November: Movers and Shakers
Williams-Keepers LLC
Five new associates have joined the Williams-Keepers LLC audit department: Austen Barr, Megan Bauer, Ashley Elfrank, Laura Hockett and Kyle Menges.
“The addition of these bright, energetic professionals will increase our capacity to serve our clients,” says Heidi Chick, audit member. “We are pleased to have them on board.”
Stephen Jorgensen
Jorgensen, the dean of the University of Missouri College of Human Environmental Sciences, will retire effective Aug. 31, 2015. He has served as dean since 2001.
“We will greatly miss Steve’s leadership,” says Interim Provost Ken Dean. “He has guided the College of Human Environmental Sciences through continued growth in students, funding and classroom and office space.”
Brooke Berkey
Boone County National Bank has hired Berkey as relationship manager for its business customers. As the relationship manager, Berkey will manage and develop relationships with business customers while ensuring they utilize banking products to help meet their financial goals.
Sandra Marin
Marin has accepted a position with the MU Extension Business Development Program in Regional Economic Development Inc.’s co-working space as a business development specialist. In the position, she will assist high-growth potential Missouri businesses through education, technical service and collaboration, with an emphasis on technology commercialization.
Don Stamper
Stamper has been hired as the executive director of the Missouri Community Services Commission. He will assist communities with the AmeriCorps program, which is housed within the Missouri Department of Economic Development. Stamper was formerly the Central Missouri Development Council’s Executive Director.
Gary Ward
Ward has been named vice chancellor of operations and chief operating officer at MU. He had been serving in the position on an interim basis since Jan. 1, following the retirement of Jacquelyn Jones.
“Gary has done an exceptional job over the past several months and has helped us move forward in several areas,” MU Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin says.
Leanne Geiss
Geiss has been named the director of sales at The Broadway Columbia – A Doubletree by Hilton. Her goals for the new position include helping grow the image and brand of the hotel by establishing and strengthening ties in the hotel’s market through relationship building and facilitation. Geiss was most recently the director of sales for the Columbia Country Club.
Teresa Douglass
The Central Trust and Investment Co. has hired Douglass as vice president and relationship manager with the company’s Columbia office.
“We are again strengthening our commitment to provide the highest level of service to our clients here in the Columbia area by adding a highly respected and client-focused wealth management professional to our team,” says Executive Vice President and Western Regional Manager Dave Stepanek.
Jim Spencer
Spencer, president and founder of Newsy, was awarded the Governor’s Entrepreneur of the Year award at the 2014 Governor’s Conference on Economic Development on Sept. 5. The annual Governor’s Awards Presentation recognizes outstanding leaders in business, education and economic development in Missouri.
Kathleen Dolan
Dolan is the new execMBA director for the Trulaske College of Business at MU. She has a history of success with MBA and executive education programs. Most recently, she was the director of MBA programs at the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina.
Travis Neil
Commerce Bank hired Neil as a residential real estate originator. Neil has 11 years of banking experience and in the new position is responsible for business development and customer service related to the bank’s full line of mortgage loan products for Columbia and the surrounding area.
Elmer Hawse
Hawse, the Show-Me State Games Missouri Lottery Male Athlete of the Year, has been named the 2014 National Congress of State Games Male Athlete of the Year. The 81-year-old participant in the shooting competition will be recognized for his national honor Oct. 14 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, at the National Congress of State Games Annual Symposium.
Julie Houseworth
William Woods University promoted Houseworth from controller to chief financial officer. Houseworth is currently pursuing her MBA at William Woods. She is a recognized member of the Missouri Society of Public Accountants and is a recent graduate of the Fulton Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Callaway program.