​WESTconsin Credit Union announced the approval of a two-year renewal as a SBA Express delegated lender by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).  SBA Express features an accelerated turnaround time for SBA review; a response to an application given within 36 hours. Delegated authority allows WESTconsin Credit Union to approve SBA Express loan applications without sending them to SBA.  It dramatically increases the efficiency and expediency of the SBA lending process. 

A $133,200 grant to CVTC Foundation, Inc., from 3M will enable Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC) to partner with area school districts to build career pathways in manufacturing. CVTC will partner with Altoona, Durand, Eau Claire Area and Menomonie high schools in the project, called “Building and Sustaining Regional Manufacturing Pathways.” The grant is designed to help develop the skills and knowledge of high school teachers and students in automation and mechatronics – the technology combining electronics and mechanical engineering. With the grant, CVTC will purchase flexible manufacturing learning platforms to be used in the high schools and will offer professional development workshops for teachers so they can make the best use of the equipment. CVTC will partner with automation technology manufacturer Festo for the project. The grant will also help develop career mentor partnerships, internships and career exploration opportunities with area manufacturing businesses.

Andrew Jahoda, M.D., recently joined the Urology Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire and Mayo Clinic Health System – Red Cedar in Menomonie. He received his medical degree, completed a general surgery internship and a urology residency at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. He is board-certified by the American Board of Urology, a fellow with the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Urological Association. Jahoda’s professional interests include; benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate), bladder cancer and kidney stones.

Daniel Judd, D.O., recently joined the Emergency Medicine Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire and Menomonie. Judd received his bachelor’s degree in biology from Bethel University in Saint Paul, Minnesota and earned his doctor of osteopathic medicine from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Iowa. He completed his emergency medicine residency at Western Michigan University School of Medicine in Kalamazoo. He is certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine. Judd is a member of the American College of Emergency Physicians and the Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association.

Nurse practitioner Jason Berg recently joined the Orthopedic Center at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Berg earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from UW-Eau Claire. Previously, Berg served as a nurse practitioner with Chippewa Valley Orthopedics and Sports Medicine and Community Health Partnership in Eau Claire. He is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Berg’s professional interests include shoulder injuries and surgery and sports medicine. 

Ben Franko has joined Merchants Bank in Eau Claire as a mortgage lender and assistant vice president. Franko has been serving customers throughout the area in a number of roles over the past 13 years, including more than nine years in mortgage lending, most recently with Wells Fargo. A graduate of UW-Eau Claire, Franko has been involved in the community and currently serves as president for the Community Table Board of Directors.

Anne Pretasky, director of critical care services at HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital, recently earned her master of science in nursing degree in leadership and management from Walden University in Minneapolis. Pretasky also holds a bachelor of science in nursing degree from Viterbo University in La Crosse. Pretasky has served Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals for a combined total of 25 years.

HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital’s efforts to provide families with organ, eye or tissue donation options and information are being recognized by the American Tissue Services Foundation (ATSF). On August 28, the hospital will receive ATSF’s 2016 Tissue Donation Recognition Award. This award recognizes the hospital’s efforts to facilitate tissue donation options for patient families. ATSF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to caring for families and helping them heal from the death of their loved ones.

Junior Achievement (JA) of Wisconsin, Inc. received $15,000 grant dollars from Nordson Corporation to support continued JA efforts to provide programming to local middle school students in Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire. These grant dollars will help JA continue to reach students at three local middle schools as well as expand the programming to other middle schools, especially local rural schools. The Junior Achievement Career Exploration programs equip students by teaching them about work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. The goal is to provide career exploration opportunities throughout our communities.

