People in the News

Kate Baldi was recently hired as director of Families for Children, a new program designed by the Council of Churches of the Ozarks to recruit new foster homes in the area. She recently retired from 25 years at the Division of Family Services, where she focused on child abuse and neglect issues.

Andy Ford has been named executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks. Ford succeeds long-time director Jean Walden, who has left to pursue a career in the arts. Ford was most recently director of the Henderson Unit of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Springfield. He holds a bachelor of science degree in broadcasting.

Tom Slaight, of American Dehydrated Foods, has been named president of Junior Achievement of the Ozarks. He has been a board member for the past five years and board chairman for the last three years.

Paula Shumaker has been named development director of Junior Achievement of the Ozarks. She has been with Junior Achievement for five years and was recently recognized for her service at the National Leadership Conference in Indianapolis.

Ryan Howard, PE, was promoted to manager of the Springfield office of Engineering Consultants Inc., a full-service structural engineering firm based in Little Rock, Ark. He has a master of science degree in engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla and 10 years of experience in structural engineering.

Valerie J. Goodman and Virginia M. Ross have joined the Springfield office of Baird, Kurtz & Dobson, CPAs, as staff consultants with BKD health care group. They provide Medicare billing and electronic claims processing services for long-term care facilities in Missouri and throughout the United States. Goodman has 12 years of experience as a claims processor and supervisor of a claims data processing unit, and Ross has more than 6 years of experience as a claims examiner.

Michael Hurst has been promoted to mortgage branch manager of Firstar Bank. His geographical area now includes southwest and central Missouri. Hurst has 15 years of experience in mortgage banking and has a bachelor's degree from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg.

Genevieve J. Nichols recently began working with the law firm of Neale & Newman LLP. She received a juris doctorate from St. Louis University School of Law this year. She has a general civil practice with emphasis on employment law.

Renee Bolmeijer has joined GuildMaster as a senior designer. She will work with Jim Parsons, founding partner, and be involved in developing furniture products for domestic and import markets. Prior to working with GuildMaster, Bolmeijer was a designer with Gear.

Patrick McDonnell joined Noble & Associates as vice president of culinary development. Prior to joining Noble, McDonnell was vice president of research and development for the Aramark Corporation. He is an executive chef and a graduate of The Savoy Hotel Group Management School in London.

Nancy Asay has joined Thomas Brothers Office Furnishings and will represent Haworth and Kimball office furniture. Asay has 30 years of experience. She received a bachelor of fine arts in interior design from the University of Kansas.