Welcome to the Eau Claire Chamber Blog

​Wipfli LLP recently announced that Michael Pynch has been appointed to the firm’s Leadership Team in the role of technology partner. In his new firm-wide leadership role, Pynch will be responsible for building and developing the firm’s technology services strategy and vision, the technology services organization, technology infrastructure and the services required to support the firm’s business needs. A 20-year technology industry veteran, Pynch joined Wipfli more than 14 years ago and has been a partner with Wipfli since 2008. He has spent the majority of his career providing technology services to businesses and helping them to succeed. In addition to this new leadership role, Pynch also is the firm-wide consulting leader for Wipfli’s technology management service group, providing cloud and infrastructure services to small and medium-sized businesses across all industries. He is based in the firm’s Eau Claire office.

Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, Inc, Northwest District announced two new members joining its Board of Directors. Patrick Erickson, a manager with CliftonLarsonAllen LLC will bring his diverse taxation, audit and customer service expertise to the JA Board. Erickson graduated from UW-Eau Claire with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and later earned his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation. Kathy Otto, an operations manager with Phillips-Medisize Medical Assembly also is joining the JA Board of Directors. She is a Southern Oregon University graduate with a bachelor’s of science degree in chemistry and also earned a master’s of science in technology management from UW- Stout. She also received a Lean Certificate from Chippewa Valley Technical College. Otto began her career as a chemist and process engineer and after receiving her master’s degree, she transitioned into operations management.

Two new directors have recently joined HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals: Ken Brown has joined both hospitals as director of radiology services. Brown most recently served as regional radiology manager at Marshfield Clinic in Marshfield. He is an established leader in imaging and practice management, and has managed both radiology and cardiology services at health care facilities in Montana, Iowa and California. Brown holds a master’s degree in healthcare administration from Ashford University in Clinton, Ia. Kandi Mensing has joined both hospitals as director of dialysis services. Mensing most recently served as manager in people services at the southern Illinois division of Hospital Sisters Health System. She has more than 11 years of experience as a dialysis technician. Mensing holds a master’s degree in business administration from McKendree University in Lebanon, Ill.

​Staybridge Suites in Altoona received the IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group) 2016 New Development Design Award which is given to hotels that are considered the best in class providing exemplary brand design, quality of construction and attention to detail. Staybridge Suites in Altoona is one of only two Staybridge Suites in North America selected to win this award. The hotel was recognized during the 2016 IHG Americas Investors and Leadership Conference.

The Harding Group LLC has officially joined the PXT Select™ Authorized Partner Network and can now provide PXT Select™ assessment solutions to organizations throughout North America. As a PXT Select™ Authorized Partner, The Harding Group plays an active role in sustaining and promoting the value of assessment solutions and is dedicated to helping organizations build better, more productive and happier workforces. These high-quality, research-validated tools provide actionable data about candidates in an easy to understand format that helps simplify and improve hiring processes. By identifying the most suitable candidates, organizations reduce turnover, boost employee engagement and ultimately invest in improving their workplaces.

The new 30-room boutique hotel, The Oxbow Hotel, and onsite restaurant, The Lakely, have opened. The Oxbow Hotel consists of two buildings, The Main House and The Flats. The Main house features The Lakely restaurant, event space, lobby and rooms. The Flats, a mid-century modern building adjacent to The Main House, holds the remainder of the rooms and will be open to a courtyard with outdoor seating, fire pits and kubb lawn. The Oxbow is being managed by General Manager Allison Sullivan. The Oxbow Hotel and The Lakely restaurant project is owned by Longform, LLC, whose members include Justin Vernon, Zach Halmstad, Nick Meyer and Ben Richgruber.

