Newsmakers: Feb. 14-20, 2022

Education
Evangel University promoted Lisa Tyson, dean of the College of Adult and Graduate Studies, to the president’s cabinet; Sarah Walters, coordinator of the Master of Organizational Leadership program, to associate dean of adult and graduate studies and director of program innovation and development; and Hector Cruz, director of development, to senior director of development.

Tyson, who holds a doctorate in global leadership from Indiana Institute for Technology and a master’s in organizational leadership from Evangel, has served as a dean since 2017 and began teaching at Evangel in 2009. In the president’s cabinet, she’ll work on the online certificate and degree offerings to adult learners and collaborate on strategic planning and tracking of key performance indicators.

With a doctorate in organizational leadership from Regent University, a master’s in organizational leadership from Evangel and a bachelor’s in athletic training from University of Central Arkansas, Walters has served as Evangel’s athletic training program director, head athletic trainer and assistant professor of kinesiology. She’s now charged with developing new online programs and maintaining a university dissertation committee training and quality control system.

Cruz, who holds a master’s in organizational leadership and a bachelor’s in business administration from Evangel, has worked at the school since 2009, including roles as an adjunct professor, director of alumni engagement and a financial aid counselor. He oversees the advancement team and builds relationships with financial supporters.

The Ozark Board of Education unanimously approved a three-year contract extension for Superintendent Chris Bauman through the 2024-25 school year. He’s currently in his fourth year leading the district but has worked in education for nearly 25 years and in Ozark since 1999.

Media
Springfield Business Journal hired Eric Arvizu as a designer and photographer in creative services, Angel Frias as an account manager in the advertising department and Karen Kingsland as administrative assistant. Arvizu, with a bachelor’s in design from Missouri State University, has practiced graphic design the past 15 years in California, most recently as a contract studio artist with Apple, as well as for the Grateful Dead Archive at University of California-Santa Cruz. Frias previously worked as assistant manager of Discount Tire, and Kingsland served 15 years as administrative assistant to Great Southern Bank Chair Bill Turner. 

Municipal
Springfield Police Department promoted Officer Jason Carter and Cpls. Brandon Keene and Kaylee Friend to sergeants, and Police Service Representative Angela Patterson to coordinator of the FBI’s National Incident-based Reporting System.

Nonprofit
Hospice Foundation of the Ozarks Inc. hired Anjanette LaBellarte-Gilbert as executive director. She most recently worked as business development director for Jenkins Executive Center and previously served in development positions for Mercy Health Foundation and Drury University.

Sales
U.S. Cellular named Randy Shurtz as the area sales manager of the Kansas and western Missouri markets, including stores in Springfield and Joplin. He’s worked for the wireless carrier for 12 years, previously managing sales in Kansas, but has 30 years of retail sales and operations experience.