Springfield Business Journal_2020-09-14

4 · SBJ.NET SEPT. 14-20, 2020 by Brent Wilson bwilson@sbj.net Banking and Finance Guaranty Bank promoted Chris Ough- ton to commercial portfolio manager. He joined the bank in 2014 as a credit analyst and was promoted to credit analyst II in 2018. Oughton holds a bachelor’s in finance from Missouri State University. Education The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education named Ozark West Elementary School as one of seven Mis- souri Gold Star Schools for 2020. The program recognizes schools for outstand- ing achievement or for performing at high levels while serving a significant portion of disadvantaged students. Hospitality Three of Myer Hotels’ properties, The Best Western Center Pointe Inn , Best Western Music Capitol Inn and the Com- fort Inn & Suites of Branson Meadows , were recognized with the 2020 AAA In- spector’s Best of Housekeeping Award, granted to hotels in the U.S., Canada, Mex- ico and Caribbean that earn the highest cleanliness and condition scores. To meet the criteria for the award, hotels must demonstrate housekeeping excel- lence for two consecutive inspections and be free of AAA member complaints, falling in the top 25% of all 27,000 AAA Diamond designated hotels. Nonprofit Paul Logsdon received the 2020 Ken- worthy Award for Outstanding Leadership from Leadership Springfield during its an- nual One Big Class Reunion. He is a graduate of Leadership Spring- field Class 9 and has remained an adviser for the Academy Class. Logsdon has spent 30 years as the of- ficial spokesperson for his alma mater, Evangel University, where he earned a bachelor’s in communication and media studies. Award recipients demonstrate com- mitment to Leadership Springfield, com- munity service involvement, leadership qualities, and high moral and ethical stan- dards. Tim Rosenbury , director of quality place initiatives for the city, was reappoint- ed to the Springfield Convention and Visi- tors Bureau Inc. Board of Directors. Rosenbury’s term is set to expire Jan. 1, 2022. The Community Foundation of the Ozarks Inc. awarded $100,000 to nine agencies in its second round of monthly COVID-19 regional recovery grants in- tended to help sustain nonprofit services and programs in the CFO’s 58-county ser- vice area. The latest grants are going to All Aboard Learning Center , Art Feeds and Lake Area Helping Hands , $5,000 apiece; Isabel’s House , SeniorAge Area Agency on Aging and Watershed Committee of the Ozarks , $10,000 apiece; Community Clinic of Southwest Missouri , $15,000; and Springfield Bal- let and United Way of Ozarks , $20,000 apiece. Utilities The Associated Electric Cooperative honored local employees with Excel Awards at its 26th annual employee rec- ognition ceremony, which was held virtu- ally. The Distinguished Service Award rec- ognizing career achievement was given to Mark Woodson , the recently retired se- nior manager of member services and eco- nomic development. Brent Ross , managing director of en- vironmental, health and safety, received Mentor of the Year, and Thomas Um- phres , systems operations specialist, was named Employee of the Year in a Techni- cal Field. The Excel Award for Innovative Ac- tion was given to four recipients: Ali Baumhoer , corporate attorney; Jason Finke , procurement agent; Peter Otto- son , supervisor; and Sean Wright , man- aging director. NEWSMAKERS Send your company’s new hires, promotions, awards and achievements to sbj@sbj.net o r clic k “Talk to SBJ” on our homepage. Pleas e include job titles and relevant career and educational experiences. We’ll publish high- resolution color photos attached as space permits. LET US KNOW Send announcements to bwilson@sbj.net Ross Finke Wright Ottoson Baumhoer Umphres Oughton Logsdon Woodson Rosenbury Various Step Lighting Techniques Southwest Missouri’s Lighting Experts, Hundreds of References Available! 417.882.7305 NIGHTWORKSLIGHTING.COM Transform Your Home into a Masterpiece.