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OzSBI Announces the EPIC 2024, Focused on Missouri Agriculture

Community First Banking Company Board Announces Promotions & AppointmentsOzark Radio News

The Board of Directors for Community First Banking Company, has announced the following promotions and appointments. Ronda Barry and Marilyn Eldringhoff were both promoted to Senior Loan Administrators. Barry has 38 years of banking experience with the last 18 spent at Community First in consumer loan processing. Eldringhoff has 48 years of bank experience and the last 18 have also been spent at Community First in real estate loan processing. Ruth Li-Whittington, has been named Vice President of IT and Compliance for Community First. She joined the bank in 2015, after working for Heights Finance Corporation, a consumer finance company in West Plains, for 4 years. Li-Whittington has an associate's degree in Criminal Justice from Drury University and graduated from the ABA and MBA Schools of Compliance. She currently serves as Treasurer for United Way of the Ozarks and volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for the 37th Judicial District. Chrys Fisher, Advisory Director was appointed as Full Director of Community First. Fisher was born in Oklahoma, raised in Texas, and spent most of his adult life in rural Missouri. He attended Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri and later graduated from Vermont Law School with a dual degree JD/MSL magna cum laude. He was licensed to practice law in Missouri in 1995. Since 1997, Fisher has tried many cases before both judge and jury in south central Missouri. He has argued numerous appeals before the Southern District Court of Appeals and the Missouri Supreme Court. He contributes his time on a pro bono basis to several local organizations seeking to make a positive difference in the greater Ozarks area. Fisher is married to his wife Heather and they have two sons - Owen (20) a President's award and legal scholar recipient attending Elon University in North Carolina, and George (17) a junior participating in varsity wrestling and concert choir at West Plains High School. Erik Montgomery, Advisory Director was appointed as Full Director of Community First. Montgomery is a native of and business leader in Willow Springs with a history of service to the local community. He attended Missouri State University in West Plains and then Springfield, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship in 2000. Montgomery is president of Fuel Marketing Corporation and vice president of Coastal Energy and FMC Transport Inc. As part of the family business, Montgomery recently launched commercial developments including Bear Crossing Shopping Center and Bear Crossing Truck Wash & Tire Center. He is a current member of the Willow Springs Chamber of Commerce and serves as vice chair for the City of Willow Springs Tax Increment Finance Commission. Montgomery, and his wife, Katie attend Pomona Christian Church along with their two daughters and make their home on the family farm outside Willow Springs. Rob Hawkins has been named an Advisory Director to the Board of Directors of Community First. He is a native of West Plains and graduated from MSU with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. He is a partner in the CPA firm Hawkins, Yarber & Chambers and has been practicing public accounting for over 25 years. Rob currently serves on the board of Ozarks Christian Academy and the Missouri Baptist Foundation. He is a member of First Baptist Church in West Plains and the noon Rotary Club. He and his wife Stephanie reside in West Plains and have two daughters Andria and Rachel. Daniel McKinney, Vice President & Commercial Lender at Community First has been also been named an Advisory Director to the Board of Directors. McKinney joined Community First in 2012 in Deposit Operations. He later was promoted to Vice President and Commercial Lender. McKinney is a native of West Plains and graduated from West Plains High School. He has an Associate's Degree in General Studies from Missouri State University and graduated from the Missouri Banker's School of Lending and Advanced School of Lending. He is also a 2020 graduate of the Missouri Banker's Bank Leadership Missouri program. "We are pleased to have people of this caliber working for our bank and serving on our board" said board chairman, Clyde Stewart, Jr. "You won't find more qualified and dedicated individuals".

Newt Brill Retires from Community First Banking Company Board of Directors, New Directors NamedOzark Radio News

