Business Notes
CAREER
Breen gains promotion at Northern National
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BAXTER -- Greg Breen was promoted to senior vice president of lending for Northern National Bank in Baxter.
Breen was vice president and senior lender at Northern National and a key member at the bank since 1999. Breen's promotion means he will participate in the senior management of the bank, overseeing the lending process and continuing to be active in providing business banking services.
Breen has more than 10 years of experience at the banking management level. He has a bachelor's degree and a master's in business administration in finance from St. Cloud State University. He is a past chairman of the Family Support Network and past president of the Brainerd Kiwanis Club. He was named the Kiwanian of the Year for 2001-2002.
Hartman joins American National
Jill S. Hartman joined the American National Bank of Minnesota corporate office staff in Brainerd as assistant to the chief financial officer.
Hartman, a certified public accountant, is a graduate of Brainerd High School and St. Cloud State University. She holds a bachelor of science degree with a major in accounting.
Before joining the American National corporate team, she spent seven years with Riitters & Scearcy, P.A.
Barajas joins Community Growth Institute
LisaBeth Barajas joined the planning team at Community Growth Institute, Brainerd.
Barajas has a master's degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs and a bachelor's degree in geography and environmental studies from Gustavus Adolphus College.
She is experienced in geographic information systems analysis, environmental planning and zoning administration. Barajas will work as a planner assisting communities out of the institute's downtown Brainerd office.
EVENTS
Business After Hours set in Baxter
BAXTER -- The next Brainerd Lakes Area Chambers of Commerce Business After Hours event will be 4:30-6:30 p.m. May 17 at Consolidated Telephone Communications in Baxter.
There is no charge to attend.
Nisswa at Night set Tuesday
NISSWA -- Nisswa at Night is scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Nisswa Community Center.
The event is hosted by Nisswa Chamber of Commerce member Arvig Communication Systems. There is no charge for Nisswa chamber members.
Business Before Hours set in Brainerd
Business Before Hours is 7:30 a.m. Thursday at the Brainerd Lakes Area Chambers of Commerce's Brainerd office on South Sixth Street.
Cost to attend is $3 for preregistration or $5 at the door. The RSVP deadline is 1 p.m. the day before the event. The session will include an update on the new Welcome Center and a chance to see the newly remodeled downtown office.
Tourism growth planning session set
A Tourism Growth Planning Session hosted by Explore Minnesota Tourism is planned from 2-4:30 p.m. May 17 at the Ramada Inn in Brainerd.
The session will be an opportunity to gain input from tourism businesses and destinations on key issues affecting the tourism industry and to provide ideas to grow tourism in Minnesota. All businesses, tourism organizations and individuals interested in tourism are encouraged to attend.
Sessions have been set in Duluth, Detroit Lakes, Eagan and Pipestone. The issues have differed from region to region, with marketing, funding, education and product development among the issues raised.
The Brainerd Lakes Area Chambers of Commerce is inviting tourism growth session participants to an open house from noon to 1:30 p.m. May 17 at the Welcome Center, eight miles south of Brainerd and Baxter on Highway 371, across from the Crow Wing State Park entrance.
Business After Hours set in LF
LITTLE FALLS -- Business After Hours, a Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce networking event, is set from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at Riverside Realty at 119 E. Broadway in Little Falls.
The event is free and open to all chamber members and their employees.
For more information, call the chamber at (320) 632-5155.
Friday Morning Coffee set May 20
LITTLE FALLS -- Friday Morning Coffee, a Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce networking event, is set from 7:30-9 a.m. May 20 at GoldSmith Jewelry at 313 First St. N.E. in Little Falls.
Brainerd Lakes Ride set June 17
The Minnesota State Bar Association's Life & the Law Committee is hosting a bicycle Brainerd Lakes Ride at the MSBA convention from noon to 4 p.m. June 17 beginning with a check-in at Madden's resort.
The committee hosts the bike ride each year to raise funds for the nonprofit organization Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers and its outreach and educational efforts. The organization has been providing support to chemically dependent lawyers, judges, law students and their families throughout Minnesota for 27 years and expanded services relating to depression and other mental health conditions as Minnesota's Lawyer Assistance Program. This year's ride is dedicated to the memory of Jerry Freeman, a LCL founder.
The event is completely supported by sponsors, ranging from $50 to $1,000, with all proceeds going directly to LCL. Registration fees are $20 per adult if registering before May 27 and $25 per adult after that time. Group and family discounts are available. Children younger than 16 who register and ride with a paid adult ride free.
The Brainerd Lakes Ride offers a five-10, 20 or 50 mile tour of the lakes area on the Paul Bunyan State Trail with rest stops set up along the way. Walkers, runners and in-line skaters are welcome.
The five-10 mile "Babe" route goes past Gilbert Lake with a turnaround at Tamarack Lake. The 20-mile "Lucette Diana Kensack" riders continue to Mollie Lake, where snacks and beverages are provided. The 50-mile "Paul Bunyan" riders continue past Hubert Lake, Nisswa, Lake Edna and Twin Lake. A rest stop at Pequot Lakes will prepare riders for the return trip. Riders can win prizes by collecting cards at designated points along the route.
For more information, contact Judith Rush, Life & the Law Bike Ride chairwoman, at judithrush@attglobal.net or (651) 628-4998, or Sue Bores, MSBA public services coordinator, at sbores@mnbar.org, or (612) 278-6325.
WORKSHOP
Seminar on workplace security set May 19
"Violence and Workplace Security," a program presented by the Lakes Area Safety and Health Organization, is set from 8:30 a.m. to noon May 19 in room E 203 at the Business and Industry Center at Central Lakes College in Brainerd.
This session will focus on teaching techniques to protect people in potentially explosive situations. A central goal will be to learn how to look critically at situations to evaluate each step and, most important, avoid events which could become explosive.
George Demers will discuss factors in a crisis situation, personal awareness, dealing after a crisis, problem individuals, indicators of violence, coordinating with law enforcement and other factors regarding the maintenance of workplace security.
Demers, a state trainer on violence in the workplace, has 29 years of experience employed at the St. Peter Regional Treatment Center and 23 years as a staff trainer on dealing with aggressive behavior. He has done special training with the FBI, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Los Angeles SWAT team.
The program is free to LASHO members and $10 for others. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Registration is required. For more information, call 855-8141 or 855-8139 by May 12.
Workshop on effective use of bulk mail set
LITTLE FALLS -- A Lunch & Learn seminar will focus on effective use of bulk mail.
The seminar is set from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. May 17 at the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, 200 First St. N.W. Mike Rheault, United States Postal Service, Minneapolis, is the scheduled presenter.
Lunch & Learn seminars are a brown bag format with individuals bringing their own lunch. Beverages will be provided. The event is free. Space is limited. Reservations are requested.
For more information, call (320) 632-5155.
Seminar covers doing business in China
The Minnesota Trade Office is offering "China Practicum: A Compact Course on Doing Business in China" from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. May 17 at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, First National Bank Building, 332 Minnesota St. in St. Paul.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. Cost is $90 for preregistration and $110 at the door, including light breakfast, lunch and materials.
For more information, contact Li King Feng by e-mail at li.king.feng@state.mn.us or (651) 297-1443, or Matthew Abbott by e-mail at matthew.abbott@state.mn.us or (651) 296-4282. More details are available online at www.exportminnesota.com.
A U.S.-China Business Summit focusing on successful exporting to China is set from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 19 at Windows on Minnesota, 50th floor of the IDS Center in Minneapolis. Cost is $70 if pre-registered or $90 at the door.