Business notes

Erickson presents at global conference

STAPLES - Melissa Erickson, certified wound, ostomy and continence nurse at Lakewood Health System, recently presented a case study poster at the 2010 Joint Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society and World Council of Enterostomal Therapists Conference in Phoenix.

Erickson was chosen as a presenter in January 2010 and presented at the conference in June. Nearly 50 countries were represented at the conference, with more than 3,300 participants.

Erickson has provided Mist Therapy to patients at Lakewood Health System since April 2008.

Roehl receives Signature Award

BAXTER - Bill Roehl, cabinet designer of Nor-Son Inc., Baxter, earned the Signature Award from Crystal Cabinets for a fourth year in a row.

The Signature Award is the top regional award that an individual can receive within a five-state area and is given in recognition of sales volume. Nor-Son ranked second in the nation of nearly 700 Crystal Cabinet dealers nationwide.

Cowell gains membership in Million Dollar Roundtable

BAXTER - David Cowell, a financial representative with the Columns Resource Group of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, has qualified for membership in the Million Dollar Roundtable, an international, independent association of nearly 19,000 leading life insurance producers.

Lakewood Health System provides summer internship experience

STAPLES - Each year, Lakewood Health System of Staples hosts students for a paid summer job-shadow opportunity, available to any student who has completed his/her junior or senior year of high school and is enrolled as a post-secondary student with current or planned healthcare career coursework. This year, there are 19 students in the program.

Lakewood Health System providers and staff teach students about daily job functions, schooling requirements and career opportunities within areas of the students' interests. Students often receive hands-on experience while working in each department.

The team this year includesTurner Johnson. Tanner Roberts, Tyson Bell, Leighton Griffith, David Oliver, Samantha Saeber, Emilia Dellacecca, Ally Hunstad and Zach Israelson, Logon Sevendsrud, Jonathan Kohlhase, Trend Schwartz, Lindsey Duncan, Hallie Denning, Faith Kern and Kelly Reese, Erin Houselog, Greg Flickenger and Josh Leprince.

Karen Treangen, registered nurse, is the clinical instructor at Lakewood Health System and she works with each student to customize schedules based on their interests.

Edina Realty general manager meets with area agents

Barb Jandric, general manager of Edina Realty, representing 65 sales offices and 2,700 agents in Minnesota, western Wisconsin and Fargo, recently met with Edina agents from the Brainerd and Crosslake offices.

Jandric spoke about real estate sales and pointed out that agents are still seeing market corrections. However, she pointed out that showings, or customers scheduling appointments to see lake home property, have dramatically increased over last year.

Edina Realty offices in Brainerd and Crosslake had more than tripled their showing appointments from June of 2009 compared to June 2010.

Certified lead renovator course scheduled

A course at Central Lakes College, Brainerd, will train individuals how to become certified lead-based paint renovators.

The course offered from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 13 in the Business and Industry Center on the Brainerd campus relates proper lead safety work practices. Participants will learn why one should be concerned about lead paint, EPA/HUD regulations, record-keeping, training non-certified workers, and state-specific regulations.

Mid-Minnesota Builders Association members pay $200, non-members $225. Registration deadline is Aug. 6.

For more information call, (800) 933-0346, ext. 8142, or 855-8142.

Bolz-Andolshek joins Ideal System Solutions

PEQUOT LAKES - Kimberly Bolz-Andolshek joined Ideal System Solutions Inc., a provider of IT solutions, the ISSI sales team as an account manager.

With four years of experience in the pharmaceutical sales industry, an entrepreneurial background and a long-term position on a local school board, Bolz-Andolshek has experience in education, government, and health care strategies.

Bolz-Andolshek earned her bachelor's degree from Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, Va.

Summer interns join Brainerd Lakes Chamber

Five summer interns, college students or recent graduates, joined the Brainerd Lakes Chamber to help with programs such as hosting 1,000 bicyclists in Pequot Lakes and building on the chamber's YouTube and Facebook presence by highlighting business members and experiences in the lakes area.

The interns are Hailey Dougherty, Andrea Lemieux, Brett Nelson, Emily O'Rourke and Scott Phelps.

Dougherty, Swanville, is attending St. Cloud State University with a focus on business marketing, travel and tourism. She is interning at the Pequot Lakes office helping with Pequot Lakes and Crosslake events including Big Fun Tuesdays, Crosslake in Bloom, Market in the Park and MS-TRAM.

Lemieux, Brainerd, is attending Bethany Lutheran College with a focus on communication. She is interning at the Pequot Lakes office helping with Pequot Lakes events including Stars & Stripes Days, Bean Hole Days and MS-TRAM.

Nelson, Nisswa, is attending Bemidji State University, with a major in environmental studies and minors in wetlands ecology and applied public policy, emphasis on environmental policy and planning. He is interning at the Brainerd Lakes Chamber administrative office helping with both the GPS and Mississippi River Revitalization projects.

O'Rourke, Brainerd, recently graduated from the University of St. Thomas with a major in sociology and a minor in psychology. She is interning at the Welcome Center helping with social media, website search optimization and tourism.

Phelps recently graduated from St. Cloud State with a degree in community development. He is interning at the Brainerd Lakes Chamber administrative office helping with Brainerd Main Street Program and Bridges Career Academies and Workplace Connection. His future plans are to obtain a job in his field of study and move back to the Brainerd lakes area.

Faber serves as moderator for moose conference

William Faber, a natural resources instructor at Central Lakes College, Brainerd, served as a moderator and was a member of the organizing committee of the 45th North American Moose Conference June 23-26 at Rainy River Community College in International Falls.

Central Lakes College was one of 14 co-sponsors of the event, which drew 135 from areas in the U.S., nearly all provinces of Canada, and parts of Sweden, Norway, and Germany with populations of moose.

