Carol Cooley, a writer from Wake Forest, is a finalist in the N.C. Literary Review’s 2010 Doris Betts fiction contest, a writing competition held by the East Carolina University-published magazine.

Carolina Harmony Chorus, based in Raleigh, competed in the Sweet Adelines International Blue Ridge choral competition in Winston-Salem. The all-female group won first place for small chorus and fourth place overall.

Brand New Day Publishing released “Save the Teens: Preventing suicide, depression and addiction” by Carolyn Zahnow, a native of Raleigh. In the book, Zahnow describes the events surrounding her son’s suicide and the signs of depression that parents should look for in teens.

A drawing by Raleigh artist Roxanne Lorch was exhibited at the Cary Gallery of Artists and won third prize in the juried show.

Jamie Anderson, a singer-songwriter from Durham, performed in a benefit for SWOOP, a nonprofit that helps with community service projects around the Triangle.

Susannah Sloan, owner of Glazed Expectations in Chapel Hill, announced that the paint-it-yourself ceramic and sculpture studio is moving to Carrboro.

Kristin Buie, communications manager of North Carolina Theatre in Raleigh, released a podcast about the theater’s performances of “Cinderella.”

Mary Poole, executive director of Artspace in Raleigh, announced that the visual art center held two community outreach programs for local youth.

The Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce honored local companies that have achieved Green Plus certification of sustainability, including:
• Accentuate Staffing, led by its president, Cindy Smith Waite
• The Irregardless Café and Catering, owned by Anya Gordon
• LAC Group, owned by Patricia Smith
• Revealed Design, owned by Carla Hamilton
• Springleaf Strategies, owned by Evelyn Contre
• Triangle Community Foundation, led by its president, Andrea Bazán
• Yes! Solar Solutions, owned by Kathleen Miller

Christine Wall and Ashley Lively announced the opening of a lifestyle and fitness studio, SYNCStudio, in Durham. Wall, the studio manager, teaches cycling and yoga. Lively, the vice president, teaches cycling.

Mor Aframian, of Raleigh, Jamie Powell, of Pittsboro, and Beth Stewart, of Raleigh, co-produced Redress Raleigh, an eco-friendly fashion show.

Tonia Zampieri, a Raleigh-based entrepreneur, developed a smart phone application called Tap-n-Give, which allows users to instantly donate to charities.

Howard, Merrell & Partners, an advertising agency in Raleigh, announced:
• Melea Mauldin joined the company as a public relations account executive.
• Paula Johnson was hired as management supervisor in the account services department.

Genevia Gee Fulbright, a certified public accountant at Fulbright & Fulbright in Durham, conducted a seminar about entrepreneurship for the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority in Hillsborough.

Judy Stephenson, a former banking executive in Garner, became membership developer of the Garner Chamber of Commerce.

Heather Goode joined RTP-based BASF Plant Science, a biotechnology company, as the NutriDense communications manager.

Kelly Markson, a breast cancer survivor and economics professor at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh, won a total makeover by Jessica Williams, senior stylist at Lather Hair Salon in Raleigh, as part of an essay contest.

Vaco Raleigh, a placement and consulting firm, announced:
• Suzanne Meiler, director of its design and media division, served as a panelist at “Breaking Into the Game Industry” at the Triangle Game Conference in Raleigh.
• Deana Brannan joined the firm as technical resource manager.

Donna Preiss, founder and CEO of The Preiss Company, an off-campus student housing provider based in Raleigh, served as a panelist at the InterFace Student Housing Conference in New York City.

Janice Russell, president of Minding Your Matters Organizing in Cary, offered three business seminars at Meredith College.

Lorana Price, CEO of Holy Cow Branding in Raleigh, announced that the marketing firm has partnered with RLCB Contact Center, which provides products and services for the blind.

Patty Briguglio, president of MMI Public Relations in Raleigh, gave a presentation on crisis public relations to N.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association members in Raleigh.

Heather Dean, a partner at Hughes Pittman & Gupton accounting firm in Research Triangle Park, was a presenter at the Triangle Game Conference in Raleigh.

