​The Better Business Bureau Serving Wisconsin announced the winners of its inaugural Spark Awards, which recognizes Wisconsin millennial entrepreneurial leaders who demonstrate a high level of character, generating a culture that is authentic about its mission and connects with its community. Benedict Refrigeration Services received honorable mention in category III and Skogen’s Festival Foods was the runner up in category V.

Cowboy Jack’s restaurant recently partnered with Larson Companies, a local hospitality management company that will assist in the launch and management of the new Altoona bar and grill facility. Cowboy Jack’s offers guests a casual bar and grill dining experience in a saloon setting, featuring western comfort food and beverages. Guests will be able to experience local and touring musicians on the indoor stage every week. With a sizable outdoor patio, guests can soak up the sun while enjoying beautiful views of the Eau Claire River.

Larson Companies also will assist UW-Eau Claire with their student housing needs. Clarion Hotel Campus Area will be making all guest rooms available for use as student housing during the 2017-2018 academic year. During this time, the Green Mill Restaurant and Bar and private event meeting space will continue to operate as a dining and event destination. At the conclusion of the UWEC contract, Larson Companies will continue lodging operations at the hotel.

Zach Halmstad, co-founder of Jamf, will receive the 14thannual Ken Hendricks Memorial “Seize the Day” award at the 2017 Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference in Madison. The award celebrates entrepreneurial leaders who have been crucial to Wisconsin’s economic growth. Halmstad will accept the award and speak at noon Tuesday, June 6, during the 2017 Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference in Madison.

Rassbach Communications, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2017, recently received a national sales growth award. Rassbach Communications was named “Fastest Growing Dealer” by Hytera America, Inc. for 2016. Only a handful of nationwide firms out of 436 nationwide dealers are recognized with awards for different measures of outstanding performance. Hytera America, Inc. is a well-known international manufacturer of wireless communications products utilized across many industries.

Bret Tangley, master water specialist and third-generation owner of Sterling Water Culligan, was recently recognized by the Water Quality Association (WQA) as one of its 2017 Hall of Fame honorees. A past president of the association, Tangley received his award, the highest honor bestowed upon any WQA member, at the Opening General Session of WQA’s annual convention and exposition in Orlando, Florida. WQA Hall of Fame inductees are selected from candidates nominated by association members, and the award aims to recognize a lifetime of dedication and service to the water quality improvement industry.
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Ken Kreb has joined the Per Mar Security Services as an electronics installation supervisor out of Per Mar’s Eau Claire office. Kreb comes to Per Mar with 24 years of experience in the security industry as well as 10 years of service in the US Air Force.

After nearly 36 years of service, Randall Linton, M.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Health System for northwest Wisconsin, is retiring at the end of April. 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. Linton announced his retirement plans in September 2016. Linton’s successor is Richard Helmers, M.D., who will hold the title of regional vice president, northwest Wisconsin region, to better align with other similar job titles and organizational structures within Mayo Clinic.
Janki Patel, D.O., a specialist in Infectious Diseases at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, was named northwest Wisconsin’s 2016 Consultant of the Year. The award was created in 2012 by Mayo Clinic Health System’s primary care physicians in northwest Wisconsin to show their appreciation for consultants who often assist with management of their patients. A consultant is annually selected by peer vote and recognized at the Physician Quarterly Forum by Primary Care departments. Consultants are nominated for providing patient‑centered care, outstanding service and encouraging open communication.

Radiologist Eric Niendorf, M.D., recently joined the Radiology Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Niendorf earned his bachelor’s degree in physics, his master’s degree and doctorate in medical physics and his medical degree from UW-Madison. Niendorf completed his residency and a fellowship in body MRI at Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. Prior to joining Mayo Clinic Health System, Niendorf practiced at the University of Minnesota-Department of Radiology in Minneapolis. He is board-certified by the American Board of Radiology.

Nurse practitioner Kristi Burdick recently joined Family Medicine at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Burdick will see patients at the Clairemont Campus. Burdick earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing and her master’s degree in advanced practice nursing in family practice at Northern Michigan University in Marquette. She earned her doctor of nursing practice degree at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. Prior to joining Family Medicine in Eau Claire, Burdick worked as an assistant professor of nursing at UW-Eau Claire and as a staff nurse practitioner at the Student Health Center. She is a member of the American Nurses’ Association and is a board-certified family nurse practitioner.

