Business in brief: MSHOF promotes first woman executive VP, Lebanon hires new police chief
Missouri Sports Hall of Fame promotes Norris to executive vice president
The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame announced in a press release that Kari Norris has been promoted to executive vice president. Norris previously held the role of vice president of marketing for the Hall of Fame, as well as for the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr. Pepper. Norris is the first woman to hold the title since the Hall of Fame opened in 1994.
“Kari Norris is more than deserving of this promotion to Executive Vice President,” said CEO and Executive Director Byron Shive. “She has been with the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame for nearly two decades and has played an integral role in not only building the Hall of Fame in her time here, but also in helping me with the transition into my role as CEO and Executive Director.”
Norris arrived at the Hall of Fame in 2007 working in a part-time role. Two years later, she was promoted to a full-time position as the administration and marketing assistant. In 2011, she was recognized as marketing director. In 2019, she was promoted to vice president of marketing.
Before working for the Hall of Fame, Norris worked for the State of Missouri. She also helped manage her family’s home improvement company, All-Dry of Missouri. Norris graduated from Jefferson City High School and attended both Lincoln University in Jefferson City and Missouri State University.
Springfield Fire Department receives CFAI reaccreditation
The Springfield Fire Department was reaccredited Feb. 27 by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International and Center or Public Safety Excellence. The department earned the accreditation after meeting the criteria established through the CFAI’s voluntary self-assessment and accreditation program.
The department was first accredited in 2009, and this is its fourth reaccreditation cycle as an accredited agency. The accreditation process follows the Quality Improvement for the Fire and Emergency Services manual based on the CFAI model. The manual covers 11 categories of the model, which encompass the full span of fire and emergency service operations. The categories are:
Governance and administration
Assessment and planning
Goals and objectives
Financial resources
Community risk reduction programs
Physical resources
Training and competency
Essential resources
External systems relationship
Health and safety
“Fewer than 1% of fire agencies worldwide are accredited,” said Fire Chief David Pennington. “Thirteen percent of the U.S. population is protected by an accredited fire service agency, and I am proud the citizens of Springfield are among those who are.”
City of Lebanon appoints Harrison as new Chief of Police
Lebanon Mayor Jared Carr and the Lebanon City Council have announced the appointment of Jerry Harrison as the new Chief of Police for the City of Lebanon. Harrison’s appointment, confirmed by the city council on March 11, follows the retirement of Chief Bryan Arnold in the fall of 2023.
Harrison brings 26 years of law enforcement experience to his new role as Chief, according to a press release. He spent seven of those years as Chief for the Independence, Kansas, police department. Harrison has also served on the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police Board of Directors and the Kansas 911 Coordinating Council.
“His dedication to community engagement is evident through his involvement with various committees and task forces aimed at enhancing police transparency, community relations, and public safety,” the release says.
Harrison holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from Missouri Southern State University and a master’s degree in criminology and criminal justice from Missouri State University.
Seven Missouri Kohl’s stores to open Sephora sections in 2024
Kohl’s has announced that it will add small-format Sephora locations to seven Missouri stores by summer 2024, according to a press release. The Missouri-area stores are among approximately 140 stores to build new Sephora shops this year, bringing the total number of Sephora locations at Kohl’s to more than 1000. The project is the latest step in achieving a full Kohl’s chain rollout by 2025.
The Sephora at Kohls experience features 750 square feet of some of the most recognized brands in makeup, skin care, hair care, and fragrances. The shop plans to feature brands such as Rare Beauty, NARS, Charlotte Tilbury, YSL, Amika, Lancôme, Sole de Janeiro, and the Sephora collection.
Sephora shops are planned at Kohl’s stores in the following Missouri cities this summer:
Jefferson City at 715 Stoneridge Blvd.
Lake Ozark at 2455 Goldie Prewitt Memorial Parkway.
Sedalia at 4300 Wisconsin Ave.
Rolla at 2200 N. Bishop Ave.
Independence at 18800 E. 39th St.
Blue Springs at 1280 NE. Coronado Drive.
Branson at 1001 Branson Hills Parkway.
White River Connect now signing up customers for high-speed internet
White River Connect, a subsidiary of White River Valley Electric Cooperative, is signing up customers in parts of Kirbyville and Hollister or its high-speed fiber internet service, according to a press release.
Construction began on White River Connect in June 2023 and is expected to take four years to complete. The project, which will cover more than 4,200 miles of fiber, will provide internet to rural areas of Christian, Douglas, Ozark, Stone, and Taney Counties.
“High-speed internet is no longer a luxury, but a necessity,” said White River Connect CEO Beau Jackson. “We look forward to seeing how having access to fiber internet will improve the lives of our neighbors.”
Residents can visit https://www.whiteriverconnect.com to view the service availability map and sign up for service in those areas. There is also an option to pre-register for areas coming soon. Visit the White River Connect website for more information about White River Valley Electric Cooperative’s fiber-to-the-home project.
Springfield Police Department honors 10 promotions
On March 8, the Springfield Police Department recognized the promotions of 10 sworn officers. The following officers were promoted to Corporal:
Ofc. Steven Hartman
Ofc. David Kenyon
Ofc. Jon Conklin
Ofc. Jacob O’Quinn
Ofc. Ben Chronister
Ofc. Justin Hollingsworth
Ofc. Oliver Hoedel
Ofc. Keith Wright
Ofc. Joseph Pyle
Ofc. Nathan Davis
UMB Private Wealth Management expands leadership team
UMB Bank, a subsidiary of UMB Financial Corp., has announced a new hire and a promotion within Private Wealth Management. Bob Harris has been hired as director of planning and practice development at UMB Bank. He succeeds and reports to Ben Skilling, who was recently promoted to director of sales and delivery.
Harris has 25 years of industry experience in leadership and wealth advisor capacities. He previously worked or Creative Planning as a private wealth manager.
Skilling is now responsible for the strategy and execution of Private Wealth Management’s practice teams. He joined UMB in 2021 and brings more than 20 years of experience in wealth management to the role.
Jack Henry & Associates promotes McLachlan to COO
Jack Henry & Associates announced Monday that Shanon McLachlan, current President of Jack Henry Credit Union Solutions, will become Chief Operating Officer (COO) effective July 1, 2024.
The change will come as Jack Henry President and COO Greg Adelson is elevated to President and Chief Executive Officer on July 1. McLachlan, who will also become a Senior Vice President and executive officer of the company, will continue to report to Adelson.
In the new role, McLachlan will be responsible for all business lines, operations, and infrastructure. He joined Jack Henry in 2015 and worked as Senior Managing Director of ProfitStars before becoming President of Symitar (now Credit Union Solutions) in 2019.
“We will remain focused on innovation and execution and keeping our clients at the center of everything that we do,” McLachlan said in a press release. “Greg has built an outstanding team of talented, driven, and dedicated professionals in the COO organization, and I am honored to collaborate with them as we continue to move out company forward.”
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri Sports Hall of Fame promotes Kari Norris to executive VP
