Small Street Journal: June 3, 2016

Doug Richardson was recently hired as director of safety and business development for Heartland Contractors Inc.  He will be responsible for their safety compliance procedures and growing the client base throughout the Midwest. Richardson brings more than 20 years of management experience in the construction, retail, manufacturing and safety industries.  He has spent the past four years as a safety compliance specialist in the agricultural and transportation industry.  He earned his MBA and bachelor’s degrees from UW–Eau Claire.
 
WESTconsin Credit Union’s site building plan was recently approved by the Altoona City Council and construction plans are underway for breaking ground in late summer and opening in April 2017. The credit union selected Chippewa Valley-based Hoeft Builders as general contractor and construction manager. The new 8,000 square foot facility will be on the corner of River Prairie Drive and Bluestem Boulevard, right off of Highway 53. This will be WESTconsin’s 15th office offering full-financial services.

Chippewa Valley Technical College has been designated a Tree Campus USA site by the National Arbor Day Foundation. Earning the designation was the result of an effort begun a year ago by a Landscape, Plant and Turf Management student. Started in 2008 and sponsored by Toyota, Tree Campus USA seeks to promote healthy trees and student involvement, similar to the Tree City USA program, of which Eau Claire is a member. In Wisconsin only UW-Fox Valley, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stevens Point and Western Technical College in La Crosse are recognized by Tree Campus USA. To gain the recognition, CVTC had to meet five criteria, including creation of a committee, a campus tree care plan, an Arbor Day observance and a service learning project. Last year as part of the efforts, the CVTC Horticulture Club held an Earth Day tree seedling giveaway.
 
Julie Cook has been hired as the business development officer in the Commercial Banking Department at CCFBank. Cook brings more than 25 years of experience in financial services and community banking. Cook will be based out of the CCFBank Altoona branch location.
 
Culligan International, world leader in water treatment technologies, recently awarded two Sterling Water Culligan dealerships with Top 25 Awards for revenue excellence in 2015. Sterling Water Culligan in Eau Claire and in Rothschild recently accepted the award at Culligan’s 80th Anniversary Bash in Huntington Beach. Top 25 Awards are given to Culligan dealers based on revenue growth in their respective market size, either small, medium or large. The 25 dealerships in each of these categories to yield the highest growth year after year are chosen for the award. This is not the first time Sterling Water Culligan has been recognized nationally. Both dealerships are previous Top 25 Award recipients, and they have also earned the E.J. Culligan award for being one of the top 15 performing dealerships in North America.
 
David Nelson, chief financial officer at HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals, was elected to serve on the Northwest Wisconsin American Red Cross Board as board chair. His one-year term in this role begins July 1. As the Board chair for the Northwest Wisconsin American Red Cross, Nelson will lead the board and set the tone for members. He will oversee governance and policy setting, with a focus on mission, direction priorities and evaluation. Nelson will have a significant influence on how the Board guides the chapter’s humanitarian services and programs for 17 counties in northwestern Wisconsin and will be instrumental in helping the Northwest Wisconsin American Red Cross board address fundraising goals.Nelson has served as a volunteer with the Red Cross since 2012 as a disaster action team member and a government liaison. Two colleagues from HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital recently earned advanced certification in their respective fields. Peggy Schlough, a registered nurse in the hospital’s critical care department, recently earned her cardiac surgery certification through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. This certification was introduced in 2005 for specialty certified nurses providing care to acutely/critically ill adult patients, particularly during the first 48 hours after cardiac surgery. Schlough also holds a cardiac medicine certification and has maintained her critical care registered nurse certification for more than 20 years. Kelly Schmidt, a registered polysomnographic technologist in the hospital’s sleep disorder center, recently earned her certification in clinical sleep health. Issued by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists, this certification validates the highest knowledge of sleep disorders and treatments. Earlier this year, Schmidt earned her clinical sleep educator certification.

Three Royal Credit Union Board members were recently re-elected to three-year terms— Jennifer McDonough, Douglas Olson and Stuart Schaefer. McDonough was elected to the Board in 1997. McDonough also serves as chairperson of the Audit Committee and serves on the Compensation/Governance Committee. Olson was elected to the Board in 1995. Currently, Olson serves as chairman of the Board, Compensation/Governance Committe, and Political Action Committee. Schaefer was elected to the oard in 2011. Currently, Schaefer also serves on the Credit Oversight Committee. At the Reorganization Meeting, Olson was elected chairman; Tom Huffcutt was elected Vice chairman; John Sackett was elected treasurer; and McDonough was elected secretary.   Nancy Beltz, Bill Blackburn and Schaefer serve as directors.
 
Mayo Clinic Health System recently awarded $200,000 in grant money to nonprofits in northwest Wisconsin to improve the health of communities in the region. Area non-profits that were awarded a grant through the Hometown Health Grant Program include:

• Altoona Elementary School: Four Seasons of Fun Fitness Trail, $20,000 – A two-mile fitness trail for all community members will be incorporated adjacent to the new elementary school. The trail will encourage outdoor fitness for people of all ages, and will provide information about local habitat, plants and animals by working with the Altoona High School science program.
  
  
• Boys & Girls Club of Greater Chippewa Valley: Healthy Lifestyles — Nutrition & Physical Fitness Program, $20,000 – Boys & Girls Club members will learn the basics of nutrition, fitness and personal wellness; including self-care and positive habits for personal hygiene and grooming. More than 1,000 children at centers in Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls and Menomonie are expected to benefit from this program.
  
  
• Chippewa Valley Free Clinic: Reducing Obesity in a High-risk Population, $14,000 – Clinical services will be enhanced by intervening with overweight and obese patients to prevent the incidence of serious-related disease. This clinical model will use education, counseling and treatment to engage patients in addressing and reducing obesity health risks.
  
  
• Chippewa Valley Montessori: Outdoor Environmental Project, $13,000 – Garden areas and green gathering and learning spaces will replace an existing play area that is more than 20 years old. Children and families from the community will be able to learn and play in areas that include an edible landscape and school garden, along with a restored prairie area.
  
  
• Feed My People Food Bank: Produce Initiative, $20,000 – This program will increase the amount of fruit and vegetables available to low-income residents in Barron, Buffalo, Chippewa, Dunn and Eau Claire counties. Approximately 180,000 pounds of produce is anticipated to reach 9,000 individuals in 3,000 households.
  
  
• Junior League of Eau Claire: Kids in the Kitchen, $8,000 – Kids in the Kitchen is offered in partnership with the Eau Claire Area School District. Cooking classes for fourth-graders will be offered at Forage in Banbury Place and will include food safety, food preparation and an art and fitness rotation, with activities including Zumba or yoga.
  
  
• School District of Augusta: Food — Small Choices, Big Changes, $16,000 – Classroom gardens will be created to teach students where food comes from, increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, and provide fresh produce to the school food service. Educational events will be held for families to learn and experience healthy food options.