Newsmakers: Dec. 14-20, 2020

Accounting
BKD LLP hired Jennifer Albers as a managing consultant for its health care performance advisory services. She was formerly the vice president of operations of the neurosciences division for Mercy Springfield Communities. Albers is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and she holds a bachelor’s in health care administration from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a master’s in health administration from Missouri State University.

BKD appointed Jeff Ronsse as managing partner of its north region. With a bachelor’s in accounting and marketing from Oklahoma State University, he has worked with the firm since 1999, most recently as managing partner of BKD’s Colorado-Salt Lake City practice. Ronsse succeeds Abe Cole, who was named chief operating officer for the firm.

Banking
Springfield First Community Bank hired Brian Zumwalt as vice president of consumer lending to oversee all of the bank’s retail lending. He has 22 years of banking, lending and retail management experience, and holds a bachelor’s in sociology, criminal justice and psychology from MSU.

Guaranty Bank hired Jared Crawford and Kelsey Payne as retail banking officers. Crawford leads the North Glenstone Avenue branch, and Payne is over the South National banking center. Crawford has four years of retail and commercial banking experience, as well as three years in sales management and lending credit analysis. Payne has worked nine years in financial services.

Education
Nixa Public Schools Communication Specialist Daniel Ortega was elected to the board of directors for the Missouri School Public Relations Association. With a term beginning in July 2021, he’ll serve as the Ozarks Region representative to the organization.

Judy Thompson, Drury University’s acting executive vice president for university advancement, will have a new campus building named after her. Donors John and Crystal Beuerlein have chosen to name the school’s 12,000-square-foot executive conference center after Thompson in recognition of her longtime fundraising and relationship building efforts. She joined Drury in 1974, retired in 2002 and returned to work for Drury in 2016.

Marketing
The Medical Package hired Rachael Johnson as operations manager of the medical marketing agency, as well as its sister company, Medavara. She holds a bachelor’s in human resources management and small-business management from the University of Maryland, an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University and is an Air Force veteran.

Real Estate
Paige Townsend was hired as a real estate agent for the Michelle Cantrell Group at Murney. She previously worked as a security consultant with Atlas Security. Townsend has a bachelor’s in business communications from Westminster College.

Technology
ProTel Systems and Supplies Inc. promoted five employees: Jeff Weaver to general manager, Kenda Weisacosky to administrative assistant, and Amanda Sheetz, Jennie Cash and Michael Brown as business sales representatives.