Welcome to the Eau Claire Chamber Blog

Royal Credit Union (Royal) has named Julie Frey vice president of business loan operations and services. She is responsible for providing strategic direction and leading the Business Operations department. This includes overseeing the processes and ongoing services of business lending, as well as the administration and oversight of business services for the credit union as a whole. Frey began working for Royal in 1998 in the business department, where she has worked since. She started with Royal as the business loan operations supervisor, but as the department expanded, her role did the same. Her most recent position with Royal was the business operations manager. Frey serves on Royal’s Operational Committee, which is responsible for providing oversight for corporate projects and initiatives. She has worked in the Chippewa Valley banking industry, with a focus on business loans and services, for the past 34 years.

Wausau Homes announced it will now be building quality custom dream homes in Eau Claire and the surrounding communities. Scott and Cheryl Schmidt will be opening their new Design Studio in early July. Wausau Homes builds fully custom one-of-a-kind, superior quality homes – from floor plans to finishes – with a firm price and move in date, guaranteed.  

Licensed professional counselor Paul Roadt recently joined the Behavioral Health Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Roadt earned his master’s degree in social work-mental health from UW-Madison. He received his bachelor’s degree in social work from UW-Eau Claire. Roadt’s specialty area is in addiction treatment.

Certified nurse practitioner Emily Geissler has rejoined Spine & Neurological Surgery Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Geissler earned her master’s and bachelor’s degrees in nursing from UW-Eau Claire. Most recently, she served as a nurse practitioner with Neurological Associates in Minneapolis. She previously worked in Spine & Neurological Surgery at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire and Neuroscience/Pediatrics/Trauma. She is a certified nurse practitioner and neuroscience registered nurse.
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Feather Communications owner and Certified Professional Resume Writer Dr. Heather Rothbauer-Wanish has been chosen as a breakout speaker for the 2016 Polka Dot Powerhouse Annual Celebration in St. Charles, IL. The Annual Celebration is a two-day event that allows members from all of its chapters to come together for speakers, sponsors, and workshops. During the event, held in October 2016, Rothbauer-Wanish will present a session about overcoming obstacles and setting goals—in both your personal and professional life. 

ADG Architects & Five Bugles Design in Eau Claire announced the addition of three new hires. Shirley Sarbaugh is taking on the new positon of healthcare planner. Sarbaugh has 20 years of career experience as a medical planner, interior designer and clinical consultant as well as 16 years practicing as a registered nurse with active nursing license in IL and MN. Mike Scott is the new emergency services specialist. Scott has 33 years of career experience in public safety work including serving as a volunteer firefighter, police officer, deputy sheriff and a career fire chief. Mike Lorenz has been hired as a project captain. Lorenz has an associate’s degree from Northcentral Technical College in Wausau. He also has 30 years of experience, most recently with TCI Architects/Engineers/Contractor in La Crosse.
 

EO Johnson Business Technologies Locknet® Managed IT Services ranks among the world’s most progressive 501 Managed Service Providers (MSPs), according to Penton Technology’s 9th-annual MSP 501 list and study. This is the fifth consecutive year Locknet® has been recognized by MSPmentor, ranking in the Global Edition in 2014 and 2015 and in their North America’s top 200 list in 2012 and 2013. The top MSP 501 companies ranked this year include organizations from around the world and from diverse technology and business backgrounds. The 2016 MSP 501 list is based on data collected by MSPmentor and its partner, Clarity Channel Advisors.

Green Oasis announced its new window cleaning service. Starting in the summer of 2016, Green Oasis has certified and trained technicians for its new service is available for both home or commercial property owners. 

​Larson Companies announced that the new Staybridge Suites Eau Claire-Altoona has opened. The newly constructed 90,000 sq.-ft. Staybridge Suites is an innovative all-suite hotel brand designed to meet the needs of extended stay guests looking for upscale amenities. It is ideal for travelers seeking a residential-style hotel that is perfect for business, relocation or vacation.

HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award with Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll Elite. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to providing the most appropriate stroke treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.

HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital’s L.E. Phillips-Libertas Treatment Center received the David ‘Mac’ Macmaster Award for pioneering efforts to address tobacco use in the behavioral health setting. The center was one of five facilities in the state to earn this year’s award.

