Two Sartell Middle School student athletes were recently recognized as part of the Central Minnesota Youth Soccer Association team that made it to the state tournament in Rochester, Minn. two weeks ago. They are fifth-graders Reese Kloetzer (starting midfielder) and Reese Geiger (starting center midfielder.) The team took third in the state in their C2 division.
St. Cloud Federal Credit Union recently named Mark Douvier as new vice president of lending. Douvier will serve as a member of the executive team, accountable for the overall lending portfolio to ensure success for the members and the organization. He will actively participate in the strategic direction of the credit union as a member of a dynamic and growing organization. Douvier was most recently the CEO for Collegeville Community Credit Union for more than 10 years, and has an expansive career fostering growth and innovation.
“We are excited to have Mark on board,” said Jed Meyer, SCFCU president and CEO. “His experience, skill-set, and passion were exactly what we were looking for. The fact Mark was recently a CEO for so many years is experience that we were fortunate to find.”
In addition to being a member of the executive team, Douvier will actively participate on the Asset Liability Management Committee as well as leading lending staff in real estate, consumer and business lending. He began his career in the financial industry nearly 30 years ago with experience ranging from a small credit union to mid-size companies to the corporate arena.
“I was looking for an organization with a mission and a challenging culture where I could leverage my strategic and business acumen. St. Cloud Federal Credit Union is an organization unlike any I have seen before and I am so proud to be part of this team,” Douvier said.
Douvier is a devoted executive who is also committed to quality family time with his wife and two children. His hobbies include playing and listening to music with family and friends, exercising and traveling, most recently with a trip to Europe. Douvier began working at SCFCU on Oct. 16.
“We have a diverse membership with varying lending needs,” Meyer said. “I look forward to having Mark contribute to further success for our members and our organization.”
PineCone Vision Center recently named longtime team member Jennifer Novak as vice president of operations. In 2006, Novak started at PineCone Vision Center as practice administrator. Since then Novak has emerged as a leader in her organization and in the community, earning her certified paraoptometric certification from the American Optometric Association.
Novak was named Paraoptometric of the Year by the Minnesota Optometric Association, recognizing an optometric assistant or technician who has made the most contributions to the profession of optometry. A past president of the Minnesota ParaOptometric Association, she served on several committees of the American Optometric Association, including Communications Content Committee and Paraoptometric Section Awards and Recognition Committee. Currently, Novak chairs the AOA Online Education Committee.
Active in the community, she has chaired the Sauk Rapids Chamber of Commerce and the Criminal Justice Day of the St. Cloud Area Leadership Program. A past graduate of the St. Cloud Area Leadership Program, Novak holds a degree in business management and human resource management from Rasmussen College.
“Jennifer has been an integral part of our team,” said Dr. Stacy Hinkemeyer, clinical director at PCVC. “She continues to be an important contributor to our growth and success.”
Travis Forst of Sartell-St. Stephen High School was recently named a recipient of this year’s Wells Fargo All-Tournament Team award for boys’ soccer. Wells Fargo is the premier corporate sponsor of the Minnesota State High School League. The award recognizes student athletes who demonstrate exceptional sportsmanship, team commitment, athletic ability and leadership during the state high school tournaments. Athletes are selected to the Wells Fargo All-Tournament Team by a panel of coaches attending the tournament. Sixteen awards are presented in Boys’ Class A Soccer.
Megan Cook of Sartell-St. Stephen High School was recently named a recipient of this year’s Wells Fargo All-Tournament Team award for girls’ soccer. Wells Fargo is the premier corporate sponsor of the Minnesota State High School League. The award recognizes student athletes who demonstrate exceptional sportsmanship, team commitment, athletic ability and leadership during the state high school tournaments. Athletes are selected to the Wells Fargo All-Tournament Team by a panel of coaches attending the tournament. Sixteen awards are presented in Girls’ Class A Soccer
The Greater St. Cloud Development Corp. will soon be the anchor tenant in the First National Bank of St. Cloud building in downtown St. Cloud. Built in 1889, the First National Bank of St. Cloud building is considered to be one of the best designed, most preserved and most significant buildings in central Minnesota. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, the building is currently undergoing a complete rehabilitation in partnership with the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office and the National Park Service. The GSDC leads economic development in the Greater St. Cloud region through six strategic initiatives; one of which is to contribute to the planning for and vibrancy of downtown St. Cloud.
“A prospering downtown is a critical asset to the health of a community, and cultivating ongoing development fuels both economic growth and civic pride,” said Patti Gartland, GSDC president.
The decision to locate in the heart of downtown St. Cloud demonstrates GSDC’s commitment to the economic vitality of the historic downtown core. The revitalization of the historic building and visibility of the GSDC offices are expected to catalyze further growth and development downtown.
Mayor Dave Kleis said, “It’s great to have our region’s economic development corporation situated in a newly renovated historic building in the core of a newly rejuvenated historic downtown.”
Pegg Gustafson, St. Cloud Downtown Council president, said, “This is excellent news and is yet another example of the economic and cultural renaissance that is well underway in downtown St. Cloud. Businesses and residents are attracted by this new energy and the momentum is fantastic.” The GSDC office currently hosts the St. Cloud Downtown Council, which will also relocate with the GSDC.
The rehabilitation of the First National Bank of St. Cloud building is being led by GSDC investors Douglas J. Boser and Brian Schoenborn.
“Our vision is to rehabilitate the building,” said Boser, president of Inventure, “restoring its position as the pre-eminent location for leading St. Cloud businesses to collaborate, grow and thrive. It is a true honor to have our team at Boser Construction lead the process of restoring this historic space to its original grandeur, while ensuring it is equipped with all of the modern amenities and requirements of a Class A office space.”
“The First National Bank of St. Cloud was a core economic driver in our community, and filling the building once again with leading St. Cloud businesses honors past visionaries whose passion fueled the growth of our community during the past 126 years,” Schoenborn added. “We believe creating a thriving downtown has positive, long-term effects that elevate our community as a whole. Continued support of these collaborative efforts will serve as a catalyst for future growth and create a lasting legacy that will benefit future generations.”