Nurse practitioner Nicole Swett recently joined the Emergency Medicine Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Swett earned her master’s degree in nursing at Chamberlain College of Nursing in Downers Grove, Illinois. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing at the University of Phoenix in Arizona. She also completed emergency medical technician training and a medical service apprenticeship with the U.S. Air Force. For the past 10 years, Swett has worked as a nurse at Mayo Clinic Health System – Oakridge in Osseo. Swett is certified in comprehensive advanced life support and pediatric advanced life support.

Certified nurse-midwife Jessica Korger recently joined Obstetrics & Gynecology at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Korger earned her master’s degree in the nurse-midwife program at Frontier Nursing University in Hyden, Kentucky, and her associate’s degree in nursing at Chippewa Valley Technical College. Korger previously worked as a registered nurse in the Family Birth Center. She is a member of the American College of Nurse Midwives and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses.

WESTconsin Credit Union recently launched $MART, its new financial literacy program. This program was created to bridge the gaps between the credit union’s many financial literacy programs, events and resources, and support members on their financial journey from childhood through retirement. $MART stands for:
$upporting financial literacy within our communities
Mentoring credit union members and members of the community on their financial journey
Advocating for credit unions and financial literacy
Relationship-building with credit union members, educators, parents and members of the community
Teaching credit union members and members of the community about finance

Eau Claire Chamber Area Chamber of Commerce 103rd  Annual Meeting Thank Yous & Awards

This event was held at UW-Eau Claire Davies Center on April 18. The Chamber's leadership was transferred from Board Chair, Dave Johnson, EO Johnson Business Technologies to Tim Benedict, Benedict Refrigeration.  Paul Kohler, Charter Bank served as the emcee. 
 
BOARD MEMBERS 
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Dave Johnson, EO Johnson Business Technologies --Board Chair 
Tim Benedict, Benedict Refrigeration  - Board Chair Elect 
Laura Talley, BMO Harris Bank - Secretary/Treasurer 
Paul Kohler, Charter Bank - Past Chair

VICE CHAIRS:
Scott Biederman, Musky Tank
Mark Faanes, Wipfli  
Bill Hilgedick, Edward Jones
Terry McHugh, WEAU 13 News

BOARD MEMBERS 
Jason Craig, Mayo Clinic Health System
Zach Halmstad, JAMF Software 
Anne Hargrave-Thomas, Oakleaf Surgical Hospital 
Scott Hoffmann, Wisconsin Independent Network 
Jenn Kane, CCFBank
Julie Kalpinski, Mayo Clinic Health System
Margo Keys, Chippewa Valley Technical College
Rick Lambrecht, AGEM Group 
Nick Meyer, Volume One 
Andy Neborak, Eau Claire Express Baseball 
Dale Poynter, SDS Architects
Idriz Sabani, Altoona Family Restaurant
Jerry Shea, Market & Johnson
Lynn Thompson, Eau Claire Energy Cooperative
Jason Vance, Ken Vance Motors
Jan Zander, Ayres Associates 
MaiVue Xiong, Weld Riley

NEW BOARD MEMBERS
Steve Anderson, Ruder Ware LLSC
Ned Donnellan, Donnellan Real Estate
Nicole Lasker, Lasker Jewelers
Paul Madsen, RainMaster Lawn Systems
Andy Neborak, Eau Claire Express Baseball
Daneille Strong, Weld Riley, S.C.
Nick White, Live in Eau Claire
Amy Wolfe, Trubilt Collision Center

AWARD WINNERS 
Ambassador of the Year 
Mary Glassbrenner, Group Health Cooperative of Eau Claire AND 
Marianne Klinkhammer, Gator Garb Promotions 

Chamber Volunteer of the Year 
Julie Kalpinski, Mayo Clinic Health System

Membership Drive Winner
Chamber Ambassadors

Outstanding Young Professional 
Daneille Strong, Weld Riley 

Public Employee of the Year 
Jerry Staniswewski, City of Eau Claire

Small Business of the Year 
Kristo Orthodontics
C&M Properties & Construction

Top Membership Sales Person 
Mary Glassbrenner, Group Health Cooperative of Eau Claire 

Woman of Achievement 
Sarah Stokes, Stokes+HERZOG

Thank you to our Sponsors: 

CORPORATE SPONSORS 
Group Health Cooperative of Eau Claire - Entertainment & After Party 
Hoeft Builders - Printing 
WEAU 13 News - Video Production 

MAJOR SPONSORS 
Bauman Associates Ltd. 
Charter Bank Eau Claire 
Eau Claire Press Company 
Edward Jones 
EO Johnson Business Technologies 
HSHS Sacred Heart & St. Joseph's hospital
Market & Johnson 
Marshfield Clinic
Royal Credit Union 
Wells Fargo 
Xcel Energy 

