Newsmakers: March 23-29, 2020

Accounting
BKD LLP promoted Cheryl Cooper and Chase Simmerman to senior accountant II positions and Jane Ballenger, Garrett Smith, Jill Stadler and Jenna Vickers to senior associate II posts. Cooper handles consulting and advisory services for hospitals, community health centers, and home care and hospice organizations. Simmerman is a member of the Springfield office’s hospital team. Ballenger provides outsourcing services for accounting, taxes, financial management and consulting. Smith is a member of BKD’s national financial services group. Stadler has 20 years of experience providing accounting outsourcing to for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Vickers is a member of BKD’s national manufacturing and distribution group and its higher education group.

Architecture
Dake Wells Architecture Inc. added Angela Shyaka as a design associate. She graduated from Drury University with a master of architecture and a bachelor’s in art history.

Education
Nixa Public Schools Band Director Craig Finger was awarded The John East Spirit of Orpheus Mentor Award, recognizing him as a role model and mentor for other band directors. Finger has 26 years of teaching experience and has served in leadership positions with the Missouri Music Educators Association.

Government
The Missouri Department of Economic Development named four southwest Missouri organizations in $7.3 million in statewide awards through its Neighborhood Assistance Program: The Gathering Tree, MBCH Children & Family Ministries, Dogwood Ranch Corp. and Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks. The Gathering Tree will use funds for case management, referral services and housing support; MBCH plans to enhance recruiting, training and maintenance services; Dogwood Ranch in Rogersville will fund its equine therapy and youth foster programs; and BCFO will support its free screening mammogram program.

Manufacturing
The Missouri Association of Manufacturers appointed Sherri Murrish and Jeff Cox to its board of directors for three-year terms. Murrish is the regional director of manufacturing engineering for GKN Aerospace St. Louis LLC, and Cox is a sales executive for Shapiro Metals Co. in St. Louis.

Media
417 Magazine and Biz 417 won five awards at the American Advertising Federation’s Addy Awards. The publications won a gold award for Publication Design Editorial Feature for 417 Magazine’s “Meals for a Steal” cover story and four silver awards.

Municipal
Adrienne Poulson was named manager of the Ash Grove and Willard branches of the Springfield-Greene County Library District. She has experience as a youth services librarian at the Library Center and previously worked at the Republic branch library.

Nonprofit
Least of These Inc. named Kristy Carter as executive director and Michelle Lindsey as operations manager. Carter is the nonprofit’s former development director. Lindsey leads the food warehouse volunteers.

The Arc of the Ozarks added Catherine Goodnight and Daniel Ogunyemi to its board of directors. Goodnight is an attorney at McAnany Van Cleave & Phillips PC, and Ogynyemi is a volunteer coordinator at Court Appointed Special Advocates of Southwest Missouri.