The Meredith College Alumnae Association announced:
• Four alumnae received awards as part of the Raleigh college’s Alumnae Reunion Weekend. Phoenix Chen Haydon received the Distinguished Alumna Award; Elizabeth Dobbins, the Recent Graduate Award; Carolyn Dunn, the Career Achievement Award; and Joyce McIntyre Rudisill, the Alumna Philanthropy Award.
• Amy Hruby, of Sanford, received the 2009 Meredith College Alumnae Legacy Scholarship, the school’s only full, four-year, merit-based scholarship.

Gloria Lesher, senior writer for MMI Associates, a public relations firm in Cary, was named to the board of directors of the Triangle Yale Club, which provides information and plans events in the Triangle for Yale alumni and parents of students.

Laurie Clowers, director of public relations at Wake Technical Community College, launched a Twitter account for the Wake Tech community.

Dr. Ellen Williams, professor of music and coordinator of vocal studies at Meredith College and Dr. Terry Rhodes, professor of music and chair of the department of music at UNC-CH, performed vocal duets entitled “Duo Nuovo” to open Long Leaf Opera’s 11th season.

Merrill Shatzman, director of Duke University’s printmaking department, displayed her work in the exhibit “The Art of Math & Language” at Capital Bank Plaza for Raleigh’s First Friday event.

Jennifer Collins, Durham Art Guild director, announced that the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants contributed $1,000 to the guild’s Junior Membership Program, which enables young visual artists to become members at a reduced rate.

Maureen Sherbondy of Raleigh won the poetry category of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards for her book “Praying at Coffee Shops.”

Wake Forest resident Susan Neeley, with help from the Graham Johnson Cultural Arts Endowment, raised money to host one of J. Stewart Johnson’s bronze sculptures in downtown Wake Forest.

Dianne Rodwell displayed her art last month at Artspace Studio 201 during Raleigh’s First Friday Gallery Walk.

Brigitta Dewell, a graduating senior from Cary High School, received this year’s Cary Visual Art Scholarship.

Beth Browne of Clayton began her second term as the adult contest director for the N.C. Poetry Society.

Rebecca Brinkley from Cedar Ridge High School in Hillsborough received the Outstanding Leading Actress award at Capital Bank’s Capital Awards.

Wake County seventh grade student Dakota Lee released her new book, “Flash of Freedom,” with a signing in Cary, where she taught kids how to write their own stories.

Lisa Pineiro, president of Technical Services Inc., an electrical training and recruiting firm in Durham, introduced President Obama during the 2009 National Small Business Week convention in Washington in May. Pineiro is the current N.C. Small Business Person of the Year, a designation of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Carrie Mitchell, president of ASAP Office Supply in Raleigh, a woman-owned independent office products company, announced that the company received the Historically Underutilized Businesses certification from the state of North Carolina. Mitchell also released a podcast discussing the firm’s green certification program.
Patty Munns, senior vice president of facilities services at the State Employees Credit Union in Raleigh, said the union will have at least one office in each North Carolina county by the end of fiscal year 2010. Also, it is adding a 12-story branch and office facility to its headquarters in the State Government Complex in Raleigh.

Lou Jurkowski, chief executive officer of BJAC, an architectural firm with an office in Raleigh, announced:
• BJAC received the 2009 Pinnacle Award for Steady Growth and Profitability, presented by the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce.
• Jennifer Amster, partner and director of higher-education projects, was certified as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Germaine Brewington is the new director of Durham’s Department of Audit Services. 

Sue Toth, president of Media Research Planning and Placement in Cary, received the 2009 Silver Medal Award from the Raleigh-Durham chapter of the American Advertising Federation.

Kim Weiss of Blueplate PR in Raleigh provided pro bono public relations services for the Epicurious Vino Challenge, a fundraiser held in Pine Level for RHA Howell Care Centers. RHA Howell is a nonprofit provider of residential-based services for developmentally disabled people.

Peggy Mackowski, vice president of Raleigh-based Quality Design & Construction, received the 2009 Remodeler of the Year Award from the Raleigh-Wake County Remodelers Council.

