Newsmakers: Sept. 18-24, 2023

Accounting
Sanders, Myers & Blackwell CPAs LLC staff accountants Joel Barrientos and Maxwell Niemeyer passed their exams to earn the certified public accountant designations. Barrientos holds a bachelor’s in accounting from Missouri State University, and Maxwell holds a bachelor’s in accounting and finance from Drury University. Both began working for SMB as interns.

Architecture
BRP Architects hired Morgan Mateja as marketing coordinator. She’s worked two years in branding, marketing, advertisement, project management, website development and social media roles, and holds a bachelor’s in marketing: advertising and promotion from MSU.

Engineering
Toth & Associates Inc. hired Austin Heywood as an engineer in the civil department. He holds a bachelor’s in biological engineering from Utah State University.

Health Care
Ozark Speak Easy added Makenna Goodman as a speech-language pathologist. With a master’s in speech-language pathology from Missouri State University, she has worked with a variety of populations in language, reading and speech therapy services.

Law
Carnahan Evans PC had five lawyers listed in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and two in the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America. Recognized as Best Lawyers in their respective practice areas were James E. Meadows, litigation-real estate and appellate practice; Douglas R. Nickell and Thomas D. Peebles Jr., trusts and estates; Jay Preston, commercial litigation; and Joseph (Chip) Dow Sheppard III, litigation-securities and cannabis law. Practicing for less than 10 years, the Ones to Watch were David K. Olive, employee benefits, tax and corporate law, and Andrew T. Peebles, trusts and estates. The top 5% of all practicing lawyers in the U.S. were selected by their peers for inclusion in the 30th edition of The Best Lawyers.

Monsees & Mayer PC hired Chip Lee as an attorney and partner in Springfield. He’s worked a decade in personal injury litigation, representing clients in sexual abuse, motor vehicle and workplace accidents, and wrongful death claims. Lee holds a Juris Doctor with an emphasis in litigation from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.

Sports
Ballparks of America hired Kelly Ahrens as general manager, succeeding Scott Bailes, who joined the Springfield Cardinals. Ahrens, a Columbia, South Carolina, native, founded two athletics companies: Stars and Stripes Sports, organizing state, regional, national and international events for baseball and softball players, and Test and Train Sports, an athletic testing service. He also has coached at multiple levels after a stint in Minor League Baseball with the San Francisco Giants.