Ruder Ware, a law firm with headquarters in Wausau and Eau Claire, recently was awarded recertification in Meritas, a global alliance of business law firms. Ruder Ware is required to successfully complete recertification every three years. Meritas is the only law firm alliance with an established and comprehensive means of monitoring and enhancing the quality of its member firms—a process that saves clients time in validating law firm credentials and experience. Meritas membership is selective and by invitation only. Firms are regularly assessed and recertified for the breadth of their practice expertise and client satisfaction. The organization’s extensive due diligence process ensures that only firms meeting the tenets of Meritas’ Quality Assurance Program are allowed to maintain membership.

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Foundation Board of Directors recently welcomed new members and honored outgoing members for their years of service. The following individuals have been elected to the board:

• Timothy Ball, Stillwater, Minnesota, is an international tax partner with Ernst & Young in Minneapolis. 
• Patti Lien, Eau Claire, is retired following 12 years as vice president with Wells Fargo Mortgage in Minneapolis. 
• David Moran, Minnetonka, Minnesota, is an executive vice president of marketing and enterprise strategy at Carlson Wagonlit Travel, a position he’s held since 2012.
• Regi Munro, Chandler, Arizona, is chair of the Wellness Division at Chandler-Gilbert Community College
• Therese Pershall, Eau Claire, is the market head for U.S. Bank, a longstanding UW-Eau Claire Foundation corporate partner. In addition to its annual support of diversity and academic excellence scholarships, U.S. Bank was one of the first major corporate donors to the Confluence Project in downtown Eau Claire.
• Elected to additional terms on the board were Andrew Burish, Madison; Betsy Kell, Eau Claire; Vicki Lord Larson, Eau Claire; Neil Lipinski, Irvington, N.Y.; Rudy Pereira of Royal Credit Union; and Rick Schroder, Issaquah, Washington. 

Physician assistant Kailey Scheller recently joined the Emergency Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Scheller earned her master’s degree in physician assistant studies from Concordia University in Mequon. She received bachelor’s degrees in biology and neuroscience from Carthage College in Kenosha. She is certified in advanced cardiovascular life support, basic life support and CPR. Her professional interests include emergency medicine and pediatric emergency medicine.

Two colleagues from HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital recently earned advanced certification in their respective fields. Valerie Hofacker and Kate Stuewe, who are registered nurses in the hospital’s inpatient physical rehabilitation department, recently earned their certified rehabilitation registered nurse (CRRN) accreditation. The CRRN accreditation is certified by the American Board of Nursing Specialties. It features an exam about ethical and legal issues, health patterns including assessments, physiology and standards of care, the function of the rehabilitation team, and rehabilitation nursing models.

Nurse practitioner Ashley Schuelke recently joined Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Schuelke earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Viterbo University in La Crosse and her master’s degree in the primary care nurse practitioner program at Concordia University in Mequon. Schuelke previously worked as a registered nurse in Critical Care at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. She is certified by the American Heart Association in basic life support and advanced cardiac life support. Her professional interests include improving access to health care and improving health literacy.
Guilherme Giusti, M.D., recently joined the Orthopedic Center at Mayo Clinic Health System. Giusti earned his medical degree and completed his orthopedic surgery residency and hand surgery fellowship from the Sao Paulo Federal University in Brazil. He also completed a second orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago and additional fellowships in hand surgery and microvascular research at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Giusti is board-eligible in orthopedic surgery and a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and American Society for Surgery of the Hand.

Randall Linton, M.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Health System for northwest Wisconsin, is announcing his retirement in April 2017. Linton has served in his current capacity as president and CEO for the past 15 years. Prior to that, he served as a pediatrician for more than 20 years. Planning and organizing the process for selecting a successor will begin immediately, and a final selection is anticipated by January to allow for an appropriate transition period. Linton will assist his successor to ensure a smooth and seamless leadership transition. The search committee for the new leader will include regional representation. As a part of the transition, the title of the position will change from president and CEO to regional vice president, northwest Wisconsin region, to better align with other similar job titles and organizational structures within Mayo Clinic.
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Jeremy Gragert has been hired as communications specialist for the Chippewa Valley Museum, located in Eau Claire’s Carson Park. Gragert will coordinate outreach and marketing of the regional history and cultural Museum’s programs, education, events, resources and exhibits. Gragert has more than 10 years of experience in community engagement as a leader in non-profit development and higher education, including at UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stout. Gragert has a bachelor’s degree in history from UW-Eau Claire and a master’s degree in education from UW-La Crosse. Prior to joining the Chippewa Valley Museum, Gragert was the northwest ambassador for the Wisconsin Bicycle Federation. 

