Accounting BKD LLP promoted seven employees to senior positions. James Chrouser is an auditor with the firm’s national health care group and its manufacturing and distribution group. Nathan Fitzgerald is a member of the national manufacturing and distribution group, the wealth planning team and the Springfield office’s retail and business services team. Jess Lehman is an auditor with the national health care group. Laura Knese provides audit and consulting services to not-for-profit organizations, governmental entities and financial institutions. Colleen McDole, with experience in Medicare and Medicaid cost report preparation, is a member of the national health care group. Ryan O’Grady is a member of the national health care group, providing audit and consulting services to community health centers. Michele Smith is a member of the national financial services group, primarily providing tax services to banking clients.
BKD also promoted Trista McDaniel and Joshua Wemple to supervisors. McDaniel is a member of the national financial services group, and Wemple is a member of the national manufacturing and distribution group.
Architecture Jasmine Hedrick joined H Design Group LLC as architectural technician. Hedrick, who has 13 years of experience in drafting and design, worked most recently as a drafter at Efco Corp.
Banking Metropolitan National Bank promoted Angela Lynn to vice president and personal online services manager, Eric Vandergriff to vice president of retail sales and administration manager and Harlie Oost to float supervisor. Lynn joined Metropolitan National Bank in 2003 and has served as a retail specialist, assistant banking center manager, customer resources center manager and banking center manager. Vandergriff joined the bank in 2010 with seven years of financial industry experience. Oost joined the bank in 2006 as a teller and has worked as a retail specialist and retail float professional.
Old Missouri Bank promoted Brooke Marshall to assistant vice president and compliance officer. She joined OMB in 2006 as a loan review analyst and is a graduate of Missouri State University with eight years of banking experience.
Dining The Telegraph in London named Farmers Gastropub in Springfield as the No. 2 restaurant in the world in the Best Restaurant category of its Best of British competition. It was named the highest-ranking British restaurant in the U.S., and this is the second year in a row The Telegraph has honored Farmers Gastropub.
Zagat.com, a Google-owned website that rates traveler destinations, named The Coffee Ethic as the best place in Missouri to get a cup of coffee. The Coffee Ethic was honored on Zagat’s list of 51 great places to enjoy coffee for its single-origin brews, its selection of Askinosie chocolates and its repurposed wood tables and benches recycled from trees devastated in the 2007 ice storm.
Education Southwest Baptist University added four trustees to its 25-member board: the Rev. David Brown of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Lebanon; Susan Gilmore, a teacher at Mount Vernon Intermediate School; Bob Ingold, an estate planning attorney in Springfield; and Donna Neil, chief financial officer at Meyer Communications.
The Republic R-3 School District hired four to administrative positions, effective July 1. Matt Pearce, currently principal of Glendale High School in Springfield, was named assistant superintendent of academic services. Teresa Wise was hired as assistant principal of Republic High School after serving as principal of Jarrett Middle School in Springfield. Brigette Golman, a teacher at Nixa’s Century Elementary school, was named assistant principal of Republic’s Sweeny Elementary School. Casey Mitchell, currently a sixth-grade teacher at Republic Middle School, accepted the assistant principal post at Scholfield Elementary.
Government The Springfield Fire Department was awarded a $206,000 Federal Emergency Management Agency grant to develop its firefighter fitness program and provide training for support officer certification and development.
Hospitality Ramada Oasis Hotel & Convention Center was named 2012 Sales Team of the Year by Wyndham Worldwide at the Wyndham Revenue Generation Summit in Puerto Rico. The award is based on the sales team’s involvement with the Wyndham Global Sales Team, group business revenue, engagement with the franchise, community involvement and creative selling ideas.
Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau President Tracy Kimberlin received the Pinnacle Award during the 2013 Salute to Travel & Tourism Awards. The surprise honor recognized his contributions to the betterment of the Springfield area’s travel industry during his 25-year career. Other annual winners were University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center, Hospitality Award, for demonstrating outstanding hospitality to the traveling public and a team approach to promoting the Springfield area; former Rep. Sara Lampe, D-Springfield, and Rep. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, Diplomat Awards, for support of the area’s travel industry; Leah Hamilton, director of the Springfield Regional Arts Council, Spotlight Award, for noteworthy contributions in a field not usually considered part of the travel and tourism industry; and The Missouri Holstein Association, Ambassador Award, for generating local economic impact through travel and tourism.
This installment of Springfield Business Journal’s Architects & Engineers Project Report showcases 26 endeavors by area design and engineering professionals.
