Sohrab named Mercy's new chief medical officer
Dr. Sadaf Sohrab has been selected to lead Mercy Springfield Community as Chief Medical Officer, according to a press release.
Mr. Sohrab is a pulmonologist and previously served as regional chair of cardiovascular services for Springfield Mercy Community. She held several positions with Mercy during her 15-year career with the Springfield-based health system. Sohrab took over as chief medical officer on April 12.
Dr. Sohrab is a trusted leader in Mercy's physician community, according to the release. Her experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings has given her a unique understanding of the care needs that Mercy physicians must meet.
“I am deeply honored to take on this role to serve the community I love,” said Dr. Sohrab. “I look forward to working with the health care workers, nurses, and hospital colleagues who inspire me every day. As healthcare rapidly evolves, now is the time to shift your strategy toward impactful change. It's time to take control.”
City of Joplin hires first communications and marketing director
Drew Douglas begins a new role as director of communications and marketing for the city of Joplin after seven years as public relations officer and director of communications for the city of Nixa. Mr. Douglas will begin his new role from April 22nd. He will be tasked with overseeing the planning, coordination and management of all public relations, civic engagement, media relations and marketing activities for the City.
Mr. Douglas has been employed by the City of Nixa since January 2017. There, he focused on expanding proactive communications, government transparency, and internal communications efforts. He also promoted public engagement programs. He won awards for his video production and coordinated a major rebrand and website redesign.
Prior to working at Nixa, Douglas was a journalist at KY3 in Springfield, WOAI in San Antonio, and KWTK in Waco, Texas. He currently serves as president of the Southwest Missouri Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.
Mr. Hart joins Arvest Bank's Springfield board of directors.
Arvest Bank announced in a press release that it has added Dr. Algerian Hart to its Springfield board of directors.
“His background in diversity and inclusion aligns well with Arvest's mission, and we look forward to seeing how his ideas will impact communities across the region.” said Jason England.
Hart serves as vice provost for inclusion and engagement and assistant provost at Missouri State University, where she has been a professor of kinesiology since 2019. Prior to joining MSU, he served as an administrator and professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He is also a professor emeritus at Western Illinois University.
Hart also serves as a board member of the Rise and Reach Foundation, a member of the advisory board of Springfield Advocates for Youth, and a member of the Springfield chapter of the NAACP Health Committee. He holds a PhD in Educational Leadership and Management from Washington State University and is actively involved in his Springfield community.
Webster County Land Specialist Wins Multiple Real Estate Awards
Webster County real estate agents sell rural real estate in 2023 and have won multiple industry and corporate awards. Brian Utecht, land specialist with Whitetail Properties Real Estate, serves his 15 counties in Missouri. Among his accomplishments, Utecht was ranked in the top 5% of all rural land sales in the Midwest last year and was honored as a top producer of land with a Rand He Star Award by Rand He Magazine.
Utecht also received two awards from the Realtors Land Association at the recent National Land Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. He was named Regional Broker of the Year for Ranch Sales and last year won the APEX Producers Club Award, which recognizes real estate agents with at least $5 million in eligible land sales. Utecht also achieved RLI's Certified Land Consultant designation. This certification requires completion of a rigorous educational program, a strong track record of trading performance, and a commitment to professional growth.
In recognition of his accomplishments, Mr. Utecht was selected as Whitetail Properties' 2023 Agent of the Year. He is one of more than 350 land specialists at Whitetail Properties in the United States and has more than 20 years of experience representing farm buyers and sellers. , ranching, recreational, timber, and lake real estate.
“We are very honored to receive these awards. This shows that we are moving in the right direction with our values and belief system that puts our clients first,” Utecht said. . “Winning an award like this gives confidence in our ability to serve rural land buyers and sellers in a highly professional manner.”
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Wins IHG Spirit of True Hospitality Excellence Award
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Springfield Medical District, owned by JKD, Inc. and managed by Rolling Oaks Hospitality, has been awarded the 2023 InterContinental Hotels Group Spirit of True Hospitality Excellence Award. This honor is awarded to properties that exemplify exceptional hospitality. , exceptional service and dedication to guest satisfaction in the IHG portfolio.
According to a press release, the award reflects a hotel's performance in several areas, including guest satisfaction, quality of service, cleanliness and overall guest experience. The hotel is the only recipient in Springfield and one of only two in southwest Missouri.
Learn about government factory contracting programs
Small businesses often have a hard time getting noticed and getting big deals. With this in mind, the Missouri Small Business Development Center at Missouri State University, which is part of the plant, is planning a program during National Small Business Week to help these companies win government contracts.
“Government Contracting: What You Need to Know” will be held from 9 a.m. to noon May 3 at the plant in the Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center. The half-day seminar will feature state and federal contracting experts who will provide insights and resources to help small businesses understand the benefits of government contracting. The Missouri APEX Accelerator also describes free services to help companies position themselves, assess their readiness, and, if they're ready, compete for government contracts.
“The government market is often overlooked as companies look for ways to expand into new markets. Not all companies are ready to sell to federal, state, or local governments; “Billions of dollars are spent each year purchasing goods and services,” said Allen Wald, APEX Accelerator Counselor at Missouri CPP. “This is a great opportunity to hear directly from Missouri and learn more about federal contracting.
Registration is free, but advance registration is required. In “Government Contracting: What You Need to Know,” participants will learn:
- Presented by Diana Hilliard, Office of Equal Opportunity, Missouri Supplier Diversity Program.
- Contract opportunity with the Missouri Department of Transportation presented by Kami Sanders of the External Civil Rights Division.and
- “How to Start or Increase Your Federal Contracting Opportunities” by Waldo.
Heritage Bank of the Ozarks appoints Boyer president
Lance Boyer has been named president of Heritage Bank of the Ozarks in Plato, Camdenton, Lebanon. Mr. Boyer previously served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Kim Wright will remain CEO, but Boyer will assume the role of president. Mr. Boyer will also retain the title of CFO.
Mr. Boyer's career in finance began at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, before transitioning into a 14-year career at central banks. He serves on the boards of the National Free Will Baptist Association Retirement Board, the Community Development Corporation, and the Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce.
As president, Mr. Boyer will oversee the day-to-day operations of Heritage Bank of the Ozarks and serve as the bank's visible representative in the community. Mr. Wright will continue to serve as CEO and will work closely with Mr. Boyer to ensure a smooth transition.
