Stromgren Athletics has named Dorothy Gottschalk its May employee of the month. Gottschalk sews on the production line and joined the company in 1987.

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Larry Patrick has been named interim executive director of Smoky Hill Education Center. He has been with the center since 1994 and formerly served as associate director.

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Kinsley native Tom Burkhart has joined Insurance Planning as a commercial lines account executive. He will focus on commercial, professional liability, life and health insurance products and services in a geographic area covering central and southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma for Insurance Planning. He has 12 years of experience as an insurance provider and formerly served as district marketing manager for an insurer serving the western two-thirds of Kansas and six counties in Oklahoma. Burkhart earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Fort Hays State University and will relocate to Hays from Mulvane.

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Insurance Planning employees Kathy Casper and Jolene Cooper have completed the Certified Insurance Counselors' Life and Health Institute, held in Wichita in April. The course included three days of instruction followed by a written examination and was sponsored by the National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research and the Kansas Association of Insurance Agents. Casper and Cooper, both commercial account representatives in the Hays office, also have earned the certified insurance counselor designation.

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The following area McDonald's swing managers recently attended a basic shift management course in Hays: Brad Dible, Sandra Gonzales and Marcus Tibbles (Colby); and Elizabeth Kreutzer and Danielle Lovin (South Hays). Course instructors were Gail Kuehl, owner of McDonald's in Colby, Hays, Russell and WaKeeney), Renae Booth, assistant manager of McDonald's of North Hays, and Stacy McKennon, store manager, McDonald's of North Hays.

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Jeff Dewitt and Derreck Williams have been promoted to the position of crew trainer at McDonald's of Russell. Dewitt has been with the restaurant since May, and Williams has been employed there since May 2008.

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Brenda Robben of Kennedy and Coe has paased the certified public accountant examination. She works in the Salina office of Kennedy and Coe, which has eight offices in Kansas and Colorado.

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Nine new members were named to the board of directors of the Fort Hays State University Alumni Association at the semi-annual two-day meeting recently in Hays. Six were named to the executive council of the board of directors. Board and council members serve three- or four-year terms.

New board members: Molly (Bircher) Aspan earned bachelor's degrees in economics and political science from FHSU in 2000. She is an attorney for Hall Estill in Tulsa, Okla.; Marcella Aycock graduated from FHSU in 1984 with a bachelor's degree in art education. She is the principal of Prairie Elementary School in Haysville; David Gray graduated from FHSU in 1995 with a bachelor's degree in communication and earned a master's degree in communication in 1997. He is a self-employed consultant in Hays; Brad Haynes graduated from FHSU in 1993 with a bachelor's in business education, and in 1997 he graduated with a master's degree in sports administration. He is the assistant athletic director for external operations at FHSU; Norene Jacobs earned a bachelor's degree in political science from FHSU in 1974. She is a senior partner in the law firm of Kutak Rock in West Des Moines, Iowa; Cassie (Augustine) Jones graduated from FHSU in 1996 with a bachelor's degree in communication. She is the director of account service for O'Brien Advertising, Denver; Diane (Dreiling) Long graduated FHSU with a bachelor's degree in art in 1972. She is a retired teacher in Flower Mound, Texas; Chuck Sexson graduated from FHSU in 1972 with a bachelor's degree in sociology. He is the director of the concealed carry licensing unit in the office of Kansas Attorney General Steve Six, Topeka; Gordon Zahradnik earned his bachelor's degree from FHSU in 1955 and his master's degree in 1958. He is a self-employed artist in Lyons.

New members of the executive council: Brian DeWitt serves as president of the alumni board of directors. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration in accounting in 1989 from FHSU. DeWitt is a CPA with Adams, Brown, Beran and Ball, Hays; Brenda (Cary) Herrman accepted a second term on the board and is president-elect. She continues to serve as the awards and recognition committee chair. She graduated from Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, Texas, with a bachelor's degrees in public administration in 1997 and from FHSU in 2000 with a master's in organizational leadership. Herrman is director of public works for the city of Hays; Stacy (Coats) Kohlmeier continues to serve as chair of the membership and marketing committee. She earned a bachelor's in business administration from FHSU in 1984. She is the vice president of marketing and sales for Florence Manufacturing, Manhattan, Kan.; Dennis Spratt has been named as chair of the finance and operations committee. He is a 1971 FHSU graduate with a bachelor's degree in education. He is vice president of the Wealth Management Group of KC in Overland Park; Josh Biera graduated from FHSU in 1992 with a bachelor's in political science. He is a lieutenant in the Kansas Highway Patrol, stationed in Garden City; Kevin Moeder graduated from FHSU in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in agriculture. He is vice president and branch manager for Farmer's Bank & Trust, La Crosse.