Business notes

CAREER

Monica Nieman is joining United Way of Crow Wing and Southern Cass Counties as the executive director.

Nieman has been the marketing coordinator for the Brainerd Dispatch and has experience in marketing, public relations and event coordination.

Wesp joins Hopkins Health & Wellness in Pequot Lakes

PEQUOT LAKES - J.P. Wesp, Pequot Lakes native, joined Hopkins Health & Wellness Lakes Area, an integrated chiropractic, physical therapy and wellness clinic, as a new physical therapist.

Wesp graduated from the physical therapy program at the University of Minnesota in 1988 and has been practicing in the Pequot Lakes and Brainerd areas. He is especially interested in orthopedics, which has been the focus of his continuing education.

Palmer becomes bank vice president

Mid-Central Federal Savings Bank, with locations in Wadena, Staples, and Long Prairie, announces Mike Palmer is the bank's newest vice president.

Palmer, Staples, has worked for Mid-Central since 2007 and has more than 30 years banking experience. He currently manages commercial and agricultural loans for all three branches.

Sprint store has new owners

The Brainerd/Baxter Sprint store has been purchased by a Minnesota group called Allstate wireless from Alexandria.

All-State Wireless is owned and operated by Jim Boisclair and Mike Luek with stores in Alexandria, Fergus Falls, Wadena, Fargo and now Baxter.

Sprint has designated All State Wireless as a preferred Ready Now dealer, one of only three such designations in the state of Minnesota.

Carkhuff joins Nystrom & Associates

BAXTER - Nancy Carkhuff, licensed alcohol and drug counselor, recently joined Nystrom & Associates.

Carkhuff was previously program manager for Correctional Transition Services, Transformation House, Anoka, Aurora/Four Winds, Brainerd.

Killeaney named top sales adviser

FORT RIPLEY - Jilleen Killeaney, Fort Ripley, was named a top sales adviser by lia sophia, the fashion jewelry business.

Killeaney gained top honors as part of the company's Excellent Beginners Program Achievers for outstanding sales accomplishments and professionalism. Killeaney earned the award in the first 15 weeks by attaining certain sales levels and sharing the company with other new advisers.

Marco employees gain stock benefits

Eligible Marco employees received $2.3 million in stock benefits last year, the company recently reported.

"The employee-owned technology company made strategic changes that allowed the firm to finish 2009 with strong profits to distribute an average of more than $10,300 per eligible employee," Marco reported, adding it had a positive financial performance and kept its stock value strong despite the recession and a decrease in revenue. Marco has offices in Brainerd. Marco reported its employees received more than $17 million in company stock since the company became employee-owned in 1989 and Marco became 100 percent employee owned in 2001.

Birkeland asked to attend event

Rob Birkeland, owner-partner with Larson Group Real Estate Shores & More, was asked to attend the 10th anniversary of the Top 30 Under 30 event at the National Association of Realtors headquarters in Chicago.

Birkeland was selected as one of the Top 30 Under 30 in 2001. The Top 30 Under 30 referred to real estate agents 30 years and younger selected by the National Association of Realtors.

Johnson earns short sale certification

Jolaine Johnson, a Pine River resident and Edina Realty sales associate, earned her Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource certification, a sales training course offered by the National Association of Realtors.

WSN names business development director

Joe Breiter recently joined Widseth Smith Nolting as business development director.

Breiter has 20 years of marketing communications experience in the architecture, engineering, construction, government, health care and human services industries. Before joining WSN, Breiter was a principal of Breiter Marketing, a business-to-business marketing, advertising and public relations firm.

Kavanaugh elected to second term

Dan Kavanaugh, a co-owner of Weichert, Realtors Tower Properties in Brainerd, has been elected president of Weichert Minnesota/Western Wisconsin Broker Council for 2010.

This is his second term as council president and his third year as an officer. He served as vice president in 2008.

Kavanaugh will lead council activities for Weichert affiliates offices from the two-state area. The franchise organization includes some 300 offices in 35 states from coast to coast.