Melissa Dewey Brumback, partner at Ragsdale Liggett, a law firm in Raleigh, was named vice president of the RL Mace Universal Design Institute’s board of directors. RL Mace is a nonprofit organization promoting the concept and practice of accessible and universal design.

Cara Phillips, Teressa Merck and Calley Springer, of Phillips Architecture in Raleigh, received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design accreditation through the U.S. Green Building Council.

Elizabeth Forsythe, co-owner and president of Archetype Graphic Design in Raleigh, completed projects for the Durham, Oakland, and Washington offices of the Center for Responsible Lending. The nonpartisan research and policy organization is dedicated to protecting homeownership and family wealth by working to eliminate abusive financial practices.

Natalie Perkins, president of Clean Design, a branding and design agency in Research Triangle Park, announced that it will create a branding campaign for the Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary.

Susan Martin and Heather Dean of Hughes Pittman & Gupton, certified public accounts in Research Triangle Park, conducted a session on maximizing profits at the Meet the Expert series of the Small Business and Technology Development Center.

Deidre Hughey, founder and president of The Buzz Builder, a social media strategy company in Cary, spoke at a Raleigh meeting for CareerNet, a community outreach program that seeks to help those in career transition.

Missy Vatinet, co-owner of La Farm Bakery in Cary, said it expanded to include café-style seating.

Lauren Whaley joined the N.C. Credit Union League as its first director of legislative and regulatory affairs.

Heather Ficquette is the new office manager of Technology Associates, a technology solutions and support firm in Cary.

The Raleigh Hall of Fame, which designates individuals and nonprofit organizations who make significant contributions to the city of Raleigh, announced this year’s inductees: Maybel J. Dorsey, history preservationist and catalyst for the restoration of the L.L. Polk House and Historic Yates Mill; Marion Poyner, business leader, statesman, philanthropist and civic servant; Margaret Rose Murray, catalyst for equal access to quality education and founder of Vital Link Private School for children with disabilities; and Betty Lee Tiddy Moore, co-founder of the Tammy Lynn Center for Developmental Disabilities.

Jane Simpson McKimmon, a champion of continuing education and driving force behind the development of the Home Demonstration Program, was chosen to be inducted into the Centennial Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will be Sept. 24.

Bridget Bender, Karen Braswell, Kim Burson, Annette Peery and Pegeen Turner were elected to the Triangle/Eastern N.C. Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Jamie Rohe, interim homelessness program coordinator for the town of Chapel Hill, presented an update on the progress of the Orange County 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness at the Chapel Hill Town Council meeting.

Jennifer R. Bosk, communications director at the United Way of the Greater Triangle, announced that its Ready to Work series hosted a panel of six job-recruiting experts who shared insights into the recruiting process and job-search tips.

Erin Hill, volunteer coordinator of Meals on Wheels of Durham, said that Whole Foods Market selected the organization to receive the Whole Foods 5% Day grant last month.

Nicole Stewart, co-chair of the Beehive Collective in Raleigh, a group primarily made up of young women who seek to promote community giving, helped host the Bee Ball: A Second Chance Prom in Raleigh. Proceeds from the Bee Ball went to support local nonprofits focused on improving economic security for young people and low-income individuals.

Nakira Carter, chairwoman of the Golden Leaf Awards Committee, which seeks to acknowledge and encourage design and maintenance that contributes to the visual beauty, sustainability and usability of the Durham community, announced its 2009 awards for visual contributions to the city.

Leslie Winner, executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation based in Winston-Salem, spoke at a program in Chapel Hill hosted by the Triangle chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Marilyn Foote-Hudson, executive director of the N.C. GlaxoSmithKline Foundation in Research Triangle Park, announced that InterAct, a nonprofit agency in Wake County that provides safety, support and awareness to victims of domestic violence and rape/sexual assault, will receive $25,000 under the foundation’s Ribbon of Hope program.