Dr. Peter Myers received an $110,000 award from The Heritage Foundation Simon Center’s Visiting Fellowship in American Political Thought, a prestigious organization that has a long history of producing politically significant research.  Myers is a longtime UW-Eau Claire professor whose areas of expertise include political philosophy, American political thought and U.S. Constitutional law.

The Council on Undergraduate Research has announced that a University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire faculty member and the leader of support for research on campus has been named CUR's executive board general representative.
Dr. Karen Havholm, professor of geology, assistant vice chancellor for research and sponsored programs, and director of the Center of Excellence for Faculty and Undergraduate Student Research Collaboration at UW-Eau Claire, will begin her term in June.

Shannara Faupl has assumed duties as nurse director for primary care for Mayo Clinic Health System in northwest Wisconsin. As nurse director, Faupl will oversee the Family Medicine, Urgent Care and Express Care departments, along with the Mayo Clinic Family Medicine Residency Program. She has been employed with Mayo Clinic Health System for 15 yea

L.E. Phillips-Libertas Treatment Center in Chippewa Falls has recently promoted Carla Griggs, RN, to nurse manager of the center. In her new role, Griggs will coordinate and manage nursing personnel and resources and work with local organizations to best serve client needs at the center. Griggs holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where she is also pursuing her doctoral degree in nursing.Prior to serving as a registered nurse at the treatment center, she served as a registered nurse at the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.

 Marshfield Clinic Health System (MCHS) today announced its new "Caring for the Chippewa Valley" plan to build a hospital with attached cancer care on land the Clinic has purchased near its Eau Claire campus. MCHS officials said owning and operating a state-of-the-art hospital in Eau Claire is an important move that allows the organization to offer the highest level of care locally while gaining more control over the cost and quality of care it has provided in the community for more than two decades. The hospital will be built at 1202 W. Clairemont Ave., current site of the Plaza Hotel & Suites. MCHS has purchased the real estate, and the hotel business will continue to operate the Plaza through December. The building will be razed over the winter, and groundbreaking is scheduled for spring of 2017. The cancer care location is tentatively set to open in fall of 2017, with the hospital opening expected the following year, Turney said. Cancer care services will continue to be provided at Marshfield Clinic Cancer Care at Sacred Heart Hospital until the transition.

Becky Swanson, division director of marketing communications for HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals, has been named a Hospital Marketer of the Year by DTC Perspectives, Inc. – a conference, training and publishing company for the consumer marketing of hospitals, pharmaceuticals and health care products. Swanson shares this year’s honor with only nine other marketing professionals nationwide. Honorees are judged based on industry reputation, accomplishments, innovations and notoriety among their peers, partners and media. Swanson joined Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals in 2007 and has 30 years of health care marketing experience.

Citizens Community Federal N.A. (CCFBank) recently held a groundbreaking ceremony in Lake Hallie for its newest traditional branch. The new facility is scheduled to open late fall 2016. The bank broke ground for the new branch on Commercial Boulevard, located across the street from the Culvers. The new bank will provide full-service banking to individuals and businesses and will offer a complete range of personal and services.

Royal Credit Union (Royal) has named Jackie Leavesseur electronic payment manager at the Corporate Center. She is responsible for managing the team of electronic payment specialists. This includes coaching, training, process improvement, and efficiencies. She also is  involved in projects with the Product Settlement & Services team. Leavesseur comes to Royal with experience in the banking industry as she was most recently a branch manager at Associated Bank for nine years.

Carla Toft, certified nurse-midwife, recently joined the Obstetrics & Gynecology Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Toft earned her master’s degree in nursing from the University of Texas-El Paso and her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh, New York. Previously, Toft worked as a nurse-midwife at the San Antonio Military Medical Center in Texas and at the Darnall Army Medical Center in Fort Hood, Texas. She also served honorably in the United States Army for 26 years and retired last year at the rank of colonel. She is certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board and has been a certified nurse-midwife for 15 years.
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After many months of planning and fundraising in the community, the new playground project at the Chippewa Valley Montessori Charter School is coming to life. The project is funded by several private gifts and is made possible in large part due to generous grants from area businesses. Scheels’ partnership in the endeavor brought the project over the fundraising goal with their $40,000 grant. Businesses in the area who pride themselves on health and fitness have been supportive of the project.  The playground is also sponsored by a generous Hometown Health grant through Mayo Clinic Health System.  

