Education Jim Baker, vice president for research and economic development and international programs at Missouri State University, received the National Friendship Award of China. Baker received the honor – the highest that the Chinese government gives to foreign experts for their contributions to China – in Beijing.
The Foundation for Springfield Public Schools added to its board Erin Danastasio, marketing communications manager of International Dehydrated Foods Inc., and Kelly Weaver, vice president and center manager at Chase Card Services. The foundation’s 2012–13 board officers are David Ross of Morelock-Ross Builders, president; Steve Nurnberg of The Kingsley Group, president-elect; Tracy Barnas of UMB Bank, past-president; Dwayne Fulk of Polsinelli-Shughart PC, secretary; and Jeff Shore of Bush, Ramlow & Shore PC, treasurer.
Evangel University board member Raymond Schmidgall created a $500,000 endowed chair for Evangel’s Department of Business. Schmidgall, an Evangel alumnus, is Hilton Hotels professor of hospitality financial management at Michigan State University’s School of Hospitality Business and the author and co-author of several hospitality finance and accounting books.
The Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks was named the No. 4 Top College Hotel by Travel & Leisure Magazine. The 15-room lodge, operated by students, appeared on the list. published this summer, behind Harvard’s Charles Hotel, The Nittany Lion Inn at Penn State and The Boar’s Head at University of Virginia.
MSU is one of 153 schools in 12 states designated as Best in the Midwest on The Princeton Review’s 2013 online list of the best colleges by region. College of the Ozarks, Drury, Evangel and MSU all were recognized in the 2013 Best Colleges report by U.S. News. C of O tied for No. 9 on the list of the Midwest’s regional colleges, and Evangel tied for No. 53. Drury tied for No. 11 on the list of the best Midwest regional universities. Other schools on that list included MSU, which tied for No. 60, and St. Louis-based Webster University, which operates a Springfield campus and moved up four spots to No. 24. U.S. News also recognized Webster’s class of 2011 as having one of the lowest debt averages at graduation, landing it at No. 4 among other universities on the list, and the school’s study abroad programs were noted as ranking in the top 2 percent of those at nearly 1,400 colleges and universities surveyed.
Finance Ollis & Co. hired Karen Shannon as business consulting division leader. Shannon, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration and economics from Drury University, specializes in human resources consulting services and has served in senior human resources positions for 20 years in the banking and financial industry.
Government Rep. Billy Long, R-Springfield, received the National Federation of Independent Business Guardian of Small Business Award for scoring at least 70 percent on votes NFIB determines to have an effect on small businesses during the 112th Congress. Long scored 100 percent on the NFIB score card.
Health Care Kathryn Gubin of Skaggs Regional Medical Center received the Daisy Award after her nomination by a patient, who was assisted by Gubin once in the hospital while giving birth and again on the highway after a car accident. The California-based nonprofit Daisy Foundation recognizes nurses who make differences in the lives of patients and patient families.
Dr. Matthew Kienstra of Mercy Clinic Facial Plastic Surgery received an Honors Award from American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery during its annual meeting. The award is presented to medical professionals in recognition of extensive service through instructional courses, scientific papers or participation in an AAO-HNS leadership position.
Dr. Lubaba Kobaisy joined Mercy Clinic Hospitals-Springfield. She studied medicine at the Medical University of the Americas in Nevis, West Indies, and completed internal medicine and pediatrics residency at the University of Illinois College of Medicine.
Dr. Kimberly Stoll joined Mercy Clinic Pediatrics-Whiteside. Stoll received her medical education from the University of Missouri School of Medicine and completed a pediatric residency through the MU Health System.
Dr. James T. Rogers was appointed Mercy’s clinical vice president of adult primary care. The University of Arkansas graduate previously served as primary care department chair for Mercy Clinic Springfield Communities 1999–2012.
Service The League of Women Voters elected its 2012–13 board officers: Allison Cash, president; Jean Bardy, vice president; Sharon Swanson, treasurer; Mary Martin, secretary; and directors Diane Davidson, Donna Ford, Gail Melgren, Joye Norris, Dot Powell and Ilga Vise. Immediate past President Cindy Stephens serves as the group’s state board representative.
Rod Triplett of Murphy Business and Financial Corp. received the 2011 Top Producer Award at a company conference in St. Petersburg, Fla. During the past four years, Triplett brokered business transactions valued at more than $10 million in Missouri.
The Downtown Springfield Association recognized Gailey’s Breakfast Café as the Downtown Business of the Year. Other awards during DSA’s annual meeting at the Veridian Event Center went to Steve Brown, Volunteer of the Year for his five years and hundreds of hours of service to downtown events, and Les and Julie Rohr, the Lifetime Achievement Award for their 44 years as downtown property and business owners.
This installment of Springfield Business Journal’s Architects & Engineers Project Report showcases 26 endeavors by area design and engineering professionals.
