On the street

• Windmill Ponds Senior Living reports that April Thompson won the prestigious North Star Leadership Award from Welcome Home Health Care, Inc., the management company that operates Windmill Ponds.

The purpose of the award is to honor those individuals who exemplify what it means to be a leader in senior living communities. It is open to anyone in the company who exemplifies the surroundings; someone who is there not just for the residents, but also someone who is there for their team.

Sue Jutz, director of residents services at Windmill Ponds, said of the award, “Because of all the hard work that April does for the residents and families, our team members here at Windmill Ponds, thank you.”

The award was presented at Welcome Home Health Care’s annual winter conference in Hutchinson. Team members, residents and family members were able to watch live via the Internet as the awards were presented.

• The financial-services firm Edward Jones ranked No. 11 on Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work for 2011” list in its 12th appearance on the prestigious list, according to three Alexandria financial advisors.

The Alexandria financial advisors include Scott Larson, Kevin Klepper and Nate Larson.

“The fact that we’ve been on the list for 12 years speaks to the consistency of our business model and our focus on working with individual investors. In addition, our partnership allows us to share the ownership of the firm with those men and women who help us to be successful,” said Edward Jones managing partner Jim Weddle.

Edward Jones’ 12 Fortune rankings include top 10 finishes for eight years and consecutive No. 1 rankings in 2002 and 2003 and consecutive No. 2 rankings in 2009 and 2010.

• Heidi E. Schultz has been named a shareholder in the Alexandria law firm of Swenson Lervick Syverson Trosvig and Jacobson, PA.

Schultz joined the firm as an associate attorney in November 2007 after serving as an assistant county attorney for Douglas County starting in 2004. She previously served in assistant county attorney roles in St. Louis and Olmsted counties and as a judicial law clerk for Judge Mark A. Munger in Duluth.

A 2000 graduate of Valparaiso University School of Law, Schultz serves on the Minnesota Supreme Court’s Advisory Committee for the Rules of Criminal Procedure and the Alexandria Area YMCA’s Child Care Advisory Council. She also belongs to Lakes Area Business and Professional Women.

At Swenson Lervick, she will continue to serve as an assistant city attorney for the city of Alexandria, and she will work with clients in the firm’s growing family law and civil litigation practice.

Schultz and her husband, Marty, live in Alexandria.

• Brian Ferris of Osakis recently opened a new crop insurance agency and now works as an independent insurance agent for PHI Insurance Services.

As an independent insurance agent for PHI, Ferris joins his father, Bruce Ferris, in providing innovative products for local growers.

“Providing crop insurance is an important way I can help customers and it complements my dad’s seed sales agency – adding another service for his customers,” Ferris said.

PHI Insurance Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Pioneer Hi–Bred, has provided growers across the country with risk management tools for more than 20 years. Pioneer Hi–Bred has produced top yielding proprietary genetics for corn and soybean growers for more than 80 years.

• Collins Cabinets of Alexandria reports that Jeff Crosby has been promoted to operations manager.

Prior to his promotion, Crosby held a technical position within the company for two years. In his new role, he will oversee the production and installation teams, sales and estimating, and overall company operations.

Crosby brings a wealth of knowledge in business management and team building to his new position.

• The Board of Directors of Viking Savings Bank has announced the election of two directors.

Shane Schmidt, president of Pro Tainer, Inc. and Doug Thompson, president of Lakeland Management Company have both joined the board.

Tags: on the street, business