Newsmakers: Oct. 5-12, 2015

Accounting
Abacus CPAs LLC added six team members: Laura Baker as learning and training coordinator, Jo Williamson and Kasey Bippert as staff accountants, Niki Kennedy as a human resources and marketing intern, and Nick Robb and Clayton Strong as interns in the Branson office.

The Whitlock Co. was named among the 2015 Best Accounting Firms to Work For by Accounting Today and Best Companies Group.

Amanda Kastler, a partner at Elliott, Robinson & Co. LLP, was named to Arvest Bank’s board of directors. She is a certified public accountant and fraud examiner.

Architecture
Logan Hayes of Esterly, Schneider & Associates Inc. received his Missouri architect's license. An associate member of the American Institute of Architects, Hayes is responsible for design management of projects.

Banking and Finance
Metropolitan National Bank promoted Kelly Carter to assistant vice president and retail sales assistant manager from retail specialist. Carter holds a bachelor’s in education from Missouri State University and was the bank’s first associate to complete its Retail Management Trainee Program.

Catering
Wendy Twitty joined Infused Catering as sales and marketing manager.

Education
Brad Johnson, Southwest Baptist University’s vice president for university relations, received the Certified Fund Raising Executive designation from CFRE International. Johnson joins 5,300 professionals based on tenure in the profession, education and fundraising achievements.

Mark Grabowski and Sarah Doell of SBU were awarded the Center for Global Connection’s Nations Award for their international service. Grabowski, SBU’s director of safety and security, led and participated in mission projects in El Salvador, Greece, Venezuela and Germany. Doell, a 2015 SBU graduate, led and participated in mission projects in Peru.

Government
Greene County received the inaugural All-Star Pioneer Award from The Great Game of Business. During the Gathering of the Games, the county was recognized as the first public institution to implement its open-book management principles.

Charlie O’Reilly of O’Reilly Automotive Inc. and Lynn Thompson of Thompson Buick GMC Cadillac agreed to co-chair Springfield’s new task force to review a lack of crisis shelters in the city. Other members are: Rev. Ken Chumbley of Christ Episcopal Church, Janet Dankert of Community Partnership of the Ozarks, Andrew Garton of The Network, David Jayne of Central Assembly, Russ Marquart of Central Bank of the Ozarks, Debi Meeds of United Way of the Ozarks, Marty Moore of Springfield Public Schools, Ruscell Pavlin and Mary Kay Ross, community members, Don Simpson of MSU and Mike White of the Mayor’s Commission for Children.

Health Care
Citizens Memorial Hospital added Drs. Gregory Hon in osteopathic sports and manipulative medicine, Stephen Plumb in dermatology and pathology, Jennifer Roehrs in family medicine and obstetrics, and nurse practitioner Billie Scott. Hon and Roehrs received medical degrees from A.T. Still University in Kirksville. Plumb holds a doctorate from Nova Southeastern University, and Scott earned a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from Cox College of Nursing.

Insurance
Barker-Phillips-Jackson Inc. promoted Deb Wehner to employee benefits division manager. Wehner earned a bachelor’s in accounting from MSU.