People in the News

Finance

Union Planters Bank announced the following staff changes.

Brandon Fisher was promoted to mortgage loan officer at Union Planters' Ozark branch. He has worked for the bank for three years, while earning a finance degree from Southwest Missouri State University.

Justin French has joined Union Planters as a mortgage loan officer at the bank's Republic Road facility. French holds a bachelor of arts degree in business administration from Drury University. He previously worked for BOMAC Home Funding in Dallas, handling loan origination and refinancing.

Michael Crowder has joined Union Planters as a mortgage loan officer at the bank's South Glenstone location. Crowder, who attended SMSU, has several years of experience in residential mortgage lending and he has been part of the Springfield broadcasting community for 28 years. Previously, he worked for Liberty Financial Corporation.

UMB Bank announced the promotion of Gil L. Trout to chairman and chief executive officer of UMB Bank's southern region. He oversees the company's banking centers in Springfield, Joplin, Carthage, Monett, Warrensburg and Fort Scott, Kan. Trout has worked at UMB Bank since 1998 when he joined the bank as a management trainee. Trout has a degree in business administration from Southwest Baptist University and a master's degree in business administration from Avila College. Most recently, he served UMB Bank as community bank president at The Crown Center banking center in Kansas City.

Law

Husch & Eppenberger LLC announced the addition of two associates at its Springfield office.

David A. Geisler II practices in the firm's transactional practice group. In 1999, he graduated magna cum laude from Southwest Missouri State University with a degree in political science. Geisler graduated this year from the University of Missouri School of Law in Columbia.

Franklin D. Romines II practices in the firm's litigation practice group. Romines graduated summa cum laude from Drury University in 1999 with a degree in economics and communications. Romines is a 2002 graduate of the University of Missouri School of Law in Columbia.

Real Estate

Bart Collins has joined Mellinger Commercial LLC. He has nearly 10 years of experience as an engineer and in commercial real estate investment in Springfield. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Rolla.

Technology

Tammy Grice has joined Aztec Computer Outfitters, working in marketing/operations. Grice is a 2000 graduate of Southwest Missouri State University, where she majored in marketing management. Grice previously served as the marketing director at Guaranty Federal Savings Bank.