Newsmakers: March 9-15, 2026

Banking & Finance
Guaranty Bank promoted Courtney Carter and Sarah Everett to vice president and residential lender and Brett LaForest to vice president and consumer lender/underwriter. A graduate of Missouri State University, Carter has been a Guaranty Bank employee since 2021. Everett, who started at Guaranty Bank more than three years ago, has an MBA from MSU. With more than 17 years of financial services industry experience, LaForest has a business administration bachelor’s from Dana College.

Tristan James joined James Financial Partners LLC as a financial paraplanner. James is scheduled to gradate from Missouri State University in May with a bachelor’s in journalism and a minor in marketing.

Education
College of the Ozarks appointed S. Maria Lohmeyer as assistant vice president for marketing and strategic communication. With more than two decades of senior leadership experience, Lohmeyer is a captain and direct commission officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Her experience additionally includes service as chief of inaugural ceremonies for the U.S. Senate and Sen. Roy Blunt.

Entertainment
The Ozark Overtones, a 55 and older chorus, won the Barbershop Harmony Society International Seniors Chorus Championship during the 2026 Midwinter Convention in Pasadena, California. Directed by Jeff Veteto, the Ozark Overtones earned 1,394 points for a 77.4 average score in the finals, for which they performed “I Will,” arranged by David Wright, and “I Love Being Here With You,” arranged by Aaron Dale.

Health Care
Dr. Boguslaw Gluszak, a psychiatrist, joined Citizens Memorial Hospital and its Southside Medical Center. With more than 21 years of experience in psychiatry, Gluszak earned his medical degree from Jagiellonian University College of Medicine in Poland and completed his residency in psychiatry at the University of South Alabama. Gluszak most recently served as medical director for Directions for Living in Clearwater, Florida. Gluszak is board certified in general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Insurance
Nixon & Lindstrom Insurance Inc. hired Peyton Smith as a commercial insurance specialist. Smith graduated summa cum laude from Missouri State University with a bachelor’s in marketing management with an emphasis in entrepreneurship and finance.

Missouri Farm Bureau Insurance was recognized on Forbes’ 2026 list of America’s Best Insurance Companies. The ranking is based on more than 18,000 surveys in which customers identified overall recommendations, general satisfaction and loyalty levels.

Nonprofit
The Arc of the Ozarks announced a strategic update to its leadership structure that resulted in new titles for three executives. Tim Dygon transitioned to chief operating officer from executive vice president; John Everest transitioned to chief financial officer from senior vice president of finance; and Marybeth Kleinsasser transitioned to chief human resources officer from vice president of human resources.