January 11, 2009 12:00 am Awards -- Designers of the new Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel owned by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians were honored at the recent Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas. The Walsh Bishop architect firm based in Minneapolis received a "Best Architectural Design" award for casino resorts under $200 million for the band's new casino and 137-room hotel along M-72 in Williamsburg. -- Jackson Hewitt Tax Services Inc. has awarded its Traverse City location with the Five Star Operational Excellence Award for the franchise's tax return preparation and customer service during the 2008 tax season. Publications -- A new book detailing the history of Bay Harbor resort near Petoskey is written by Samara Johnson, daughter of resort developer David Johnson. It's available at the Bay Harbor Signature Store. -- Robert Ochtel, founder of Traverse Angels start-up financing group, has written a new book titled "Business Planning, Business Plans and Venture Funding -- A Definitive Reference Guide for Start-up Companies." It reviews strategies for business planning and securing angel, venture and third-party equity funding for entrepreneurs. It's available at www.carlsbadpublishing.com. Personnel -- William Rietscha is the new president and CEO of Michigan Community Blood Centers, replacing Norman Felker who retired Dec. 31. Rietscha held several administrative posts at Spectrum Health and with Blodgett Memorial Medical Center. The organization is based in Grand Rapids and operates a main donor center in Traverse City, community donor centers in Empire, Frankfort, Kalkaska, Manistee and Northport, and conducts mobile blood drives in seven area counties. -- Lori Puckett has been named executive director of the Grand Traverse Heritage Center in Traverse City. Puckett succeeds Patti DeAgostino, who has returned to a position at the Grand Traverse Pavilions. -- Sid Van Slyke has been promoted to vice president in the Fifth Third Private Bank. Van Slyke is a senior private banker at the downtown Traverse City office and has been with Fifth Third since 2002. He also recently completed the course for the designation of Accredited Wealth Management Advisor through the College for Financial Planning. Events -- The Michigan Association of Home Builders' Remodelers Council will hold its seventh annual Remodelers Workshop Feb. 5-6. The conference will focus on green building practices and technologies. A complete event schedule and registration information is available at www.Buildingmichigan.org/events or by contacting the MAHB at 1-800-748-0432. -- Treetops Resort and the Gaylord community present the Fabulous Fifties event Jan. 22-25. It will feature various events at the resort and other locations in Gaylord including a sock-hop dance, children's activities, a chili cook-off and discounts on ski-lift tickets. More information is available at www.treetops.com. -- Lil' Bo tavern in Traverse City added a second weekly smoke-free day. The bar is now smoke-free every Saturday, in addition to the smoke-free Thursdays and lunch-time segments that debuted in 2008. Re-brand -- Traverse Bay RV Resort, of Williamsburg, recently launched a re-branding campaign that includes a new logo featuring red flip-flops over the company's name, a new slogan, "North of Ordinary, and a revamped Web site at TraverseBayRV.com. The 150-acre recreational vehicle resort is owned by David and Kathy Scheppe and the re-brand was produced by Kidd Group based in Florida. Certifications -- Mark Hurley and Tim Rombach, professional engineers from Gosling Czubak Engineering Sciences, received additional Michigan certifications for Industrial and Commercial Treatment Facilities Operations which allow them to oversee discharges to the groundwater that are permitted by the State of Michigan and to surface water that are permitted by the Federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. New Business -- David D. Dameron has launched a training and consulting business, Dameron Enterprises, in Cedar. He will be initially offering two courses on managing change and time management to businesses, organizations and individuals. For details call (231) 534-4776 or visit www.phoenixrisingbookstore.com. Expansion -- Century 21 Northland has launched its commercial division. The team includes Brad Platt, sales manager and one of Century 21 Northland's owners, Jason Kudary, Al Rice and Christine Stalsonburg, who will work with investors, sellers, buyers, owners and/or tenants to provide detailed market analyses; site selection; product and cost feasibility studies; contract and lease negotiations; owner/tenant representation services; and will assist in structuring improvements, concessions and options. Anniversary -- Bennett-Barz Funeral Home in Beulah will be honored Feb. 2 as a Benzie County centennial business. For their 100th anniversray, Bennett-Barz will be receiving certificates and awards from state and national funeral service associations and the Michigan Historical Society. -- John M. Roeser celebrated his 20th anniversary of service at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in December. John has been a licensed funeral director since 1972.
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