Newsmakers: Nov. 3-9, 2025

Banking & Finance
Simmons Bank Private Wealth promoted Kirsten Morgan to vice president and senior wealth strategist. A Simmons employee for eight years, Morgan has her law degree from University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Health Care
Parkcrest Dental Group hired Dr. Kalyn Marino as a dentist. With a bachelor’s in communications from Missouri State University, Marino received her doctor of dental medicine from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine’s School of Dental Medicine.

Information Technology
Monett-based financial software company Jack Henry & Associates Inc. (Nasdaq: JKHY) placed on U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-26 list of the Best Companies to Work For. Jack Henry has received the award, which is based on employee reviews, for two consecutive years.

Law
Kathleen Bly joined Ozarks Elder Law as an attorney. Bly, who has a background as an attorney, chaplain resident and minister, has a bachelor’s in international polices from Drury University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas.

Jerry Harmison Jr., presiding judge of the 31st Judicial Circuit in Greene County, was awarded the Missouri Supreme Court’s Judicial Excellence Award. The award recognizes contributions to the advancement of the judicial profession. Harmison has a business administration bachelor’s from the University of Central Missouri and a Juris Doctor from Drake University.

The Springfield Police Department promoted seven sworn officers to the rank of corporal. They are Justin Garrett, Dak Henning, Paul Jones, Joseph McGuire, James Ramsey, Jeff Stieff and Dustin Walker.

Nonprofit
The Springfield Little Theatre Board of Directors named the following as 2025-26 executive committee members: President Christine Temple, executive editor at Springfield Business Journal; Vice President Seth Swafford, president of Palen Music Center Inc.; Treasurer John Davis, senior managing adviser with Forvis Mazars LLP; Secretary Wade Shelton, community development coordinator for APO Community Health Center; Executive Member Emily Reese, managing director at Forvis Mazars LLP; and Past President Corey Kilburn, founding attorney at RoundTable Legal LLC. New board members are Gabby Catlin, director of student conduct at Missouri State University; Layne Hunton, owner of Throughline Architecture LLC; Alec Martinez, senior associate at Spencer Fane LLP; Karen Shannon, a human resources consultant; and Brandon Wall, executive vice president of operations at Nabholz Construction Corp.

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at CoxHealth was recognized with the highest per capita fundraising award for a medium-sized market by CMN National. CMN Hospitals at CoxHealth has raised over $52 million since its inception in 1986.

Utilities
City Utilities of Springfield received the E. F. Scattergood System Achievement Award from the American Public Power Association. The national award recognizes community-owned utilities for sustained achievement and customer service.