Sarah Strickland was hired as education manager of The Grove School in Cary, a preschool that will be opening soon.

Beth Shandley, senior financial recruiter at Vaco Raleigh, an executive placement and consulting firm, was a featured panelist for the Alumni Panel Night hosted by the Career Management Center at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business in Durham.

Kristin Ziegler, a student at Trinity Academy of Raleigh, was named a semifinalist in the 2010 National Achievement Scholarship competition.  Since 1964, the competition has been rewarding outstanding academic achievement among black high school students. Ziegler is one of only 1,600 semifinalists in this year’s competition.

Twenty-six advanced students in Wake Tech’s Cosmetology and Esthetics program prepared the hair and makeup of models in Revolution: Couture Fashion Show, which took place in Raleigh. The show was a benefit to promote the 2010 Redress Raleigh showcase, an effort to encourage designers to create clothing that's environmentally friendly. 

“Groundhog Weather School,” a picture book by Raleigh children’s author Joan Holub, was published by Putnam. It’s her 125th title.

Vinita Jain, a local artist specializing in acrylics and pastels, received third prize in the 11th annual Pastel 100 competition. Her abstract painting, along with a one-on-one interview, will be featured in the April issue of the The Pastel Journal. 

A painting by Raleigh artist Suzy Andron was included in the annual Works of Heart art auction, which was hosted by the Alliance of AIDS Services – Carolina. Andron is an abstractionist who specializes in the use of an ancient form known as polytych.

Carla Liberatore, CFM, a vice president and financial advisor with Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management and a member of its Chairman’s Club, moved her practice to the firm’s Cary office.

Elizabeth McMellon was promoted to controller of McKinney, a Durham-based advertising agency.

Rebecca Edmunds was promoted to communications director and Nancy A. Padgett was named marketing director of BJAC, one of the largest woman-owned architectural design firms in the Southeast, which has offices in Raleigh and Charlotte.

Barbra Denison, president and CEO of Cranky Creative Group, a Durham advertising agency, announced that the firm has re-launched its Web site, www.crankycreative.com.

Laura Schuchart joined Kelly MarCom as director of client strategy and Shari Becker was promoted to account strategist at the integrated marketing agency, which is headquartered in Sanford and has an office in Raleigh.

Sharon Hill, president of Sharon Hill International in Chapel Hill, launched a video series of etiquette tips on YouTube.com. The short segments feature tips for dining manners as demonstrated by people filmed in a restaurant setting.

Liz Campbell, a licensed cosmetologist and esthetician, joined Posh The Salon in Durham.

Jennifer Griffin joined Twine Interactive, an Internet marketing agency in downtown Raleigh, as director of marketing.

Laura Kay House, MA, owner of Silver Connections in Raleigh, marked the company’s second anniversary. Silver Connections is a membership organization providing socializing opportunities and friendship for single adults over the age of 55.

Julie A. Rapp, of Raleigh, was hired as a sales support representative at Gray & Creech Water Systems, a distributor of beverage equipment.

Janice Russell, owner of Raleigh’s Minding Your Matters, and organizers Kc Coolbaugh and Katie Gracz travelled to Haiti to help organize an orphanage.

Haley May was hired as a purchasing/inside sales representative for the Raleigh cabinetry branch of Horizon Forest Products.

Sharon Bell Glazener, of Bell/Glazener Design Group in Raleigh, expanded her services to home staging and organizing, holiday decorating, and event preparation and decoration.

Alison Kim Perry, owner of Cute Buttons Gift and Paper Boutique in downtown Cary, says the shop was selected as one of the nation’s 25 Gifted Retailers of the year by Gifts & Decorative Accessories Magazine.

Lana Calloway, president of Exhibit Resources, an exhibit design agency in Raleigh, announced that it’s a title sponsor for this year’s Triangle ADDY Awards ceremony, presented by the Raleigh-Durham chapter of the American Advertising Federation.

Two staffers shared the title of Employee of the Year for the town of Cary. The 2009 honors went to Ellen Lewis, an accountant, and Sonya Snyder, Community Center supervisor. They were selected from six finalists in a field of 18 nominees from Cary’s nearly 1,150 employees.

Virginia G. Parker, vice president and business development officer of Paragon Commercial Bank in Raleigh, was appointed to the N.C. Commission on Workforce Development.

Darleen M. Johns, of Raleigh, was appointed to the N.C. State Banking Commission. Johns, founder and former owner of Alphanumeric Systems, is a board member of Rex Healthcare, N.C. Technology Association and the Capital City Club.

Shannon Hinson was hired as the vice president of development for the Eastern North Carolina chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Michelle Anysz is the new communications and marketing director for Girl Scouts — North Carolina Coastal Pines.

Lorana Price, CEO of corporate communications firm Holy Cow Branding, joined the Advisory Council of the Assistance League of Raleigh. The organization is one of more than 120 chapters of the national Assistance League, which works on community-based philanthropic projects.

Michael Jordan Nissan in Durham raised $2,400 for the Pretty In Pink Foundation, a nonprofit group that provides financial resources for under-insured and uninsured North Carolinians with breast cancer.

Jenny Martin, director of business development, and Linda Dickert, director of new homes marketing, for Stone Builder & Developer Marketing Group, a Raleigh communications agency, became members of the board of directors of the Raleigh-Wake Home Builders Association.

Karen Dupree, GRI, signed on with Linda Trevor & Co. of RE/MAX United in Cary.

Poppy Goodman joined the Falls of Neuse office of Allen Tate Realtors.

Coldwell Banker Advantage announced that Carol Bullock, CRS, GRI, and Tona Whitley associated with the East Wake office while Jolie Kim associated with the Raleigh office.

Mary E. Klotman, MD, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and co-director of the Global Health & Emerging Pathogens Institute at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, was named chair of the Department of Medicine for Duke University School of Medicine in Durham. Klotman is expected to assume her new role in the first quarter of this year.

Nancy Nicoll O’Neill was hired as practice administrator for Gastrolntestinal Healthcare, a physician’s office in Raleigh.

Dr. Jennifer Greenfield, of Center for Chiropractic & Wellness in North Raleigh and Cary, spoke at the North Regional Library about holistic approaches to beating Seasonal Affective Disorder.