Weichert Realtors Tower Properties names top agents

The Weichert, Realtors Tower Properties annual awards event was a two-day celebration for the entire staff and sales team from the Brainerd office at The Lodge where a rally and banquet feted three top agents for 2009 performance.

Joel Hartman was the company's "Sales Agent of the Year," the top producer. Brett Streiff, with outstanding sales records in 2009, earned the title of "Rookie of the Year." Carolyn Olson was the recipient of the company's annual "Weichert Pride Award" presented to her "in recognition of selflessness in helping forward the company," said Sales Manager Jerry Moore.

EVENTS

BNNA meeting set for Tuesday

The Brainerd Northside Neighborhood Association will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the First Congregational Church.

The meeting will be in Meeting Room 1 on the second floor. Participants are asked to use the entrance by the parking lot. The speaker will be Jeff Hulsether, Brainerd city engineer. Hulsether will discuss proposed projects for the northside. All northside residents and business owners are welcome.

Dine and Discover event planned Wednesday

PIERZ - Paul Froncak from Morrison County Veterans Services will discuss veteran's benefits and a representative from Senior LinkAge Line will be help participants understand how to utilize them as a resource from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Horizon Health's Community Room in Pierz.

Other topics that we will cover include scams and identify theft, vulnerable adult information and so much more.

A free-will donation will be accepted for this seminar and lunch, but registration is required. Please call Horizon Health at (320) 468-6451 or (800) 224-6451 before Monday.

MMBA membership meeting planned Tuesday

The next general membership meeting of the Mid-Minnesota Builders Association begins at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Grand View Lodge with guest speaker Marv Koep.

The meeting is sponsored by First Supply.

The event includes a 5:30 p.m. social hour with 6:30 p.m. dinner and a 7:15-8:30 p.m. program.

Administrative Professionals event planned Thursday

Brainerd Chapter of International Association of Administrative Professionals is hosting its annual seminar Thursday during Administrative Professionals Week.

Members of IAAP will focus attention on the role of administrative support staff in today's business environment and the importance of continuing education and training during the 58th annual observance of Administrative Professionals Week, April 18-24. Administrative Professionals Day is Wednesday. The theme for the 2010 observance is "Power of Commitment."

In practice with that theme, the Brainerd Chapter of IAAP will be hosting its annual seminar on Thursday at Cragun's Legacy Club House and Golf Course near Brainerd. The seminar is entitled "Cliffjumper Lessons on the Way Down" with keynote speaker Michael Foley, founder of Clarity Central, a consulting firm based in Minneapolis specializing in communication skills and interpersonal effectiveness.

Foley will share the keys to differentiating one's self in the marketplace: be credible, accountable mindful and do more than expected. The two educational segments will include Taking a Leap and Landing on Solid Ground. Opportunities will also be provided throughout the day for participants to network with several on-site vendors sharing their products and services.

IAAP recommends that employers observe Administrative Professionals Week by providing education and training to administrative staff through educational seminars, such as this one being offered by the Brainerd Chapter.

For additional information, contact Angie Mass at (218) 454-3065 or visit the chapter Web site at iaap.brainerd.com for a copy of the seminar invitation and flyer.

Commerce Carnival planned in Nisswa Thursday

NISSWA - The Nisswa Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Commerce Carnival from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Nisswa American Legion on Main Street in Nisswa.

Carnival games begin at 11:30 a.m. Lunch is at noon with guest speaker Nisswa Police Chief Craig Taylor. A golf put shoot out is planned at 1:30 p.m. Cost is $20 per person. RSVP is requested.

For more information, call 963-2620 or e-mail molly@nisswa.com.

WORKSHOPS

Vehicle inspector recertification class offered

A commercial vehicle inspector recertification class will be from 8 a.m. to noon May 7 at the Business and Industry Center on the Central Lakes College campus in Brainerd.