Matthew Olmstead, D.O., recently joined the Emergency Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Olmstead earned his doctor of osteopathic medicine from Des Moines University in Iowa and his bachelor’s degree in biology from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. He completed his emergency medicine residency at St. John Oakland Hospital in Madison Heights, Michigan. Olmstead is board-certified with the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine and is a member of the American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians and the American Osteopathic Association. Previously, Dr. Olmstead served as chair of the Emergency Medicine Department at St. Michael’s Hospital in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

Physician assistant Amanda Nogee recently joined Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Nogee will see patients at the Luther Campus, 1400 Bellinger St. Nogee earned her bachelor’s degree in biology at UW-Eau Claire and her master of physician assistant degree at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk. Her previous work experience includes five years working as an emergency medical technician in Madison, Wisconsin. Nogee is certified by the American Heart Association in basic life support and advanced cardiac life support.

Aaron Triplett, D.O., recently joined the Emergency Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Triplett was raised in Rice Lake and earned his doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from the Des Moines University School of Medicine in Iowa, his master’s degree in medical science from Boston University in Massachusetts, and his bachelor degree in biology from University of Northwestern in St. Paul, Minn. He completed his emergency medicine residency at Western Michigan University School of Medicine-Kalamazoo. Triplett is certified in advanced cardiac life support, advanced disaster life support and advanced trauma life support.
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James Stanga, M.D., recently joined Family Medicine at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Stanga previously worked in the Emergency Department at Mayo Clinic Health System – Red Cedar in Menomonie. He earned his medical degree at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City and completed his family practice residency at St. Francis Family Practice in Wichita, Kansas. Stanga is board-certified in family medicine with the American Board of Family Practice. He is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and American Board of Family Medicine, and is certified in advanced trauma, obstetric and cardiac life support.

The Best Western Plus Eau Claire Conference Center has received Best Western® Hotels & Resorts’ Chairman’s Award, the brand’s highest honor for outstanding quality standards.  The Chairman’s Award recognizes the Best Western hotels that score in the top five percent of more than 2,100 Northern American properties, with respect to cleanliness and maintenance inspection scores.  Hotels must also meet Best Western’s requirements for design and high customer service scores to qualify for the award.

Physical therapist Marlee Dachel recently joined the rehabilitation team at Dove Healthcare – West Eau Claire. Dachel earned her doctor of physical Therapy degree from UW-Milwaukee. She received her bachelor’s degree in science from UW-Eau Claire. As a physical therapist, Dachel will help her patients maximize their mobility after surgery, illness or injury, including joint replacements, stroke, heart conditions and fractures.

The Eau Claire Community Foundation (ECCF) is welcomed two new members to its Board of Trustees – Sherry Mohr and Dale Wood recently began their three-year term of service. ECCF thanked Mark Faanes for his service as the Chair of the Board of Trustees and welcomed Laura Talley as the new Chair. Outgoing Board members included Jane Lokken (past chair), Jeff Halloin and Charlie Grossklaus for their contributions as well as current member Chris Hasenberg, who accepted a second term of service. The Board of Trustees is a volunteer group composed of community leaders dedicated to making Eau Claire a better place to live. ECCF is currently celebrating its 20th year of serving the community. Since its creation, ECCF has distributed over $7.2 million in grants to 354 nonprofits.

Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire was named the ninth best hospital in Wisconsin and recognized as among the best hospitals in northwestern Wisconsin by U.S. News & World Report’s annual list of top hospitals published online recently. Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire also was rated High Performing in the specialty of urology and High Performing in the adult procedures of colon cancer surgery and hip replacement. Mayo Clinic has ranked at or near the top of Honor Roll hospitals through the history of U.S. News and World Report's best hospital rankings.
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Anthony Furlano, D.O., recently joined the Mayo Clinic Family Medicine Residency Program at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Furlano earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and pre-medicine from UW-La Crosse and completed medical school at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Parker, Colorado. He completed his residency at the Mayo Clinic Family Medicine Residency Program at Mayo Clinic Health System – Franciscan Healthcare in La Crosse. He also completed the Harold I. Magoun Predoctoral Teaching Fellowship in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Parker, Colorado. Furlano is board-certified in family medicine. He is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians.

