December 4, 2015

​Recently, the Media Communications Association International of Madison recognized Group Health Cooperative of Eau Claire as a Wave Award recipient for the TV spot “Exercise.”  Out of nearly 100 entries, the Cooperative was chosen as the winner of the Judges Choice Award. Media Communications Association International is an organization of media communications professionals that provides opportunities for networking, forums for education and the resources for information.

Royal Credit Union (RCU) has named Betty Laskowski organizational relations & recruiting manager.  She is responsible for leading the organizational talent advisors in providing effective talent acquisition efforts and performance management support to RCU’s team members and leaders. Laskowski began working for RCU in 1992 and has served as an organizational talent advisor since 2000. She has a senior professional in human resources (SPHR) certification and is a Society for Human Resource Management senior certified professional (SHRM-SCP).

Royal Credit Union has named Andrea Finn, digital marketing manager. She is responsible for the planning, development and implementation of effective digital marketing strategies and policies. In her new role, Finn will oversee development and implementation of a new corporate website, lead continued promotion of Royal’s email service program and mobile channels and manage the credit unions’ presence on social media platforms. She also coordinates Royal’s young adult outreach efforts. Finn began working for Royal in 2012 and has spent the last three years serving as its digital marketing specialist. 
The Eau Claire Community Foundation is recently announce the recipients of the 2016 Children’s Legacy Outstanding Achievement Awards. These Honorees will officially receive their awards at the Children’s Legacy Luncheon on April 21, 2016. The Honorees are being recognized for making important and lasting contributions to the well-being of children in the Chippewa Valley. The Children’s Legacy Luncheon also raises awareness of issues important to the health and welfare of local children and raises money for the Children’s Legacy Fund, which supports grants to organizations that benefit children.  Each Honoree selects a local nonprofit to receive a $500 grant from the Children’s Legacy Fund. The Honorees for the 2016 Children’s Legacy Outstanding Achievement Award are:

• Julie Betchkal - volunteer for Early Childhood Interagency Councils; Mentor; statewide DPI coordinator for the Pyramid Model for Supporting Social and Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children
• Carol Craig - founder of “Cadre of Deliberative Discussions” on behalf of quality education; former president, vice president and treasurer of the ECASD Board of Education; educator; mentor; volunteer
• Sally Ellison - volunteer; philanthropist; founder, owner and director of Tiny Tots Inc.; creator of family-friendly play opportunities for children, including those with special needs
• Michael Laska - foster parent; safety camp coordinator and counselor; Water Safety Task Force member; Fire Prevention and Safety educator; EMS instructor; volunteer; mentor; City of Eau Claire Fire inspector
• Pa Thao - co-founder of Wisconsin Women's Cultural Training Initiative; advocate for Low Income and Minority Youth and Families; volunteer; mentor; executive director of Hmong Mutual Association
• Sue Tietz - volunteer and officer for numerous nonprofit organizations; mentor; philanthropist; business leader; president/CEO of McDonough Manufacturing

 
Physical therapist Kara Johnson recently joined the Rehabilitation Services Department at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Johnson earned her doctor of physical therapy studies from Marquette University in Milwaukee. She received her bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Her professional interests include general orthopedics, sports medicine, running rehabilitation, manual therapy and kinesio taping. She is certified in dry needling, a therapeutic treatment procedure that involves placing a thin filament needle into a muscle’s trigger point to alleviate pain.