SBWire

These days people let their fingers do the walking, not through a phonebook, but rather online as they search for home improvement options and companies to perform those projects. Pro-Built Construction recently launched a new website, aimed at giving customers all the information about its specialty services: screen porches and 3 season rooms.

North Carolina-based Wellness Center Excel Body Fitness donated towards making Foundation of Hope's Walk for Hope in Raleigh a reality this month. The annual event was held this year on October 9, 2016 just one day after World Mental Health Day – a day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma. 100% of the money raised by participants directly funds local mental health research at the UNC Neurosciences Hospital in Chapel Hill. However, Excel's contribution towards the event is but one small show of how the North Carolina fitness center takes mental health seriously.

Crescent State Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Crescent Financial Corporation, (NASDAQ Global MarketSM), has announced that the company was ranked No. 24 in “The Financial 100” rankings by Business North Carolina magazine. Based on 2010 revenue, the ranking includes banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions with operations in North Carolina. Crescent State Bank is headquartered in Cary.

MMI Public Relations, a Raleigh-based, full-service public relations firm, has announced that Ryan Didsbury has joined MMI as traffic coordinator, where he manages and oversees the daily distribution of client news releases, submits projects for client approval, and tracks newspaper and online news clips. Prior to joining MMI, Didsbury worked as the head of advertising for a local community newspaper. A recent graduate of NC State University, he earned his Bachelor of Science in business administration with a concentration in marketing.

Managing Partner Ralph J. DiLeone Discusses The Necessary Steps For Successful Planning And Execution Of An Estate At Any Age

Confero, Inc., a national customer experience measurement firm, has announced that president and CEO Elaine Buxton recently appeared in a television commercial for TrustAtlantic Bank, a financial institution focused on assisting mid-market businesses, business owners and individuals with their financial needs. In the 90-second spot, Buxton discusses why TrustAtlantic Bank is a reliable partner in building Confero’s business, as well as how the bank’s knowledge and understanding meet and surpass client financial expectations. Jim Beck, president and CEO of TrustAtlantic Bank, also appears in the video.

MedPro Rx, Inc., a provider of specialty pharmacy services to clients with chronic illnesses who need clotting factor, IVIg and other medication, has announced that President Nancy McFarlane won the Stevie Award for Best Entrepreneur – Service Businesses - Up to 100 Employees in the Stevie Awards for Women in Business.

Patty Briguglio, president of MMI Public Relations, a Raleigh-based full-service public relations firm, has announced that the company will serve as a collection center for the Heart of Cary Association holiday toy drive. The company will collect new unwrapped toys at its location at 223 E. Chatham St. until Tuesday, Dec. 13. All donations will be distributed at The Carying Place, a nonprofit that helps working families with children who have inadequate housing or financial resources, and Dorcas Ministries, a organization dedicated to providing area residents with emergency assistance in shelter, clothing, fuel, food, transportation, medical care and education.

Rich Van Tassel, president of Royal Oaks Building Group, LLC, has announced that the company held a groundbreaking on Sept. 27 for the new pool at Parker Pointe, a residential community located in the historic district of Fuquay-Varina, N.C. Homes range from the $170s through $270s and include 13 floor plans with offerings such as three-car garages, ranch homes, first-floor master suites, basement homes, two-story and optional third-floor plans. Each property comes equipped with granite kitchen tops, gas ranges and stainless steel appliances, and all are Energy Star Certified. The community features a soccer field and dog park. Parker Pointe offers the charm of small-town living while it provides quick access to downtown Raleigh, local hospitals and universities, Fort Bragg, and many other top area shopping and dining destinations.

Raleigh area Attorney, Adam Smith, was recently certified to the North Carolina State Bar as a specialist in Workers Compensation. He is one of 109 state-wide to achieve this goal and the only attorney in Cary to hold this honor. Mr. Smith, an associate at the Law Office of D. Hardison Wood concentrates his legal practice in the areas of workers compensation and personal injury. He received his BA from Duke University in Political Science graduating cum laude and his JD from Duke Law. Mr. Smith is a member of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, the Wake County Bar Association and is admitted to practice in all state courts and the Federal US District Courts in the Eastern and Middle Districts. Mr. Smith is available for consultations on workplace injuries.

