NEWS & NOTES

Reps earn award: COUNTRY Financial Representatives Gary Zeemin of Albany and Bob Bronson of Lebanon recently received the National Multiline Sales Award (NMSA) for helping clients secure the right insurance products to cover their financial risks. The NMSA is presented annually by the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. It is the first time Zeemin has received the award and the second time for Bronson who previously earned the industry designation Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow.

Financial representatives who receive this award have excelled in serving clients by tailoring insurance products to meet customers' changing needs and helping them understand the importance of maintaining their policies. It also recognizes achievement in assisting customers with auto, home and commercial insurance.

Zeemin serves customers from the COUNTRY office at 1393 Clay St. S.E., Suite B, Albany. He can be reached at (541) 928-1914. Bronson serves customers from the COUNTRY office at 33254 Highway 99E., Tangent. The office phone number is (541) 926-4883. Both are affiliated with the NAIFA-Willamette.

Real estate professional: Sandra Hanna has joined Keller-Williams Mid-Willamette Market Center as a real estate professional. Hanna has an extensive background in marketing residential and commercial real estate. She is a graduate of the Norm Webb Real Estate School. The announcement was made by Keller Williams team leader Terri Woods. Keller Williams Mid-Willamette Market Center is located in Corvallis at 815 N.W. Ninth Street, Suite L-195 in Avery Square. For information call (541) 738-7770 or contact the website at www.kw.com.

Second store: At Home Furniture and Mattresses opened its second clearance center offering furniture and matresses at discount prices. The new store is located at 942 NW Circle Blvd. in Corvallis. The Corvallis Clearance Center provides over 6,000 square feet of space and is located behind Rite-Aid and next to Richie's Market. At Home Furniture has a Clearance Center in Albany in the BiMart Plaza next to Pizza Amore.

Dentist honored: Daren Goin, an Albany native, was recently presented with the Oregon Academy of General Dentistry's Dentist of the Year Award. Goin, who practices in Stayton, was presented the award at a the OAGD's annual meeting in Portland. It recognizes the general practitioner who has made an extraordinary commitment to the community and the dental profession. Criteria include service to dentistry; service to the community; clinical skills; and contribution to and participation in continuing education. Goin has been in practice in Stayton for 28 years.

Campaign sets record: The Samaritan Employee Caring Campaign, a fundraising drive by the five hospitals within the Samaritan Health Services system in support of the Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation and the United Way, raised a new record, $435,000 for the Samaritan hospital foundations and $40,000 for United Way of Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties. Proceeds to the foundation help purchase medical equipment, provide assistance to patients and employees in need, support community health outreach and more.

BUSINESS CALENDAR

Jan. 5: Linn-Benton MicroBusiness Workshop, a free introductory workshop for low-to-moderate income individuals interested in starting or expanding a small business. Time: 6:30 n 8:30 p.m. Location: LBCC Sweet Home, (Room 102), 1661 Long Street. For more information or to register, contact Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services at 541-752-7220, extension 300, or register online at www.w-nhs.org.

Jan. 6: Linn-Benton MicroBusiness Workshop, a free introductory workshop for low-to-moderate income individuals interested in starting or expanding a small business. Time: 6:30 n 8:30 p.m. in Albany. Location: LBCC Albany (Room CC-213), 6500 SW Pacific Blvd. For more information or to register, contact Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services at 541-752-7220, extension 300, or register online at www.w-nhs.org.

Jan. 8: Linn-Benton MicroBusiness Workshop, a free introductory workshop for low-to-moderate income individuals interested in starting or expanding a small business. Time: 6:30 n 8:30 p.m. Location: LBCC Lebanon, (Room 204), 44 Industrial Way. For more information or to register, contact Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services at 541-752-7220, extension 300, or register online at www.w-nhs.org.

Jan. 12: Linn-Benton MicroBusiness Workshop, a free introductory workshop for low-to-moderate income individuals interested in starting or expanding a small business. Time: 6:30 n 8:30 p.m. Location: LBCC Benton Center, (Room 234), 757 N.W. Polk Ave., Corvallis. For more information or to register, contact Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services at 541-752-7220, extension 300, or register online at www.w-nhs.org.

January 17: Forklift Safety Training through Business and Employer Services at Linn-Benton Community College. Time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Location: LBCC Albany Campus, IC-106, 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW, Albany. Eight-hour course includes four hours classroom training and four hours on the forklift. Cost: $149 includes materials. For more information or to register, contact LBCC Business and Employer Services at 541-917-4923.

January 20: Expanding Your Leadership Edge. Discussion "Bad Leadership: What It is, How It Happens, Why It Happens" by Barbara Kellerman, presented by Joseph Bailey, LBCC faculty. Time: 7:50 a.m. Location: Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, 435 1st Ave. W. Cost: $10. For information contact the chamber at 926-1517.

January 23 & January 30: LBCC Business and Employer Services presents a 10-hour course designed to prepare agricultural workers for the Oregon Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator exam. Time: 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 23; 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 30. Location: LBCC Willamette Room, CC-210, 2nd floor of College Center, 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW, Albany. Cost: $80 includes materials. For additional information and to register, contact LBCC Business and Employer Services at 541-917-4923.

February 13 & February 20: LBCC Business and Employer Services presents a 10-hour course in Spanish designed to prepare agricultural workers for the Oregon Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator exam. Time: 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 13 & 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 20. Location: LBCC Alsea Room, CC-203, 2nd floor of the College Center, 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW, Albany. Cost: $80 includes materials. For additional information and to register, contact LBCC Business and Employer Services at 541-917-4923.

February 21-22: LBCC Business and Employer Services presents SHRM learning system course for Human Resource professionals looking to take the PHR/SPHR certification exam. Time: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturdays; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays. Course also held March 14-15 and April 11-12. Location: Linn-Benton Community College, 6500 Pacific Blvd. S.W., Albany, room B-101. Contact the Business and Employer Services center for cost and additional information at 541-917-4923.

January 26: Conflict Skills Workshop, English session, sponsored by Linn-Benton Mediation Services. One-night, beginning level workshop for anyone desiring training in conflict resolution. Time: 5:30-9:30 p.m. Location: Upstairs conference room at Two Rivers Market, 250 Broadalbin Street S.W., downtown Albany. Cost: $20 (scholarships available). Contact Corinne at 541-928-5323 or intern@peak.org for details.

March 9: Conflict Skills Workshop, Spanish session, sponsored by Linn-Benton Mediation Services. One-night, beginning level workshop for anyone desiring training in conflict resolution. Time: 5:30-9:30 p.m. Location: Upstairs conference room at Two Rivers Market, 250 Broadalbin Street S.W., downtown Albany. Cost: $20 (scholarships available). Contact Corinne at 541-928-5323 or intern@peak.org for details.