Interventional cardiologist Gurpreet Singh, M.D., recently joined the Cardiac Center at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Singh earned a degree in medicine and surgery from Government Medical College in Patiala, India, and his postgraduate degree from Government Medical College in Amritsar, India. Singh completed residencies in internal medicine at Government Medical College in Amritsar, India, and John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County in Chicago, Illinois. He completed fellowships in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Singh is board-certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease by American Board of Internal Medicine. He also is board-certified in echocardiography by the American Board of Echocardiography and nuclear cardiology by the American Board of Nuclear Cardiology. Prior to joining Mayo Clinic Health System, he worked as a specialist physician in India and also as a cardiovascular disease fellow at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

Annie Culver, D.O., recently joined the Hospital Medicine Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Culver earned her bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the University of Texas at El Paso. She completed medical school at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg, West Virginia, and completed an internal medicine residency at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Culver is board-certified in internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is certified in basic and advanced cardiac life support. She is a member of the American College of Physicians and the American Osteopathic Association.
 
 

Marieke Gouda recently won first place for its 4-6 Month Belegen Gouda and second place for its Bacon Gouda at the Wisconsin State Fair Cheese and Butter Contest. The first place award will be presented on August 10th during the Blue Ribbon Cheese & Butter Auction. In addition, Marieke Gouda won three awards at the American Cheese Society's Cheese Competition in Denver. They won first place for its Smoked Cumin and both its Onion Garlic and 9-12 months aged Gouda took third place.

Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) announced that Joan Coffman, president and CEO of HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital, has accepted the appointment to serve as president and CEO of HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur, Ill., a sister hospital of St. Joseph’s and Sacred Heart hospitals. She will begin her new role on September 5. Coffman joined HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls in 2008 and has been president and CEO since March of 2010. She holds a MBA degree from the University of New Orleans and is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
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Robert Tillotson, D.O., recently joined the Emergency Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Tillotson earned his doctor of osteopathic medicine from Michigan State University College-East Lansing. He completed his emergency medicine residency at Mount Carmel Mercy Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. Tillotson is certified by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Emergency Medicine, a fellow with the American College of Emergency Physicians and American Academy of Emergency Physicians, and a member of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.

Gaurav Nagar, M.D., recently joined the Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine Department   at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Nagar earned his medical degree at the University of Delhi in New Delhi, India. He completed pediatric residencies at the University of Delhi and Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in affiliation with Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center in New York City. Nagar completed a neonatal perinatal medicine fellowship at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He previously was employed by the University of Delhi and Max Super Specialty Hospital in Saket, New Delhi, India. Nagar is certified in basic life support and pediatric advanced life support. He also is certified as an instructor for the Neonatal Resuscitation Program.

Abdul Khan, M.D., also recently joined the Nephrology Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Khan completed medical school at Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan, and completed a residency in internal medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Khan also completed a nephrology fellowship at Hennepin County Medical Center and the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. Khan is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is certified in basic advanced life support, advanced cardiac life support and pediatric advanced cardiac life support. He is a member of the American Society of Nephrology.

Matthew Olmstead, D.O., recently joined the Emergency Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Olmstead earned his doctor of osteopathic medicine from Des Moines University in Iowa and his bachelor’s degree in biology from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. He completed his emergency medicine residency at St. John Oakland Hospital in Madison Heights, Michigan. Olmstead is board-certified with the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine and is a member of the American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians and the American Osteopathic Association. Previously, Olmstead served as chair of the Emergency Medicine Department at St. Michael’s Hospital in Stevens Point.

Carl Gladitsch, M.D., recently joined the Emergency Medicine Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire and Menomonie. Gladitsch earned his bachelor’s degree in biology at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He received his medical degree from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison. He completed his residency in emergency medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. He is certified in advanced cardiac life support and pediatric advanced life support.
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Irina Stojanovska, M.D., recently joined Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Stojanovska completed medical school at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Macedonia. She completed a residency in internal medicine at Lincoln Medical Center in New York City. Stojanovska’s professional interests include education and prevention of cardiovascular diseases, cancer prevention and screening, improving lifestyle and obesity, smoking cessation, and management of asthma and COPD.