November: Movers & Shakers
This November, celebrate with the business professionals in our community who are moving up, moving around, and gaining new experiences and opportunities.
Matt Watts
Matt Watts joined ThermAvant Technologies as the computer numerical control manager. In this role, Matt will manage ThermAvant’s CNC machining operations, including production, programming, process improvement, and cost reduction. Matt brings 17 years of management experience to ThermAvant’s CNC team. In his most recent role, Matt managed business development at SFI, a fully integrated fabricating company where he was responsible for growing the company’s customer base and identifying new business opportunities that contributed to SFI’s annual revenue of more than $35 million.
Laura Kogut
Laura Kogut was recently promoted to vice president, mortgage market manager for the Mid-Missouri region of Providence Bank. In this position, Laura will act as a producing mortgage sales manager for Mid-Missouri markets, including Columbia, Jefferson City, and The Lake of the Ozarks. In this position, she will build and improve the overall performance of the bank and provide leadership for mortgage bankers and the market as a whole. Laura Kogut joined Providence Bank one year ago with more than 12 years of banking and lending experience. Laura has been a mortgage loan originator in Columbia since 2012. She started her career as the director of marketing and sales at Les Bourgeois Vineyards, and then entered the banking industry, where she oversaw a student-run credit union located on the MU campus.
Tennille Lester
The Trust Company is excited to welcome Tennille Lester as its new associate trust officer. In her position, Tennille is a wealth advisor who assists clients with financial planning, estate and retirement planning, and choosing from many possible investment management strategies to find one that perfectly meshes with their goals, dreams, and peace of mind. Tennille obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in finance with a minor in economics from MU, and she has 13 years in the finance industry, including serving as a banker and regional retail manager.
Trevor Schauenberg
EquipmentShare, the nationwide construction technology solutions provider, is pleased to announce the hiring of Trevor Schauenberg, former president and CEO of industrial finance at GE Capital, who will immediately serve as the company’s executive operating partner. As executive operating partner, he will support the executive team with financial strategy and leadership. Trevor brings 28 years of progressive leadership experience at General Electric in operational, strategic, and financial leadership roles, including leading GE’s investor relations from 2008 through 2013.
Tony Meyer
Lear Werts LLP is excited to announce that Tony Meyer has joined the firm as a litigation attorney. Before joining Lear Werts LLP, Tony served as a law clerk to the Honorable Paul C. Wilson of the Missouri Supreme Court. Tony represents people in consumer protection, mass torts, class actions, complex litigation, and employment law matters.
Dr. Peter Stiepleman
The Missouri Association of School Administrators announced the selection of Dr. Peter Stiepleman, superintendent of Columbia Public Schools, as the 2021 Missouri Superintendent of the Year. Peter was honored during the MSBA/MASA Annual Fall Conference held virtually in September. Peter is in his seventh year as superintendent of the Columbia Public Schools. He started as a volunteer in Columbia Public Schools before teaching third grade at Derby Ridge Elementary School and holding many administrative positions in education since. After 16 years as an educator in Columbia, Peter announced that he will be retiring in June 2021, and will be donating his awarded $50,000 to three areas across CPS.