People in the News

Chamber

Rogetta Kyle joined the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce as the manager of work force and business development. Previously, she worked as the ACT Center director and business training and development-marketing representative at Crowder College. She is beginning to implement the recommendations of the Chamber Workforce Task force, working with employers and work force agencies to adopt the 16 workplace readiness skills identified by the task force. Kyle has a bachelor's degree in marketing, a secondary business education certificate and a vocational certificate from Southwest Missouri State University.

Education

Don Hendricks was named director of news services at SMSU effective March 24 and pending approval of the SMSU Board of Governors at its April meeting. Hendricks previously was the assistant director of news services, overseeing the news services Web site, developing the university's online event calendar and hosting "SMSU and You," a weekly radio program that airs on KSMU and other area stations. From 1989 to 1994, he was instructor in the English department, teaching composition and American literature. He succeeds Tina Stillwell, who accepted a position in the university's broadcast services department.

Engineering

Matt Mettemeyer, EIT, joined the staff at Mettemeyer Engineering LLC as a project engineer. He holds a bachelor's and master's degree in civil/structural engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla and has recently moved from Chicago. His responsibilities include design and analysis of wood, concrete, steel and masonry building structures.

Finance

Jeffrey S. Gann joined the Springfield office of BKD Wealth Advisors LLC as a portfolio manager and part of the firm's WealthPlan services. He manages investment portfolios for individual clients. His responsibilities also include analysis and monitoring of large capitalization stocks and the selection of individual corporate, government and municipal bonds for client investments. For the past four years, Gann served as vice president and portfolio manager for a local trust company and he also previously was a senior financial analyst for General Electric Capital Company. He is a graduate of SMSU with master of business administration in finance.

Law

Steve Mueller was appointed vice president of group marketing in Missouri for Pre-Paid Legal Services Inc. He is responsible for training and certifying group marketing associates of Pre-Paid Legal Service in Missouri. Mueller also works with associates in establishing new group markets. Pre-Paid Legal Services Inc. provides plans for legal service benefits, including unlimited attorney consultation, will preparation, traffic violation defense, automobile-related criminal charges defense, letter writing, document preparation and review, and a general trial defense benefit.

Lawn & Garden

Travis Andrews joined Wickman Gardens as greenhouse manager. He previously was employed by the Botanical Gardens in St. Louis, where he was involved in poinsettia production and care, and in charge of raising water lilies for placement in many of the Botanical Gardens' water gardens. He worked for Wickman's in the late 1990s while earning a degree in biology from Drury University. In his new position, Andrews' responsibilities include all production of bedding plants, annuals, perennials, year-round herb, fall mum and holiday poinsettia production for Wickman's retail and wholesale operations.

Lift equipment

Chuck Meppelink joined Country Home Elevator as a residential consultant handling requests in Greene County. Meppelink assists customers in obtaining residential elevator or stairway lift equipment.