Newsmakers: March 19-25, 2012

Automotive
Carla Keiser, former co-owner of Strafford-based Keiser Equipment Co., joined U.S. Automotive Inc. as fleet accounts manager. Keiser serves as a liaison between fleet managers and auto technicians.

Communications
Carla Ruark joined Windstream in its business sales organization providing Internet protocol voice and data services to medium and large enterprise customers. Ruark previously worked for AT&T Wireless Retail in Joplin.

Insurance
Hollister-based Connell Insurance named Bryan Cossiboom as a group benefits consultant. Cossiboom, who worked for five years as a real estate agent, specializes in group and voluntary health benefits.

Law
Lathrop & Gage partner Gary Cunningham was named a Client Service All-Star by BTI Consulting Group. Cunningham also earned the BTI Client Service MVP distinction for being selected as an all-star two years in a row. The recognition is based on interviews with more than 240 corporate counsel who represent companies with an average revenue of $13 billion in more than 15 industries.

Real Estate
Ryan Murray and Ross Murray, co-vice presidents of R.B. Murray Co., each earned designation as a certified commercial investment member. The CCIM Institute recognizes achievement of educational curriculum and a portfolio that showcases commercial property experience.

Services
425 Downtown Events and Catering hired Shelby Williams as operations manager. Williams, who has seven years of industry experience, earned his bachelor’s degree in entertainment management from Missouri State University.

Farmers Gastropub was named the best British restaurant outside of the United Kingdom by British newspaper The Telegraph.

The annual Best of British competition highlights notable British businesses and individuals throughout the world, and only three of the seven recipients operate in the United States.[[In-content Ad]]