On the Move

Keith Baranic was hired as vice president, operations/production for the Rowley Management Team. Cliff Birch joined as senior vice president of research and development. Ryan Conway is IT manager.

Tawana Collington joined the sales team of Weichert, Realtors – Rebhan & Associates.

Kelly Dees and Christopher Campbell joined the Charlotte office of McAngus Goudelock & Courie.

Wray Ward’s creative team welcomes Joel Dinkel as digital designer, Katie Fisher as copy writer and Aaron Peacock as art director.

Daniel Gantzhorn was hired to lead Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer’s Investment Sales team in Charlotte. Kimberly Simmons will lead Thalhimer’s Project Management services. Dan Woodley joined Thalhimer’s Office Tenant Rep team.

Della Higgins joined Branstorm PR & Marketing as an account coordinator.

Michael Tobin has joined the Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein’s intellectual property group as a patent attorney in the Charlotte office.

Notable Items

René LeBlanc-Allman of Winston & Strawn’s Charlotte office was recognized in the 2013 Edition of Best Lawyers in America. Her photo was inadvertently omitted in last week’s Career Almanac.

The Charlotte Chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute received an Outstanding Chapter Commendation for fiscal year 2011-2012 at the CONSTRUCT 2012 convention. Charlotte Chapter CSI president Christopher Olden of the Sherwin-Williams Co. accepted the award.

Patrick Flanagan and Lee Poole of Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog’s Charlotte office were named in The Best Lawyers in America 2013 edition.

The law firm of Goodman, Carr, Laughrun, Levine & Greene was chosen as one of the best law firms in America and achieved a “first tier” status among all law firms throughout the country. Attorney George Laughrun II also was recognized in the Best Lawyers in America.

George Hanna III, a Moore & Van Allen PLLC Charlotte litigation member, was recognized with the Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award, a joint honor bestowed by the Council for Children’s Rights, Legal Aid of North Carolina and Legal Services of Southern Piedmont. The award honors an individual’s long-standing and exceptional dedication to pro bono legal service, and meaningful impact on access to justice at the community and state level.

Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo LLP was recognized by the Council for Children’s Rights as the recipient of the 2012 Outstanding Firm Service Award, which recognizes a firm in Mecklenburg County for significantly impacting the community through pro bono work with the Council for Children’s Rights.

Sally Higgins and Ray Owens of Higgins & Owens, PLLC were selected for Best Lawyers in America. Higgins was also named by Best Lawyers as Charlotte Lawyer of the Year for Litigation-Securities.

Angela Key, founder and president of Premier Resources and Premier Healthcare Resources, was awarded the Women With Know-How 2012 Top Elite Entrepreneur Award at the Making an Impact for a Cause Awards Dinner.

Donald Lampe, an attorney in Dykema’s Charlotte office, was named in the 2013 Best Lawyers in America.

Tripp Moore, Two Men and a Truck franchisee of Charlotte, was honored by the International Franchise Association with its Franchisee of the Year Award.

Pat Riley, president and COO of Allen Tate Co., was honored as 2012 Education Champion of the Year at the MeckEd Annual Community Breakfast. MeckEd is an independent nonprofit and champion for public education.

Chase Saunders, a mediation attorney in McNair Law Firm’s Charlotte office, was selected by his peers as one of The Best Lawyers’ 2013 Lawyer of the Year.

Rock Hill attorney Henry Sipe III of Sipe Law Firm LLC was selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2013 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America

Watson Insurance Agency retained its status as part of an elite group of independent insurance agencies around the United States participating in the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America as a 2012 Best Practices Agency.

Wishart Norris Henninger & Pittman, PA launched a mediation division to help guide individuals in reaching a negotiated resolution on their own terms. Lew Glenn from the Charlotte office is one of the firm’s five attorneys statewide to be certified as a mediator by the N.C. Dispute Resolution Commission.

This week

Tuesday

‘Are you Ready for Some Football?’

Will Webb, executive director of Charlotte Collegiate Football, will share plans for the ACC Football Championship and Belk Bowl, the economic impact of these games on Charlotte and how local businesses can support these events at the Charlotte Chamber’s Metro Chapter Luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., The Westin Charlotte, 601 S. College St. Details: www.charlottechamber.com.

‘Play for the Win! Coaching Your Team’

Mary Elizabeth Murphy, managing director of S.T.A.R. Resources, will present a two-part coaching workshop, “Play for the Win! Coaching Your Team.” Part 1 is 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday, and part 2 is Oct. 16 at the Charlotte Area Health Education Center, 5039 Airport Center Parkway. Workshop fees apply. Details: 704-512-6811; www.starresources.biz.

Wednesday

‘A.M. Biz Leads’

Join Charlotte Chamber for speed networking, 7:30-9 a.m., at Sam’s Club/University City, 8909 J.W. Clay Blvd. Free for Chamber members; $25 for nonmembers (includes continental breakfast). Details: www.charlottechamber.com.

‘Candidate Forum with N.C. Chamber’

The Charlotte Chamber is partnering with the N.C. Chamber of Commerce to host a candidate forum, 1:30-3:45 p.m., Charlotte Chamber – Belk Action Center, 330 S. Tryon St. Open to Chamber members only; RSVP required. Details: www.charlottechamber.com.

Send us your news

Email information about management promotions, honors, area business developments or changes in operations to the Business news department: obsbiz@charlotteobserver.com. Photos of individuals will be published only if submitted as JPEG attachments. Include your identifying information, with a phone number, in the body of the e-mail. E-mails that only include an attachment will not be opened. Limit submissions to 100 words. Deadline: Items must be submitted by 5 p.m. Monday to be considered for publication the next Sunday.