SCORE Springfield chapter President Bill McNeill presents a plaque to Arvest Bank business lender Kristy Chastain in recognition of the bank becoming a SCORE partner. SCORE, which functions as a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration, provides free counseling and fee-based workshops for small businesses. Nationally, SCORE clients started 50,000 new businesses and created 60,000 jobs in 2011.
Photo provided by RAW MARKETING
John Gentry, president and chairman of Positronic Industries Inc. and chairman of the Lost & Found Center’s Board of Directors, left, presents a $2,500 check with Ann Marie Baker, president of the Southwest Missouri region of UMB Bank, to Karen Scott, executive director of Lost & Found, right, at Lost & Found Grief Center April 3. The bank made the donation in honor of Gentry’s service to UMB’s advisory board. The center provides grief support groups to more than 250 children and parents in a 15-county area.
The first southwest Missouri location of EarthWise Pet, a national chain of pet supply stores, opened; Grey Oak Investments LLC relocated; and Hot Bowl by Everyday Thai LLC got its start.