The board of governors of the multi-campus University of North Carolina selected 17 of its most outstanding faculty to receive the annual Awards for Excellence in Teaching. Recipients included Rachel A. Willis, Department of American Studies, UNC-Chapel Hill, and Myra J. Halpin, dean of science, NC School of Science and Mathematics in Durham.

 

Duke University announced:
• Margaret Greer, professor of Spanish & Latin American Studies and Theater Studies in the Department of Romance Studies, and Laura Edwards, professor and associate chair in the Department of History, were recognized for classroom excellence at the annual Trinity College of Arts & Sciences Teaching Awards dinner.
• The Graduate School’s Dean’s Award for Excellence in Mentoring went to Elizabeth A. Clark, who is John Carlisle Kilgo professor of religion and professor of history. It also went to doctoral students Jayme M. Johnson, University Program in Genetics and Genomics, and Laurie Stevison, Biology.
• Karen Gonzalez Rice, a graduate student in the Department of Art, Art History & Visual Studies, received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

 

Two Durham high school teachers, Ronda Bullock, from Hillside High School, and Sarah Kaneko, from Jordan High School, were named Kenan Fellows, an award that recognizes research in the fields of math or science. Kenan Fellows receive mentors from research institutions and sponsorship from local businesses and foundations.

 

Lindsay Bedford, a teacher at Ephesus Elementary School in Chapel Hill, received the Autism Society of North Carolina’s Teacher of the Year Award for 2009.

 

Florianna Thompson, an instructor in Wake Tech’s Early Childhood Education program in Raleigh, received the Dorothy B. Graham Child Care Leadership Award from the Child Care Services Association. The award recognizes community leaders improving early childhood education in the Triangle.

 

Sirens, the women’s ensemble chorus at Riverside High School in Durham, under the leadership of director Jill Boliek, won the Triangle Youth Chorus trophy for 2010.

The following artists received Ella Fountain Pratt Emerging Artists Grants from the Durham Arts Council, which aim to enhance the careers of upcoming artists through financial support and public recognition:
• Maria Britton, Orange County, for drawing and painting
• Rachael Elliott, Durham County, for music
• Marian Harrison, Durham County, for music
• Ramya Kapadia, Durham County, for dance
• Tara Lake, Durham County, for drama
• Jennifer Madriaga, Orange County, for literature
• Madelyn Smoak, Durham County, for crafts
• Rosemary Winn, Orange County, for photography

 

Tate Publishing and Enterprises released “Grooming Tales” by Jennifer Tilman of Apex. In her book, Tilman shares the knowledge she gained from her years as a pet groomer.

Vinita Jain, an artist from Raleigh, exhibited her paintings at Coffee & Crepes Café in Cary. Also, Chatham Street Café & Catering in Cary chose her work to display for the second consecutive year.

Mary Poole, executive director of Artspace in Raleigh, announced it hosted the Give & Take fundraiser to support the visual art center’s scholarship programs.

 

Willie Green-Aldridge, an artist from Holly Springs, donated an original painting to The Art for Haiti Auction, a benefit for earthquake relief efforts in the country.

The Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce honored successful local companies at the Pinnacle Business Awards, including:
• BJAC, led by its president, Lou Jurkowski
• The Roper Group, led by its president, Jess Roper McLamb
• Articulon, led by its president, Cindy Stranad
• HH Architecture, led by its president, Kristen M. Hess
• Innovative Talent Solutions, led by its president, Ashley Hunt
• Active Ergonomics, led by its president, Shannon Powell

Barbara Mulkey, founder and CEO of Barbara H. Mulkey Engineering, was selected for induction into the N.C. Transportation Hall of Fame in Cary.

Sheila Ogle, CEO of Media Research Planning and Placement, a media agency in Cary, announced that the firm took over managing the media process for Thundershirt, a pressure wrap for dogs that relieves anxiety.

