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Some Good Economic News
 

From the Region …

 
 
 
Charter Helps Catholic Charities With $10k Holiday Gift 

Funds will support feeding St. Cloud families in need this holiday season
 
It’s a fact that the numbers of children and families in communities across the country are going to sleep hungry are growing. More and more families in need are coming to local food pantries, which has created an urgent need to replenish their already stretched food inventories. Aware of the critical need, Charter is making a donation of $10,000 to Catholic Charities, to help fill empty food pantry shelves and stave hunger in the community this season.
 
“Charter and its employees understand the serious situation in our communities, when it comes to meeting a basic human need such as nutrition,” said Melissa Morris, Vice President and General Manager of Charter Communications. “In difficult times, it’s even more important for hometown businesses, employees and families to take care of each other. We have great respect for the work Catholic Charities emergency food services provides, especially their ability to turn $50 into $500 worth of food for our neighbors.
 
Catholic Charities Emergency Services Food Shelf serves the communities of St. Cloud, Sauk Rapids, Sartell, Waite Park and St. Augusta. “We are seeing about 400 more households a month than we saw during the same time last year needing our food services.” said Kathryn Stolpman, Emergency Services Program Manager for Catholic Charities.“$10,000 will provide more than 8,000 meals.”
 
Over the years, Charter employees and customers across the country have participated in giving initiatives that benefit their communities. Movies for Food is a nationwide employee-customer donation program created by Charter to help re-stock empty food pantry shelves in our community. The seasonal program accepts donations of non-perishable foods from Charter customers then provides them with vouchers for On Demand movies and a chance to win an HD prize package. All food donations stay in the area in which they are donated. More information on Movies for Food can be found at charter.com/moviesforfood.
 








Steve Bresnahan (left) - Executive Director - Catholic Charities
Kathryn Stolpman (right)  - Emergency Services Program Mgr.
Catholic Charities
Melissa Morris (center), V.P. & General Mgr - Charter Communications

Behavioral health director honored
Jim Forsting, St. Cloud Hospital’s Behavioral Health Services co-director, was honored with a lifetime achievement award by the Minnesota Association of Resources for Recovery and Chemical Health. Forsting has worked on the Recovery Plus Program for 32 years, created the area’s first outpatient treatment program, created an outreach program for seniors, started a funding campaign for a specialized women’s residential program, secured funding for chemical health consultants, and worked to construct Clara’s House with donated dollars.
 
 
 
Rice Building announces promotion
Steve W. Nelson has been promoted to Vice President-Operations for Rice Building Systems, Inc. Nelson has been with the company for ten years as a project manager. 
 

 
InteleCONNECT adds sales manager
Robin Grote joins InteleCONNECT, Inc. as sales manager for both St. Cloud and the Twin Cities. Grote holds a B.S. in international business and sales and marketing. 
 

 
HIR Companies changes name
HIR Companies, LLC has changed its name to Safe Shield LLC. Product changes and market expansion have led the company to provide more customized compliance solutions to business clients, helping drive the name change.

 
Johnson Group honored; hires designer
Johnson Group Marketing, Inc. won a national telecommunications marketing competition for their work for client Diversicom. The award was given by the Organization for the Promotion and Advancement of Small Telecommunications Companies.
 
Brad Alexenko has joined Johnson Group as senior designer. He has 15 years of agency experience for clients such as DeZURIK and Creative Memories.
 
 

 
Habitat adds staff; board members
Central Minn. Habitat for Humanity added one new staff member and three new board members. Michelle Redding is the new Development Director and David Jacobs, Tom St. Hilaire and Wilbur Wilkens join the Board of Directors.
 
 
 
 

Chiropractor to represent national foundation
Dr. Jill Braaten, Imagine Chiropractic, has been named an official local representative for the Foundation of Wellness Education (FWE) for the community of St. Cloud. FWE is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about health and wellness issues.
 
 
 
 
Mathew Hall receives industry award
Mathew Hall Lumber received an Industry Excellence Award from ProSales Magazine for best website. Mathew Hall was chosen because they created an interactive website that gives their customers a sense of the deep roots that Mathew Hall has in the community, while offering state-of-the-art technology and services.
 
 
Quinlivan & Hughes add associate
Quinlivan & Hughes, P.A. announces the association of Ben Winger, who joined the firm as a law clerk in 2010 and thereafter was admitted to the Minnesota Bar. Prior to that Winger was employed at UnitedHealth Group.
 
 

 
MediBill Professionals staff named officers
MediBill Professionals owner Ranadene Tapio, CMRS, has been named vice president of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Medical Billing Association. Kim Terhaar, RHIT, also of MediBill Professionals, has been named education officer.
 
 
Kilian named vice president
Matt Kilian, a 12-year staff member of the Initiative Foundation, has been named to the new position of vice president for external relations. He will lead the foundation’s merged donor services and communications team and assist with strategic planning.
 
 

 
Pierson joins HBH Consultants
HBH Consultants, LLC, an organizational and fund development consulting firm, added Katrina Pierson as senior associate. Pierson previously served as director of development for Great River Educational Arts Theatre (GREAT).
 
 

 
Marco opens new office
Marco expanded into a new 15,000-square-foot facility in St. Louis Park. Other locations, including the St. Cloud headquarters, will be expanded and updated in the future. The St. Louis Park office is located at 7003 Lake Street West.
 
 
Agent qualifies for cruise
Independent insurance agent Deborah A. Krump will take a cruise this October on Royal Caribbean after selling more than $200,000 of annualized premium during AFLAC’s 39-week annual convention qualification contest. This is the second year Krump has qualified. Last year Krump was the only representative in the Minn. North Region to qualify.
 
 
 
 
PleasureLand named Top 50
PleasureLand RV Center was recently named to RV Business Magazine’s Top 50 RV Dealers in North America. Criteria were customer service and satisfaction, employee training and education, and sound planning initiatives. The dealer has been in the Top 50 since the award began three years ago.
 
 
Hospital Center re-designated; promote staff
St. Cloud Hospital is re-designated a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). The designation recognizes the safety, efficiency and positive results of the center that treats obesity via surgery.
 
The hospital promoted Kristi Patterson, R.N., B.S.N., to director of inpatient rehabilitation services.
 
 
 
Compiled by Jill Copeland
 

 
Updated 12/7/10 (News Reel Jan-Feb. 2011)