Newsmakers: Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2024

Architecture
Torgerson Design Partners LLC hired Heather Morris as operations manager. With more than a decade of career experience in areas such as administration and sales, Morris most recently served as director of client services for HHM Facility Management LLC.

Arts
Nicole Chilton joined the Springfield Art Museum as communications specialist. A graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia’s School of Journalism, Chilton has two decades of experience in arts communications, marketing and development.

Banking & Finance
Kylee Brown and Sarah Frossard were hired by OakStar Bank. The company’s senior vice president and director of affordable housing and tax credit lending, Brown has a bachelor’s in business from Missouri State University. With a bachelor’s in finance from MSU, Frossard joined OakStar Bank’s investment services group as senior vice president and private wealth strategist.

Hospitality
Atrium Hospitality hired Lori Vaccaro as area director of sales and marketing for University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center, Courtyard by Marriott Springfield Airport and Residence Inn by Marriott Springfield. Vaccaro has 20 years of hospitality experience.

Insurance
Nixon & Lindstrom Insurance named Joshua Nixon as business development specialist. With an MBA from the University of Illinois, Nixon is the grandson of Nixon & Lindstrom Insurance founder Jerry Nixon and the son of company President Luke Nixon.

Nonprofit
Good Dads Inc. appointed Denise Baumann as director of operations. Baumann, who worked at three different universities before retiring from Missouri State University, has a bachelor’s in political science from Minnesota State University, a master’s in counseling psychology from James Madison University and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and policy analysis from the University of Missouri.

CASA of Southwest Missouri promoted Sara Walraven to programs director, a role through which she oversees the nonprofit’s volunteer advocacy and clubhouse programs. Walraven previously served as Risdal Family Kid’s Clubhouse director and as a CASA volunteer since 2021.

Utilities
The Missouri Public Utility Alliance honored Gary Gibson, who recently retired as CEO of City Utilities of Springfield, with the John “Tom” Tinsley Distinguished Service Award. The award honors employees or officials of MPUA member utilities who have provided distinguished service for at least 10 years. Gibson started with CU in 1990 as an intern and became CEO in late 2019.

Joel Alexander, CU’s manager of media relations, was presented with the Duncan Kincheloe Value of Hometown Utilities Award by the Missouri Public Utility Alliance. The award recognizes an employee or official of an MPUA member utility who has demonstrated the benefits of local utility ownership for community betterment. Alexander has worked at CU for 22 years and in his current role since 2023.