Small Street Journal: February 17, 2017

​MEP Associates, LLC, a local engineering firm headquartered in Eau Claire, announced a new ownership structure that includes 10 additional co-owners, five of which will serve on the Board of Directors, and four on the MEP executive team. For the past 15 years Jeff Urlaub, PE has served as president and CEO and will continue to be a majority owner during the company's transition. MEP Associates, LLC is a multi-disciplinary engineering and consulting firm specializing in mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, 3D laser scanning, and commissioning services. MEP’s design approach is based on sustainable, energy efficient technologies such as geothermal, photovoltaic, and thermal storage systems. Over the past decade they have grown to 90+ employees with locations in Eau Claire, Madison, Eagan, MN; Rochester, MN; Norman, OK; and Iron Mountain MI. The firm’s portfolio includes campus utilities, commercial, industrial, healthcare, senior living, education, science and technology, local municipal and federal government facilities.

The law firm of Weld Riley, S.C. is pleased to announce Attorney Bryan T. Symes has joined the firm as a shareholder. Symes has more than a decade of experience representing business clients in the areas of employment law and litigation, labor relations and alternative dispute resolution. He also is a registered athlete agent and has experience advising professional baseball players. In 2009, Symes was recognized in Minnesota Lawyer as Up & Coming Attorney and named Rising Star by Wisconsin Super Lawyers in 2011 and 2013-2016. In 2001, Symes received his bachelor’s degree from UW-Madison where he majored in political science. In 2004, he earned his juris doctorate with honors from the Chicago-Kent College of Law.

The law firm of Weld Riley, S.C. also announced that Attorney Ryan J. Moertel has joined the firm.  Prior to joining Weld Riley, S.C., Moertel practiced criminal defense in the Eau Claire area and is passionate about defending the rights of citizens in the Chippewa Valley. He is a member of the Eau Claire County Bar Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) as well as the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (WACDL). Moertel completed his undergraduate degree at UW-Eau Claire where he also served as team captain of the UW-Eau Claire Football Team for two seasons. He continued his education at the University of Wisconsin Law School in Madison where he was part of the school’s prestigious Mock Trial Team and graduated with cum laude honors. While obtaining his law degree, Moertel also interned at the St. Croix County District Attorney’s Office and participated in the Judicial Internship Program at the Dane County Courthouse during his final semester.

The laboratory at HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital has recently earned accreditation renewals from the College of American Pathologists and the American Association of Blood Banks. The voluntary inspections and subsequent accreditations follow an intensive onsite assessment of policies, procedures and practices of all aspects of laboratory testing and anatomic pathology, as well as an onsite assessment of lab equipment, staff qualifications, safety programs and overall management.