BUSINESS NOTES
Kavanaugh to take part in culinary challenge
Thomas Kavanaugh, Kavanaugh Culinary Group and Catering, East Gull Lake, plans to participate in the 22nd annual culinary pork competition, Taste of Elegance, on Jan. 19 at the Minneapolis Hilton.
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Chefs from across the state will create their original recipes and compete for the $1,500 grand prize.
Minnesota Taste of Elegance is sponsored by the Minnesota Pork Board.
Schlieman becomes professional land surveyor
Rick Schlieman
Rick Schlieman, of Widseth Smith Nolting's Baxter office, met the education and experience requirements and successfully passed the exams necessary to become a professional land surveyor licensed by the state of Minnesota.
Schlieman joined WSN in 2005. He is responsible for both field and office surveys requiring experience with the use of the latest GPS, robotic total station and AutoCAD technologies.
Duininck becomes Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
Brainerd Lakes Health announced Dr. Troy M. Duininck was honored by being initiated as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons during convocation ceremonies at the College's 95th annual Clinical Congress in Chicago last month.
Dr. Troy Duininck
Duininck received a medical doctorate degree in 1998 from the University of Minnesota and is currently practicing at Brainerd Lakes Health. Duininck attained board certification from the American Board of Surgery. Duininck has a strong professional interest in breast surgery and minimally invasive surgery.
Student interns work with Lakewood
STAPLES - Chad and Katie Norris joined Lakewood Health System, Staples, as the 2009-2010 Rural Physician Associate Program students.
Since October, Chad and Katie Norris have been shadowing and practicing with Lakewood Health System Family Medicine Physicians, Dr. Christine Albrecht and Dr. David Freeman. After the first six weeks, Chad and Katie will begin working alongside specialists like Dr. Carol Uhlman, OB/GYN and surgeons Dr. Sandra Hanson and Dr. Patricia Mahoney.
Chad Norris
Originally from Duluth, Katie Norris completed her bachelor's degree at St. Benedict's before being accepted to the University of Minnesota, Medical School in Duluth. Chad Norris an Oklahoma native, also made his way to the University of Minnesota, Medical School in Duluth. The couple met in class and were married in 2009. After only a few weeks at Lakewood Health System, the couple expressed their interest in rural health care.
"I didn't know how specialized a rural healthcare system could be," said Chad. "And the people all know each other. It's the best of both worlds."
RPAP is a nine-month, community-based educational experience open to third- ear medical students enrolled in the University of Minnesota Medical School at the Twin Cities or Duluth campuses. Students train under the supervision of family physicians and other physicians called preceptors. The goal of RPAP is to encourage students to practice in rural areas throughout the state of Minnesota.
Katie Norris
Dalen appointed CLC nursing lab assistant
Kim Dalen, registered nurse of Little Falls, was appointed to the position of full-time seasonal nursing sciences lab assistant at Central Lakes College.
This position serves the students and staff of the Nursing Assistant, Practical Nursing, and Registered Nursing programs on the Brainerd and Staples campuses.
Dalen is responsible for the daily operation of state-of-the-art learning and teaching nursing simulation labs and will serve as the safety officer and OSHA coordinator for the CLC nursing department.
Dalen had been working for Central Lakes Oral and Facial Surgery from October 2006 to November 2009. She was a charge nurse and nurse manager at Lutheran Care Center from 2002 to Oct. 2006 and has held various other positions, such as certified surgical technologist, LPN, and accounts receivable clerk.
Kim Dalen
She received her associate degree in nursing from CLC, graduating with honors in 2002 after earning her practical nursing diploma with honors from CLC in 2001. She earned her surgical technology training at St. Cloud Technical College, graduating in 1990.
Brainerd chamber announces committee appointments
Brainerd Lakes Chamber announces committee appointments.
The chamber has more than 30 committees and 200 volunteers.
Committees and chairs are: Ambassadors serving the southern neighborhoods: Joyce Frid, Edgewood Brainerd Senior Living. Ambassadors serving the northern neighborhoods: Rebecca Mesenbrick, AmericInn Lodge and Suites; Lakes Vybe, Aaron Baseman, Radco. Member Outreach: Mark Fyten, Your Advocate Promotional Advertising; Social Networking/Online Media Advisory Committee, Brandon Knowles, Faster Solutions.
2009-20010 Committees and Chairs focused on advocacy are: Brainerd/Baxter Business Council: Nate Grotzke, Close Converse Commercial and Preferred Properties; Brainerd Main Street Advisory, Al Gmeinder, The Sawmill Inn; Brainerd Main Street Design, Doug Hansen, Crow Wing County GIS; Brainerd Main Street Promotion, Becky Flansburg, The Office Shop; Bridges Leadership Council, Pam O'Rourke, Integrated Retirement Initiatives; Crosslake Advisory, Lonny Thomas, Thomas & Associates, P.A.; Explore Crosslake, Co-Chair, Debby Floerchinger, Crosslake Communications and Co-Chair, Pat Netko, Lake Country Crafts and Cones; Pequot Lakes/Breezy Point Advisory, Cindy Couture, Salon Couture; Pequot Lakes/Breezy Point Business Connects, Kimberly Ziesemer, Seriously Fun Marketing Group; Regional Business Council, Tim Ramerth, Westwood Professional Services Inc.; Tourism Advisory, Tom Kavanaugh, Kavanaugh's Resort.
