Agnew attends

Wanda Agnew, PhD, LRD, Bismarck Burleigh Public Health dietitian and University of Mary sports nutrition instructor, was selected by the Midwest Dairy Association to represent North Dakota at the National Dairy Council's annual Dairy Science Forum on Nov. 13 at the Gaylord Resort in Washington, D.C.

Topics included the latest on dairy protein, vitamin D and the DASH eating plan.

Felchle at event

Deanne Felchle, group travel marketing director with North Dakota Department of Commerce Tourism Division, recently attended the annual National Tour Association conference in Pittsburgh.

The conference is for tour operators, motorcoach and destination marketing organizations, lodging, restaurants, attractions and other tourism industry partners.

Terry Harzinski of the Bismarck-Mandan Convention and Visitors Bureau was among other North Dakotans in attendance.

Schilling attends

Annette Schilling, cultural and heritage tourism director with the North Dakota Department of Commerce Tourism Division, recently attended the 10th annual Cultural and Heritage Tourism Alliance conference in Florida.

Session topics included green tourism-related practices and options, branding in tough economic times, grant and funding opportunities for tourist attractions, gift shop retailing and creating a unique visitor center.

Leidholm joins

Cassie Leidholm has been hired as a CAD drafter by Kadrmas, Lee & Jackson in Bismarck.

She will provide a diverse telecommunications customer base with computer-aided design and drafting services throughout the region.

Leidholm graduated from North Dakota State College of Science with a degree in electrical technology.

Mechanics train

Two mechanics at Tires Plus in Minot attended training classes in November.

Kevin Weber and Kevin Fetzer both attended a course on the programming of computer systems for all makes and models of aftermarket vehicles.

Weber, a master mechanic, attended an advanced training program for Duramax diesel engines.

Fetzer attended an engine performance class.

The Minot and Bismarck Tires Plus are owned by Jarid Lundeen.

Ness with Starion

Tyler Ness has been hired as information technology support specialist by Starion Financial, and will be located at the Mandan bank.

A native of Bismarck, Ness received an associate's degree in applied science in computer support from Bismarck State College. He is pursuing a bachelor of science degree in computer technology management from Dickinson State University.

Jehs hired

Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services Inc. has hired Nikki Jehs as an accounting clerk in its Grand Forks office.

A Grand Forks native, Jehs holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of North Dakota and was an accountant at Franchise Concepts Unlimited.

Bismarck is among AE2S office locations.

Paul joins

Karen Paul recently joined Medcenter One as vice president of strategy and leadership development.

Paul previously worked for nine years at American Express in a senior management role. Most recently, she was a senior consultant in Minneapolis.

Paul earned a master's degree in education from North Dakota State University and is pursuing a doctorate in industrial and organizational psychology from Capella University in Minneapolis.

Paul will oversee Medcenter One's strategic planning process and lead the development and training of Medcenter One's leaders.

Four with lab

The Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory at Mandan has four new staff members.

Marty Schmer, USDA-ARS research agronomist, will focus on cropping systems and biofuels crop development for the northern Great Plains. Schmer relocated from Lincoln, Neb.

Qingwu "Fred" Xue, North Dakota State University research agronomist, is employed by the NDSU BioEPIC Agroecosystems Research Group and will office at the Northern Great Plains Research Lab. He will work with the NDSU Research Extension Centers throughout the state and USDA-ARS research staff to support the integration of new biofuels crops into successful cropping systems in North Dakota. He relocated from Montana State University.

Jack Buckley, USDA-ARS agricultural science research technician, will be supporting beef and crops research at the Mandan laboratory. A native of Mandan, Buckley is a recent NDSU graduate with a degree in animal science.

Jill Gunderson is an office automation assistant. A resident of Baldwin, she brings several years of experience in the medical field. She received her degree from North Dakota State College of Science.

Essler with HIT

Jeff Essler has joined HIT Inc. in Mandan as its chief operating officer.

The COO position is new, and Essler will have direct responsibility for the developmental disability programs at HIT, and also will be second-in-command at the agency.

Essler most recently worked as a regional director at Ducks Unlimited, and was a founding owner of iNet Technologies. He was the business manager at Pride Inc., prior to that.

He has bachelor's degrees in elementary education and special education from the University of Mary.

Wild signs on

Scott Wild has joined Dakota Media Access (formerly Community Access Television) as technology and outreach coordinator.

He will be responsible for the overall management of the organization's online presence and technology needs.

Wild also will be expanding DMA's production and media distribution training, as well as assisting in productions with a strong integration of Internet marketing. He has more than 10 years of experience in software programming and internet marketing.

Bauer in new role

Heidi Bauer has become a customer service/call center representative at Starion Financial.

She will help customers with banking needs from the centralized service center in the Mandan bank, assisting customers who bank with Starion at seven North Dakota locations and a new Madison, Wis., location.

Bauer has extensive experience in bank customer service. Since 2003, she had served as a teller at the bank's south Bismarck location and was promoted to lead teller there in 2004.

Helgeson studies

Missy Helgeson, Bismarck, took a certification class in Colorado Springs, Colo., in November to become a certified infant massage educator.

Certification will allow her to teach caregivers how to massage their babies. Her certification will be finalized in February after her final exam is completed.

Veterinarian attends

Thomas Bettenhausen, a veterinarian at Missouri Valley Vet Clinic and Pinehurst Veterinary Hospital in Bismarck, recently attended the annual conference of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in San Diego.

The focus of the continuing education was orthopedics. Advances on the tibial plateau leveling osteotomy for anterior cruciate rupture in dogs was presented.

Bettenhausen also attended a workshop on the use of interlocking plates in small animal and equine orthopedics.

Watson with UBS

United Blood Services has hired Somer Watson as a donor care specialist. Watson will be responsible for interviewing and drawing whole blood donors.

Watson graduated from Steele-Dawson High School and lives in Bismarck.

Eisenmann joins

Claudia Eisenmann recently joined Medcenter One, Bismarck, as vice president of professional practices.

Eisenmann has 18 years of healthcare administration experience. Most recently, she was president/CEO of St. Joseph's Hospital and Health Center in Dickinson.

She has a master's degree in business administration in healthcare management from Baker College, Flint, Mich.

Eisenmann will oversee Medcenter One's clinic operations.

Pillatzke hired

Ulteig Engineers has hired David Pillatzke as senior vice president.

Pillatzke will be responsible for the company's civil sector business.

He is the former president and CEO of an Engineer News Record top 100 national architectural and engineering firm headquartered in Minneapolis.

Ulteig has offices in Fargo, Bismarck, Detroit Lakes, Minn., Minneapolis, Sioux Falls, S.D., and Denver.

Adviser added

The Midwest Baseball Academy, with local operations in Bismarck, has added New York Yankees star Don Mattingly to its advisory staff, which assists its instructors on drills and itineraries for its 100 camps nationwide.

The company will hold its local Spring Training 2009 program at Bismarck State College from Jan. 11 through Feb. 15. Details can be found online at www.baseballacademy.net or by calling 866-622-4487.