Newsmakers: Feb. 19-25, 2024

Accounting
FORVIS LLP promoted Blanca Aiello to outsourcing senior associate, Tristan Ollar to senior consultant and Lauren Hughes to a senior associate II position. Aiello provides payroll and tax return services and studied international business in Ecuador. Ollar handles revenue cycle services and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Missouri State University. Hughes works in tax planning, accounting and compliance, with bachelor’s in business administration from Missouri Southern State University.

KPM CPAs & Advisors added Skyler Whitworth as a financial associate in its wealth management practice. She holds a bachelor’s in finance from MSU.

Banking & Finance
Kiera Strait was named branch sales manager for Arvest Bank in Hollister, and Kandace Plott transferred to a branch sales manager in Branson. Strait has 13 years of industry experience and is responsible for sales, consumer lending and operations. Plott, who previously served as branch sales manager in Hollister, has 10 years of industry experience.

Education
The Ozark School District Board of Education promoted junior high principal Phillip Link to executive director of human resources, a newly created districtwide role, effective July 1. He’s responsible for HR functions and serving as the district’s Title IX compliance officer. Link has spent his entire education career at Ozark Junior High School.

Engineering
Toth and Associates Inc. hired Tim Schiermeyer as a senior transmission planner. He has 20 years of industry experience and holds a bachelor’s in electrical and electronics engineering from California State University-Sacramento.

Food service
Phil Graves, of Springfield, was hired by Boulder, Colorado-based Meati Foods to work remotely as chief financial officer. He has experience building environmentally conscious brands, most recently as CEO for Wild Idea Buffalo Co., and previously worked as chief sustainability officer for Bass Pro Shops and as vice president of corporate development at Patagonia, where he founded its corporate venture fund, Tin Shed Ventures.

Health Care
Empower: abilities made several hiring moves: Juli Jordan as marketing director after 15 years in marketing and community engagement for SeniorAge; Davida Norwood from the Kansas City market as a human resources specialist; Justin Hughes as a case manager after working a year at Phoenix Home Care & Hospice; Leslie Berry as a quality assurance specialist; and Ki-Jana Blount as a consumer directed services specialist. The agency also added Dr. Debra Williams, a low-vision specialist, and Kristin Whitson, low vision clinic manager, in a partnership with Vision Rehabilitation Center of the Ozarks.

Health Quality Innovators recognized Citizens Memorial Hospital in its 2023 awards program for successful evidence-based approaches to improve health care quality and outcomes. CMH was selected as a runner-up in the Collaboration category for the Patient and Family Advisory Council.

Hospitality
Oasis Hotel & Convention Center promoted Catering Sales Director Cassie Shurtz to director of sales. Prior to joining Oasis last year, Shurtz worked as sales and operations manager at The Barley House at Moon Town Crossing and held management positions for Lodge of the Ozarks and Raddison Hotel since starting her hospitality career in 2007.

Service
HM Dent Works added Jack LeGrand as a paintless dent repair technician and estimator. He graduated from the HM Dent Works Academy and has experience in customer service, vehicle damage estimating and paintless dent repair.