Fargo Moorhead Business News: Retirement

Bartsch reflects on four decades of work at OTP

By Tom Hintgen (Contact) | The Daily Journal

A century ago, Otter Tail Power Company was incorporated, and two years later, in 1909, the company began generating electricity at Dayton Hollow Dam south of Fergus Falls. Part of this 100-year-old history, for more than 42 of those years, is Duane Bartsch who is retiring at year’s end.

Bartsch is best known as the liaison between Otter Tail Power Company and its biggest industrial customers. In this capacity he headed industrial services for the company.

“The biggest change during my career came about through computerization,” he said.

“Computers allowed for so much faster and more efficient response when it came to doing rate analysis, contracts and providing other services for customers,” Bartsch said. “It also allowed for communicating news to them about electric motors, heating and cooling options, and you name it.”

Computerization aside, Bartsch emphasizes it was and still is important for Otter Tail Power Company to maintain what he describes as “the person-to-person contacts with customers.”

Over the years he has worked with Lakehead Pipe Line (now Enbridge Energy), which has crude oil pipelines running across northern Minnesota; Minnesota Pipe Line; Ladish Malting (now Cargill Malting) east of Jamestown, N.D.; Dawson Mills (Ag Processing Inc.) in southern Minnesota; Melroe (Bobcat) at Gwinner, N.D.; and Potlatch (lumber mill and oriented strandboard plant) east of Bemidji.

“Yes, those are some of the largest industrial customers Otter Tail Power Company has served for many years, and it was rewarding to work with people at those facilities,” Bartsch said.

Additionally, Bartsch has worked with Northwood Panel Board (Norbord); Solway near Bemidji, 3-M (later Imation) at Wahpeton; West Central Turkeys at Pelican Rapids; and Kenny’s Candy, Tuffy's Pet Foods and Barrel O’ Fun at Perham, to name a few.

Bartsch is quick to praise the industrial services team that also includes Mark Remer, Paul Aasgaard and Jeremy Rham.

He first worked for Otter Tail Power Company in 1964, at Devils Lake, N.D., as a student intern while attending North Dakota State University, Fargo, where he obtained a degree in electrical engineering. A native of Rugby, N.D., he officially joined Otter Tail in 1965, first working as an engineer in transmission and distribution in Fergus Falls.

Al Hartl was president of Otter Tail Power Company when Bartsch came on board. He later worked under the auspices of Bob Bigwood, John MacFarlane, Doug Kjellerup and Chuck MacFarlane.

He served as a division engineer in Bemidji in the late 1960s and in 1971 transferred to Jamestown, N.D., working in the same capacity. He became manager of industrial services in 1978 and worked in that area of operations for the next 29 years.

Bartsch has a son, Christopher, and two grandchildren. He and his wife, Cindy, have a daughter, Audra Robyn, 10.

“The personal relationships with fellow employees and customers is what you cherish most,” Bartsch said during a retirement party in his honor Thursday evening. “I’m thankful for these many years of working for Otter Tail Power Company.”

Duane Bartsch, closing out more than 42 years of employment with Otter Tail Power Company, paused in front of the company’s Central Dam waterpower station near downtown Fergus Falls.

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Some Biz Hirings

Women earn sales honor

Lisa Breidenbach, Bonnie Black, Catherine Woidtke and Cindy Dahl, all of Grand Forks, earned top honors for the lia sophia Excellent Beginnings Program.

The women were honored for their outstanding sales accomplishments and professionalism having just joined the fashion jewelry business. Each have earned this prestigious accomplishment in their first 15 weeks by attaining certain sales levels and by sharing lia sophia.

Rygg-Haley honored

Bonnie Rygg-Haley from Bon Voyage Travel, Grand Forks, has been recognized by Sandals Resorts at the sixth annual Travel Agent Recognition Awards. Top agents, led by Rygg-Haley, were recognized for their outstanding knowledge and performance in selling Sandals Resorts travel packages.

Togerson receives excellence award

Larry Togerson has received the J. Todd Laxdahl Award of Excellence at Marvin Windows and Doors in Grafton, N.D. He was also nominated twice by two co-workers.

Togerson has worked for Marvin Windows and Doors since November 2001. He worked in Clad Casemaster until May 2004 and then transferred to the round top/trap department. He and his wife, Carole, have been married for 23 years and have three children.

Podoll joins Altru

Christopher Podoll, PT, DPT, has joined Altru's Rehab Therapy Services' outpatient deparment.

Podoll is a UND graduate. He will provide physical therapy services at Altru Rehabilitation Center in Grand Forks.

Russell, Halvorson join Polar

Jon Russell joined Polar Communications as a new area service representative covering the Cavalier, N.D., area. Russel grew up in Warroad, Minn., and attended Minnesota State Community & Technical College in Wadena, Minn., where he earned a degree in telecommunications. His duties include installing and maintaining telephone, cable TV and Internet services.

Kyle Halvorson has joined Polar Communications as a new area service representative covering the Park River, N.D. area. Kyle grew up in Newfolden, Minn., and attended Northland Community College in Thief River Falls and Minnesota State Community & Technical College in Wadena where he earned a degree in telecommunications. His duties include installing and maintaining telephone, cable TV and Internet services.

Oehlke joins Chamber

Jeb Oehlke has been hired as vice president of governmental affairs for the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce. He will provide leadership in developing and presenting the Chamber's policies to state and federal government entities.

