On the Street - March 16, 2012

• Paul Amundson, an Alexandria-based Thrivent Financial for Lutherans financial associate, was recently honored by the financial services organization for new member growth. Amundson ranked 11th nationally among the organization's nearly 2,300 financial associates by attracting 49 new adult benefit members to join the financial services membership organization in 2011.

Amundson is with the Northwestern Minnesota and Eastern North Dakota Regional Financial Office in Fargo, ND. He meets members’ needs through customized financial strategies, personal customer service and a wide range of financial products.

Amundson has been a financial associate with the organization since 2002.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a not-for-profit, Fortune 500 financial services membership organization helping approximately 2.5 million members achieve financial security and give back to their communities. Thrivent Financial and its affiliates offer a broad range of financial products and services. For more information, visit Thrivent.com, Facebook and Twitter.

• Larry Shellito was named Legionnaire of the Month for January by the Alexandria American Legion Post 87.

Prior to joining the Armed Forces, Shellito received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Moorhead State University. In 1968, he enlisted in the U.S. Army.

His active duty service included serving in Vietnam as a mobile advisory team leader. He served on active duty from 1968 to 1971.

When he was separated he held the rank of first lieutenant. In 1973, Shellito joined the Minnesota Army National Guard, where he served for 37 years. During this time, he also served as the president of Alexandria Technical College.

Shellito was instrumental in establishing the nation-leading “Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Program” to reintegrate service members following deployments.

He also completed a Bachelor of Science and a master’s degree at Moorhead State University and an education doctorate at the University of Minnesota. In addition to his civilian education, he graduated from the U.S. Army War College. In 2010, Major General Shellito retired as the adjutant general (AG) of the Minnesota National Guard. During his seven years as AG, Shellito helped build a national reputation for the Guard, which is the nation’s fifth largest with more than 14,000 members in 63 facilities across Minnesota.

His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and Combat Infantryman’s Badge, among many others.

In January 2011, Shellito was appointed as the 17th commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Veterans’ Affairs (MDVA). As commissioner, Shellito is charged with assisting the state’s 380,000 veterans and their families.

His responsibilities as commissioner include oversight of Minnesota’s five state veterans’ homes in Minneapolis, Hastings, Fergus Falls, Luverne and Silver Bay. He also oversees all MDVA programs and services and represents the department at hearings before the Minnesota Legislature and the U.S. Congress.

• Christian Barnett, investment and retirement services financial advisor with Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union (MMFCU), was recently appointed to the board of The Minnesota Fathers and Families Network (MFFN).

Barnett has been with MMFCU for nearly three years and said he is honored to have been named to the board of an organization vital in both creating and sustaining strong communities.

“Mid-Minnesota has a core commitment toward sense of community. Strong families are the bedrock of community and I’m both honored and eager to contribute at a state level.” said Barnett.

The Minnesota Fathers and Families Network is a federally recognized nonprofit organization intended to enhance healthy father-child relationships by promoting initiatives that inform public policy and further develop the field of fatherhood practitioners statewide. MFFN believes that, in order for children and families to thrive, the whole community – families, individuals, non-profits, public systems, policy makers, the private sector, and funders – needs to work in partnership and collaboration.

Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative serving central Minnesota. The credit union has full-service offices in Alexandria, Baxter, Brainerd, Little Falls, Crosby, Pequot Lakes and Staples; as well as a drive-through branch in Baxter.

• Todd Eklund of The Water Doctor LLC was named the number one top Kinetico salesman nationwide in January. In December 2011 Eklund made his 1,000th career sale for Kinetico.

Eklund has worked with the Water Doctor for eight years, three of those years in sales and service. He has been one of the top employees since he joined the staff.

The Water Doctor LLC is located at 419 North Nokomis Street in Alexandria.

Tags: on the street, business