BUSINESS NOTES

Posted: Saturday, October 31, 2009

CAREER

Miller joins Evergreen Press, Lake Country Journal Magazine

Evergreen Press/Lake Country Journal Magazine In Brainerd announced Howard Miller joined the organization as its new advertising/marketing director.

Miller has management experience in corporate marketing, communications, public relations, strategic planning and government affairs. He has also filled a variety of leadership roles in regional and community enhancement and business development projects.

Howard Miller

Miller was a vice president with the Schwan Food Co. and served in the Minnesota Legislature. He is responsible for working with clients in developing image-building marketing strategies through the services offered by Evergreen Press and Lake Country Journal Magazine.

Legislators honored with tourism awards

Minnesota Resort and Campground Association honored five legislators Friends of Minnesota Tourism awards, including three lakes area representatives.

The Minnesota Resort and Campground Association awards were presented at its 2009 Fall Conference & Expo Oct. 21 in Glenwood. Honored were: Rep. Larry Howes, R-Walker, Sen. Dan Skogen, DFL-Hewitt, Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd.

The annual recognition honors legislators and/or public policy makers who have demonstrated support of tourism or the resort and campground industry.

The MRCA honored the following five legislators for their engagement in issues that are vital to Minnesota's tourism industry, such as the post Labor Day school start, vacation home rentals and the dedicated lodging tax. The two other legislators honored were: Rep. Joe Atkins, DFL-Inver Grove Heights, and Rep. Marty Seifert, R-Marshall.

Panache Madden's staff move to Baxter

BAXTER - The Panache Spa at Madden's resort had the season's final day of services on Oct. 17.

Spa specialists and massage therapists who provided services at the Madden's location during the 2009 season will continue to offer services at the salon and day spa's Baxter location during the off season.

The resort-based spa will open for the 2010 season in April.

Brainerd Lakes Health labs gain accreditation

Brainerd Lakes Health announced the laboratories at St. Joseph's Medical Center and the St. Joseph's Medical Center clinics in Crosslake and Pine River recently met all criteria for Laboratory Accreditation by COLA, a national healthcare accreditation organization.

Accreditation is given only to laboratories that apply rigid standards of quality in day-to-day operations, demonstrate continued accuracy in the performance of proficiency testing, and pass a rigorous on-site laboratory survey. St. Joseph's Medical Center and its clinics have earned COLA accreditation as a result of a long-term commitment to provide quality service to its patients.

The St. Joseph's Medical Center Clinics in Brainerd, Pillager, Pequot Lakes and Pierz are also accredited by COLA and will be resurveyed in the future.

EVENTS

Golden Horizons to host Wednesday CHOW event

CROSSLAKE - Golden Horizons Assisted Living and Memory Care, plans to host the Brainerd Lakes Chamber networking lunch event CHOW at noon Wednesday at 13631 East Shore Road, Crosslake.

The cost to attend this event is $5 with advance reservations and $7 at the door. Advance registration and cancellations accepted until 4 p.m. Tuesday. For more information, go online to www.explorebrainerdlakes.com or call (218) 692-4027.

Chamber to host Eggs 'N' Issues Nov. 18

The Brainerd Lakes Chamber is hosting a gathering with area legislators for Eggs 'n Issues to engage in timely discussions on current topics and issues affecting the business community.

Legislators scheduled to participate are Sen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley, District 12; Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd, District 12A; and Representative Al Doty, DFL-Royalton, District 12B.

Eggs 'N' Issues is planned from 8-9:30 a.m. Nov. 18 at The Lodge at Brainerd Lakes, 6967 Lake Forest Road, Baxter. The cost is $15 per person for Brainerd Lakes Chamber members and $25 per person for non-members. Includes a breakfast buffet with scrambled eggs, breakfast meat, breakfast potatoes, fresh fruit, and beverages. There will be ample time for questions and answers.

Advance reservations and cancellations accepted until 8 a.m., 72 hours prior to the event. Cancellations after that time are responsible for payment. For more information go online to www.explorebrainerdlakes.com or call 829-2838.

Business After Hours planned Nov. 10

BAXTER - The Cascade Med Spa and Laser Center, Baxter, is hosting a Business After Hours 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 10 in the Riverstone Professional Centre, 13359 Isle Drive, Suite 2, in Baxter.

The Brainerd Lakes Chamber networking event will include the Cascade Med Spa and Laser Center staff and physicians, live demonstrations, hors d'oeuvres, beverages and prizes.

