September: Movers and Shakers

David Isaacks

Isaacks has become the new medical center director for the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital. He had served as the deputy director of the VA Sunshine Network in St. Petersburg, Florida since September 2015, and he previously served as deputy director of the VA Heartland Network in Kansas City. Isaacks served active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps and has a bachelor’s degree in business management, from Southern Illinois University, and a master’s degree in organizational management, from the University of Phoenix. The Truman VA hospital provides health care to more than 37,900 veterans through a full range of medical, surgical, and psychiatric services in the mid-Missouri area.

Billie M. Cunningham

Billie M. Cunningham, a professor in MU’s Trulaske College of Business, received the J. Michael and Mary Anne Cook Prize. The J. Michael and Mary Anne Cook Prize recognizes individuals who excelled as superior teachers in accounting. Cunningham received the undergraduate award.

Johanna Wear

Johanna Wear joined the Atkins Inc. Columbia office as human resources director. Wear has a master’s degree in human resources management from Webster University. Before joining Atkins, Wear worked in HR for Orscheln Products and YoungWilliams P.C.

Central Bank of Boone County

Central Bank of Boone County announced promotions for Tom Farrar, Shawntez Hamilton-Wells, Rodney Dixon, and Lynn Leible. Farrar was promoted to lead commercial loan assistant, managing the day-to-day workflow of commercial loans and working closely with credit operations. Hamilton-Wells, working at the Columbia Mall bank, was promoted to financial associate. Dixon was promoted to credit analyst, reviewing and reporting on loan proposals and creating reports to lending officers. Leible, working at the customer service center, was promoted to customer service representative, assisting customers with daily banking.

Karen Wolfe

Kliethermes Homes and Remodeling added Karen Wolfe to their team as an interior designer. Wolfe previously worked with Dave Griggs’ Flooring America for 10 years. Kliethermes Homes and Remodeling owner Cale Kliethermes says about Wolfe, “Karen has a great ability to understand what the client wants, needs, and desires and then transforms that into a functional and beautiful design while still meeting budget needs.” Kliethermes Homes and Remodeling provides general contracting, construction services, and custom home remodeling to the Columbia area.

Ramesh Khanna

Khanna has received the J. Michael Lazarus Distinguished Award from the National Kidney Foundation for his research contributions in clinical science and care of dialysis patients. Khanna is the Karl D. Nolph Chair of Nephrology at the MU School of Medicine. Khanna is a professor of medicine and helped establish practice standards for home dialysis therapy and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, or CAPD. The J. Michael Lazarus Distinguished Award recognizes individuals who conduct research that provides fresh insight into renal replacement therapy.

Columbia College

Walter Bixby III has recently been elected as the new chair of the governing board of Columbia College. Joining Bixby on the executive committee is Helen Coe Simons, as vice chair; George W. Hulett, as treasurer; and Jolene Marra Schulz, as secretary. Dr. David Russell, the former commissioner of higher education for Missouri, also recently joined the board of trustees.

Marcus G. Solomon

BeWell Health LLC, the main distributor for Nasopure, appointed Marcus G. Solomon as president. He previously served as vice president. Dr. Hana R. Solomon, inventor of Nasopure, stepped down as president. She will now focus on developing new products for the company. BeWell Health was founded by Hana Solomon and the Nasopure product was also created by Solomon.