Newsmakers: Feb. 25-March 3, 2019

Last edited 2:36 p.m., Feb. 26, 2019

Banking and Finance
Old Missouri Bank promoted Sheryl Asher to senior vice president of human resources. At the bank since 2016, she has assisted management in recruiting and hiring practices, succession planning, staff development, employee job satisfaction and staff retention.

Education
Robert Stricklin, executive chef of The Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks, received the Heart of the House award during the Southwest Missouri Restaurant Association’s annual Golden Fork Awards gala. With 40 years of culinary experience, Stricklin was honored for exceptional service as a back-of-the-house employee.

The Southwest Missouri Restaurant Association also awarded $1,500 scholarships to two College of the Ozarks students, Svetlana Volkova and Daniel Worley.

Health Care
Stephanie Pape was named executive director of GYN Cancers Alliance. With nonprofit experience at United Way, The Kitchen Inc. and Big Brothers Big Sisters, she handles event planning, fundraising, overseeing client services and working with the board of directors.

Phoenix Home Care Inc. promoted Ursula Gorman to corporate director of human resources. She oversees a companywide risk management budget of $1.2 million and an employee benefits management budget of $3 million. She previously held the titles of human resources supervisor and HR manager.

Cox South’s Auxiliary Gift Shop won the Albert D. Maslia Award for merchandising displays from Burton and Burton at The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market. Judges selected the gift shop for its creative use of space and a cohesive theme and detail.

CoxHealth physician assistant Missy Abramovitz earned the Certificate of Added Qualifications specialty credential in hospital medicine from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. She has seven years of experience in the hospital medicine specialty and 11 years overall in health care. Abramovitz recently completed a two-year term as the first PA elected to the Cox South Medical Executive Committee.

Government
Sen. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa, was appointed to the Missouri Tourism Commission. The 10 members on the commission serve four-year terms, while overseeing policy and administration of tourism promotion through job creation, payroll, tax revenue and economic development.

Gov. Mike Parson named David Yancey as Greene County public administrator from an interim capacity. Yancey, who’s professional experience includes time as a law office administrator, a medical office administrator and as a medical office credit manager, held the county public administrator position from January 2009 to December 2016 when he retired.

Nonprofit
Community Partnership of the Ozarks Inc. appointed Joselyn Baldner and Katherine Thompson to its board of directors. Baldner is an executive vice president and chief retail officer at Central Bank of the Ozarks. Thompson is a partner at Baird, Lightner, Millsap PC, practicing civil-rights and employment law.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $1.07 million to the Ozarks Alliance to End Homelessness. Member agencies receiving funds are Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri Inc., Great Circle, Harmony House, Housing Authority of Springfield, Missouri Department of Mental Health and The Kitchen Inc. The funds will be used to support local homeless services during the next year with a focus on housing.