Royal Credit Union (Royal) hosted a ribbon cutting and grand re-opening celebration at its newly remodeled North High School student-run credit union office. Royal leaders, school administrators and students joined together on Tuesday, September 27 for the event. Royal opened the office at North High School in 2005. Since its opening 33 students have worked in the North High School office. The remodeled facility features a warm, welcome environment for members to conduct business. Comfortable seating, a financial education delivery center and space for one-on-one consultations are also available in the office. To celebrate the long-standing partnership, Royal Credit Union presented North High School administrators with a $250 donation to support an educational initiative or school program of their choice.

A recent update to Nursing Home Compare by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) designates local healthcare provider Dove Healthcare with an overall 5 Star Rating for each of their six skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities. This rating is based on quality measures, staffing ratios and annual health inspection results. Star ratings are assigned to each of these categories and the categories are combined to calculate an overall rating. In July 2016, 32.1 percent of Wisconsin skilled nursing facilities were rated five stars and 22.8 percent nationally. More information can be found on the website.

Ola Kanj Ahmed, M.D., has joined the Oncology Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Ahmed received her medical degree from the University of Jordan in Amman, Jordan. She was chief medical resident of the internal medicine residency program at Unity Health System in Rochester, New York. She completed her fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York. Kanj Ahmed is a member of the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Justine Abel, D.O., recently joined the Emergency Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire.  Abel earned her bachelor’s degrees in English and psychology from the University of California-Davis. She earned her doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from Midwestern University in Downers Grove, Illinois. Abel completed her residency in emergency medicine at Western Michigan University School of Medicine- Kalamazoo. She is certified in advanced trauma, cardiac, disaster, obstetrics and pediatric life support.

Nurse practitioner Karen Bowman recently joined Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Bowman earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota, and her master’s degree in the family nurse practitioner program at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Previously, Bowman worked as a family nurse practitioner at Eau Claire Medical Clinic. Bowman is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. She is a certified asthma educator and is certified by the American Heart Association in basic and advanced cardiac life support.

The Wisconsin Association of School Boards has set October 2 – 8 as Wisconsin School Board Appreciation Week as a time to build awareness and understanding of the vital function an elected board of education plays in our communities. Cooperative Education Service Agency 10 (CESA 10) is joining all public school districts across the state to celebrate Wisconsin School Board Appreciation Week and to honor local board members for their commitment to children, education, and the community. 

Mayo Clinic Health System announced that Michael Morrey has been selected as the new regional chair of Administration for northwest Wisconsin. Morrey will succeed John Dickey, chief administrative officer, who is retiring Jan. 15, 2017. Morrey currently is vice president of operations for Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. He is no stranger to the Mayo Clinic family, having held a number of leadership positions at Mayo Clinic in Rochester over the course of 20 years. Most recently, Morrey was associate administrator of Clinic Operations Support Services, where he was responsible for administrative leadership of Mayo Clinic’s multidisciplinary practice. Morrey holds a Ph.D. and a master’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota. Morrey will partner with Dr. Randall Linton to provide organizational leadership and direction. He will be responsible for the overall performance of northwest Wisconsin operations, including quality, safety, service, financial performance and strategic planning.

James Peng, M.D., recently joined the Emergency Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Peng earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts. He received his medical degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. He completed his residency in emergency medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. He is board-certified in emergency medicine by the American Board of Emergency Medicine and is a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians. Prior to joining Mayo Clinic Health System, he practiced at Kaiser Permanente in California and was an assistant professor of emergency medicine at New York University School of Medicine. 

