Members of the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce have big things happening! Here are the news briefs from July & August, 2024.
Have some news to submit? Send press releases, staff additions, awards and more to Emily Bertram.
Metro Bus acquires land, receives award
Metro Bus acquired two parcels of land on the corner of 2nd Ave. S and Sundial Drive in Waite Park for eventual construction of a secondary hub. This hub will help improve system efficiency, serve underserved and unserved populations, and allow for shorter trips.
JLG hires, announces promotions
JLG Architects welcomed Ryan Rademacher AIA, principal, to the firm’s national Sports Studio team. Rademacher brings 23 years of architectural experience, with specialized expertise in virtual design construction, complex and high-performing facades, and strategic operations planning.
Adam Barnett, AIA, recreation sports specialist, and Adam Davidson were promoted to principal architects. Barnett leads the firm’s community and recreation projects, leveraging recreation facility studies, sports and rec programming, and community growth trends. Davidson has led JLG’s project teams and collegiate clients since 2016, and is currently leading the Athletics Event Center at Dakota State University in Madison, SD.
Kirby named president at Central McGowan
Jason Kirby joined Central McGowan as president of gases and supplies. He has held many roles in the industry, with a blend of operational, managerial, and strategic expertise.
St. Cloud State awarded grant
St. Cloud State University, in partnership with Central McGowan, received a $205,000 training grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development under the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership funding. The grant will equip the team managers with the skills they need in the changing environment, develop their emerging leaders, and retain and up-skill employees to advanced positions.
Initiative Foundation promotes Newbanks
Carl Newbanks has been named vice president for philanthropy at the Initiative Foundation. Newbanks joined the Initiative Foundation in 2018 and most recently served as director of development. He will oversee donor relations and planned giving, the foundation’s community philanthropy program establishing donor-created funds, and the foundation’ s grant writing initiatives.
Stearns Electric announces board members, begins construction
Randy Rothstein, Richmond; Jeff Koehler, Belgrade; and Jerry Fries, St. Cloud, were re-elected in districts 4, 5 and 9 respectively to the Stearns Electric Association board of directors and will each serve one three-year term.
Stearns Electric broke ground on its new operations center and headquarters facility in Melrose. The 89,000 square foot building is expected to be completed in the fall of 2025.
CentraCare introduces doula program
In partnership with Everyday Miracles, CentraCare – Plaza Clinic Obstetrics & Women’s Health is now offering doula services with the goal of providing patients with the most satisfying birth experience through emotional, physical and informational support.
Fisk to lead Catholic Charities
Aaron Fisk is the new president/CEO of Catholic Charities of St. Cloud. Most recently, Fisk was senior vice president of custom partnerships with Microbiologics and has served on the Catholic Charities board of directors since 2022. He has over 20 years of leadership experience across varied industries and has been actively involved in the community and local nonprofits for more than a decade.
Dietz named SCSU interim president
Dr. Larry Dietz is the interim president at St. Cloud State University for the next two years. Dietz served as the president of Illinois State University from 2014 to 2021. He added several undergraduate and graduate programs during his tenure, received approval for a new College of Engineering, and stabilized enrollment.
Falcon Bank receives outstanding rating
Falcon National Bank received the highest rating given by the Office of the Comptroller of Currency (OCC) for its adherence to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) standards. The evaluation is based on items such as loan-to-deposit ratio, dispersion of loans throughout different geographies and income levels, the distribution of loans to businesses of different sizes and borrowers of different income levels, and the bank’s community development performance.
Country club unveils updates
St. Cloud Country Club recently added six pickleball courts, renovated its clubhouse and restaurant, called The View, and added a golf simulator.
Swanberg is Psychology Teacher of the Year
The Minnesota Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools named Craig Swanberg, as the “2024 Minnesota Psychology Teacher of the Year” for his dedication to teaching high school psychology. Swanberg teaches psychology at St. Cloud Technical High School.
SCTCC adds new program
St. Cloud Technical and Community College is adding an aircraft maintenance technician program. There will be an estimated 1,737 job openings in this field between 2020 and 2030.
Advantage 1 Insurance adds staff
Advantage 1 Insurance Agency welcomed three new staff members: Carrie Kloss specializes in farm and agricultural insurance; Geoff Martinson has over 20 years of experience in group health insurance; Steve Klaverkamp joins the team as a risk advisor.
Johnsons receive preservation award
Kevin and Julie Johnson received the 2024 City of St. Cloud Heritage Preservation Award for their work in restoring the former International Harvester building in east St. Cloud. The building now houses Iron Street Distillery and Harvester Square event center.
Crew Carwash donates $27,000
During a special two-day fundraising event, Crew Carwash provided a free ultimate wash with any donation to Gillette Children’s. The initiative raised $27,000 for Gillette Children’s Hospital.