The Cascade Med Spa and Laser Centre is under the direction of Dr. Kurtis Waters, ENT/facial and reconstructive surgeon, and Dr. Paul Lundstrom, dermatologist. The business includes intense pulse light laser, fractionated laser, laser hair reduction, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, permanent cosmetics, pharmaceutical grade skin care products, as well as relaxation treatments such as facials and massage.

Advanced registration is recommended. For more information for this event go online to www.explorebrainerdlakes.com or call 829-2838.

'Emotional Intelligence' is next Lunch & Learn

Central Lakes College's Lunch & Learn is titled Emotional Intelligence and is scheduled 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 13 in the Business and Industry Center on the Brainerd campus.

Emotional Intelligence refers to an ability to recognize the meanings of emotion and the impact emotions have on relationships. The session will include knowledge about Emotional Intelligence - information on measuring attitudes, and skill building exercises that managers can use to build EI with employees.

Research on the value of EI in organizations will be presented. This session is based on the work of Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ.

Jean Mershon will lead the workshop, which includes lunch. Cost is $35.

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

Business Expo & Holiday Extravaganza planned

The 14th annual Business Expo & Holiday Extravaganza is planned from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at Madden's Townhall at Madden's on Gull Lake.

The event is supported by major sponsor Brainerd Lakes Health Heart & Vascular Center. Participating business have booth space as a showcase. The networking event includes refreshments and holiday decor.

For more information, call Miranda Anderson at the Brainerd Lakes Chamber at 822-7110, or e-mail manderson@explorebrainerdlakes.com.

Heartwood Senior Living Center to host CHOW

CROSBY - Heartwood Senior Living Center plans to host the Brainerd Lakes Chamber networking lunch event CHOW from noon to 1 p.m. Nov. 19 at 500 Heartwood Drive.

Lunch and door prizes are planned along with information about Heartwood Senior Living Center.

The cost to attend this event is $5 with advance reservations and $7 at the door. Advance registration and cancellations accepted until 4 p.m., Nov. 18.

For more information, go online to www.explorebrainerdlakes.com or call 829-2838.

Lakes Vybe luncheon planned Nov. 12

BAXTER - Lakes Vybe, a networking group for ages 21 to 40 with the Brainerd Lakes Chamber, plans to meet from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Holiday Inn Express in Baxter.

Cost to attend is $10 per Vybe member, or $50 to sponsor a business table for promotion. Advanced registration is recommended. For more information, go online to www.explorebrainerdlakes.com or call 829-2838.

Nisswa Women's Club meeting planned Nov. 19

NISSWA - The Nisswa Women's Club will host its monthly membership meeting at noon Nov. 19, with a social time from 11:30 am to noon, at the Timbermist Banquet Facility, Brainerd.

The program topic will be Looking Good, Active, Feeling Alive.

Hostesses for the meeting are Nancy Knowles, Chair, Kristin Knowles, Joan Weston, Joan Lofgren, and Betty Hornung. The inspirational will be given by Mattie Kurilla.

LAHRA hosts annual recognition event

The 2009 Lakes Area Human Resources Association's annual recognition event was on Oct. 8 at Grandview Lodge.

The theme of the event was Celebrating the Human Resources Profession and provided recognition to several area businesses and human resources professionals in the lakes area. The LAHRA organization was recognized as a chapter by the national Society of Human Resources Management for achieving the 2008 Superior Merit Chapter award. Brainerd Lakes Health received merits for their philanthropic efforts in assisting the Fargo communities with the spring 2009 flood.

Individual recognition was earned for those achieving their Professional of Human Resources certification. Those passing the PHR exam during 2009 included Andrea Bedard of Deerwood Bank, Cindy Bollig of Keystone Automotive, Deb Frank of Crow Wing Power, Susan Nanick of National Joint Powers Alliance, Mary Ward of Mille Lacs Health Systems and Becky Wohl of Trident Seafoods.

Tim Houle

The 2009 LAHRA scholarships were granted to Tiffany Dixon from Central Lakes College in the amount of $1,000. Carol Pawlak of Riverwood Health Center received a lifetime LAHRA membership for her commitment to HR education and certification. The final individual recognition of the event was given to Tamra Laska of Crow Wing County for her 2009 MN Counties Human Resources Management Association Human Resources Professional of the Year award.

The guest speaker at the event was Tim Houle, Crow Wing County administrator. Houle spoke to the LAHRA organization about the value that the HR professionals bring to strategic management teams.

The Board of Directors for 2010 was elected at this event. The 2010 President is Dave Bergin from Fiducia Benefits, President-Elect Michelle Boggs from Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union, Past President Robin Loftis from Clow Stamping, Secretary Becky Wohl from Trident Seafoods, and Treasurer Stephanie Ferguson from Wausau Paper. The new board will begin Jan. 1.