Melissa Dewey Brumback, a partner at the law firm of Ragsdale Liggett in Raleigh, spoke at the N.C. Construction Law conference in Greensboro.

Diane Bruce, principal and founder of Adaptive Technology Associates in Raleigh, announced that the consulting firm’s marketing would be provided by Holy Cow Branding in Cary, which is led by CEO Lorana Price.

Jessica Williams, the owner of Lather Hair Salon in Raleigh, announced:
• Schuyler Smith was promoted to salon manager.
• Cameron Barbour was hired as a professional stylist.
• Stephanie Dungan was hired as the salon’s apprentice.

Angie Caldwell Buxton and Alli Caldwell Kindt, co-designers of Sweet Charleston Designs, a fine jewelry store in Raleigh, donated a portion of their sales to the Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center and the Beaufort County Open Land Trust.

Harriet Edward Mills and Emmy Preiss opened Wine and Design, a studio that offers step-by-step art classes with wine cocktails, in Raleigh.

Lana Calloway, president of Exhibit Resources, a design agency in Raleigh, announced that Kim Daigneault was hired as an administrative assistant. Also, the company hosted a Dress for Success event, which helped raise money for disadvantaged women and allowed businesswomen across the Triangle to network.

Donna Preiss, founder and CEO of The Preiss Company, an off-campus student housing provider based in Raleigh, announced that she:
• Served on the panel of the Third Annual RealShare Student Housing Conference in Irving, Texas.
• Was appointed to the board of directors of the National Multi Housing Council, along with Susan Folckemer of the company.

Stephanie Buck, an attorney at The DiLeone Law Group in Raleigh, spoke at the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce’s AM Network.

Apex resident Laura A. Schoppe, president of Fuentek, a technology and intellectual property consulting firm, announced that DiversityBusiness.com selected Fuentek as one of the country’s top 100 businesses.

Susanne Gaddis, an interpersonal communications expert based in Chapel Hill, was featured in the Woman’s Advantage Calendar for the third consecutive year.

Raleigh’s Kristen Adams, founder of Afterglow Cosmetics, a natural cosmetics company, said she is moving the headquarters from California to North Carolina.

Karin Patrick, a financial representative based in Raleigh with Northwestern Mutual, earned the professional Certified in Long Term Care designation from the Certified in Long Term Care Board of Standards.

Amy Yeager joined Synaptis, a knowledge-transfer company in Cary, as an associate learning consultant.

Laura DiGirolamo, executive producer at Forever Bridal Productions, was appointed to a two-year term on the board of Bridal Show Producers International.

Caroline E. Shillito, owner and principal designer of emma delon, an interior design business, joined the Chapel Hill Chamber of Commerce.

Cyndy Ratcliffe, a certified professional organizer with Organizing Solutions in Wake Forest, created “Productivity Partnerships,” a six-week series of time-management lessons for small-business owners.

Susie Fougerousse, owner of Rosenberry Rooms, an online retailer of children’s furniture based in Raleigh, announced that Emily Munden Mountford won its Mother’s Day Nursery Makeover Contest. As the winner, Mountford’s guest bedroom was turned into a nursery.

The city of Raleigh’s 2010 environmental award winners included Sarah Palmer, who received the Legacy Award, which recognizes a lifelong contribution to the environment. Palmer is a certified environmental educator at Wiley International Magnet School.

 

Gov. Bev Perdue planted a row of vegetables in Raleigh as part of the “Plant a Row for the Hungry” campaign, organized locally by Jill Staton Bullard, executive director of the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle.

 

Jennifer Bosser joined Wake County Economic Development as assistant executive director.

Lisa Rondina, president of the Raleigh/Durham chapter of the American Advertising Federation, announced that it was named 2010 Club of the Year by the national group of the advertising trade association.

Band Together N.C., a nonprofit that uses musical events to raise money for Triangle charities, announced that Kellie Falk-Tillett, managing partner and principle of Drucker & Falk real estate management in Raleigh, and Kari Stoltz, Triangle market president of Bank of America, were named to the organization’s advisory board.

