SMBA installs new officers

Photos provided by Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association

Pratt succeeds Ginger Gooch, above, who spoke during the annual banquet.

The Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association installed new officers at its annual banquet.

John Pratt, partner with Pratt and Grisham LLC, became the 94th president of the SMBA board during the Jan. 19 banquet at Hickory Hills Country Club. He succeeds 2017 leader Ginger Gooch, partner with Husch Blackwell LLP, according to a news release.

Gooch and 11 other past presidents passed the ceremonial gavel to Pratt during the banquet.

Alongside Pratt, the 2018 officers installed at the banquet are:
    •    Michael Miller, president-elect;
    •    Gooch, past president;
    •    Brad Cantwell, treasurer; and
    •    Chantel Kelly, secretary.

According to the release, the board also took on five new members: Todd Myers, Jenifer Placzek, Nate Dunville, Debbie Shantz Hart and Jarica Oeltjen. They join returning board members Josh Bade, Bryan Musgrave, Ty Harden, Michael Miller, Tom O' Neal, Stacie Bilyeu, Jeff Bauer and the Hon. Don Burrell. Presiding Judge Michael Cordonnier and SMBA Executive Director Crista Hogan are ex-officio members.

The SMBA serves more than 1,000 lawyers and law school students, according to the release. On Springfield Business Journal’s 2017 list of the area’s largest industry networking groups, the SMBA ranked second behind the Greater Springfield Board of Realtors.