People in the News

Chamber

The Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce announced two staff additions.

Cathy Hubert has joined the chamber as controller. She oversees all aspects of the financials, including the annual budget, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll and reporting. Prior to joining the chamber, Hubert was the vice president/ chief financial officer for the Forest Institute of Professional Psychology. She also has served as finance director for the city of Aurora and the assistant director of financial services at Drury University.

David Reynolds joined the Branson/ Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce as vice president of marketing and public relations. He has more than 20 years of experience in marketing, tourism and personnel management. Previously, Reynolds owned a consulting firm in the tourism/visitor industry, and he also was an adjunct professor at Park University in Kansas City. In his new position, Reynolds oversees advertising, public relations, research, tourism development and sales, as well as associated committees.

Engineering

John R. Sayre joined Heideman + Associates Inc. as a civil engineer. He has more than 10 years of experience in civil engineering. His background as a civil engineer includes a teaching assignment implementing land development desktop software to help facilitate work in municipalities, multifamily residences and subdivisions.

Finance

Sandra M. Terrell, CPA, has joined Tucker & Company PC, certified public accountants. She has more than 14 years of experience in accounting and she holds a master's degree in accountancy from Southwest Missouri State University. She provides tax and accounting services for small businesses and individuals.

Bill Kristek has joined Village Bank as vice president. He has 28 years of banking experience. In his new position, he is responsible for retail lending, and he will also be involved in business development.

Brooke Liggett, CPA, has joined Kirkpatrick Phillips & Miller, CPAs, PC as a senior accountant. She has more than 13 years of experience in public and private accounting for a broad range of industries. Her areas of concentration include small-business planning and consulting. Prior to her new position, Liggett was controller of a local distribution and real estate development company. She is a cum laude graduate of Kansas State University with a bachelor of science degree in business administration with emphasis in accounting.

Rick German has joined Liberty Bank as senior vice president of the commercial loan department. His responsibilities include developing and maintaining commercial loans. He also is a member of Liberty Bank's executive management committee. German previously held the same position with The Bank. He has more than 11 years of experience in commercial lending in Springfield.

Insurance

Larry Smith has joined Barker Phillips Jackson Insurance as a commercial lines account executive. He has 10 years of business-to-business sales experience, previously working as an advertising representative for the Springfield Business Journal. Smith recently obtained his insurance license and will attend producer school in Hartford, Conn., for additional training.

Jeffrey S. Nye of Springfield was appointed an agent of New York Life Insurance Company, affiliated with the St. Louis general office in Creve Coeur. He serves the area's family and business markets.

Law

Lynda S. Fraza has joined the Springfield office of Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin as a paralegal. Fraza has five years of experience. She is a certified paralegal with a specialty certification in business and corporate law. She assists the firm's corporate department and also assists with real estate and probate matters.