Newsmakers: June 14-20, 2021

Accounting
BKD LLP was recognized as a Silver LearningElite organization by Chief Learning Officer magazine. The seventh time being recognized by the publication since 2014, BKD ranked No. 32 among 59 finalists for exemplary workforce development practices.

Banking & Finance
Springfield First Community Bank added Charloute Marmouget as assistant vice president banking center manager. She has 12 years of experience in banking, finance and investments. A native of the Philippines, Marmouget is responsible for developing and implementing strategies for growth, as well as overseeing risk and operations.

SFC Bank directors elected Emily Givens and Abe McGull to join the board. Givens is executive director of Lost and Found Grief Center and is a member of the Hickory Hills Country Club Board, while McGull serves on Springfield City Council and operates The McGull Law Firm. 

Arvest Bank hired Jason England as executive vice president and loan manager for the Springfield area. In his 23-year career at Arvest, he previously served as commercial loan manager in Bentonville, Arkansas. England is a graduate of the Sam Walton School of Business at the University of Arkansas and holds a bachelor’s in business administration and management from U of A.

Legacy Bank added Rachel West as vice president and retail banking manager-Springfield, Christy Maupin and Sarah Smith as retail officers, Isaac Lasater as a commercial loan officer, Breann Helms as an executive loan assistant and Taylor Matney as a commercial lending assistant. Veteran bankers West, Maupin and Smith previously worked for SFC Bank. Lasater has worked in banking since 2016 and developed a niche in real estate loans, while Helms has worked at OakStar Bank since joining the field in 2010. Matney has experience at U.S. Bank and OakStar Bank, primarily in consumer lending.

Education
The Missouri State University Board of Governors honored six staff and faculty members for excellence in public affairs: Tara Benson, director of student engagement and associate director of Plaster Student Union; David Hall, director of university safety; Travis Schilla, coordinator of leadership development and programming in residence life, housing and dining services; Judith Martinez, assistant professor of modern and classical languages; Gary Meints, associate professor of chemistry; and Caryn Saxon, senior instructor of criminology. Each receives a $1,500 internal grant for travel and/or projects related to their public affairs endeavors.

MSU ranked No. 13 out of 25 Most Affordable Master’s Programs identified by Online U. The Most Affordable Online College rankings are based on manually researched tuition rates from over 40,000 online programs at 737 colleges.