Newsmakers: Feb. 20-26, 2023

Accounting
FORVIS LLP promoted Logan Harris to senior associate, and Emily Simmons and Bailey Wilbur to senior consultants. Harris provides audit services and holds a bachelor’s in accounting and finance from Drury University. With a bachelor’s in finance from Missouri State University, Simmons works in accounting and consulting services. Wilbur handles Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement consulting and cost report preparations and holds a bachelor’s in finance and marketing from Drury.

Architecture
Buxton Kubik Dodd Design Collective architects Sean Harrell and Kyle Yarbrough earned their Missouri architecture licenses. Yarbrough has worked at the firm since 2012 and holds a master’s in architecture from Drury.

On staff since 2020, Harrell holds a bachelor’s in architectural studies from University of Missouri and a master’s in architecture from University of Oklahoma.

Banking & Finance
Stephanie Hohenshell of Hohenshell Financial qualified a second time for the Million Dollar Round Table, a global, independent association of life insurance and financial services professionals from over 500 companies. Members are accepted for professional knowledge, ethical conduct and client service.

Health Care
The Citizens Memorial Health Care Foundation board added James Ashworth, CEO of Southwest Electric Cooperative; Trina Banner, co-owner of Creator Designs; and Gary Fulbright, formerly CEO of Citizens Memorial Hospital, as members. Ashworth has worked 33 years for the Bolivar-based electric coop and holds a bachelor’s in agriculture education from MSU; Banner has been a business owner for 30 years, including Creator Delights; and Fulbright retired after four decades working for CMH.

Hospitality
DoubleTree by Hilton Springfield won the Hilton Americas Q4 Service Impact Challenge, recognizing reliable and friendly guest service. The hotel’s service score increased between fourth-quarter 2021 and 2022.

Nonprofit
Ozark Empire Fairgrounds General Manager Aaron Owen was promoted to the new position of CEO. He’d worked 11 years as GM, a role now held by seven-year Operations Manager Casey Owen. The organization also named Karson Thomas as livestock director, and promoted Shane Gold to convention services manager and Justin Frieze to feed barn manager. Thomas interned in the livestock department and holds a bachelor’s in agricultural communication from MSU. Gold has worked five years in fairgrounds concessions and maintenance, and Frieze has worked nine years in maintenance.

The Greene County Agricultural and Mechanical Society, which does business as Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, elected its board officers: President Jeff Gower of Wil Fischer Distributing Co., Vice President Tom Kissee of Tom Kissee Real Estate Co., Secretary Kent Hyde of Hyde, Love  & Overby LLP and Treasurer Mike Seitz of Triple S. Properties Inc.

Developmental Center of the Ozarks Board of Directors appointed its 2023 executive committee: President Melissa Higbie of Esterly Schneider & Associates; Vice President Greg Horton of Integrity Home Care & Hospice; Secretary Caleb Hatz of MSU; and Treasurer Jill Coleman of Springfield Bookkeeping. The board also added general member Michael Hunter of the city of Ozark.