Overheard

Todd Parnell is dropping the “interim” from his title. Drury University’s Board of Trustees voted to make Parnell the full-time president, and he was presented to the public Jan. 31. Parnell had served as interim president of the university since June 1, after former President John Sellars resigned and took a position as president of Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa. Parnell has served as executive director of the school’s Edward Jones Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation since June.

Sports Commission Director

The Greater Springfield Sports Commission has a full-time director for the first time in more than three years. The commission introduced John Citron, of Mountain Grove, as its new director Jan. 28. Citron is the former director of the Tallahassee Sports Council in Florida, a division of the Tallahassee Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. He also has served as interim president of the Tallahassee CVB, interim executive director of the Leon County Tourist Development Council in Florida and sports program manager for the Governor’s Council on Fitness and Sports in Florida. The Springfield commission’s director position has been filled on an interim basis since Brad Eldridge left the job in August 2004.

Superintendent Extension

Norm Ridder will stay on as superintendent of Springfield R-XII Schools through the 2010–11 school year. The district Board of Education completed its annual performance review of the superintendent and opted to extend his $156,489 annual contract. The performance review was based on Ridder’s work in seven categories: leadership; strategic planning; stakeholder and market focus; measurement, analysis and knowledge management; human resources; process management; and performance results.

Decorize in Dallas

Decorize Inc. is displaying its wares in a new Dallas showroom. The Springfield-based home accents designer and manufacturer opened a showroom Jan. 22 in the Dallas Market Center. Christi Proctor, one of the original designers from home design show “Trading Spaces” and a designer for the company’s GuildMaster brand, joined company executives at the opening ceremony for the showroom, which displays products for potential retail buyers.