Newsmakers: April 29-May 5, 2024

Banking & Finance
Jordan Johnson joined Guaranty Bank as vice president and commercial banking officer.

With more than seven years of banking experience, most recently with OMB Bank, Johnson is a Missouri State University graduate.

Jessica Passeri was promoted to associate financial adviser in the Springfield Edward Jones branch officer of Peter Lai. Passeri has nine years of experience as a senior branch office administrator.

Jamie Hunt was promoted to vice president and human resource officer at Branson Bank. With more than 16 years of experience at the company, Hunt has a bachelor’s in business administration with an emphasis in management from College of the Ozarks.

Entertainment
Dena Atchley, owner of Dena The Balloon Lady, was awarded the Deborah Fellman Spirit Award during the Float Balloon Convention in Chicago. The award recognizes her generosity and commitment to the industry.

Flooring
Mouery’s Flooring hired Randy Halmagyi and Anna Algeo as project manager and commercial administrator, respectively.

Halmagyi has more than 30 years of flooring experience, and Algeo has been in the industry for more than 14 years.

Human Resources
HR Advantage promoted Elizabeth Hurst to business development director from business development manager. Hurst has a bachelor’s in music and arts administration and a Master of Business Administration from Drury University.

Michelle Courtney was hired by HR Advantage as human resources adviser assistant. She has 16 years of HR experience.

Logistics
Springfield supply chain solutions company NewStream Enterprises LLC surpassed 5 million safe hours without a lost time incident since 2011. Employees contributed to safe working practices by following processes and procedures to reach the milestone.

Manufacturing
Austin, Texas-based Vital Farms Inc. promoted Todd Hilzendager to director of plant operations at its Egg Central Station facility in Springfield. He’s been an employee with the company since 2019.

Robert Clark, quality assurance manager for Vital Farms in Springfield, received the 2024 Excellence in SQF Practitioner Leadership Award. The award from the Safe Quality Food Institute recognizes high standards in food safety and sustainable agriculture. Clark leads a team of 21 food safety and quality assurance professionals.

Vital Farms’ Egg Central Station achieved its goal of zero-waste-to-landfill. Zero-waste-to-landfill is defined by Total Resource Use and Efficiency, or TRUE, certification with just 2% of waste generated going to landfill. Egg Central Station, which expanded in 2022 after opening in 2017, is a 150,000-square-foot facility in Partnership Industrial Center West.

Trucking
Tyler Smith, maintenance manager for Wilson Logistics Inc., was selected by the Truckload Carriers Association for its 2024 Elevate TCA Young Leadership Program. Smith is among 15 inductees.