Newsmakers: Jan. 31-Feb. 6, 2022

Accounting
BKD LLP promoted Skyler Lambton, Connor Louthan, Carley Lyford, Lara McGinnis, Brady Nelson and Callie Nuse to senior associates in the Springfield office. Lambton and McGinnis are members of the tax team; Louthan is on the tax, accounting outsourcing services and employee benefit audit teams; Lyford serves real estate, higher education, and government and nonprofit organizations; Nelson works on the audit team; and Nuse provides audit services. Each associate holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Missouri State University, except for Nelson, who holds a bachelor’s in marketing from Drury University.

According to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse, BKD is the nation’s No. 1 provider of audit preparation services to private higher education institutions. Based on 2020 data, BKD also rated as the No. 2 overall audit preparer among both private and public higher ed institutions.

Communications
Russell Cellular Inc. promoted five employees, each leading newly created divisions: Jon Keatts, vice president of information technology; Andrew Howe, vice president of inventory; Tina Crewse, director of sales operations; Katrina Gilmore, director of accounting; and Diane Manning, director of employee services.

Health Care
Citizens Memorial Hospital psychiatrist Dr. Michael W. Etches earned certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Inc. The training covers six core competencies: patient care, medical knowledge, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, systems-based practice and practice-based learning to practice quality specialized medicine in psychiatry. Etches holds a doctorate in medicine from Avalon University School of Medicine, Curacao, and completed a psychiatry residency at University of Central Florida.

Human Resources
Paddio hired Chris Mitchell as a recruiter. He previously spent four years at Southwest Baptist University as assistant director of undergraduate admissions and holds a bachelor’s in criminal justice and corrections from College of the Ozarks, as well as a master’s in education and an MBA from SBU.

Lending
Veterans United Home Loans, the parent company of Paddio, was recognized with a Glassdoor Employee’s Choice Award. The company ranked No. 8 out of 100 companies in the Best Places to Work 2022. Based on anonymous employee input, Glassdoor rates their satisfaction with the company, including career opportunities, compensation and benefits, culture and values, senior management, diversity and inclusion, and work/life balance.

Nonprofit
The Nixa Education Foundation hired Stevie Stryker as its first full-time employee. As development specialist, Stryker is responsible for planning and implementing the foundation’s fundraising and marketing activities. She previously served as marketing and development specialist for The Arc of the Ozarks. Stryker holds a bachelor’s in communications from MSU.