SBWire

Investor Management Services (IMS), the leading investor experience platform for commercial real estate owners and investment firms and the only complete solution for investor management, today announced the grand opening of its new headquarters, which will be celebrated with an invitation-only open house on Thursday, March 28th for employees, their family and friends, industry professionals, Lower South End neighbors, vendors, and partners. IMS will host additional open house events in the future, which will be open to the public.

Blue Gas Marine, Inc. and Dusky Marine partner to introduce natural gas fuel options to the sport fishing boat market. A Dusky Marine 252 featuring the award winning Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fuel-system technology from Blue Gas Marine, Inc. powering its Suzuki outboard motor will be on display at the Miami International Boat Show, Pier 1/Slip 137 February 11-15th for sea trials. This is the first factory built boat designed from the ground-up to seamlessly integrate the fuel system for the sport fishing market, while maximizing range.

Wake Education Partnership, an independent non-profit dedicated to creating world-class schools in Wake County has announced that Patty Briguglio, president of MMI Public Relations, and Art Glasgow, chief information officer and vice president for Duke Medicine, have been appointed to serve as members of the organization’s board of directors. Effective immediately, Briguglio and Glasgow will begin their three-year appointments acting to connect other Wake County business leaders and elected officials with area educators for Wake County Public Schools.

VisionPoint Marketing, a Raleigh.-based, full-service, online marketing firm, has announced that Diane Kuehn, president and CEO, spoke on a panel session for Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business Leading Women Series titled “Standing Up, and Standing Out.” Discussing her role as a woman business leader, Kuehn and other panelists addressed Fuqua students in a question-and-answer discussion that covered topics including stereotypes in business and how to overcome them, leadership styles, career achievements and ways to avoid mistakes for women in business.

William Peace University (http://www.peace.edu), a private four-year university located in downtown Raleigh, has announced the hiring of Claude Shields as the university’s first head men’s basketball and men’s golf coach. Formerly serving as head coach of the junior varsity basketball team at Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C, Shields will be responsible for recruiting prospective student-athletes for the 2012-2013 men’s basketball and golf seasons, as well as establishing a culture of excellence both on and off the court with the student-athletes who attend William Peace University. With two years of educational experience, Shields has worked at many basketball camps over the last three years and played two years of junior varsity basketball at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Shields has served as an assistant golf coach at Greensboro Day School as well.

Dan Fields, principal of BJAC Raleigh, pa, an architectural firm offering professional services for specialized, complex institutional projects, has announced that principal Jennifer Amster will speak at the 2012 GreenNC Symposium and Expo on Thursday, Dec. 8 at the Durham Convention Center, located within the Durham Marriott City Center Hotel at 201 Foster St. in Durham, N.C. In the presentation, “The Green Balancing Act: Integrating LEED with Overall Project Needs,” Amster and Tony Romaine, PE, project manager for North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, will discuss the North Carolina History Center at Tryon Palace in New Bern, N.C., and how sustainability and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification became a critical factor late in a planning process that included brownfield remediation. The project team investigated “green” options that would be flexible, economical and support the project’s design intent, and then implemented a Collaboration Model approach with diverse stakeholders to gain consensus on sustainable strategies and garner public engagement and excitement.

The Chef’s Academy, the Culinary Division of Harrison College, a 108-year-old, nationally accredited institution that offers more than 30 degree programs in five schools of study, has announced the members of its newly formed advisory board. Members include top professionals from the culinary and hospitality community in the Triangle and surrounding areas, they will provide feedback and support to The Chef’s Academy’s new campus in Morrisville, N.C. The Chef’s Academy’s Advisory Board was formed as an internal resource designed to evaluate the rigorous curriculum; provide internships, externships and job opportunities for students and graduates; and offer effective and collaborative feedback regarding teaching techniques and current trends in the culinary and hospitality fields.

Robert Weiss, artistic director and CEO of Carolina Ballet, one of America’s premier arts organizations, has announced the release of a podcast on a new production of The Nutcracker, which runs Dec. 3-24 with performances in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. In the podcast Melanie Dubis, board chairman of Carolina Ballet, discusses the grand-scale illusions created by world-renowned illusionist Rick Thomas for the production, the special training Carolina Ballet dancers received from Thomas on how to perform stage magic and trick execution, and other new elements that make this year’s edition of The Nutcracker special.

