Accounting
Benjamin Lyford, an auditor in BKD LLP’s Springfield office, was one of three associates to receive the 2018 Elijah Watt Sells Award. Candidates must obtain a cumulative average score of 95.5 across four sections of the Uniform CPA Examination and pass all sections on the first attempt.
Banking and Finance
The Ozark Bank Board of Directors promoted Karen Baker, Charlotte Terry and Jenna Sweeney. Baker, who’s worked with the bank since 1993 and most recently in bookkeeping and branch management, was promoted to vice president and loan operations supervisor. Terry has been with the bank for 16 years and was promoted to vice president and deposit operations manager. Sweeney was promoted to assistant vice president and retail banking officer and also serves as the bank’s product expert for managing cash supplies.
Education
Courtney Dameron, Hillcrest High School family and consumer sciences teacher, was named the Springfield Public Schools 2019-20 Teacher of the Year. She was one of five finalists selected from 171 nominations. Dameron has been at Hillcrest for the last four years after starting her career at Central High School.
The Ozark Board of Education voted to hire Rachel Tabuya as the West Elementary assistant principal for the 2019-20 school year. She joined the Ozark school district in 2014, teaching elementary school. Current assistant principal Jared Lotz will move to Ozark Middle School as assistant principal.
Health Care
Citizens Memorial Hospital clinical dietitian Lynetta Smith was awarded the Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year award for the Southwest District by the Missouri Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She has been a registered dietitian for four years with the last eight months at CMH. The award is presented to members of the academy who are 35 years old or younger and have demonstrated leadership in the profession and in the community.
Municipal
Sarah Bean Thompson, youth services manager at The Library Center of the Springfield-Greene County Library District, was elected to the 2021 Newbery Committee. She will serve with 14 other librarians nationwide in 2020 to choose the Newbery Medal award for the writer with the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
Nonprofit
Christian Action Ministries named Kevin Huddleston as executive director and Betty McKenzie as director of operations. Huddleston, a current board member, is coming out of retirement from work in city management and hospitality, including eight years as facilities manager for the Big Cedar Wilderness Club. Effective June 1, he’ll succeed Elizabeth Hughes, who is relocating to Tennessee. McKenzie oversees daily operations and volunteer activities and has spent 19 years working at College of the Ozarks as a residence hall supervisor and stained glass department manager.
Charlotte McCoy was hired as business manager for History Museum on the Square Inc., handling strategic and daily operations. She previously worked with GigSalad as partnership strategist the last four years.
Retail
Bass Pro Shops appointed Jamie Sohosky as chief marketing officer for the Great Outdoors Group of companies including Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, White River Marine Group and Big Cedar Lodge. She oversees customer engagement, digital, paid and social media, promotions, events, sponsorships, partnerships and additional marketing responsibilities. She previously worked as vice president of marketing and customer experience at Walmart U.S.