UNC-Chapel Hill announced:
• Student Annie Clark of Raleigh, staff member Aimee Krans of Mebane and professor Etta Pisano, Ph.D., of Chapel Hill won University Awards for the Advancement of Women.
• The 2009 university teaching awards went to Jan Bardsley, an associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ department of Asian studies, who received the Tanner Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching; Beth Latshaw, department of sociology, and Jennifer Mease, department of communication studies, who received the Tanner Awards for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching by Graduate Teaching Assistants; Eleonora Magomedova, department of Slavic languages, who received the William C. Friday/Class of 1986 Award for Excellence in Teaching; Carol Malloy, associate professor in the School of Education, who received the Mentor Award for Lifetime Achievement;and Lorraince Cramer, School of Medicine’s department of microbiology and immunology, who received the Johnston Teaching Excellence Award.

Shannon Walker, Latin teacher in the Lower School of Trinity Academy in Raleigh, received the Manson A. Stewart Teacher Training Award from the Classical Association of the Middle West and South, an organization for teachers and professors of classical antiquity. The award will help fund Walker’s study in the graduate classics program at UNC–Greensboro, where she’s pursuing a Master of Education in Latin.

Wake Technical Community College named Cary resident Paula Askew, an instructor and licensed cosmetologist, as department head for the newly created cosmetology program.

Triangle area personal chef and outdoor living consultant Wendy Perry received the Centennial Legacy of Leadership Award from the College of Human Ecology at East Carolina University.

Meredith College sustainability coordinator Laura Fieselman was accepted as a 2009 Southeast regional fellow in the Environmental Leadership Program, which is designed to build the capacity of promising leaders.

Alice J. Wisler of Durham published her second novel set in North Carolina, “How Sweet It Is.” This one follows Atlanta chef Deena Livingston as she returns home to the cabin she inherited from her grandfather to start a new life far from the heartbreak she suffered in Georgia.

Kendra Thomas co-founded a new nonprofit organization in Raleigh called “Turbulence: A Movement-Focused Theatre Group,” which includes dance, stage movement and stage combat.

Mary Cantando of Raleigh, president of WomanBusinessOwner.com, signed a contract with Jossey-Bass for her fourth book, “Leading With Care.” The nonfiction work, which will be written in collaboration with the international relief organization CARE, is scheduled for release in October.

Taste of Carolina Gourmet Food Tours, co-founded by Lesley Stracks-Mullem (an MBA graduate from UNC), introduced the Triangle’s first foodie-focused tour company. Participants go behind-the-scenes while being introduced to local restaurants, farms, farmers market, bakeries, specialty stores and chefs.

Austin Jade Murray, a designer and North Carolina native, launched Austin Jade Fashion Rocks, the state’s first fashion camp for teens, which took place over the past two months in Cary.

Janice Russell, CPO-CD, president of Minding Your Matters Organizing, and Katie Page, organizing consultant, taught three classes at Meredith College.

Maureen Dolan Rosen, owner of the Cash Management Connection in Chapel Hill, created Scarffish, hand-knitted scarves with crocheted starfish. Scarffish are available on etsy.com.

The International Special Events Society awarded RTP-based The Special Event Co., owned by Sally Webb, two EVIE awards for best event logistics and best event team for management of the Southeast U.S./Japan Association Conference.

Write More Education Resources, founded by Alma Ammons Hoffmann, has relocated to a new location on Creedmoor Road in North Raleigh.

Sierra Jackson joined the Durham Fire Department as the public affairs specialist.

Lorana Price, CEO of Holy Cow Branding, announced:
• Holy Cow was selected by Richmond, Va.-based Critical Transport Solutions, which specializes in organ transportation services, to develop the firm’s corporate identity and core marketing materials.
• The firm launched its new blog, The Upbeat Sound, which was created as a resource to share positive events happening throughout the country.

Vicky Nash Shaw, appraiser and co-owner of Authentic Appraisal & Estate Services, attended an International Society of Appraisers seminar on the similarities between Southern and British furniture.

