Newsmakers: May 4-10, 2026

Architecture
Jenine May of nForm Architecture LLC completed her licensure exams and received her full certification as an architect. A graduate of the Drury University’s Hammons School of Architecture, May joined nForm in 2019.

Banking & Finance
Branson Bank promoted Eric Simkins to president. Simkins previously served as senior vice president and community lender. After graduating from College of the Ozarks, Simkins joined Branson Bank and served three years as a consumer lender. In 2005, he took on ownership of an American Family Insurance office in Branson West, which he operated for more than 16 years before returning to Branson Bank in 2022.

Commerce Bank announced the relocation of Shad Becker to Springfield. Becker is a vice president and relationship manager, a role he’s held since 2016 in St. Louis. Becker has more than 21 years of banking experience. He has a bachelor’s in accounting from Central Methodist University and completed The Graduate School of Banking at Colorado.

Education
Drury University junior Pauline Fouts was selected as a 2026 Goldwater Scholar. Drury’s fourth Goldwater Scholar in the last three years, Fouts will receive one year of funding for her senior year, up to a maximum of $7,500. Fouts is a chemistry major with a double minor in honors and leadership and animal studies. She plans to seek a Ph.D. in chemistry and conduct research in environmental toxicology.

Entertainment
Pink Jeep Tours, part of Herschend’s family of brands, was named the No. 1 tour operator in America by Newsweek readers. Newsweek readers and industry experts weighed in over a four-week voting period. 

Government
The Springfield-Greene County Library District added John Bledsoe and Jeannine Birkenfeld to its leadership team. Bledsoe, the district’s new director of buildings and grounds, has 35 years of construction experience, most recently with Branco Enterprises Inc. The district’s new outreach manager, Birkenfeld has more than 20 years of experience with the library.

Healthcare
CoxHealth announced the inaugural class of family medicine residents matched with Cox Medical Center Branson, the health system’s second family medicine residency program in southwest Missouri. The class members at Cox Medical Center Branson are Blake Bassett, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine; Madeline LaMartina, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine; Cassandra Sturdy, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine; and Clayton Tindell, Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine. 

Nonprofit
Josh Clair joined Imagine Technical Institute, a vocational training and employment services provider for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in southwest Missouri. Clair is the nonprofit’s new director of competitive employment.