Newsmakers: Dec. 2-8, 2024

Accounting
Forvis Mazars LLP’s southern Missouri practice unit promoted Mary Grace Carlyle, Josh Clark, Madison Crockett, Zach Herbert, Holly Johnson, Macie Latham and Carlee Lynn to manager positions. With bachelor’s and master’s in accounting from Missouri State University, Carlyle provides audit and cost report services to nonprofit health care clients. Clark, who provides services to health care, private equity and real estate clients, has a bachelor’s in accounting from Evangel University. Crockett has a bachelor’s and master’s in accounting from MSU, and she offers consulting services to long-term care and home health and hospice organizations. Herbert, who has bachelor’s and master’s in accounting from MSU, provides tax services to retail and manufacturing companies, as well as for-profit health care organizations and individuals. A member of Forvis Mazars’ Springfield tax team, Johnson has bachelor’s and master’s in accounting from MSU. With a bachelor’s in business from MSU, Latham is a member of Forvis Mazars’ forensics and valuation practice unit. A certified financial planner with a bachelor’s in financial planning and risk management from MSU, Lynn provides financial services with investment, tax, retirement and estate planning.

Law
Branden Twibell, trial attorney and co-owner of Springfield law firm Twibell Pierson Criminal Law LP, was named as Lawyer of the Year in The Best Lawyers in America 2025 edition. Twibell was recognized in two criminal defense categories: general practice and white collar.

Nonprofit
The Springfield Little Theatre named four new board members: Emily Reese of Forvis Mazars; Meredith Roberts of Associated Electric Cooperative Inc.; Syd Tippie of the U.S. Department of Justice in the Federal Bureau of Prisons; and Marissa Weaver of Volt Credit Union. The board additionally elected the following to leadership roles: President Corey Kilburn of RoundTable Legal LLC; Vice President Christine Temple of Springfield Business Journal; Treasurer John Davis of Forvis Mazars; Secretary Wade Shelton of AIDS Project of the Ozarks; at-large executive member Nancy Evans of Richardson Real Estate at Keller Williams; and at-large executive member Seth Swafford of Nuqleous.

Real Estate
Rachel Barnett, a real estate agent at ReeceNichols Real Estate, graduated from the Missouri Realtors association’s Leadership Academy. This year, Barnett was one of 12 real estate agents to complete the program, which works to develop leaders in the industry.