ROCKFORD -- KMK Media Group, a full service advertising agency, has hired Katharyn Havens as a marketing associate,bringing the firm's total number of employees to nine.

With a background in visual journalism,marketing and photography,Havens will work closely with KMK media staff to implement integrated marketing and public relations campaigns for KMK's clients.

She earned her bachelor's degree in marketing at Texas A&M University and her associates degree in photojournalism at Brooks Institute of Photography in California. Katharyn has held marketing and communications positions at Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center and at LeReve Studios in Rockford.

JANESVILLE -- Donna Panico, Realtor with Suzy Lawton & Company, Inc. GMAC Real Estate has been awarded the Accredited Buyer Representation (ABR) designation by the Real Estate Buyers Agent Council, Inc. (REBAC) of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). The ABR designation is the benchmark of excellence in real estate buyer representation.  It demonstrates to clients that the agent has taken steps to continue their education in the specialty of buyer representation, and has proven experience and training to deliver ethical and professional services to purchasers of real estate.

Donna has been a top producer since joining Suzy Lawton & Company in 2002.  She is a member of the National Association of Realtors, the Wisconsin Realtors Association, Rock-Green Realtors Association and the South Central Wisconsin Builders Association.

Suzy Lawton & Company, Inc. GMAC Real Estate is a member of the National Association of Realtors, the Wisconsin Realtors Association and the Rock-Green Realtors Association.  It is a full service real estate agency specializing in residential real estate, new home construction and commercial real estate including industrial, sales and leasing, land development and build-to-suit.

Donna can be contacted at her office at Suzy Lawton & Company, Inc. GMAC Real Estate in the Creston Park Mall or by calling (608) 741-1188.

BELOIT --Patch Products, a manufacturer and marketer of games and puzzles, has named a new corporate counsel, human resources/payroll manager and sales account manager.

James C. Green is the company's new Corporate Vice President - General Counsel. In addition to managing the legal affairs of the company, he will lead the strategic corporate development efforts and serve as a director on the company's board.  His experience as corporate counsel for companies with annual revenues ranging from $600 million to more than $3 billion will be beneficial as his responsibilities included focusing on the management of complex litigation and commercial disputes, the negotiation of diverse corporate transactions on a domestic and international basis, and the development and implementation of corporate compliance training, policies and procedures. 

Immediately before joining Patch Products, Green worked in a Milwaukee-based law firm where he provided commercial, corporate and business transactional and litigation support to clients. Green has been a guest lecturer for Anglia University Law School in Chelmsford, England; Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis.; State Bar of Wisconsin; American Marketing Association; and Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. He and his family live in Eagle, Wis.

As human resources/payroll manager, Thelma Busker is responsible for directing the company's human resources and payroll operations. She has extensive experience working in the areas of payroll, benefits and human resources. Most recently, she was the human resources/office manager at Northern Illinois Hospice and Grief Center. She received her bachelor's degree in human resources management and has passed the Professional Human Resources (PHR) certification exam. She and her family live in Rockford, Ill.

Jim Hart is a sales account manager responsible for national retail accounts as well as hardware and grocery accounts nationally and internationally. He has worked in the retail market for 20 years, most recently at Linens 'n Things, where he was a manager for several stores, corporate trainer for the continental United States and a multi-store district manager. During his career, he has managed individual stores with annual sales volumes of $38 million and multiple stores at a district level with an overall annual volume of more than $40 million. Originally from the Beloit area, he and his family now live in Rockford, Ill.

ROCKFORD -- Mark Podemski, vice president of development for the Rockford Area Economic Development Council, was elected president of the board of directors for the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce -- Chicago at its annual meeting on Jan. 17.

Podemski had been a member of SACC-Chicago's board of directors since 2006, when the RAEDC joined SACC-Chicago. That marked the first year that the RAEDC participated in Entrepreneurial Days, an annual trade event organized by the Swedish-American Chambers of Commerce to expand trade between the United States and Sweden. "E-Days" was part of the RAEDC's trade mission in 2006 to Sweden.

BELOIT -- Elliot, Monahan & Kolpien, S.C. is pleased to announce that Attorney Tom Johnson has joined the law firm as an associate attorney. Prior to joining the firm, Attorney Johnson was with Johnson Law Office which he operated as a sole practitioner. Attorney Johnson brings to our firm extensive experience in the areas of criminal, personal injury, estate planning and probate business law.

Elliot, Monahna & Kolpien, S.C. is a full serve law firm established in 1893. They recently moved to their new location at the Historic Chester Square, 136 W. Grand Ave., Suite 250, Beloit.

JANESVILLE --  Linda Marie Cherf, owner of Qi Acupuncture is currently accepting new patients who are interested in stopping smoking with the added benefits of no weight gain, no cravings and no withdrawal. She recently added laser therapy to her multitude of treatment offerings which can help you to quit smoking. 5 Free boosters are included with your initial $250. treatment. You will save money, your health, and your quality of life. On-site corporate programs now available.

Linda is a certified acupuncturist by the state of Wisconsin. She earned her

Masters of Science Degree in Oriental Medicine from Midwest College of Oriental Medicine in Racine,Wisconsin. Linda has also had advanced training in resolving the pain of osteoarthritis, migraines/headaches, allergies, and muscular skeletal issue and much more. Linda has been practicing for five years.

Linda is located at 1930 E. Racine Suite 1, Janesville.

For your next appointment or to find out more about quitting smoking call (608) 295-6186.

JANESVILLE -- Mercy Health System is happy to announce that Dr. Jacob Gerzenshtein, board certified plastic surgeon at the Mercy Regional Plastic Surgery, Skin and Laser Center in Janesville, has become Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS).

Gerzenshtein attended medical school at Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Ill., and served a residency in general surgery at Metropolitan Group Hospitals, Chicago, and a residency in plastic surgery at the University of Mississippi-Jackson. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Gerzenshtein is now accepting new patients. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call the Mercy Regional Plastic Surgery, Skin and Laser Center at (800) 236-6868.

ROCKFORD -- Northwestern Mutual Financial The Lueder Financial Group with offices in Janesville and Rockford welcomes Matthew C. Callaghan to its nationally recognized Financial Representative Internship program. Callaghan is a Senior at Western Illinois University in Macomb. He is a resident of Rockton and the son of Craig and Diane Callaghan.

Sara Sackmaster has been appointed Financial Representative by Northwestern Mutual.  She will be associated with Northwestern Mutual Financial Network The Lueder Financial Group with offices in Janesville and Rockford. Sackmaster is a native of  Ft. Atkinson, WI.  She received a degree in Marketing with a  Pre-Business minor from the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater in 2007.  Sackmaster resides in Ft. Atkinson.  She is engaged to Jonathan Nadler and the couple plans to be married in 2009.

This year, 1,000 students nationwide on average will participate in Northwestern Mutual's internship program.  The internship program is open to full-time undergraduate and graduate students, and the interns work on a commission basis. They attend weekly courses that focus on Northwestern Mutual's philosophy and receive basic instruction in life and disability income underwriting.

Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, the marketing name for the sales and distribution arm of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, (Northwestern Mutual), provides expert guidance on insurance, investment products and services, retirement and estate analysis, education funding and employee benefits.