Personnel
-- Renee Kiliani has joined the staff of Grand Traverse Physical Therapy as office manager. Kiliani comes to Traverse City from northern California, with more than 20 years of experience in office operations, medical billing and claims.
-- Steve Hawks, Fifth Third Bank senior vice president, has been named manager of the Investment Advisors Division of Fifth Third Bank Northern Michigan. Hawks is responsible for managing client services, business development, administration and the overall performance of the division.
-- Kelly Burtchett and Jennifer Kolinske of Traverse City have joined Dennis, Gartland and Niergarth as staff accountants. They will be responsible for a variety of staff accounting duties. Burtchett is preparing to sit for the certified public accountant exam this fall; Kolinske will take the exam next summer.
-- Kathryn Condon has joined TV 7&4 as a local account executive. Condon was previously employed as a central regional sales representative with Learning Station, based in Charlotte, N.C.
Speaker
-- Patty O'Donnell, regional planner at Northwest Michigan Council of Governments will speak about efforts to protect Lake Michigan at the annual conference of the National Association of Development Organizations in Anchorage, Alaska, Oct. 3-7.
Recognition
-- Peter Read has been chosen to represent the Traverse Area Association of Realtors as a candidate for Michigan Association of Realtors Realtor of the Year. Read is with Century 21 McCoy Real Estate and has been an active participant as a TAAR director, currently serving as treasurer; a member of the Environmental Committee; the MLS Committee; and many local and state committees dealing with environmental issues and responsible growth.
-- Michael A. Richey, of the Traverse City law firm Dingeman, Dancer and Christopherson, has been named one of Michigan's top attorneys by "Super Lawyers" magazine. The magazine's 2008 Rising Stars list honors fewer than three percent of all lawyers in the state. "Super Lawyers" is a publication of Law & Politics, a division of Key Professional Media of Minneapolis.
-- John and Anne Hoyt of the Leelanau Cheese Company won first place for the seventh time at the Michigan State Fair's Dairy Foods Competition for their raclette cheese. The grand champion cheese was sold to United Dairy Industry of Michigan for $4,000 at the State Fair Youth Livestock Auction held during the fair. The auction raised $135,000 and will support agriculture scholarships in Michigan.
-- Seven of the Top 10 Public Golf Courses in Michigan, selected by Lesson On Golf, are located in northwestern lower Michigan. The selected courses are, in order, Arcadia Bluffs, Arcadia; Bay Harbor, Petoskey; Tullymore, Stanwood; Forest Dunes, Roscommon; The Gailes at Lakewood Shores, Oscoda; The Hills at Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs; The Heather at Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs; The Signature and The Premier at Treetops, Gaylord; True North, Harbor Springs; and Dunmaglas, Charlevoix. Lesson On Golf is hosted by Jeff Lesson, a radio and television sportscaster and columnist for The Oakland Press.
-- Grand Traverse Lighthouse is one of three lighthouses moving forward in the selection process in this year's Jeld-Wen Reliable Lighthouse Restoration Initiative. The winner will get new custom-made windows and doors.
Certification
-- City of Cadillac finance director Owen E. Roberts has been designated a certified public finance officer by the Government Finance Officers Association's Certified Public Finance Officer's program.
-- Crystal Mountain Resort's new Crystal Spa will be LEED (Leader in Energy and Environmental Design) certified for its environmentally sensitive and energy efficient design, one of only six such facilities in the U.S. and the only one in the Midwest. The certification was gained because of extensive recycling of materials during construction, plus other measures including compact fluorescent lighting, motion sensors on room fixtures, a groundwater heat pump and other features. The 18,500-square foot spa is scheduled to open this winter.
Milestones
n The local Big Apple Bagels outlet at 1133 South Airport Road in Traverse City will celebrate the chain's 15th anniversary with a 15-cent brewed coffee promotion on Oct. 15, and 39-cent bagels on Oct. 17 and 18. The local shop is owned and operated by Rick and Teri Goodman.
Mergers
n The Rehmann Group LLC accounting firm, which operates local offices in Traverse City and Cheboygan, will merge with Farmington Hills-based MSW Group as of Jan. 1.
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