7 Rivers Alliance Board News

The 7 Rivers Region Board of Directors announces the election of new officers for 2007. Rusty Cunningham will serve as President, Lee Rasch as Past President, Jim Johnson as Vice President, Joyce Iverson as Secretary and Dan Braund as Treasurer.

The 7 Rivers Alliance has served as a catalyst for economic development in western Wisconsin, southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa since 2000, transcending borders to build on the strength, richness and uniqueness of our part of the Upper Mississippi River Valley. The Alliance provides resources and the forum for business people throughout our region to work together in dynamic ways. Joe Gow and Christina Friederichs have also joined the 7 Rivers Region Alliance Board of Directors.

Friederichs is the director of physician clinics and behavioral medicine at Winona Health. She completed her undergraduate work at Viterbo University in business organizational management. "I am driven by growth, new service opportunities and continuous quality improvement! I have four beautiful children and a great husband who all reside with me in Rushford. I am very excited about the learning opportunity presented by involvement with 7 Rivers Alliance." She is a member of the Rushford Lutheran Church and volunteers teaching Sunday School to 9th graders. She also volunteers on the Rushford EDA.

Joe Gow is the 10th chancellor of UW-L, arriving from Nebraska Wesleyan University (Lincoln, Nebraska) where he most recently served as interim president. He also served as provost and dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences since 2004. Prior to that, Gow was the dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Winona State University from 2001-2004, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Alfred University in Alfred, N.Y., from 1996-2001, and the director of the communication studies program at Alfred University from 1990-2001. While at Alfred University he was a three-time recipient of the Alfred University Excellence in Teaching Award.

Recently, Gow was elected president of the National Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences and is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Popular Music and Society. He has authored a number of publications on popular music and news media, and is a guitarist and blues singer. The full 7 Rivers Board of Directors membership represents private business, education and economic development organizations throughout the region.

PLATH RE-JOINS OVATION MARKETING

Ovation Marketing, an agency specializing in one-to-one creative communications for database-driven marketers, is pleased to welcome Julie Plath back to its client services team as an account supervisor. Plath previously worked at Ovation for five years.

Plath comes to Ovation from Echo Bridge Entertainment where she was vice president of marketing. Her previous experience also includes managing market research and product development at Dairyland Power Cooperative. She holds a Master's in Business Administration from the University of

Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Plath is one of several returning Ovation associates, who may have left the agency for a career opportunity, and then returned for an even better one. According to JoAnn Steffes, vice president of human resources, more than ten percent of Ovation's associates are "alumni," associates who worked for Ovation, left the company, and subsequently returned.

While their reasons for returning vary, most point to the unique corporate culture and opportunities that Ovation offers. For some associates it is a chance to produce great work for industry-leading brands. There is also a focus on balancing work and family life with a flexible office schedule. Everyone appreciates the on-site fitness center, casual dress, free fruit, and the pillow room (for napping). And if that's not enough, there is the opportunity to own stock in the business. Each associate with one year of service or more owns stock in the company.

Ovation Marketing is an employee-owned agency that provides its owners with innovative, health-enhancing benefits while it provides its clients with one-to-one creative communications. The agency can be reached at 608-785-0000 or at www.ovationmarketing.com.

Ovation Marketing is an employee-owned, one-to-one marketing agency providing multi-channel creative communications and marketing services for its database-driven clients. Founded in 1978, the agency serves top brands from across the country including: Anheuser-Busch, Hershey's, CenturyTel, and Chefwear. Ovation is a member of the American Association of Advertising Agencies. For more information, visit www.ovationmarketing.com, call

(608) 835-9309 or e-mail us at cherylpm@ovationmarketing.com.

Weihrouch joins options realty Team

Options Realty is happy to announce that Kathy (Markos) Weihrouch has joined with Doug Willer to form the Options Realty Team. Kathy has had extensive experience in the Real Estate business for the last 28 years, mostly as a Mortgage Loan Originator. She has been active in the La Crosse Area Realtors Association, serving on many committees. Being known to offer her clients a high level of friendly, knowledgeable service is evidenced by her huge number of repeat customers and many referrals. Options Realty was started by Doug in 1996 with the purpose of offering clients a high level of service and giving them a series of "optional" commission choices, all at reduced rates. Call Kathy now for all your Real Estate needs and see how the new Options Realty Team can help you buy or sell your home. 781-7743 or kwoptions@charter.net.

Attorney Pat Houlihan joins O'Flaherty Heim Egan Ltd. Law Firm

Former La Crosse City Attorney Pat Houlihan has joined the law firm of O'Flaherty Heim Egan Ltd.

Before graduating from Marquette University Law School in 1974, Pat served in the US Army from 1969 to 1971. During part of his service he was stationed in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star. After his honorable discharge Pat attended MaryKnoll College and graduated from Loras College in Dubuque Iowa in 1969, with a Bachelor of Science Degree.

After receiving his law degree, Pat went into general practice with a law firm in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. In 1978 he became the assistant City Attorney for the City of La Crosse and in 1980 became the City Attorney for the City of La Crosse and served in that position for 27 years.

During his professional career Pat has served as Chair of the attorney's section of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities. He has served on the State of Wisconsin State Bar Administrative and Government Section. He was President of the La Crosse Municipal Transit Utility Board as well as the Attorney for the City of La Crosse School District.

Pat has also played an instrumental role in the City's economic development over the past 3 decades. As City Attorney he has presented cases to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, WI Appellate Courts and Federal Court.

Pat is currently a board member for Citizen Advocacy and is also a member of the VFW, Vietnam Era Vet, Post 52 of the American Legion, Knights of Columbus, La Crosse Area Shamrock Club and Memorial Day Parade Association. Over his professional career, Pat has been recognized with many awards from the City of La Crosse, La Crosse Police Department, Citizens for Decency Through Law, The Chamber of Commerce and was even honored as Irish Man of the Year in 2002.

Pat has been married to Kathleen Burke Houlihan for 38 years and they have 5 children.