Newsmakers: May 19-25, 2025

Education
Gordon Pace, professor of education and coordinator of education strategic partnerships at Evangel University, received the Friend of Education Award from the Missouri Association of School Administrators. At Evangel, Pace is credited with strengthening relationships between the college and school districts statewide.

Missouri State University was recognized on Forbes’ 2025 list of America’s Best Midsize Employers. MSU ranked No. 65 out of 498 organizations on the list, which involved an independent survey of employees.

The Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks was recognized with an annual Readers’ Choice Award via ConventionSouth. Readers of ConventionSouth voted on the best meeting sites in the southern U.S.

Nonprofit
The Hospice Foundation of the Ozarks Board of Directors added four new members in 2025. They are Amanda Altobell, director of ethics at Mercy Hospital Springfield; Mallory Barnes, director of post-acute services at Mercy Hospital Springfield; Judith Martínez-García, assistant professor of Spanish, modern and classical languages and provost fellow for faculty development at Missouri State University; and Valerie Noblitt, director of home care services for Citizens Memorial Hospital.

Colby Hughes joined the Good Dads Inc. Board of Directors. Hughes works as driver health and fitness director at Prime Inc.

Public Service
Gov. Mike Kehoe appointed Jeremy Manley, of Springfield, and Dr. Michael Pfander, of Clever, to state boards. Manley, president and business representative of Teamsters Local 245 and former Democrat, Republican, Independent Voter Education representative for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in Washington, D.C., was appointed to the State Board of Mediation, a five-member quasi-judicial board that administers the Public Sector Labor Law. Pfander, a veterinarian at Cottage Veterinary Hospital in Springfield, was reappointed to the Missouri Veterinary Medical Board, which has five appointed members and oversees the licensing of veterinarians in Missouri.

Real Estate
Trendsetter Homes LLC was honored at The Nationals, an event held by the National Association of Home Builders. Trendsetter Homes won a Gold award for The Homebuyer’s Roadmap to Success, a marketing campaign that provides guidance, financing insights and digital tools for homebuyers.

Tourism
Visit Springfield, Missouri, formerly the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau Inc., presented five awards during its 2025 Toast to Tourism Awards to recognize individuals and companies for their contributions to Springfield’s tourism industry. Individual awards went to Prime Inc. founder Robert Low with the Tracy Kimberlin Pinnacle Award; former Springfield Mayor Ken McClure with the Diplomat Award; and Aaron Sachs & Associates PC owner and founder Aaron Sachs with the Spotlight Award. Moxy Springfield Downtown was presented with the Hospitality Award, and Wilson Logistics Arena received the Ambassador Award.