Newsmakers

Falsani, Balmer, Peterson, Quinn & Beyer

Robert Falsani was initiated as a trial advocate by the American Board of Trial Advocates, an honor reserved for a select group of 6,000 lawyers nationwide.

The American Board of Trial Advocates is a by-invitation-only organization dedicated to the preservation of the 7th Amendment to the United States Constitution which guarantees the right to trial by civil jury. The Minnesota chapter has 120 members.

Falsani is a founding partner in the law firm.

Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College

The college announced the following appointments at its Superior campus:

Kimberly Pearson, interim associate dean of Business and Community Education; and Celia Tarnowski, public relations representative.

Formerly, public relations representative for the campus, Pearson received her masters degree in business administration from Capella University in 2004.

Tarnowski was managing producer at WDIO Television. Her experience includes television commercial production and print and broadcast news. Tarnowski sits on the board of directors for the Lake Superior Ad Federation and has served on committees for The Boys and Girls Club of Duluth and the Lake Superior Broadcasters Association Tsunami Relief Event.

National Bank of Commerce

George Pluntz was promoted to properties manager at the Superior based bank. Pluntz joined NBC as maintenance supervisor in 2001. He was warranty policy administrator with Benna Ford in Superior from 1997-2000, service manager with Link Brothers Ford in Minong from 1993-1997 and had owned Hammond Spur and Alignment Brake Center for more than 25 years.

His new duties include managing the location/physical plants at NBC’s six offices.

He continues to supervise the bank’s maintenance area.

Owens Forest Products Co.

Julie Strand was hired as a staff accountant for the Duluth floor and hardwood company. She was controller at BendTec, Inc. in Duluth. Strand holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Bemidji State University with a concentrated study in finance and accounting. She also is a

certified management accountant with 25 years of accounting experience. A long time resident of Duluth, Strand is an active

community volunteer.

University Minnesota Duluth

Bruce W. Stender was named the school’s 34th recipient of the Business Person of the Year by the Labovitz School of Business and Economics. Stender is president, CEO and principal at Duluth-based Labovitz Enterprises. The organization manages the Labovitz Hotels and operates as the Lion Hotel Group. Properties include the Duluth Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites and Holiday Center Shopping Mall. Prior to joining Labovitz Enterprises, Stender was president of The College of St. Scholastica.

In 1978 he was chosen one of 10 outstanding Minnesotans and received an Honorary Doctorate of Law Degree from The College of St. Scholastica in 1981.

Stender has many years of experience in business and education with particular emphasis on organizational development, operations, management, corporate and non-profit board governance.

The university’s Center for Economic Development also announced recipients of the 13th Annual Joel Labovitz Entrepreneurial Success Awards. The 2005 recipients were selected from a roster of 44 nominees in Northeastern Minnesota.

The recipients in each category are as follows:

• Micro-Entrepreneur Award: Inhaler Fishing Tackle Co., Derek Vekich, Bovey;

• Emerging Entrepreneur Award: Premier Plastics, Bob Menne III, Hoyt Lakes;

• Established Entrepreneur Award: Citon Corp., Steven Dastoor and Sean Dean, Duluth;

• Mature Entrepreneur: Northshore Manufacturing, Inc., John Anderson, Two Harbors;

• Recognizing Emerging Technologies: Points North Consulting, Inc., John Foucault, Duluth;

• Lifetime Achievement: Edgar Hetteen, founder of Polaris and Arctic Cat, and co-founder of ASV;

• David A. Martin Entrepreneurial Leadership Award: Dale S. Lewis, Park State Bank.

Countrywide Home Loans, Inc.

Gloria Moen has been appointed home loan consultant for the Duluth office of the nationwide firm. Moen will work with home buyers, home builders and real estate professionals.

St. Luke’s

Marilyn Melhus, health unit coordinator for the hospital’s surgical services, was named St. Luke’s 2004 Employee of the Year. Melhus was chosen from a field of 12 hospital employees, each named an employee of the month during 2004.

Como Oil

Will Norman was hired as regional operations manager and will supervise day-to-day operations in the company’s eight regional offices in northern Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin, including sales and retail responsibilities at Como’s Home & Patio outlet.

Norman has more than 22 years of experience in sales management, human resources and operations, most recently at Northern Business Products and Beckley Cardy where he had regional responsibility for sales and operations in seven states. Norman holds a degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth and numerous professional certifications in sales and operations.

WestmorelandFlint

Amy Rutledge joined the Duluth-based advertising, marketing and public relations agency as an account executive. She’s a 1991 University of Minnesota Duluth graduate with a major in communications and minors in journalism and political science. Rutledge worked in television news for the past 14 years, most recently as assignment editor and 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. news anchor at KDLH-TV. Rutledge’s position will have a special emphasis in public relations. She serves on the UMD Alumni Board.

