HIRES AND PROMOTIONS
Hanft Fride announced the following hires: Charles H. Andresen joined the real estate team. A state bar certified real property law specialist, Andresen brings nearly 50 years of experience in real estate law, including residential and commercial law, mining and mineral law, boundary and title correction matters, access and easement issues and administrative law.
Andresen serves on the Minnesota State Board of Legal Certification and is a member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers. He speaks frequently at legal seminars on real estate and mining matters. A University of Minnesota Duluth graduate, he earned his law degree from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the Minnesota State Bar Association Real Property Section in 2012.
Kimberly Brzezinski also joined the real estate team. She specializes in civil litigation, construction law, land use issues, boundary and title correction matters, access issues, general real estate matters and estate planning. A state bar certified real property law specialist, Brzezinski graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Superior and earned her law degree from the William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul.
The law firm of Falsani, Balmer, Peterson, Quinn and Beyer hired Paula Polasky as an associate attorney. Her practice will focus around workers' compensation and personal injury litigation. Polasky received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks and her law degree from the University of Minnesota. While in law school, she served as editor and contributing writer for the Journal of Law and Inequality. During this time she also was involved with the Child Advocacy Clinic.
Otterson Mental Health Services Inc. announced Robin Barrett joined the practice. She holds a master's degree in social work and is a licensed independent clinical social worker. Barrett comes to the practice with more than four years of clinical experience. She also has three years of experience as a mental health outreach worker treating serious and persistent mental illnesses in the community. Barrett is a clinical psychotherapist working with all ages, including couples and family work with particular emphasis and experience in treating
female-related issues. She also specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's and dementia-related disorders.
Bonnie J. Perkins - Farmer's Insurance announced the following hires: Nicole Hughes was hired as the agency operations manager. Her areas of focus include strategic planning, business development and client satisfaction. Hughes holds a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Minnesota Duluth and is licensed in property and casualty insurance. Her role includes coordinating activities within the agency to fit the needs of clients.
Mitchell McGuire was hired as a marketing specialist. He has a strong emphasis in developing marketing techniques to enhance client
interaction within the agency. McGuire is licensed in life and health insurance, and his role includes creating a marketing plan that will cater to the needs of clients and team members.
Maurices announced the following hires: Tricia Waechter was hired as vice president/divisional merchandise manager of the Bottoms Division. Waechter has experience as a buyer for Dillards and held senior merchandising positions with May Co., Paul Harris, Delia's and most recently Cato Fashions. Her experience also includes working on the wholesale side as the chief merchant at KBL Group International.
Jamie Hashey joined Ascena Shared Services as a human resource information system agent.
Mai Lor joined Maurices as a senior computer-aided designer.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
Coldwell Banker East West Realty in Duluth announced Tom Little was named to the company's International Presidents Elite. Only the top 2 percent of Coldwell Banker Realtors worldwide qualified for this group. Little has been with Coldwell Banker since 2003.
Mark Fitzgibbons, owner of Fitzphoto Inc., was invited to teach at Imaging USA in Phoenix. Imaging USA is a yearly national convention for members of the Professional Photographers of America. Fitzgibbons, an active educator, was awarded a photographic craftsmen degree by the PPA for providing service and education in the industry.
LHB Inc. announced Lake Superior College's $13 million Health and Science Center facility received the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver Certification. LHB provided pre-design, design and construction administration services for the 50,800- square-foot new space and 33,250 square feet of remodeled space. LHB worked with design architect Ross Barney Architects to design the project to LEED NC Silver and also to meet the state of Minnesota's B3 Sustainable Guidelines.
Appointments
The Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment announced chief operating officer Tina Silverness was appointed to the Minnesota Association of Resources for Recovery and Chemical Health Board of Governors. MARRCH is a professional association of chemical health agencies and people striving to raise awareness about chemical dependency and the power of recovery.
Silverness will serve for two years as MARRCH Region 2 governor. Her responsibilities will include advocating for members in northwestern Minnesota on chemical health and recovery issues that affect them.
BOARD ELECTIONS
Northland Human Resource Association announced its board of directors for 2014: President Judy Aspling, CharterNEX; president-elect Arik Forsman, Allete; secretary Stacy Johnston, Northwoods Children's Services; community relations Steve Korby, Enbridge; treasurer Andy Solin, Allete; assistant treasurer Laurie Pinther, Essentia Health; college relations director Satrina Nikula, Allete; marketing director Patricia Stolee, Lake Superior Consulting; membership director Valerie Fiksdal, ADP; professional development co-director Linda Olcott, University of Minnesota Duluth facilities management; professional development co-director Kathy Chalupsky, UMD facilities management; professional certification director Theresa Severance, city of Duluth; workforce development director Betsy Hill, city of Duluth; at-large member Jim Laumeyer, Laumeyer and Associates; and at-large member Miriam Diamond-Sher, Abbott Co.
Dr. Glenn Meints was elected to serve as the 2014 president of the Minnesota Podiatric Medical Association during the annual membership meeting held Nov. 8. Meints owns and practices podiatric medicine at Conrad L. Meints & Associate in Duluth. GRAND OPENING/OPEN HOUSE
The Chequamegon Food Co-op in Ashland will have an open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at its future home at 700 Main St. W. The building, which eventually will house a 6,000-square-foot grocery store, deli and cooking classroom, is slated to undergo extensive renovation beginning in February.
Relocations
Wipfli CPAs and Consultants announced its Duluth office will be moving to the Lakewalk North Building, 1502 London Road, Suite 200, effective Saturday. FORMER RESIDENTS
Grand Rapids natives Don and Carol Racine, owner/operators of Racine Design Team of Jacksonville, Fla., received a first place National Excellence Award in Charleston, S.C., earlier this month during the convention for exterior upholstery and design. Judged by the entire National Marine Fabricators Association membership, the competition encompasses designers and fabricators from Canada and the U.S.
Biz Buzz is a collection of business news tidbits from around the region. Send your business openings or closings, personnel changes or other news of interest in the business community to Biz Buzz, Duluth News Tribune, 424 W. First St., Duluth, MN 55802, e-mail biz@duluthnews.com , or fax (218) 720-4120. The deadline for submissions is noon Friday.
