​After twenty-five years, Wisconsin-based law firm, Weld Riley Prenn & Ricci, S.C. has changed its name—and its look. The new streamlined name, Weld Riley, S.C., reflects modern branding conventions as well as the firm’s evolving vision. In addition, the firm created a dynamic new logo and tagline plus a full range of identity and marketing materials, highlighted by a sleek new website. The recently launched site enables both current and prospective clients to better engage with the firm and understand who Weld Riley is and what it has to offer.

The Chippewa Valley Museum (CVM) announced the appointment of Carrie Ronnander as director. Ronnander, who has served as interim director since May 2015, brings 19 years of museum experience, including 15 years as curator for the Chippewa Valley Museum. As curator she managed and developed the museum’s object collections and assisted in exhibit planning, research and development. She served as project manager for the recent Changing Currents exhibit and was a key team member for the award-winning exhibit Farm Life. Ronnander received her master’s degree in American history with a minor in museum studies from the University of Minnesota and her bachelor’s degree in history from Marquette University.

Holly Hedrington recently joined CCFBank as its new vice president of retail and mortgage banking. Hedrington has more than 20 years experience in retail and mortgage banking. Previously, she served as a regional vice president for a regional financial services company serving Northwest Wisconsin. Her role with CCFBank will be based out of the corporate office in Eau Claire.

Northwestern Bank announced it will be opening a new location off of HWY 53 in the River’s Edge Professional Office Development area. Hoeft Builders will be constructing a 6,000 square foot state of the art Bank scheduled to open sometime later this fall. The new location will replace the existing bank on 2901 Mall Drive and will be a full service bank. Construction is set to begin this spring and until the time of completion the Mall Drive location will remain open for business.
 
Northwestern Bank President Gerald Jacobson is slated to receive the inaugural JA Hero award at next month's JA Hero's Gala. Jacobson will be recognized for his long-term commitment in giving of his time, talent and as a long-standing advocate of Junior Achievement's mission. Other award winners include: Mark Orendorff, Great Northern Corporation -- JA Leadership Partner; Terry Sheridan, Community Volunteer -- JA Hero Volunteer (Posthumus); Rosemary Broeren, Parkview Elementary --  JA Hero Educator; Terri Hanson, Altoona Middle School  -- JA Hero Educator; Chauncy Harris, Nestle USA -- JA Hero Volunteer; Lori Hass, Taylor Credit Union -- JA Hero Volunteer; Royal Credit Union -- JA Hero Volunteer Partner; WESTconsin Credit Union -- JA Hero Volunteer Partner; CCFBANK -- JA Hero Volunteer Partner; United Health Group -- JA Hero Volunteer Partner.The inaugural event is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate area heroes who champion the need to help area youth in the areas of financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship. Along with Jerry, the following heroes will be celebrated at Wild Ridge Golf Course clubhouse on Thursday February, 18. 
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Two colleagues from HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital recently earned advanced certification in their respective fields. Valerie Hofacker, registered nurse in the hospital’s inpatient rehabilitation department, recently earned her 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. Kelly Schmidt, registered polysomnographic technologist in the hospital’s sleep disorder center, recently earned her clinical sleep educator certification. Issued by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists, this program provides advanced training and education to enhance the care management of patients with sleep disorders — primarily sleep apnea.  

Nurse practitioner Stacy Ayres recently rejoined Mayo Clinic Health System in Express Care at South Point Shopping Center in Eau Claire. Ayres earned her master’s degree as a family nurse practitioner and her bachelor’s degree in nursing from UW-Eau Claire. She is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and is trained in advanced cardiac life support. Most recently, Ayres worked for Marshfield Clinic in Rice Lake and Eau Claire. Prior to that, she worked at Mayo Clinic Health System in Bloomer and Eau Claire.

