Newsmakers: May 1-7, 2023

Architecture
Hood-Rich Inc. added Ryan Phillips as an associate principal and design lead. With a bachelor’s in architecture from Louisiana Tech University, he has 22 years of project experience nationwide.

Banking & Finance
Andrew Quinlan was promoted to a retail officer and banking center manager for Central Bank in Springfield after serving two years as a customer service representative. He also is a U.S. Army veteran.

Arvest Bank was named to the 2023 World’s Best Banks list by Forbes for the fifth consecutive year. It ranked No. 20 among U.S. banks, the same spot as last year, marking the fourth year in a row in the Top 20. In collaboration with market research partner Statista, the list is based on consumer surveys centered on five criteria: trust, terms and conditions, customer services, digital services, and financial advice.

Education
Legacy Academy named Nate Hennessee as headmaster, effective May 15 and succeeding Tim Taylor, a founder of the classical Christian school in Branson who died in 2020. Hennessee previously worked as dean of academics for a charter school in Arizona and has served on Legacy’s Board of Education the past six months.

The Foundation for Springfield Public Schools honored SPS staff at its annual banquet: Robin Davidson of Wanda Gray Elementary as Teacher of the Year; Alexis Cooper of Williams Elementary as Rookie of the Year; Phil Jones of Weller Elementary as Counselor of the Year; and Jill Norman of Cowden Elementary as Librarian of the Year. FSPS also recognized CoxHealth as Corporate Partner of the Year.

The Ozark Board of Education hired assistant principals Ashley Penrod and Brandon Scott for the 2023-24 school year. Penrod, a third-grade teacher at North Elementary, will move to the Tiger Paw Early Childhood Center. She’s worked in the Ozark district since 2016 and started teaching in 2006 in Reeds Spring after earning her bachelor’s in elementary education from Missouri Valley College; she also holds a master’s in education administration from Southwest Baptist University. Scott, a physical education teacher in Branson since 2013, will work at the Ozark Middle School. He holds a bachelor’s in PE from Evangel University and a master’s in educational leadership from Northwest Missouri State University. Current Tiger Paw Assistant Principal Brianna Kelly is transitioning to the same position at East Elementary.

Drury University’s physician assistant studies program set to launch this fall was granted accreditation-provisional status by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant. Drury’s program, taught on campus and in collaboration with Cox North, offers a 27-month master’s in PA studies involving classroom and laboratory instruction, followed by clinical rotations.

 Health Care
Cathy Graham, a certified nursing assistant at Citizens Memorial Hospital, received the monthly TULIP Award for thoughtful, unforgettable and lasting impact patient care. She has worked for CMH for 15 years – the past few years with the nursing support staff.

Insurance
Barker-Phillips-Jackson Inc. added Marc Runner as manager of the employee benefits division. With 20 years of insurance and medical industry experience, Runner previously worked with Humana, Arcadian Health Plan, CoxHealth Network and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Nonprofit
The Arc of the Ozarks hired Dr. Kyle John to serve as medical director for its Neurodevelopmental and Autism Center slated to open later this year. He’s worked at Mercy for 15 years, most recently as the system’s clinical vice president of behavioral health.