Wake County SmartStart, which helps young children prepare for school and life, announced that Shanté Martin was named vice chair, Donna Rutowski treasurer and Dale Cousins secretary of the organization’s board of directors.

Mary Jo Dunnington was named vice president of strategic partnerships at All Kinds of Minds in Durham, a non-profit dedicated to improving youth education by providing educators with teaching frameworks based on the latest research on how children learn.

Lorraine Stephens, president of Lorraine Speaks in Raleigh, presented at Duke University’s “Live Out Loud” retreat for Division of Student Affairs support staff, which focused on providing advice on how to create life balance and work excellence.

Clayton artist Cheryl Micaela McCardle was selected to create an ornament for the White House Christmas tree and represented the 2nd District of North Carolina.

Kimberly Alvis, an artist from Chapel Hill, donated a painting to the Festival of Trees fundraiser benefitting the Arc of Orange County, an organization that promotes advocacy of and provides services for people with developmental disabilities.

Jaki Shelton Green, a poet from Orange County, was elected to be the region’s first Piedmont Laureate under the new Piedmont Laureate program, which seeks to promote awareness of and heighten appreciation for excellence in the literary arts throughout the Piedmont region.

Sandra McEwen, an artist from Apex, received an award of excellence at the American Craft Show in Charlotte.

Oil paintings and glicee prints by Nicole White Kennedy, an artist from Raleigh, were selected for permanent display at the Capital Bank branch in Clayton.

Gail Peterson, an artist from Wake Forest, hosted her second art show featuring florals and paintings last month at the Raleigh Racquet Club.

Delynn Dolan Alexander, wealth management advisor for the Chapel Hill office of Nortwestern Mutual Financial Network, qualified for the 2008 Northwestern Mutual Forum, an education and development symposium that focuses on industry issues and ways to enhance productivity for top-producing financial representatives across the country.

Bryce Batts, a Durham resident, announced the launch of her new online boutique Clothes Hound, which offers trendy women’s clothing at affordable prices.

Karen Bernard announced the opening of the Cary location of Massage Heights, which focuses on providing luxury spa massages at an affordable monthly rate.
Susan Bray announced the opening of Calm and Sense in Raleigh, which features stress relief and relaxation products.

Cyndi Bulka, owner and director of Moving Mantra Yoga Studio in Raleigh, announced the addition of gentle yoga classes for prenatal students.

August Cohen of Raleigh-based Get Hired Stay Hired, which assists professionals with resumes, interviews, and job search strategies, earned the certified advanced resume writer designation.

Hanna Hasl-Kelchner of Chapel Hill announced the release of her new book, “The Business Guide to Legal Literacy: What Every Manager Should Know About the Law.”

Blaire Kessler announced the launch of Raleigh-based Pristine Recovery, which offers all-natural cosmetics that do not contain harmful chemicals or carcinogens for women who are undergoing treatment for cancer.

Cathi Lucas and Mary Long announced the opening of Posh The Salon in Durham, which offers skin and hair services and upscale amenities.

Kim Macalister joined as executive vice president of operations at the Catevo Group in Raleigh, which provides public relations, marketing and interactive services.

Krista Moore, a Raleigh-based executive coach and consultant, announced the release of her new book, “Roadmap to Success,” which she co-authored with several other leadership experts.

Sarah M. Place, CEO of Place Trade Financial, a brokerage firm in Raleigh, was quoted for a CNBC.com story called “Christmas on Consignment,” which covered twists on last year’s holiday shopping trends.

Lorana Price, CEO of Cary-based Holy Cow Branding, a strategic marketing firm, announced that the company was recognized with a silver International Davey Award for work excellence by Murphy Business & Financial.

Fran Robertson joined as project manager of construction projects at Raleigh-based Geo. Raper & Son, which provides construction and design-build services and specializes in water utilities.

Janice Russell, president of Minding Your Matters Organizing in Cary, achieved the highest level of education offered by the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization and is now a master trainer in chronic disorganization and organization.

Laura A. Schoppe, president of Apex-based Fuentek, a consulting firm that provides intellectual property and technology management services, announced that Carol M. Collins joined the firm as publications manager.

Brooke E. Venable was named vice president of operations and Michelle J. Peoples design assistant at Steiner Design Interiors in Raleigh.

Dana Wadsworth, a licensed esthetician and manicurist, joined Hairspraye Salon in Chapel Hill.

