Paper presented

Charles Conrick, assistant professor of business and finance, and Debora Dragseth, associate professor of business, presented a paper titled "A Study of Entrepreneur and Small Business' Required Returns and Empirical Observation of Actual Entrepreneurial Returns Attained" at the 20th annual Academy of Entrepreneurial Finance conference in Las Vegas. Conrick wrote the paper, and he and Dragseth co-presented the paper and also served as discussants for other presenters at the conference.

Doctors certified

Dr. Kevin Longie and Dr. Kelly Longie have successfully completed their board exams. The Tioga natives graduated from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences and completed Family Medicine residencies at the Center for Family Medicine in Bismarck. They are now board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. Kevin Longie practices at the Kirkwood Mall Clinic, and Kelly Longie practices at the Main Clinic on Ninth & Rosser.

Furaus hired

Clearwater Communications has hired Jill Furaus as a part-time communications assistant.

A native of the Bismarck-Mandan area, Furaus earned a master's degree in management and bachelor's degree in communication with an emphasis in public relations, both from the University of Mary. Her previous experience includes working as an intern in corporate communications for MDU Resources Group Inc., as well as marketing and public relations positions for St. Alexius Medical Center and the Bismarck Bobcats.

Piatz joins

Dr. Kinsey Shultz Piatz, a family medicine doctor, recently joined Medcenter One Q&R Clinic Mandan North. Shultz Piatz received her medical degree at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine in Grand Forks. She completed her family medicine residency at the Siouxland Medical Education Foundation in Sioux City, Iowa. As a family medicine doctor, Shultz Piatz provides healthcare for all members of the family.

Schlinger certified

Medcenter One Occupational Health Clinic's Damian Schlinger, an injury prevention and rehabilitation specialist, recently became a certified specialist in health ergonomics by ErgoRehab Inc. Ergonomics refers to the fit between workers and their workplace environment. It also can be used as a tool in the rehabilitation process if the workstation causes or contributes to a worker's injury.

Gunsch appointed

Michael Gunsch, P.E., has been appointed for one year to the Licensure and Qualifications for Practice Committee by Brad Aldrich, president, National Society of Professional Engineers. This national committee studies engineering licensure laws throughout the United States; makes recommendations for improvement of the licensure laws; promotes licensure of all qualified engineers and certification of engineering interns; and maintains surveillance over activities directed toward continued competence of NSPE members and other professional engineers.

Three awarded

Lonnie Berg has earned September's Digital Solutions Specialist of the month at Midwest Business Systems. Berg has been employed with Midwest Business Systems for nine months.

Lorene Ahlers Iverson was voted on by her peers as September's Employee of the Month. She is a customer service support specialist working out of the Jamestown branch of Midwest Business Systems and has been employed with them for eight months.

Ron Emter has earned September's Service Support Specialist of the Month. He has been employed with Midwest Business Systems for five years.

Zins awarded

The Crete Carrier Corp. terminal in Tifton, Ga., named Leo Zins Driver of the Month for August. Zins lives with his wife Shirley in Sterling. Zins started driving 26 years ago and has logged 2 million accident-free miles.

Zins will receive a plaque and compete with drivers of the month from 16 other terminals for Crete Carrier Corp.'s Driver of the Year award.

Three hired

Three employees have recently joined Ulteig Engineers' Bismarck office.

Rick Wohl is an electrical engineering technician with more than 15 years of experience and has joined Ulteig's Building Services division. Wohl is a graduate of North Dakota State College of Science with an associate degree in electrical technology, as well as a graduate of the Minneapolis Drafting School, with an associate degree in advanced architectural-structural design drafting.

Sarah Mohl has joined the surface transportation and infrastructure services division as an engineering technician. Mohl has more than two years of experience in the field and is a graduate of North Dakota State College of Science with an associate degree in architectural drafting and construction management technology.

James Miller is a survey technician in the land services division. Miller is a student at Bismarck State College pursuing his associate degree in engineering technology.

Workshop attended

Roberta Anderson of Roberta Anderson Salon attended the workshop titled, "Integrated Foot, Hand, Ears Reflexology for Pain and Stress Control." It was facilitated by Bill Flocco of the American Academy of Reflexology.

Anderson is licensed by North Dakota in reflexology and completed 100 hours of the Universal Method of Foot Reflexology in May.

BND hires Nelson

Melissa Nelson recently joined Bank of North Dakota as a collection officer I in Student Loan Services. Nelson has more than 10 years of customer service experience and most recently served as the collections/credit coordinator at Cross Country Courier.

Anderson joined

Patrice "Pat" Anderson joined Job Service North Dakota as a program administrator in the Workforce Programs Area in the Bismarck administrative office. Anderson has 10 years experience working for the N.D. Department of Public Instruction as assistant director/project director - program administration. She has a master's degree in management.

Dockter hired

Patricia Dockter was recently hired as the patient billing manager at St. Alexius Medical Center. In this position, she will work with the chief financial officer and will oversee all hospital and clinic billing and coding staff. Prior to her employment with St. Alexius Medical Center, she was employed with Aetna in Bismarck for 17 years.

Koehn joins

Maria Koehn has joined the staff at Animal Kingdom as a professional pet groomer. Koehn is a graduate of Penn Foster as a certified professional pet groomer and was previously employed with Suds and Scissors in Amarillo, Texas. She comes with four years experience.

Course attended

Dr. Liz Jones, owner of Jones Physical Therapy, recently attended a three-day intensive course on advanced women's health issues: pelvic pain, incontinence, constipation and pre/post partum. This course is part of a CAPP certification in the women's health concentration.

Wolf awarded

Brian Wolf, chief operating officer and vice president of utility solutions for National Information Solutions Cooperative, has been named the recipient of the 2008 Entrepreneur Award presented by the Information Technology Council of North Dakota.

Wolf is one of six leaders in information technology that was recognized for their achievements in and contributions to North Dakota's information technology industry. Wolf was presented the award during the ITCND's annual meeting and IT awards program.

O'Brien joins

Robert O'Brien joined Bank of North Dakota on Wednesday as a programmer analyst II. He is a graduate of Valley City State University with a major in computer information systems and a minor in mathematics.

Valeu joins

Bob Valeu joined Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson, a regional engineering, planning, surveying and asset developing firm, as the director of government affairs. Valeu will provide internal and external government relations by providing clients with beneficial information and strategizing to affect beneficial public policy.