Newsmakers: March 17-23, 2025

Accounting
Sanders, Myers & Blackwell CPAs LLP promoted Brad Vass to manager and Joel Barrientos, Maxwell Niemeyer and Nick Pyatt to senior accountant. With more than 20 years of experience, Vass joined SMB CPAs in 2021. An employee since 2022, Barrientos has a bachelor’s in accounting and Master of Accountancy from Missouri State University. Niemeyer, who has been with the company since 2021, has a bachelor’s in business administration from Drury University. With an MBA, Pyatt joined the company in 2021. All of the four promoted employees are certified public accountants.

Education
Lori Hutton, director of jazz studies at Drury University, received the 2025 Outstanding Jazz Educator Award from the Missouri Association for Jazz Education. With a career spanning more than 25 years, Hutton has a bachelor’s in music education and arts management and a master’s in secondary education from Drury.

Health Care
Stephanie Breault, a board-certified family nurse practitioner, joined the medical staff at Citizens Memorial Hospital’s Willard Medical Center and Walk-in Clinic. Breault has more than 16 years of experience.

Mercy was named as a Best-in-Class Employer in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.’s 2024 U.S. Benefits Strategy & Benchmarking Survey. Mercy was highlighted in areas including financial stability, career growth and support for caregivers’ health.

Law
Kent O. Hyde of Hyde, Love & Overby LLP was inducted into the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals. Membership into the NADN is by invitation only and based on peer nominations and due diligence research by state committees. Hyde, who also is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, has mediated more than 250 civil disputes in the past five years.

Carnahan Evans PC was recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms, a ranking published by Best Lawyers. Carnahan Evans was honored in the areas of trusts and estates, commercial litigation, real estate litigation and appellate practice.

Manufacturing
Jack Gentry, Johnny Morris and Paul Mueller Co. (OTC: MUEL) were among 2025 inductees into the Missouri Association of Manufacturers Hall of Fame for their impact on the industry. Gentry, who died in 2006, is the founder of Positronic Industries Inc. Morris is the founder of White River Marine Group and Bass Pro Shops. Paul Mueller Co. is a stainless steel manufacturer based in Springfield.

Nonprofit
The Ozark Trails Council Inc. of Boy Scouts of America hired Kelsey Sylvara as district executive for the Ozark Howler District. Sylvara has education-related bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Western Governors University and an education doctorate from Capella University.

Sales
The Kingsley Group named Joe Howard as managing partner and Blaire Chrouser as partner. Howard has some 35 years of business ownership, consultation and business brokerage experience. A Kingsley Group employee for two years, Chrouser recently obtained her certified valuation analyst designation.