Newsmakers: March 18-24, 2019

Accounting
The American Institute of CPAs issued a certified public accountant license to KPM CPAs & Advisors staff accountant Ross Wiseman, as well as an intermediate single audit certificate to CPA and supervisor Sarah Burrows. The audit certificate goes to auditors with three to seven years of experience performing single audits in compliance with the latest federal requirements. Both Wiseman and Burrows provide audit services to KPM clients in the nonprofit and governmental industries.

Education
The Junior League of Springfield, Missouri Inc. awarded Larra KeethAlford and Chelsie Wilburn the Building Better Communities scholarship for $500 each in the 2019 school year. KeethAlford is currently working toward a bachelor’s in social work with a minor in psychology at Missouri State University. Wilburn is scheduled to receive an associates of arts in behavioral sciences in fall 2020 from Ozarks Technical Community College.

Three Ozark School District employees and one volunteer were honored during the Ozark Community Awards. Randi Jo Miller of Ozark North Elementary received the Helen Hawkins Award for Elementary Teacher of the Year; Dean Ulrich of Ozark High School earned the Karen & Dennis Miller Award for Secondary Teacher of the Year; and Becky Barrett, a high school custodian, was named Support Staff of the Year. The Volunteer of the Year went to Kristi Broussard, who has volunteered at least one day a week in the Ozark Middle School Library for the past five years.

Health Care
Edmonds Dental Prosthetics Inc. owner Steve Edmonds received the 2019 Laboratory Member of the Year Award during the National Association of Dental Laboratories annual meeting in Las Vegas. Edmonds took over the practice from his father, Bob, in early 2017, and his dad died a year later. Steve Edmonds has worked at Edmonds Dental Prosthetics for 35 years.

Integrity Home Care + Hospice named Janet Weber as director of strategic partnerships. As head of the Springfield business development team, she works with high-value partnerships for service across the continuum of care for individuals in the region. Weber also works directly with health systems and post-acute care providers in skilled nursing, assisted living, hospitals and rehabilitation.

Municipal
The Branson Fire Department named Heath Hudson as the 2018 Firefighter of the Year, citing his work organizing the Scott Firefighter’s Challenge. Also receiving awards were Nathanael Jones for the 2018 Engineer of the Year, Cpt. Kelly Eidson for the 2018 Cpt. of the Year, Cpt. Clark Bogle for the Training Division Award, Cpt. Jason Bruck for the Technical Services Division Award and firefighter Chris Ely for the Fully Involved Award.

Real Estate
Missouri Realtors announced Kirk Hewitt as an honorable mention recipient of the 2018 Missouri Good Neighbor Award at the organization’s January business conference. He was recognized for providing emergency home repairs to qualifying, low-income, elderly and disabled homeowners through the Realtors Helping People program, of which he chairs. Hewitt has raised $150,000 for the program’s recipients and provides emergency home repairs to nearly 20 households per year.

Technology
U.S. Cellular named Russ Cullins manager for two stores in Springfield. He has worked with U.S. Cellular for eight years.