AIS Planning adds owner
Nathan Goebel is now a minority owner at AIS Planning. A certified financial planner, Goebel has been an advisor with AIS since 2019.
BCI welcomes new staff
BCI Construction added three new members to its team. Tyler Grosso and Nolan Peterson joined the BCI Construction team as project managers and Amanda Ramler has joined as a contract administrator.
riteSOFT earns international award
SYSPRO, a global provider of ERP software, recognized riteSOFT through its 2023 Global PartnerUP Awards. Software company riteSOFT was awarded the Independent Software Vendor of the Year for its exceptional data collection automation software solutions, which enhance and extend the functionality of SYSPRO’s ERP platform.
Oppong named to 40 under 40
Emmanuel Oppong, community engagement director for the City of St. Cloud, was recognized in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s annual 40 under 40 awards. Oppong, who as been with the city for seven years, was recognized for his work in engaging and empowering the community.
Businesses lend a hand at Quiet Oaks
Several St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce members spent time volunteering at Quiet Oaks Hospice House and Respite Care in the last few months.
Blattner Company volunteers raked leaves, filled ruts, moved outdoor furniture, and assembled a bench.
Several DeZurik volunteers cleaned out the pond and put fresh paint on the lines in the parking lot.
Two groups of volunteers from North Risk Partners donated their time to Quiet Oaks. One group picked acorns and twigs from the mulched gardens and raked the mulch like new. Another group partnered on an Earth Day project, cleaning up the ditches along Highway 15.
Marco receives award
Marco was named Public Sector Partner of the Year at Mitel’s 2024 Global Partner Awards Ceremony for the Americas region. This award recognizes Marco’s exceptional performance as a Mitel partner over the past year.
Microbiologics welcomes new senior vice president
Steven Henderson joins Microbiologics as senior vice president and general manager of services, bringing over 25 years of experience in the medical device, life science, and biotechnology industries. His background includes leadership roles at Invetech and Thermo Fisher Scientific, with expertise in business development, program management, and quality compliance.
Frey joins Deerwood Bank
Deerwood Bank appointed Michael Frey as vice president of business banking for its Waite Park location. Frey will assist customers with business banking services and financing needs, as well as analyze financial statements and underwrite loans.
SCIPI celebrates milestone
2024 marks ten years since St. Cloud Industrial Products Inc. (SCIPI) became entirely employee owned. SCIPI has roots in the St. Cloud area dating back to 1959. It became an ESOP in 1975, and entirely employee owned in 2014.
Women News
Mueller joins Inventure
Melissa Mueller joined Inventure Real Estate as a real estate advisor. She will help identify, analyze, and execute new real estate investment opportunities.
CentraCare welcomes new CHRO
CentraCare selected Kim Egan as the new chief human resources officer (CHRO). She comes to CentraCare with more than 20 years of health care experience at organizations including HealthPartners, Fairview Red Wing Health Services, and Mayo Clinic.
In her role at CentraCare, Egan will oversee CentraCare’s people strategy, ensuring strategically and operationally progressive approaches are identified that further advance workforce goals.
Egan received her bachelor’s degree in communications from Minnesota State University, Mankato and her MBA from Concordia University in St. Paul. She was most recently the vice president of human resources at HealthPartners for Regions Hospital and the St. Croix Valley Hospitals and Clinics.
Nobel earns designation
Sarah Noble, associate advisor with AIS Planning, earned the professional plan consultant designation, signifying expertise in designing, executing, and servicing retirement plans.
Stearns Bank welcomes Johnson, Rivera
Marlice Johnson joins Stearns Bank as chief brand officer. Johnson will lead initiatives to strengthen Stearns Bank’s brand identity and enhance customer engagement across all touchpoints.
Maggie Rivera has assumed the role of vice president of corporate social responsibility and inclusion. Rivera will spearhead Stearns Bank’s efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within its commercial operations.
O’Connor joins St. Cloud Area Chamber
Kristi O’Connor is the new director of finance and operations at the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce. O’Connor will focus on all accounting duties for the Chamber as well as the Chamber’s Convention and Visitors Bureau. She will also play an integral role in the human resources operations of the whole organization. O’Connor comes to the Chamber with over 20 years of experience in leading finance and human resources teams for various small businesses, government organizations, corporations, and non-profits.
Deerwood promotes Peterson
Sidney Peterson joined Deerwood Bank as retail manager for its Sartell location. Peterson served in a management role for retail organizations for three years before joining Deerwood Bank in 2023 as a teller. In her new role, she will assist customers with consumer banking services and financing needs, as well as manage the retail banking team at Deerwood Bank’s Sartell location.