Stewart Consulting Group, a consulting firm that works with CEOs and senior management teams to assist in maximizing human capital efficiency, has announced that Willy Stewart, president and CEO of the firm, will present “Building a High Performance Company” at NC State University’s annual Design Your Own Continuing Education Experience at McKimmon Conference & Training Center on Friday, Dec. 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. As one of 16 speakers at the two-day program offered by the NCSU Office of Professional Development, Stewart will discuss the characteristics of a high performance company, which include the concept of creating a business culture that values balance in people’s lives and effective management systems essential to the development of a great company, such as the concept of behavior and its application in recruiting and managing top performers, effective training techniques, the creation of a motivational environment and how to win work using the five-step sales process. The presentation will occur for a select audience of professional engineers, architects and contractors.

Melissa Essary, dean of the Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law , has announced that the school’s Professor Lisa Lukasik and alumnae Beth Jones and Judge Kristin Ruth were among more than 50 business and civic leaders honored at the 2011 Triangle Women Extraordinaire awards luncheon held Dec. 6 at the Brier Creek Country Club.

Fifty local children will have a brighter holiday season this year through TriMark Solutions’ generosity. The Raleigh-based internet marketing company has once again chosen The Salvation Army’s Angel Giving Tree program as this year’s holiday philanthropy. The children, ages 12 and below, will be receiving clothes, toys, and other gifts purchased by TriMark, and donated through The Salvation Army, on Friday, December 9, 2011.

Connected Women of North Carolina (CWNC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit networking group, has announced that nearly 400 women attended the group’s fourth annual “Know Your Value” fall networking event on Nov. 18 at the North Ridge Country Club. Attendees heard from keynote speaker Katty Kay, lead anchor of BBC World News America, as well as a panel of local business leaders from Allscripts, Cisco, WakeMed, Red Had, Fidelity Investments and Greene Resources. Women from around the area participated in various activities designed to enhance networking skills as well. A portion of all proceeds from the event went to InterAct, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and providing support for victims and survivors of domestic violence.

Sepi Asefnia, president of SEPI Engineering & Construction, a firm which provides civil engineering and planning services to private and public sector clients across the Southeast, has announced the opening of a new office located at 330 Shipyard Blvd., Suite 203, in Wilmington, N.C. The office will allow the firm to expand services to clients along the North Carolina coast, including federal clients at military bases and other facilities located in the Wilmington area. Don Carmen, quality control and federal program manager, and Mark Westendorff, environmental division senior project manager, will lead the new office, which also receives support from SEPI Engineering & Construction offices in Raleigh and Charlotte, N.C.

MMI Public Relations, a Raleigh-based, full-service public relations firm, has announced that Caitlin Russell has joined the firm as an account executive. In this position, Russell will manage the public relations efforts for clients from both a traditional and new media perspective. She has worked with clients in a broad variety of industries, including technology, healthcare, food service, real estate and design, and her efforts have produced media placements in such publications as USA Today, The News & Observer, Triangle Business Journal, Woman’s Day, TV series such as Today and Live with Regis and Kelly, and multiple national trade publications.

Lamont Farmer, managing partner of haircolorxperts at the Arboretum in Cary, N.C. and Cameron Village in Raleigh, has announced that the Arboretum location will be offering a “Book Together & Save” special only on Monday, Dec. 26. Clients will receive a complimentary conditioning treatment when booking a haircut, or will receive a complimentary blowout with any color treatment. Appointments must be made in adjacent time slots, and all services must be rendered to receive either special.

William Peace University, a private four-year university located in downtown Raleigh, has announced that Michelle Simonson will serve as the university’s first head men’s cross country coach. A 2006 graduate, Simonson currently serves as the university’s head women’s cross country coach, a position she will continue to hold while leading the men’s cross country team. Simonson will be responsible for enhancing overall awareness of the university’s collegiate cross country program, as well as leading the recruitment process of prospective student-athletes for the 2012-2013 men’s and women’s cross country teams.

