Springfield Business Journal_2020-11-02

40 years in business. Same family. Same trust. 417-887-2225 | ricksautomotive.com | 2121 S. Campbell Providing service you can trust since 1980. 4 · SBJ.NET NOV. 2-8, 2020 by Brent Wilson bwilson@sbj.net Accounting Abe Cole was named chief operating officer for BKD LLP to succeed the retir- ing Eric Hansen. Cole continues to serve as managing partner of the firm’s north region, which includes Missouri. He holds a bachelor’s in accounting from Missouri State University. Aviation Aircraft Management LLC promoted Ken Evers to the new position of safety officer. He joined the company in early 2019 as a line pilot on the Cessna CJ2 fleet. Evers is responsible for the charter ser- vice’s safety management system and all compliance matters. Banking and Finance Commerce Bank promoted Greg Mor- ris to commercial banking relationship manager handling business development, as well as banking, borrowing and treasury management for commercial clients. Mor- ris holds a bachelor’s in finance from MSU with an emphasis in real estate. Broadcasting Mid-West Family Broadcasting hired Tiffany Browning as a sales represen- tative. She has two years of media ex- perience, most recently with KSGF, and started a nonprofit called Rural Kids Co- alition. Nexstar stations KOLR and KRBK hired T.J. Springer as a meteorologist. He’s an Emmy Award-winning meteorol- ogist from Nexstar station KSN in Wich- ita, Kansas. Springer has received the American Meteorological Society Certi- fied Broadcast Meteorologist distinction, and he earned a bachelor’s in meteorol- ogy from Millersville University. Education Drury University department of histo- ry, philosophy and re- ligion professors Chris Panza , Peter Brown- ing and Ted Vaggalis were honored by the Missouri Humanities Council with Excel- lence in Education Awards for inspiring students and engaging the public. For two years, the professors have held a weekly public reading to dis- cuss influential philosophers. MSU’s 2020 Board of Governors’ Award for Excellence in Public Affairs went to six staff and faculty members. The staff members are Saman- tha Francka , market- ing and web specialist in international pro- grams; Diana Garland , Learning Commons di- rector and Bear CLAW co-director; and A’dja Jones , student athlete development and community relations director. The faculty members are Kevin Evans , professor of geography, geology and planning; Lisa Hall , associate professor of psychol- ogy and gerontology program coordinator; and Elizabeth Sobel , professor of anthro- pology. Each winner receives a $1,500 grant for travel and projects related to their public affairs work. Real Estate Kailey York was promoted to vice president of finance for Entrust Property Solutions. A certified public accountant, she has public accounting and private-sector fi- nance experience. She oversees Entrust’s ac- counting and finance activities, and assists with the company’s strategic efforts. NEWSMAKERS Send your company’s new hires, promotions, aw ards and achievements t o sbj@sbj.net o r cli ck “Talk to SBJ” on o ur homepage. Plea se 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 Vaggalis Jones Hall Evans Garland Francka Cole Sobel York Evers Browning Morris