Business Notes - Jan. 15

CAREER

Torborg joins Northern Psychiatric

Northern Psychiatric Associates announced Dr. Shannon Torborg, a new outpatient therapist, joined the practice.

Torborg serves patients from ages 13 to adult and accepts most insurance. Her therapeutic interests include anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, adjustment conditions involving life stressors, grief and loss, personality disorders, and anger issues. She offers psychological assessment services for adults to evaluate symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

MNsure's Small Business Health Options program enrolls record numbers

MNsure's Small Business Health Options Program, online at www.mnsureshop.org/ has enrolled 1,934 employees from 438 different small businesses in 2017 health coverage.

Demand for coverage through SHOP has increased significantly from 2016, MNsure reported. The number of participating SHOP employers has risen 65 percent so far this year, adding 172 more employers and covering 700 more employees-a 57 percent increase from 2016. These figures represent the second straight year of double-digit growth in MNsure SHOP enrollment, MNsure reported.

In collaboration with health insurance companies Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota and Delta Dental, MNsure SHOP provides Minnesota's small businesses with a variety of insurance options at different price points and benefits levels. More than 70 percent of small businesses enrolling in SHOP do so with the help of statewide MNsure-certified brokers.

"Providing health insurance is one of the widely acknowledged employer strategies for hiring and retaining quality employees in a highly competitive job market," said MNsure CEO Allison O'Toole, in a news release. "SHOP provides small employers with an opportunity to do the right thing for employees while serving their business's bottom line."

This milestone comes on the heels of MNsure's announcement on Monday marking the first time the state health insurance marketplace has enrolled more than 100,000 Minnesotans into private health plan coverage.

Minnesota-based employers with 1-50 employees can enroll in SHOP at any time of the year. As of February 2016, 96 percent of Minnesotans have health coverage-the highest percentage in state history, MNsure reported.

Glacial Waters Spa ranks in Top 100 in America

Spas of America recently unveiled its annual ranking of the Top 100 Spas of 2016, based on consumer behavior on its website.

Grand View Lodge Glacial Waters Spa ranked No. 30 and was the only spa from Minnesota in the Top 100 list. Grand View reports Glacial Waters Spa was also the No. 4 lake spa experience in North America, and beat out Sundara Spa in Wisconsin Dells and The Spa at The Joule in Dallas in its overall ranking. The Glacial Water Spa has been part of the resort for 12 years.

The Top 100 Spas of 2016 includes 66 spas from the United States (including 17 from California), 28 spas from Canada, three from Mexico, two from Brazil and one from Turkey.

Health spas were the most popular spa experience, with 34 spas making the Top 100 Spas of 2016 list. City spas followed with 13; country, lake and mountain with eight; Beach, casino and mineral hot springs had six spas each, followed by ocean spas with five.

"In 2016, we continued to see steady growth in the North American spa and wellness industry, with record visits and increased revenue," said Spas of America president Craig Oliver in a news release. The 2016 International Spa Association U.S. Spa Industry Study, commissioned by the ISPA Foundation and undertaken by PwC International Survey Unit, reported consumers made 179 million visits to spas in the United States, generating an estimated $16.3 billion in revenue.

"North American spa and wellness consumers are continuing to focus on health, exercise and fitness experiences - especially in the outdoors," says Oliver. "Spa and wellness travel offers people a chance to take a step back, enjoy a slower pace and focus on what is truly important."

Go to www.spasofamerica.com/spas for more information or to see the complete list.

Nominations sought for businesses, volunteer of the year

Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Service Committee is requesting nominations for small business of the year, large business of the year and volunteer of the year.

In an effort of celebrate our members and the numerous individual volunteers who dedicate their time and talents to the Chamber, the Outstanding Service Committee is now accepting nominations. Each award has specific criteria to assist in the nomination process. Nomination forms are due in the Chamber office by Jan. 27, 2017. Awards will be bestowed at the chamber's annual meeting Feb. 23.

Nominees must be a chamber member. Recipients will receive public recognition and a plaque noting their honor. The names will also be displayed on permanent plaques in the chamber office. Nomination forms are available online www.littlefallmnchamber.com/ under the nominations link. For more information, contact the chamber by calling 320-632-5155 or email Gina at ginav@littlefallsmnchamber.com .

Students awarded Davis Family Nursing Scholarship

WADENA-Tri-County Health Care Foundation awarded five $2,500 scholarships to area nursing students.

Area recent recipients are Roland Gilbert III and Autumn Jahnke, both ofM-State, Wadena.

A total of $12,500 in scholarships was distributed to deserving students in an accredited nursing program.

Recipients are chosen using a blind selection process from the eligibility criteria established. The applicant should have residential ties to the Tri-County Health Care service area in Ottertail, Todd and Wadena counties.

The family of Gary and Benda Davis, of Wadena, and the Tri-County Health Care Governing Board established the Davis Family Nursing Scholarship in 2010 to give back to the community, inspire others to pay it forward and encourage qualified individuals to pursue a health care career in nursing.

The Tri-County Health Care Foundation is a private charity established in 1994 by Tri-County Health Care to attract and administer charitable funds for the benefit of the communities and surrounding areas served by Tri-County Health Care in Wadena.

For more information regarding the Davis Family Nursing Scholarship, visit TCHC.org, or call Holly Weller at 218-632-8777.