Oehlke's legislative and legal experience includes serving as staff assistant to the Senate Majority Leader for the 2007 North Dakota Legislative Assembly and as legal clerk for the Broden and Goulding law offices in Devils Lake. His government involvement began with a North Dakota Legislative Council internship during the 2003 assembly.

Oehlke earned his bachelor's degree from North Dakota State University, Fargo, and his law degree from UND School of Law in 2004.

Burkholder receives certification

Laurie Burkholder of Crary Homes & Real Estate has received her graduate realtor institute certification. The coursework is four segments of additional training which includes listing, selling and marketing residential and commercial property. Burkholder is a long time Grand Forks resident and has been a Realtor since 2003.

Nilson named Crary's new president

Keith Nilson has been named president of Crary Industries Inc. Nilson joined the company in 2004 as vice president of operations and is a seasoned executive with deep experience in manufacturing. Nilson has held executive-level positions at Kohler Co. in Wisconsin and BTD Manufacturing in Minnesota.

Nilson will be replacing Chuck Crary who stepped down as president and began his role as chairman of the board for Crary Industries on Dec. 1.

Nilson earned his bachelor's degree in engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and master's degree in business from Northwestern University, Chicago. Keith and his wife, Karen, live in Fargo. They have five sons.

Engel, Porter receive certification

Gail Engel, RN, AOCN, recently became certified and Janelle Porter, RN, AOCN recertified as the Crookston area's only oncology-certified nurses. Both nurses work at the Altru Clinic in Crookston. The certification is received through Oncology Nursing Certification Corp.

Oncology-certified nurses have met or exceeded requirements for practice in cancer care, have completed education in oncology nursing, and have a tested knowledge of the specialty. Certification in oncology nursing is based on current professional practices, validating that a nurse's knowledge is up-to-date.

Noyes attends conference

Dr. William Noyes, radiation oncologist for Cancer Center of North Dakota, attended the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology meeting in Los Angeles.

In addition to attending the conference, Dr. Noyes participated in several subcommittee meetings. He serves as chair for the subcommittee of Code Utilization and Application, chair for the ASTRO Coding Guide, which is used in each health care facility in America, and is co-chair for the CMS subcommittee. Noyes also is a member of the Congressional subcommittee for government relations and the health policy committee.

Dalmi returns to Altru

Dr. Attila Dalmi, hospitalist, will return to Altru Health System in December. He earned his medical degree at the University School of Medicine, in Debrecen, Hungary. Dalmi completed his residency training in internal medicine at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center in Englewood, N.J.

Hospital medicine is a specialty organized around a site of care rather than an organ, a disease or a patient's age. But, unlike medical specialists in the emergency department or critical care units, hospitalists help manage patients through the continuum of hospital care.

Olson promoted

Josie Olson was promoted to transmission engineering supervisor in the transmission engineering department at Minnkota Power in Grand Forks.

Olson is originally from Biwabik, Minn. She earned her degree in civil engineering from NDSU. She joined Minnkota in 2001 as a transmission engineer.

Halstenson receives award

John Halstenson, a financial associate with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans in Grand Forks, received the gold award certificate for quality service and production from the National Association of Fraternal Insurance Counselors.

The award, the third-highest production honor given by the organization, recognizes Halstenson for life insurance sales. Halstenson has offices at 2300 Library Circle in Grand Forks. He is a member of the Thrivent Financial North Country Regional Financial Office in Fargo. He has served as a Thrivent Financial representative since 1982.

Alerus announces promotions, hires

Terry Guenther was promoted as senior auditor at Alerus' Banksouth location on Columbia Road.

Guenther is responsible for the development, scheduling, and execution of internal audits for Alerus Financial primarily related to the Banking division including loan, deposit, commercial services and communicating findings to the appropriate people.

Guenther has worked for Alerus for more than 26 years.

Heather Lund has joined Alerus as a customer service supervisor at its Corporate Center location in Grand Forks.

Lund is responsible for demonstrating and leading day-to-day transactional activities. She maintains in-depth knowledge of all teller processes and procedures to include security.

Lund recently moved to Grand Forks from St. Louis, Mo. She was formerly an early childhood teacher and small business owner.

Scott M. Harter has joined Alerus as a supply management specialist at its Banksouth location in Grand Forks.

Harter is responsible for ordering, receiving, recording, storing, issuing and delivering supplies, office equipment and other items to all areas of the company.

Harter moved to Grand Forks in 1998 when he was serving with United States Air Force, where he worked in supply and inventory management. He will graduate with a bachelor's degree in psychology from Park University in December.

Kristin Muir has joined Alerus as an administrative services specialist in the records department at its Banksouth location in Grand Forks.

Muir is responsible for assisting the retail bank, relationship managers, product managers, product specialists, underwriters and operations in support of new and existing accounts.

Before joining Alerus, Muir worked for more than six years at AGSCO Inc. She worked as a customer service manager and credit operations specialist, where she provided storefront assistance, customer service, management of accounts receivable, generated loan documents, set up new lines of credit and oversaw the daily postings of advances and payments.

Lloyd completes program

Merrill Lynch has announced that Gary E. Lloyd, senior financial adviser of the Grand Forks Merrill Lynch office, has completed the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor program and received the CRPC® designation.

Lloyd is a native of Grafton, N.D., and has 36 years of experience in the financial service industry. He is a UND graduate.