Newsmakers: July 10-16, 2023

Accounting
Adam Vaggalis and Abigail West of Elliott, Robinson & Co. LLP obtained their certified public accountant designations. Both accountants joined the firm in 2021, Vaggalis with a bachelor’s in accounting from Missouri State University and West with an MBA and a bachelor’s in accounting from MSU. Vaggalis works on tax matters, including business income returns, payroll, and sales and use, as well as financial statements, while West, with experience in public and private accounting, specializes in tax returns and audits.

Architecture
Slone Architects & Interior Designers Inc. founder Ron Slone moved into the role of CEO, and the firm named new officers to its management team: Senior Architect Larry Eakins as president, Russ Noble as vice president of business development and Stephanie Snadon as vice president of marketing. Eakins has worked for the firm since 1988 and holds a bachelor’s in architecture from University of Washington. A Slone Architects employee since 1997, Noble has 26 years of project design and management experience and holds a bachelor’s in architecture from University of Oklahoma. In her 12 years with the firm, Snadon previously worked as director of interior design holds a bachelor’s in interior design from University of Arkansas.

Athletics
Beth Perine, Missouri State University softball team’s associate head coach, retired from coaching and accepted an academic adviser position in the athletics department’s Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Academic Achievement Center, effective Aug. 1. She’s coached at MSU since 1996. In her 28 seasons on staff, the team recorded six Missouri Valley Conference Tournament titles and six NCAA Tournament appearances.

Nonprofit
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks Inc. honored three volunteers: Keyvan Sierra as Big Brother of the Year, Lisa Miller as Big Sister of the Year and Jeff Hays as Lunch Buddy of the Year. Sierra works as a professional coatings sales representative for Sherwin-Williams Co., and he has mentored for five years and served on the BBBS advisory board. Miller, a former elementary school teacher who works at her husband’s business, Travis Miller Homes LLC, in Nixa, started as a Lunch Buddy in December 2017. A vice president of commercial lending at Simmons Bank and BBBS board member, Hays was the organization’s first Lunch Buddy match when the program relaunched post-pandemic in late 2021.

The Hawthorn Foundation honored Peter and Jack Herschend of Herschend Family Entertainment Corp. with the Kit Bond Citizen Leadership Award during a banquet at Big Cedar Lodge. The award recognizes regional or statewide leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to the foundation’s mission of supporting economic development, promoting the state and improving the workforce.

Junior League of Springfield, Missouri Inc. recognized community volunteer Heather Trinca with its 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award during a luncheon at Hickory Hills Country Club. JLS credited her work in helping to open Isabel’s House Crisis Nursery in 2007; co-founding the JLS Founders Fund and helping to raise nearly $300,000 in the last two years; and performing  community service with groups such as Leadership Springfield and the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools.

Community Foundation of the Ozarks Inc. issued $220,000 in grants to 13 agencies through the Let’s Get to Work Fund. The funds, ranging from $10,000 to $25,000, went to the city of Springfield/Workforce Development, Community Partnership of the Ozarks Inc., Council of Churches of the Ozarks Inc., Drew Lewis Foundation Inc., Help Give Hope, The Kitchen Inc., Ozarks Area Community Action Corp., Elevate Lebanon, Live 2 Give Hope, Missouri Ozarks Community Action Inc., Missouri Works Initiative, Ozark Action Inc. and Springfield Dream Center.