Angela Appel, M.D., recently joined the Surgery Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Appel earned her bachelor’s degree in genetics and medical degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She completed her internship and residency in general surgery at Gunderson Lutheran Medical Foundation in La Crosse. She grew up in Chippewa Falls. She is a member of the American College of Surgeons, Wisconsin Surgical Society and Association of Women Surgeons. Appel is certified in advanced trauma and life support and advanced burn and cardiac life support.
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Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, Inc, Northwest District is pleased to announce that Duane Winkelmann has been appointed to its Board of Directors. Wineklam earned his Mechanical Engineering degree from North Dakota State University and has worked for 3M for the past 24 years and is employed at the 3M Menomonie plant. He is a current classroom volunteer and has presented JA programming to area sixth and seventh grade students the past two years.

Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc., the parent company of Citizens Community Federal N.A. (CCFBank), announced the appointment of Stephen Bianchi to serve as the company’s president and chief executive officer, as well as a member of the Board of Directors. Since 2011, Bianchi has served as president and chief executive officer of the HF Financial Corp. and Home Federal Bank, both based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. As a 30 year banking veteran,  Bianchi also served in several senior management positions at Wells Fargo Bank and with Associated Bank. CCFBank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Citizens Community Bancorp, Inc., is a full-service national bank based in Altoona with more than $723 million in assets and serving more than 50,000 customers in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan.

Chippewa Valley Technical College awarded Karen Lloyd, behavioral sciences instructor, and Al Spaeth, architectural structural design instructor, with the 2016 Roy and Jan Fuerstenberg Teaching Excellence Awards. CVTC’s top awards for teachers were presented Aug. 25 during in-service days to start the new school year. Faculty members are nominated for the prestigious award by their students, and those honored receive cash honorariums of $1,500. Also presented was the Domer New Faculty Teaching Award to Emergency Medical Services instructor Kasondra Mero.

Royal Credit Union (Royal) has expanded its field of membership in Wisconsin to include five additional counties. Financial services provided by Royal will now be available to residents who live, work or attend school in Sawyer, Price, Lincoln, Portage and Adams counties. Immediate family members of these residents are also eligible for Royal membership regardless of where they live. The expansion was approved by Wisconsin’s Department of Financial Institutions and Royal’s Board of Directors in late August. Royal now serves 23 counties in Wisconsin and 12 counties in Minnesota. 

Orthopedic surgeon Mark McCarthy, M.D., recently joined the Orthopedic Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. McCarthy earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. He received his master’s degree in physician assistant studies at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. He received his medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis. McCarthy completed his orthopedic residency at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. He completed his sports medicine surgical fellowship at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush University in Chicago, Illinois, where he was team physician for the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox. McCarthy is a board-eligible orthopedic surgeon and member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy Association of Northern America.
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Royal Credit Union (Royal) has launched a new program designed specifically for the 18-to-25 year-old crowd. The Smart Connection, geared toward young adults, kicked off on September 1, 2016. The Smart Connection is designed to help students learn and grow during the years that follow their 18th birthday. Between the ages of 18 and 25, young adults are budgeting for higher education, a first apartment, first checking account, first car loan or first home purchase.

Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, Inc, Northwest District announced two new board members joining its Board of Directors. Julie Kahl is an office supervisor with WESTconsin Credit Union located in Menomonie High School. Dr. Tim Vaughan also is joining the JA Board of Directors. Vaughn is the interim dean of the College of Business at UW-Eau Claire.

