WTVB Business Beat

Monarch Community Bank is proud to announce the promotion of Kirk Bell, new accounts representative at the headquarters on Willowbrook Road in Coldwater. Bell will be opening new deposit and IRA accounts and assists customers with all aspects of opening and maintaining their accounts.

Bell has worked at Monarch Community Bank for two years as a teller at the Willowbrook Branch. “It’s our pleasure to promote Kirk to this position. Over the years he has proven himself to management and our customers,” said Don Denney, President and CEO of Monarch Community Bank. In the community Bell is involved in the Lockwood Community Church Wild Game Dinner Committee, as well as on the Board for Southwest Ohio Hugh O’Brian Leadership Program.

He is a graduate of Swanton High School in Swanton, Ohio and currently resides in Coldwater with his wife Kate, and three sons. Bell is currently attending Baker College for his Business Management degree. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family, reading, and being involved in the community.

Established in 1934, Monarch Community Bank has branches located in Marshall, Coldwater, Union City and Hillsdale. For more information about Monarch Community Bank products and services, go to www.monarchcb.com or call your local branch.

COLDWATER (WTVB) - Each month the Community Health Center of Branch County (CHC) honors its Employee of the Month with a special recognition and gifts. Nominated by his or her peers, this employee exemplifies positive work ethic and customer service. In January, CHC administration and staff recognized Chelle Clemens as the Employee of the Month.

Clemens is a Pharmacy Tech in the Community Cancer Center and has worked at CHC since June 1980. Clemens assists in the order, preparation, and delivery of medications and administers IV chemotherapy drugs. According to her nominator, “Chelle does her job well and has such a positive attitude; she brightens the day for all of patients, families, and employees at the Cancer Center.

However, what puts Chelle above others is all of the little things she does that go above and beyond her responsibilities. She is very involved with the Branch County Relay for Life. She recently went to the local beauty school and found someone to take care of wigs for cancer patients. She visited the family of a recently deceased patient to help them with the wigs their mother left behind. She is a really neat person and we are so lucky to have her here at the Community Health Center.”

Clemens received her Certified Pharmacy Technician in 1982. At CHC, Clemens sits on the Circle of Friends Committee, Cancer Rehab Committee, and the Relay for Life Committee. She is the “Adopt-A-Hat” coordinator for the CHC Cancer Center which gives hats free of charge to patients during chemotherapy.

Chelle resides with husband Mark, daughters Allison, 14 years old, and Alexis, 8 years old, and son Adam, 12 years old, in Coldwater. Besides her work at CHC, she enjoys antiques, gardening, crafts, and watching her children at sporting events. She attends Lockwood church and along with her family, supports and volunteers at the Branch County Human Society. Congratulations, Chelle on earning this well deserved award.

The Branch County Coalition Against Domestic Violence (BCCADV) serves more than just women; under the umbrella of the Coalition also falls the Altrusa Teen Share, along with Laura’s Place Transitional Housing. Teen Share is a unique program providing safe, stable and supportive housing for youth ages 17 to 20 years old and the Coalition warmly welcomes the new team leader and case manager for Teen Share, Kris Karowski.

She comes to the Teen Share from Boysville Holy Cross Children’s Services in Clinton, Michigan and carries a temporary Limited License Psychologist certification. This allows Karowski to do counseling with the residents at the center, a certification many small organizations don’t have. This facility where she worked for five years is a residential treatment facility for adjudicated, teenage males who are either in the sexual offenders, learning disabled or general population groups.

Her current duties at Teen Share will include assessing the eligibility of homeless teenagers as to whether, or not he/she qualifies for the Altrusa Teen Share program. Once the teen is admitted into the program, for the first 30 days that the teen is in the Crisis Shelter she will meet with them twice a week. After the teen fills-out an application and is accepted into the Independent Living Program, she meets with the teen once a month. In the meetings she’ll discuss with the resident the progress on their goals.

Karwowski will also supervise the RA’s (Residential Aides) that live in the efficiency apartments, as well as any volunteers, interns, or practicum students.

As a graduate of Theodore Roosevelt High located in Wyandotte, MI and Eastern Michigan University, she has her BS degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology. She has also attained her Masters of Art degree at the Michigan School of Professional Psychology, as well as her temporary Limited Licensed Psychologist (LLP) certification, which she’s working on acquiring the remaining 500 out of 2000 hours toward the LLP. Karwoski is also certified in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention.

“I am looking forward to utilizing a balanced perspective while facilitating one-on-one therapy with non-residential clients, and homeless teenagers in hopes of building rapport, trust, and respect in order to encourage each person’s full potential,” said Karwoski. She currently lives in Maybee, Michigan with her husband and four dogs and six cats who were all rescued. Her hobbies include boating, bicycling, and canoeing.

Kris Karwoski can be reached by calling Altrusa Teen Share at 278-5094. The BCCADV has a wide range of services for the community to take advantage of including 24 hour crisis line for domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking survivors, Legal Advocacy Program for domestic violence survivors involved with the criminal or child protective services system, and the Circle of Care program for families with school age children who are homeless.

Donations from area individuals and organization make it possible for the BCCADV to offer safe refuge, encouragement, support services, food and clothing to victims fleeing domestic violence.

The BCCADV headquarters is located at 220 N. Michigan Ave. in the Naomi Davis Shelterhouse. For more information about BCCADV, call 517. 278.7432, 24 hours a day.