Claire Woodward joined SIA Group, a full-service insurance agency with six offices in North Carolina including Raleigh, as marketing director.

The Raleigh-Triangle chapter of the Executive Women’s Golf Association announced its 2009 board of directors, including Connie Tench, Janice Mrkonjic, Joyce Whitehead, Kay Murphy, Diane Cox, Cathy Burr, Andrea Seger, Ronda Powell, Donna Samper, Karen Crisp, Judy Byrd and Holly Tallon.

Betty Crump, community banker at the Apex branch of Crescent State Bank, has been named president of the Kiwanis Club of Apex, which seeks to better the lives of community members.

Joanne Mayo, global quality assurance and compliance for human resources shared services leader for the Durham office of Nortel, the telecommunications company, was awarded “fellow” status by the American Society for Quality.

Carrie Mitchell, president of Raleigh-based ASAP Office Supply, joined the Raleigh chapter of the Women Presidents’ Organization, a nonprofit organization that connects top women entrepreneurs for greater personal and professional success.

Jennifer Naylor, president of Independent Animal Rescue in Durham, announced that the center was named “America’s Favorite Animal Shelter” and awarded $10,000 by Care2.com, a company that seeks to help people live a healthy, green lifestyle and impact the causes they care about most. 

Conni Tucker, assistant executive director for Wake County Economic Development, spoke at the American Council of Engineering Companies of North Carolina last month about the role of engineers in economic development.

Jennifer Tolle Whiteside, president and CEO of the N.C. Community Foundation, announced that the Women’s Network has awarded grants totaling $104,000 to Interact, which provides safety, support and awareness to victims and survivors of domestic violence and rape/sexual assault, and SAFEchild, which works to eliminate child abuse in Wake County.

Rosie Bolin announced the launch of Raleigh-based Insider Realty, a brokerage firm that connects buyers and sellers to licensed local agents and provides information about the Triangle to prospective residents.

Fonville Morisey Realty announced:
• Theresa Clark, assistant manager of the Lochmere office in Cary, graduated from the N.C. Association of Realtors’ Leadership Academy, which trains local realtors for future leadership positions.
• Dawn Ingram joined the Youngsville office as sales associate.
• Michelle Moore joined the Brier Creek office in Raleigh as sales associate.

Crystal Hall, senior real estate manager for the Raleigh office of CB Richard Ellis, received the certified property manager of the year award by the Greater Raleigh-Durham chapter of the Institute of Real Estate Management.

Allen Tate Realtors announced:
• Julie Keelan, broker for the Wake Forest/Rolesville office, earned the graduate realtor institute designation, which signifies the successful completion of a training program focusing on the latest methods and practices.
• Allison Summey joined as sales manager in the Glenwood office in Raleigh.

Donna Kemp, vice president of sales for Raleigh-based Beazer Homes, announced that Kathleen Snyder and Tracy Hobbs were named new home counselors at Tennyson Place in Raleigh and Wyndmoor at the Park in Durham, respectively.

Fonville Morisey & Barefoot in Raleigh announced:
• Pamela Owens was named on-site community sales associate for The Townes at Keystone Crossing in Durham.
• Laura Caldwell and Lyn Greenway were named on-site community sales associates for Hasentree in Raleigh.

Gaye Burwell Orr, vice president of Coldwell Banker Advantage New Homes in Raleigh, announced that Jane Hathaway was named multi-builder representative.

Laura Aiken, director of Advocates for Health in Action in a Raleigh, which seeks to make healthful eating and physical activity a way of life in Wake County, announced that the initiative received a $42,356 grant from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation to develop an infrastructure database showing locations of physical activity and healthful food choice opportunities.

Kerry Chandler, director of breast imaging services of Wake Radiology, announced that three of its centers, Wake Radiology North Hills, Wake Radiology Chapel Hill and Wake Radiology Comprehensive Breast Services in Cary, have been given the center of excellence designation by the American College of Radiology.

Crystal Koran of Cary Family Dental was named as an evaluator for “Dental Product Shopper,” a newsletter that provides peer-to-peer dental product reviews and recommendations.

Virginia Parker, business development officer at Paragon Commercial Bank in Raleigh, was named to the board of directors of the John Rex Endowment, which invests in the development and support of activities, programs and organizations that improve the health of underserved people in Wake and surrounding counties.

Kerry Watson, chief executive officer of Durham Regional Hospital, announced that the hospital was recognized as providing the highest level of nursing care with the magnet designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.