KWTO adds mid-Missouri morning show, Guaranty Bank names new president

Zimmer adds Columbia-based ‘Wake-Up Missouri’ to Springfield airwaves

KWTO-AM, the Springfield news/talk radio outlet owned and operated by Zimmer Communications, is adding the “Wake Up Missouri” morning program to its lineup. The program, based at KSSZ-FM in Columbia, is also simulcast on KWOS-AM in Jefferson City. The show features host Randy Tobler, a long-time practicing physician and award-winning broadcaster; attorney Stephanie Bell; an award-winning news staff including Brian Hauswirth, John Marsh, and Don Louzader; and Central Methodist University student and producer Drake Whitman.

“We are excited to take what has been an extremely successful program in Mid-Missouri and bring it to an even broader audience,” said Zimmer Communications Operations Manager Chris Carson, in a news release. “The team’s ability to explore local, state, and national stories through diverse lenses — from generational to gender-based perspectives — resonates with listeners of all backgrounds across the state.”

Listeners can catch “Wake-Up Missouri” weekday mornings from 6a-9a on KWTO at 93.3 on FM and 560AM.

Guaranty Bank names Becky Scorse president

Guaranty Bank’s Board of Directors announced the appointment of Becky Scorse as the organization’s new president, effective immediately.

Scorse has more than 25 years of commercial banking experience in the Springfield market. Since joining Guaranty Bank, she has served as chief lending officer, a position she has held since 2014. Under her leadership, the bank has experienced significant growth, increasing its assets from $500 million to over $2 billion.

Scorse currently serves on the Board of the Developmental Center of the Ozarks and has previously supported organizations such as United Way of the Ozarks, American Cancer Society, and Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks. As president, she will continue her responsibilities as chief lending officer, overseeing the Commercial Lending, Consumer Lending, and Treasury Management teams.

Lost & Found Grief Center marks 25 years

In 2000, Lost & Found Grief Center became the first organization in southwest Missouri to provide no-cost, professional therapeutic grief support to children and their families. In 2025, the organization is commemorating 25 years of providing help, hope, and healing to bereaved children, families, and adults through therapeutic grief support groups.

Founded by Dr. Karen Scott, a former school counselor, and local attorney Shawn Askinosie, Lost & Found held its first group sessions in Askinosie’s Springfield law offices. The need for grief therapy grew, and by 2006, Lost & Found moved to the Conor House, named after Conor Foster, who died at the age of 4. In the Conor House, Lost & Found expanded its offerings to include adults, not just children and their families. In 2015, Lost & Found continued to grow when it moved to its current location at 1555 S. Glenstone Ave.

In addition to no-cost therapeutic grief support groups, Lost & Found also offers fee-based individual counseling. Over 25 years, the organization has served more than 25,000 people with those and other services.

Central Bank announces new managers

Central Bank announced the promotion of long-time team member Karen Neff to banking center manager, as well as the hiring of Jessica Simmons as a new loan operations manager.

Neff, formerly an assistant branch manager, was promoted to retail officer and banking center manager of the South National branch of Central Bank of the Ozarks. In her sixth year with the team, Neff began her time at Central Bank as a teller at Glen Isle after 20 years of restaurant management. When she isn’t at the front lines of her branch, Neff can be found volunteering with Ozarks Food Harvest.

Central Bank also added a new department lead, welcoming Simmons as manager of loan operations. With more than eight years of experience in the finance industry, much spent in subprime finance for consumer installment loans, Simmons’ experience also includes time spent in the mortgage industry where she oversaw a team in an end-to-end loan process. She has a bachelor’s degree in business from Missouri State University.

Catholic Charities announces regional leadership change

Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri is pleased to announce that Jeremy Rowland, former chief regional officer, assumed the role of chief program operations officer in November. Based in Cape Girardeau, Rowland will provide senior-level oversight of all programs across the agency’s 39-county service area.

Rowland joined CCSOMO as the regional director in 2020 and has since made significant contributions to the agency. Over the last four years, he provided insightful management of the Developmental Disability Services program on the east side of the state and has contributed to multiple updates that have increased organizational efficiency, allowing for expanded service capacity. The chief regional officer role will not be refilled.

Ives joins OMB Treasury Services

OMB Bank announced that Deziree Ives has joined its Treasury Services team as a treasury services officer.

Ives has two years of banking experience, beginning her career as a retail relationship banker for Bank of Montreal in Leawood, Kansas, before joining Simmons Bank in 2024 as an assistant financial center manager. In her new role, Ives will work closely with local businesses to provide customized cash management and treasury solutions tailored to their unique financial needs. She will also focus on fostering client relationships and ensuring a seamless banking experience through OMB’s innovative financial strategies and dedicated local support.

Powell inducted into mediation group

Retired Greene County judge Mark Powell has been inducted into the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, a professional association whose membership consists of alternative dispute resolution professionals distinguished by their hands-on experience in the fields of civil and commercial conflict resolution.

Powell retired as a judge in May 2023 and started Mark Powell Mediation LLC in June 2023. He was appointed Associate Circuit Court Judge for the Thirty-First Judicial Circuit of Missouri in 2000 and held the position for 23 years. Prior to taking the bench, he practiced law for fifteen years with the firm of Miller and Sanford P.C., which later merged with Lathrop & Gage L.C.

Since founding Mark Powell Mediation in 2023, he has mediated more than 100 cases. His services include mediation, arbitration, early neutral evaluation, mini-trials, and summary jury trials. He has also been appointed as special master in high conflict cases.