New at bank

American Bank Center has hired several new employees.

Kari Schneider is a mortgage loan processor in the mortgage department at Federal Plaza. Schneider has five years’ experience as a mortgage loan processor and four years’ experience as a bookkeeper, teller and proof operator.

Tamara Meissel has become a teller at the Washington Center location. She has more than two years’ experience in the banking industry. Meissel graduated from the University of Mary with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Amy Taylor is an executive mortgage assistant in the mortgage department at Federal Plaza. She has a background in customer service and graduated from Minnesota State University-Moorhead with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.

Sarah Sullivan, a teller at the Washington Center location, has several years of customer service experience. She is working toward a degree in business management.

Joins as groomer

Groomingdales has added Coni Couch to its staff as a full-time groomer.

Couch has operated a pet-sitting business for eight years, established and has maintained a pet rescue group for the past five years and has worked as a dog trainer for the last three years.

Agency honors

Bianco Realty has named Shirley Thomas and Jim Jeromchek its associates of the month for achieving the most closed sales for October.

Adding patients

Nurse practitioner Shih-Ru “Grady” Martin, FNP, is opening her schedule to new patients requiring dermatological needs in Dr. Denise Forte-Pathroff’s medical office.

Martin has been practicing internal medicine in the area for nine years and dermatology care under the supervision of Forte-Pathroff for four years.

Gilliss hired

Alex Gilliss has been hired by Indigo Signworks to head up a new service at the Bismarck location for its IndiGO Express Graphics division.

She will design, sell and produce the various products offered.

Gilliss has three years of experience in the sign industry as a graphic designer and two years’ experience in the sign industry. She received an associate in applied science degree in graphic design from Bismarck State College.

Hanson retiring

Jon Hanson will retire as laboratory director of the Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory of Mandan in January, after a 30- year career with the USDA Agricultural Research Service.

A native of Fargo, he received his bachelor’s degree in biology and master’s in botany from North Dakota State University and a doctorate in range science from Texas A&M. He began his scientific career with the USDA-ARS in Cheyenne, Wyo., and worked in Colorado before he assumed leadership of the Mandan lab in 1998.

His lifelong goal has been the development and implementation of sustainable and adaptive management systems for agriculture and natural resources. His research has lead to the development and implementation of many computer simulation models and decision support tools.

A retirement open house will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 18 at the lab’s Bridge Conference Center.

Information about a retirement dinner on Dec. 19 is available from Audrey Myers at 667-3001 or audrey.myers@ars.usda.gov.

Bergeson appointed

Duane Bergeson of Bismarck has been appointed to a two-year term as state coordinator of AARP’s Driver Safety Training program in North Dakota, effective Jan. 1.

Bergeson has been a volunteer district coordinator and instructor for the program since 2007.

He spent more than 30 years working for Job Service North Dakota before retiring in 2003 as manager of employment services.

Bergeson replaces Allen Dockter of Bismarck who served as the program’s state coordinator for six years.

Staff changes

St. Alexius Medical Center has made some staff leadership changes.

Jody Benz, RN, MNM, has accepted the new position of director of organizational education. Benz has worked at St. Alexius since 1987, most recently as director of women’s and children’s services.

Benz earned an associate degree from Bismarck State College and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from the University of Mary. She is board-certified in nursing administration from the American Nurses Certification Corp.

She will begin her new position on Dec. 6.

Kathleen Johnson, RN, MBA, is the new director of partial hospitalization and inpatient psychiatry, moving up from assistant director. Johnson has been employed with St. Alexius since 2003.

She earned bachelor’s degrees in nursing and business and an MBA from the University of Mary.

Wendy McNichols, RN, has been hired as clinical coordinator for The Clinics of St. Alexius, going full-time on Jan. 1.

She currently is the occupational health nurse at Bobcat. and previously worked for St. Alexius Medical Center. McNichols earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Mary.

Staff promoted

Credit Collections Bureau has promoted Missy Lynn and Miley Green to collection representatives, Phylis May to collection coordinator, Linda Lee to collection director and Pam Kay, Russ Parker and Kathy Mitchell to the Quarter-million Dollar Club.

Opens business

Elizabeth Allen, a naturopathic practitioner, has opened Allen Centre for Natural Health at 1136 W. Divide Ave. Suite 100. The phone number for the natural health consulting business is 701-471-4110.

Allen graduated from Bastyr University’s School of Naturopathic Medicine, Kenmore, Wash., and has clinical experience in such areas as ADD/autism, anxiety/depression, cancer, heart disease and menopause.

She also holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Minnesota State University-Moorhead and has experience in social work.

Allen is co-located with Dr. Linda Gourneau. Office hours are noon to 6 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays.