Business Notes

Andy Anderson joined Northstar Mortgage as a loan originator. He has worked in the finance and sales industry for the past 25 years in Brainerd.

Kresel joins Select Therapy in Baxter

BAXTER -- Andrea Kresel joined Select Therapy, a physical therapy clinic based in Baxter.

Kresel has a doctorate of physical therapy from the University of North Dakota and is interested in manual, orthopedic and sports medicine therapies. She is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and is an American Council of Exercise certified personal trainer.

Schmidt joins Adventure Creative Group

Tom Schmidt recently joined Adventure Creative Group, a Brainerd advertising agency.

He has more than eight years of experience, having won more than 20 national awards for his work. Schmidt most recently worked at Range Printing in its creative services department.

Crowe to serve as superintendent in Idaho

Jody Crowe, executive director of Rhythm of the Rails Inc., a nonprofit organization in Brainerd, accepted a one-year contract as superintendent of Shoshone Bannock School District 512 in Fort Hall, Idaho, for the 2005-2006 school year.

Crowe had served as a school administrator for the Mille Lacs Nay Ah Shing School in Onamia for nine years, followed by two years of consulting at the state and national levels in Bureau of Indian Affairs schools. Crowe will remain as the executive director of Rhythm of the Rails, of which he is founder and producer, and will continue planning for the 2006 10th anniversary production.

Ravnik, Davis named loan officers

BAXTER -- Loni Ravnik and LeeAnn Davis joined Optimum Mortgage Services in Baxter as loan officers.

Ravnik has more than two years of experience in the mortgage industry and will originate all types of loans for the purpose of buying, building and refinancing.

Davis has worked for 14 years in mortgage banking and has five years of experience in new construction.

Marden elected as a Fellow of Neurology

Through dedicated involvement in publishing, academics and volunteering with the American Academy of Neurology, Dr. Linda Marden has been recognized by AAN with an elected Fellow Academic position.

Marden studied medicine at Northwestern University and has been a physician at Brainerd Medical Center since March 2004, where she specializes in general neurology. She has been affiliated with AAN for the past 13 years.

Meyer receives Jaycees honor

Financial adviser Ron Meyer was named by the Minnesota Jaycees as one of 10 individuals who exemplify the best attributes of Minnesota's young adults.

He was nominated for the award by the Brainerd Jaycees and was selected based on his contributions and achievements in the financial arena at Piper Jaffray, volunteerism in such organizations as Jaycees and Junior Achievement and philanthropic efforts with charities such as Confidence Learning Center.

He serves on the board of directors for the local Junior Achievement, Jaycees and Lord of Life Lutheran Church. He also volunteers his time with other charities and organizations.

Janco becomes Tastefully Simple consultant

BAXTER -- Shannon Janco, Baxter, recently became a consultant for Tastefully Simple Inc., a national direct sales company based in Alexandria.

As a consultant and independent business owner, Janco will conduct in-home presentations and market Tastefully Simple's line of gourmet foods and gifts at home taste-testing parties and open house events.

Dehen to serve as speaker at MMA meeting

Dr. Jim Dehen of Brainerd will serve as the speaker of the House of Delegates when the Minnesota Medical Association conducts its annual meeting Thursday and Friday in Minneapolis.

Dehen, who was elected to the post in 2003, will serve as presiding officer of the House of Delegates. He is up for re-election to the post this year.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Hengel buys Westside

Hengel Ready Mix and Construction bought the Westside Demolition Landfill of Pequot Lakes. The acquisition allows Hengel to provide an additional location for landfill deposits as well as roll-off services.

EVENTS

Business After Hours planned at Ruttger's

DEERWOOD -- The Cuyuna Range Chamber of Commerce will host the second annual Ruttger's/Hansen Sports Business After Hours at 4:30 p.m. Monday at Ruttger's Bay Lake Lodge.

Hansen Sports will provide tours around Bay Lake on its pontoons.

'What's Happening?' event slated Thursday

PEQUOT LAKES -- The Brainerd Lakes Area Chambers of Commerce will host the first "What's Happening?" event from noon-1 p.m. Thursday at Sibley Station in Pequot Lakes.

Chamber members will meet for a neighborhood networking opportunity to learn about what's happening in the Pequot Lakes area. This month's event will feature Percy Lingen, Pequot Lakes School superintendent, giving an update on what's happening in the district; the opportunity to meet the new Pequot Lakes police chief, Jerry Braam; an update on the Pequot Lakes downtown master planning project; and chamber program information.

Cost to attend is $10 and includes lunch, beverage, tip and tax. To make reservations, call (218) 568-8911 or e-mail jjohnson@explorebrainerdlakes.com.

Business After Hours

planned Sept. 27

LITTLE FALLS -- Business After Hours, a Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce business networking event, is planned from 5-7 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Morrison County Record, 216 First St. S.E. Chamber members and their employees are invited.

IAAP chapter to meet

The Brainerd Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals will meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Central Lakes College, Room C234. Contact Sandra Strom, chapter president, at (218) 963-3901 if you plan to attend or for more information.

WORKSHOPS

Core Four business planning course offered

Central Lakes College has scheduled a Core Four business planning course at the Business and Industry Center.

The four-week course will run 6-9 p.m. Thursdays, Sept. 29 and Oct. 6, 13, and 20, in Room E208 on the Brainerd campus.

The course, taught by Lynn Wilson of the Northeast Entrepreneur Fund Inc., covers how to plan a business idea, identify target markets, determine financial feasibility, set personal and business goals and develop an operating plan. Discussion will focus on key decision-making issues that will help build a solid foundation for a successful business startup or expansion.

The course is made available through a partnership between NEF Inc. and the Small Business Development Center based at CLC in Brainerd.

Tuition is $244, with a spouse added for $100, and includes course materials. There may be tuition reimbursement for those eligible, as well as a payment plan and scholarships.

Pre-registration is required and the registration deadline is Sept. 22. For information or to register, call (800) 933-0346 ext. 8142 or 855-8142.

Succeeding as a supervisor workshop planned

"Succeeding as a Supervisor" will be presented from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Thursday in the Business and Industry Center on the Central Lakes College Brainerd campus.

The workshop is for anyone recently promoted to a supervisory position or those needing new ideas to recognize and resolve potential workplace problems.

John Mulvaney will be the instructor. Cost is $75. For more information or to register, call CLC Customized Training at the Staples campus at (218) 894-5302 or 1-800-247-6836, or the Brainerd campus at 855-8142 or 1-800-933-0346, ext. 8142.

DONATIONS

Mille Lacs Band makes donations

ONAMIA -- The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe donated $33,470 to area organizations in July and August.

Notable donations include a $2,000 gift to the Onamia School District to help create an area school-age child-care project for children in kindergarten through sixth grade and $2,000 to the Crisis Line and Referral Service in support of its outreach efforts to American Indian communities in east-central Minnesota.