Huebsch Services is celebrating 125 years of service and will host a customer event on September 23 at its Eau Claire facility. Huebsch Services was established in 1891 to meet the needs of a growing lumber community in West Central Wisconsin. Today, Huebsch serves more than 6,000 customers in Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, La Crosse, Rice Lake, Winona, Minneapolis, Saint Paul and surrounding areas. Since their humble beginning, they have remained dedicated to the needs of their customers, employees, communities and the environment when it comes to its laundry service business.  Huebsch is deeply committed to innovative and sustainable business practices. As a Clean Green Certified company, Huebsch pursues all avenues of water, chemical, and energy reduction options. Most recently, Huebsch made the decision to invest in a large scale Solar Photovoltaic System. A 100 KW solar system consisting of 350 panels was recently installed on the roof of the Wisconsin facility. It is estimated to provide 20-30 percent of all electricity they consume.

Prevea Health is now providing comprehensive behavioral care services in the Chippewa Valley at Prevea Behavioral Care, 2119 Heights Dr. in Eau Claire. This took effect on Aug. 29, 2016 when providers from HSHS Sacred Heart Behavioral Health Clinic joined Prevea Health.  In addition, HSHS Sacred Heart Behavioral Health Clinic – once located at 4235 Southtowne Dr. in Eau Claire – relocated to 2119 Heights Dr. in Eau Claire to become Prevea Behavioral Care. While the name and location of the former HSHS Sacred Heart Behavioral Care Health Clinic are new, all providers and services once offered there remain the same. Providers include Ricardo Bayola, MD; Emil Ibraham, MD; Michael Lace, PsyD; Jeni Gronemus, LPC; Kristen Seidler, LPC, SAC; Courtney Hovland, LPC and Jeffrey Jackson, PA-C.

Royal Credit Union (Royal) recently announced the completion of its acquisition of Capital Bank in Saint Paul is complete. Royal assumed approximately $35 million total assets in the transaction. This acquisition offered Royal the opportunity to enhance office accessibility to its current Minnesota membership, as well as serve additional members in Minnesota.

Nurse practitioner Hope St. Jean recently joined Family Medicine at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. St. Jean earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, and her master’s degree in the family nurse practitioner program at Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin. Prior to joining Family Medicine in Eau Claire, St. Jean worked as a nurse practitioner at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, in the departments of Primary Care and Internal Medicine, and Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.

The Classic at Hillcrest Greens recently announced the appointment of Dean Mathwig to the position of community relations director. Mathwig will be responsible for the overall coordination, development, and maintenance of the organization’s marketing and sales program. With nearly 30 years of experience in marketing, communications, and public relations, Mathwig has worked for several healthcare entities in the Chippewa Valley, including: Mayo Health System, Sacred Heart Hospital, Blue Cross & Blue Shield and Community Health Partnership. Mathwig is a graduate of Chippewa Valley Technical College. The Classic at Hillcrest Greens, a senior living community based in Altoona, Wisconsin provides housing and services for independent living, assisted living, and memory care residents.

Four prominent area men will take a stand against breast cancer by supporting the American Cancer Society through participation in the Real Men Wear Pink campaign. Throughout the month of October, Real Men Wear Pink candidates will encourage women in their lives and in the community to take action in the fight against breast cancer. Each Real Men Wear Pink candidate is charged with a fundraising challenge and will compete to be the top fundraiser among the other candidates by the end of the campaign. The 2016 Real Men Wear Pink candidates are: Tony Martin, D.D.S., Martin Dental; Bob McCoy, Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce; Nick Grunseth, WQOW-TV; and Scott Polenz, Marshfield Clinic.

Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc. and WLAX-WEUX TV, the Fox and MeTV affiliate serving the La Crosse-Eau Claire market, announced today plans to introduce Four new channels on September 1, 2016. Laff, Grit, Escape and Bounce will launch respectively on channels 25.3, 25.4 (La Crosse) 48.3 and 48.4 (Eau Claire) and reflects Nexstar’s organization-wide commitment to broadcasting excellence for local viewers and advertisers. Laff is the nation’s first broadcast network devoted to comedy. Grit is the nation’s first broadcast network dedicated to bold and legendary action heroes. Escape is broadcast television network for women and Bounce is the an African American broadcast network.