Thrivent announces $319 million in dividends

Eligible members of Thrivent Financial will receive an estimated $319 million in dividends in 2017.

This figure represents a 2-percent increase from last year's dividend distribution of approximately $312 million.

Thrivent's structure as a membership-owned fraternal benefit society allows it to return a portion of its surplus to eligible members in the form of dividends.

Emily Cooperative Telephone Co. gains recognition

Emily Cooperative Telephone Company was recognized by NTCA -The Rural Broadband Association, the premier association representing nearly 900 independent, community-based telecommunications companies that are leading innovation in rural and small-town America, as a Certified Gig-Capable Provider for delivering gigabit broadband speeds and enabling technological innovation in the Emily, Fifty Lakes, Little Pine and Fairfield Township communities.

As a Certified Gig-Capable Provider, ECTC joins a national campaign to build awareness and industry recognition of community-based telecom providers that have built communications networks capable of delivering Internet speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second, which is 100 times faster than those currently available in many U.S. households. ECTC also received tools to promote itself as a Gig-Capable Provider in the ECTC served communities and will be recognized in NTCA media, on the NTCA website, and during association conferences and events.

"I applaud ECTC for its commitment to delivering the Internet's fastest speeds-an accomplishment worthy of much praise considering the unique and challenging circumstances small, community-based telecommunications providers operate under every day in serving some of our country's most rural and remote communities," said NTCA Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield, in a news release. "By building a gigabit-capable network, ECTC has not only overcome these challenges, but also shattered conventional benchmarks for broadband speed to enable cutting-edge technologies that drive innovation and promote economic development in their communities, region and nationwide."

To achieve certification, telecommunications companies must show that gigabit technology is currently commercially available within 95 percent of one or more exchanges within its serving territory and that such service can be provided without new trenching or stringing new aerial facilities. This statement must be confirmed by a letter from an engineering firm or other independent source involved in the company's network planning, deployment or operation.

More information about the NTCA Gig-Capable Provider certification program is available at www.ntca.org/gigcertified .

EVENTS

Kiwanis Club to host Friday Morning Coffee

The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce invites all chamber members, employees and guests to Friday Morning Coffee from 7:30-9 a.m. Friday at St. Otto's Care Center, 920 Fourth St. SE, in Little Falls.

Announcements are made at 8 a.m. Sponsoring this month is Kiwanis Club of Little Falls.

Business developers to speak at CREDI meeting

CROSBY-The Cuyuna Range Economic Development Inc. board is extending an invitation to the local community to share in news of developments and success stories of the area.

Join CREDI and the Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development Corp. from 10-11 a.m. Thursday at the Heartwood Senior Living Center in Crosby. Light snacks will be provided. The agenda will include area economic development updates, local business presentations, and open discussion.

Business presentations of Crow Wing Recycling and The Spalding House/Dairy Queen will provide information on recent expansions and developments.

Grant VanWyngeeren, vice president of Crow Wing Recycling, is among those expected to speak to the group about what it means to have moved his business into the Cuyuna Range. He started working at Crow Wing Recycling, part time in 1996 and came on full time in 2005 after graduating with a Business Management Degree from the University Wisconsin River Falls. He is currently the Vice President of Crow Wing Recycling and all of its subsidiaries.

Also presenting are Chris and Nadine Albrecht. Nadine Albrecht graduated from The School of Communication Arts with an associate of applied science in Multimedia and Animation design in 1997, but joined her family in purchasing the Crosby Dairy Queen in 2006. Chris joined C&L Distributing in 1999 originally working as truck driver, and moved up to a salesman.

In 2010, Chris and Nadine Albrecht bought out her parent';s shares of the Dairy Queen and four years later, they purchased the Spalding House in Crosby. These two businesses employ between 25-40 employees in the Cuyuna Lakes area depending on the season.

Seminar on retirement set in Little Falls

A free Thrivent Financial seminar will look at how to get the most out of retirement dollars.

The seminar will be presented by Carlyle Olsen at 3 p.m. Jan. 18 and Jan. 25 at the Little Falls Senior Center, 510 Seventh St. NE, Little Falls. For more information, call Olsen at 320-632-1655.

U of M Beef Team to host seminar tour

The University of Minnesota Beef Team is hosting the annual Cow/Calf Days Seminar Tour and Trade Show at 10 locations across the state in January and February.

This event has been held for over 40 years and continues to be the leading information, technology, and research outlet for cow/calf producers in the state of Minnesota.

The 2017 event will feature information on managing scours in calves, results of a U of M study on the impact of different hay rake designs, grazing management, and results of a U of M study on the impact of hay feeder design on hay waste. Updates from the Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association will also highlight the event. The corresponding tradeshow will feature vendors with new information, technology, and products with a wide-array of practical uses for the operators in the cow-calf sector.

The program is directed at cow/calf producers, allied industry representatives, and is open to the public. A meal will be served with the program and a registration fee of $10 will include the meal, proceedings book, and program materials.

More information can be found at the Cow/Calf Days Seminar Tour and Trade Show website: www.extension.umn.edu/beef or contact Eric Mousel at 218.398.1916, emmousel@umn.edu .

The northern tour includes Central Lakes College in Staples. The event is 9:30 a.m., Feb. 7, 1830 Airport Road.