Newsmakers: Feb. 6-12, 2023

Architecture
BRP Architects promoted George Mandrik to partner and added Cole Vincent as an architectural intern. Mandrik has nearly 10 years of industry experience and has worked for the firm since 2019. With a Master of Architecture from Drury University, he’s worked on the designs for Legacy Bank & Trust’s headquarters and Tempo Hotel in Florida. Vincent is enrolled at Drury’s Hammons School of Architecture pursuing a Master of Architecture with a minor in business and entrepreneurship.

Banking & Finance
The Bank of Missouri hired Justin Rhoades as a U.S. Small Business Administration loan officer and promoted Ashley Fisher to branch manager in Ozark. Rhoades holds a bachelor’s in business from Kansas State University and an MBA from Colorado Christian University. He has 10 years of financial and leadership experience, serving as a finance officer in the Air Force and leading teams in the private sector. Fisher has worked for the bank for 12 years and in the industry for 16 years.

Education
The Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals selected Springfield Public Schools’ principals Adam Bax, Joanna Brockwell and Denelle Hoff to represent the Springfield region in the 2022-23 MAESP Distinguished Principals Program. Bax, at Wilder Elementary School, was selected as Distinguished Principal; Brockwell, at Watkins Elementary, was chosen as Exemplary New Principal; and Hoff, at Williams Elementary, was recognized as Outstanding Assistant Principal.

Health Care
Faith Community Health hired Alex Stephens as director of community development. He has sales and marketing experience for the role in expanding the clinic through social media, print and donor relations.

Nonprofit
Francine Pratt was appointed to the Missouri Foundation for Health Board of Directors for a term ending in 2025. The director of the Prosper Springfield poverty reduction initiative and co-owner of Queen City Soul Kitchen is one of six new members for the St. Louis-based organization, and she joins two other locals on the board: Kyler James Sherman-Wilkins, an assistant professor at Missouri State University, and Ashanti Tate, regional director for the Heartland Center for Behavioral Change.

Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce installed new board members and officers for 2023: Chair Joselyn Baldner, Central Bank in Springfield; Chair-elect Brian Hammons, Hammons Products Co.; Treasurer Bob Helm, Elliott, Robinson & Co. LLP; Assistant Treasurer Christian Lewis, Simmons Bank; Vice Chair of Economic Development Thomas Douglas, JMark Business Solutions Inc.; Vice Chair of Workforce Development Hal Higdon, Ozarks Technical Community College; Vice Chair of Public Affairs Sally Hargis, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Co.; and Vice Chair of Membership Stephanie O’Connor, City Utilities.

New members serving three-year terms are Max Buetow, CoxHealth; Linda Daugherty, Academy of Hair Design and BeVelle Barber School; Amber Edmondson, Trailiner Corp.; Jessica Harmison-Olson, Maxon Fine Jewelry; and Gregg Scholtens, Nabholz Construction Services.