Fuentek, LLC, a local technology consulting firm that provides intellectual property (IP) and technology transfer services, has announced that Laura A. Schoppe, president of the firm, was selected from among hundreds of candidates to be featured in the “2012 Woman’s Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar.” The calendar features daily advice from successful women business owners across the United States and Canada on topics such as strategy, teambuilding, marketing and finance.

Karen Albright, president of BodyLase Skin Spa, has announced the BodyLase Skin Spa Holiday “Give Thanks, Give Food” Food Drive. An award-winning medical spa with several lasers and dozens of aesthetic treatment offerings, BodyLase offers these events as a way to help those less fortunate and give back to the community.

Kristin Buie, communications manager of North Carolina Theatre, has announced that the organization, along with Broadway Series South and Hot Summer Nights, will present performances of A Christmas Story, The Musical! from Tuesday, Nov. 29 through Sunday, Dec. 4 at the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts, located at 2 E. South St. Performances will start at 7:30 p.m. with additional weekend performances on Saturday, Dec. 3 and Sunday, Dec. 4 at 2 p.m. Producer Peter Billingsley, who played Ralphie in the 1983 movie that formed the basis of this musical, brings one of America’s most-loved Christmas stories to life with a bright holiday score and energetic cast of characters that includes Broadway favorite Karen Mason as school teacher Miss Shields.

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 be giving a presentation to N.C. State University civil engineering graduate-level students completing the risk and financial management in construction course on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 10:15 a.m. Stewart will discuss behavior and effective management tools with students as well as specifically address the four dimensions of behavior, management based on specific behavioral styles, the concept of behavior and its impact on the work environment, and the role of high performing teams in the workplace.

William Peace University, a private four-year university located in downtown Raleigh, has announced that Debra M. Townsley, Ph.D., president of the university, was named a mentor within the NCAA Outreach Program for First-Time Chancellors and Presidents. The NCAA Outreach Program provides new chancellors and presidents of Division III colleges with important information about the NCAA and the management of intercollegiate athletics. The program is designed by the NCAA to lay the groundwork for greater presidential participation in the governance structure. Townsley recently visited and shared her experiences, offering best practices with Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa and agreed to serve as a future resource as needed. Townsley has participated as presenter at the annual NCAA Outreach Program for new presidents at the NCAA Annual Convention for the last two years since its inception.

Passage Home, a nonprofit agency fighting poverty and homelessness in Wake County, has announced the staff additions of Karis Lovett Tompkins as chief development officer and Tiffany Wright as chief operations officer. Both Tompkins and Wright will seek to enrich the network of corporations, congregations and community organizations that support Passage Home.

Operation: Coming Home, a joint volunteer project by the Triangle Veterans Association, Royal Oaks Building Group, Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County (HBA), and Gaines & Company, among others, has announced that Sgt. Carlos Evans, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and his family will be the recipients of the third house donated by the organization in a ceremony to be held in Cameron, N.C. on Friday, Dec. 2. Operation: Coming Home volunteers and local dignitaries will be on hand to present Sgt. Evans with the key to his new house, which he will share with his wife, Rosemarie, and their two daughters, Nairoby and Genesis.

Patty Briguglio, president of MMI Public Relations, a Raleigh-based full-service public relations firm, has announced that the company will serve as a sponsor for the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Elected Officials Holiday Reception taking place Wednesday, Nov. 30 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts, located at 2 E. South St. The reception is being held to honor and thank elected leaders for another year of dedicated service. Attendees will include mayors from Wake County, members of the Raleigh City Council, the Wake County Board of Commissioners, the Wake County Board of Education, the Wake County state legislative delegation, and members of the area’s U.S. Congressional delegation.

