Newsmakers: Nov. 15-21, 2021

Accounting
BKD LLP promoted Mary Grace Carlyle and Madison Miller to senior associates, Anna Larriu to marketing senior associate, Madison Diehl to senior associate II, and Tara Poore to senior consultant II. Carlyle provides audit and cost report services as a member of the Springfield audit team and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Missouri State University. Miller, also a member of the audit team, provides consulting services and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting, including a certification in forensic accounting, from MSU. Larriu handles public relations, social media, advertising and strategic planning for the southern Missouri practice and holds a bachelor’s in organizational communication and development from Drury University. Diehl provides audit services on the audit team and holds a bachelor’s in accounting and an MBA from MSU. Poore provides financial consulting services on BKD’s National Health Care Group and holds a master’s in accounting from MSU.

Aviation
OzAir Charter Service hired Cole Vandersnick and Garret Gardner as pilots, Aaron Nutter as a line captain and Jennifer Richmond as a customer service representative and dispatcher.

Communications
U.S. Cellular named Eric Stuckemeyer a store manager in Springfield. He’s a three-year employee and previously managed a store in Joplin.

Education
Springfield Public School inducted four alumni into the 2021 Hall of Fame: Brandy Harris, husband and wife Dr. Jeff and Marcia Johnson, and Lynn Craig McGrew. Harris, a graduate of Hillcrest High class of 2004, is CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield and has partnered with SPS to open three new club units. Jeff Johnson, Parkview High class of ’66, recently retired after a 38-year career as a urologist at Mercy Hospital Springfield, and Marcia Johnson, Glendale High class of ’66, has worked as development director for the SPS foundation and was instrumental in raising money to equip classrooms with new technology. McGrew, Parkview class of ’96, is a guidance and flight dynamics engineer for NASA and has played an integral role in successfully landing Mars rovers for the past 20 years.

Health Care
The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives named CoxHealth among the 2021 CHIME Digital Health Most Wired. The health system earned Level 9 – out of 10 – in both acute and ambulatory, putting CoxHealth in the top 20% of participating organizations.

The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives named Mercy as a Most Wired health system for the 18th time. Based on digital health surveys, Mercy performed in the top 9% in health care and scored high in the categories of analytics and data management, population health and infrastructure.

Nonprofit
Better Business Bureau honored six area businesses with Torch Awards for their commitment to business ethics and customer satisfaction: 417 Rekey, Abacus CPAs LLC, Alps Pharmacy, Hollister Area Chamber of Commerce, Springfield Pool & Spa LLC and TransLand. The companies were recognized during a virtual event.