l Northwestern Mutual is honoring Joe B. Jones, a Lawrence-based financial representative, with membership in its 2012 Forum group. The top 5 percent of Northwestern Mutual’s more than 6,000 financial representatives receive the annual honor. Jones is affiliated with the Sarnecki Network Office in Lawrence. Forum honorees were recognized at a conference Nov. 11-14, in Scottsdale, Ariz.

l Two new employees have joined the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department. Chris Tilden is the director of community health, and Karrey Britt is the communications coordinator.

Tilden previously was the executive director at Mountain States Group in Boise, Idaho, a nonprofit health and human services agency. Before that, he worked 10 years at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, where he oversaw the Bureau of Local and Rural Health. Tilden earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and a master’s degree in health policy and management from Kansas University, and a doctorate from Duke University in biological anthropology and anatomy.

Britt joined the health department after working 16 years at the Lawrence Journal-World, where she held various jobs, and most recently she was health reporter and editor of WellCommons.com. She also has worked at The Daily Union in Junction City. Britt received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Kansas State University.

l Meritrust Credit Union is moving from downtown Lawrence to 2321 Harper St. The downtown branch location at 643 Massachusetts St. will close Dec. 14, and the credit union will reopen at the new location on Dec. 17. At the new location, drive-thru hours will be 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Lobby hours will be 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

l Mickey Stremel, a commercial real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty in Lawrence, recently graduated with an Executive Master of Entrepreneurial Real Estate from the Lewis White Center of Real Estate in the Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. The executive master’s program primarily emphasizes the global and entrepreneurial aspects of real estate investment. Stremel and her team took top honors with their capstone masters project for redevelopment of Metcalf South Mall in Kansas City. Stremel was recognized as a top presenter. A panel of 22 industry business owners judged the projects on multiple criteria including meeting the requirements of urban planning, feasibility, financial analysis and highest and best use of the property. Top team honors came with a $10,000 award.