John Jacobson, M.D., recently joined the Emergency Medicine Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Jacobson received his bachelor’s degree in general science at the University of Oregon in Eugene. He earned his medical degree and completed residencies in emergency medicine from Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland. He is board-certified in emergency medicine by the American Board of Emergency Medicine, and a fellow of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine and the American College of Emergency Medicine. He is trained as a course director and provider of advanced cardiac life support.
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Nurse practitioner Cori Duellman Wallerich recently joined Palliative Care at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Duellman Wallerich earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing and her master’s degree in the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program at Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota. Prior to joining Palliative Care in Eau Claire, Duellman Wallerich worked as a an intensive care unit nurse at Mayo Clinic’s Methodist Hospital Campus in Rochester. 

Heartland Contractors, Inc. announced that Bill Albright, vice president, has acquired an equity interest in the company. Albright joined the firm in 2004 and has been an integral part of Heartland’s evolution from residential development to commercial and site/civil construction.  With more than 20 years of experience in the construction and real estate industry, he has completed hundreds of projects ranging in commercial, investment property, and excavation. His specialties include: real estate development, investment property analysis, construction/financing, and project management. Albright received his master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the University of South Dakota.

The Reach Foundation has named three new board members to serve on The Reach Foundation Board of Directors.  The following individuals have been appointed to serve a three-year term: Wes Escondo, executive director for Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin; Kerri Stoner, vice president of commercial banking for U.S. Bank and Lisa Walter, chief of police at UW-Stout. Chief Walter’s term begins in May of 2017.  Escondo and Stoner began their terms in June of this year. 

Royal Credit Union (Royal) has named Colin Boone corporate risk manager. He is responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction for the Risk Analyst group in order to protect Royal and its members from losses related to fraud. He also will lead the enterprise risk management program, vendor management program and business continuity and disaster recovery planning process. Boone began with Royal in June of 2010 as an internal auditor. After a year in that position, he became the compliance – risk management specialist, his most recent position with Royal before his promotion to corporate risk manager.

Frank Paulich, Eau Claire service manager of EO Johnson Business Technologies, was appointed to the ECi e-automate Dealer Advisory Council. As part of the council, he will join representatives from across the country. ECi e-automate is a business management software for companies that sell and service technology. EO Johnson Business Technologies joins the thousands of businesses represented in the ECi Dealer Advisory Council. Dealers who are involved with this council function represent a large variety of companies from different sizes industry geographic locations and supplier affiliations.

Feather Communications owner and Certified Professional Resume Writer, Dr. Heather Rothbauer-Wanish, has been included in the latest e-book by Recruiter.com, titled, Get Hired: 130+ Tips for Job Seekers from the Experts.  Rothbauer-Wanish’s tip for the e-book is based on following-up after a job fair. “Job seekers need to take it upon themselves to follow up with potential connections from job fairs and networking. Many people overlook this important step and it can be the difference between being called in for an interview versus completely forgotten after the event,” she explained. Dr. Heather Rothbauer-Wanish, owner of Feather Communications, has been working with job seekers since 2008 to develop forward-thinking, eye-catching, and dynamic resumes for today's marketplace. 

​Nadir Kharma, M.D., recently joined the Pulmonology and Center for Sleep Medicine departments at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Kharma earned both his bachelor’s degree in biology and medical degree at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon. He completed residencies in internal medicine at Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, and at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. He also completed two fellowships in pulmonology and critical care medicine at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. Over the last year, he completed a fellowship in sleep medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Kharma previously worked as an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Manitoba, Canada, and as a consultant in pulmonary and critical care medicine at the Health Services Centre and Saint Boniface General Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Nurse practitioner Emily Jenders recently joined Family Medicine at Mayo Clinic Health System. Jenders earned her master’s degree in nursing from Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a master’s degree in nursing — family nurse practitioner from Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology, society and environment from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and is certified by the American Heart Association in basic life support and advanced cardiovascular life support. Jenders previously worked as a nurse at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire.