Fuentek, an intellectual property and technology management services firm in Apex, announced:
• President Laura A. Schoppe was a panelist for the Emerging Technologies and Trends series in Durham.
• Danielle McCulloch, a technology transfer consultant, was a judge at the NCFIRST Robotics Competition in Raleigh.
• The Carolina chapter of the Society for Technical Communication recognized the firm for “IPP Seed Fund Success,” a publication for NASA.

Gayla Bonke, owner and chef at Chatham Street Café & Catering in Cary, announced:
• The restaurant hosted a fundraiser to benefit Doctors Without Borders.
• It launched its Twitter page.

Winkie La Force, executive director of Leadership Triangle in Raleigh, announced the graduation of the 2010 class of the Leadership Triangle College Edition. The program teaches management and problem-solving skills to local students.

Paulette Maehara, president and CEO of the Triangle chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, said the organization was named a 2009 Ten Star Chapter. The award recognizes exceptional divisions.

Lou Jurkowski, managing principal of BJAC, an architectural firm in Raleigh, was named to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects.

Michelle Thompson, of Cherry, Bekaert & Holland consulting firm in Raleigh, was named treasurer of the Triangle chapter of the National Funding Association.

Eliza Kraft Olander was appointed to the advisory board of Band Together N.C., a nonprofit organization that uses musical events to raise money for Triangle charities.

Emily Ballance, a Raleigh-based professional in speaking and business training, was the keynote speaker at the “Women on the Move” luncheon, sponsored by the eastern N.C. chapter of the National MS Society, in Wilmington.

Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston, with offices across the Triangle, announced:
• Nancy B. Harner was named senior vice president of relocation/corporate services.
• Pat Mills joined the Builder Services division as sales manager for Portofino, a community in Clayton.
• Tiffany Merritt was hired as a sales associate in the Strickland Road office.

Theresa Clark, president of the Raleigh Regional Association of Realtors, announced that the group participated in the Realtor Nationwide Open House.

The following Realtors earned the short sales and foreclosure resource certification, recognized by the National Association of Realtors: Katherin Burnette, team manager and broker in charge for Linda Craft & Team Realtors in Raleigh; Samantha Giuggio, from the Cary office of Allen Tate Realtors; Becky Donahue, Suzi Johnson and Eileen Walsh, from the Brier Creek office of Allen Tate Realtors.

Linda Trevor, a Realtor with RE/MAX United in Cary, won the RE/MAX Carolina Region Award, which recognizes outstanding sales.

Fonville Morisey Realty in Raleigh announced:
• Amy Poole Butler was hired as the sales manager of the Inside the Beltline office.
• Wendy Lewis joined the New Homes Sales and Marketing division as the on-site sales associate for the Churchill community, in Knightdale; Adair Preston joined the division as the onsite sales associate for the Garrison community, in Holly Springs.

Mariana Fiorentino, broker and owner of Terra Nova Global Properties, announced the grand opening of West End Commons condominiums in downtown Carrboro.

The office of Dr. Cynthia M. Gregg attained the Elite Diamond Level with Allergan Cosmetic, the makers of Botox, Juvderm, Vivite and Latisse. The title recognizes outstanding cosmetic dermatology.

Dog trainer Paige Burris and her pit bull Cricket visited Wake Med Hospital as part of the Hospitality Pets program, which uses dogs for patient therapy. Cricket is the first pit bull to be admitted into the program.

Lisa Feierstein, founder of Active Healthcare in Raleigh, announced that the sleep center received a National Sleep Foundation Gives Back grant to provide equipment for indigent patients.

Therese McGrain, a member of the Biologics OnCue Rx pharmacy services team in Cary, was named Pharmacy Technician of the Year by the Hematology Oncology Pharmacy Association.

Sheri Allen, a dietitian and nutritionist, joined Personalized Nutrition in Apex.

Karen Albright, president of BodyLase Skin Spa, in the Triangle, released a podcast about laser hair removal.

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.