WORKSHOPS

Diabetes care conferences planned Dec. 3 and 4

Brainerd Lakes Health announced two upcoming conferences for health care professionals who care for adults with diabetes.

The conferences are hosted by St. Joseph's Medical Center and are called Caring for Adults with Diabetes and Diabetes Care: Strategies for the Hospital Nurse. The conferences target the unique care needs of people with diabetes in different care settings.

Caring for Adults with Diabetes will be 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Dec. 4. This seminar is for those caring for people with diabetes in long term care facilities, group homes, and other community agency providers. The presenters Teri Veith and Michelle Pelkey, certified diabetes educators. Topics covered will include lifestyle therapies for glucose control and diabetes management, blood glucose monitoring, medications, and daily management of diabetes.

Diabetes Care: Strategies for the Hospital Nurse is 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 3. This seminar is for hospital acute care nurses, pharmacists, dietitians or others interested in the care of patients with diabetes in the hospital.

The presenters are Diabetes Clinical Nurse Specialist Barb Risnes and Pelkey, and Dr. James Baumgartner, hospitalist physician. Topics covered will include causes of hyperglycemia in the hospital, therapeutic options for care, evidence-based practice and use of diabetes protocols, and nutritional guidelines.

For more information, call the Educational Resources Department at St. Joseph's Medical Center at 828-7414, or go online to www.brainerdlakeshealth.org.

Certified food manager training planned at CLC

A Certified Food Manager course will meet 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 10, 12, and 17 in the Business and Industry Center at Central Lakes College, Brainerd.

Certification is required in most Minnesota food establishments. Class instructor is Colette Pohlkamp. Participants are trained and tested through the ServSafe Serving Safe Food Certification course. They will learn about potentially hazardous foods and safe food handling practices, the HACCP system of food safety, setting up standards and completion upon passing the required exam.

The course fee is $160. Registration deadline is Nov. 3. For more information, call (800) 933-0346 ext. 8142 or 855-8142.

Tamra Laska

CLC offers QuickBooks Pro accounting class

Central Lakes College has scheduled a two-credit course on the Brainerd campus for computerized accounting.

QuickBooks Pro Accounting for Windows is scheduled for two consecutive Tuesdays from 6-9 p.m., Nov. 10 and 17. The student will learn the basics of system setup, invoicing, cash receipts, deposits, accounts receivable, accounts payable and cash disbursements.

Each participant receives two individualized, on-site sessions. The instructor is Jay Bock.

The student will receive two college credits upon successful completion of the course.

Tuition is $276.92. A $20 application fee may apply. Deadline to register is Nov. 3.

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

'Going Into Business' tips at CLC Nov. 12

Going Into Business For Yourself will be offered from 6-9 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Business and Industry Center on the campus of Central Lakes College, Brainerd.

This session covers all areas of business start-up, helpful advice on how to get your dream off the ground and stay profitable, including financing a new venture. Follow-up counseling is available to qualified individuals from the Small Business Development Center's team of consultants at no charge to the individual.

Tuition is $49 per person plus $29 for each additional business partner. Instructor is Jay Bock.

The deadline to register is Nov. 5. For more information (800) 933-0346 ext. 8142 or 855-8142.

Infection control workshop set for healthcare

Central Lakes College in Brainerd on Nov. 12 will host a workshop for healthcare personnel covering standard precautions for infection disease control.

The class will focus on infections, how to control them and the nursing implications. The class will meet the requirement for infection control continuing education hours for nurses and Occupational Safety Health Administration. Heidi Brown, public health nurse, is the instructor for the session that will take place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in C225 and costs $35.

Registration deadline is Nov. 5. For more information, call (800) 933-0346, ext. 8142 or 855-8142.

OFF THE WIRE

Target Corp. cuts 85 jobs in marketing

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Retailer Target Corp. has decided to cut some 85 marketing jobs, representing about 8 percent of its 1,100 employees in that department.

The move was part of Target's normal practice of evaluating all areas of the company to make sure they are effective, the company said in a statement Thursday.

The affected employees all are located at its headquarters in Minneapolis, where some 12,000 Target employees work, Target said.

The affected employees will receive full pay and benefits through Dec. 14., and then severance pay, a year of health care benefits and assistance looking for new jobs.

Target has been cutting staff, tightening consumer credit card underwriting, and limiting inventory in the recession.

Target has been hurting because much of its revenue comes from fashionable nonessentials like home decor and clothing in this recession.



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