On the Street - June 1, 2012

• Governor Mark Dayton announced the appointment of Mark Bergerson of Alexandria to the Board of Firefighter Training Education as a Minnesota State Fire Department Association volunteer representative.

His term is effective June 4 and expires January 4, 2016. He is replacing Troy Walsh.

• For the sixth year out of the past eight, financial-services firm Edward Jones ranks highest in investor satisfaction with full service brokerage firms, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Full Service Investor Satisfaction Study.

The study measures overall investor satisfaction with full service investment firms based on seven factors: investment advisor, investment performance, account information, account offerings, commissions and fees, website and problem resolution.

Edward Jones places its branch offices in the communities where its clients, long-term individual investors, live and work. This practice, which enables its branch teams to provide personalized service to all clients, has helped the firm attain the highest score in the “Investment Advisor” category of the study.

The three Alexandria Edward Jones financial advisors are Kevin Klepper at 117 6th Avenue East, phone (320) 762-2337; Scott Larson at 1696 North Nokomis, phone (320) 759-1174; and Nate Larson at 1111 Broadway Street, phone (320) 762-8536.

Edward Jones provides financial services for individual investors in the United States and, through its affiliate, in Canada. Edward Jones is headquartered in St. Louis. The Edward Jones website is located at www.edwardjones.com.

• John Helgeson, physical therapist of Douglas County Hospital Rehab Services, recently completed the National Strength and Conditioning Association certification. Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists (CSCS) are professionals who apply scientific knowledge to train athletes for the primary goal of improving athletic performance. They conduct sport-specific testing sessions, design and implement safe and effective conditioning programs and provide guidance regarding nutrition and injury prevention. Helgeson has more than 15 years of experience in working with physical injury at DCH Rehab outreach clinics at the Alexandria Clinic and YMCA.

• West Central Initiative (WCI) staff and board members surprised Gail Kulp, executive director of the Windmill Project, on Friday, April 27 with a grant award for $5,000. The Windmill Project received the grant from WCI to recognize the organization’s hard work in creating a better tomorrow for families in west central Minnesota.

“West Central Initiative celebrated its 25th anniversary last year by giving one-time grant awards to some of the stellar nonprofits in the region. The board and staff enjoyed this so much, we decided to do it again this year,” said Nancy Straw, WCI president. “This is a great opportunity for us to recognize organizations that make a terrific impact in the counties they serve but that do not normally match our grant guidelines.”

The Windmill Project connects families of children with special needs and disabilities to each other and to appropriate resources and services. Learn more at http://windmillproject.org.

West Central Initiative is a regional community foundation serving the nine west central Minnesota counties of Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse and Wilkin. WCI invests resources in our communities for regional success, using the tools of economic development and community development, and by promoting philanthropy. Learn more at www.wcif.org.

• Bruce Pederson announced his retirement from the Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union (MMFCU) board after serving 20 years. Al Kolling is filling his position. Kolling has served on the MMFCU Staples Advisory Council since October 2005. He is CEO/owner of Precision Polishing & Plating, Inc. of Staples.

Board incumbents Bunny Johnston and Mark Korwin-Kuczynski were re-elected to three-year terms. Johnston was originally elected in 2005, while Korwin-Kuczynski began his service in 1988. Both have served in numerous capacities on the board.

MMFCU’s board of directors are volunteer representatives of the entire credit union membership. Their focus is on providing leadership that helps MMFCU achieve its vision of being its members’ first financial resource for a lifetime of services.

Mid-Minnesota Federal is a member-owned financial cooperative serving central Minnesota with offices in Alexandria, Brainerd, Baxter, Crosby, Little Falls, Pequot Lakes and Staples.

• Paul Amundson, FIC, Alexandria, a financial consultant with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, has qualified for Summit Circle, based on 2011 performance. This is the organization’s second-highest recognition level for sales and service. Seven percent of Thrivent Financial’s nearly 2,300 financial representatives qualified for this honor.

Amundson is with Thrivent Financial’s 435 Regional Financial Office, serving Lutherans and their family members in Alexandria and surrounding communities. He provides financial guidance and strategies to help clients achieve their financial goals.

Amundson was recognized by his peers from across the country at Thrivent Financial’s sales conference in April. Amundson has been with Thrivent Financial for nine years and has been recognized for his performance six times.

• Country Consignments will celebrate its fifth year anniversary on Saturday, June 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The public is invited to see a 1930s barn filled with new and used items for sale, including clothing, wall decor, glassware, men’s shopping aisle, antiques, dolls, tin signs, purses, jewelry, toys, puzzles and more.

Country Consignments is located one and a quarter miles north of Rose City at 19832 County Road 18 NE, Eagle Bend. For more information, call (218) 738-5683.

Tags: on the street, business