Newsmakers: Oct. 20-26, 2025

Automotive
The Department of Defense’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve presented a Patriot Award to Corwin Ford of Republic and service manager Jeff Whiles. The honor recognizes support of employees and family members who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.

Banking & Finance
Mid-Missouri Bank ranked No. 1 in Missouri on the Forbes list of America’s Best Banks in Each State. No other Springfield-based banks have received the top rank in Missouri during the past five years. The Forbes report ranks companies based on customer satisfaction surveys conducted of 26,000 U.S. residents in partnership with market research firm Statista, and it factors in reviews and ratings of each bank.

Eric Simkins was promoted to senior vice president and community bank lender at Branson Bank. With a degree from College of the Ozarks, Simkins returned to Branson Bank in 2022 after running a Kimberling City insurance agency for more than 16 years.

Nonprofit
The Queen City Chorale Inc. board added members Hayley Cobb, Ashley Fleming, Kelsea Suarez and Matthew Suarez. Cobb is communications director for Leadership Springfield; Fleming works as director of community impact at Community Foundation of the Ozarks Inc.; Kelsea Suarez is marketing project manager at Great Southern Bank; and Matthew Suarez serves as vice president and portfolio manager for Central Trust Co.

Good Dads Inc. hired Mike Dawson as strong schools director. With a doctorate from the University of Arkansas, Dawson retired after more than 30 years in public education, most recently as executive director of instructional services for Branson Public Schools.

Teresa Wappel became executive director of Imagine Technical Institute. With more than 30 years of disability services experience, Wappel has a bachelor’s in sociology from Columbia College and most recently worked as southwest hub director for the Judevine Center for Autism.

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at CoxHealth received the highest per capita fundraising award for a medium-sized market from CMN National. Started in 1986, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at CoxHealth has raised more than $52 million since its founding. 

Odor Control
Aire-Master of America Inc. hired Ryan Haas as national sales manager, Heather Lasky as human resources director and Dan Ortega as communications director. Haas most recently served as regional sales manager for Paul Mueller Co.; Lasky previously was human resources administrator for Trinity Housing Development; and Ortega is the former director of communications and marketing for the Ozark School District.

Utilities
Matt Crawford, director of transit at City Utilities of Springfield, was elected as Missouri Public Transit Association board president during the organization’s Midwest Transit Conference. The MPTA represents 30 public and specialized transportation providers throughout Missouri. Crawford has worked at CU for more than two decades and has been a member of the MPTA board since 2019.