Howard, Merrell & Partners in Raleigh announced:
• Courtney Beck joined the firm as a senior writing specialist and account executive in the public relations department.
• Heather Doutt joined the account management department as account supervisor.
• Cindy Calhoun, financial services manager, celebrated 20 years with the firm.
• Maria McLaughlin was promoted to senior account executive in the account management department.

Paragon Commercial Bank in Raleigh appointed Jill Evans as client development officer for private banking.

Patty Briguglio, president of MMI Associates of Raleigh, announced:
• Briguglio was a featured panelist in a seminar as part of the Council for Entrepreneurial Development’s “Finding Your Next Career Opportunity” series. She also served on the panel for the series’ fourth seminar, “There Is Only One First Impression … Effectively Marketing Yourself.”
• Triangle Media Trainers, a media coaching firm, named MMI its agency of record.

Confero, a national customer experience measurement firm based in Raleigh, announced:
• Elaine Buxton, president, has been elected to the Mystery Shopping Providers Association of North America’s 2009 board of directors. Buxton will serve as the internal communications chair.
• The firm joined the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce.

Lather Hair Salon, celebrating its sixth month in business, announced:
• It revamped its Web site to offer additional features to its customers.
• Owner Jessica Williams completed the 5th annual Steve Haydu St. Patrick’s Lo Tide 10K Run at Carolina Beach, an annual event that raises money for those battling cancer with little or no insurance coverage.
• The salon staff shaved heads as part of the annual St. Baldrick’s event to raise awareness and funds to cure children’s cancer by supporting research and fellowships.

Jennifer Gault-Varner, founder of Pure eCommerce, which provides turn-key e-commerce solutions, says the firm launched its new Web site, which has been updated to provide customer service to entrepreneurs looking for a new business.

Nancy Campbell was appointed a partner at Hughes Pittman & Gupton, the largest independently owned CPA firm in North Carolina.

Elizabeth Forsythe, co-owner and president of Archetype Graphic Design, completed a rebranding effort for Whole Family Chiropractic (formerly Academy Street Chiropractic).

Stevens & Hand, which specializes in real estate law and wills, has expanded its Cary office. Rebecca L. Stevens is managing partner and Kara Daniels Hand is partner.

Brandie Geyer Sweany joined Trinity Design Build, a full-service general contractor specializing in sustainable remodeling of old homes, as senior designer.

Ursula C. Mannix, president and CEO of Mannix & Associates, a training and organizational development firm, joined with Training Media Review to evaluate Learn.com LMS and e-learning content.

Laura A. Schoppe, president of Fuentek, announced that Karen Hiser has joined the firm as a consultant.

Body & Sole Salon and Spa, owned by Cheri’ Kinney, held a fundraising fashion show in March to benefit V-Day, a national organization whose mission is to educate about the violence against women and girls. The salon also did the hair and make-up for the “Vagina Monologues” at the Halle Cultural Arts Center.

Janice Cutler, president and owner of North Raleigh Florist, announced that the shop sponsored the Chamber Executive Women’s Luncheon in April, hosted by the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce.

Joy Ametra Jones, designer of Chapel Hill-based women’s wear line Soroma, announced the launch of its online boutique.

More than 1,200 guests attended the Tammy Lynn Center’s 24th annual A Toast to the Triangle in March, which raised more than $190,000.

Jennette Horton, of East Chapel Hill High School, received the Autism Society of North Carolina’s 2008 Teacher of the Year Award.

McGavock Edwards, of The Catevo Group, was elected president of the board of directors of the N.C. chapter of the Public Relations Society of America for 2009.

Volunteer Greer Lysaght received SAFEchild’s Commitment Award for her work to prevent child abuse in Wake County.

Lisa Pineiro, founder of Women @ Work, a nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging young women to explore traditionally male-dominated construction fields, announced the release of three new podcasts.

Triangle United Way announced that Mary Beth Schotzinger joined as senior vice president of donor relations and Jennifer Bosk joined as director of communications.