Kristin Replogle, community volunteer; Annette Anderson of Anderson Toyota; Petra Hager with Wake County Human Services; Tamara Barringer of Barringer Law; and Tracy Thompson with Grant Thornton are joining the board of directors for SAFEchild, a nonprofit child abuse prevention agency in Wake County.

Dr. Lisa Tolnitch, of Tolnitch Surgical Associates in Raleigh, which focuses on breast cancer treatment, announced that the nonprofit she founded, Pretty in Pink, celebrated its fifth anniversary. Pretty in Pink supports underinsured and uninsured North Carolinians diagnosed with breast cancer
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Kim Parker, with Wake Radiology Oncology Services, said the practice was a primary sponsor for the 2009 Pretty in Pink golf tournament. 

Kathleen P. Uhorchack, of Allen Tate Realtors in Cary, completed the Green Designation Core Course of the National Association of Realtors.

Fonville Morisey Realty in Cary made the following announcements:
• Tracy Santrock has been awarded the Certified Residential Specialist Designation by the Council of Residential Specialists.
• Marsha Burger helped create a set of search features for “Green Building Attributes” that is now part of the local Multiple Listing Service.

• Claire McCullough was awarded the Seniors Real Estate Specialist designation by the Seniors Real Estate Specialists Council. 

Terri McCall, Tammy Hahn, Cynthia Johnson, Pam Bush, Nancy Guenther, Phyllis Tipton, Pat McElroy, Lisa Ligouri, Mallika Perera and Dee Levitz were the top producers at ERA Pacesetters Realty in Cary last month.

Loren Graham was hired by the McGee’s Crossroads office of Coldwell Banker Advantage.

Dr. Sujula Kodumagulla opened Wake Family Practice in Cary. The office specializes in women’s health, pediatric and adolescent care, annual and sports physicals, immunizations, acute care, problem-oriented diagnosis and chronic disease management.

Brigid Hogan, Ph.D., chair of the Duke Department of Cell Biology, was senior author of a study of lung cells published in the journal Cell Stem Cell.

Claudia Conty launched a Web site, www.RaleighNCYoga.com, and began teaching a yoga class called Power Siesta at the Alexander Family YMCA in Raleigh.

Marie Mantle, Michele Preston, Kristen Mcnabb and Thearadise Beaver, staff members of Blue Water Spa in Raleigh, donated more than $2,500 in spa services to this year’s V Foundation for Cancer Research.

Elisabetta Politi, nutrition director at the Duke Diet and Fitness Center in Durham, released healthy eating tips for summer road trips.

Tiffany Christensen, a cystic fibrosis patient, presented “Finding Your Voice as a Caring Professional” to Dr. Beth Black’s UNC School of Nursing class for the fourth semester in a row.
Heather Monakey, senior public relations specialist at WakeMed Health & Hospitals, which is based in Raleigh, announced:
• Billie Redmond was elected chair of the board of directors.
• Phase one of the first medical simulation center designed to meet the dicational needs of clinical providers was completed.

Dr. Darcy Ward and Dr. Jennifer Greenfield, at Center for Chiropractic & Wellness, a North Raleigh practice, said it now offers chiropractic services for dogs and horses on Friday afternoons.

Judy Burns reported that the Raleigh Racquet Club was in the Tennis Industry Association’s calendar for May, thus ranking the club in the top 12 Tennis Welcome Centers in the nation.

Dr. Karen Bednarski, a rhinologist, joined Carolina Ear, Nose & Throat in Raleigh.

Kim Raynor joined Dzeel Clinical Healthcare Staffing as director of business development. Located in Garner, Dzeel specializes in psychiatric, emergency and surgical nursing.

Catherine Ostrowski, a nutritionist based in Apex, announced that she will host a retreat in August at the Bald Head Island Center for Wellness.

Amaris Balkus, Lia Watson, Katy Martinelli and Jessica Martin, staff members of Michael Law MD Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in Raleigh, helped collect more than 19,000 pounds of food for the Interfaith Food Shuttle.

Amy Bailey, lash extension expert at BodyLase Skin Spa with locations in Cary and Raleigh, completed Xtreme LashesR Advanced Certified Training.