West Plains, Mo. - The Board of Directors, for Community First Banking Company, has announced that after 25 years, Newt Brill has retired as an active Board Director and been named Director Emeritus. Brill began his service as a Bank Director in 1966 with First National Bank. In the summer of 1997, he and several other influential business people saw the need for a locally owned community bank that cared about their employees, customers, and communities. He was instrumental in the organization of Community First. His leadership and guidance have been invaluable to the board and the bank. Traci Wiley has joined the board as a Full Director. Wiley has served as an Advisory Director since 2020. She is the owner of Wiley Insurance Agency LLC and is a lifelong resident of West Plains. Wiley has served the insurance needs of the community and all of Missouri and Arkansas for over 29 years. Besides currently serving as a Community First Bank Director, she was appointed in 2019, by Governor Parsons to the Missouri Fire Education and Advisory Commission, which oversees and provides training to all fire departments across the state. She also serves in the SCOCOG/SCOCIC- well water loan board, and The West Plains Lions Club, past president and current member, The Amelia Network Advisory board for promoting women in business in our local area, and she sits on several Advisory panels for the Insurance Industry. Wiley has also served 2- 3 year terms on the Richards School board, and community coalitions/advisory panel for WPHS, all while being an passionate advocate for quality education in our area and was a previous West Plains Community Foundation /Board member and Treasurer- which fundraised and provided local grants for non for profit entities. Traci has been married to Todd Wiley, owner of Wiley Fence for 30 years. They have two grown children, John and Jayden, and daughter in law Abbigail. They love to vacation together and spend time at Norfork Lake. Chrys Fisher and Erik Montgomery have joined the board as Advisory Directors. Chrys Fisher was born in Oklahoma, raised in Texas, and spent most of his adult life in rural Missouri. He attended Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri and later graduated from Vermont Law School with a dual degree JD/MSL magna cum laude. He was licensed to practice law in Missouri in 1995. Since 1997, Fisher has tried many cases before both judge and jury in south central Missouri. He has argued numerous appeals before the Southern District Court of Appeals and the Missouri Supreme Court. He contributes his time on a pro bono basis to several local organizations seeking to make a positive difference in the greater Ozarks area. Fisher is married to his wife Heather and they have two sons - Owen (19) a pre law major attending Elon University in North Carolina, and George (16) a sophomore at West Plains High School. Erik Montgomery is a native of and business leader in Willow Springs with a history of service to the local community. He attended Missouri State University in West Plains and then Springfield, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship in 2000. Montgomery is president of Fuel Marketing Corporation and vice president of Coastal Energy and FMC Transport Inc. As part of the family business, Montgomery recently launched commercial developments including Bear Crossing Shopping Center and Bear Crossing Truck Wash & Tire Center. He is a former member of the Missouri State University-West Plains development board, along with Willow Springs Rotary Club. He is a past board member and current member of the Willow Springs Chamber of Commerce; he is vice chair for the City of Willow Springs Tax Increment Finance Commission. Current service efforts also include service on the State of Missouri's Career and Technical Education (CTE) Advisory Committee, along with the CTE Oversight Committee in Willow Springs. This local committee is a partnership between the Willow Springs Community Foundation, the Willow Springs R-IV School District, and the City of Willow Springs, designed to bring vocational opportunities to the community. Montgomery, his wife, and two daughters make their home on the family farm outside Willow Springs. When he isn't at work, he enjoys spending time outside working around the house and farm. He also collects classic cars and baseball memorabilia. attends Pomona Christian Church with his family, and works consistently with many local charities in the area.

Local News: Area students compete in MSU-WP Workforce Development first welding competition (4/13/22)

McDonalds Recognizes Local West Plains Owner, Andi-Hilburn Vaini as Part of International Women's DayOzark Radio News

West Plains, MO. - As today is International Women's Day, McDonalds is taking part in the celebration by recognizing local owner of 14 different McDonalds restaurants, Andi-Hilburn Vaini. Andi has raised, through various events and efforts, over $220,000 dollars to Ronald McDonald House Charities. Just this past month, her restaurants raised over $24,000 for RMHC through their annual Share a Heart campaign for 2022. Andi has recently concluded her leadership role for the W.O.N. (Women's Owner Network) with McDonald's, supporting and mentoring current McDonald's women owners and future women owners within the franchisee system. Her most recent experience leading others successfully was as the Missouri McDonald's co-op President from 2016-2021. She has served in the past on the Ronald McDonald House of the Ozarks board, the West Plains Chamber of Commerce board and currently serves on the Community First Banking Company board. Recent awards Andi Hilburn-Vaini has received include: • Missouri Sports Hall of Fame | Athletic Inductee 2022 • Distinguished Zizzer of the Year Alumni Award | West Plains School District 2021 • Humanitarian of the Year | West Plains Chamber of Commerce 2019

