Business notes

Marcia Ferris, program manager for the Lutheran Social Service Senior Service Corps, attended the second national senior service corps training conference in Orlando, Fla. in June.

The conference theme was "Making our Mark: Inspiring Senior Leadership for the 21st Century." Ferris was chosen as a presenter and did a workshop titled "Expanding Existing Volunteer Programs in Rural Communities." Ferris manages senior volunteer programs in nine surrounding counties. Volunteers serve at-risk and frail elderly clients. Funding for these programs comes from federal, state, United Way and local support.

Harthan begins Pampered Chef business

Laura Harthan, independent kitchen consultant with The Pampered Chef, announced her new business.

Harthan teaches cooking classes while showing The Pampered Chef line of kitchen tools. There are more than 50,000 independent consultants working for the company.

LaValle joins North Central Medical Supply

Dennis LaValle joined the staff of North Central Medical Supply.

LaValle worked for Mills Ford for the past 15 years as a certified automotive technician and the last year as shop foreman and master certified technical. In his new position, LaValle will focus on North Central Medical Supply, which he owns with his wife, Julie, and Skeeter and Janelle Carkhuff.

He will put his mechanical skills to use on wheel chair and scooter repairs and conversions and installations of van lifts, ramps and hand controls.

Teachers participate in summer institute

Three teachers with area connections participated in the summer teaching institute at Carleton College in Northfield.

Beth Medin, a Brainerd High School teacher from Fifty Lakes, recently participated in the week-long institute for teachers. She spent the week studying techniques for teaching studio art.

Marg Tadych, Brainerd High School teacher from Garrison, spent the week studying techniques for teaching computer science.

Linda Dahlsgaard, a teacher at Remer Northland High School from Outing, spent the week studying techniques for teaching calculus.

Designed for teachers of Advanced Placement, enriched or accelerated classes, the college's 24 intensive workshops enable teachers to focus attention on their individual teaching needs. Under direction of institute faculty, participants have the opportunity to modify an existing course, create a new one or develop new teaching material.

Two join WSN staff

BAXTER -- Chad Conner and Brent Dammann joined departments at Widseth Smith Nolting's office in Baxter.

Conner joined the surveying department. Conner has a degree in civil engineering technology from St. Cloud Technical College and a bachelor's degree in land surveying from St. Cloud State University. He is licensed with the state of Minnesota as a land surveyor-in-training, which is the first step in obtaining licensure as a land surveyor.

While earning his bachelor's degree, Conner worked part time as a survey crew chief and led WSN field crews in boundary surveys, subdivision and construction projects. He was also responsible for drafting plats, maps and certificates and is experienced in field observations. Conner is currently responsible for land survey project development and management.

Dammann joined the architecture department. He has a bachelor of architecture degree with a bachelor's degree in environmental design along with a minor in construction management from North Dakota State University.

As an intern architect for WSN, Dammann is responsible for interpreting design criteria and developing business designs and site plans. He is also involved in design development, working drawings and copy drafting.

WSN has more than 120 employees.