Steve Reusser, PE, has joined Ayres Associates as senior process engineer, bringing many years of experience in wastewater and water engineering and plant operation and management, most recently with the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District. In Ayres’ Eau Claire office, he will provide water and wastewater treatment design services as well as operational assistance to communities throughout the Midwest. Educated at Oklahoma State University, Reusser holds a master’s degree in bioenvironmental engineering and a bachelor of science in civil engineering. He is a registered professional engineer in Wisconsin and is a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Advanced Certified Wastewater Operator.

Charter Bank has earned the highest 5-star rating for the most recent quarter from BauerFinancial, Inc. In fact, Charter Bank has been recommended (either 5-Star or 4-Star) by Bauer for 99 consecutive quarters. “A 5-Star rating indicates that Charter Bank is one of the strongest banks in the nation, excelling in such areas as capital, loan quality, profitability and much more. Earning Bauer’s recommendation proves that Charter Bank is getting it right,” expressed Karen L. Dorway, president of BauerFinancial, the nation’s bank rating firm. 
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Brent Skiba has joined HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals as director of facilities for both hospitals. Skiba will lead the activities of the two hospitals’ facilities management departments, which includes facility operations, grounds maintenance and construction projects, along with regulatory compliance for those areas. Skiba most recently served as director of campus services for Marian University in Fond du Lac. In previous roles, Skiba has served in facilities positions at Community Health Network in Berlin, Bay Area Medical Center in Marinette, Ripon Medical Center in Ripon and at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee.

HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital recently earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for both Hospital accreditation and Home Care accreditation. Both accreditations – for the hospital and for the hospital’s home health and hospice services – were awarded for a three-year period. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies nearly 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the U.S. An independent, nonprofit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. 

Nodolf Flory, LLP announced that Attorney Rita A. Raihle has joined the firm as a partner.  Nodolf Flory is a nine-attorney firm that practices in the areas of business, banking, government relations, estate planning and probate, frac sand mining and minerals, litigation, real estate and personal injury.  Raihle’s practice is concentrated in the area of family law (divorce, custody and placement, paternity, child support, maintenance, marital property agreements, etc.), with particular emphasis on divorces involving complex asset and valuation issues. The firm is pleased to be able to expand the services offered to clients.

Charlie Walter has joined Stein Safety and Health of Eau Claire to its staff. Walter has been actively involved in training and development for more than 35 years. He has 15 years of experience with Xcel Energy in organizational development and training and was the safety and training director for Cardinal Glass in Menomonie for the past 18 years. He is also an authorized OSHA Trainer.

The Eau Claire Express baseball team announced a new general manager and assistant general manager. Former Director of Ticket Sales Spencer Larson will be promoted to the GM role after one year with the Express organization. Former Radio Broadcaster Scott Montesano will take on the role of assistant GM. Former General Manager Andy Neborak remains on staff as assistant managing director. The Express staff now includes seven year-round employees.
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The Chippewa Valley Regional Airport (CVRA) will soon have a new restaurant. CVRA recently executed a lease agreement with Bob Adrian to open Hangar 54 Grill at the airport. Adrian has been in the food business for many years and is currently the owner of Rump’s Butcher Shoppe in Altoona. A date has not been set for opening, but work will start immediately on preparations for opening the new restaurant. 

For a seventh consecutive year Mercury Marine has presented Zacho Sports Center of Chippewa Falls its prestigious Service Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) Award for 2015. Mercury Marine’s Service CSI Program measures the satisfaction of consumers after having service work done on their Mercury outboard or MerCruiser Sterndrive or inboard. Zacho Sports Center won the Service CSI Award for its ongoing commitment to providing exemplary customer service, based on the responses of customers who had warranty work performed at the dealership during the past year. Zacho Sports Center operates a marine and powersports dealership in Chippewa Falls and is locally owned and operated by Damin Zacho and Mike Emberson.

