Nineteen Rowan County area residents joined the ranks of Leadership Rowan alumni after Thursday’s graduation ceremony at the Country Club of Salisbury. The program is sponsored by the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce.
Linn Evans, Delhaize America’s senior vice president, was the featured speaker.
Graduates are Sabrina Atkins (W.G. Hefner V.A. Medical Center), Kevin Boyle (Food Lion), Aleashia Brandon (W.G. Hefner V.A. Medical Center), Tracy Craig (Rowan Regional Medical Center), Tim Edwards (PGT Industries), Celeste Gruner (Rowan-Cabarrus Community College), Brad Johnson (Rowan County Cooperative Education) and Starling Johnson (Johnson Concrete).
Patrick Kennerly (city of Salisbury), Deborah Knoblock (Wachovia Bank), Cindy Misenheimer (Rowan-Salisbury Schools), Randall Moran (city of Salisbury), Sean Sanz (Rowan Regional Medical Center), Tony Shaw (BB&T), Jon Shumate (SunTrust Bank), Robbie Stevens (Salisbury Community Development Corporation), Sharon Thompson (Livingstone College), Amy Welch (Advanced Home Care) and Sherry Wilson Boyd (Carolinas Medical Center-Northeast).
Chamber of Commerce Chair of the Board Tom Loeblein (Health Management Consultants) said, “The Chamber extends it congratulations to these people and looks forward to the good things that will come from them.”
Leadership Rowan Steering Committee Chair Penny Greer-Link (W.G. Hefner V.A. Hospital) served as master of ceremonies. Other members of the committee are Myra Heard (city of Salisbury), Jeff Jones (Food Lion); Tim Norris (Healthcare Management Consultants) and Tyler Weant (Elium Exterminator).
Lazy 5 Vets adds Austin as fifth veterinarian
Dr. Anna Austin has joined Lazy 5 Vets.
A native of Eden, Austin received her doctorate of veterinary medicine from the University of Pennsylvania and her undergraduate degree in zoology from North Carolina State.
She spent time volunteering with the Wake County SPCA and participated in the Collegiate Horseman’s Association. Her professional interests include small animal and equine medicine and surgery.
Find out more in the “Meet the Staff” page at www. lazy5vets.com or call Lazy 5 Vets at 704-636-1100 to schedule an appointment. Lazy 5 Vets is located at 2916 S Main St. in Salisbury. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. and Saturdays 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
McDonald’s honors Vences as Five-Star Employee Ambassador
McDonald’s has named Maria Vences a Five-Star Employee Ambassador in the Carolinas.
Vences, a 12-year employee at the Salisbury McDonald’s at 704 East Innes St., was selected from hundreds of nominees from North and South Carolina restaurants to receive the recognition.
The Five-Star Employee Ambassador initiative honors employees who exemplify the characteristics of five-star spirit and service: teamwork, community involvement, work ethic, leadership and “lovin’ the Golden Arches.”
Winners are recognized through cash awards, radio advertising and promotional materials at their restaurants.
Salisbury’s Hodge joins Triangle’s Stearns Financial
GREENSBORO — Salisbury resident Deborah Hodge has joined Stearns Financial Services Group as it takes steps toward opening in the Triangle. Hodge will serve as a financial advisor and managing director for the Triangle office.
Hodge recently earned her Certified Exit Planning Advisor credential.
Hodge previously worked in mergers and acquisitions for technology-focused Fortune 500 companies.
Stearns Financial Services Group, Inc. is a wealth management firm and investment advisor based in Greensboro, with clients around the U.S. and Canada.
Gibson to head Kannapolis PR for Walker Marketing
CONCORD — Walker Marketing has hired Ann Gibson as a senior account manager in charge of public relations for the city of Kannapolis.
Gibson has strong ties to Kannapolis and Cabarrus County. She was vice president for partnership and visitor services for the past three years with the Cabarrus County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“I’ve worked closely with key people in Kannapolis and Cabarrus County and I look forward to continuing that relationship in my new position,” Gibson said. “Kannapolis has positioned itself as an attractive destination through the N.C. Research Campus and other ventures, and I am excited to help spread the word about everything that the city has to offer.”
Gibson has more than 20 years of experience in public relations and marketing. She previously worked for the U.S. Whitewater Center and Johns Hopkins University in Maryland.
Wear honored by Gentiva with Pinnacle Gold award
Susan Wear, account executive for Gentiva Home Health, is one of 28 recipients of Gentiva’s Pinnacle Gold award.
According to Tony Strange, CEO and president of Gentiva, the recipients are recognized for their exceptional contributions to the company and their communities. The winners exhibited incredible business results, enduring commitment to community service, devotion to excellent clinical care, and dedication to the pursuit of education and career development.
Leadership seminar set at MSU’s Mooresville campus
MOORESVILLE — “Leading Others and Connecting through Communication” is the focus for Mountain State University Mooresville’s upcoming leadership seminar Wednesday from 2 to 3:30 p.m., MSU Mooresville, Catalina Bay, 517 Alcove Road, Lake Norman. The event will be led by Susan Rucker, lead leadership faculty member, at the Mooresville campus.
The next seminar, “Leading for Results with Resource Acumen,” is scheduled for Wednesday, July 20, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
The series is free, but the university requests that attendees register online at www. mountainstate.edu/leadership-seminar. For more information, call 704-664-3343 ext. 2011.
Matthews to speak at real estate investors meeting
Mona Lisa Matthews of Excellence Realty will speak at the Rowan Real Estate Investors and Associates meeting Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Matthews, an expert in buying and selling distressed properties, will tell about the short sale process, HUD homes and other points of interest in today’s market. The group meets at China Buffet in Salisbury on the fourth Tuesday of each month. It is open to anyone who would like to attend. Call 704-762-1117 for more information.
Allen Tate listed at top for Carolinas-based real estate
Allen Tate Co. is the top real estate firm based in the Carolinas and ranks No. 9 among the country’s largest independently owned, non-franchised brokers, and No. 16 among all brokers, based on closed transactions for 2010, according to the Real Trends 500 report.
The annual report, which ranks the country’s top 500 real estate firms, will be published this month by Real Trends, the nation’s leading publisher of trends and analysis of the residential real estate brokerage industry.
Allen Tate Co. closed 12,266 transactions in 2010.
Submit information about new businesses, honors and management promotions to bizbriefs@salisburypost.com. Include a daytime phone number.