Mid-Minnesota Mortgage

Kay Frase has joined the Fergus Falls, MN bank as a mortgage consultant in the Duluth area. She has more than 25 years experience in the mortgage banking and real

estate field.

The Jamar Co.

The Duluth-based construction company announced the following hires:

• Susan K. Quam,

controller. Quam comes

to Jamar from the Duluth News Tribune where she was chief financial officer. In her new position she is responsible for capital and operating budgets, financial management, and preparation and analysis of company financial statements. Quam is a graduate of the

University of Minnesota Duluth with

a bachelor's degree in accounting.

• Greg Olek, safety

manager. Olek most recently served as safety manager for Gerdau Ameristeel. At Jamar he is responsible for coordination of overall safety and loss-control activities, which includes the oversight of the company safety and health committee. Olek is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Duluth with a master's degree in environmental health

and safety.

Ikonics

Mike Skrbich was hired as national sales manager for the Chromaline screen print products division of the Duluth-based imaging technology company. Skrbich had served as industrial finishes manager at Sherwin-Williams, Inc. since 1981.

The company also announced it has been approved as a gold V.I.P. supplier of its new Ikonsign Etch products to Sign-A-Rama retail outlets, the largest sign shop franchisor with more than 700 retail outlets worldwide.

Allete, Inc.

Patrick Mullen was promoted to vice president-ALLETE human resources from Minnesota Power vice president of distribution operations & customer service. Mullen will be responsible for safety, employee benefits, labor relations and of human resources. Mullen joined the company in 1990.

Minnesota Power

Alan Hodnik was promoted to vice president-Minnesota Power Generation, from general manager-Minnesota Power thermal generation operations. Alan will oversee all generation assets and fuel procurement. Hodnik joined the Allete subsidiary in 1982.

LHB, Inc.

The Duluth-based design firm announced the following hires:

Architecture: Daniel Maldonado, architect and project manager of the healthcare group; Steve Schuller, architect and project manager, and Tu-Anh Bui, designer, in the housing group.

Interior Design: Laura Tupy, interior designer for the Commercial Group.

Engineering: Robert Lisi and Stephen Krasaway, civil designers for the public works and structures group; Michael Breidenbach, mechanical project engineer, and Brian McMillan, engineering lead technician, for the pipeline/utilities group.

The 39-year old firm employs 145 at offices in Duluth and Minneapolis.

Duluth Superior Symphony

Erin Aldridge, a member of the music faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, was named the orchestra's new concertmaster.

She has won numerous awards as both soloist and chamber musician and has been featured throughout Europe and South America. Highlights include the world premiere of John Downey’s Irish Violin Sonata in London where she also performed his Piano Trio with the Dorothea Trio. She was a guest artist at the AIMS festival in Solsona, Spain, guest artist for the past three years at Madeline Island Music Camp, and has performed numerous concerts throughout Uruguay as well as the United States with the Dorothea Trio.

Aldridge received her bachelor’s of arts degree from Indiana University, a master’s degree and performers certificate in chamber music performance at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in the Leonard Sorkin Institute of Chamber Music. As a member of the Dorothea Trio she studied under Efim Boico. In May 2003, she received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in violin performance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Aldridge replace concertmaster Diane Balko, who retired at the end of the season after 37 years with the orchestra.

Hartley Nature Center

Peter Weidman, a business development specialist with Ayres Associates in Duluth, was appointed to the center’s board of directors. Weidman has been actively involved with the center from its inception through Rotary project funding and implementation. Ayers Associates is based in Eau Claire.

St. Mary’s Medical Center

Susan E. McClernon chief operating officer for the Duluth hospital, was named a fellow

with the American College of Healthcare Executives. Founded in 1933, the

college is an international professional society of 30,000 healthcare

executives who lead hospitals, healthcare

systems and other healthcare organizations.

The Development Association

The association announced that Fred Schusterich will be president of the organization that represents more than 140 businesses in Superior and Douglas County.

William Stack, owner of Stack Bros. Mechanical Contractors, was reelected to the at-large position of the board of directors by the Association’s membership. Stack will serve a three-year term.

McNally Industries

The Grantsburg-based manufacturer will receive $335,000 in Technology Zone tax

credits from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce for a $3.1 million investment to expand and equip its facility. This project will create 23 jobs and retain 75 jobs.

McNally Industries manufactures mechanical and hydraulic systems and components primarily for U.S. Department of Defense applications. McNally is using the funds to nearly

double the size of its existing plant in the Grantsburg Industrial Park.

McNally Industries is a member of the SuperiorLife Technology Zone, which provides incentives for high-tech growth in factory automation, advanced materials, and manufacturing equipment.