Small Street Journal: October 16, 2015

Tina Theisen has been named 2015 Realtor of the Year by the Realtors Association of Northwestern Wisconsin. Theisen has been a realtor since 2005 and is broker and co-owner of RE/MAX Real Estate Group in Eau Claire.  This award recognizes Theisen’s leadership as outgoing president of the RANWW, her service to the Realtors Association Board of Directors and her commitment to promoting the real estate industry and protecting home owners’ rights.

Luke Kempen, director of the Wisconsin Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at UW-Eau Claire, has been awarded the 2015 America’s SBDC State Star Award for Wisconsin.  The State Star Award acknowledges Kempen’s work helping small business owners start, improve and grow their companies.  Over the past two years, with his leadership and direct assistance, clients served by the SBDC in Eau Claire generated more than $23 million in business capital, added 92 jobs and started more than 44 new business enterprises.    
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Heartland Contractors, a leading provider of residential and commercial construction is giving back to the community with monthly donations to charitable organizations. These organizations were chosen to receive donations from Heartland Helps for the month September: 2015 Baja 1000 Support, Jaycee Show Fund-EC, Boys & Girls Club- Men Who Cook Benefit for Scott Vehrenkamp, Chippewa Family YMCA Rock the Dome. To have your organization considered for October, please submit to info@heartlandwi.com.

Karen Konz has been hired as the new program director for Girls on the Run of the Chippewa Valley (GOTR). Konz, who recently retired from the state of Wisconsin, will help shape girls lives through GOTR and also have time to set and challenge new personal fitness goals. 

Christopher Jorgenson, director of UW-Eau Claire’s Women’s & LGBTQ Resource Center, is UW-Eau Claire’s recipient of the UW System’s Dr. P.B. Poorman Award for Outstanding Achievement on Behalf of LGBTQ People. With the involvement of 10 student interns from diverse areas of academic study, Jorgenson leads the planning of programs and events throughout the academic year. Under Jorgenson’s leadership, the Women’s & LGBTQ Resource Center was named 2012 Organization of the Year by the Fair Wisconsin Education Fund.

Dr. Dandrielle Lewis, assistant professor of mathematics, is UW-Eau Claire’s recipient of the UW System Outstanding Women of Color in Education Award. Lewis, who joined UW-Eau Claire’s faculty in 2011, has served since that time on the Advisory Board of the UW System Women and Science Program. The program’s mission is to attract and retain more women and minority students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by promoting systematic changes in the ways that science and science education are regarded and carried out within the UW System. Since 2013, Lewis also has directed UW-Eau Claire's Sonia Kovalevsky Math Days for high school and middle school girls, a program to encourage girls to pursue higher education and careers in STEM through exposure to STEM opportunities, workshops and panels, and networking opportunities with prominent women who use STEM in their careers.

EO Johnson Business Technologies has received the CompTIA Managed Print Trustmark™, a respected industry credential that signifies its adherence to best practices for technology service delivery and customer interaction. The Trustmark was developed by CompTIA, the non-profit association for the information technology industry, in collaboration with industry experts and leaders to identify businesses that have made a commitment to the highest levels of integrity and sustained quality service. The Trustmark is designed specifically for technology businesses offering on premise print services via a managed services business model.

HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital announced the leadership appointments of Josh Rizzo and Brandy Sikkora. Rizzo has been appointed as director of philanthropy for St. Joseph’s Hospital. Rizzo previously served as interim director of philanthropy for the hospital, and prior to that, as philanthropy specialist for the hospital. Prior to joining St. Joseph’s Hospital, Rizzo served as development coordinator for Chippewa Valley Habitat for Humanity. Sikora has been appointed as director of volunteer services for St. Joseph’s Hospital. Sikora previously served as manager of volunteer services for the hospital, and prior to that, as guest services representative for the hospital. Prior to joining St. Joseph’s Hospital, Sikora served as a manager at 29 Pines.

The Partners of HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital received the 2015 Wisconsin Award for Volunteer Excellence (WAVE Award) by the Partners of Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA), for the Dementia Friendly Business Initiative. The award was presented in Madison at the Partners of WHA Annual Convention. The Dementia Friendly Business Initiative was created last July to show a high level of public awareness and understanding of dementia. Chippewa Falls businesses and their employees have since been trained to help serve those who may have a form of dementia. The initiative is a collaboration between the Partners of HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital, HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital, Chippewa Health Improvement Partnership, Chippewa Falls Main Street and a Chippewa County dementia coalition. The Partners provided funding for materials and trained volunteers to educate businesses on customer service techniques to assist those with dementia.

Physician assistant Erin Spritzer recently joined the Orthopedic Center at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Spritzer holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences from UW-River Falls. She earned her a master’s degree in physician assistant studies from Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona. Spritzer is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and Physician Assistants Orthopaedic Surgery. Previously, Spritzer worked as a physician assistant in orthopedic surgery at Integrated Medical Services in Goodyear, Arizona, and at Mayo Clinic Health System in Owatonna, Minnesota.

Cheryl Rihn, infection prevention manager for HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals, recently earned her certification for Infection Control from the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. An internationally-held credential, approximately 6,000 infection control professionals worldwide have achieved this voluntary certification. Rihn has served as infection prevention manager for both hospitals since June 2013. Prior to that, she served as infection prevention specialist for HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital. Rihn also previously served in nursing roles at both hospitals.