2009-20010 Committees and Chairs focused on events are: Bean Hole Days, Bernice Rhode, Lakes State Bank; Jeff Walden, Arctic Vending; Mary Peterson, Tasty Pizza North; Commerce & Industry Marketplace, Cindy Brey, Dept. of Employment & Economic Development; Crosslake Days, Doreen Gallaway; Crosslake St. Patrick's Day Parade & Celebration, Candy Hart, RE/MAX Lakes Area Realty; Crosslake Winterfest, Co-Chair Jessica Eide, Moonlight Bay Restaurant and Co-Chair Sarah Greeninger, There's Room Home Decor; Golf Tournament, Ron Morris, Insty-Prints; Pequot Lakes Stars & Stripes Days, Wendy Rickard, TDS Telecom; Sporting Clays, Jeff Fitch, Mid-State Refrigeration Heating and A/C; Taste of Pequot: Mary Peterson, Tasty Pizza North.
Integra Telecom announces expanded board
BAXTER - Integra Telecom Inc. announced its expanded board of directors, welcoming seven new appointments following the Nov. 19 restructuring of its balance sheet, which reduced the company's overall debt from $1.3 billion to $600 million.
The following individuals now serve as the board of directors for Integra Telecom: Lawrence T. Babbio Jr., senior advisor, Warburg Pincus; Tom Casey, CEO and director, Current Group; Kenneth Dunn, vice president and general counsel, John Bean Technologies Corp.; Robert Guth, formerly president, Business Markets Group; Michael Leitner, managing partner, Tennenbaum Capital Partners; Kevin O'Hara, co-founder, former president, COO and director, Level 3 Communications; Dudley Slater, co-founder and CEO, Integra Telecom; Paul Sunu, CFO, Hargray Communications; Gene Yoon, head of private capital investing, America's Special Situations Group, Goldman, Sachs & Co.
CHOW event planned Jan. 28
Computer One Plus and Erbert & Gerbert's Subs & Clubs to host the Brainerd Lakes Chamber's networking lunch event CHOW from noon to 1 p.m. Jan. 28 with lunch from Erbert & Gerbert's and door prizes as Computer One Plus offers tips and tricks for Windows 7.
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. Jan. 27. For more information, go online to www.explorebrainerdlakes.com or calls 829-2838.
Year-around grazing systems seminar set
STAPLES - Steve Kenyon, international speaker from Greener Pastures Grazing Management Ltd. of Canada, will present a seminar on year-around grazing systems on Jan. 19 and Jan. 20, at Central Lakes College in Staples.
Topics include human resources, economics and finance, grazing management, pasture rejuvenation/weed control, cell designs/watering systems, and swath grazing/bale grazing.
A third day (Jan. 21) is also being offered for more hands-on course work.
Kenyon is a livestock producer who developed a grazing system that allows him to save on feeding, labor, and fuel costs by allowing animals to harvest the forage for themselves. He has also written several articles in the Stockman Grass Farmer and other publications about his management techniques.
Grants and donations from the following make this event possible:
Minnesota Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, WesMin RC&D Council, Central Lakes College, CLC Farm Business Management Education, Initiative Foundation, USDA- Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA- Farm Service Agency, Cass Soil and Water Conservation District, Leader Lions, Crow Wing Basin Forage Council, University of Minnesota Extension Service, Cass County Farm Bureau, Leaf River Ag Service, and other farm, ranch and banking businesses.
Information is available from Barb Cline in customized training at Central Lakes College, (218) 894-5120 or e-mail to bcline@clcmn.edu.
'Going Into Business' workshop planned
"Going Into Business For Yourself" will be offered from 6-9 p.m., Jan. 14 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 Jan. 7.
For more information, call (800) 933-0346 ext. 8142 or 855-8142.
Chamber hosts social media classes
Uniting technology and marketing can be a valuable resource for business that is why the Social Networking/Online Media Advisory Committee of the Brainerd Lakes Chamber is hosting a series of monthly beginner "Training Wheels" classes and webinars on various social media tools.
Classes will be business focused and taught by chamber members who use these tools to promote their own business. The class will be step-by-step instruction on setting-up your business profile on that specific social media tool and a follow-up hand-out on the next steps. "Training Wheels" classes are one hour sessions, 30 minutes of step-by-step instruction and 30 minutes of free time to work; participants may use a webinar or be in-person at Central Lakes College, classroom C222.
Classes are: 7:30-8:30 a.m., Jan.12, Facebook; 7:30-8:30 a.m., Feb. 9, LinkedIn; 7:30-8:30 a.m., March 9, Twitter; 7:30-8:30 a.m., April 13, blogs; 7:30-8:30 a.m., May 11, Connect to Chamber's Social Media; 7:30-8:30 a.m., June 8, Monitoring Your Business Using Social Media; 7:30-8:30 a.m., July 13, Google-Claim your Business.
There is no cost to these classes. However registration is required as classroom space is limited to 30 participants so each can have their own computer. For more information go to www.explorebrainerdlakes.com or contact Miranda at manderson@explorebrainerdlakes.com.
How to submit Business Notes
Business Notes submissions may be addressed to Renee Richardson, Brainerd Dispatch, P.O. Box 974, Brainerd, MN 56401; faxed to 829-0211; or e-mailed to renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com.
Photos may be submitted by e-mail, mail or may be taken at the Dispatch by appointment.
Drop-off submissions are accepted at the Dispatch's news receptionist's desk, or by using the after-hours drop box near the building's side entrance in the alley.
Questions about submissions are welcome at 855-5852 or (800) 432-3703.