Architecture Brad Samuels joined H Design Group as a project architect. Samuels has eight years of architecture and design experience in the Springfield area.
Banking and Finance Old Missouri Bank added Jerry Gardner as a loan officer specializing in agricultural lending at the West Sunshine branch. Gardner has three years of experience in lending and a bachelor’s in agribusiness from Arkansas Tech University.
Education Kenneth Coopwood, vice president for diversity and inclusion at Missouri State University, earned the Diversity Visionary Award from Insight into Diversity, a national magazine and website covering diversity issues. Coopwood was recognized for past and present contributions and commitment to diversity and inclusion on campus and in Springfield.
Washington Monthly’s recently released book “The Other College Guide: A Road Map to the Right School for You,” ranked College of the Ozarks No. 2 in the Midwest Best Bang for the Buck category. C of O was selected for its work-study structure that covers student’s tuition and fees.
Dr. Larry Dissmore was named the 2015 Collegiate Educator of the Year by the Missouri Division of the American String Teachers Association. Dissmore has served as a professor of strings and director of orchestral activities at Evangel University since 1988.
Engineering GeoEngineers Inc. promoted Jonathan Robison to principal geotechnical engineer. Robison, who joined GeoEngineers in 2008, has worked in geotechnical, geohazard analysis, construction and geophysical project management and engineering services since 1997.
Government The Greene County employment and training team for the University of Missouri Extension Business Development Workforce Program hired Tonya Raines as a specialist in the supplemental nutrition assistance and employment-and-training programs. Raines has worked as a housing counseling manager for Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph and as development director for Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Springfield.
Renette Wardlow joined the University of Missouri Greene County Extension office, moving from the organization’s office in Ozark. She has worked with the MU Extension since 1987.
Health Care Mercy College of Nursing and Health Sciences of Southwest Baptist University received full accreditation for its master’s in nursing program from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.
Hospitality John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts was recognized seven times in the 2014 Embassy Suites Brand Awards, including the top-honor Connie Award to the Embassy Suites-Loveland Hotel, Spa & Conference Center in Colorado. The award honors the top three hotels in the Embassy Suites brand. JQH also received awards for properties in Nebraska and Tennessee among the top 10 percent in financial performance, and four JQH hotels were honored for revenue per available room, sales, sustainability and community service.
Insurance Marcy Dollens joined Colonial Life as an account executive for supplemental employee benefits. With a marketing degree from MSU, Dollens previously worked in financial services at Arvest Bank.
Media Editor & Publisher Magazine listed Springfield News-Leader’s Allen Vaughan among its top 25 journalists age 35 and under. Vaughan is the News-Leaders’ consumer experience director and oversees all production and community engagement efforts. Vaughan has a bachelor’s in business administration from Drury University and a master’s in journalism from Northeastern University.
KTTS-FM received the Crystal Radio Award from the National Association of Broadcasters. KTTS was one of 10 winners out of 50 finalists for the award, which recognizes year-round commitment to community service.
Nonprofit The Rainbow Network added board members Bill Carpenter, Johnny Moneymaker and Eugene Hunt. Carpenter spent 28 years working for AT&T and Sprint, Moneymaker is a semiretired co-owner of Contract Lodging of Mo. Inc., and Hunt, who has worked in flooring and real estate, is chairman of a Rainbow Network housing committee.
Sales Club Car Inc. recognized Clear Creek Vehicles among its top 20 distributors nationwide and honored Brian Cheever, Clear Creek’s general manager and sales director, as its 2015 Superior Sales Representative.
Danny Sanders joined Tuthill Vacuum and Blower Systems as director of international sales. Sanders, who holds a bachelor’s in business administration from California State University, had worked 16 years at Dover Corp.’s Pump Solutions Group.
This installment of Springfield Business Journal’s Architects & Engineers Project Report showcases 26 endeavors by area design and engineering professionals.
