The Confluence Council, Inc. recently announced the naming rights have been secured for the arts center located at the Confluence. The Pablo Foundation, a local philanthropic group, has made a $5 million donation to the project for the naming rights of the building which have been available since its inception. The the official name of the arts center is Pablo Center at the Confluence. The Pablo Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Pablo Properties, LLC. Pablo Properties was created to invest in downtown Eau Claire, and so far has built the Jamf office, the Lismore, and partnered in the Oxbow. The Pablo Foundation’s three founding board members include Julia Johnson, Jason Wudi and Zach Halmstad.

Physician assistant Danielle Goodrich recently joined the Cardiology Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Goodrich earned her master’s degree in physician assistant studies at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Goodrich is board-certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, and certified in Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support. She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, American College of Cardiology and Wisconsin Academy of Physician Assistants. Goodrich’s professional interests include coronary artery disease, heart failure and valvular heart disease.

At the recently Eau Claire YMCA Annual Meeting, incoming Board of Directors were nominated and inducted. Cody Filipczak, Joni Gilles, Brent Goska and Scott Nicastro were selected for an initial three-year term, and Beth Blackburn was selected for a second three-year term. The Annual Meeting also unveiled the 2018-2019 Executive Committee: Scott Lau as president, Connie Pedersen as vice president, Pam Haller as vice president, Jason Wudi as secretary, Sara Nick as treasurer, and Jenny Fesenmaier as past president. The Board of Directors also recognized outgoing members: Andy Cooper, Mark Gilbertson, Michelle Heinzen, Doug Johnson, Mark Rometti and Samuel Stagliano.

Also at the YMCA Annual Meeting, Dave Hanson was presented the Steven J. Anderson Award. Hanson, the president of HOOPS & Imagineering, has been a lifelong supporter of the Y. Serving on the Board of Directors under former Executive Director Mark Hanke from 1997-2002, Hanson has supported the Y in many ways, including the funding of the YMCA’s software transition in April 2017.

The Board of Directors of the YMCA of Eau Claire announced the selection of Theresa Hillis as the new CEO. Hillis will officially begin her role on March 1, 2018, replacing Ken Van Es, who is retiring after nearly 16 years at the end of March. Hillis has 29 years in the Y USA system. She has been the CEO of the Kandiyohi County Area Family YMCA in Willmar, MN since 2006. During her tenure she also served as interim CEO for the Alexandria YMCA and Brainard YMCA where she built relationships with volunteers and staff and improved operational efficiency. Hillis is also a veteran of the US Air Force and served as a medic in the Gulf War.
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Danielle Hoffman, a registered nurse in HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital’s rehabilitation services department, recently earned her certification in rehabilitation nursing (CCRN). Attaining CRRN certification validates a person’s professional standing as an experienced rehabilitation nurse with a documented level of knowledge in this specialized area of practice. Rehabilitation nursing practice includes care management and treatment of conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, aging issues, MS, diabetes, co-morbidities, cardiovascular illness, arthritis, and spinal cord injury.

Area business and industry will be able to obtain a higher level of training on Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) compliance issues because of new agreement that names Chippewa Valley Technical College as a host site for the National Safety Education Center (NSEC). CVTC will now offer NSEC-recognized OSHA training services through its OSHA Institute Training Center. The agreement is a partnership with the Northern Illinois University College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, which is the location of the NSEC offices.

Royal Credit Union recently announced plans to open a new office in the Oak Park Heights/Stillwater area in Minnesota. The office will offer access to the full line of financial services and products Royal offers in a member-focused atmosphere. Royal will recruit six team members to work in the new location and support the surrounding community. The office is expected to open later this spring. The Oak Park Heights/Stillwater office will be Royal’s fifth in the Twin Cities metro area.

The Board of Directors of the YMCA of Eau Claire announced the selection of Theresa Hillis as the new CEO. Hillis will officially begin her role on March 1, 2018, replacing Ken Van Es, who is retiring after nearly 16 years at the end of March. Hillis has 29 years in the Y USA system. She has been the CEO of the Kandiyohi County Area Family YMCA in Willmar, MN since 2006. During her tenure she also served as interim CEO for the Alexandria YMCA and Brainard YMCA where she built relationships with volunteers and staff and improved operational efficiency. Hillis is also a veteran of the US Air Force and served as a medic in the Gulf War.
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Danielle Hoffman, a registered nurse in HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital’s rehabilitation services department, recently earned her certification in rehabilitation nursing (CCRN). Attaining CRRN certification validates a person’s professional standing as an experienced rehabilitation nurse with a documented level of knowledge in this specialized area of practice. Rehabilitation nursing practice includes care management and treatment of conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, aging issues, MS, diabetes, co-morbidities, cardiovascular illness, arthritis, and spinal cord injury.

