SCS Interiors

SCS Aircraft Interiors has renamed itself SCS Interiors and expanded to serve the automobile, truck, train, bus, marine and small RV markets. The Duluth firm also added two persons to its management team. Lars Jensen is the director of marketing and sales.. Most recently, he was marketing, sales, and public relations manager for Air Graphics in Madison. Teresa Ganser, MS, RHIA, joined SCS as director of human resources. She brings 25 years of management and consulting experience.

Braun Intertec

The Minneapolis-based company hired Mark Skubic as staff engineer. He will provide engineering and project management services for geotechnical projects in northern Minnesota. Skubic will assist with projects in the transportation, mining, institutional and medical markets.

Lake Superior College

Kathleen Nelson, outgoing president, received a lifetime achievement award from (Duluth, Minn.) college’s Student Life. Nelson retired as LSC president on June 30, after 13 years of service. The award was presented to Nelson for her efforts helping students.

Essentia Health

SMDC’s parent corp. and its employees donated $150,000 for earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. Physicians and staff donated nearly $60,000 to the cause, which was matched by Essentia. The health system donated an additional $30,000. Funds were distributed to groups including Catholic Relief Services, Doctors without Borders and the American Red Cross.

LHB

LHB Chief Executive Officer William D. Bennett received the American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota’s 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award on May 21. The Tom Roche Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an individual who has contributed a great deal over the course of their career to the engineering profession, ACEC/MN and the community.

The 2010 Jury of Fellows from The American Institute of Architects (AIA) in Washington, D.C., placed LHB’s Senior Vice President Rick Carter in its College of Fellows. Fewer than two percent of all registered architects in the United States are elected to fellowship in the AIA. Carter was one of 134 national recipients to achieve this recognition.

Weichart Realtors

Nancy J. Murray was named 2009 the company’s “Rookie of the Year.” Murray received a certificate for her achievements at the year-end banquet honoring agents throughout the Weichert Minnesota, Northern Wisconsin, Northwest Michigan Broker Council.

Greenstone Group

The Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin group aimed at developing entrepreneurial talent added three new business performance coaches: Jim Laumeyer, Maxine Rhodes and Doug Swanstrom. “The extensive experience of our coaches is vital to the success of our entrepreneurs,” said Dean Minardi, Greenstone Group CEO. “Each individual entrepreneur and small business has distinctive needs which require unique attention and direction.”

American Bank

The Board of Directors of the consolidated bank announced the appointment of Bryan L. Rude to the position of chief executive officer and James J. Croyle to chief credit officer. Rude replaces Larry Bondhus as the bank’s chief executive. Bondhus worked with American Bank for the past 23 years.

American Bank of the North, Nashwauk, was named “Community/Rural Lender of the Year” by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Minnesota District Office and also won national recognition in the same category. The Community/Rural Lender of the Year Award is presented to a lender that exhibits ongoing commitment to supporting the growth and expansion of small businesses in their community. The SBA presents awards to lenders that make an impact in their communities through the use of SBA loan programs.

Miller-Dwan Foundation

The nonprofit hired Joanna Carlson for its fundraising team. She will be responsible for the foundation’s marketing and special events and is currently preparing for its premier ARTcetera event. She was born and raised in Duluth.

Riverwood Healthcare Center

The Aitkin healthcare center ranks among the top five hospitals in Minnesota, and among the top 10 percent of hospitals in the United States, for total joint replacements, according to a 2010 study by the leading health ratings organization. As a result, Riverwood received the Total Joint Replacement Excellence Award for the second consecutive year.

Saturn Systems Software Engineering of Duluth

The company hired Atul Kulkarni as a software engineer, Mike Siers as a senior software engineer and Nick Murphy senior software engineer.

Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation

Ryan Boman, Philip D. Rolle, Arend J. Sandbulte and Mia Thibodeau were elected to the nonprofit’s board of trustees. The board also nominated Two Harbors resident Lyle Northey as chair; Hanft Fride attorney Jennifer L. Carey as vice-chair; Howard T. Klatzky of marketing and communications firm H.T. Klatzky and Associates as secretary; and LeRoy T. Kolquist, president of Kolquist, Seitz and Goldman, treasurer.

