Top 10
Linn State Technical College Named Top 10 Community College in United States
President Barack Obama recently announced a plan to develop a college ratings system to help students make informed decisions about where they can get the best college education deal. Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics, Bankrate ranked more than 900 public two-year institutions to determine the best schools, and with a 95 percent job-placement rate, Linn State ranked sixth in the lineup.
Formerly Known As
Linn State Technical College Changing Name in 2014
On July 1, 2014, Linn State Technical College will change its name to the State Technical College of Missouri. Students enrolling in fall 2013 will be the first to graduate under the new name. Enrollment at the college represents 80 percent of Missouri counties.
Miracle on 179
St. Mary’s Hospital Construction Project to Open Early
The $200 million, new St. Mary’s Hospital will open ahead of schedule, thanks to steady construction progress and cooperative weather, according to hospital administrators. The new hospital will start receiving patients in November 2014 instead of 2015 as previously planned. Brent VanConia, St. Mary’s CEO, credits favorable weather conditions and efficient, hard-working construction crews for the earlier opening date.
Going Places
Stephanie Bell Awarded Prestigious Rising Star Award
Blitz, Bardgett and Deutsch attorney Stephanie Bell was recently recognized as a Rising Star by Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers 2013 in administrative law. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The Rising Stars list recognizes up-and-coming attorneys, and no more than 2.5 percent of lawyers in each state are named to the list.
Operation Organization
Business Times Co. Welcomes New Director of Sales
The Business Times Co. recently brought on director of sales Erica Pefferman. The new role is responsible for developing revenue for the company and helping with overall operations. Born and raised in a family-owned business in Missouri, Pefferman’s formal education focused on marketing and management, and she’s spent the past 11 years working in local media.
Rock Star
Kas A Designs Joins International Jewelers Group
Kas A Designs announced its membership in the Independent Jewelers Organization, an International Buying Group and educational organization of independent retail jewelers. Kas A Designs will be the area’s exclusive Master IJO Jeweler member.
Sign of Success
WWU Establishes American Sign Language Honor Society
Like many colleges and universities, William Woods University has honor societies for most academic programs; now, the American Sign Language Honor Society will recognize students who achieve in ASL interpreting majors. William Woods is one of about 30 schools in North America that offer a four-year degree in ASL.
Sister Act
Columbia Home Welcomes New Publisher
The Business Times Co. announced Angie Huhman as the new publisher of Columbia Home (sister publication of Jefferson City Magazine). The role is responsible for coordinating events, managing online brands and working to pair local businesses and nonprofits within the Columbia/Jefferson City markets. Huhman earned her marketing degree from William Woods University and has more than 10 years of sales and marketing experience working with traditional media and the latest digital solutions.
New Direction
KRCG Hires News Director from Phoenix
KRCG-TV13 welcomes news director Rob Messer to its team. Born and raised in Phoenix, Messer has worked in Salt Lake City; Green Bay, Wis.; Boise, Idaho; Albuquerque; Tucson, Ariz.; and Phoenix as a producer and a helicopter photographer for five years.
Fairest of Them All
Jefferson City Named Most Beautiful Small Town in America
Jefferson City was recently named the Most Beautiful Small Town in America by Rand McNally’s 2013 Best of the Road Competition. After several weeks of online voting and posting, Rand McNally asked the 30 finalist towns in its 2013 Best of the Road contest to demonstrate why they should be declared the winner in their respective categories. According to judges, “Jefferson City’s essay used colorful language to bring out the beauty and charm of the town, from its proud historical connections to its lovely capitol and other elegant buildings.” See the Best of the Road final results at bestoftheroad.com and Jefferson City’s video tour at vimeo.com/75540280.
Doctor’s Order
St. Mary’s Expands Medical Clinic with New Physician
Dr. Sadia Malik, family medicine physician, has joined the St. Mary’s Medical Clinic in Jefferson City. Prior to joining St. Mary’s, Malik practiced at a family medicine and urgent care clinic in Tennessee. Malik’s specialties include preventive medicine, sports medicine and adolescent medicine.
Science Matters
Two New Faculty Members at WWU
Dr. Timothy Hanrahan, assistant professor of physical education, and Dr. Vern Hart, assistant professor of physics, have joined the Williams Woods University faculty. Hanrahan, who earned his Doctor of Philosophy at Walden University, comes to WWU from Columbia Public Schools, where he was a health and physical education teacher. He is an American Red Cross certified instructor, with additional certificates in first aid and CPR. He also holds lifetime certificates in both physical and health education. Hart, who earned his Ph.D. in physics from Utah State University, has authored numerous refereed journal articles and conference papers and is a member of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, the American Physical Society and Sigma Pi Sigma.