Models for Charity, an organization of professionals who support Triangle charities through modeling, participated in the Spring 2010 Fashion Show to benefit the new WakeMed Children’s Hospital. The models included Dr. Tara Bastek, a neonatologist in Raleigh, and Dr. Jamila Fletcher, a pediatrician with Raleigh Children and Adolescent Medicine.

Dr. Lisa Tolnitch, a Raleigh breast cancer surgeon and founder of Pretty in Pink Foundation, received a 2010 Soroptimist Ruby Award. The accolade honors women who work to improve the lives of other women and girls.

The Diabetes Bus Initiative, a Raleigh-based nonprofit created by Kim Hanchette that educates and supports people living with diabetes, is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

 

Sharon Hill, an etiquette trainer in Chapel Hill, was nominated for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s 2010 Woman of the Year title. The award aims to honor those who have had some type of blood cancer.

Betsy Vetter, director of government relations for the American Heart Association in Morrisville, received the Rome Betts Award of Excellence Honorable Mention, which recognizes leadership and dedication, in the category of advocacy.

 

Kathi Bentley, senior account strategist at marketing partner Kelly MarCom, was named to the board of directors of the SPCA of Wake County.

Billie Redmond, CEO of Coldwell Banker Commercial TradeMark Properties in Raleigh, announced:
• She moderated a panel discussion at the 2010 InterFace Carolinas Conference, which focused on real estate in the Carolinas.
• Her branch received the Commercial Elite Award from Coldwell Banker Commercial.
• Karen Ruoff Brown, president of asset management, was named a 2009 Top Two Designation Qualifier. She also received the Silver Circle of Distinction Award from Coldwell Banker Commercial.

Element Funding announced:
• Patty Roberson Jacobs supervised the opening of offices of Element Funding, a mortgage lending company, in Raleigh, Clayton and Garner.
• Donna Pruitt was named manager of the Garner office.
• Cathy Stubbs was hired as branch manager and Dawn Biddix was hired as a senior loan officer in the Clayton office.

Kelly Carraway, Cheri Johnson and Cindy Newcomb joined Allen Tate Realty in Wake Forest-Rolesville as sales associates.
Linda Craft & Team Realtors in Raleigh announced:
• Jessica Hunt became a closing manager.
• Sherrie Ferrell joined as a buyer and relocation specialist.

Kelsay S. Berland, Rachel Leber and Buffie Webber, licensed real estate brokers with Keller Williams Realty in Chapel Hill, received the Certified Negotiation Expert designation.

Raleigh’s Pat Daley, of Fonville Morisey Realty, received the Performance Management Network Designation by the Women’s Council of Realtors.

ERA Pacesetters Realty announced the following sales leaders for the month of April:
• Nancy Guenther, platinum listing and platinum sales
• Tammy Hahn, silver listing
• Terri McCall, bronze listing and platinum closing
• Kelly Cherry, gold sales
• Gale O’Neal, silver sales
• Betty Holly, bronze sales
• Pat McElroy, gold closing
• Lisa Ligouri, silver closing
• Courtney Mills, bronze closing

Pandora Holloway, chief compliance officer for WakeMed Health & Hospitals, joined the board of directors of the Garner Chamber of Commerce.

Crystal Koran, of Cary Family Dental, was named Hygienist of the Year by the Crown Council, a multi-national alliance of dental teams dedicated to raising the standard of dental care.

Karen Albright, president of BodyLase Skin Spa in the Triangle, released two podcasts, one describing intense pulsed light photofacials and the other describing the permanent cosmetic procedure.

Dr. Jennifer Green and Dr. Elizabeth Holt of Duke Medicine spoke at the Taking Control of Your Diabetes Conference and Health Fair in Raleigh, which aims to educate and encourage people with diabetes.