Newsmakers: Dec. 23-29, 2024

Arts
The Springfield Regional Arts Council presented five honors at the 39th annual Ozzie Awards, which recognize local contributions to the arts community. Janet Hopkins, volunteer with Springfield Symphony Orchestra, was named Volunteer of the Year for outstanding service in the community; Allison Fleetwood of Nixa Public Schools received the Excellence in Arts Education honor; Springfield Symphony Orchestra got the nod for the Arts Ambassador Award, recognizing individuals or teams for building an ecosystem for the arts in the Ozarks; the Hatch Foundation won the Arts Champion category, recognizing corporations or organizations for contributions to the arts; and state Sen. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, received the Arts Advocate of the Year honor for his legislative work to benefit the arts.

Banking & Finance
Central Bank in Springfield promoted Selena Garnica-Sappington, Ashley Riecke and James Switzer, and the company hired Kris Drew and Chad Riecke. With seven years of banking experience, Garnica-Sappington was promoted to banking center manager and retail officer over the company’s Springfield Plaza branch. Ashley Riecke, who has a banking career spanning nearly two decades, was promoted to consumer loan officer. Switzer, Central Bank’s retail operations office who has been with the company since 2006, was promoted to vice president. Drew, who has more than 25 years of big-box retail experience, joined Central Bank’s Marshfield branch as banking center manager and retail officer. With 15 years of banking industry experience, Chad Riecke joined Central Bank as banking center manager and retail officer at the company’s South Glenstone Avenue branch.

Education
Daniel Gutierrez, choir director at Nixa Public Schools, was selected as a semifinalist for the 2025 Grammy Music Educator Award. He was chosen from more than 2,400 initial nominations submitted from 49 states.

David Schmitz, superintendent of the Lebanon School District, was selected as 2025 Missouri Superintendent of the Year by the Missouri Association of School Administrators. Schmitz is in his seventh year leading the Lebanon School District, which has 4,500 students.

The Missouri State University Board of Governors voted to honor Gov. Mike Parson with the university’s 2024 Government Excellence Award. The award recognizes government officials for exemplary leadership, university support and outstanding achievements.

College of the Ozarks was recognized by the Niche and Money publications. In Niche, C of O was No. 1 for Best Christian Colleges in Missouri and No. 6 for Best Christian Colleges in America, as well as No. 2 for Best Small Colleges in Missouri, No. 3 for Top Private Universities in Missouri, No. 5 for Best Value Colleges in Missouri, No. 6 for Colleges with the Best Academics in Missouri and No. 7 for Best Colleges in Missouri. In Money, C of O was one of 745 private and public colleges that made its best American colleges list.

Information Technology
Monett-based financial software company Jack Henry & Associates Inc. (Nasdaq: JKHY) ranked No. 16 on the Newsweek list of America’s Most Loved Workplaces. Jack Henry has ranked in the top 20 on the list for three consecutive years, based on metrics such as career achievement, respect and collaboration.