Business briefs – March 11

Whiteland resident recognized for work

Whiteland resident Larry Tames was honored recently for his work at the Franklin United Methodist Community.Tames is a director of laundry and transportation services. He was honored at the 2017 Governor’s Workplace Safety Awards Luncheon in Indianapolis as the recipient of the Everyday Safety Hero Award.

Tames has been working at the community since 2005. He was promoted to his current position in 2015.

He was honored for his emphasis on creating a safe workplace for employees and residents.

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YMCA names new membership director

The Arthur R. Baxter YMCA has announced that Nick Atkerson has been promoted to membership director of the Baxter YMCA.Atkerson has served the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis for 13 years. His roles included membership specialist, camp director, and membership director for the Witham YMCA. In addition to managing staff and creating curriculum for youth ages 6 to 15, Atkerson has worked on fundraising efforts for the YMCA Annual Campaign.

Atkerson studied business management at Indiana State University. He and his family reside on the southside of Indianapolis.

Broker leads McDonald volunteer efforts

For the past two years, Jeanie Underwood, a broker with the RE/MAX office of Greenwood, has taken a crew of RE/MAX Results volunteers who deliver home-cooked food to the Ronald McDonald House near Riley Hospital for Children.

The Ronald McDonald House in Riley Hospital and also the Limestone ‘Main’ location have opportunities for anyone to cater a dinner to the parents, siblings and families of kids who are admitted to Riley Children’s Hospital.

Underwood is encouraging offices, church groups and organizations to take part in the volunteer experience by signing up online for the program.

Senior Helpers earn excellence award

Senior Helpers-Greenwood has received the distinguished Best of Home Care Leader in Excellence Award from Home Care Pulse, a quality assurance firm for home care.The Leader in Excellence Award is the highest recognition awarded by Home Care Pulse. This award is given to select home care businesses that consistently rank among the highest in 15 or more quality metrics.

Senior Helpers-Greenwood is now ranked among the top 4 to 5 percent of home care providers participating in the Home Care Pulse Satisfaction Management Program.

Senior Helpers received high client and caregiver satisfaction ratings in areas such as caregiver training, compassion of caregivers, communication, scheduling, and client/caregiver compatibility.

Loan officer tops mortgage lending

Donnie Dodson, senior loan officer of Ruoff Home Mortgage, has been recognized as one of the top 1 percent mortgage originators in America in 2016, according to Mortgage Executive Magazine. The full list appears in the Winter 2017 issue.The eligibility criteria was based on a total production of at least $30 million in 2016.

Two other Ruoff Home Mortgage originators in Indiana earned a spot on the prestigious list as well.

Ruoff Home Mortgage also announced that Dodson was the top loan originator companywide for the month of February. The top spot in each branch office, as well as the company, is based on the number of closed loans during the month, as compared to their fellow peers.

Dodson has been with Ruoff Home Mortgage since May 2015.

Dodson works out of the Greenwood office, 972 Emerson Parkway, Suite C.

Engineering firm wins awards for projects

Wessler Engineering received an Honor Award and a Merit Award for engineering excellence from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Indiana at the 29th Annual Engineering Excellence Awards Banquet Luncheon on March 2.The awards were made in recognition of the Fry Road Rain Trail project in Greenwood, and the West Intake Extension Project for the Michigan City Department of Water Works.

These awards are given each year by ACEC Indiana to recognize an outstanding engineering achievement that demonstrates a high degree of merit and ingenuity.

ACEC Indiana is a professional trade association representing the business interests of the consulting engineering profession.

Wessler Engineering specializes in civil and environmental engineering projects. To learn more about the company and the award-winning projects, visit wesslerengineering.com.

Franklin College board grants tenure

The Franklin College Board of Trustees granted continuous tenure and promotion to four faculty members at its February board meeting.The following faculty members were granted continuous tenure and promotion to associate professor:

Amy Bracken, Ph.D., a resident of Indianapolis, is an associate professor of psychology. She joined the college in 2011. Bracken received her bachelor’s degree from DePauw University and her doctorate in neuroscience from Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis.

Meredith Clark-Wiltz, Ph.D., a resident of Franklin, is an associate professor of history and department chair. She joined the college in 2011. Clark-Wiltz received her bachelor’s degree in history, political science and English from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, her master’s degree in history from Bowling Green State University and her doctorate in history from Ohio State University.

Kim Eiler, Ed.D., a resident of Franklin, is an associate professor of physical education. She joined the college in 2004. Eiler received her bachelor’s degree in physical education from Biola University, her master’s degree in secondary education from Manchester College (now Manchester University) and her doctorate in education from Auburn University.

Allison Fetter-Harrott, J.D., Ph.D., a resident of Indianapolis, is an associate professor of political science and holds the Elmon and Lucile Williams Endowed Chair in Law and Public Service. She joined the college in 2011. Fetter-Harrott received her bachelor’s degree from New York University, her master’s degree from Butler University, her law degree from Indiana University-Bloomington Maurer School of Law and her doctorate in education leadership and policy studies from Indiana University.