Newsmakers: Nov. 11-17, 2024

Chambers of Commerce
Ben Vickers, manager of business development for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, earned the certified economic developer designation from the International Economic Development Council. The designation denotes a mastery of skills in economic development and a dedication to personal and professional growth. Vickers is one of roughly 1,250 people worldwide who hold the designation.

Education
Community Foundation of the Ozarks Inc. announced five student scholarships through donor funds. A 2024 graduate of Glendale High School who is attending Florida Southern College to study accounting, Adam Floyd received the Henry J. and Lucille J. Straus Scholarship. Receiving the American Patriot Scholarship is Lauren Melton, a 2024 Hillcrest High School graduate who is attending Southeastern University to study finance and business. Will Squibb, a 2021 graduate of Springfield Catholic High School who is attending Carnegie Mellon University to study information systems and software engineering, met the criteria for renewal of the Henry J. and Lucille J. Straus and James Craig Carr scholarships. Central High School 2024 graduate Katie Su, who is attending Washington University to study biology on a pre-med track, received the Henry J. and Lucille J. Straus and the Kiwanis Club of Ozark Empire endowed scholarships. Hannah Young, a 2024 graduate of Central who is attending Centre College to study biochemistry on a pre-med track as well as Spanish, was selected for the Henry J. and Lucille J. Straus and the Chris Bell Memorial scholarships.

College of the Ozarks hired Erich Campbell, Ryan Douglas, Raine Prather and A. Chase Sigler to faculty positions starting with the 2024-25 academic year. An assistant professor of behavioral science, Campbell earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology and family studies and social services at College of the Ozarks and his master’s in marriage and family counseling at Harding University. With a bachelor’s in accounting and MBA from Northwest Missouri State University, as well as a doctorate in business administration from California Southern University, Douglas is an assistant professor of business. Prather, assistant professor of nursing, earned his bachelor’s at College of the Ozarks and his master’s in nursing and doctorate in nursing practice at Palm Beach Atlantic University. An assistant professor of chemistry, Sigler has a bachelor’s in chemistry and human and molecular biology from College of the Ozarks and a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Information Technology
Monett-based financial software company Jack Henry & Associates Inc. (Nasdaq: JKHY) placed No. 11 on the 2024 list of IDC FinTech Rankings. Companies are ranked based on calendar-year revenue from financial institution clients. Jack Henry has been on the list for 16 consecutive years.

Real Estate
Isabelle Jimenez Walker, broker/owner of Eagle Management & Realty 1 LLC, attended the National Association of Realtors’ mediation training program in Chicago. Walker was chosen by the Missouri Realtors association to attend the program to assist her work on the Missouri Realtors Mediation Committee, which serves as an alternative to filing a formal ethics violation complaint.