BUSINESS NOTES
CAREER
Gerber gains promotion to partner
Mark R. Gerber, a certified public accountant at B. Johnson & Assoc., Ltd. was recently promoted to partner at the Brainerd accounting firm.
Gerber, Baxter, graduated from Bemidji State University in December of 2003 with his bachelor's degree in accounting. He moved to Brainerd after accepting a position at B. Johnson & Assoc., Ltd. which began in January of 2004.
SCR owners acquire South-Town Refrigeration
Pat Welty and Mike Fitch, owners of SCR (formerly St. Cloud Refrigeration), acquired South-Town Refrigeration of Golden Valley.
Mid-State Refrigeration of Baxter is an SCR company (referred to as SCR - Northern Division). South-Town Refrigeration will now offer the same services provided through SCR-Central Division in St. Cloud, SCR-Northern Division in Baxter, and SCR-Southern Division in Rochester and Mankato.
Mark Gerber
In a news release, Welty said the decision to acquire South-Town Refrigeration fit the company's growth strategy and allows it to expand its reach as the company has been servicing customers in the metro area for years.
Schubert earns certification
Kristy Schubert, human resource coordinator for the city of Brainerd, recently earned certification as a professional in human resources.
The certification, awarded by the HR Certification Institute, signifies that Schubert possesses the theoretical knowledge and practical experience in human resource management necessary to pass a rigorous examination demonstrating a mastery of the body of knowledge in the field.
IAAP members receive designation
Two members of the Brainerd Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals obtained professional certification.
Shari Fruechte, Little Falls, and Tanya Wiskow, Breezy Point, recently passed the exam to receive the designation of Certified Administrative Professional. This certification is recognized internationally and is the highest designation for the profession. Only 102 administrative professionals in Minnesota hold CAP designation.
Fruechte serves as Atomic Learning Inc. administrative assistant in Little Falls and has more than 10 years of experience in administrative support and customer service positions. She has been a member of IAAP since 2008 and currently serves as chair of the Brainerd Chapter's Public Relations Committee and was a member of the Strategic Planning Committee.
Wiskow currently serves as president-elect of the Brainerd Chapter and has been a member of IAAP since 2008. She chairs the chapter's Membership Committee; co-chairs the Audit Committee; and serves as a member of the Bylaws and Standing Rules Committee, Certification Committee, and Nominations Committee. Wiskow is administrative assistant and benefits administrator at Landecker & Associates Inc. in Pequot Lakes. She is a graduate of The College of St. Scholastica and has more than 15 years of experience in executive, administrative support, and customer service positions.
Two join Tastefully Simple as consultants
Sandi Zummbrunnen, Brainerd, and Diane Crosby, Merrifield, joined Tastefully Simple as independent consultants with the national direct sales company. Consultants, independent business owners, offer food samples at home taste-testing parties along with ideas for recipes for everyday meals.
Smith named employee of the month
LITTLE FALLS - Katy Smith, Little Falls, was named the January employee of the month by the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce's Oustanding Service Committee.
Smith has worked as a waitress for 15 years at the Falls Ballroom. Smith was described as a dedicated, loyal employee who depicted a great attitude.
Balloon artist gains certification
BAXTER - Kelli Mankowski of Party World in Baxter recently earned Certified Balloon Artist status.
Mankowski was one of a select group of balloon professionals who successfully completed a series of tests, including oral and practical examinations. The certification was administered by the Qualatex Balloon Network, a professional organization.
EVENTS
Business networking event planned in Crosby
CROSBY - Scrambled Eggs, a Cuyuna Lakes Chamber of Commerce business networking event, is planned from 8-9 a.m. Wednesday at the Hallett Center in Crosby.
The topic is Chamber 101: Maximize your Chamber Membership with a short presentation by Chamber President Julie Mohs.
The event is open to the public and free to attend. Coffee will be served. RSVP is requested by calling (218) 546-8131.
Friends of Crane Meadows host Friday Morning Coffee
LITTLE FALLS - The Chamber of Commerce in Little Falls' networking event Friday Morning Coffee is planned from 7:30 - 9 a.m. Friday at Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, 19502 Iris Road in Little Falls.
Chamber members, employees and guests are invited. Announcements and introductions will be at 8:15 a.m. Sponsoring the event this month is the Friends of Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.
WORKSHOPS
Welding 48-hour course planned at CLC
The Business and Industry Center at Central Lakes College, Brainerd, has scheduled a 48-hour welding course Jan. 26-March 4 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
It will cover safety, metallurgy, oxy-fuel, arc, MIG/TIG, plasma cutting and more. The course is designed for the beginner and will also allow experienced individuals to build on their existing skills. Upon successful completion of this class, the beginner student will be prepared for an entry-level position in the welding industry. The experienced student will be able to improve skills, or add new methods to abilities.
