Rotary Club of Springfield Southeast

Welcome new member Keith LaFerriere

Bill McNeill introduced Keith on June 18. His cosponsor is Brent Baldwin.

Keith is a retired surgeon who also served as a clinical professor of surgery at University of Missouri, trained plastic surgeon residents in Springfield, and directed a Fellowship program in plastic surgery at MU.

Keith grew up in Detroit, earned his undergraduate degree at University of Michigan and his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School. He completed his residency at Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. After a two-year stint in the Air Force, Major Laferriere settled in Springfield in 1979 and went on to build an accomplished career in otolaryngology -- head and neck surgery -- with particular expertise in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. He retired in 2015.

Keith published many peer reviewed articles and book chapters on facial plastic surgery and made hundreds of presentations on surgical techniques not only in the United States but also around the world. He served as president of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and as vice president of the International Federation of Facial Plastic Surgery Societies.

Keith has served on numerous boards, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Burrell Center, the Discovery Center, the Ozark Tech Foundation, and the Drew Lewis Foundation. He currently volunteers at Crosslines in its Reading Buddy and Safe to Sleep programs.

Keith and his wife, Randy, have been married for 59 years and live in south Springfield. They enjoy spending time with the families of their son, two daughters and four grandchildren.

Welcome new member Steven Belden

Logan Aguirre introduced Steve on June 4. His cosponsor is Gary Whitaker.

Steve is managing partner of AMP Recreation, part of A.M.P Commercial (Asset Management Professionals). The company, which was formed in 2025, runs Scratch & Co., The Daily Blend, and Sunshine Events Center in the Plaza Towers District at the corner of Sunshine Street and Glenstone Avenue, and has plans for another restaurant and a comedy club in 2026. Steve previously worked for 12 years for O’Reilly Hospitality Management, including 10 years as general manager of Houlihan’s, directed food and beverage operations at Big Cedar Lodge and Top of the Rock, and oversaw multiple locations of Bricktown Brewery. Before that, he managed Famous Dave’s restaurants in Branson and Springfield.

Steven graduated from Watertown High School and State University of New York (SUNY) Oneonta, where he studied the music industry. He’s been in Springfield for 16 years.

Steven has volunteered with Isabel’s House and the Missouri Restaurant Association. He and his wife of 14 years, Christina, live in east Springfield and have three children: Virginia Rosse (5), Victoria (12) and Anthony (14).

Giveaway Day 2026

The Rotary Club of Springfield Southeast presented checks totaling $35,000 to eight local non-profit organizations on May 21, 2026. The Springfield Southeast Endowment, now grown to $800,000, made it possible to support nonprofits serving children, foster families, and those in recovery.

“This isn’t just a ceremony — it’s a celebration of impact,” said Dr. Steve Rice, chair of the Endowment Board. “These grants are such a blessing for the recipient nonprofits, and every dollar goes to truly changing lives in a positive way, right here in the Ozarks.”

Grant recipients this year include:

$5,000 to The Kitchen – Housing placement costs, including transportation, for homeless youth
$5,000 to CASA – Replace worn basketball goal; install gates & lights at CASA Clubhouse playground
$5,000 to Child Advocacy Center – Curriculum & student materials for school-based prevention education
$5,000 to Discovery Center – Purchase dinosaur sculptures, filled with concrete, for permanent protective barriers
$5,000 to ARC of the Ozarks – Purchase platform to support therapy goals related to strength & balance
$4,400 to Shady Dell Early Childhood – Provide STEM opportunities & activities in the outdoor classroom
$3,600 to Cross Trail Outfitters – Purchase ADA accessible outdoor blind for use by individuals with disabilities
$2,000 to Women’s Medical Respite - Purchase of chair lift for use by convalescing homeless women at a shelter in Springfield

Launched in 2016, spearheaded by then- President, Rick Van Pelt, with the goal of providing perpetual funding to combat poverty, hunger, abuse, and inequality in our region, the Springfield Southeast Rotary Endowment annual grant cycle now serves as both a giving tradition and a reminder of Rotary’s commitment to building a stronger, safer Springfield.