Each year the Community Health Center of Branch County (CHC) honors one staff member as Employee of the Year for his or her outstanding service. Voted on by his or her peers, this employee is recognized for serving as a role model to others by exemplifying the mission of the Community Health Center of Branch County.

CHC is very pleased to announce the 2009 Employee of the Year is Kristin Smith, RN. Smith has worked at CHC since 1995 as a Registered Nurse in the Float Department. Being a Float Nurse, Kristin changes departments on a daily basis allowing her, as she says “to have a new adventure every day.”

According to her nominator, “Kristin is a role model for nursing, a true leader among her peers. She is a mentor and teacher to others as well as continuing her personal education by attending school to obtain her BSN. Kristin takes constructive feedback seriously, asks questions and wants to improve her performance.

She is a member of the CQC team and brings valuable insight to the table in an effort to improve quality at CHC. As I watch Kristin’s interaction with patients, she displays professionalism, yet softness and genuine caring towards the individual. She treats all patients, coworkers and other staff with respect and dignity. I believe that Kristin exemplifies the CC “CARES” Behavior Standards which is why I think that she should be the Employee of the Month.”

Smith graduated from Kellogg Community College in 1997 with a degree in nursing. She is currently attending Spring Arbor University and will graduate in the spring of 2010 with her BSN. Outside of CHC, Kristen enjoys golfing, spending time with family and friends and volunteering at St. Charles School in Coldwater, MI. Kristin is married to Bryan, has two daughters, Molly and Meg and a bassett hound named Baxter.

Congratulations, Kristin Smith, on earning this well-deserved award.

Monarch Community Bank is proud to announce the promotion of Denise Maurer, who works at the headquarters on Willowbrook Road. Maurer, vice president, will take on the additional duties of business development manager, as well as her current duties of new account manager.

Maurer has worked at Monarch Community Bank for 10 years in various customer service positions. “I’m really looking forward to this new challenge and being out and about in the community, helping businesses and individuals alike with their banking needs,” said Maurer. She is a graduate of Coldwater High School and currently resides in Tekonsha with her husband, Jason.

Established in 1934, Monarch Community Bank has branches located in Marshall, Coldwater, Union City and Hillsdale. For more information about Monarch Community Bank products and services, go to www.monarchcb.com or call your local branch.

Altrusa of Branch County is pleased to announce that applications are now available at www.AltrusaBranchCounty.com for the 2010 year. Three $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to non-traditional women students attending a college, university or trade school who live in Branch County.

“The goal of the scholarship program is to provide financial assistance to individuals who are attending school later in life,” stated Jessica Handy, Chair of the Altrusa Vocational Service Committee. “We hope to receive a variety of applications from all over Branch County.”

The 2010 Altrusa scholarship applications are available online at www.AltrusaBranchCounty.com or through all the local Branch County Libraries. All applicants are asked to submit their applications by March 31, 2010.

Altrusa International of Branch County is an international network of executives and professionals in diversified careers who are dedicated to promoting community service in South Central Michigan. Altrusa was founded in 1917 in Nashville, Tennessee and became an international organization in 1935.

In the early 1980's professional women in the Coldwater area saw the need for a women's service organization. Following evaluation of various international service organizations, the group decided to affiliate with Altrusa. The Branch County Chapter was organized in 1982.

The Community Health Center (CHC) Foundation is very pleased to announce the 2010 Gala will feature a performance by mind magician, George Tait. George will also go table to table displaying his mentalist skills while guests eat and socialize. Century Bank and Trust is the generous sponsor of the evening’s entertainment.

“We’re very fortunate to have such an ardent supporter as Century Bank and Trust to make this entertaining event possible,” said Julie Stratos, CHC Foundation President. “Each year we try to bring something new to the event and this year is no exception.” This year’s performance will include using psychology and magic to get inside the minds of the audience. “We’re also excited to feature new auction items and an array of delectable new food selections,” said Stratos.

George Tait has been a master of mind control and magic for over ten years. He makes a living controlling decisions of others and reading thoughts. He uses psychology and magic to get inside his audiences’ heads. George has performed along side bands Metallica, Kid Rock, Ted Nugent. He has performed his Psychological Magic at Las Vegas’ yearly Midvention.

He’s also helped co-write and produce theatrical summer programs for children ages five to fifteen that taught both stage craft and built confidence through magic and music. George has performed for literally every type of audience, from intimate dinner and cocktail parties to corporate America.

The Gala will be held on March 20, 2010, at the Dearth Community Center, with the goal of the evening to raise funds for the Community Health Center of Branch County Women Services. The Foundation was established to promote the financial needs of the hospital as well as maintain an active fundraising effort.

With governmental reimbursement cuts, an aging population, and other challenges facing healthcare today, community awareness of the hospital’s needs and the fact that charitable donations can be directed to CHC is necessary.

Those gifts are an investment in the future of the community and its health. Contributions to the Foundation enable CHC to provide for patient care equipment or items to make the environment more comfortable for patients and their families.

They also provide additional health screenings and education through community events and programs, such as the prostate and breast cancer screenings, the Older Americans Health Fair, Community Fest, the Women’s Health Fest, and the Senior Health Seminar series. This is in keeping with CHC’s mission to provide access to safe, comprehensive, high quality healthcare services and vision of becoming the provider of choice for healthcare services in greater Branch County.

For further information on the gala event, please call the Community Health Center’s Foundation Office at 279-5282. To preview George Tait’s performance, visit: www.mindtapped.com.