BauerFinancial Inc. of Coral Gables, Fla., an independent bank rating and research firm, announced that Beacon Bank, headquartered in Shorewood, and with branches in Duluth, Eden Prairie and Excelsior, has achieved its highest 5-star rating. The 5-star rating is based on the overall financial picture of the bank and indicates that Beacon Bank is one of the strongest banks in the nation, the news release said.
Beacon Bank opened its doors in 1990 and has been serving the financial needs of its communities for nearly twenty years. Visit www.beaconbank.com for more information.

Starkey Laboratories Inc., one of the world’s leading hearing technology companies, announced that Jason Galster, Ph.D., CCC-A, received the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA) Editors’ Award for the most outstanding article of the year for 2007 in conjunction with a team of researchers from Vanderbilt University.

Liberty Property Trust, the real estate investment trust that owns and manages nearly four million square feet of office, flex and industrial space throughout Minnesota, has leased, renewed and/or expanded more than 117,700 square feet of office and industrial space in Eden Prairie, Bloomington, Minnetonka and Oakdale.

Dr. Ronald W. Hewitt of Quello Clinic in Eden Prairie has completed the recertification examination from the American Board of Family Medicine.
“Board certification confers a standard of excellence in knowledge and practice to physicians who not only certify via the examination process, but who also work diligently on the maintenance of these skills during the seven-year cycle between examinations,” a news release stated.

Celleration Inc., developer of the patented MIST Therapy System, a device that uses ultrasound to heal wounds, announced today the appointment of Sven A. Wehrwein, 57, to its board of directors. Wehrwein brings more than 30 years of corporate finance and operational leadership experience to the Celleration board and will serve as an outside director and chair of the audit committee, according to a news release.

Supervalu has had its corporate headquarters in Eden Prairie since 1980 and in that time has expanded to the point where it has a need for its own convention center. That convention center, a 15,000-square-foot building addition to the current headquarters at 11840 Valley View Road, will include a green roof. Representatives from Supervalu and the architect spoke about the project during a recent City Council meeting, where it was approved.

Click here for a story of a Chanhassen family's attempt to install a windmill.

Panels utilize new technology
By Karla Wennerstrom
An Eden Prairie home on Galway Cove uses a revolutionary technology in recently installed solar panels.

The home will be part of the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society annual Solar Home Tour on Saturday.

After voting "no" on the first version of the bailout bill, U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad voted for the latest version of the bill, which passed the House Friday and was signed by the President.

Ramstad, a Republican who is retiring from the House this year, credits a number of new provisions in the legislation for the change in his position.

The Minnesota High Tech Association (MHTA) has announced finalists for the ninth annual Tekne Awards, a celebration of superior technological innovation and leadership in Minnesota, according to a news release.
The following are Eden Prairie companies that are finalists for the 2008 Tekne Awards:
Technology Executive of the Year Award finalists (small and growing companies): Michael Lacey, Digineer; (established companies) Rick King of Eden Prairie, Thomson Reuters; Joel Ronning, Digital River, Bob Switz, ADC.