On the Street - June 8, 2012

• American Solutions for Business (ASB) of Glenwood was recently rated by two industry leaders. Promo Marking magazine, produced by North American Publishing Company, rated ASB number 10 for sales and promotional products. Counselor magazine, a publication of Advertising Specialty Institute, rated ASB number 13 of 50 distributors.

Regarding the new rankings, Larry Zavadil, founder and CEO of ASB, said, “Promotional products remain an important part of our widely diverse business, representing the fastest growing product category of our total sales. Our sales associates are dedicated to finding quality solutions for clients across the country. I’m proud of the job they’re doing and am pleased to support them with a dedicated and talented team at our home office.”

Founded in 1981, ASB is an industry-leading distributor of printing, promotional products, ecommerce, office supplies and strategic marketing solutions.

• John Morris Benson published An Odyssey of Illusions through Black Rose Writing of Castroville, Texas on May 17.

Benson lived in Alexandria from 1949-55 when he graduated from Alexandria’s Central High School. Now, Benson lives with his wife of 53 years in Vancouver, Washington.

Events in Benson’s life before he was 10 served as raw material for the story. Protagonist 12-year-old Levi Robert Reising has a series of terrorizing nightmares manifested by fits of unprovoked anger and destruction of property.

An Odyssey of Illusions is available from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble or the publisher.

Contact Benson through his blog johnmorrisbenson.com or website www.tincupnomore.com.

• Widseth Smith Nolting welcomed funding specialist Philip Drown to its funding assistance unit.

Drown began his career as an independent project manager and professional writer in 1999 and has gained more than 12 years’ experience. He secured funding for and managed numerous successful projects throughout Minnesota under the auspices of his practice, Philip Drown Consulting.

As a funding specialist, Drown will help prepare funding packages for public infrastructure, community, health care, housing and office building projects. Drown has thorough knowledge of and relationships with personnel at state and federal funding agencies and can help position projects for favorable consideration by decision makers.

Widseth Smith Nolting is a multi-disciplined firm providing architectural, engineering, land surveying and environmental services. Its offices are located in Alexandria, Baxter, Bemidji, Crookston, East Grand Forks, Red Wing, Rochester and Grand Forks, North Dakota.

• Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has been selected as one of the “World’s Most Ethical Companies” for 2012 by the Ethisphere Institute. Thrivent Financial was named to the prestigious list as a result of its leadership in promoting ethical business standards, as well as for introducing innovative ideas to benefit the public.

The Ethisphere Institute is a leading international think-tank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability.

Read about the methodology and view the complete list of the 2012 World’s Most Ethical Companies at http://ethisphere.com/wme. The World’s Most Ethical Companies will also be featured in the Q1 issue of the quarterly magazine Ethisphere.

Tags: on the street, business