Faber moderated a two-hour conference session June 24 entitled "Thermal Management and Moose Ecology." He also emceed the conference banquet.

Marco acquires copier business

Marco Inc., with offices in Brainerd, announced the acquisition of Tony Dorn Inc.'s copier and printer business and with Davis Typewriter Co, Inc. and Ed Davis Business Machines announced the sale of the Davis companies' copier business to Marco.

President Tony Dorn Jr. and his employees will become part of the Marco team. Tony Dorn Inc. has locations in Thief River Falls and Grand Forks, N.D.

Marco will retain the current location in Thief River Falls and will combine its locations in Grand Forks.

Davis Typewriter Co. Inc. has locations in Worthington and Marshall and Ed Davis Business Machines is located in Willmar. The two companies will continue to operate and provide their other office supply, furniture and related office products at their current locations. The employees that support their copier business have become part of the Marco team.

In September, Marco will open a location in Worthington.

Marco has continued to expand into new markets including Rochester and Thief River Falls, Minnesota; Decorah, Iowa; and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Marco currently has 350 employees at its 13 locations throughout the Upper Midwest.

Harman joins Weichert Realtors Tower Properties in sales

Jeff Harman, a specialist in residential sales, joined Weichert Realtors-Tower Properties.

Harman, Lake Shore, has a bachelor's degree in general studies with a minor in business from the University of Northern Iowa. His background includes work as maintenance supervisor with a homeowners association in Littleton, Colo.

Gapinski becomes team leader at Rural Minnesota CEP

LITTLE FALLS - Brian Gapinski is the new team leader at Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program at the Little Falls WorkForce Center.

Gapinski, Baxter, has been in manufacturing management in several areas since 1988. He was recently employed by Lindar of Baxter.

EVENT

Wildwedge hosts CHOW networking event

PEQUOT LAKES - Wildwedge Golf and Mini Golf on Highway 371 and County Road 16, Pequot Lakes, is hosting the Brainerd Lakes Chamber's luncheon networking event CHOW from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Cost to attend CHOW is $5 with advance reservations and $7 at the door. Advance registration and cancellations accepted until 4 p.m., Tuesday. For more information, call (218) 568-8911.

AWARDS

Lakewood Health System receives Aster Awards

STAPLES - Lakewood Health System's marketing department recently received national recognition by the Aster Awards for its excellence in health care advertising.

The Aster Awards is an annual medical marketing awards program allowing health care systems and advertising agencies to compete against organizations from across the nation and world.

Lakewood Health System received the following awards in 2010: Bronze Aster Award: Billboard series "Your Home for Healthcare" - Bronze Aster Award: Brochure advertising "Soulstis Med Spa."

Lakewood Health System receives quality data recognition

STAPLES - The Minnesota Department of Health recognized Lakewood Health System with the 2010 Data Quality Award and 2010 Parentage Award for providing timely, accurate data to the Department of Human Services.

Lakewood's data submission performance exceeds the National Center for Health Statistics' standards in all required areas.

Lakewood Health System providing parent names in more than 80 percent of all birth records in implementing the state-wide Recognition of Parentage Program. The current state average is 63 percent.

Thirteen hospitals in the state were recognized at the Minnesota Department of Health Awards Conference in April for their Recognition of Parentage Programs. Sheila Stokes and Shelly Kastanek, Health Information employees, accepted the award on behalf of Lakewood. Hospitals that achieved 80 percent or more parentage recognition were awarded this honor.

Mercury recognizes United Packaging of Crosby

CROSBY - Mercury Marine announced United Packaging Inc. with headquarters in Crosby, is one of the 12 winners of its 2009 Preferred Supplier Award, which is based on excellence in quality, delivery, customer service and cost management.

United Packaging Inc., design, manufacturing and distribution of industrial packaging products serves the recreational vehicle, lawn and garden, original equipment manufacturer and appliance industries. United Packaging has five manufacturing plants, two in Minnesota and three in Wisconsin and more than 150 employees.

DONATIONS

Mille Lacs Band donates more than $50,000 in June

ONAMIA - The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe donated $50,058 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 $342,524.

In June, the Mille Lacs Band donated $5,000 to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts' "Art of the Native Americans: The Thaw Collection" exhibit. The exhibition, which will run from Oct. 24, 2010 to Jan. 9, 2011, will feature art produced by Native American cultures, many of which demonstrate an appreciation of the power of the natural world.

Other notable area contributions include Confidence Learning Center in East Gull Lake, and WINDOW Victim Services in Hinckley.

The band donated to organizations and causes in the Minnesota counties of Aitkin, Anoka, Benton, Blue Earth, Carlton, Cass, Chisago, Crow Wing, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, Lake, LeSueur, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pine, Pope, Ramsey, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, Saint Louis, Stearns, Todd, Wadena, Washington, Winona and Wright counties among counties in Wisconsin, South Dakota and Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canada.

Bernick's and CMCF announce community grants

The Bernick Family Foundation and the Central Minnesota Community Foundation announce the next round of community grants through the Bernick's Beverages and Vending Fund.

Charitable organizations from Bernick's six markets in Minnesota and Wisconsin, including; Brainerd, Bemidji, Duluth, St. Cloud, Willmar and Dresser, Wis. are eligible to apply for grants of $3,000 to $25,000.

The Bernick's Beverages and Vending Fund will support two key focus areas: youth and education, and health and fitness. Funding may go toward capital projects, strategic investments in operations, and new or expanded programs.

Grant guidelines and information on the online application process are available through the Central Minnesota Community Foundation's website at www.communitygiving.org/pages/BernicksFund/. Letters of inquiry must be submitted online through the Foundation's website by Sept. 1.