Newsmakers: Nov. 9-15, 2015

Banking and Finance
Brent McCoy, OakStar Bank’s vice president of business development and commercial lending, was selected to Western Governors University’s Missouri Advisory Board. McCoy previously worked nine years as vice president of membership for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and has served on several area boards, including the Child Advocacy Center.

James Financial Partners hired Zach Hoskins as a financial adviser. He holds a bachelor’s in marketing from Missouri State University.

Joel Pearson joined Pinnacle Family Advisors LLC as a vice president and portfolio manager. He has 11 years of experience and holds a bachelor’s in personal financial planning from University of Missouri.

Education
Norm Shealy was selected to receive MSU’s 2015 Bronze Bear Award. The former neurosurgeon who now focuses on medical research has supported the university through donations including a 250-acre farm and livestock in Fair Grove.

MSU awarded its inaugural Governmental Excellence Award to state Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar. A senator since 2010, Parson recently helped secure bond funding that appropriated nearly $19 million to renovate Ellis, Hill and Missouri halls on campus.