CentraCare Health was recently named one of the Best Places to Work for the seventh consecutive year by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.
CentraCare ranked sixth among the top 10 in the large-company category. Gillette Children’s was the only other health care organization in the top 10 this year, capturing seventh place. Marco, based in St. Cloud, won first-place honors.
The Business Journal revised categories this year, expanding the definition of “large company” to include companies with 250 or more employees. In past years, the large company category included those with 1,000 or more employees.
The survey administered to employees of the 225 companies that entered the competition asked about company leadership, career growth and development, pay and benefits, recognition and other factors.
Brooke Radi of Sartell was recently named to the spring dean’s list at Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa. Students must maintain a 3.5 minimum grade-point average to qualify for this honor.
Five Sartell students recently enrolled for the 2015-16 academic year at the College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph.
They are the following: Amelia Barkley, daughter of Julie and Jim Barkley; Erin Eikmeier, daughter of Michelle and Jeff Eikmeier; Alexis Gent, daughter of Dawn and Brian Gent; Abby Spanier, daughter of Chris and Jeff Spanier; and Caitlyn Trane, daughter of Shelly Trane.
Benjamin Bierscheid, son of Karla Pallansch and Scott Bierscheid, both of Sartell, has enrolled for the 2015-16 academic year at at St. John’s University, Collegeville.
Maren Arneson, Sartell, recently attended SPACE CAMP ROBOTICS® at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, NASA’s official Visitor Information Center for Marshall Spaceflight Center, Huntsville, Ala. The weeklong educational program promotes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), while training students and adults with hands-on activities and missions based on teamwork, leadership and decision-making.
Arneson was part of the Robotics Academy Program, which is specifically designed for trainees who have a particular interest in engineering. The mission of Space Camp Robotics is to show trainees how engineers develop solutions for real-world problems using real world technologies. At all age levels, trainees use state-of-the-art robotics systems to compete in air, sea and land activities and missions. Using the Office of Naval Research’s SeaPerch undersea robotics, Arneson and the other trainees test payloads on an unmanned aerial vehicle, all while strengthening teamwork and leadership skills. At the end of their missions, the teams heard from former NASA astronaut Captain Wendy Lawrence speak at their graduation.
360 Chiropractic hosts patient appreciation week;
Raises funds for the Anna Marie Alliance
Through their patient fundraising efforts, 360 Chiropractic in Sartell has generated a total of nearly $6,100 year-to-date for the Anna Marie Alliance. The monies were raised through a variety of events.
360 Chiropractic hosts two Patient Appreciation Days annually, one in January and the second in July. The most recent one was July 16. Each Patient Appreciation Day includes complimentary wellness visits, chair massages, reflexology work, a fitness challenge and lunch, all in exchange for a donation to the Anna Marie Alliance. Through the two events and other ongoing efforts, the clinic raised donations totaling nearly $6,100 for the shelter this year. Their goal is $8,000 by Dec. 31.
“Our staff looks at it as a great way to give back to both our patients and our community,” said Dr. Jon Anderson, medical director at 360 Chiropractic. “Being a part of this community and supporting charities like Anna Marie’s is exactly why we continue our Patient Appreciation Day. The day is hard work but we love what we do. The support of our patients to this event during the years has been fantastic.”
The clinic’s Gift of Health program is a year-round effort that generates donations for the Anna Marie Alliance. Since January they have raised around $3,000 with the program.
“The Anna Marie Alliance is a great asset and we are proud to support them,” Anderson said.
CDS promotes Ryan Holter to senior accountant
Ryan Holter has been promoted to senior accountant at Conway, Deuth and Schmiesing, PLLP. He joined CDS in 2014 as a staff accountant. Prior to CDS, he worked in accounting for more than 11 years. Holter graduated from Ridgewater College in Willmar, Minn., with an associate’s degree. He also graduated from Minnesota State University in Mankato, Minn., with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a minor in business administration. In 2014, he received his masters of business taxation certification from the University of Minnesota — Carlson School of Management. Holter specializes in various accounting areas but his focus is in individual and corporate tax preparation, compilations and reviews.
Holter is the treasurer for the Sartell Neighborhood Business Sub-Committee (Hub on 15) and of the BPA Networking Group. He is a participant in the 2015-16 St. Cloud Area Leadership program, is a member of the Sartell Sabres All Sports Booster Club and is on the Golf Committee for the Sartell Chamber of Commerce.
Holter, his wife Brenda, and their three children, reside in Sartell.
Olson, CDS merge accounting firms
The accounting firm of Kenneth HT Olson, Ltd has merged its practice into the public accounting firm of Conway, Deuth and Schmiesing, PLLP. The combined client bases will be served from CDS’s Northwest Professional Center office which is located at 2351 Connecticut Ave., Ste. 110, Sartell. Kenneth Olson’s Troop Drive office location closed Aug. 10.
“We are both enthusiastic about continuing the high level of service and expertise our firms have provided our clients,” said Mike Zager, CPA, CSEP™ and Partner of CDS.
CDS has five locations: Sartell-St. Cloud, Willmar, Benson, Litchfield and Morris. They provide accounting, audit, tax, estate planning, administrative services and consulting for individuals, closely held businesses, non-profit organizations and government entities. With a team of 75 professionals, including 30 CPAs, CDS is ranked as one of the top 25 CPA firms by the Twin Cities Business B.I.G. Book. For more information about CDS, visit www.cdscpa.com.
Todd Steinke has accepted the position of CentraCare Health vice president of philanthropy and community health. He began work Aug. 16.
Since 2004, Steinke has been director of development for the CentraCare Health Foundation. Prior to this, he was regional director of strategic services for Banner Health System, and director of operations for Innovis Health, both of Fargo, N.D. He also has past experience in the insurance industry.
Steinke earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and business administration from Moorhead State University and holds a Certified Fundraising Executive Designation.
“With all of the great things happening at CentraCare Health,” Steinke said. “I am excited about being part of Dr. Holmen’s team and to lead the Foundation. We have a great team of people who are committed to engaging our volunteers and generous donors in improving health and healthcare throughout Central Minnesota.”