Page 34 - Flathead Beacon // 3.30.16

PEOPLEINBUSINESS
North Valley Donates Computers to Sparrow’s Nest
Sparrow’s Nest of Northwest Montana received a donation of ve computers from North Valley Hospital to help sup- port their e orts in White sh and Kalis- pell to provide teens a safe, supportive environment that enables them to focus on graduating from high school.
Sparrow’s Nest board member, Laura Kochis, and executive director, Jer- ramy Dear-Ruel, accepted the donation of equipment that will be used in their administrative o ce and for student use in the new home in White sh for unac- companied homeless teens. North Valley Hospital Information Services Depart- ment volunteered their services to refur- bish the computers complete with key- boards, monitors, mice and software.
White sh Credit Union Names New Department Vice Presidents
White sh Credit Union, Montana’s largest credit union, has named new vice presidents for several of its internal departments.
The new vice presidents will help oversee operations in the credit union’s human resources, credit administration, mortgage loan supervisor and controller departments. Representatives say the new vice presidents will help the Credit Union continue its tradition of providing mem- bers with outstanding nancial services and award-winning customer support.
Jennifer Archer is the credit union’s new vice president of credit administra- tion. The Northwest Montana-native began working with White sh Credit Union in 2005. Since that time, she’s helped the loan department grow its port- folio through direct oversight into the for- mation of processes and the credit admin- istration department.
“As vice president, my major goal is to continually meet the challenges ever-changing regulations have on our processes and to provide a management structure and culture which nurtures the growth of employees, while providing the best member experience possible,” said Archer.
Away from the o ce, Archer enjoys rafting, camping, and anything to do with her family and newly born son.
The new vice president of White sh Credit Union’s human resources depart- ment is Allison Deaver. Deaver previ- ously served as the Credit Union’s human resources manager, overseeing recruit- ment, bene ts and training. She credits Zoe Gustafson, her supervisor of more than six years, for being instrumental in her development in the eld. Look- ing toward the future of her department, Deaver plans to continue the work that’s made White sh Credit Union a leader in the nancial services eld of Northwest
Montana.
“In the long run, I hope to ensure that
White sh Credit Union remains one of the Flathead Valley’s employers of choice, with competitive wages, wonderful ben- e ts, a great work culture, and a strong connection between the success of crit- ical functions and the high quality work life of the people who make all this hap- pen,” she said.
Brett Merkel is the credit union’s new controller vice president. His job duties include overseeing White sh Credit Union’s accounting function, including periodic nancial and regulatory report- ing. He also coordinates the enterprise risk management and vendor manage- ment processes for the organization. He was previously employed as the credit union’s controller. Merkel attended Indiana University where he earned his accounting degree. When not on the clock, Merkel can be found on his bicycle or backpacking through the wilderness.
Barb Pearson is White sh Credit Union’s new mortgage loan supervisor vice president. Before taking over the position, she spent 30 years as the credit union’s real estate loan o cer, help- ing members receive loans custom-tai- lored to their individual needs. Looking toward the future, Pearson said she plans to strengthen White sh Credit Union’s dedication to the local communities it serves in Northwest Montana.
Missoula, Kalispell Organizations Merge to Create Regional MLS
Realtor organizations in Missoula and Kalispell recently announced the launch of a Regional Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Under an agreement approved by both groups, the Missoula Organization of REALTORS and the Northwest Mon- tana Association of REALTORS have remained separate associations, but the MLS has combined in order to merge data and expand and enhance realtor and con- sumer access to properties throughout Western Montana.
The Montana Regional MLS also announced its new public website, 406mls.com.
Montana Regional MLS President Mike Nugent said the new larger MLS will meet the demands of clients who want greater exposure to real estate informa- tion in Montana.
“Consumers have dozens of ways to search for and nd real estate,” Nugent said. “We know they don’t recognize boundaries of where Missoula stops and Northwest Montana starts. The new MLS allows a more regionalized approach to searching for and nding real estate.”
Dale Crosby-Newman, president of the NMAR MLS and a member of the Regional MLS Board of Governors, said the change will bene t realtor members by streamlining and simplifying their
interactions with clients and fellow real estate professionals.