The N.C. chapter of the U.N. Fund for Women, a nonprofit organization to raise awareness and funds to address women’s human rights and equality around the world, recently launched its Facebook Group and hosted its first annual walk to end violence against women and girls.

The Women’s Center of Wake County hosted a grand opening for its renovated shop, ABBEYGAIL’S Re-chic Boutique, featuring a ribbon cutting by N.C. State Treasurer Janet Cowell. Formerly known as Abbeygail’s Closet, the store reopened as a resale boutique. It features a new section, Women Leaders, which offers items donated by local, state and national women in high-profile positions. 

Diane Kuehn, president and CEO of VisionPoint Marketing, was named a member of the 2009 executive committee for the International Affairs Council, a community-based organization that champions knowledge and understanding of world affairs and culture in the Research Triangle region. Kuehn also chairs the nonprofit’s marketing committee. 

Beth Traynham, partner with Hughes Pittman & Gupton, the largest locally owned CPA firm in North Carolina, is joining the Wake County Community Foundation’s board of directors. The organization sustains nearly 1,000 endowment funds established to provide long-term support for a broad range of community needs, nonprofit organizations and scholarships.

Raleigh-based Chix in Business, a nonprofit organization of women business owners who provide member support and education, celebrated its three-year anniversary.

Conni Tucker, president of Triangle Commercial Real Estate Women, an organization that provides a forum for fostering relationships among female commercial real estate professionals in the Triangle, held its 11th annual Champion Awards. Also, the group’s members donated professional apparel to Dress for Success, a local program that helps disadvantaged women prepare for success in job interviews and in the workplace.

ERA Pacesetters Realty announced that the sales leaders for the month of March included Terri McCall, Nancy Guenther, Ami Felner, Gwen Hager, Nikki Belsito, Kory Roscoe, Mallika Perera and Elisabeth Smith.

Coldwell Banker Advantage announced the addition of the Linda Kolarov Team to its Raleigh office and Catharine Campbell to the Cary office.

Gaye Orr, MIRM, CRS, CRB, partner and vice president of Coldwell Banker Advantage New Homes has been installed as the 2009 president of the Institute of Residential Marketing for the National Sales and Marketing Council of the National Association of Home Builders.

Coldwell Banker Advantage announced the addition of Darleen Lannon and Suzanne Groene ABR,CRS, SRES, to the Cary office and Ruth Bryant, GRI, to the East Wake office.

The North Durham office of Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston presented Stephanie Gaither-Harris with the company-wide Sales Associate of the Year Award. She also received honors for Associate of the Year, Volume Leader of the Year, Gold Sales Associate, Silver Listings and Silver Listings Sold.

Broker/owner Sheri Moritz opened Real Living Realty Experts in Forest Oaks Shopping Center in Garner.

Allen Tate Realtors announced:
• Jill Morin from the Wake Forest/Rolesville office received the Senior Real Estate Specialist designation from the National Association of Realtors and earned the Graduate Realtor Institute designation.
• Robin Darch joined the Wake Forest-Rolesville office.
• Martha Bick, a Chapel Hill and Durham realtor, received the 2008 Chairman’s Circle Award, the highest production award level of the company.

Lisa Pickett, M.D., was appointed chief medical officer of Durham Regional Hospitals. She will provide executive leadership for the Medical Staff Services, Hospital Medicine and Intensivist programs and the graduate/undergraduate medical education activities. She will also continue her general surgery and critical-care practice.

Caring House, a nonprofit organization that provides lodging to adult cancer patients receiving medical treatment at Duke Medical Center, has named Sheridan Townsend as its executive director.

Lori K. Lee, executive director of Me Fine Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance for children and families at the Duke Children’s Hospital and the N.C. Children’s Hospital at UNC, has announced that MM Deaton, a marketing consultant fo r DL Investment Group, has been named to the organization’s board of advisors.

Deana Challis, a licensed massage and bodywork therapist, has completed her White Belt Certification in the Nia Technique. She teaches Nia at Moving Mantra Yoga Studio in Raleigh.