MIRA Books published “The Lies We Told,” about the relationship between two sisters who share a secret, devastating past, by Raleigh-based author Diane Chamberlain.

Judie Howard celebrated 30 years as the owner of The Nature of Art, a custom framing store in Cary. The shop also displays and sells the work of local artists.

Artist Willie Green-Aldridge exhibited her work at the Durham Performing Arts Center, Meredith College Alumnae Art Exhibition in Raleigh and the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh.

Elizabeth Galecke, owner of Elizabeth Galecke Photography and founder of Chix in Business in Raleigh, celebrated 15 years in business with a special exhibit at Epona & Oak boutique.

Vinita Jain, a Raleigh-based artist, won third place in Pastel Journal’s 11th annual Pastel 100 Competition with her painting “A Fall Symphony.”

Susan S. Kelly, a UNC-Chapel Hill graduate, will release her novel “By Accident,” which portrays a year in the life of a woman after the accidental death of her teenage son, in May.

Kristin Buie, communications manager of North Carolina Theatre, released a podcast about “The Full Monty,” a comedy that ran at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium.

Mary Poole, executive director of Artspace in Raleigh, announced that the visual art center will hold a project-oriented youth, teen and adult summer art program.

The following women were panelists at Durham’s eighth-annual Women’s Forum, which honored the achievements of professional women and let them share their insights into success:
• Tamara Gibbs, reporter with ABC 11 Eyewitness News
• Dr. Sandra Childers, chiropractor with University Chiropractic
• Katushka Olave, pastoral associate with Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
• Constance Stancil, director of the city’s Department of Neighborhood Improvement Services
• Lisa Cozart, commissioner of the city’s Human Relations Commission

Kara Daniels Hand, partner in the law firm Stevens & Hand in Cary, was selected for the Leadership Cary program of the Cary Chamber of Commerce.

At the Capital Bank annual conference, the Clayton branch was awarded the highest award for service. Under branch manager Wanda Markuson, the branch excelled in deposit and loan growth in 2009.

Howard, Merrell & Partners, an advertising agency in Raleigh, announced:
• Claire Howell was promoted to public relations account executive.
• Tara Maxwell was hired as an interactive producer.
• Karlie Justus was hired as an associate account executive in social media marketing.
• Esther Wallace was hired in the financial services department.

Stephanie Buck joined the law firm DiLeone Law Group, in Raleigh, as an associate attorney.

Amanda James was hired as the director of marketing and events for The Cotton Company in Wake Forest. The Cotton Company sells home furnishings, accessories, fine arts, jewelry, women's fashions, children's toys and collectibles.

Diane Kuehn, president and CEO of VisionPoint Marketing, a consulting and development agency in Raleigh, announced that Ashlee Little joined the firm as project manager.

Laura A. Schoppe, president of Fuentek, an intellectual property and technology management service in Cary, was selected to judge the regional tournament of the NCFIRST Robotics Competition.

The Raleigh public relations agency Blueplate PR, owned by Kim Weiss, was selected as the agency of record for the nonprofit RHA Howell and musician Marc Hoffman.

Cathy Wood, owner and baker at Miss Taffy’s Cheesecakes in the Triangle, announced that the company now sells cheesecakes at Six String Café and Music Hall in Cary.

Elaine Buxton, president of Confero, a national customer service firm based in Cary, was:
• Named a Healthy Shopping Expert judge by Health magazine;
• Elected to the board of directors of the Better Business Bureau of Eastern North Carolina; and
• Involved in discussions about proposed legislation, which would affect the mystery shoppers industry, with legislators in Washington, D.C.

Susan Rosenthal, a Merrill Lynch wealth management advisor from Durham, was recognized as one of the top advisors in North Carolina by Barron’s magazine on its list of “America’s Top 1,000 Advisors: State-by-State.”

Caroline E. Shillito, of Chapel Hill, opened her independent kitchen and bath design and consultation firm, which is called emma delon.

Gayla Bonke, owner and chef at Chatham Street Café & Catering in Cary, announced that the restaurant hosted a fundraiser and wine- tasting event to benefit the Triangle Walk to Defeat ALS.

Audrey Barnhill joined OFM, a manufacturer of office and school furniture in Holly Springs, as an architect and design sales manager.

Danielle Kaspar, director of community relations at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club in Durham, announced that the hotel donated TVs to local charities.

