Pyrotechnics association chooses convention center

Two fireworks displays are planned for the 2009 American Pyrotechnics Association Convention to be held for the first time in Branson, APA Executive Director Julie Heckman said from her office in Bethesda, Md.

The 61-year-old association, a new member of the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, has more than 250 members, including vendors and display production companies worldwide, she said.

APA has opened the Sept. 22-26 trade show at the Hilton Branson Convention Center to the public.

Pyrotechnics is a heavily regulated industry, Heckman said, so the annual meeting offers members training programs and workshops.

Missouri was selected because it has many member businesses. This year, the association named Branson among the top 10 sites for firework displays nationwide, noting the July 3 event at Branson Landing.

There will be a "close proximity" display Sept. 25 from Branson Landing, and a "massive aerial display" will be Sept. 26 from the Chateau on the Lake. Heckman said the shows should be something to see. "Because of the conventiongoers, there's a lot of pressure to put on the displays," she said.

Special care for precious pets

Branson pet-sitting service I Let the Dogs Out has been certified through an American Red Cross program to perform CPR and first aid on dogs and cats. Owners Gailann Hause and her husband, Robert Goldkuhl, tend pets in homes, hotels and RVs. Jobs range from overnight stays to walks, potty breaks and pet taxi service and include a meet-and-greet before the service.

Hause said business is flourishing. She recently cared for five Yorkies in a room at the La Quinta Inn and looked after a cockatiel that let out a long wolf whistle when she arrived. Some owners' orders get eccentric: cook special meals including egg drop soup for a dog suffering from cancer; serve sushi and wasabi to Chinese crested dogs at their Branson home; and play the pets' favorites including talk radio or Discovery Channel's "Animal Planet."

Prior to starting the pet-sitting business, Hause owned a floral shop and Goldkuhl worked security for a resort hotel, according to www.iletthedogsout.com.

New culinary arts program

This fall, College of the Ozarks will offer a new degree program in culinary arts with classes such as classical cuisine, menu development and food safety. Word is getting around with six incoming freshman already enrolled, said Jerry Shackette, chairman of the hotel and restaurant management department.

Students will gain experience at The Keeter Center restaurant where adjunct professor and Executive Chef Robert Stricklin will instruct. Demand for trained chefs with management skills and student interest fueled by TV cooking shows prompted the program, officials said. Upon completion, students may specialize at culinary schools, and gain certification from the American Culinary Federation. More information is at www.cofo.edu.

Software company presents award

I Fix Computers was among four businesses to receive the 2008 Sales Momentum Award from Seattle restaurant software company DinerWare. I Fix Computers doubled its sales in the DinerWare program during the previous year, said Kent Ward, co-owner with Radel Pedersen.

The software links employees from front register to back-of-house, generates sales reports, tracks customer preferences and counts portions remaining in the kitchen.

Ward said proper software can provide everything from security systems to financial records.

"No more shoe box to the CPA," said Ward, who once programmed Mars-bound NASA robots while working for Lockheed Martin's artificial intelligence division. He also helped develop stock-trading software in the late 1980s and early 1990s, according to Ward's career profile posted at www.ifixcomp.com.Kathryn Buckstaff is membership public relations manager of Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.