Springfield Business Journal_2021-01-25

4 · SBJ.NET JAN 25-31, 2021 NEWSMAKERS Send announcements to sbj@sbj.net by Eric Olson eolson@sbj.net Accounting Leslie Conklin of KPM CPAs PC earned the not-for-profit certificate from the American Institute of CPAs. With five years of accounting experience, she supervises the firm’s audit team. Conklin has a bach- elor’s in accounting from Missouri State University and a bachelor’s in communica- tion from Drury University. Banking and Finance Guaranty Bank promoted Sara Gugel to assistant vice president and Bank Secrecy Act and security officer from the role of electronic services officer. She has 17 years of banking experience and started as a tell- er at Guaranty Bank. Gugel holds a bache- lor’s in business management from Evangel University. Construction Springfield area contractors Sean Thou- venot of Branco Enterprises Inc. and Doug Fronick of APAC-Central Inc. were elected as board officers for the Missouri chapter of the Association of General Contractors of America. Thouvenot is the chair-elect and Fronick is heavy/highway/infrastructure vice chair. The state organization repre- sents over 500 commer- cial, industrial, heavy and highway contrac- tors, industry partners and related firms. Olsson Inc. promoted Springfield office leader Ron Mersch to regional leader over Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Ar- kansas. He succeeds Sterling Cramer , who was appointed senior director of oper- ations. Mersch held the post since 2012 and previously worked in city administration and economic development for the cities of Bolivar and Willow Springs. Toth and Associates Inc. promoted pro- fessional engineers Shawn Barry and Matt Miller to vice presidents and share- holders. They’re credited with developing the civil engineering department into a core discipline for the firm. Barry and Mill- er have 15 years and 14 years of experience, respectively, in civil engineering projects and have worked together at Toth and As- sociates for seven years. Education Evangel University promoted Erin Hed- lun to director of public relations, succeed- ing the retiring Paul Logsdon . She joined the school in 2018 as a content specialist and now serves as spokesperson for Evan- gel and its seminary. Hedlun previously worked as public information officer for the Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management, and she has a Master Public Information Officer certifi- cate from the Federal Emergency Manage- ment Agency and the Homeland Security Department. Logsdon completed 33 years of service to the university in December. Government Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management hired Christine Morton as public information officer. She previously worked in news media, includ- ing stints at KY3 and Springfield Business Journal, and is responsible for the OEM’s marketing strategies, digital communica- tions and community relations. Gov. Mike Parson appointed Bobbi Lear , of Bolivar, as the Polk County clerk and Pam Robertson , of Mount Vernon, as the Law- rence County recorder of deeds. Lear has held managerial positions for Walmart and Woods Supermarket, and has worked as an underwriter for Polk County Mutual In- surance Co. and as a district manager for Western Shamrock Corp. Robertson was the interim recorder in the county and pre- viously held the role from 1999 until her re- tirement in 2018. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson selected Judge Jack Goodman , of Monett, to suc- ceed retiring Judge Daniel Scott in the Missouri Court of Appeals’ Southern Dis- trict. Goodman previously was Lawrence County Circuit Court presiding judge. He was one of three finalists for Scott’s posi- tion turned over to Parson. 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 Mersch Hedlun Morton Miller Barry Conklin Gugel Fronick Thouvenot