The fee is $449, including materials. Instructor is Craig Weigel.
The class meets from 5:30-9:30 p.m. in room W100. Registration deadline is Jan. 19. For more information, call (800) 933-0346, extension 8142 or 855-8142.
Business marketing series set for Brainerd, Little Falls
Central Lakes College in Brainerd and Camp Ripley near Little Falls are the sites for a series of four morning business marketing seminars.
Marketing Now features business experts with advice on targeting customers, how much to budget for marketing, what type of advertising works best and more.
Seminars are planned from 8 a.m. to noon and include the same topics at both locations. The event is held on consecutive Tuesdays, Jan. 26 and Feb. 2, 9, and 16 in the Business and Industry Center at CLC in Brainerd. On Thursdays, Jan. 28 and Feb. 4, 11, and 18, the seminar is planned in the Camp Ripley Town Hall.
Presenters are Pat Swarthout of CLC, Kathy Moore of Moore Consulting, and Curt Walczak of the University of Minnesota.
The four seminars in order of date presented are: Jan. 26 or Jan. 28 Marketing in a Changing Climate; Feb. 2 or Feb. 4 The Tools to Market Your Message; Feb. 9 or Feb. 11 E-marketing in the Cyber World; and Feb. 16 or Feb. 18 Gaining the Competitive Advantage.
The four-session package price is $65 per person, including a textbook. Registration deadline is Jan. 19.
Information is available from Cindy Brey at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, 825-6783, cindy.brey@state.mn.us or Jean Mershon at Central Lakes College, 855-8236, jmershon@clcmn.edu.
The eight co-sponsors are CLC, Brainerd Lakes Chamber, DEED, Lakes Area Human resource Association, Little Falls Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Development Center, Little Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Lakes Area Safety and Health Organization.
DONATIONS
Pacesetters lead United Way campaign
The area financial institutions of Bremer Bank, Lakewood Bank, Brainerd Savings & Loan, US Bank, RiverWood Bank, and People's National Bank teamed up this year be United Way's pacesetters for the 2009-20010 community campaign.
Through employee, company, and customer contributions, they were able to raise $12,634 for United Way of Crow Wing & Southern Cass Counties.
Riverwood Foundation funds special sleeper sofa
One of the hospital rooms at Riverwood Healthcare Center got a facelift this winter when Riverwood Foundation made a donation from its hospice fund to pay for a new sofa sleeper.
Riverwood's hospital nursing staff requested the grant in response to feedback from those with critically ill family members who wanted to spend the night with the hospitalized patient.
Funds for the sofa sleeper were provided by the hospice fund, a designated fund at Riverwood Foundation that was set up to support community-related health programs that benefit Riverwood's hospice program and patients. Riverwood Foundation acts as a catalyst to help address wellness and healthcare needs of our communities in a collaborative fashion with Riverwood Healthcare Center, other healthcare providers and public agencies.
Shirley Nolte memorial endowment established
The family of Shirley Nolte Hild recently created a Central Lakes College endowment fund in her memory.
Hild passed away on Oct. 16, 2009 of cancer.
Hild and her husband John moved to their lake home in the Brainerd area after living in Minneapolis over 27 years while raising four children. For most of her life Shirley worked in the dental field, having earned an associate's degree in dental assisting in 1974 at Normandale College.
She began her career as a dental assistant and progressed to an instructor and program director to Dental Assisting programs at the University of Minnesota.
In 1977, she received her bachelor's degree in Dental Assisting Education from the University of Minnesota, and in 1983 she received her M.B.A., in Health Care Management from the University of St. Thomas.
She was a board member of the Minnesota Dental Assisting Association. She wrote curriculum, presented workshops on program development, and was instrumental in working with the state legislature to develop the infection control policy for the State Dental Board.
From 1996 2007 she served on the board of the Cullen Lakes Association.
The earnings from the endowment will be awarded annually to the student with the highest grade point average in Dental Assisting at CLC. The dollars are to be designated for state and national registration fees. The first award will be made to a CLC student for the spring semester 2010.
Annual mitten drive donates warmth
The annual Mitten Drive collected 11 hats, 14 mittens, 23 sets (mittens and hats and/or scarves), and two earmuffs, which were donated to Lowell Elementary School in Brainerd to help keep kids warmer this winter, Peoples National Bank, Brainerd office, reported.
Stonehouse Coffee and Roastery begins program
NISSWA - Stonehouse Coffee and Roastery of Nisswa initiated a program to help show appreciation of those serving in the military abroad.
The program was the idea of Susan Arndt, a customer whose son is a U.S. Army Ranger. The program provides for the purchase and shipping of high quality coffee roasted here in Nisswa to our troops in the Mideast. Stonehouse Coffee and Roastery is donating one pound of coffee for every five ordered with its Roasting for the Rangers Program.