Paula Mitchell joined Pierce Group Benefits, a provider of employee benefits packages based in Holly Springs, as a service specialist.

Ragsdale Liggett, a law firm in Raleigh, announced:
• Dottie Burch, a partner in the firm, was elected to the board of directors of the N.C. Horse Council, a nonprofit that represents the interests of the equine industry in North Carolina. She leads the equine law practice group at the firm.
• Melissa Dewey Brumback, a partner in the firm, launched a blog that provides information on North Carolina construction and business dispute laws.

Katie Gracz, of Minding Your Matters Organizing in Cary, earned her Level II specialization certificate in attention deficit disorder from the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization.

Eileen Batson and Alice Osborn, of Batson Group Marketing and PR in Raleigh, held a workshop for small-business owners.

Whitney Page, a hair stylist at Lather Hair Salon in Raleigh, was promoted from “undergraduate,” or entry-level, to the salon’s “masters” level.

MaryAnn Black, associate vice president for community relations at Duke University Health System, was a panelist at the State of Durham’s Economy breakfast.

Gov. Bev Perdue appointed Sharon C. Goodson and Dana Cope, both from Raleigh, to the N. C. Complete Count Committee, which advises the governor on census activities in the state.

Sepideh Asefnia, president of SEPI Engineering & Construction in Raleigh, was appointed by Gov. Bev Perdue to the Economic Development Board of the N. C. Department of Commerce.

Camille C. Runyans, of Raleigh, was appointed to the U.S. Military Academy.

Rachel Starr, corporate relations director for the American Heart Association, announced:
• The 25th anniversary Triangle Heart Ball raised more than $675,000 for cardiovascular disease research and education.
• Gov. Bev Perdue received the 2010 Heart of a Champion award for her work to create a healthier North Carolina.
• Sen. Kay Hagan was recognized by the American Heart Association for her commitment to the health of North Carolinians through her support of the HEART for Women Act.

McGavock Edwards, of the public relations agency IMRE, was named immediate past president of the N.C. Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. She lives in Raleigh.

The Triangle chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, under president Dee Blake, received the 2009 Friends of Diversity designation, distinguishing it as a model for chapters to follow in achieving diversity.

Gale Singer Adland was selected as the executive director for Meals on Wheels of Durham.

Lana Calloway, president of Exhibit Resources design agency in Raleigh, was named to the board of directors of the Triangle Down Syndrome Network.

Julie Carrow, director of association services for the Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange & Chatham counties, announced that the society will host the 18th annual Parade of Playhomes to raise money for the prevention of child abuse.

Katherine Andrew, director of nutrition at Inter-Faith Food Shuttle in Raleigh, announced that the group held an all-day Plant A Row for the Hungry event.

The N.C. Nursery and Landscape Association presented Nelsa Cox, owner and head horticulturist of the Garden Hut in Fuquay-Varina, with the 2009 Libby Wilder Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the nursery industry.

Patti Gillenwater, CEO of Elinvar, an executive search firm in Raleigh, was elected to a three-year term on the board of directors of the Association for Corporate Growth, which fosters business development.

The Raleigh Regional Board of Realtors announced the following:
• Carolyn Kasdorf, manager of the Fonville Morisey Realty Lochmere office in Raleigh, was named Realtor of the Year.
• Theresa Clark, of Fonville Morisey Realty in Raleigh, was named the board’s 2010 president.

Triangle-based Allen Tate Realtors announced:
• Phyllis Wolborsky & The Wolborsky Group, received the President’s Club Award in recognition of outstanding achievement and excellence in service.
• Jamie Carlton joined the Wake Forest-Rolesville office.

Katherine Kopp, a broker with Prudential York Simpson Underwood in Chapel Hill, earned the Green Realtor designation from the National Association of Realtors.

ERA Pacesetters Realty, of the Triangle, announced the following sales leaders for February 2010:
• Nancy Guenther, Gold Listing
• Linda Harmsen, Silver Closings
• Lisa Ligouri, Platinum Listing and Silver Sales
• Terri McCall, Platinum Sales and Platinum Closings
• Courtney Mills, Bronze Sales
• Mallika Perera, Silver Listing and Gold Sales

Fonville Morisey & Barefoot, of Raleigh, announced:
• Darlene Jacobsen, Muriel Henderson and Joanne Renaud were named Diamond Club members.
• Denise Wildblood and June Sanderson were named to the office’s executive council.
• Mary Ann Kohn and Sue Ellen Banko were honored as part of the top sales team.
• Becca Goland received the honor of Sales Associate of the Year.

