People in the News

Agriculture

John Crawford was promoted to vice president of plant operations for Hammons Products Co. in Stockton. He has been with the company, which processes and supplies black walnuts to the food service and retail industries, since 1996. He is responsible for coordinating all plant production operations. He will also continue his duties in personnel management, transportation and purchasing.

Community

Nancy Fazzino was promoted to vice president of resource development and planned giving for United Way of the Ozarks. She has been with United Way of the Ozarks since 1996, and she also served the United Way in Akron, Ohio. Her new duties include expanded responsibilities for the organization's annual campaign and the development of planned-giving programs.

Pamela Anderson was named executive director of the Springfield Area Arts Council. Previously, she was the executive director of the James River Basin Partnership. She holds a bachelor's degree in marketing and a master's degree in communications from Southwest Missouri State University.

Health Care

Chris Tuckness was named director of volunteer services and auxiliary administration for Cox Health Systems. Previously, he worked for four years as an education specialist in Cox Health Systems' educational services department. He has a master's degree in communications from Drury University. In his new position, Tuckness will direct volunteer services at Cox North, Cox South, Cox Walnut Lawn and Cox Monett hospitals. His duties will also include working with the auxiliary and its fund-raising efforts.

Steven L. Williams, DO, joined the staff of St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin. Williams specializes in emergency medicine. He received his undergraduate degree from Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, Okla., and his osteopathic degree from the Oklahoma State University College of Medicine-Tulsa.

Insurance

Dina S. Shultz was named director of corporate products for Columbia-based Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance, which has offices in Springfield, St. Louis and Kansas City. Schultz joined MEM in 1995 as an assistant to President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis Smith, and returned to the company after serving as the senior marketing manager for RCS Corp. Her new duties include implementation and completion of project work plans.

Law

The law firm of Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin announced the addition of two new attorneys to the Springfield office. Benjamin A. Joplin joined the firm as an associate practicing in the area of litigation. Joplin received both his undergraduate and his law degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Brian D. Malkmus joined the firm as senior counsel. He is experienced in litigation in the areas of construction, engineering, health care and insurance. Malkmus received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. Prior to joining Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin, Malkmus practiced with the firms Shughart Thomson & Kilroy; Daniel, Clampett, Powell & Cunningham; and Hinshaw & Culbertson.

Cindy L. Neagle joined the Springfield office of Lathrop & Gage LC as an associate, with her practice focused on business litigation and bankruptcy. She received her undergraduate degree from Drury University and her law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Prior to joining Lathrop & Gage, Neagle was an associate with Shughart, Thomson & Kilroy PC.

Military

Admiral Vern Clark, formerly of Springfield, was sworn in as the 27th Chief of Naval Operations at a recent ceremony in Annapolis, Md. Clark received a business degree from Evangel College, now Evangel University, in 1967, and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas in 1969. Clark currently serves as chairman of Evangel's $36 million Together We Can fund-raising campaign.