Published: November 29, 2008 07:00 pm      

Business Memoranda: 11/30/2008

Personnel

-- Norman L. Felker is stepping down as president and CEO of Michigan Community Blood Centers in December, to be replaced by William J. Rietscha. The independent blood bank based in Grand Rapids collects more than 100,000 pints of blood per year and operates a main donor center at 2575 Aero Park Drive in Traverse City, community donor centers in Empire, Frankfort, Kalkaska, Manistee and Northport and mobile blood drives in several area counties.

-  Josh Eling recently joined Fifth Third Bank as a Financial Center manager at the Cadillac location. He is responsible for establishing and maintaining customer relationships and running daily operations at the financial center.

-  Linda Snow has joined Two on the Town Inc. as regional director of the Two on the Town Junior Edition.

-- Two staff members at the Raymond James & Associates Inc. office in Traverse City were recently honored by the company. Dennis Brodeur was named to the firm's 2009 Presidents Club while Trevis Gillow was named to the 2009 Leader's Club for service to their clients. Both are vice presidents of investments and financial advisors at the firm.

-- Internal medicine specialist Dr. Jeevan Gowda joined the staff at West Shore Medical Center in Manistee. His office is located in the Coastline Medical Building at 1391 E. Parkdale Ave. The telephone number is (231) 398-1840.

Associations

-  The Benzie County Democratic Party elected a new executive board and selected the party's new executive officers: Kathy Ralston of Honor, party chair; Ted Curran of Frankfort, vice chair; Phillip Kiteley of Beulah, second vice chair; Brant Downing, third vice chair; Renee Osgood of Honor, secretary; Sally Smeltzer of Benzonia, treasurer; Sara Meachum of Frankfort, records keeper.

-  The Grand Traverse Area Hotel/Motel Association has elected its 2009 board of directors: Jonathan Pack of the Cherry Tree Condo Hotel, president; Jack Scripsema of the Traverse City Convention and Visitors Bureau, vice president; Kara Peck of Cherry Tree Condo Hotel, treasurer; Emily Henson of Holiday Inn West Bay, secretary. Nick Trahair of the AmericInn will continue as past president. Scripsema and Peck also held positions on the board in 2008; Peck will continue as treasurer, while Scripsema will become vice president of the association that represents lodging properties in the five-county area.

-- Jason Jones, director of parks and recreation for Grand Traverse County, was elected vice president of the Michigan Park and Recreation Association board. Jones has been a member of the association since 2001 and will take office at the association's conference and trade show Feb. 2-6 in Dearborn.

Openings

-  Odaawe Gamik, the museum store at the new Eyaawing Museum and Cultural Center in Peshawbestown, is now open. Store hours are Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through December 2008. The museum is located at 2304 North West Bay Shore Drive; call (231) 534-7764.

-- The Computer Haus, the Traverse City-based dealer for Apple computers, changed its name to CityMac and moved to a new location at 3480 S. Airport Road next to MC Sports. The business was established in 1982 and held a grand opening at its new location on Friday. Store hours are weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Recognition

-- Cheboygan Memorial Hospital received a Governor's Award for Improving Patient Safety and Quality of Care in a Hospital Setting through the MPRO, Michigan's Medicare Quality Improvement Organization. It's the fourth consecutive year the hospital has received the governor's Award of Excellence.

-  Consumers Energy has been awarded a National Electric Utility Award from the National Association of Town Watch for the 15th consecutive year. The award recognizes Consumers Energy's participation in the National Night Out crime and drug prevention program.

Anniversary

-  Two on the Town Inc. is celebrating its 25th anniversary with its 2009 edition. President and owner John Rodge created Golden Key Productions and the Golden Key Book in 1982. Two on the Town has grown to include Manistee/Ludington, Cadillac, Charlevoix/Petoskey, Big Rapids and Mount Pleasant. Visit www.twoonthetown.com for details.