Center for Chiropractic & Wellness, a north Raleigh chiropractic center located at 8300 Health Park, has announced the release of a podcast featuring Dr. Jennifer Greenfield. In this podcast, Greenfield discusses the various components of whole nutrition, the differences between whole and all natural foods, what role vitamins and other dietary supplements play in whole nutrition, and more.

Four-Year Baccalaureate University Will Serve As The First And Last Stop During The Annual Community Candlelight Tour

Dean Ogan, owner of Rocky Top Hospitality, has been named to the 2011 advisory board of the North Carolina division of The Chef’s Academy, the Culinary Division of Harrison College, a 108-year-old, nationally accredited institution that offers more than 30 degree programs in five schools of study. Providing support and guidance on the culinary institution’s newest campus, located in Morrisville, N.C., advisory board members will be responsible for evaluating the educational curriculum, providing feedback regarding teaching techniques, prospective on current industry trends and identifying potential opportunities for students to fulfill internships in the culinary and hospitality fields.

The NC Center for Women in Public Service (NCCWPS), a nonpartisan organization that prepares women for elected and appointed offices statewide, has announced that the center is partnering with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Women’s Summit to co-host a Women On Board Workshop on Friday, Dec. 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the UNC Charlotte Center City building located at 320 E. 9th St. in Charlotte, N.C. The event will focus on the importance of women to state and local policy agenda, process and legislative outcomes.

Diane Kuehn, president and CEO of VisionPoint Marketing, has announced that Diana Tong has joined the company as a senior project manager on the account services team. In this role, Tong will serve as the day-to-day contact for clients while providing strategic guidance in web marketing and online outreach. As a senior project manager, Tong will be responsible for managing client relationships and ensuring the timely completion of projects on budget for various clients, particularly in the field of higher education. Previously, Tong worked as an account executive at The Stone Agency, a manager at Brooks Bell Interactive and a freelance strategist and account manager, all in Raleigh. In addition, she co-owns a music-inspired art gallery and boutique called Amplified Art in historic City Market in downtown Raleigh.

Jeff Hatley, vice president of sales at Excel Moving & Storage, a moving and storage company with locations in Raleigh and Greensboro, N.C., and Charleston, S.C., has announced that the company has achieved Green Plus certification from the Institute of Sustainable Development in Durham, N.C. Green Plus certification involves a two-year process of education, networking and recognition in which applicants must first become Green Plus Certified Movers. In order to achieve final certification, Excel Moving & Storage proved support of triple bottom line sustainability practices in the areas of people, planet and performance.

Melanie Black Dubis, a partner at Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP, has been reappointed to the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce’s Education Committee for the second consecutive year. Working with various local educational groups, including the Wake County Public School System, the education committee focuses on the sharing of ideas between local business professionals in an effort to improve the overall school system. Dubis, who is involved in educational improvement as an attorney for the firm, provides legal counsel on the Hoke County Board of Education v. State case. Currently in appeals court, Dubis represents low-wealth school districts on a case in what has been described as one of “the most important North Carolina Supreme Court rulings in living memory.”

Dan Fields, AIA, principal and CMO at BJAC, pa, an architectural firm offering professional services for specialized, complex institutional projects, has announced the release of a podcast on physician practice design concepts. In the podcast, principal architect Fred Wolters discusses the evolving models used for primary healthcare practice design, the industry trends influencing the evolution of practice models, the different types of practice models and the impact of the Affordable Care Act and other legislative influences on the evolution of healthcare practice models.

SfL+a Architects has announced that Barry Buckman has joined the firm as principal. In this position, Buckman will use the skills and knowledge gained from 27 years of industry experience to manage a team of talented architectural professionals and oversee the studio’s alternative delivery projects. Prior to joining SfL+a Architects, Buckman served as principal for his own award-winning design firm, Rogero Buckman Architects. He previously operated a nonprofit community design center, in addition to working as a project architect with Woolpert in both Charlotte, N.C. and Dayton, Ohio.

The Chef’s Academy, the Culinary Division of Harrison College, a 108-year-old, nationally accredited institution that offers more than 30 degree programs in five schools of study, has announced that National Division President Jayson M. Boyers has been named to the board of directors for the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, originally established in 1980, is a nonprofit organization that provides food and service for people at risk of hunger throughout 34 counties across central and eastern North Carolina.