Kathy Rosales joined AES Lending in Cary as a mortgage consultant.

Coldwell Banker Commercial TradeMark Properties announced:
• Laura Brown joined the Wake Forest office.
• Tanya Harrison joined the Raleigh office.
• Allison Mitwol and Donna Stickley, commercial real estate advisors at the firm, negotiated the lease of a retail space in the Sexton Commons Shopping Center in Fuquay-Varina.
• Donna Stickley, commercial real estate advisor, represented Zpizza in the negotiation of a 10-year lease of a retail space in downtown Raleigh.
• Ada Francois joined the Clayton office.

Linda Dickert, director of New Homes Marketing at Stone Builder & Developer Marketing Group, a Raleigh-based communications agency, was awarded the Spirit Award for her commitment to the Triangle Sales and Marketing Council.

Ammons Development Group, developer of Heritage Wake Forest, announced the following inductees of the Heritage Hall of Fame for 2009:
• Elisa DeLoach, a second-year inductee of RE/MAX United
• Ginger Rogers, a second-year inductee of Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston
• Ashley Wilson of Keller Williams
• Mary Bouchard of Fonville Morisey
• Jill Morin of Allen Tate Company

Crissy Seastrunk was named K. Hovnanian Homes sales and marketing administrative assistant for RE/MAX United-New Homes Services in Raleigh.

The following Triangle-based RE/MAX United agents earned the Certified Distressed Property Expert designation after training to assist homeowners facing foreclosure: Marjorie Ax, Gretchen Bivens-Trendel, Barbara Brotherson, Dianne Creech, Joan Curry, Fran Funderburg, Cindy Glover-Smith, Tina Hackett, Becky Harper, Jennifer Harris, Dolly Helbert, Annette Holt, Karen Johnson, Ruth Karchner, Diana Marshall, Beth McKinney, Gina Miller, Linda Nestor, Mindy Oberhardt, Gail Perry, Sibyl Russ, Amy Shair, Deborah Tilton and Louella Venable.

Julie Hampton, a construction lawyer with Poyner Spruill, a business and litigation firm in Raleigh, discussed contractual arrangements and contract agreements at a meeting of the Raleigh chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction.

The N.C. Health and Wellness Trust Fund selected its second class of fellows for the N.C. Health Disparities Fellowship Program, which trains public health or social work professionals to apply public health initiatives. The fellows include:
• Deborah Bailey, director of the Academic Community Service Learning Program at N.C. Central University in Durham;
• Leslie deRosset, the Latino campaign coordinator for the N.C. Folic Acid Campaign of the March of Dimes;
• Cheryl Emanuel, the community health administrator and division manager of the Mecklenburg County Health Department;
• Jessica Gavett, the project institutional review board coordinator for FirstHealth of the Carolinas in Pittsboro;
• Deborah Maxwell, the Brunswick County Health Department's child service coordinator and social work supervisor; and
• Debra Richardson, the executive director of the Guilford Community AIDS Partnership.

Nancy McFarlane, president of Raleigh-based MedPro Rx, a provider of pharmacy services to clients with chronic illnesses who need clotting factor, announced that it was a sponsor of the Friends of Scouting Campaign Breakfast Kick-Off, which benefited the Boy Scouts of America. 

Crystal Koran, a dental hygienist with Cary Family Dental, was nominated for the Crown Council Members’ Choice Awards, which honor those in the dental community, in the category of hygienist of the year. 

Licensed massage therapist Kelly Cook joined The Skin Institute in Apex as a part-time therapeutic masseuse.

Karen Albright, president of BodyLase Skin Spa in Raleigh and Cary, released podcasts discussing Zerona, a noninvasive body slimming treatment, and eyelash extensions.

Leslie H. Boyce, MD, joined Raleigh Neurology Associates as a physician in the department of child neurology.

Karen Albright, president of BodyLase Skin Spa in Cary, announced:
• The firm was awarded eight Best of Citysearch titles in the 2009 Raleigh Spa and Beauty contest.
• The spa offers the Thermage NXT treatment, which is FDA approved for the noninvasive treatment of wrinkles and rhytids.
• Cindy Kier Croney, an aesthetician at BodyLase, completed the two-day Xtreme Lashes® Eyelash Extension training and certification program.