Newsmakers: July 16-22, 2018

Accounting
KPM CPAs PC added Lauren Lock, Julie Tulla and Madison Wells as staff accountants. Lock and Tulla started with the firm as interns on the tax team and both earned their bachelor’s degrees in accounting from Missouri State University. Tulla also has a master’s in accountancy from MSU. Wells, who has a bachelor’s in accounting from College of the Ozarks, provides audit services in the nonprofit and government sectors.

Agriculture
Jon Wilson, of Ava, won the People’s Choice Award in the 2018 Focus on Missouri Agriculture Photo Contest. His picture, titled “Curious,” also was a runner-up in the Farm Selfie category and one of 25 entries statewide selected by a judging panel.

Construction
Southwest Missouri contractor R.E. Smith Construction Co. won The Builders’ Association Project of the Year for its work on the Joplin Public Library. The $20 million grant-funded project, which was co-designed by Springfield firm Sapp Design Associates Architects PC, was completed on time and under budget in April 2017.

The Builders’ Association selected Branco Enterprises Inc. for its Community Service Award. Branco staff quickly repaired community baseball fields after torrential rains last year damaged Morse Park in Neosho.

Health Care
CoxHealth physician assistant Greta Melton earned the Certificate of Added Qualifications from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. She was recognized in hospital medicine by meeting licensure, education and experience requirements and passing an exam. Melton is one of two PAs in Missouri with a CAQ in hospital medicine.

Medical Consulting Group hired Anita Burch as a nurse consultant to assist with ambulatory surgery center development and management clients. With a bachelor’s in nursing from Oklahoma Wesleyan University, she’s worked a decade with Mercy, including time as a charge nurse in the Springfield hospital, as well as a manager of surgical services.

Jordan Valley Community Health Center added Sarah Schacher as vice president of administration and Kevin Naeger as vice president of systems and facilities. Schacher, who provides oversight of human resources, business intelligence and corporate communication, most recently worked as executive vice president of human resources and payroll for Preferred Family Healthcare. Naeger, who directs the business and finance offices and manages facilities, previously served as chief financial officer of SRC Electrical LLC.

Media
The Kansas City Press Club recognized Stephanie Garland with honorable mention awards for her work on “A Story of Forgiveness” for KSPR. A former journalist, Garland now works as regional director for the Better Business Bureau.

Sales
Patrick Euston joined Advanced Plan Designs LLC as vice president of sales and marketing. He’s worked in the employee benefits industry for 12 years, mostly with DailyAccess Corp./Newport Group. Euston works out of the Kansas City area to extend Advanced Plan Designs’ sales and service support in the Midwest.

Technology
D3 Technologies became an Autodesk Platinum Tier Value-Added Reseller with authorizations in product design and manufacturing, architecture, engineering and construction. The platinum tier, Autodesk Inc.’s top program level, recognizes technical expertise, customer service, sales consulting and personnel capability.