Billie Redmond, CEO of Coldwell Banker Commercial TradeMark Properties, has announced that Mike Wright has been promoted to Senior Investment Advisor in the Advisory Services division of the firm. In his new position, Wright will specialize in investment sales with a focus on multi-family and “value added” real estate opportunities. Prior to joining Coldwell Banker Commercial TradeMark properties in 2008, he worked for four years in residential real estate sales in Cape Coral, Fla., specializing in investment real estate and foreclosures. Wright currently resides in Raleigh with his wife, Keeley.

Bruce Clarke, president and CEO of CAI, a human resource management firm that helps organizations maximize employee engagement while minimizing employer liability, has announced the company’s December 2011 schedule of training and development seminars. All courses will be held at CAI’s Raleigh location at 2900 Highwoods Blvd., unless otherwise noted.

William Peace University, a private four-year university located in downtown Raleigh, has announced that Sue Greiner has joined the university as its registrar, where she will be responsible for certifying graduates, building student academic course schedules and monitoring both the safety and security of student records. Previously serving in the registrar offices of Meredith College in Raleigh, Lenoir Community College in Kinston, N.C., and Piedmont Community College in Roxboro, N.C., Greiner brings more than 12 years of student record and registrar experience to the campus of William Peace University.

The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), the nation’s largest traditional grocery retailer with 16 stores throughout the Triangle, has announced that it will be offering quadruple fuel points on holiday gift card purchases as well as helpful, money-saving tips for customers during the holiday season. The tips were compiled by Kroger associates, mom bloggers and frugal living experts.

The audits were conducted by Underwriters Laboratories Inc., an internationally accredited registrar for management systems standards who verified that BTC’s quality system fulfills the requirements for the AS9100C:2009-01, EN9100:2009 and JIS Q9100:2009 standards.

Jason Konesco, president of Harrison College, a post-secondary, proprietary educational institution aimed at business, industry, and the public sector, has announced the Harrison College-Center for Leadership Development (Indianapolis) scholarship program. Each school year, starting with the 2012 year, Harrison College will award one full scholarship (approximately $50,000) to an alumnus of the Center for Leadership Development program, which was established in 1977 after Indianapolis community leaders identified several reasons why African-American youth were failing to achieve or even aspiring to achieve academic, college or career success. The CLD established itself with the mission of empowering minority youth to see their potential and take action to fulfill their goals. Since 2004, the CLD has been in partnership with Indiana colleges and universities to award scholarships to eligible CLD alumni. Students who have successfully completed Self-Discovery/Career Exploration and College Prep are eligible for scholarship consideration. For 2011, CLD scholars received more than $1.8 million in scholarships from 18 partner institutions and organizations.

Melissa Essary, dean of the Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, has announced that Chief Justice Sarah Parker of the Supreme Court of North Carolina has been awarded the Judge Robinson O. Everett Award for Legal Excellence. Chief Justice Parker, also a Campbell Law Board of Visitors member, received the award at the Delta Theta Phi Third Annual Judge Robinson O. Everett Awards Gala and Campbell Law Professionalism Dinner at the Cardinal Club in downtown Raleigh on Nov. 16.

North Raleigh Florist, located at 7457 Six Forks Road, has announced the release of a podcast offering advice on Thanksgiving floral arrangements, with insight into current holiday trends. In the podcast, Janice Cutler, president and owner of North Raleigh Florist, discusses the most popular Thanksgiving floral requests, how to incorporate seasonal fruits and vegetables into arrangements, the best flower choices for creating either a traditional or modern feel, and the best centerpieces for both small and large tables.

William Peace University, a private four-year university located in downtown Raleigh, has announced that Nabeel Jaitapker has joined the university’s communication department as the communication and social media marketing specialist. Responsible for promoting the university and its goals through the production of printed and multimedia materials, Jaitapker will monitor the visual presence of the university in respect to the local Triangle community, as well as manage all editorial content, including the university’s website and marketing collateral. A citizen of Dubai, U.A.E, Jaitapker received a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast management from the University of Texas at Arlington, followed by a Master of Arts degree in strategic communication and leadership from Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J. Previously working for the Houston Chronicle, Jaitapker has more than seven years of experience in social media, journalism, public relations, and both internal and external communications management.