Business Briefs - Nov. 12
Pioneer donates to Fort
Fort Belmont Foundation President Barney Olson (left) and vice president Ken Kruse (right) accept a $1,000 donation from Pioneer Hi-Bred plant manager Earl Aylward last week for the fort’s replica grist mill.
Pioneer directed the funds to pay for the water system on the recently debuted grist mill replica, as a result of a request from local Pioneer plant manager Earl Aylward through Pioneer Community Investment.
“As president of the Fort Belmont Foundation/Jackson County Tourism, Inc., I want to say that we are very pleased that Pioneer Hi-Bred has helped with the re-establishment of the grist mill at the Fort Belmont replica site No. 2 on Interstate 90,” Aylward said. “We are very pleased that Pioneer Hi-Bred is established in Jackson and supports community projects and activities that benefit all Jackson residents.”
As the philanthropic arm of Pioneer, Community Investment makes contributions to community-based organizations on behalf of the business and employees. Consideration for Community Outreach grants are given to communities where Pioneer representatives, employees and customers live and work and that support quality-of-life initiatives to create an improved, sustainable lifestyle for people worldwide.
Jackson business students attend major professional development conference
Students from Minnesota West Community and Technical College attended the Business Professionals of America 2009 Professional Development Conference, “Shoot for Success,” in Duluth Oct. 26 and 27. Jackson chapter members Micah Hopper, Mt. Lake; Gordon Lucas, Estherville, Iowa; Anthony Thiessen, Darfur; Michael Schowalter, Jeffers; Rob Pohlman, Jackson; Ron Jensen, Westbrook; Sonja Fortune, Fairmont; Rachel Krueger, Springfield; Bethany Anderson, Springfield; Maria Daberkow, Lakefield, Deb Schwager, Fairmont; and Pam Nosbusch, Lakefield; joined more than 165 other conference delegates from across the state to participate in general sessions and workshops. The students were accompanied by their adviser, Terri Pelzel.
BPA is a national organization for high school, college and middle school students preparing for careers in business and information technology. The organization’s activities and programs complement classroom instruction by giving students practical experience through application of the skills learned at school.
Twilight tickets on sale
Tickets for the Nov. 20 midnight premiere of the latest installment of the Twilight saga, “New Moon,” are on sale now at the Historic State Theatre in downtown Jackson.
The much-anticipated film debuts in Jackson at the stroke of midnight on its release date. Remaining tickets will also be available at the door the night of Thursday, Nov. 19, ahead of the midnight showing.
Former Jackson resident serves as bank president
Sara Mix, formerly from Jackson, was named the bank president at Northwest Bank in Estherville, Iowa, last week.
Mix’s responsibilities include team development and leading the sales and service efforts of retail and business banking by building customer relationships.
She received her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall and was previously employed at U.S. Bank in Ankeny and Altoona, Iowa, where she was a branch manager. Mix and her husband, Mike, and three children are in the process of relocating to Estherville.
“I am very excited to be part of the Northwest Bank family and a banking organization that is independent and locally owned,” she said.
Northwest Bank has Iowa offices in Algona, Ankeny, Belmond, Estherville, Fort Dodge, Humboldt, Milford, Okoboji, Spencer, Spirit Lake, Storm Lake and West Des Moines, as well as Omaha and La Vista, Neb.