Architectural Resources

Dawn Loraas, CID, earned her accredited professional certification with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The LEED Green Building Rating System is a sustainable, whole-building construction initiative administered by the U.S. Green Building Council.

WITC-Superior

The college hired Johanna Garrison as instructor of the new Human Services Associate program that will begin this fall. She brings more than 14 years of experience working in public and private human service agencies, which include the Missouri Division of Youth Services, and Nexus Treatment Centers.

Northland’s NewsCenter

Dave Jensch, the station’s vice president and manager, was awarded the Grandma’s Marathon 2010 Marsh Nelson Media Award. The award, named in memory of the late KDLH-TV sports director, is given annually to a media representative to recognize his or her com¬mitment to the coverage and development of Grandma’s Marathon.

St. Luke’s

David Fogarty, MD, the healthcare provider in orthopedics, joins John Watkins, MD, and Anne Sullivan, MD in this practice. Fogarty received his medical degree from the University of California in San Diego. He completed his internship in general surgery and his residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. St. Luke’s Q Care hired Steven Sachs, PA-C. Sachs received his graduate degree in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, and is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Q Care, St. Luke’s express medical clinic, provides walk-in care for minor health concerns.

St Mary’s, Miller-Dwan

auxiliaries

The Miller-Dwan Auxiliary donated $75,000 to the Miller-Dwan Foundation’s Turning Point fundraising campaign. Turning Point is a child and adolescent mental health center that will be designed for youths suffering from mental illnesses. The St. Mary’s Medical Center Auxiliary committed $25,000 to the SMDC Foundation to name one of 18 private rooms planned for families who use the Newborn Intensive Care Unit at St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital.

Wheeler Associates

H. James Wheeler of Wheeler Associates received the Leading Producers Round Table of the National Association of Health Underwriters association’s Eagles Award. The Eagles Award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated professional excellence in the sale of health and disability income insurance.

Northland College

The Dexter Library at the Ashland college earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold Certification from the United States Green Building Council. The building, first opened in 1969, recently underwent significant renovations, including the installation of a geothermal heating and cooling system and an array of solar panels.

DSGW Architects

The Minnesota-based architectural firm promoted staff members Ryan Turner and Michael Laverdure to associate. Turner works out of the firm’s Virginia office, while Laverdure is based in the company’s North St. Paul office.

Duluth Airport Authority

New officers were elected to the airport authority’s board of directors. John Eagleton, CEO of Northstar Aerospace in Duluth, was elected president. Robert Pearson, an attorney and president of the law firm of Johnson, Killen & Seiler, P.A., was selected as vice president. Michael Lundstrom, executive director of the Hermantown Chamber of Commerce, was elected secretary.

Integrity Health Network

The newly created healthcare organizations announced its board of governors. Serving Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin, IHN is a merger between Northstar Physicians Network and Northland Medical Associates.

Its Board of Governors is comprised of the executive committees of Northland Medical Associates and Northstar Physicians Network and the president/CEO of Integrity Health Network, LLC. Its members are as follows: Dr. Daniel McKee, M.D., chairman of the board; Kenneth Ripp, M.D., vice-chair; Patrick Hall, M.D., treasurer; Brent Kelley, M.D., secretary; David McKee, M.D.; Barbara Hemenway, M.D.; Edmund Draper, M.D.; Jeffrey L. Tucker, president/CEO, Integrity Health Network.

Sterling Bank

Sterling Bank hired Aaron Holten and Alex Swanson as loan officers.

Holten is a life-long resident of Barron County and a graduate of Barron High School. He will work out of the Sterling Bank branch in Barron. Swanson grew up in Madison, WI and is a graduate of UW-Eau Claire. He will work out of the bank’s Chetek branch.

SuperiorHealth Center

Danielle MacDonald, pharmacist, was awarded Preceptor of the Year for Community Practice by the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy. The award was presented to MacDonald in her first year as preceptor, a term for onsite practicing instructors in pharmacy education. The annual award is granted to two instructors in the entire University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy system.

Members Cooperative Credit Union

Jackie Rudolph was promoted to branch manager of the Cloquet office. Rudolph will manage the selection, training, development and performance of the Cloquet office’s member service staff. She’ll also be responsible for leading MCCU’s community outreach efforts and for cultivating local business relationships in Cloquet.

