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Read today's Business News
LaBreche to offer clients complete strategic communications services
September 4, 2008: MINNEAPOLIS -- (VIA PRESS RELEASE) -- LaBreche has integrated design capabilities into its business model. The company now offers a total portfolio of communications services, including marketing and communications strategy, public relations, design and interactive capabilities.
To jump-start the company’s new design team, Alicia Sauer, Andrew Lund and Fran Lu have joined the firm as directors.
“Design is a critical part of integrated marketing and communications and the new discipline augments our expanding business direction, providing clients a full continuum of communication tools to meet business goals,” said Tim Ziaja, chief marketing officer for LaBreche.
“Adding design was the next logical step and necessary to providing full-circle strategy and execution,” said Beth LaBreche, CEO and founder of the company.
North Central Equity acquires controlling interest in Scriptel Corporation
September 4, 2008: MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--North Central Equity LLC announced that it has acquired a controlling interest in Scriptel Corporation. Scriptel is a leading provider of signature capture and touch response technology for the point of sale industry. Scriptel supplies the pens and glass component parts used in credit card readers found at retail checkout lanes.
Elam Baer, Chief Executive Officer of North Central Equity, said, “Scriptel is a leading provider of solutions for the point of sale market. Its state of the art technology, as well as its dedicated employees, makes it a formidable player in its market niche.
“This is the thirteenth acquisition for North Central,” added Elam Baer. “We continue to search for other acquisition opportunities.”
Minnesota Vikings to kick off book drive
September 3, 2008: ST. PAUL (via press release) Books For Africa, the world’s largest shipper of donated English language text books to the African continent, will get some muscle from the Minnesota Vikings to send books to African schools. A series of projects is planned to collect books and dollars, which will help pay for the shipping of books.
At the center of the promotions is Vikings’ Darren Sharper,who will be directly involved in the book drives and will serve as a spokesperson for the Books For Africa (BFA) projects.
The program will be kicked off on Sunday, November 9, when the Vikings host the Green Bay Packers. “Books & Bucks Day,” is a book drive that will encourage fans to bring books and a donation to the stadium on game day. At the November 9th game, both Vikings and Packers fans -- whether or not they have game tickets -- will be challenged in the spirit of competition to drop off their books and donations in either Vikings or Packers containers, which will be stationed at 10 entrances to the Metrodome. The “team” that collects the most books will have bragging rights.
“This game is a great rivalry, and we know there will also be a lot of Packers fans there,” said Sharper, Minnesota Vikings’ starting defensive safety. “It will be a fun way to not only collect books but to raise money to ship the books to Africa. Shipping tons of books is expensive so I want to encourage all fans to bring a book and some bucks to the game to help to raise the money.”
Sharper says the Vikings and Books For Africa have other events planned in 2009, including book drives involving area schools. In addition, Sharper will host a trip to South Africa, one of the countries that will be given books. Sharper and guests will travel to South Africa to receive the books collected during the book drives and distribute them in the local schools and villages. Individuals and businesses are invited to join Sharper on the adventure.
Carmichael Lynch Spong makes promotion
September 3, 2008: MINNEAPOLIS (via press release) --Julie Batliner has been promoted to managing principal, chief client relations officer for Carmichael Lynch Spong. In her new role, Batliner is responsible for ensuring the consistency of high-value thinking; smart and creative execution; and remarkable achievement on behalf of the firm’s 40 clients served by six offices. Batliner joined Carmichael Lynch Spong as a principal in 2005 and was promoted to senior principal in 2007.
In addition to leading the firm’s client relationship management practices, Batliner currently chairs the food and beverage practice group, overseeing clients including Jack Link’s Beef Jerky and Martek Biosciences. She also serves as the lead for clients ClearWay Minnesota and Trane Inc.
Before joining Carmichael Lynch Spong three years ago, Batliner was a senior vice president at Fleishman-Hillard Minneapolis where she managed public relations programs for clients such as Hormel Foods and The Schwan Food Company. Prior to that, she was a member of Fleishman-Hillard’s Kansas City office.
“Julie consistently delivers award-winning, best-in-category work for her clients,” says Douglas K. Spong, APR, president. “Her new role as chief client relations officer leverages her talents and allows her to demonstrate her natural leadership skills.”
Granite City Food & Brewery Ltd. announces changes to management structure
September 3, 2008: MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Granite City Food & Brewery Ltd. announced the following management changes. Tim Cary, former Chief Operating Officer, tendered his resignation.
Darius Gilanfar has been promoted to the role of Chief Operating Officer and will oversee Field Operations, Purchasing and Kitchen Management. Gilanfar was hired as the SVP of Operations in September of 2007 and brings with him over 20 years of restaurant experience having worked for The Cheesecake Factory, Brinker International and Barnes & Noble – Starbuck’s Division. Eric LaClair, who has held the position of District Operator and has over eight years experience with Granite City will assume the role of SVP Operations. Jim Gilbertson, Chief Financial Officer since November, 2007, will continue in the role of CFO and oversee IT and Construction.
“We are pleased to make these changes in our management structure,” commented Steve Wagenheim, CEO and President. “With the growth of Granite City, we realized that our structure needed to change in order to provide greater depth and meet the demands of a company approaching $100 million in revenue."
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Books For Africa celebrates 20 years of work to end book famine with St. Paul gala event
July 25, 2008: ST. PAUL – Books For Africa, the world’s largest shipper of donated English language text books to the African continent, will celebrate its 20th anniversary at 6:00 p.m., Friday, September 12, 2008 at the Minnesota History Center. The Gala will feature special guests and dignitaries, including visiting African Ambassadors to the U.S.
Access to education is one of the only opportunities young people have to end the cycle of poverty and attain a better life. Most African children who are able to attend school have never owned a book of their own, and many classrooms share one textbook between 10-20 students. Books For Africa’s mission is to end the book famine in Africa.
Books For Africa (www.booksforafrica.org) promotes literacy and provides educational opportunity for all children in Africa. Over the last twenty years, the organization has shipped nearly 20 million books to 38 African countries. Each shipment, which contains 25,000 to 35,000 books, benefits a minimum of 20,000 students and up to 500,000 students over the life of the book. The larger community also benefits from access to reading materials, opening up a world of ideas, critical thinking and self-esteem.
Kerri Miller, host of Minnesota Public Radio’s Midmorning and Talking Volumes, will serve as emcee at the September 12th 20th anniversary event. Guests will enjoy an African fashion show, African music and an African Soko (market). Tickets are $100. For reservations and information call 651-602-9844.
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