BELOIT - Jazzercise, the world's leading dance-fitness program, recently honored local instructor Christine Kenseth with the prestigious President's Club Award -- Platinum status. 

At Platinum status, Kenseth is one of the top money earners in the Jazzercise franchise operation, having earned gross revenues of at least $75,000 in the past year.  

Kenseth's sales contributed to Jazzercise, Inc.'s record $85 million in systemwide sales in 2006-07.

For more information about Jazzercise, contact Kenseth at (608) 754-8680.

ROCKFORD -- Three Alpine Bank employees recently were awarded Service Star Awards recognizing their outstanding work.

The Service Star Awards pay tribute to those employees who set the standard in the level of service they provide to their customers and fellow coworkers.

Nichole Matthews, deposit operations specialist, was awarded the Service to Internal Customers Service Star Award.

Sara Porter, personal relationship banker, was awarded the Service to External Customers Service Star Award.

Shawn Ralston, Assistant Branch Manager, was awarded the Role Model Service Star Award.

Alpine Bank has nine locations in Rockford, Cherry Valley, Machesney Park, Loves Park, and Roscoe, Ill.

ROCKFORD -- Chris Agnitsch has joined Blackhawk Bank as assistant vice president, business development officer.

Agnitsch most recently served as president of the Lancaster Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce in Lancaster, Ohio. Prior to that position, he worked for five years for the Rockford Chamber of Commerce as vice president of government affairs.

Blackhawk Bank operates seven banking centers in Beloit, Wis., Roscoe, Machesney Park, Rockford, Belvidere and Capron, Ill.

ROCKFORD -- Dee Premo, president of Whitehead Inc. Realtors in Rockford, Roscoe, Belvidere, Byron and Oregon announced their newest achievers of the Whitehead Circle of Excellence Award.

For residential sales in December: Peggy Sala, John Ford and Chris Snyder join 3 previous qualifiers at the $1 million level. Cleo Bankord qualified at the $2 million level.

For commercial/industrial sales in December: Emmett Gray qualified at the $4 million level.

ROCKFORD -- Frank J. Wehrstein has been named to the Alpine Bancorporation Board of Directors.

Wehrstein is president of Dickerson and Nieman Realtors. He is an Illinois licensed real estate sales broker and a past president of the Rockford Association of Realtors. He is a member and former president of the Rockford Cosmopolitan Club and also serves on the board of the Rock Valley College Foundation.

JANESVILLE -- Used But Nice Office Furniture, a division of Office Pro is pleased to announce the promotion of Nate Repke to Director of Operations of its Madison location. Office Pro is a locally owned and operated company that just celebrated its fifth year in business.

Office Pro has expanded to offer office supplies, new and used furniture, document shredding, janitorial supplies and now offers its own line of chemicals.

Repke has been a valued employee of Used But Nice Office Furniture for over 10 years starting as a delivery driver moving into the Director of Operation position in February 2008.

JANESVILLE -- Office Pro is pleased to announce the promotion of Jon Dean to Director of Operations of it's Janesville location. Office Pro is a locally owned and operated company that just celebrated it's fifth year in business.

Office Pro has expanded to offer office supplies, new and used furniture, document shredding, janitorial supplies and now offers it's own line of chemicals.

Dean has been a valued employee of Office Pro for five years starting as a delivery driver and eventually moving into sales.

Office Pro is located at 615 N. Parker Dr. For more information contact Office Pro or Dean at (608) 531-6001.

CLINTON -- Moraine Park Technical College carpentry instructor Jerry Schwengels of Fond du Lac, formerly of Clinton, received national recognition when Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) named him the 2008 National Craft Instructor of the Year.

It's an honor given to an instructor with outstanding teaching credentials and a commitment to preserving the high educational standards of the merit shop construction industry.

Schwengels, who was one of seven regional finalists, was presented with the award on March 8 during ABC's National Craft Championships in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is also the only instructor to win ABC of Wisconsin's Instructor of the Year award twice, in 1996 and 2007.

He has been an instructor in ABC of Wisconsin's Carpentry Apprenticeship program at Moraine Park since 1989.

He is a 1965 Clinton High School graduate and the son of Arlene and the late Walter Schwengels.

CLINTON -- Vince Cimino of Cimino and Associates in Clinton, recently was named to the LPL Financial Chairman's Council.

The status is reserved for less than 2 percent of all advisors, based on production ranking of all registered advisors at LPL Financial at the end of 2007. LPL Financial is the largest independent broker/dealer in the country with a network of 11,000 financial advisors nationwide..

BELOIT -- Beloit Memorial High School teacher James Hoey recently attended the annual Judicial Teacher Institute held in Madison.

State Supreme Court justices were able to present their views on the judicial system during the institute. The institute focuses on bringing Wisconsin courts and the law to life for students while interacting with educators, attorneys, judges and Supreme Court justices.

BELOIT -- Tammy Schindler, an Edward Jones financial advisor in Beloit, recently was named a field trainer with the Edward Jones group.

Field trainers are compensated for their efforts in training new people with the organization, but Schindler said she has a greater motivation than money to help others in the firm.

"That's the Edward Jones culture," Schindler said. "When one person succeeds, it adds to the firm's success, which benefits us all. If someone hadn't been willing to help me, then I might not be where I am today."

ROCKFORD‹ AMCORE Bank is pleased to announce Jeffry Trad, vice president and manager of portfolio management, has been promoted to senior vice president. In this position, Trad oversees the portfolio management department, which works closely with individual clients, corporations, and trusts establishing and communicating overall investment and financial planning strategies. He is located at corporate headquarters, 501 Seventh Street.

JANESVILLE -- Virchow, Krause & Company LLP welcomes Carl Howard and Erin Samuelsen to the construction services group of the firm. Carl Howard earned his Masters degree in Professional Accountancy from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. He resides in Whitewater.

Erin Samuelsen, a CPA, earned her bachelor's degree in accounting from Indiana University. She and her husband David reside in Milton with their two children.

Virchow Krause & Company, LLP is a professional services firm providing accounting, tax, assurance and consulting services throughout Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Virchow Krause is the 15th largest CPA and consulting firm in the nation according to Public Accounting Report's "Top 100 of 2006."