DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE BUSINESS WEEKLY March 25, 2010
Buzz People, places and pursuits creating buzz in Dakota County business this week as submitted by the local business community
Moving Up RICK GOOD Hire U.S. Federal Credit Union Burnsville
U.S. Federal Credit Union in Burnsville hired Rick Good to the position of AVP/Director of Data Center Operations. Good comes to USFCU with 15 years of information technology experience, most recently as an IT Manager. His primary responsibilities include management of the Core Financial, Imaging and Data Warehouse and Reporting applications and staff.
Accolades BRIAN SMITH AND MICHAEL PALMQUIST
Buzz Spotlight Apple Valley Anchor Bank senior vice president retires by Jessica Harper
1987 as a bank teller at Fidelity Bank in Edina. After more than 20 years in In 1989, Wing left Fidelity the banking industry, Rita Wing for Valley National Bank in Apwill be retiring on April 16 from ple Valley, which was bought by her position as senior vice presiMidway National Bank in 1996. dent of Anchor Bank in Apple Wing then was hired at AnValley. chor Bank in 2000, and worked Rita Wing “I’ve really enjoyed my time her way up to senior vice presihere at Anchor Bank,” Wing, dent, a position she has held for 65, said. “Anchor Bank really empowthree years. ers its employees and recognizes the Wing said she most enjoys working successes they have.” with customers and coaching new emAlthough she grew to love it, bankployees. ing was not Wing’s first career choice. Wing is also involved in the local She worked as an elementary teacher chamber and community. for several years before becoming a She has been a member of the Apstay-at-home mother. ple Valley Chamber of Commerce for As her children grew older, Wing 20 years and served as the chair of its decided to re-enter the workforce but board of directors for four years as well there were few teaching positions at as treasurer in 1994 and secretary in the time, so she took a part-time job in 1995. DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
In 2008, she was named Volunteer of the Year by the Apple Valley Chamber. Wing has previously volunteered for the Dakota County Community Action Council, now known as 360 Communities, as well as a serving as a member of its loan board. Wing volunteers with the B. Robert Lewis House Golf fundraiser each year at Crystal Lake Golf Club and has served on the Apple Valley Ring Around the Arts Committee. She currently serves on the advisory board for Dakota County Technical College. After retirement, Wing said she plans to spend more time with her family and travel. E-mail Jessica Harper is at: jessica.harper@ecm-inc.com
Named ‘Best in Client Satisfaction’ in Mpls St. Paul Magazine
Brian Smith and Michael Palmquist of Smith Palmquist Financial Services, Burnsville, were named to an elite group called the “Best in Client Satisfaction” in the January 2010 issue of Mpls St. Paul Magazine. For the article titled “Meet the Best: Twin Cities 2010 Five Star Wealth Managers,” the magazine teamed up with Crescendo Business Services for the 2010 Independent Survey of 35,000 high net-worth residents in the Twin Cities area. Those surveyed were asked to evaluate advisors on nine criteria: customer service, integrity, knowledge/ expertise, communication, value of fee charged, meeting of financial objectives, post-sale service, quality of recommendations and overall satisfaction. Only 751 made this year’s list, representing less than 6 percent of the wealth managers in the Twin Cities area.
Business Briefs
Business Briefs and goals designed to help Ace stores improve sales and overall store performance. Of the three levels of Vision 21 achievement, platinum is the highest and represents the top 6 percent of all Ace stores. Ace’s platinum-achieving retailers were invited to take part in a three-day retail conference in February, where they received a plaque identifying them as a Vision 21 Platinum-achieving store. Later this month, these stores will be honored in New Orleans at the company’s spring convention.
APPLE VALLEY CHIROPRACTIC MOVES TO NEW HOME Apple Valley Chiropractic has recently moved into its new home at the corner of 147th Street and Galaxie Avenue and was approved for a new sign.
NEIGHBORHOOD ACE HARDWARE STORES RECEIVE AWARD Ace Hardware of Apple Valley, uptown Lakeville and New Prague has been named a “Vision 21 Platinum” retailer by Ace Hardware Corporation, an honor bestowed on only the brand’s top-performing stores. Only 272 out of approximately 4,500 locally owned Ace Hardware stores achieved the honor in 2009. Ace’s Vision 21 retail achievement program provides initiatives, guidelines
CULVER’S DONATES TO AMERICAN RED CROSS Culver’s and its independent owneroperators will contribute more than $100,000 to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief and Development Fund. The donation is possible through the generosity of Culver’s patrons during a 10 percent of sales day effort as well as individual contributions in Culver’s restaurants across the country.
Business Briefs U.S. FEDERAL CREDIT UNION GIVES TO CHILDREN’S GROUPS Over the last few months, U.S. Federal Credit Union (USFCU) has participated in two major fund raisers in an effort to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network and Credit Union for Kids. Through sales of Happenings Books, and hearts and links for the credit unionwide ‘Chain of Hearts’ campaign, USFCU helped raise more than $3,400 for these necessary youth-focused programs. U.S. Federal has taken the opportunity to sell Happenings Books for CMN during many of the past fall seasons. All branches of the credit union participated this past fall by making these popular entertainment and discount tools available to members, community
Business Briefs guests and employees. This year, U.S. Federal was the only area credit union to participate in the program. With 50 percent of each book’s sales going to support CMN and CUFK, U.S. Federal raised a total of $2,000 through this campaign. U.S. Federal also supported the 2010 Chain of Hearts Campaign during the January and February months. This campaign involved each U.S. Federal branch location where paper hearts and chain links were available to members and employees to purchase. The hearts and links were then hung in the branch in recognition of the personal support and collaborative efforts for children through these organizations. U.S. Federal’s participation raised a total of more than $1,400 during the January/February event.
Submission to Buzz The Dakota County Tribune Business Weekly includes promotions, new hires, retirements, awards and other such business news on the Buzz page. If you have an announcement you would like included in this part of the newspaper, send submissions by e-mail to jessica.harper@ecm-inc.com, fax to (952) 846-2010 or mail it to the Burnsville office at 12190 County Road 11, Burnsville, MN 55337. When sending a photo by e-mail be sure that it is 200 dpi or greater. Include a daytime phone number if someone from the newsroom needs to contact the business for additional information. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday prior to Thursday edition. Submission of information does not guarantee publication. All items are subject to editing. Tips on what to include in the submission are: names, titles, dates, business name, brief description of the news taking place, brief description of the business, contact names and numbers.
Submissions to Buzz: www.DakotaCountyTribune.biz
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