People On The Move

July 11,2008

Hirings

Mike Downing

Mike Downing has joined Missouri CORE Partnership as its executive director. The Missouri CORE Partnership is a 12-county initiative designed to enhance the economic potential of the region by increasing job growth and generating taxable revenues.

Downing has 26 years of experience with the Missouri Department of Economic Development. He most recently served as co-director for the DED division of business and community services. Downing was also co-chair of the 2006-2007 Missouri Interdepartmental Coordination Council on Job Creation and Economic Growth, and 2005 chair of the Governor's Business Incentives Review Committee for Missouri. He is a certified economic developer. He earned bachelor's degrees in business administration, recreation, health and physical education from Arkansas State University and a master's degree in public administration from the University of Missouri.

The YouZeum, an interactive health science center, hired Jennifer Fenwick as its new education director. Previously, Fenwick taught eighth grade science in Jefferson City and served as an outreach coordinator at the California Science Center. She will be responsible for developing and managing school, community, outreach and public education programs.

Brad Jenks

Brad Jenks has been named the new director of development for annual and planned giving for Columbia College. Previously the director of annual giving, Jenks will continue to oversee the college's annual giving program. In his new role, he also will direct a comprehensive marketing campaign for planned giving. Before joining Development and Alumni Services, Jenks was assistant athletic director for Columbia College. Jenks received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Columbia College in 2000 and a master's degree in business administration from Baker University (Kansas) in 2004.

Promotions

Michelle Zvanut

Michelle Zvanut was promoted to vice-president of human resources at Boone Hospital Center. Several departments will report to her, including human resources, training and development, employee health, customer relations, spiritual care services and security services. Zvanut began working at Boone Hospital in 1998 as a social worker on the medical unit. She moved to customer relations in 2000, when she was recognized as the hospital's Leader of the Year. In 2004, she was promoted to director of patient and employee services.

Appointments

Two new members have joined the board of directors for the non-profit organization Access Arts. Visionworks Marketing & Communications owner and president Lili Vianello will contribute her marketing and strategic planning skills to promote Access Arts on the board of directors. Andrea Heiss, director of the Art-in-Depth Program at the University of Missouri, will also work to promote the program in the community from the board position. Heiss is also on the University of Missouri School of Journalism faculty as assistant professor of magazine journalism.

Honors

M. Frederick Hawthorne, director of the University of Missouri International Institute of Nano and Molecular Medicine, will receive the 2009 Priestly Medal, the highest American Chemical Society honor. The ACS has 160,000 members and awards the medal to someone who demonstrates distinguished service in the field of chemistry. The award recognizes Hawthorne's work on the chemistry of the element Boron. Hawthorne has taught at the University of California-Riverside, UCLA and MU. The award will be presented to Hawthorne at the Spring 2009 American Chemical Society meeting where he will speak about his work.

Columbia received an Outstanding Achievement Award in the energy source category for small cities at the 2008 Mayors' Climate Protection Awards ceremony in Miami, Fla. Mayor Darwin Hindman accepted the award, which recognizes Columbia's Biogas Energy Plant. A panel of judges evaluated applications based on mayoral leadership, creativity and innovation, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and/or improved quality of life. Columbia's Biogas Energy Plant can produce enough electricity to power 1,500 homes using methane and other landfill gases.

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