving as assistant superintendent at Monett R-1 School District, his employment with SPS begins July 1.
Clever schools were among 10 Missouri school districts awarded $515,000 in rebates from the Environmental Protection Agency to buy environmentally friendly school buses. Through the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, Clever received $20,000 for one bus.
Mike Copeland, member of the Nixa Board of Education, received a master’s in the Missouri School Boards’ Association certified board member program.
Government Rep. Kevin Austin, R-Springfield, was named chairman of the house select committee on the judiciary, which provides oversight of corrections, civil and criminal proceedings, and consumer affairs.
Springfield Police Department officers Brian Steen, Jason Bohannon, Marc Stevens and Shane Kern received Meritorious Service Awards for going above and beyond the call of duty to protect life or further justice. Also, officer Greg Anderson received the Life Saving Award, which recognizes personnel who save a life outside of routine measures.
SPD promoted Dustin Martin, Aaron Cassity and Jason Marcum to corporals. Mike Fonner, geographic information systems manager for the city of Springfield, received the Outstanding Contribution to GIS award at the 2015 Missouri Geographic Information Systems Conference. He was recognized as the driving force for GIS in the area since the early 1990s.
Nonprofit Ozarks Regional YMCA appointed four new board members: Mike Farquhar of EFCO Corp.; John Jungmann of Springfield Public Schools; Dwight Rahmeyer of Trust Company of the Ozarks; and Shawn Whitney of Spencer Fane Britt and Browne LLP.
Aneva Jefferson was named the 2015 Youth of the Year by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to a member’s family, school and community, as well as overcoming personal challenges.
Law Steven Garner of Strong, Garner & Bauer PC was inducted as a charter member into Trial Masters. He joins roughly 250 member attorneys who certify trying 35 or more civil or criminal trials to verdict.
Media Ryan Verfurth was promoted to local sales manager for Fox 5 KRBK and MeTV Ozarks. Verfurth began with Koplar Communications in 2010, before KRBK signed on as an independent TV station.
The Springfield Convention and Visitor Bureau selected Jim Anderson, vice president of marketing, public affairs and system administration for CoxHealth, for its Pinnacle Award. The former Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce president was recognized for contributions to the travel industry.
The CVB also presented Randy Little, owner of PFI Western Wear, with the Ambassador Award, and Rep. Don Phillips, R-Kimberling City, with the Diplomat Award. Andy’s Frozen Custard received the Hospitality Award, and Assemblies of God received the Spotlight Award.
This installment of Springfield Business Journal’s Architects & Engineers Project Report showcases 26 endeavors by area design and engineering professionals.
