Taking Stock

Education

Health teachers Curt Richardt from Wausau West High and Jessica Truax from Wausau East High received the "Outstanding Achievement in Supporting Domestic Violence Victims Award" from The Women's Community. Richardt and Truax provided prevention education surrounding teen dating violence, sexual assault and domestic violence.

Wausau EGL Academy was ranked 34th in Newsweek's 2014 America's Top High Schools that ranks the nation's top 500 high schools.

Cathy Newton, business education teacher at Wausau West High, was winner of the 2014 Kettle Moraine Press Association's "Jan Kohls Yearbook Adviser of the Year Award."

John Muir Middle School received the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's Bronze Wisconsin Health Award for the school's commitment to providing students with the knowledge and skills to make healthy decisions that will contribute to their academic success.

Paul Clark from Wausau East High School attended a four-week Summer Institute on the Constitution in July in Washington, D.C., as part of the James Madison Fellowship program. Clark was selected as the 2013 fellow from Wisconsin, a competitive award given to one teacher per state each year.

Human Resources

Elizabeth Kocken, senior human resources generalist with Graebel Cos. Inc., has been promoted to global talent management director, responsible for the implementation of the company's international talent management and programs.

Kochken had been instrumental in the design and expansion of cost-effective global talent management programs in the Graebel regional centers that are located in Prague, Singapore and Shanghai.

Founded in 1950, Graebel administers worldwide employee and office relocation services for the Fortune 500 and Global 100. On-the-ground services are managed in 165 countries on six continents.

Law

• Ruder Ware is pleased to announce the appointment of Attorney Kevin J.T. Terry to the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin School Attorneys Association effective Oct. 3. He will serve a four-year term.

Terry has concentrated his practice on working with employers in both the public and private sectors. As legal counsel for many school districts in northern and central Wisconsin, he works directly with school boards on issues such as open meetings and public records law. Additionally, he advises school boards and administrators on labor and employment concerns, student expulsions and other matters affecting Wisconsin schools in the post-Act 10 world.

The Wisconsin School Attorneys Association is a 104-member organization of attorneys representing school boards on an attorney-client basis. WSAA was created to assist and facilitate the exchange of information among attorneys practicing school law in the State of Wisconsin. Members of WSAA are attorneys serving as legal counsel for members of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards.

Founded in 1920, Ruder Ware is the largest law firm headquartered north of Madison, with offices in Wausau and Eau Claire.

• Former Vilas County Circuit Court Judge Timothy Vocke, Rhinelander, was inducted as a Fellow into the Wisconsin Law Foundation. Vocke is a mediator with Resolute Systems, the Wisconsin-based national mediation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution consulting group.

The Wisconsin Law Foundation is a charitable and educational organization that serves to promote public understanding of the law, improvement of the administration of justice and other law-related public service through funding of innovative and creative programs.

Vocke served as a circuit judge in Vilas County from 1973 to 2009. Since 2009, he's served as a reserve judge in various counties in Wisconsin including Vilas, Oneida and Marathon; provided services as an Independent Hearing Examiner for Vilas, Oneida and Sawyer counties, and since 2011 has been one of six retired judges making up the Government Accountability Board, serving as chairman in 2013 and presently secretary.

Service

• Firefighter/EMTs Tom Janssen and Jason Toboyek have been promoted to Lieutenant in the Mosinee Fire District. Toboyek and Janssen upgraded their license to EMT-IV technician along with others when the Fire District advanced to the higher level of ambulance coverage. They are enrolled in the Entry Level Fire Officer class being held at the Mosinee Fire Station this fall.

They both hold various fire and EMS certifications. Janssen has also taken swiftwater and ice rescue classes, vehicle extrication, and wildland fire classes. Recently, he earned his Wisconsin state Firefighter I certification.

• Jamie Sarver, Life Tribute adviser at Brainard Funeral Home, completed the In-sight Institute and Outlook Group course Sept. 23 in Chicago to earn the Life Tribute Advisor designation. Sarver is qualified to work with individuals who desire assistance in planning their end of life services that reflect their own individual values as well as considering the needs of family, friends, grandchildren and spiritual preferences.

Private consultations are provided at no cost. Group presentations are available to clubs and groups as schedules permit. Brainard Funeral Home has locations in Wausau and Weston.