Starting Monday, Curves will be open at its new location at 933 S. Locust St. in Grand Island.

Shannon Trunkenbolz will continue as the local facility's manager/owner, a position she has held since May. Trunkenbolz plans to maintain and offer fitness programs designed for women. She earned her associate's degree in business and has previously worked as a payroll clerk, sales representative for the Fort Morgan Times in Fort Morgan, Colo., and manager of a Maurices location. She is a member of the Newcomers Club and Business Women of America.

Joni Pritchard, Lainie Kotinek and Mary White, all fitness trainers, are new employees at the Curves location.

Pritchard has a bachelor of science in elementary education/early childhood development from Concordia College in Seward. She also earned her master's degree in early childhood education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She has an endorsement in visual impairment from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Pritchard is a member of the Lion's Club.

Kotinek previously worked at the Younkers customer service department for six years.

White attended Nebraska Wesleyan University and is a registered cardiopulmonary technologist and a certified respiratory therapist. She and her husband own J.S. White and Associates, an independent insurance adjusting and investigation company.

Janice K. Cumpston, a Curves employee for four years, will also work at the new location. Cumpston, a fitness trainer, attended Grand Island Business College and teller school at First Interstate Bank in Arizona. She has previously worked as a lead cashier, customer service representative and scan and price integrity worker at Osco Drug. She was a bank teller at First Interstate Bank in Arizona, as well as a sales associate at Sears.

All five can be reached at 381-5950.

Portraits by Terry moves to Broadwell location

Terry Winslow, owner of Portraits by Terry, has moved to a new location. Winslow is now operating his studio operations at the Studio, 2326 N. Broadwell Ave. in Grand Island.

The Studio is a shared studio and office facility with several photographers working individual business operations.

Winslow has been associated with studios in Grand Island since 1963. He was the studio manager of the Lumbard-Leschinsky Studio from 1970 until he purchased the Don Bartelt Studio in 1982.

He is certified by the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) and also holds the craftsman degree. He was awarded the PPA National Award in 2005.

Winslow is a member of the Professional Photographers of Nebraska and served as its president in 1996. He earned the group's diamond service fellowship degree in 2007.

He serves on the board of directors for the Heart of America Professional Photographers Association, a four-state association, and is print competition chairman. He is also a member of the International Cosmopolitan Club and a serves on the board of directors for the Hall County Christmas Cheer Association.

Winslow can be reached at 382-6066.

Kayton Electric wins construction award

Kayton Electric, which has offices in Grand Island, won a 2008 award in the Electrical and Industrial Over $2 Million category at the 12th annual Excellence in Construction awards ceremony. The award was given in February by the Cornhusker Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors for Kayton Electric's work on the Abengoa Bioenergy Ethanol Plant.

The awards competition is designed to publicly recognize the quality and distinction of merit shop construction projects.

Entries were evaluated by independent judges on craftsmanship; execution and coordination; budget and scheduling; owner satisfaction; difficult or unusual challenges; and safety. Winners are now eligible to enter into the Associated Builders and Contractors National Excellence in Construction awards program.

Associated Builders and Contractors represents 260 merit shop contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers and associate members throughout the state. There are 78 chapters nationally with more than 24,000 member companies advocating the merit shop philosophy, which stresses merit rewards for employee performance.

Plains Irrigation named Valley Performance Plus Dealer

VALLEY Plains Irrigation in Grand Island has received a Valley Performance Plus Dealer designation from Valmont Irrigation for outstanding sales performance. Plains Irrigation was able to deliver the highest standards of service and product support to its mechanized irrigation customers.

The Performance Plus Program focuses on the recognition of dealers as they strive to meet the ever increasing and changing needs of production agriculture.

In addition, Dan Springer was awarded a Valley Excellence Award in Equipment Sales for exceeding customer expectations as measured by the customer surveys. The award shows a commitment to excellence in the areas of sales, after-market parts and customer service.

Plains Irrigation accepted its awards during the North American Dealer Conference. Valmont rated the dealership after receiving input from customers in the key areas of sales, parts and service. More than 500 dealer personnel also attended the conference to build product knowledge, network with fellow dealers and reinforce their commitment to the Valley brand.

Valmont Irrigation manufactures mechanized irrigation equipment.

Deterding's named hot tub Dealer of the Year

Deterding's, a local hot tub retailer based in Grand Island, recently won a 2007 Dealer of the Year Award from Watkins Manufacturing Corp., manufacturer of Hot Spring Spas, the world's No. 1 selling brand of portable spas.

"Doug Deterding, owner of Deterding's, was selected from among more than 950 Hot Spring dealers worldwide to receive this symbol of excellence because of his commitment, professionalism, product knowledge and outstanding customer service," said Mike Dunn, vice president of sales and marketing for Hot Spring Spas. Deterding received the award at a Hot Spring Spas dealer conference in Anaheim, Calif.

"The team at Deterding's excelled in all aspects of spa retailing to the local market last year," Dunn said.

The company was judged to be the leading Hot Spring dealer in its geographic region when it comes to customer satisfaction, spa service and other factors.

Deterding said receiving the honor motivates his staff to work even harder to exceed the expectations of current and potential customers.

Hamilton receives MVP quality award

Hamilton Contact Center Services has been named a recipient of the MVP Quality Award for 2007.

The MVP Quality Award is an annual award bestowed by Customer Inter@ction Solutions magazine on participants in the contact center industry for their demonstration of and commitment to quality, excellence and the highest ethical standards.

Applicants were required to submit a comprehensive essay on how quality processes are engineered and implemented throughout their operations. A panel of experts from Customer Inter@ction Solutions magazine judged each submission and made awards based on each company's ability to demonstrate quality.

"We are very proud to be given this award for the fourth year in a row," said Tom Kell, executive vice president of Hamilton Contact Center Services. "Our dedication and commitment to our clients is what makes it possible for us to give them the results they are looking for and make all of their programs a success."

Hamilton has been providing contact center services since 1986. Headquartered in Aurora, Hamilton has additional offices in Columbus, Kearney and Ord. With the increased demand for e-contact customer services, Hamilton has recently increased its e-mail services capacity into Baton Rouge, La.

Hamilton offers a wide range of inbound, outbound and e-contact services. The company specializes in customer service, sales, order processing, tech support, lead generation and qualification, appointment setting and market research services for a variety of industries.

Edward Jones ranked No. 8 in customer service ranking

For the second year in a row, the global financial services firm Edward Jones is the highest-ranking brokerage firm on BusinessWeek magazine's second annual ranking of "customer service champs." Edward Jones ranked No. 8 among 25 national and international companies, according to the magazine's March 3 edition.

The BusinessWeek list ranks the best providers of customer service and examines the techniques, strategies and tools they use to deliver great service, according to the magazine. The list is largely based on brands in J.D. Power and Associates' database.

Edward Jones also ranks highest in full-service investor satisfaction for the third consecutive year, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Full Service Investor Satisfaction Study.

Department of Economic Development to host free briefing

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development will host its first 2008 briefing from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 27 at Central Community College-Grand Island, Room 210.

Department of Economic Development staff members will provide information about key components for economic development stability and growth, including business and tourism attraction, retention and expansion of existing businesses, housing and community development and entrepreneurship. The department hosts these free briefings for all interested participants.

For information and to register, call Patty Wood toll-free at (800) 426-6505, or e-mail patty.wood@ded.ne.gov.