Area business and industry will be able to obtain a higher level of training on Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) compliance issues because of new agreement that names Chippewa Valley Technical College as a host site for the National Safety Education Center (NSEC). CVTC will now offer NSEC-recognized OSHA training services through its OSHA Institute Training Center. The agreement is a partnership with the Northern Illinois University College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, which is the location of the NSEC offices.
 

Trust Point is an independent, boutique trust and investment-management company that serves a select group of individuals, families, and businesses in the Upper Midwest and around the country. We have tended faithfully to our clients’ needs for more than 100 years.

We have grown exponentially during the past century. We recently achieved yet another growth milestone as we passed the $4 billion mark in assets under management.  We are also expanding our physical footprint as well. 

Our doors are officially open to our third full-service office right here in Eau Claire! We are excited about all the growth and vibrancy this town is experiencing and can’t wait to be an active part of the business community.  Thank you to all who have welcomed us to the Chippewa Valley area. You’ve made us feel at home already. Our new Eau Claire facility will join our home office in La Crosse and our branch in Minneapolis.
 
Since our founding a century ago, we have operated by a simple philosophy: In doing what is best for our clients, we will be doing what is best for Trust Point.
 
That is not an empty slogan. It is embedded in our structure and our business practices. Trust Point is a completely independent institution. We are a fiduciary, which means we are held to a higher standard of integrity. We are strictly fee-based. We do not sell insurance or any other products. We are not owned or controlled by a bank. We have no proprietary funds, no loads, and no shareholder pressure that would compete with the goal of doing what is best for our clients.
All of our operations are guided by three core principles.
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1. Tailored client engagement means that we get to know and understand our clients individually, customizing our plans and services to ensure that each client’s needs and values are served in the best possible way. This allows clients to experience the comfort that comes with a long-term working relationship.
2.  Specialized expertise is offered by our team of experienced, credentialed professionals. They bring to bear deep insights on a large number of wealth-management issues from a variety of perspectives. This allows clients to feel at ease knowing that their expert advisory team is serving as a steward and advocate.
3. Accountability and attention means that we are accessible and responsive to our clients, demonstrating the highest standards of ethics and transparency. Clients feel the confidence of knowing where they stand and what the path ahead will look like as we help them pursue their goals.
We look forward to partnering with you and we invite you to get to know us better.  Stop by our office in Eau Claire or visit our website, trustpointinc.com.

​Mary Steinke recently retired as general manager of Huebsch Services, a family-owned and –operated commercial laundry business. Steinke had been with Huebsch for more than 42 years. In addition to serving Huebsch as general manager, Steinke worked extensively with many charitable organizations in the Chippewa Valley and served on the Board of Directors of the Group Health Cooperative since 2004. In 2017, Mary received the Humanitarian Award through United Way’s Chippewa Valley Spirit Awards which celebrate positive community impact. She will continue to be involved with Huebsch supporting community partnerships and acting in a consultative role.
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Huebsch hired Aaron Kasper to join the team as operations manager. Kasper joined Huebsch at the end of December and has spent the month of January learning the production operations side of the business from Steinke. Kasper’s background is in restaurant management, having most recently served as general manager for Olive Garden in Eau Claire.

The Women’s Giving Circle, a fund of the Eau Claire Community Foundation, has announced its 2018 Circle Advisory Team. The WGC awards grants to local nonprofit organizations that run programs benefiting women and/or children. At their Annual Meeting, the WGC members elected the following individuals:

• Circle Advisory Team Chair:  Sarah Stokes
• Circle Advisory Team Vice-Chair:  Tracey Smiskey
• Circle Advisory Team Secretary:  Sue McIntyre
• Education and Programs Team Chair:  Jennifer Hanson-Bremer
• Education and Programs Team Co-Chair:  Andrea Sullivan
• Grants Team Chair:  Jeanne Peterson
• Grants Team Co-Chair:  Mary Ryan-Miller
• Membership/Outreach Team Chair:  Pat Markin
• Membership/Outreach Team Co-Chair:  Lacey Logslett
• Social Media Team Chair: Jessica Martin
• Social Media Team Co-Chair: Theresa O’Neal
• Circle Advisory Team Past Chair: Jill Prushiek

Since 2008, the Women’s Giving Circle has awarded $227,953 in grants. In 2017, it granted a record-breaking $41,466 to eight Eau Claire area nonprofits: APPLE Pregnancy Care Center, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Greater Chippewa Valley, Catholic Charities—Sojourner House, Chippewa Valley Museum, Feed My People Food Bank, Girls on the Run of the Chippewa Valley, School District of Altoona, and Trinity Lutheran Church.