Sunday, July 5, 2009

Darwin George of Prudential Floberg Realtors has been awarded 2009 Rookie of The Year by the Billings Association of Realtors. This award is given to a new Realtor based on production and community service in the first year licensed.

The following Billings residents were selected as the Class of 2010 for Leadership Montana: Steve Arveschoug, executive director, Big Sky Economic Development Authority; Jeff Berke, president, Ditch Witch of Montana; Shawn Byrne, COO, community based services, Yellowstone Boys/Girls Ranch; Vicki Davison, Rocky Mountain College director of annual fund, alumni relations; Kevin Guenthner, senior VP, CIO, First Interstate Bank; Eleanor Kindness, Native American Development Corp., business development specialist; Rick Leuthold, president, Sanderson Stewart Inc.; Gabe Lapito, Strategic Retirement Planning, owner/financial adviser; Karyn Ottolino, Advanced Care Hospital of Montana, director of therapy operations; Julie Seedhouse, director alumni relations, Montana State University Billings.

This is the sixth class of Leadership Montana.

Leadership Montana presents an annual seven-session program of leadership development and business and policy education. The program will be conducted in seven locations across the state, beginning with an orientation and retreat in Big Sky on Sept. 8 and concluding with graduation in Billings on April 30, 2010. Other program locations will be Whitefish, Bozeman, Great Falls, Glasgow and Helena.

Applications for Leadership Montana are reviewed by a statewide selection committee. For more information, go to www.leadershipmontana.org.

Diane Standley has joined Syndicut Salon, 1414 Main St., as a hairstylist. Standley has 12 years experience in haircuts, highlighting, perms and more. For more information, call 248-5282.

Mark Sudduth has joined AA Transmission as a technician. Sudduth, who is ASE-certified, has 20 years of automotive repair experience. AA Transmission can be reached at 256-9107 or at aatransmission@bresnan.net.

Gavin W. Murphy of the Law Offices of Gavin W. Murphy PLLC, has been named by the Mountain States Super Lawyers magazine as a "Rising Star" for his primary practice of plaintiff's personal injury. Only 2.5 percent of lawyers under the age of 40 or who have been practicing for less than 10 years are named Rising Stars by Super Lawyers.

Murphy can be reached at 294-0200. His office is located at 2722 Third Ave. N., Suite 400.

Melanie Thompson recently joined NorthWest Floors at 2760 Gabel Road in Billings as residential interior designer and sales associate. Thompson has worked in the design industry in Billings for over 15 years and has been responsible for several award winning designs. She has also participated in the areas Parade of Homes and has contributed design and decorating services to numerous fund raiser projects. She can be reached at 651-8080.

Laurie Schicktanz has joined Prudential Floberg Realtors as a sales associate specializing in residential properties. Her market knowledge comes from previously being with a real estate investment company.

Edward Jones financial adviser Marni Cowan of Billings recently received the Regional Leader Award for her sales and service efforts over the past year. Only 518 of the firm's more than 12,000 financial advisers received the award.

Adam Sanchez, CSCS, CES has joined AMP (Athletic Medicine & Performance) as the director of its Montana Athletic Enhancement Program. Sanchez will work with certified athletic trainers, strength and conditioning specialists, coaches and athletic directors to improve individual performance for junior high, high school, collegiate and post-collegiate athletes. He can be reached at 237-5395.

Ryan Moore has joined Prudential Floberg Realtors as a sales associate. He is a recent graduate of the Connole-Morton School of Real Estate and will specialize in residential properties. Moore has been a member of the Billings Fire Department since 2006.

Jim Brown of Billings has been appointed to the Interagency Disabilities Advisory Council by Gov. Brian Schweitzer. Brown is an assistant teacher with St. John's Lutheran Ministries.

Jalene Conlon of Metro Realtors PC has completed the Montana Board of Realty Regulation licensing requirements to receive her broker's license. Conlon specializes in residential sales in Yellowstone County and can be reached at 671-0105 or Jalene@titantw.com.

Michelle Williams has joined AD Creative Group as account executive and project manager, a full-service marketing and communications branding company in Billings. Originally from Philadelphia, Williams brings with her over 12 years of experience in marketing, business development and event planning.

Connie Genger of Billings is the new executive director of the Montana Council on Economic Education. Genger recently returned from the Peace Corps in Morocco, where she served with the small-business development sector. Prior to her departure, she was director of training and development for Payne Financial Group and is a 2000 graduate of Rocky Mountain College.

For more information, go to http://www.econedmontana.org.

Cavin Noddings, PE, LEED AP, and Dennis Randall, PE, PLS, LEED AP, recently passed the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design exam. This professional accreditation demonstrates a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles. Noddings is an associate principal and water resources manager at Sanderson Stewart, a regional civil engineering and community development services firm.Randall is vice president and director of project delivery at Sanderson Stewart.

Pat Davies, PE, LEED AP, CDP, recently passed the Certified Development, Design and Construction Professional exam. This professional certification identifies a person who has achieved a high level of expertise in the retail development process. Davies is an associate of Sanderson Stewart and works out of the Billings office.

The following lawyers with Holland & Hart LLP in Billings have been named as 2009 Mountain State Super Lawyers and Rising Stars: Jeanne Matthews Bender, employment litigation: defense; Charles Hingle, banking; Larry Petersen, mergers and acquisitions; Donald Quander, energy and natural resources; Robert Sterup, general litigation; Michalle Sullivan, employee benefits/ERISA. Bender was also named to the Top 40 Women Mountain States Super Lawyers.

State Farm agent Diana Larson has opened a State Farm agency at 3202 Henesta Drive, Suite J, Billings. The agency offers a full line of State Farm Insurance and Financial Services. Prior to becoming a State Farm agent, Larson worked with agent Jeff Boyd for 17 years. The agency includes two staff members. Cole Conroy will help customers with their auto, homeowners and health insurance needs. Nichole Sibley joins the team as a life insurance specialist.

For more Information, contact Larson at 656-4764 or diana.larson.czu1@statefarm.com.

Julie Ripley graduated from the Montana Institute of Massage Therapy. She has met requirements for her certification in neuromuscular therapy and is working toward her massage therapy license. Ripley is opening Ripple Affect Massage Strategies & Solutions, 1445 Avenue B in Billings. Call 855-0880.