Doug Richardson was recently hired as director of safety and business development for Heartland Contractors Inc.  He will be responsible for their safety compliance procedures and growing the client base throughout the Midwest. Richardson brings more than 20 years of management experience in the construction, retail, manufacturing and safety industries.  He has spent the past four years as a safety compliance specialist in the agricultural and transportation industry.  He earned his MBA and bachelor’s degrees from UW–Eau Claire.
 
WESTconsin Credit Union’s site building plan was recently approved by the Altoona City Council and construction plans are underway for breaking ground in late summer and opening in April 2017. The credit union selected Chippewa Valley-based Hoeft Builders as general contractor and construction manager. The new 8,000 square foot facility will be on the corner of River Prairie Drive and Bluestem Boulevard, right off of Highway 53. This will be WESTconsin’s 15th office offering full-financial services.

Chippewa Valley Technical College has been designated a Tree Campus USA site by the National Arbor Day Foundation. Earning the designation was the result of an effort begun a year ago by a Landscape, Plant and Turf Management student. Started in 2008 and sponsored by Toyota, Tree Campus USA seeks to promote healthy trees and student involvement, similar to the Tree City USA program, of which Eau Claire is a member. In Wisconsin only UW-Fox Valley, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stevens Point and Western Technical College in La Crosse are recognized by Tree Campus USA. To gain the recognition, CVTC had to meet five criteria, including creation of a committee, a campus tree care plan, an Arbor Day observance and a service learning project. Last year as part of the efforts, the CVTC Horticulture Club held an Earth Day tree seedling giveaway.
 
Julie Cook has been hired as the business development officer in the Commercial Banking Department at CCFBank. Cook brings more than 25 years of experience in financial services and community banking. Cook will be based out of the CCFBank Altoona branch location.
 
Culligan International, world leader in water treatment technologies, recently awarded two Sterling Water Culligan dealerships with Top 25 Awards for revenue excellence in 2015. Sterling Water Culligan in Eau Claire and in Rothschild recently accepted the award at Culligan’s 80th Anniversary Bash in Huntington Beach. Top 25 Awards are given to Culligan dealers based on revenue growth in their respective market size, either small, medium or large. The 25 dealerships in each of these categories to yield the highest growth year after year are chosen for the award. This is not the first time Sterling Water Culligan has been recognized nationally. Both dealerships are previous Top 25 Award recipients, and they have also earned the E.J. Culligan award for being one of the top 15 performing dealerships in North America.
 
David Nelson, chief financial officer at HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals, was elected to serve on the Northwest Wisconsin American Red Cross Board as board chair. His one-year term in this role begins July 1. As the Board chair for the Northwest Wisconsin American Red Cross, Nelson will lead the board and set the tone for members. He will oversee governance and policy setting, with a focus on mission, direction priorities and evaluation. Nelson will have a significant influence on how the Board guides the chapter’s humanitarian services and programs for 17 counties in northwestern Wisconsin and will be instrumental in helping the Northwest Wisconsin American Red Cross board address fundraising goals.Nelson has served as a volunteer with the Red Cross since 2012 as a disaster action team member and a government liaison. Two colleagues from HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital recently earned advanced certification in their respective fields. Peggy Schlough, a registered nurse in the hospital’s critical care department, recently earned her cardiac surgery certification through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. This certification was introduced in 2005 for specialty certified nurses providing care to acutely/critically ill adult patients, particularly during the first 48 hours after cardiac surgery. Schlough also holds a cardiac medicine certification and has maintained her critical care registered nurse certification for more than 20 years. Kelly Schmidt, a registered polysomnographic technologist in the hospital’s sleep disorder center, recently earned her certification in clinical sleep health. Issued by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists, this certification validates the highest knowledge of sleep disorders and treatments. Earlier this year, Schmidt earned her clinical sleep educator certification.

Three Royal Credit Union Board members were recently re-elected to three-year terms— Jennifer McDonough, Douglas Olson and Stuart Schaefer. McDonough was elected to the Board in 1997. McDonough also serves as chairperson of the Audit Committee and serves on the Compensation/Governance Committee. Olson was elected to the Board in 1995. Currently, Olson serves as chairman of the Board, Compensation/Governance Committe, and Political Action Committee. Schaefer was elected to the oard in 2011. Currently, Schaefer also serves on the Credit Oversight Committee. At the Reorganization Meeting, Olson was elected chairman; Tom Huffcutt was elected Vice chairman; John Sackett was elected treasurer; and McDonough was elected secretary.   Nancy Beltz, Bill Blackburn and Schaefer serve as directors.
 
Mayo Clinic Health System recently awarded $200,000 in grant money to nonprofits in northwest Wisconsin to improve the health of communities in the region. Area non-profits that were awarded a grant through the Hometown Health Grant Program include:

• Altoona Elementary School: Four Seasons of Fun Fitness Trail, $20,000 – A two-mile fitness trail for all community members will be incorporated adjacent to the new elementary school. The trail will encourage outdoor fitness for people of all ages, and will provide information about local habitat, plants and animals by working with the Altoona High School science program.
  
  
• Boys & Girls Club of Greater Chippewa Valley: Healthy Lifestyles — Nutrition & Physical Fitness Program, $20,000 – Boys & Girls Club members will learn the basics of nutrition, fitness and personal wellness; including self-care and positive habits for personal hygiene and grooming. More than 1,000 children at centers in Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls and Menomonie are expected to benefit from this program.
  
  
• Chippewa Valley Free Clinic: Reducing Obesity in a High-risk Population, $14,000 – Clinical services will be enhanced by intervening with overweight and obese patients to prevent the incidence of serious-related disease. This clinical model will use education, counseling and treatment to engage patients in addressing and reducing obesity health risks.
  
  
• Chippewa Valley Montessori: Outdoor Environmental Project, $13,000 – Garden areas and green gathering and learning spaces will replace an existing play area that is more than 20 years old. Children and families from the community will be able to learn and play in areas that include an edible landscape and school garden, along with a restored prairie area.
  
  
• Feed My People Food Bank: Produce Initiative, $20,000 – This program will increase the amount of fruit and vegetables available to low-income residents in Barron, Buffalo, Chippewa, Dunn and Eau Claire counties. Approximately 180,000 pounds of produce is anticipated to reach 9,000 individuals in 3,000 households.
  
  
• Junior League of Eau Claire: Kids in the Kitchen, $8,000 – Kids in the Kitchen is offered in partnership with the Eau Claire Area School District. Cooking classes for fourth-graders will be offered at Forage in Banbury Place and will include food safety, food preparation and an art and fitness rotation, with activities including Zumba or yoga.
  
  
• School District of Augusta: Food — Small Choices, Big Changes, $16,000 – Classroom gardens will be created to teach students where food comes from, increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, and provide fresh produce to the school food service. Educational events will be held for families to learn and experience healthy food options.

Low Voltage Contractors (LVC) has expanded its product and service offerings to include J.N. Johnson Fire and Safety. As of May 1st, LVC has acquired J.N. Johnson. JN will continue to do business as “J.N. Johnson, a Division of LVC”.  The acquisition includes the Minneapolis office, the Hibbing office, the International Falls office as well as Lee Leasing.

HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals were awarded the “Greenhealth Partner for Change” Awards by Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s leading health care community dedicated to transforming health care worldwide so that it reduces its environmental footprint, becomes a community anchor for sustainability and a leader in the global movement for environmental health and justice. The awards honor outstanding environmental achievements in the health care sector. The Greenhealth Partner for Change Award recognizes health care facilities that continuously improve and expand upon their mercury elimination, waste reduction, recycling and source reduction programs. At a minimum, facilities applying for this award must be recycling 15 percent of their total waste, have reduced regulated medical waste, are well along the way to mercury elimination and have developed other successful pollution prevention programs in many different areas. 

The Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative (RWHC) bestowed its 2016 Rural Health Ambassador Award to Jeannie Pittenger, stroke program coordinator at HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals during a ceremony at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Pittenger is one of only 14 people in Wisconsin to receive an award from RWHC this year. Pittenger has served as a registered nurse for 33 years. Through her work, guidance and expertise, Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s have earned several stroke achievements, including the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award with Target: Stroke Honor Roll, and the Wisconsin Department of Health Service’s Coverdell Stroke Champion honor.

Spectrum Insurance Group with offices in Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, Weston, Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rapids, Green Bay, Madison and Tomah recently acquired Marine Insurance Services.  As part of the merger, Spectrum will maintain the current Marine Insurance offices in La Crosse, Fond du Lac and Milwaukee, and consolidate the Eau Claire, Tomah and Suamico locations into the existing Spectrum offices.  Marine Insurance specializes in personal insurance products including home, auto, small business and life.  Spectrum Insurance Group was founded by Darrel Zaleski in 2007 and has more than 90 employees providing risk management solutions for individuals and businesses.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Wisconsin Foundation, Inc. recently announced the winners of their 2016 prestigious Torch Awards for Business Ethics and Integrity.  EO Johnson Business Technologies was named winner for businesses employing 51 - 500.  The winners, selected by an independent, distinguished panel of nine business ethics experts,  were chosen based on submissions that demonstrated excellence in ethical practices, customer service, reputation, honest advertising, peer recognition, management practices, and employee training in ethical behavior within their industry and community.
 
Rehabilitation for Wisconsin in Action (RFW) and Reach, Inc. acknowledged the Stout Ale House in Menomonie as Employer of the Year for recognizing the value that people with disabilities bring to the workplace and for promoting their independence through meaningful employment.  

United Bank recently announced that Jennifer Moen has joined the Business Banking Team serving all six United Bank office locations in Western Wisconsin. Moen spent the last 15 years working in Eau Claire for a national bank, most recently as a branch manager.  She has more than 20 years of financial background working primarily with retail, businesses and trusts. 
 
EO Johnson Business Technologies has recognized exemplary employee performance for 2015. The company was proud to present the following achievement awards in its Eau Claire market:

• Nancy Duncan, account executive, was honored with Sales Person of the Year.
• Jim Graf, business integration consultant – Managed Print Services, and Brett Zacho, production sales consultant, both received the Outstanding Sales Achievement Award.
• John Fritz, solution support specialist, and Terry Truesdell, service technician, were both named Service Technician of the Year.
• Michaela Spencer, managed print services coordinator, was named administrative/support person of the year.

 
Shirley and Tom Hahn, the owners of Action City, a 55,000 square foot fun center located at Metropolis Resort, recently announced that they are expanding their facilities. Phase one will begin outdoors and will tentatively open in the Summer of 2017. The outdoor expansion will include a two person motorized zipline created by Soaring Eagle which will stretch over mini golf with its highest point at 120 feet.  A much larger go kart road course will replace the current bandit cart oval track, featuring brand new go karts. Phase two will be 35,000 square foot indoor expansion highlighted by a trampoline park with an obstacle area similar to the popular tv show, Ninja Warrior. Additional attractions will be announced soon.  The project is tentatively scheduled to open in Fall of 2017. The permit process for the new indoor and outdoor attractions has already begun at the State and city level and construction is being planned so that Action City will remain open during the construction.
 
David Nelson, chief financial officer at HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals, has been elected to serve on the National Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) Board of Examiners. His three-year term begins July 1. As a member of the HFMA Board of Examiners, Nelson will collaborate with the HFMA National Board and staff to ensure that the HFMA career services and certification programs are responsive to the needs of the membership, the association, and the profession. The HFMA Board of Examiners is the governing body responsible for overseeing HFMA’s certification program and career services initiatives.
 
HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital presented the 2016 Nurse Exemplar Award to Jean Richard, a registered nurse in the hospital’s Women and Infant Services department. Richard has served the hospital for 30 years. The peer-nominated award is Sacred Heart Hospital’s highest nursing honor and recognizes an extraordinary nurse who exhibits excellence in caring for patients and families, provides personalized patient care and has a superior level of knowledge and skill.
 
Joe McFadden has joined Low Volage Contractors as a sales rep tasked with growing the low voltage contractor’s presence and work in the western Wisconsin region.  McFadden has nearly 20 years in the industry and will focus on building the LVC brand and marketing its complete services.  He has a degree in electronics from Brown Institute and has a business and technical background. Larry Gilbert also has joined Low Voltage Contractors as a technical employee.  Gilbert will focus on building the LVC brand as well as installing its services.  Gilbert has a very diverse and experienced background, including United States Air Force veteran, electronics degree and more than 20 years of industry experience in multiple technologies and installation and services. 
 
Engineering and architecture firm Ayres Associates recently acquired The Ash Group, adding depth to Ayres’ Tampa-based staff. The Ash Group’s Tampa office becomes Ayres’ 13th office nationwide and its fourth in Florida. Ayres is headquartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Through this acquisition, Ayres adds new services and strengthens others the firm has been providing in Florida for 30 years.

Tim Molepske has been as selected as the new Scout executive of the Boy Scouts of America, Chippewa Valley Council effective June 1, 2016. Molepske began his Scouting career as district executive at the Circle Ten Council in Dallas, Texas.  He moved on to become the field director and later director of field service with the Capitol Area Council, Austin, Texas. He was promoted to deputy scout executive of the Greater Alabama Council, Birmingham, Alabama. Molepske is an Eagle Scout and Vigil member of the Order of the Arrow.

Northwestern Bank announced the addition of two new Board Members. Bradford J. Colbert III, a native of Chippewa Falls as well as Jerry Bauer, a native of Eau Claire are now serving on Northwestern Bank’s Board of Directors. Bradford is an independent consultant with more than 20 years of finance planning and analysis experience. Bauer is the founder/owner of JB Systems and has over 15 years of experience in website development, database design and architecture and marketing. Along with the addition of these two Board members, Northwestern Bank congratulates B. James Colbert on his retirement from the Board.

HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital’s Susan Pieterick, neurodiagnostic technologist in the cardiology department, has been named the 2016 recipient of the Father Klimek Healing Presence Award. In addition, Steven Immerman, M.D., has been named the hospital’s Physician of the Year for 2016. Pieterick has worked in the cardiology department at Sacred Heart Hospital for 30 years. As a neurodiagnostic technologist, she performs EEG tests, which record and detect abnormalities related to electrical activity of the brain. The Father Klimek Healing Presence Award is the highest honor a hospital colleague can receive, and recognizes a long-term colleague who has dedicated his or her life to being a humble servant of the sick. Immerman is board-certified in general surgery, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He has practiced at Sacred Heart Hospital for 35 years and currently serves as the chair of the hospital’s performance improvement committee and as a member of the hospital’s medical executive and oncology committees. 

WESTconsin Credit Union recently announced Pennie Peterson as vice president WESTconsin Realty, LLC. Peterson previously worked as an agent for WESTconsin Realty since 2011. She replaces recently retired Dalene Crandall who held this position for the past eight years.
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Nizar Ottoman, M.D., has been named the St. Joseph’s Hospital’s Provider of the Year for 2016. This is the inaugural year of the award. Ottoman is a board-certified internal medicine physician with Marshfield Clinic. He is a hospitalist at St. Joseph’s Hospital and works extensively with clinicians and colleagues at the hospital, as well as patients and families. As a recipient of the inaugural award, Ottoman was recognized for his ability to focus on what matters most to patients and their families

Royal Credit Union (Royal) recently announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Capital Bank, Saint Paul (Capital Bank). This acquisition will offer Royal the opportunity to enhance office accessibility to its current Minnesota Membership, as well as serve additional Members in Minnesota. Under the terms of the agreement, Royal will assume approximately $35 million total assets in the transaction.  Pending customary closing conditions, including obtaining regulatory approval, the completion of the transaction is expected to occur in the second half of 2016. Royal is committed to a smooth transition for the bank’s customers. 

Literacy Volunteers Chippewa Valley changed its name to Literacy Chippewa Valley. It was decided to change its name because there is a misconception by community members and funders that everyone is a volunteer. The organization has a small, highly-educated staff that provide training and support to tutors who in turn work with students with low literacy skills. In addition, in 2002, the national literacy organization, Literacy Volunteers of America, changed its name to Pro Literacy, and of the 77 member agencies of Wisconsin Literacy, there is only one other agency that still has “volunteer” in its name.

