Local Business memos/ Company news

experimenting with a $500 a month stipend to selected local families ■ Local Business for whatever social and economic needs they might have. Might that stipend pay for a car repair or a People/Company News medical deductible and in the end save the government spending and infrastructure that would normally go to cure huge social problems created by smaller issues we could solve with $500 a month? On entrepreneurial idea emerged in Alaska where a man with friends in the restaurant industry started an online pitch for developing a fund to give restaurant workers bigger tips. The fund grew to $7,000 and he started handing out $500 tips above and beyond his own tip for what he bought. What social ills might we cure with a simple pitch for donations? A little charity can go a long way if we figure out how to leverage the spirit of kindness and compassion that has been with us, along with the virus, since March. Lieffring joins GreenSeam Garrett Lieffring, a Fellow with Lead for Minnesota will be hosted for two years alongside the GreenSeam staff, serving as a program manager. The fellowship is a service program, supported by ServeMN, the state’s federal AmeriCorps commission. Lieffring will be serving full-time, advancing the community and business development goals of GreenSeam. He will mainly focus on deployment of programs that strengthen rural and agricultural economies. Lieffring is originally from Truman and received his business degree from Winona State University. Since then, he has been working in the medical supply business. Pratt honored Pratt Wealth Management, an independent financial planning and investment management firm in North Mankato, announced that Bryan Pratt has been named to Forbes’ Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors list for 2020. The list is determined based on a proprietary algorithm of qualitative and quantitative criteria. It recognizes advisors born in 1981 or later with a minimum of four years of experience. ■ ■ ■ Crystal Valley buys Shell Rock Crystal Valley cooperative has acquired Shell Rock Ag Inc., located in Hayward. Shell Rock Ag has provided area growers Joe Spear is executive editor of Minnesota Valley Business. Contact him at jspear@mankatofreepress.com or 344-6382. Follow on Twitter @jfspear. with agronomic products and services since 2004. The purchase fits into Crystal BANKING THE WAY IT SHOULD BE Here for you today and tomorrow. Valley’s strategy of continued growth in southern Minnesota. With this acquisition, Crystal Valley will have a local presence in Hayward and its surrounding areas. Along with the Hayward purchase, Crystal Valley will lease the Glenville location which will provide anhydrous ammonia fertilizer for area producers.

Steiert promoted at Consolidated

Consolidated Communications has promoted Jim Steiert to commercial sales director for the Minnesota, North Dakota and Iowa region.

Steiert joined Consolidated in 2015 and brings 23 years of sales and telecommunications experience to his new role.

Joining Consolidated as the new southern Minnesota commercial sales manager is Doug Dittbenner. A graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College, Dittbenner has worked and been involved in the Greater Mankato region for more than 20 years.