On the Move
George Allen joined Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. (MassMutual), as a financial adviser.
Aaron Biek joined Moore & Van Allen’s real estate team. Courtenay Clark joined the firm’s corporate team. Christopher Fowler, Lauren Nelson and Tom Parrott IV joined the firm’s financial services team.
Erin Cribb was hired as junior art director in the creative department for the Luquire George Andrews advertising and public relations agency.
Molly Ferguson was added to the tax practice at Elliott Davis, PLLC’s Charlotte office.
Michael Greene was named director of business development for the Charlotte advertising agency, BooneOakley.
Shelby Janko joined the law offices of Jonathan S. Frank, PC as legal assistant.
Realtor Dennis McCoy joined the sales team at Weichert, Realtors-Rebhan & Associates.
Valerie Reid was promoted to chief financial officer for Hickory Springs Manufacturing Co., a supplier of components to the transportation, furniture, bedding, and other diversified markets.
Notable Items
Susan Antico, Dan Callahan, Morgan Felber, Jim Fletemier, Beth Helton, Christina Laird, Shellie Maddux, Bret Miles, Madison Phillips, James Soderberg, Lisa Sossoman, Elizabeth Teifer and Julius Toxey graduated from Allen Tate Realtors’ Winner’s Edge comprehensive real estate training program.
Michael Bay, founder of Merinos Home Furnishings, won the Willis Barnette Entrepreneurial Award from the Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of Commerce. The award honors a business owner for a meaningful, positive impact upon the community.
Clark Patterson Lee, a full-service architecture and engineering firm, moved from its East Ninth Street location to a new office at 6203 Fairview Road, Suite 102.
Rodney Dean, founding partner of the law firm of Dean, Gibson, Hofer & Nance, PLLC, was named by North Carolina Super Lawyers magazine as a top attorney in 2013.
Debra Foster was designated as a 2013 North Carolina Super Lawyer and was named as one of the Top 50 Women Attorneys in North Carolina.
Horack Talley Charlotte attorneys Elizabeth Hodges, Robert McNeill, Gena Morris, Cheryl Steele and Tate Sterrett were named North Carolina Super Lawyers for 2013 by Super Lawyers magazine. Amy Hunt, Elizabeth James and Keith Nichols were named Rising Stars. Morris was also named one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers in North Carolina.
Robert Marcus, a litigation attorney in Smith Moore Leatherwood’s Charlotte office, was selected by his peers as part of Business North Carolina’s 2013 Legal Elite.
Charles Newsome of Johnson Concrete in Salisbury was installed as chairman of the board of the National Concrete Masonry Association.
John Zimmer of Smith Moore Leatherwood received the Mecklenburg County Bar (MCB) Extraordinary Pro Bono Service Award for an Outstanding Individual Attorney. The law firm Moore & Van Allen (MVA) received the MCB Extraordinary Pro Bono Service Award for an Outstanding Collaborative Project Award for the MVA Domestic Violence Pro Bono Project, which provides pro bono services to low-income families affected by domestic violence.
This week
Monday
‘Impatience IS a Virtue’
Join Wake Forest University School of Business for the Broyhill Executive Lectures Series, featuring chairman and CEO of Xerox Corp., Ursula Burns. 4-6:30 p.m. at Worrell Professional Center Auditorium, Wake Forest Charlotte Center, 200 N. College St. Reception to follow in the Worrell Library. Details: http://business.wfu.edu/
‘BB&T Distinguished Leaders in Action’
John Silvia, managing director and the chief economist for Wells Fargo, is the guest speaker at the BB&T Distinguished Leaders in Action series. 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Queens University of Charlotte’s McColl School of Business, Sykes Learning Center, Ketner Auditorium. Free, registration required. Details: www.mccollschool.edu
‘Business Plan Basics’
Turn your business ideas into a solid plan for financing and long-term success by attending this seminar on committing great ideas to paper. It will provide an overview and basic understanding of the components of a typical business plan, how marketing, operations and finance are inter-related and more. 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Morrison Library, 7015 Morrison Road. Reference: #SBX 7805, Section 502. Details: www.cpcc.edu/einstitute.
Tuesday
‘SocialNet Networking Group’
The Queen City Forward SocailNet is a group of purpose-driven entrepreneurs who meet monthly to learn, share and grow as entrepreneurs, leaders and change-makers. Join facilitated discussions around important issues facing social entrepreneurs and build your personal network. 9:30-11 a.m. at QCF @ Packard Place, 222 S. Church St., Suite 100. Register: www.marcelamcbride.com/socialnet-networking-coffee-for-social-entreprenuers.html
‘Why Charlotte?’
Linda Hudson, CEO of BAE Systems Inc., has relocated business to Charlotte twice and knows what major companies like about the city and its citizens. She will share what sells Charlotte to the U.S. and the world at Charlotte Chamber’s SouthPark Chapter Luncheon. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Maggiano’s Little Italy, 4400 Sharon Road. Details: www.charlottechamber.com/events.
Latin American Chamber
Join the Latin American Chamber of Commerce for Tapas. Cost: Free for members; $10 for nonmembers. 5:30 -8:30 p.m. at Blue Restaurant & Bar, Hearst Tower, 206 N. College St. Details: www.lacccharlotte.com
Wednesday
‘Survive & Thrive’
Join Charlotte Chamber for the monthly Survive and Thrive breakfast to address issues relevant to small businesses. 7:30-9 a.m. at Charlotte Chamber - Belk Action Center, 330 S. Tryon St. Details: www.charlottechamber.com/events.
Thursday
‘EPIC - Uniting Industry and Education for Energy’
Learn how the new Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) at UNC Charlotte produces a technical workforce through industry/education partnerships at Charlotte Chamber’s University Chapter Luncheon. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Hilton Charlotte University Place, 8629 JM Keynes Drive. Details: www.charlottechamber.com/events.
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 email. Emails 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 following Sunday.