UNDERWRITING SPONSORS 
Festival Foods - wine 
May’s Floral - table centerpieces 
BMO Harris Bank-parking shuttle 
Student Transit - for providing the buses 
UW-Eau Claire Foundation - Music as you arrived by the Robert Baca Quartet 
RCU Business Loans And Services - Reception 
Ruder Ware - Hors d’oeuvres 

TABLE SPONSORS 
Associated Bank
Ayres Associates
Cascades Tissue Group
CCFBank
Chippewa Valley Technical College
Commonweal Development Corporation
Eau Claire Energy Cooperative
Gator Garb Promotions
HOOPS Inc. & Imagineering
Huebsch Services
Mayo Clinic Health System
McDonough Manufacturing Company
Miron Construction
RB Scott Company
Ruder Ware, L.L.S.C.                      
US Bank
Weld Riley, S.C. 
WESTconsin Credit Union
Wipfli
Woods & Water Realty
WQOW TV 18


    
DOOR PRIZES
Eau Claire Energy Cooperative & Royal Construction--$1000 Shopping spree with Chamber Buy Local Bucks. $1000 Value
Rhom Construction & Skywest Airlines (United)—A weekend in Chicago with two round trip airline tickets and a $700 Visa Card. $1200 Value

GRAND PRIZE
Williams Diamond Center & Bourget Law/IntellectualGems
One of a Kind Teva Design -  Locally designed at Williams Diamond Center
It is a 14kt Two Tone diamond pendant with just over half a carat diamond total weight.  Retail:  $3,000 

The Great Lakes Graphics Association (GLGA) has announced that Supreme Graphics of Arcadia has won multiple awards in the 2017 Graphics Excellence Awards competition. The GEA competition is one of the largest printing competitions in the nation. Supreme Graphics won (1) Best of Category (2) Best of Division and (5) Awards of Excellence awards. The awards were given in the categories of specialty coatings, booklets, calendars, product catalogs, newsletters, brochures, annual reports, and folders. A panel of out-of-state judges with extensive experience in printing and print production was brought in to examine the work.

The Blugold Real Estate Foundation, a supporting organization of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Foundation Inc., has entered into an agreement with developer John Mogensen, Lisa Aspenson and Michelle Mogensen to purchase the apartments being constructed at 222 Water Street, directly across from the Human Sciences and Services (HSS) building on the UW-Eau Claire campus. Once the purchase is final, Blugold Real Estate intends to rent the apartments to UW-Eau Claire students. The building is designed to house 201 occupants. Blugold Real Estate’s purchase agreement is for all apartments and associated underground parking in the building being constructed. The first-floor retail space would be owned by developer John Mogensen's group.

Prevea Health now offers integrative medicine and physiatry services in the Chippewa Valley, to help patients with neuromusculoskeletal diseases, conditions, disorders or injuries that cause pain and/or difficulty functioning. Integrative medicine and physiatry blends mainstream medicine with alternative medicine to provide a more holistic approach to healing that includes prevention, diagnosis, non-surgical treatment and rehabilitation. The goal is to understand and treat the whole patient to achieve the overall health of mind, body and spirit. Prevea Integrative Medicine & Physiatry services are provided by Dr. Lora Thaxton at the Centers for Rehabilitation Services. Thaxton is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Board of Pain Medicine.

The Eau Claire Public Schools Foundation recently hosted its second annual Golden Apple Awards. The evening celebrated one Golden Apple Award honoree from each of the 20 schools in the Eau Claire Area School District, selected by nomination of their peers. Each honoree will receive a $500 grant to use in their schools/classrooms, and each school will also receive a $500 grant to their Fund For Today, sponsored by generous businesses in the Chippewa Valley.