Members and recipients filled the room with cheers and the percussive rattle of "clappers" as representatives for each nonprofit came forward for its check. A bonus $500 went to whichever recipient brought the most creative celebration to the moment—judged by President Jennifer Baker, Past President Brent Dunn, and Jim Towery.

Presenting the checks were Past Presidents Lisa Blumenstock, Dr. Steve Rice, and Rick Van Pelt. Luke Westerman kept the program moving as Master of Ceremonies, while Jason Hynson brought his signature energy as "Court Jester"—nobody rallies a room quite like Jason. Brent Dunn closed out the evening with a look ahead at where this milestone could take us.

The participants in the program, including the grant recipients, gathered for a photograph afterwards. [Photo and text by Dan Emrie]

Welcome new member Shane Cowger

Rusty Worley introduced Shane on May 7. His cosponsor is Jennifer Baker.

Shane has been president and chief executive officer of Arvest Bank’s Springfield region since December 2025. He’s been with Arvest for 27 years, beginning in Joplin before moving to Miami, Okla., then Siloam Springs, Ark., and then Springfield in July 2011.

Shane graduated from Missouri Southern State with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing. He was a member of Joplin Sunrise Rotary Club from 2000 – 2003. He serves on the boards of the Barnabas Foundation, United Way Ozarks Region, and Leaders for Ozarks Region Evolvement (LORE), which is a nonprofit organization that brings together business and civic leaders to address critical challenges across Southwest Missouri, focusing on workforce attraction, community quality of life, and regional identity.

Shane and his wife, Toni, live in Battlefield and will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary this November. She is a community nurse for the Springfield - Greene County Health Department. They have four children: Kori (married to Josh McCutcheon), Maggie, Davis, and Josie. Kori and Maggie are both teachers at Bingham Elementary, Josh teaches at Kickapoo High, Davis finished his freshman year at Missouri State University in May, and Josie is a sophomore at Kickapoo.

Shane is an avid golfer and a member of Hickory Hills Country Club. He has also been a soccer referee for 12 years, officiating at both the high school and collegiate levels.

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Welcome new member Sam Blaine

Luke Westerman introduced Sam on April 23. His cosponsor is David Compere.

Sam has been the general manager for the Springfield office of Atronic Alarms, a company based in Lenexa, Kan., since March 2026. He previously worked for Security Equipment, Inc., in Kansas City for three-and-a-half years and for Atlas Security Service for 23 years, starting as a technician, then sales, and then sales manager.

Sam was born in Springfield, graduated from Hillcrest High School and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice at Drury University.

Sam’s community service includes working with children in Kidstreet at High Street Baptist Church, and volunteering with One Sole Purpose, which provides shoes for children, Convoy of Hope, and the Child Advocacy Center. He is a previous member of Springfield Southeast Rotary Club and has belonged to two other clubs in different cities.

Sam and his wife, Natalie, have been married since 1999 and live in east Springfield. They have four children:
Drew and his wife, Cori; Pete, and his wife, Ashley; Emily; and Lewis, and a grandson, Scottie, born in late 2025. He loves to hang out with friends and family, being outdoors hiking and exploring, playing soccer, Chiefs football, watching movies and various shows.

Welcome new member Nikki Rorabaugh

Lauren Southern introduced Nikki on April 23. Her cosponsor is Carrie Henry.

Nikki is the Membership Development manager for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, where she’s worked for nearly five years. She’s in charge of membership recruitment and retention. She’s also worked as a travel planner for Magical Vacations, director of development at Central Christian School in St. Louis, associate director of development at Washington University in St. Louis, membership director for the Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce in Montana, and as a training consultant and instructor for Dale Carnegie Training in Bozeman and St. Louis.

Nikki has lived in Springfield for 20 years. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences at Central Methodist College in Fayette.

Nikki’s community service includes church mission work and serving as a worship leader at Northside Christian Church. She’s also volunteered with Special Olympics, her neighborhood social committee, and the Ozarks Lyric Opera Board of Directors.

Nikki also recently appeared in a local production of The Sound of Music. She enjoys spending time outdoors, especially hiking and kayaking, and takes advantage of any opportunity to go cross-country skiing when there’s enough snow. Nikki and her husband, Jared, have two children, Maya and Bryce.

District 6080