On the Job November 2, 2012

ACADEMICS

Jason Ahola, an associate professor of beef production systems at CSU, was the only Colorado professional recognized as a 2011 Top 10 Industry Leader by The Cattle Business Weekly, an agricultural newspaper based in Philip, S.D. Cattle Business Weekly cited Ahola’s work as faculty adviser to the CSU Seedstock Merchandizing Team, which gives rising beef-industry professionals hands-on experience in the cattle business. Under Ahola’s guidance, the team of about 10 animal sciences students work almost the entire academic year to ready 50 purebred Hereford, purebred Angus and Herford-Angus crossbred cattle for a spring sale, which is attended by about 500 buyers.

Jane Goff, a member of the Colorado State Board of Education, was voted president-elect of the National Association of State Boards of Education. Goff will begin her term of office as president-elect in January 2013 and then serve as president of the association in 2014. Goff, of Arvada, was elected to the Colorado State Board in 2008 following a 34-year career as a classroom French and Spanish teacher and director of Jefferson County Public Schools’ World Languages and International Student Exchange programs.

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CONSTRUCTION

Drahota, a Fort Collins-based general contractor, announced Joe Jones as the new director of operations. Jones has almost 30 years of experience in the construction industry and was previously the vice president of operations for TCD Construction, prior to his tenure with Drahota.

FINANCE

John Heddens, CFP, ChFC, CLU, a financial professional with AXA Advisors LLC in Fort Collins, successfully completed the AXA Advisors Institute program, hosted on the Harvard University campus. The AXA Advisors Institute program provides financial professionals with a deeper understanding of asset allocation, wealth advisory strategies, portfolio management and the development of effective client relationships.

HEALTH CARE

Banner Health Clinic in Greeley announced the hiring of Dr. David R. Blatt, who specializes in surgery to treat diseases of the brain and spine, brain tumors, neck problems, back problems, herniated disks, sports injuries to the spine and several other conditions. He uses minimally invasive techniques when possible. Blatt earned his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and is certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgeons.

INSURANCE

Eric Kearns has joined the New York Life Insurance Co.’s Fort Collins branch as an agent. He has completed the company’s training program and will be working from the office on Harmony Road.

MISCELLANEOUS

Amy Shoemaker has joined the Trebuchet Group of Fort Collins as director of leader strategies. She has more than 25 years of experience in human resources and training, and 18 years experience as a vice president. Shoemaker’s focus areas are executive and human resource coaching, leadership and management development, leading change, designing performance management systems and compensation programs, and executive recruitment. Her education includes completion of the Human Resources Executive program at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and she participated in an inclusive workplace conference at Cornell University.

REAL ESTATE

At the Everitt Real Estate Center conference, held at the Fort Collins Marriot on Oct. 24, Allen Ginsborg of New Mark Merrill was awarded entrepreneur of the year, while Nathan Klein and Blaine Rappe of Loveland Commercial were both given the EREC hall of fame award.

TECHNOLOGY

Comcast announced that Mike Spaulding has been named area vice president of the Mile High region and Northern Colorado area. As area vice president, he will oversee a team of more than 500 employees who serve in the region, which stretches from North Metro Denver to Fort Collins and Greeley and west along the I-70 mountain corridor.

If you have an item to share about a promotion, job change or career news of note, e-mail it to Maggie Shafer at mshafer@ncbr.com, or mail it to On The Job at NCBR, 1550 E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins, CO 80525.