West Plains Chamber announces Christmas Parade winnersOzark Radio News

The sun came out this year for the annual West Plains Chamber of Commerce "Angels of Christmas" Parade which started at 4:00 p.m. The "Angels" serving as the official Grand Marshals leading the Christmas parade were Dr. Morgan, Dr. McGee, Monica Oaks and Glenda Ketner. Our very own Healthcare Angels! Dr. Charles Morgan is a board-certified oncologist and hematologist at Ozarks Healthcare's Cancer Treatment Center. Dr. Morgan has cared for patients at Ozarks Healthcare for 25 years. William "Andy" McGee is a board-certified thoracic surgeon at Ozarks Healthcare's Heart and Lung Center. Dr. McGee also serves as Ozarks Healthcare's Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and has been a part of the organization for the past seven years. Monica Oaks is a mammogram technologist at Ozarks Healthcare's Cancer Treatment Center. Monica believes she was called to pursue a career in mammography and is passionate about educating women about the importance of early screenings. Monica has been a part of Ozarks Healthcare for the last 24 years. Glenda Kentner is a mammogram technologist at Ozarks Healthcare's Cancer Treatment Center. Glenda helps conduct approximately 25 mammograms per day at Ozarks Healthcare, which adds up to approximately 4,000 screenings a year. Glenda has been caring for patients at Ozarks Healthcare for the past 27 years. The Grand Marshals traveled in the Toyota Tacoma that will be raffled off as a fund raiser for the Ozarks Healthcare mobile mammography unit on Christmas Eve. The West Plains High School band, lead by longtime Director Rocky Long, set a festive mood with Christmas music selections. All Bands participating in the parade were sponsored by Ozarks Healthcare, Three C's Studio & Flower Market and Ramona Heiney- State Farm Insurance. Entries that chose to be included in the judging process were graded on originality, workmanship and relevance to the theme. The judges' top picks were: The $350 Arlee Home Fashions Overall Grand Prize awarded to Ozarks Healthcare. The $300 AirMedCare Network 1st Place Commercial Prize awarded to Southern MO Community Health Center. The $200 Hirsch Feed & Farm Supply of West Plains 2nd Place Commercial Prize awarded to Outpost Motorsports. The $300 Brown Furniture 1st Place Religious Prize awarded to His Act Drama Team. The $200 Don's Auto Service 2nd Place Religious Prize awarded to China Union Church. The $300 West Plains Optimist Club 1st Place Miscellaneous Prize awarded to the 37th Judicial CASA. The $200 Community First Banking Company 2nd Place Miscellaneous Prize awarded to MSU-West Plains Agriculture Club. Chamber Executive Director, Jessica Collins, thanked our long-time volunteers Steve Gleghorn, Kevin Gleghorn, Ramona Heiney, Greg Collins and Bryan Adcock. You all are the glue! Thank you to the parade judges and all of our volunteers, sponsors and contributors. "Their kindness is the reason this event continues to be a wonderful part of the holiday season", adding, this year's Parade sponsors also included: Butler Heating & Air, Simmons Bank, Mega Motorsports, Outpost Motorsports, Ozarks Coca-Cola, Penmac Staffing Services, Andy & Judy Ingalsbe, Towne & Country Lighting, West Plains Occupational & Insurance Physicals, Brill Title Company, Southern Bank and Heart of the Ozarks Medical Equipment. Thank you! Collins thanked everyone at Outpost Motorsports and Mega Motorsports for the use of their off-road vehicles. "It has been a very difficult year with supply chain issues and these businesses came through for us, and we really cannot thank them enough!" Collins also thanked all those who entered floats in the parade and noted; "A special thanks has to go out to the West Plains Police and Fire Departments, all area Emergency Services, the Missouri Highway Patrol, the Howell County Sheriff's Department and the West Plains City Workers. Their dedication to this event ensures everyone's safety". A special shoutout to our good friend Corby Redburn for always staying on top of everything parade related! You rock! "Thank you to ALL of the volunteers working in the parade!". Collins added "We thank the community for their continued support of this annual event and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!"

OzSBI to host women's professional seminar this AprilOzark Radio News

WEST PLAINS, MO – The Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) will host Alia Stowers, certified leadership consultant and Gallup-certified strengths coach, this April for an educational seminar for women professionals. “For Women: Thriving in Change” is sponsored by Business Women First, a project of Community First Banking Company. Stowers will present “For Women: Thriving in Change” on Friday, April 16, 2021, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at OzSBI. Women from all professions are invited to register to attend and gain a greater understanding of how to succeed in the midst of changing times. Did you know that 70% of change initiatives fail? They may even seem successful at the time of implementation, but getting a change initiative to STICK can be challenging. In this session, learn the biggest obstacles and change in an organization, and how to overcome those. You will discover the 5 Guiding Principles of Change and how to apply those to major change initiatives or culture changes you are attempting in your workplace. Join us to learn the formula for success in change!