Newsmakers: Sept. 4-10, 2023

Accounting
FORVIS LLP promoted Andrew Moore to senior associate and Ana Lewis to outsourcing senior associate in the Springfield office. Moore works on the commercial and private client teams and holds a bachelor’s in accounting from Missouri State University. Lewis provides outsourced accounting services and holds a bachelor’s in accounting from Evangel University.

Banking & Finance
The Bank of Missouri hired Taylor Norris as branch manager of the Sunshine Avenue location. She has three years of banking experience with State Bank of Southwest Missouri.

Guaranty Bank hired its three summer interns for part-time positions while they continue their university studies. Sarra Faust, an Illinois College management and communications major, will stay on as a marketing coordinator and event planner, after completing her marketing internship, while Austin Nelson and Tre Price, both MSU finance students, accepted branch banker roles. Nelson worked as a credit intern, and Price served as a retail intern in the bank’s inaugural 10-week program.

Education
Sergio Navarrete, director of Hispanic initiatives for the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary at Evangel University, was named an honorary general presbyter at the 2023 General Council of the Assemblies of God. He served as superintendent of the Southern Pacific District Council Presbytery for 20 years and also worked as academic dean for Latin American Bible Institute before overseeing AGTS’ theological training and resources to Hispanic ministry leaders. The AG’s General Presbytery acts as the policy-making body when the General Council is not in session.

Health Care
Mercy Hospital Springfield earned the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus Award. Recognized hospitals ensure stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment and follow nationally recognized, research-based guidelines that save lives and reduce disabilities, while also educating patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home. In its eighth year honored, Mercy Hospital Springfield also was named to the Target: Stroke Elite Plus Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll.

Hospitality
Bryan Hotels Inc. hired Jackie McVay as general manager and Sarah Sissel as sales and marketing director for its Element by Westin property under development. McVay has worked 25 years for Drury Hotels, and Sissel previously worked 13 years with the Oasis Hotel & Convention Center as director of sales and marketing.

Human Resources
Erinn Johnson joined Human Resource Advantage LLC as a human resources adviser assistant. She has a diverse 30 years of experience in sales and marketing, communications, HR, management, hospitality, client relationships and education.

Nonprofit
The Finley River Community Foundation added Adam Houseman and Stephanie Rutledge as members of its board of governors and elected Elise Crain as president, Cynthia Glenn as president-elect, Dana Murfin as secretary and John Hedgpeth as treasurer.

Christopher Bell was named director of Borrow My Angel Foundation as part of an agreement with Community Partnership of the Ozarks Inc. Bell works as a suicide prevention coordinator for CPO and is in the dual role with Borrow My Angel since it moved under CPO’s
fiscal administration.