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• Bryan Lewis is a new sales associate with Alex Auto and Marine. He will be primarily selling boats, docks and lifts as the business grows and is currently selling used autos, trucks and boats.

Lewis was an employee at Alex Marine when it was open from 2000 to 2006. In between, he managed a welding and bait shop, which included dock and lift sales, consignment sales of boats, snowmobiles and cars. He also performed a lot of repairs. That business sold in January 2010 and he began work at Alex Auto and Marine.

• Danielle’s Little Day Camp Daycare recently opened in Alexandria.

Owner Danielle Thompson is a licensed daycare provider with an associate’s degree in child development.

There are immediate openings for children aged 2 and up.

Thompson said her facility has lots of toys for all ages, a large outdoor play area, semi-structured activities and a food program.

It is located near the Woodland Elementary School. For more information, call (320) 760-4999 or (320) 209-9015.

• Kris Chisholm recently joined the Glenwood State Bank team as a personal banker in the Alexandria office. He will specialize in personal and commercial deposit accounts, health saving accounts, individual retirement accounts and personal loans. Glenwood State Bank – Alexandria is located at 2221 South Broadway Street; (320) 763-0213; www.glenwoodstate.com.

• Edward Jones Financial advisors Nate Larson, Scott Larson and Kevin Klepper of Alexandria recently received the Jack Phelan Award for their outstanding service efforts over the past year.

Only 3,728 of the firm’s more than 12,000 financial advisors received the Jack Phelan award.

James D. Weddle, Edward Jones’ managing partner, added, “Nate, Scott and Kevin are outstanding members of the Edward Jones team who personify ideal financial advisors, those who are 100 percent dedicated to serving the financial needs of his clients. I am very pleased to present this well-deserved award.”

Edward Jones provides financial services for individual investors in the United States and, through its affiliate, in Canada. Every aspect of the firm’s business, from the types of investment options offered to the location of branch offices, is designed to cater to individual investors in the communities in which they live and work.

The firm’s 12,000-plus financial advisors work directly with nearly 7 million clients to understand their personal goals – from college savings to retirement – and create long-term investment solutions that emphasize a well-balanced portfolio and a buy-and-hold strategy. ­

• Mariah Wirth of Alexandria has become an independent consultant with Tastefully Simple, Inc., a national direct sales company featuring more than 60 easy-to-prepare foods.

As an independent business owner, Wirth offers food samples at home taste-testing parties, along with easy ideas for everyday meals, recipes, serving suggestions and fun. All of Tastefully Simple’s products are open-and-enjoy or can be prepared by adding only one or two ingredients.

For more information about Tastefully Simple products, taste-testing parties or starting your own Tastefully Simple business, contact Wirth at mdwirth@embarqmail.com.

• Alexandria Natural Health Center, 1413 Broadway, welcomes Dr. Christopher Larson, D.C. to its clinics in Alexandria and Hoffman.

Larson comes from Herman and attended North Dakota State University, where he acquired his bachelor of science in psychology. He is a recent graduate of Northwestern Health Sciences University’s College of Chiropractic, where he obtained his doctorate of chiropractic degree.

Larson assumed ownership of the Alexandria Natural Health Center and Hoffman Chiropractic from Dr. Wayne Knauf, D.C. as of July 15. Knauf will be retiring from chiropractic practice. He provided 37 years of care and service to the community.

• Cook County recently hired ORB Management Corporation to manage the construction of two additions and renovation of the existing Grand Marais Public Library in Grand Marais.

The project is one of many that will be funded by a 1 percent sales and use tax. With high expectations for local involvement, Cook County was pleased to award 50 percent of the bid divisions to local contractors.

Based in Alexandria, ORB Management Corporation was founded in 2002. It guides clients through project planning, real estate development, design and construction process management, facility diagnostics, financial feasibility and process risk management.

Employing 12 people locally, ORB has local, regional and national experience for facilities and campuses of varying size, scope and complexity.

• Minnesota Spray Foam Insulation recently opened a branch shop and office in Alexandria.

Josh Seidel will be the branch manager/salesman at the Alexandria office at 2504 Aga Drive, Suite 1. He has been servicing the Alexandria and Ottertail area for the last seven years.

Seidel is a member of Runestone Referrals Business Networking International and is also a member of the Vikingland Builders Association. He can be contacted at 1-866-456-FOAM.

Minnesota Spray Foam, based in Albany, Minnesota, was started in 2001 by its current owner, Jay R. Engelmeyer. It also has a branch shop and office in Brainerd.

The company offers traditional Fiberglas insulation (Fiberglas batts), closed cell spray and many different products for a variety of applications. It has four foam rigs and two Fiberglas crews.

• Tri-State Manufacturers’ Association (TSMA), based in Elbow Lake, has announced the addition of Tyler Wirth to the TSMA Board of Directors. The board voted unanimously to appoint Wirth to complete the term recently vacated by Linda Besse, who is no longer employed in the region.

Wirth is a business consultant for The Work Connection, a Tri-State Manufacturers’ Association member-company located in Alexandria. His term on the TSMA board will run through December 2012.

Tri-State Manufacturers’ Association is a membership-based organization serving manufacturers and related companies in west central Minnesota and eastern North and South Dakota. TSMA members benefit from peer networking, legislative advocacy, low cost training, plant tours, benefit programs, promotional opportunities, and more. The association has a 21-year history in the region.

Wirth joins fellow board members Bob Grove (Cosmos Enterprises, Elbow Lake), Don Leapaldt (State Bank and Trust, Fergus Falls), Todd Peterson (3M, Alexandria), Kevin Schutz (OECS, Alexandria), Elroy Vesta (EJ Enterprises, Fergus Falls), Mike Westergard (StoneL, Fergus Falls) and Dick Young (Innova Industries, Fergus Falls).

For more information about Tri-State Manufacturers’ Association, call 1-800-654-5773 or e-mail midwest@runestone.net.

Tags: on the street, business