The Mayo Clinic Diet was ranked No. 1 for Best Commercial Diet in U.S. News & World Report’s recent 2016 Best Diet rankings. U.S. News and World Report ranked diets according to how easy it is to follow, ability to produce short- and long-term weight loss, nutritional completeness, safety, and potential for preventing and managing diabetes and heart disease. The Mayo Clinic Diet is offered through Weight Management Services at Mayo Clinic Health System. Classes are offered in Bloomer, Eau Claire, Menomonie, Osseo and Rice Lake.

Construction begins next month on the fifth floor Mayo Clinic Health System’s Luther Building at 1221 Whipple St. The project will replace 40 inpatient rooms currently located in the older part of the campus built in the 1970s. The new unit will feature expanded, state-of-the-art and environmentally friendly features. The $19 million project was fully funded by community donations ranging from $5 to $500,000 received over the past 30 years. The construction is the culmination of a 15-year campus plan and the final phase of the Luther Building.

Heartland Contractors Inc. is dedicating all resources towards their commercial construction and excavation divisions and will no longer be building single family homes.  With a strong reputation for building quality projects in the healthcare, government, education, multi-family, hospitality, industrial, and civil markets this strategic shift will allow them to focus on their rapidly growing customer base.  Heartland will continue to offer single family lots within in their neighborhoods (Hillcrest Greens, Willow Creek, Whisper Ridge) and partner with area home builders on bulk lot sales and financing options.

​The Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association announced McKayla LaVick as the new membership & communications director. LaVick earned a bachelor’s of business administration degree in marketing and a certificate in advanced business communication from UW-Eau Claire.

Physician assistant Brian Schoeneberger recently joined the Emergency Medicine Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Schoeneberger earned his master’s degree in health science from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He received bachelor degrees in biology and nursing from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. His professional experience includes caring for critically ill and surgical patients. Schoeneberger is certified by the National Commission of Physician Assistants and a licensed physician assistant in the state of Wisconsin.

Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) has been named a Military Friendly School for 2016. This is the third consecutive year CVTC has earned the designation. The Military Friendly School designation by Victory Media is awarded to the top colleges, universities, community colleges and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace military students and ensure their success in the classroom and after graduation. The list serves as a resource for service members and military families seeking education and has played a significant role over the past seven years in advancing best practices in supporting military students on campuses across the country.

​Greg Smoczyk has joined Royal Construction as project manager. In his new role, Smoczyk’s responsibilities will include growing Royal Construction’s design-build portfolio as well as overseeing projects from concept through completion. Smoczyk has spent the last 30 years as the owner of GT Construction, Inc. where he managed many commercial and residential projects ranging from $10,000 to $4 million.

Two colleagues from HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals recently earned advanced certification in their respective fields: Jessica Erickson, rehabilitation manager at St. Joseph’s Hospital and licensed physical therapist, recently earned her certificate of achievement in pelvic physical therapy from the American Physical Therapy Association’s Section on Women’s Health. To obtain the certification, Erickson completed a comprehensive education, training and testing program for the management of patients with diagnoses of pelvic health dysfunction, such as urinary incontinence and pelvic pain. Nicky Knorn, ultrasound technologist at Sacred Heart Hospital, recently earned her registered vascular technologist certification. By earning this credential, healthcare professionals gain a critical edge in promoting public safety in vascular ultrasound.

24-7 & West Wisconsin Telcom announced scholarship opportunities to 2016 High School graduates who plan to further their education. 24-7 & West Wisconsin Telcom are offering $7,000 in scholarships to area high school seniors whose parent or guardian is an active member of 24-7 & West Wisconsin Telcom and residing in the service area. Also, the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS), in cooperation with NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association and West Wisconsin Telcom will offer an FRS Scholarship opportunity to graduating high school students within our West Wisconsin Cooperative exchanges. Once again, we are partnering with the Foundation for Rural Service college scholarship program, which awards 30 scholarships in the amount of $2,000 each to winning applicants across the nation, with a $500 match by West Wisconsin Telcom. Scholarship application information can be found on www.wwt.net/scholarship.