• Chippewa Valley Montessori Charter School – Jeremy Harrison, Kindergarten-sixth grade teacher
• DeLong Middle School – Sarah Binder, special education teacher
• Flynn Elementary School – JoAnn Waldhart Adams, third grade teacher
• Lakeshore Elementary School – Melinda Wright, physical education teacher
• Locust Lane Elementary School – Mike Peplinski, fourth grade teacher
• Longfellow Elementary School – Tom Dahl, physical education teacher
• Manz Elementary School – Becky Linderholm, English learning teacher
• Meadowview Elementary School – Katie Engel, school psychologist
• Memorial High School – Erin Layde, biology and life science teacher
• McKinley Charter School – Megan McCrackin, competency component teacher
• North High School – Renee Morehead, family/consumer education teacher
• Northstar Middle School – Michelle Olson, sixth grade and English learning teacher
• Northwoods Elementary School – Cheryl Moss, special education assistant
• Prairie Ridge Early Learning Center – Melinda Daubitz, Headstart assistant
• Putnam Heights Elementary School – Dayna Smith, school secretary
• Robbins Elementary School – Heather Kapanke, guidance counselor
• Roosevelt Elementary School – Jason Wendtland, fourth grade teacher
• Sam Davey Elementary School – Mary Uelmen, special education assistant
• Sherman Elementary School – Tim McManus, second grade teacher
• South Middle School – Scott Faris, science teacher
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Ken Skar of Vincent Tool in Chippewa Falls was named CVTC’s 2017 Distinguished Alumnus Award winner. Skar, a 1996 graduate of New Auburn High School, was presented with the award at the CVTC Alumni Association’s annual Spring Gala. Also earning a major award was Dove Healthcare, the 2017 CVTC Proven Business Partner. Royal Credit Union’s Marketing Manager A.J. Leidl was honored with the Alumni Association’s Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award. 

Thank you to the sponsors, volunteers and committee members who made the spring Real Life Academy a success. We had 358 students from Altoona, Augusta, Fall Creek, Memorial, North and Regis high schools participated in the event on Wednesday, April 5 and experienced a day of "real life." 

Committee Members: 
Andie Auna, Mary Kay Brevig, Chris Brooke, Kristin Craker, Theresa Curtis, Tarese Dubiel, Susan Fanning, Eve Fischer, Kelly Hebert, Jackie Leavesseur, Lynette Livingston, Monte Lokken, Marsha Mohnsen, Kelly Ostrander, Kim Shult, Adam Sommers,  Phil Swiler,  Melissa Wait,  Greg Weaver, and Nicole Wilson

Major Sponsor:

Randy Beck will serve as interim president & CEO of Royal Credit Union effective April 15, 2017. Beck was planning to retire on May 31, but agreed to stay on through the transition process. Last week, current Royal President & CEO Rudy Pereira announced his resignation.  Beck has more than 40 years of experience at Royal and currently serves as executive vice president of risk management. Applications will be accepted from qualified internal and external candidates. Royal has contracted with D. Hilton Associates Inc. to conduct the search and the process is expected to take several months.

Larson Companies has promoted two team members, Mike Adams and Matthew Rashid.  In his new role as Larson Companies restaurant brand manager, Adams will provide strong and enthusiastic leadership throughout each of our restaurants. Adams has been involved in many aspects of the business since 2001, including Green Mill Restaurant & Bar as the general manager, TGI Fridays as the general manager and most recently, Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse as the managing director.  With added supervisory responsibility, he contributed tremendously to The Lakely’s grand opening in 2016.  With this vacancy, Rashid has been promoted to the Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse managing director position.  Rashid joined the Green Mill Restaurant & Bar as a delivery driver in 2012 and was promoted to a supervisor 12 months later. After four months, he was promoted to restaurant manager in time for Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse grand opening. Since 2013, he has focused his attention most recently on the dining room, as both the service manager and bar manager.

Volume One announced the addition of Maggie Cook as its marketing and event coordinator. She also will take on the editorial and development manager role with Volume One’s Chippewa Valley Family publication. Cook holds a bachelor’s degree in communication arts from UW-Madison and brings more than 18 years of marketing and business experience to the team at Volume One. She has held roles such as marketing director, marketing coordinator, ecommerce and social media manager, and marketing analyst.
 
Marieke Gouda received second runner-up in the 2017 U.S. Cheese Competition for its Marieke Gouda Belegen. Overall, Marieke Gouda won 11 medals, including:

• Best of Class (first place) for Marieke Gouda Aged
• Second place for its Marieke Gouda Aged
• Third place for its Marieke Gouda Mature

 
In the Open Class Flavored Semi-Soft (Semi-Hard) Cheeses, Team Marieke took second place for Marieke Gouda Honey Clover, and in the Smoked Gouda class, Team Marieke took third place for its Marieke Gouda Smoked Cumin.

Royal Credit Union (Royal) has named Amy Schaefer chief internal auditor. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing all aspects of Royal’s Audit Services Department. She also establishes goals and objectives for the department and develops and implements strategies to accomplish them. Schaefer joined Royal in January 2001. Since then, she has held various positions within the Audit Services Department, most recently as the audit services manager. In addition, she is a consultant on Royal’s Operational Committee, which evaluates and approves corporate-level projects for alignment with organizational strategy.