Dale Peterson was hired as a regional manager. In his new role, Peterson will be responsible for MCCU’s Central and Miller Hill branches. Peterson brings more than 25 years of banking and credit union experience to his new position. Most recently, he served as director of branch operations at Wings Financial in Apple Valley, MN.

Corporate Trainer/Employee Development Coordinator Kathlynn McConnell earned the Certified Professional in Learning and Performance credential from the American Society for Training & Development Certification Institute.

Tara Alfonsi was hired as marketing director. Alfonsi most recently served as the executive director of the NorthShore Inline Marathon, managing the organization’s communications efforts. She previously worked for four years as a print journalist and an ad agency copywriter for five years.

Pascha Parks, vice president and partner of Duluth marketing firm The JPG Group and vice president and partner Gizmoz Promotional Products, was named to the credit union’s board of directors. Parks, a lifelong resident of Cloquet, brings substantial credit union experience to the board. She worked as the Duluth branch manager for Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union, leading member relationship development system-wide. During her tenure at Affinity, she also served as vice chair of the Arrowhead Chapter of the Minnesota Credit Union network.

Eikill & Schilling, Ltd.

The Duluth and Cloquet consulting and certified public accounting firm, announced that Ronald Peterson, principal and CPA, Scott Hanson, CPA and Jeffrey Schaefer, CPA, became accredited in business valuation. The American Institute of Certified Public Accounts administers the ABV credential.

Northland College

Northland College recently received $10,000 in grants from the Xcel Energy Foundation. The Apostle Islands School Program will receive $5,000 of grant funding. It is an environmental education program aimed at providing regional youth with an outdoor experience to increase awareness of both the regional history and the wide array of local resources. The Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute will receive $2,000 in funding. The grant will be used to support a broad range of programs at the institute. Through these ßprograms and projects the SOEI hopes to raise awareness and understanding of the natural environment and lead people to take action to protect it. The Xcel Energy Environmental Scholarship will receive $3,000. The scholarship is designed to support a student who is academically talented and possess the leadership skills and commitment to solve environmental problems.

National Bank of Commerce

Mark C. Peterson was hired as senior vice president - commercial banking manager - Wisconsin for National Bank of Commerce. He brings over 30 years of commercial banking experience with U.S. Bank including roles as vice president/relationship manager in Duluth and market president/commercial district manager in the Iron Range area of Minnesota. Peterson earned a Bachelor of Business Administration - Finance degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth. His office is at the 1127 Tower Avenue bank in Superior. Steven A. Kovala has been hired as senior vice president - commercial banking manager - Duluth. His prior banking experience includes business banking manager and community bank bresident with Wells Fargo and president of U.S. Bank in Grand Rapids. Kovala earned a masters of business administration degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth and Carlson School of Management in Minneapolis as well as a bachelor of science - forest products marketing degree from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. His office is in Duluth.

Compudyne

Compudyne has expanded its IT support teams. Damian Sabetti, of Eveleth was hired as technical project manager. He has more than 10 years of experience in delivering and managing IT consultation services and solutions. Jason Benson, a Hoyt Lakes native, has 11 years of experience in the IT department with Fortune Bay Resort.

MSA Professional Services

Eric Christensen, municipal engineer, has joined the Duluth office of MSA Professional Services. Christensen’s specialties include stormwater, water, sanitary sewer, and transportation. He previously worked as a summer intern and co-op with a Milwaukee, Wisconsin engineering firm. Christensen graduated in May from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering with an emphasis in Municipal & Transportation.

WITC

Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College has recently named Ellen Hauser as its director of institutional effectiveness. Hauser formerly served as the executive dean for WITC. She will begin her new job on July 1. The position serves all of WITC’s campuses and reports to the vice president of administrative services at the administrative office in Shell Lake. Hauser will have responsibility for accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission and will help direct the college’s continuous improvement and planning efforts.

• Kim Parmeter -8/31/2010
• Craig Kuske, P.E., S.E. -8/31/2010
• Barb Johnson -8/31/2010
• Doug Aretz -8/31/2010
• Shawna Jokinen -8/31/2010