Carlson Professional Services

Craig La Tulip, L.S., has joined Carlson Professional Services, Inc. to manage land-surveying services for the Duluth office. He is a Registered Land Surveyor in Minnesota and Wisconsin with more than 25 years of experience.

Great Northern Services, Inc

Charles “Buzzy” Winter was promoted enterprise consultant. He previously worked as senior certified consultant. Winter joined Great Northern Services in August of 1998 and is a Microsoft certified systems engineer.

Members Cooperative Credit Union

Steve Schwartz received Building Operator Certification from the Midwest

Energy Efficiency Alliance. Building Operator Certification is a highly regarded, hands-on training and certification program. Schwartz, of Cloquet, was hired by MCCU in 2000, and has worked in several capacities including business development, branch management, and facility maintenance security.

NewPage Corporation

John Bastian was promoted to Duluth mill manager, effective Feb. 15. He replaces Pat Moore, who accepted a position at NewPage Luke, MD.

Bastian began his career at the Escanaba, MI mill in 1985. He spent 15 years working in various manufacturing management roles.

Bastian has a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from the University of Minnesota Duluth and a master’s degree from the Institute of Paper Chemistry in Appleton, WI.

Eikill & Schilling, Ltd.

The Duluth and Cloquet consulting and certified public accounting firm promoted Craig Chilcote, CPA, to director of business development. Chilcote worked with Eikill & Schilling, Ltd. for more 10 years and specializes in tax services, management consulting for businesses and the installation and support of accounting and payroll software.

UW-Extension Douglas County

Sarah Wilcox graduated from the Nonprofit Administration Certificate Program offered through the Center for Continuing Education/Extension at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. The program provides training specific to managing a not-for-profit organization or government agency.

Encounter

The Encounter hired Ryan Underwood as the center’s new executive director. The youth center, located in downtown Duluth, offers a wide variety of programming for young people in the Twin Ports. Underwood replaces Mark Pavola, who served as director of the Encounter since its inception in 2002. Ryan spent the last four years serving as the youth director for the Duluth Gospel Tabernacle.

SuperiorHealth Center

SuperiorHealth Center hired Christine Day, RN as an Advance Practice Nurse specializing in diabetes care. Day brings 30 years of nursing experience to SuperiorHealth Center, the last 20 of which have been dedicated to diabetes education and the treatment of diabetes-related issues.

SMDC Health System

Steve Yorde joined the Duluth-based Health System in the role of Chief Development Officer. Yorde comes to SMDC from the Marshfield Clinic in Marshfield, WI where he held the same position. From 1988 through 2001, Yorde was SMDC's Executive Director of Foundations and President/CEO of the Benedictine Foundation

The St. Louis River Alliance honored SMDC Health System with its 2009 Environmental Stewardship Award. Dianne Witten, Director of Retail Pharmacies, and Dick Spehar, Director of Acute Care Pharmacies, accepted the plaque on behalf of SMDC. SMDC's pharmacy staff members were nominated by the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District for their role in medication collection events at WLSSD's Household Hazardous Waste Facility.

Alan Hodnik and Chuck Walt will serve three-year terms SMDC Health System's Board of Directors.

Hodnik was just named chief executive officer of Allete and is a member of its board of directors. He has worked for the company in various capacities since 1982. The Hermantown resident, who was born in Northeastern Minnesota, is a longtime civic and political activist who served three years as mayor of Aurora.

Walt was recently promoted to executive director of programs for the Fond du Lac Reservation. Previously, he served as the band's Associate Director of Human Services for 25 years. He assisted the CEO in administering and managing a variety of health and human service programs.

Orthopaedic Associates of Duluth

Nikki Duncan, OTR/L, CHT, joined the staff of Orthopaedic Associates of Duluth as an occupational therapist. The specialty group of surgeons is expanding services to include occupational therapy. Duncan holds a master’s degree in occupational therapy from the College of St. Scholastica and is a Certified Hand Therapist.

Minnesota Power

Alan R. Hodnik will become ALLETE Inc. chief executive May 1, replacing Don Shippar, who will retire.

Hodnik joined Minnesota Power in 1982 and held positions including vice president of generation operations and senior vice president of Minnesota Power Operations. He was named Minnesota Power’s chief operating officer in 2007, then promoted to ALLETE president and elected to the board of directors in May 2009.

Shippar, who began at Minnesota Power in 1976, will remain board chair. He previously served as Minnesota Power president and COO and Allete president and CEO.

St. Luke’s

Gina Lemke was named St. Luke’s Director of Pharmacy. In this capacity, Lemke’s areas of responsible include St. Luke’s Hospital Pharmacy, Wilderness Tele-Pharmacy Services, Northland Pharmacy and St. Luke’s Infusion Therapy Pharmacy.

Previously, Lemke worked as manager of pharmacy operation at St. Luke’s, and has also worked as director of pharmacy for Lake View Hospital in Two Harbors. She also worked in pharmacies in Chicago and the Twin Cities.

Lemke received her Doctorate of Pharmacy (PharmD) from the University of Minnesota, and completed an ASHP-accredited pharmacy practice residency at the University of Illinois-Chicago.

Duluth Children’s Museum

Patty Cartier, community volunteer; John Erickson, a partner with DSGW Architects; Wayne Hibbard, President & CEO of Pioneer National Bank; Katarina Miketin-Rush, a credit analyst with US Bank; and Raymond Peterson, an attorney with Maki & Overom; were named to the Board of Trustees of the Duluth Children’s Museum.

Northland Foundation

The Northland Foundation was recognized with an Excellence in Practice Award at the Aging Services of Minnesota Institute in Minneapolis. The Institute is the state’s premiere event for professionals in older adult services. The Northland Foundation’s AGE to age: bringing generations together project focused on bringing generations together to learn from one another and address community needs.

UMD

University of Minnesota Duluth Chancellor Kathryn A. Martin was awarded the Medal of Distinction by St. Catherine University, St Paul, MN at the school’s December commencement ceremonies. St. Catherine President Andrea J. Lee presented the Medal of Distinction to Martin for “outstanding achievements and years of contribution to academia.” Martin was also the school’s featured commencement speaker.

• March newsmakers -3/2/2010
• New members join SMDC Board -2/12/2010
• Duncan joins staff of Orthopaedic Associates -2/10/2010
• Johnson named NRRI center director -1/21/2010
• KUMD's Johnson honored with environmental award -1/19/2010