The State of Minnesota requires that all commercial vehicles or combination of vehicles more than 26,000 pounds are to be placarded and registered in Minnesota, display a valid safety inspection decal issued by an inspector certified by the commissioner of public safety, or carry proof that the vehicle is in interstate commerce and a certificate of compliance has been issued. Inspections may only be performed by a person who is not an employee of the Department of Public Safety or Transportation and must be certified by the commissioner of public safety.

All certified Minnesota Commercial Vehicle Inspectors must be recertified every two years if they wish to continue as certified inspectors. You cannot attend the recertification class if: Your certification has been expired for more than six months; if your certification is under revocation; if you have already attended and failed a recertification class.

The class fee is $80, including a $10-per-student fee required by the state and all course materials. Instructor is Douglas Brown of the Minnesota State Patrol. Deadline to register is April 30. For more information, call (800) 933-0346 ext. 8142 or 855-8142.

'Are You Ready for Youth Volunteers?' workshop offered

Healthy Communities Collaborative of Morrison County, Morrison County Volunteer Network and Minnesota Association of Volunteer Administrators are working together to assist local organizations on how to engage youth volunteers, especially this summer season.

The training, "Are You Ready for Youth Volunteers?" will be from 8:45 a.m. to noon April 29 in the Franciscan Room at St. Gabriel's Hospital, 815 Second St. S.E., Little Falls. Participants will learn how to develop volunteer positions for youth, hear from current youth volunteers on their experiences, learn tips on how to design youth volunteer positions, determine age appropriate jobs, learn supervision keys and how your agency can readiness itself for youth volunteers.

The registration cost is $10 per person and is due by April 23. For more information, contact Mary Kenna at (320) 631-5675.

Boiler operator workshop scheduled at CLC

A 15-hour boiler operator workshop is scheduled in the Business and Industry Center at Central Lakes College in Brainerd.

This course offers attendees an opportunity to prepare for special and second class boiler exams. Instruction will include: Attendance requirements for heating boilers, safety issues and state boiler rules. Dave Horn is the instructor for the class, which meets from 6 to 9 p.m. April 26 and 29 and May 3, 6, and 10. The fee is $165. The deadline to register is April 19. For more information, call (800) 933-0346, ext. 8142 or 855-8142.

Stone fruit workshop planned at Living Legacy Gardens

STAPLES - The living Legacy Gardens at Staples will host a workshop on growing stone fruits (plums and cherries) in Zone 3 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 22.

Varieties of plums and cherries, growing methods, diseases and pest control will be discussed. Thaddeus McCamant, specialty crops instructor at Northland College, will lead the workshop. This class is suitable for both commercial and home orchards.

The registration fee is $25. To pre-register, call Shirley Judd at (218) 894-5161 by Tuesday.

This workshop is made available through the cooperative efforts of Living Legacy Gardens/Central Lakes College and Staples Motley Community Education. Directions to the Living Legacy Gardens at the Central Lakes Ag Center: One mile north on Fourth Street to four-way stop, 1.5 miles north on County Road 30 to four-way stop, one-half mile west on County Road 2.

DONATION

Mille Lacs Band donates $111,360

ONAMIA - In February and March, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe donated $111,360 in monetary and in-kind contributions to a variety of nonprofit organizations and other charitable causes.

Every month, the band contributes to community programs in Minnesota and nationwide. So far in 2010, the band has donated a total of $169,812 to programs across the region.

Area donations included: Habitat for Humanity in Aitkin and the Family Readiness Group at Camp Ripley.

The Band donated to organizations and causes in Aitkin, Anoka, Barron, Becker, Benton, Blue Earth, Burnett, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chisago, Clay, Crow Wing, Dakota, Douglas, Eddy, Foster, Goodhue, Hamlin, Hennepin, Isanti, Itasca, Kandiyohi, Kanabec, Kittson, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Lincoln, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Nicollet, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pierce, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Renville, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, Saint Croix, Saint Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Todd, Ventura, Vernon, Wabasha, Wadena, Washburn, Washington, Wright and Wood counties.