Licensed clinical social worker Amanda Neckar recently joined the Behavioral Health Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Neckar earned her master’s degree in social work from UW-Madison. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Viterbo University in La Crosse. Previously, she worked at Mayo Clinic Health System – Franciscan Healthcare in Arcadia. Neckar’s professional interests include substance abuse and mental health issues, such as, depression, anxiety, chronic mental illness and chronic pain.

Prevea Health is now providing infectious disease care in the Chippewa Valley at its partner hospital, HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital. Prevea Infectious Disease care is provided by Chandra Pingili, MD. Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and fellowship-trained in Infectious Disease, Pingili specializes in a variety of key services, including: inpatient and outpatient infectious diseases, MRSA surgical site infections, HIV testing and treatment, and hospital-acquired. Pingili is a graduate of Gandhi Medical College in Hyderabad, India. He completed residency in Internal Medicine at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in New York and fellowship in Infectious Disease at Columbia University Medical Center, Harlem Hospital in New York.

EO Johnson Business Technologies was recognized by ACDI as a 2015 Elite Partner. ACDI provides print management software, partnering with dealers to bring their business solution products to market. The Elite Partner recognition signifies a dedication to providing customers with expert industry knowledge, premium solutions, and best in class customer services.

Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire was rated High Performing in heart failure and colon cancer surgery by U.S. News & World Report’s 2016-17 Best Hospitals for Procedures & Conditions, which was published online recently. Mayo Clinic Hospital in Eau Claire earned the top-tier High Performing distinction in Procedures & Conditions ratings (formerly Common Care ratings), contributing significantly to the latest ratings by U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals.
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HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital is pleased to announce the following recent promotions:

• Kimberly “KC” Bowers, RN, BSN, has been promoted to manager of the behavioral health department at Sacred Heart Hospital. Prior to her new role, Bowers served as nurse facilitator in that department for two years. Overall, she has worked at the hospital for five years.
• Kim Bruesewitz, RNC-OB, has been promoted to manager of the women and infant services department at Sacred Heart Hospital. Prior to her new role, Bruesewitz served as facilitator and educator in that department for three years. Overall, she has worked at the hospital for 14 years.
• Jessica Gugel, RN, MSN, OCN, CNL, has been promoted to manager of the oncology department at Sacred Heart Hospital. Prior to her new role, Gugel served as clinical facilitator in the oncology department for five years. Overall, she has worked at the hospital for 12 years.
• Loren Lortscher, RN, BSN has been promoted to director of clinical programs at Sacred Heart Hospital. Prior to his new role, Lortscher served as director of surgical services. Overall, he has worked at the hospital for nine years.

​Prevea Health is now providing audiology services in the Chippewa Valley region at its partner hospitals, HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital. Shawna Lee, AuD offers a variety of services including hearing evaluations, cochlear implant programming, vestibular evaluations, ototoxicity monitoring and custom ear molds/hearing protection. She also utilizes Lyric technology, which offers the only extended-wear, invisible hearing aid on the market. Lee graduated from the University of California San Diego and San Diego State University Joint Consortium with a doctorate of Audiology.
Bob Binczak, Mike Hulke and Jamie Radabaugh have recently joined the HSHS Sacred Heart Foundation Leadership Council, and established members Robert Ridenour III, M.D., and Jennifer McDonough have been named chair and vice chair, respectively. Binczak is the office vice president for WESTconsin Credit Union in the Eau Claire and Altoona markets. Hulke is owner and funeral director Fuller-Speckien-Hulke Funeral Home in Eau Claire, where he works with his wife and two sons. Radabaugh is the development director for Commonweal Development Corporation in Eau Claire. HSHS Sacred Heart Foundation Leadership Council provides the local leadership, oversight and direction for fund development strategy and implementation in support of the hospital’s health care ministry through philanthropy.