“Realtors will be able to use one MLS system with all of the data necessary to best serve their clients,” he said. “They’ll have one point of entry to place listings and to search listings.”
Both Nugent and Crosby-Newman stressed the importance of an enhanced MLS that is run by realtors who are gov- erned by a well-established realtor code of ethics.
Immanuel Lutheran Communities Donates Bus to Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp
A local faith-based organization serv- ing the Flathead region’s older adults cel- ebrated Leap of Kindness Day with a Leap Year gift supporting the area’s younger population.
Immanuel Lutheran Communities donated one of its buses, valued at $10,000, to Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp in a ceremony held at Immanuel Skilled Care Center.
The donation demonstrates Imman- uel Lutheran’s commitment to loving its neighbors and re ects its core values of compassion, excellence and valuing every person as one created in God’s image. It also exempli es Immanuel Lutheran’s commitment to good stewardship, as the donation extends the bus’s life with a new purpose.
“Immanuel Lutheran Communities is very pleased to donate this bus to the Flat- head Lutheran Bible Camp,” said Jason Cronk, CEO of Immanuel Lutheran Com- munities. “This bus has served our resi- dents very well for the past 17 years, and I’m pleased that it can continue to pro- vide a wonderful service for our fellow Lutheran ministry.”
Flathead Lutheran provides summer camp experiences for all ages as well as retreats, glacier adventure group excur- sions and other events.
Immanuel Lutheran Communities is a not-for-pro t organization o ering resi- dential living, assisted living, rehabilita- tion services and skilled nursing care in Kalispell.
Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp, located 3 miles south of Lakeside, is a year-round center for Christian education for people of all ages, serving adults, families, youth and children.
Glacier Restaurant Group Launches Restaurant Industry Scholarship Endowment
Glacier Restaurant Group (GRG) has announced that it is starting a scholarship program administered by the White sh Community Foundation. Using their own funds as well as a portion of those donated by guests through the Round It Up Amer- ica program, GRG – R.I.S.E. (Restaurant
Industry Scholarship Endowment) will award one scholarship each year to cur- rent, eligible employees, and one scholar- ship each year to a child or legal dependent of a current employee.
This scholarship exists to assist ear- nest employees with their next step in higher education. Whether the eligi- ble recipient’s journey continues their advancement in the restaurant indus- try or leads them to a new career path – a portion of the donations will contribute to their betterment.
Eligible employees may apply on the White sh Community Foundation web- site through April 23. Awards will be announced in July.
Glacier Restaurant Group is a young and growing holding company operat- ing ve restaurant concepts di ering in design, ambiance and menus, but alike in that they o er an outstanding place for food, drinks and fun with family and friends. With its headquarters in White- sh, GRG employs more than 2,000 pas- sionate and energetic people committed to providing an excellent guest experi- ence. Glacier Restaurant Group concepts include: MacKenzie River Pizza Grill & Pub, Max & Erma’s, Ciao Mambo, Craggy Range Bar & Grill and Latitude 48.
PureWest Christie’s International Real Estate Welcomes Three New Agents
PureWest Christie’s International Real Estate, Montana’s largest, independent real estate brokerage, announces the addi- tion of Courtney Porch, Braeden Schenk and Tim Brueggeman to the company’s knowledgeable, experienced team of real estate agents.
The Kalispell o ce welcomes Court- ney Porch as its newest realtor. Porch brings three years of experience work- ing as a residential project manager for R Porch Construction, Inc. to the group, which will bene t from her insider’s per- spective of the workings of a professional design-build contracting company.
In White sh, Braeden Schenk and Tim Brueggeman have also joined the PureW- est team as Realtors.
Originally from Alberta, Schenk has lived in White sh for almost a decade and holds a certi cate of applied science in Real Estate from the Flathead Val- ley Community College. He has worked locally at Iron Horse and The White- sh Lake Golf Club, but his talents have also taken him around the world, as far as Hawaii, where he worked at the Kukio Golf and Beach Club.
Brueggeman has 20 years of experi- ence as a senior manager in the country club industry under his belt. This lends him a unique ability to develop relation- ships with clients that focus on their satisfaction.
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MARCH 30, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM