Business notes News-Chronicle Warren Group Inc. of Green Bay has named several new staff members. Janell D. Barlament will be an account manager in the employee benefits department; Brenda J. Knaus has been hired as an account manager in commercial lines; and Diana K. Ambrosius has been hired to handle sales for employee benefit coverage. Linda Smith has been named executive vice president of Aurora Health Care's north region. She will be responsible for hospitals and clinics in Green Bay, Marinette, Sturgeon Bay, Manitowoc, Two Rivers and Kaukauna. She will continue as administrator of Aurora Bay Care Medical Center in Green Bay. Consolidated Construction Company Inc., an Appleton-based general contractor with an office in Green Bay, received the first Merit Team Award from the Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin for its American National Bank project. The H.S. Group, an employment consultant, has hired Tad Isaacson as a recruiter. He previously owned Techline Furniture Studio. Adam J. DePeau of New Franken has passed the suspension and steering examination in the medium-heavy truck professional competency examination administered by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. ShopKo Stores Inc. has named Paul White senior vice president and general merchandise manager of softlines for the ShopKo division. White has more than 18 years in apparel merchandising and marketing. He comes to the chain from the May Department Stores' Famous-Barr Division in St. Louis. Tracy Dougherty has been named business development manager at HiTech Control Systems of Green Bay. She has experience in manufacturing with several years of focus in technical sales and service. Infinity Technology of Green Bay has been named a Novell Platinum Partner. The designation goes to organizations that provide certified Novell engineers and salespersons. Kevin Woods has been promoted to Great Lakes Region sales vice president at Schneider National Inc. Woods will be responsible for promoting the company in an area from Ohio to St. Louis. He joined Schneider in September 2002 as an account manager for the region. Trisha D. La Via has been promoted to executive vice president of Winsert, a producer of valve seat inserts, based in Marinette. The St. Norbert College graduate has been Winsert's sales and marketing manager for the past seven years. Two employees of Garot Hospitality of De Pere have been honored by the Wisconsin Innkeepers Association. They are Floyd Hahn, maintenance engineer at Country Inn and Suites Green Bay, employee of the year and Melanie Novinska, project coordinator and designer, an award of merit for the design and theme of the Tundra Lodge in Green Bay. Stephen Pagel of Green Bay has been recognized as a Million Mile Safe Driver by Landstar System Inc. He has driven more than one million consecutive miles without an accident or freight claim. Valley Packaging Supply of Green Bay has received a Gold Award in the 16th DuPont Awards for Innovation in Packaging. The company was cited for its part in creating microwave popcorn bags that vent into serving bowls. Julie Mattek, a certified veterinary technician at Animal Hospital of Ashwaubenon, has been named veterinary technician of the year by the Wisconsin Veterinary Technician Association at its annual meeting. She received a plaque and monetary award at the association's annual meeting. In addition, Tanya Stack, a CVT at the animal hospital, received a scholarship award from the WVTA. Susan L. Porath has joined the Navigator Planning group of Green Bay as an independent financial advisor. She is licensed as a registered investment representative with SII Investments and has more than 25 years of banking experience.