Local housing briefs
Fountain joins Northway
BAXTER - Denise Fountain recently joined the staff at Northway Construction Services in Baxter.
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Fountain has a background in finance, sales and marketing and contract administration, primarily in construction and engineering firms. Since moving to the Brainerd lakes area in 1999, Fountain has worked in finance for an advertising firm and in contract administration for a construction company.
Denise Fountain
At Northway Construction, Fountain is responsible for contract administration and office management and provides support for project management.
Blosberg earns certification
BAXTER - Dennis Blosberg, project manager at Northway Construction Services in Baxter, has finalized the American Society of Healthcare Engineering's Healthcare Construction Certification at a recent training in Anaheim, Calif.
The program involves a combination of a pre-requisite e-learning program, testing and seminars educating project managers on critical topics within healthcare construction. Managing successful healthcare construction projects is a complex process that requires team leadership, understanding of the organization's business plan and detailed knowledge of design and construction project principles.
Curtis elected to second term
Terry Curtis, director of business development/government and public affairs for Anderson Brothers Construction in Brainerd, recently was elected to serve a second term on the board of directors for the Mid-Minnesota Builders Association.
Terry Curtis
Curtis currently serves as MMBA's associate vice president and serves on the Builders Association of Minnesota's state board of directors, where he is an active member on the Government Relations Committee and the Political Action Committee.
Levenske receives certification
BAXTER - J.J. Levenske, president of Northway Construction Services, recently completed certification in the Performance Information Procurement System, a method of Best Value Procurement at the Performance Based Studies Research Group's 2009 Best Value Conference at Arizona State University.
The PIPS process is a system for the purchase of construction services that integrates preplanning, risk minimization and quality control tools. It provides owners with a tool for selecting contractors based on performance information and not solely on price or marketing materials, and also has a mechanism to document and manage them during the project.
Since receiving certification, Levenske has conducted seminars in PIPS and Best Value Procurement for businesses, governmental units and nonprofit organizations from around central Minnesota.
Home Stretch classes slated in Brainerd
Home Stretch, a first-time homebuyer education workshop, will be offered from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 14, 21 and 28 at Central Lakes College in Brainerd.
The three-night workshop educates first-time homebuyers about the process of buying a home. Topics include financing and mortgage approval process, budget and credit issues, real estate, closing procedures, basic home maintenance and affordable mortgage products that may be available. Some affordable mortgage products, first-time homebuyer products and government loans may require a buyer to receive a Home Stretch certificate.
The Central Minnesota Housing Partnership, a nonprofit organization providing affordable housing services to central Minnesota, coordinates the Home Stretch workshops.
For more information or to register, contact the CMHP at (320) 259-0393. Registration is required and the cost is $25 per household.
OSHA workshop set
Central Lakes College will host a 10-hour general industry Occupational Safety and Health Administration workshop from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 13 at the Business and Industry Center on the Brainerd campus.
Learn about OSHA and OSHA standards. OSHA Training Institute completion cards will be issued to each student. The instructor is Joe Casey of Casey Consultants. The fee is $229, payable at registration.
Deadline to register with a credit card is Oct. 6 by calling (800) 933-0346, extension 8142, or 855-8142.
Company honored
According to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Home Buyer/Seller Study, Keller Williams Realty, Inc. received the highest overall satisfaction ratings from homebuyers among the largest full-service real estate firms for the second year in a row. The company also ranked second among home-sellers in the study.
Client appreciation day
BAXTER - The Edina Realty office in Baxter recently held its second annual client appreciation event. It also raised funds for the Edina Realty Foundation.