Welcome new member Judith Martinez-Garcia

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Brad Bodenhausen, her cosponsor, introduced Judith on Aug. 24.  Her sponsor is Rachel Walsh.

Judith is an assistant professor of Spanish in the Department of Languages, Cultures, and Religions at Missouri State University.  She also directs the Bear Bridge mentoring program for new faculty members.  She's been a faculty member since 2005.

Judith came to Springfield in 2003 as a graduate student at SMSU (now MSU).  While studying, she also taught foreign languages for one year in Sparta High School and two years at Central High School in Springfield.  She’s also taught in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, and worked for the 
American School Foundation of Monterrey, her hometown.

Judith has many honors and awards for her work at MSU, including a Faculty Research Award and an Outstanding Teaching Award.  Her research topics have included forced migration, violence along the Mexican borders, and Latinx literature.  Her professional affiliations include American Council of Teaching Foreign Languages, Latin American Studies Association, American Comparative Literature Association, Diversity Education Leadership Academy, and Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.

Judith earned a PhD in 2017 in Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies, Hispanic emphasis, at University of Arkansas; a Master’s degree in 2005 in French and Spanish as a Second Language at MSU; and a Bachelor’s degree in 2002 in Law and Social Sciences at Autonomous University of Nuevo León in northern Mexico.

Judith’s community service includes the Hand-in-Hand Multicultural Center and Junior League of Springfield.  She’s a graduate of Leadership Springfield’s Class 42 and a member of the Leadership Springfield board.

Judith and her husband, Jesús Garcia, live in southeastern Springfield and have two sons.  One is a freshman at Grinnell College in Iowa and the other is a Central High School student.

 
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Welcome new member Kimberlee Nevins

Ken Stephens, her father, introduced Kimberlee on Aug. 3.  Her co-sponsor is Brent Dunn.

Kimberlee works with her father at Employee Benefit Design in south Springfield, where she’s an executive account manager.  She advises clients on benefit packages and manages the company’s Sales and Service departments.  She’s been in a managerial position for five years and worked in this field for 10 years.

Kimberlee has lived in Springfield for 33 years.  She earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Missouri State University.  She was a member of Springfield Rotaract Club for a year in 2018 and 2019.  She’s a member of the Springfield Area Human Resources Association, United Benefit Advisors, and the National Association of Underwriters.  Her volunteer service includes Community Blood Center of the Ozarks and Care to Learn.

Kimberlee lives in southeast Springfield with her husband, James, and 4 children.
 

Thank you KY3 and AdSmith Marketing & Advertising
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Welcome new member Dr. Kyle John

Luke Westerman introduced Kyle on July 6.  His co-sponsor is Jason Brown.

Kyle is medical director for The Arc of the Ozark’s new Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center, a job that he started in April.   He previously worked 16 years for the Mercy Health System in Springfield as vice president for Behavioral Health.  He’s been a physician for 25 years.


Kyle grew up in Independence, Mo., in a Rotary family.  Kyle’s father is a past president of the Independence Rotary Club and he attended many Rotary events, even before becoming a member of the Truman High School Interact Club.

Kyle earned his bachelor’s degree and his medical degree at the University of Missouri in Columbia before completing his residencies in psychiatry and child psychiatry at the Mayo Clinic.  He is married to Melissa Bondy, who for 12 years has been Bass Pro’s Corporate Wellness director and Fitness Series director (marathon weekend, Top of the Rock, Dogwood Canyon.)  Kyle says he is often recognized as “Melissa Bondy’s husband.”

Kyle and Melissa have two sons who both graduated from MU.  Brennan earned a Journalism degree and works at Schilling Sellmeyer. Garrett earned a business degree and works for Luke at the Computer Recycling Center.

Kyle and his family attend and volunteer at Holy Trinity Catholic Church and volunteer at Abilities First.  They enjoy downhill skiing, scuba diving, and just about anything exercise related.

 
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