News about businesses and businesspeople.

Sowell passes exam, receives CPA license

Kellie Ann Sowell, daughter of Ron and Dr. Debra Sowell of Bowling Green, successfully passed the CPA exam and has received a license as a certified public accountant in Kentucky.

Sowell, a 2000 honors graduate of Bowling Green High School, received a bachelor of science degree in accounting in 2004 and a master of business degree administration in 2005, both from the University of Kentucky.

Sowell is a health care staff consultant at BKD, LLP in its Louisville office.

Ransdell reappointed to Fed Reserve branch

Gary A. Ransdell, president of Western Kentucky University, has been reappointed to a three-year term on the board of directors of the Louisville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Ransdell is also a member of the board of directors of the Intermodal Transportation Authority, the Regional Advisory Board of BB&T Bank and the executive committee of the Sun Belt Conference.

With branches in Little Rock, Louisville and Memphis, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis serves the Eighth Federal Reserve District, which includes all of Arkansas, eastern Missouri, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, western Kentucky, western Tennessee and northern Mississippi.

The St. Louis Fed is one of 12 regional reserve banks that, along with the Board of Governors in Washington, D.C., comprise the Federal Reserve System.

Drott appointed to Allstate business unit

John Drott, an Allstate Agent since 2006, has been appointed to represent the products and services of Allstate Workplace Division, a business unit of The Allstate Corp.

The appointment allows him and the Family Protection Group the ability to offer a range of additional insurance products developed to help satisfy individual and family supplemental insurance needs.

Allstate Workplace Division’s supplemental health insurance policies differ from traditional health insurance policies because even though benefits are paid based on a medical event, these benefits can also be used to help offset many of the non-medical costs associated with treatment.

BKD will celebrate 85 years on Jan. 2

In business since 1923, accounting firm BKD will honor Founder’s Day on Jan. 2, marking the firm’s establishment in 1923.

On this date, offices in Kansas City and Joplin became those of Baird, Kurtz & Dobson. Now BKD, LLP ranks as one of the 10 largest CPA and advisory firms in the United States, with net revenues of $318 million and about 1,900 personnel, including about 230 partners, based in 27 offices, including in Warren County, within 11 states in the central United States.

ESB announces new office appointments

John Ward has been appointed county manager of Warren County for ESB. Ward has 22 years of banking experience with 10 years spent with ESB. He is a member of the board of directors for Edmonton State Bank. Ward is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University and resident of southcentral Kentucky for the last 15 years.

Shatana Johnson has joined ESB as a loan officer. Johnson has 12 years of banking experience. She is a graduate of Western Kentucky University and serves as executive officer for the Bowling Green Junior Woman’s Club and Junior Achievement. She is a board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters and Warren County Junior Miss.

Wes Mouser has joined ESB as a loan officer. Mouser is a graduate of Western Kentucky University and has two years of finance and banking experience. He serves as youth director, along with his wife, Whitney, of Seven Springs Cumberland Presbyterian.

Kendra Farley has been named marketing director for ESB. Farley, a Western Kentucky graduate, has seven years of banking experience with BB&T and U.S. Bank and four years marketing experience with Valspar Corp. She is a member of the Bowling Green Junior Woman’s Club and serves on the boards of Family Enrichment Center, Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center, Bowling Green Western Symphony Orchestra and Leadership Bowling Green Alumni Association where she currently serves as treasurer.

Teia Alexander has been appointed assistant branch manager for the Bowling Green branch of ESB. Alexander is a graduate of WKU and has 17 years of banking experience.

Smith gets elected to Colonial States Board

On Oct. 6, Dennis D. Smith, PE, PLS was elected to a two-year term as president of the Colonial States Board of Surveyor Registration at its annual meeting in Lexington. The Colonial States Board provides direction and assistance in regulating the practice of Land Surveying with States’ Licensure Boards. The CSBSR presently serves 21 states. Smith is president and CEO of DDS Engineering, PLLC with offices in Bowling Green and Hopkinsville.

Builders Association installs directors

The Builders Association of South Central Kentucky recently held its installation/awards banquet and announced the following elected 2008 board of directors. Executive officers are President Tim Graham, Design Builders Inc.; 1st Vice President Brent Wimpee, Southern Kentucky Building & Remodeling; 2nd Vice President Quintin Littrell, Sunbelt Construction; Secretary/Treasurer Brad Howard, South Central Bank; and Immediate Past President Darri Pinerola, D&D Contracting.

Registered Builder directors include: Perry Arnold, Russell Brown, Beverly Dalton, Terry Davis, Todd Davis, Peggy Loafman, David Sowders, Dennis Sullivan and Mark Updegraff.

Associate member directors are Mark Alcott, Don Bonner, Vickie Elrod, Vickey Grimsley, Scott Hamilton, David Harrison, Billy Knight, Digby Palmer, Kirk Pierce, Kyle Shrewsbury and Commissioner Bruce Wilkerson and Magistrate Doc Kaelin.

The Builders Association also presented achievement awards. Darri Pinerola of D&D Contracting, was named Builder of the Year and Scott Hamilton of Hill Motley Lumber was named Associate of the Year. These awards were presented in recognition of their ceaseless work toward the betterment of the Association, the building industry and the community.

Other members were recognized for outstanding achievement including the induction of Donnie Brown, Kathy Collier and Trudy Harden into the Builders Association Hall of Fame and the naming of past president Neal Turner as a lifetime member.

— Items for 9-to-5 news may be e-mailed to business reporter Ameerah Cetawayo at acetawayo @bgdailynews.com. Business events may also be submitted to the Daily News’ online calendar at bgdailynews.com.