Accounting KPM CPAs PC promoted five staff members: certified public accountants Cyrstal Adkins and Kristi Wilkins to managers; CPAs Amy Garner and Erin Norris to supervisors; and Aaron Luebbe to senior accountant.
The Whitlock Co. promoted senior accountant and CPA Shawn Barbour to supervisor.
Barbour is an auditor specializing in financial institutions and holds a degree in business administration from Central Missouri State University.
Agriculture Wickman’s Garden Village named Robert Balek director of the landscaping and maintenance division. Balek has landscape experience with public parks, university campuses, tourist attractions, and public and commercial property. Balek holds a bachelor’s in horticulture from the University of Illinois and a master’s in horticulture from Kansas State University.
Arts SRO Lyric Theatre named Tim Caldwell as managing director. With a Bachelor of Arts from California State University-Los Angeles and master’s degrees in theater and teaching from Missouri State University, Caldwell has 15 years of experience in theater.
Education Gordon Elliott of Elliott Lodging was re-elected as chairman of the MSU Board of Governors. Other elected officers for the 2012–13 academic year are Orvin Kimbrough, of St. Louis, vice president; Steve Foucart, MSU’s interim chief financial officer, treasurer; and John McAlear, secretary. Kimbrough, Cathy Smith, of Trenton, and Elizabeth Bradbury, of Center, were appointed to serve on the board’s executive committee.
Of 1,400 colleges and universities, Southwest Baptist University was listed among America’s Top 100 Best Buys by Institutional Research & Evaluation Inc. for the 16th consecutive year. The award is based on affordability, SAT/ACT scores and GPA of incoming freshman.
Government Gov. Jay Nixon appointed Chuck Wooten, of Nixa, to the Missouri Veteran’s Commission. Wooten served in World War II, on Springfield City Council 1982–88 and five terms as a state representative for the 137th district.
Health Care CoxHealth was named one of the Most Improved Wired Hospitals by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine. The 2012 survey, conducted Jan. 15–March 15, was completed by 662 respondents and represents around 27 percent of all American hospitals. CoxHealth was recognized for improvements in patient care, safety and efficiency.
Mattax Neu Prater Eye Center added a fifth eye surgeon to the practice. Dr. Jacob K. Thomas previously worked at Mattax Neu Prater while attending Drury University, where he graduated before studying at University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine. Thomas attended the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School for his residency and also completed a fellowship in corneal and external diseases of the eye.
Insurance Bob Meek of PJC Insurance attended the Missouri Association of Insurance Agents’ 2012 Leadership Conference. Meek was one of more than 300 insurance professionals in attendance from more than 550 agencies. Educational events at the conference highlighted industry best practices and workflow.
Manufacturing David L. Buck was named plant supervisor at Billings machine shop Creative Specialties. Buck holds a degree from Linn State Technical College and has 18 years of manufacturing and management experience.
Nonprofit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks named Kelby Stuckey, assistant city attorney with the city of Springfield, to its board of directors. Stuckey earned a bachelor’s from MSU and a law degree from St. Louis University School of Law.
Springfield Ballet Inc. named five members to its board of directors: J. Howard Fisk of J. Howard Fisk Limousines Inc.; Allison Larson of OakStar Bank; Michelle McDonald, a Springfield Ballet Guild representative; Nicole Ray of BKD LLP; and Brian Weimer of A Plus Payroll.
The Pregnancy Care Center elected its 2012 executive committee members: Dr. Judd McNaughton, president; Tim Garrison, vice president; Sheri Shaffer, treasurer; Wendy Dunlap, secretary; and Dr. Steve Perkins, adviser.
The Missouri Department of Agriculture named the Greater Springfield Farmers’ Market as 2012 Champions of the Year for its work to promote gardening, locally grown foods and farmers markets through its Harvest on Wheels program. Volunteers were recognized at the market’s annual Corn Feed event.
LaRaine Bauer, of Nixa, was selected to join the statewide board of directors for Great Circle. As director of the OTC Middle College at Ozarks Technical Community College – a consortium high school for Springfield-area school districts – Bauer was named to participate in Great Circle’s board program committee, which provides oversight to the nonprofit’s therapeutic programs across Missouri. Bauer holds master’s degrees in guidance and counseling from MSU, and a doctorate in higher education administration from Saint Louis University.
Retail Consumers Digest recognized three Tracker Marine Group boats among its Best Buys in Powerboats in its July/August issue. Tracker Marine was the only boat manufacturer to receive three recommendations in the powerboats category. The Nitro Z-6, a bass boat, garnered praise for its low cost and performance; Sun Tracker, a pontoon boat, was said to be the least expensive among pontoon models measuring more than 20 feet in length; and Mako Pro 17 Skiff CC, a boat-motor-trailer package, received praise for its smooth ride and design.
Services Thompson Sales Co. was one of three Missouri dealerships listed among the Best Dealerships To Work For by Automotive News. Partnering with Best Companies Group, Automotive News identified dealerships in the U.S. and Canada that have excelled in creating quality workplaces by measuring employee and employer satisfaction through confidential surveys.
Technology Office Concepts named Dan Moore director of sales and marketing. He has several years of experience working at Office Concepts and holds a business administration degree from Missouri State University.
PaperWise Inc. named Dan Stober vice president of sales and marketing, and promoted Heather Woody to chief financial officer. Stober has 25 years of computer software experience, mostly with EDCO Group Inc., and Woody has worked for PaperWise since 2009.
This installment of Springfield Business Journal’s Architects & Engineers Project Report showcases 26 endeavors by area design and engineering professionals.