WESTconsin Credit Union recently held its 76th Annual Membership Meeting and re-elected Lynn Brantner and Colleen Mensing each to another three-year term on its Board of Directors. Officer positions remain as previously held and include: Chairperson Dave Maves, Vice Chairperson Jerry Wolf, Secretary Lynn Brantner and  Treasurer Rita Lunderville.

Diane Hoadley, dean of UW-Eau Claire's College of Business, has announced she will retire June 30. Hoadley has led the College of Business since fall 2010. Hoadley, who also served on the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce and Junior Achievement boards of directors during her tenure at UW-Eau Claire, plans to remain in Eau Claire following her retirement.

Literacy Chippewa Valley recently hired Elizabeth Hart to join its small team of dedicated employees at their Banbury office. Hart worked for CESA 10 in Education Technology as a distance learning French teacher and is the general manager of the Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra. She earned a PhD in French from SUNY Buffalo, a master’s degree in comparative literature from UMASS-Amherst and a bachelor’s degree in music and comparative literature from UW-Madison. She is passionate about reading and wants to kindle that spirit in others.

Group Health Cooperative of Eau Claire recently held its 41st Annual Meeting where two Cooperative members were re-elected to the Cooperative’s Board of Directors, and one new member was elected. Re-elected and newly elected Cooperative Board members include:

• Lucas Salter – a Cooperative member through Trubilt Collision Center, where he is the automotive manager.
• Mary Steinke – a Cooperative member through Huebsch Services, where she is the general manager.
• Charity Zich – a Cooperative member through Eau Claire County, where she is the airport director of the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport.
  
  

The new Energy Education Center (EEC) at Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) has been recognized for its energy efficiency and green environmental features. Focus on Energy has selected the EEC as a 2016 Energy Efficiency Excellence Award Winner, while the U.S. Green Building Council has awarded the EEC LEED Gold certification. The EEC is the first LEED Gold Certified building in the Eau Claire area. U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) recognizes buildings, homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance. There are four levels of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification: Platinum, Gold, Silver and Certified.

Nurse practitioner Aaron Jelinek recently joined the Critical Care Unit at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Jelinek earned his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in nursing from UW-Eau Claire. Previously, he served as a nurse practitioner in the Infectious Disease and Travel Medicine departments at Marshfield Clinic and as a registered nurse in the Critical Care Unit at Sacred Heart Hospital, both in Eau Claire. Jelinek is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the Wisconsin Nurses Association.

Prevea Health announced that Prevea Women’s Care is now available at HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital. Prevea Women’s Care, featuring Michael Tiffany, DO, FACOG is dedicated to caring for women all of ages. Tiffany offers a variety of services including routine gynecologic, pregnancy, high-risk pregnancy and urogynecology care. He also performs minimally-invasive gynecologic surgery with laparoscopic and robotic medical technology.

The Wisconsin Better Business Bureau (BBB) Foundation Center for Character Ethics has announced that EO Johnson Business Technologies is among the finalists for its prestigious BBB Torch Awards for Ethics. The BBB Torch Awards for Ethics is a statewide competition that honors businesses and non-profit organizations who do business in Wisconsin and that demonstrate excellence in ethical practices, service excellence, reputation, honest advertising, peer recognition, management practices, and employee training in ethical behavior. This is the 12th award program by the Wisconsin BBB Foundation, a nonprofit organization. Award categories are based on the size of the company. Winners will be announced at the BBB Torch Awards luncheon ceremony on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at the Harley-Davidson Museum® in Milwaukee.

Chippewa Valley Technical College is offering a series of three eight-week fully online classes leading to what is officially called an Unmanned Aerial Systems Certificate begins this summer. The certificate is designed to give the student a solid foundation in understanding unmanned aerial vehicle systems technologies, capabilities, regulations, safety and legal responsibilities. The three classes include UAS Fundamentals and Theory, UAS Operations, and Commercial UAS Policy Development. All classes will be fully online, with operations training through a simulator.