The award was presented to Leigh Howard, owner and Principal Broker of Lake Team Realty.

Lake Team Realty recieved a Distinguished Service Award from the Roanoke Valley Association of Realtors. This is the sixth time in seven years that the team has been given this recognition.

Here is the press release from Lake Team Realty.

MONETA, VA: The Roanoke Valley Association of REALTORS presents annual awards to Firms whose REALTORS meet a set of standards in the fields of higher real estate education, attendance at industry seminars, association involvement in committee work, the Virginia Association of REALTORS policy and advocacy boards, longevity, and community service. LAKE TEAM REALTY, one of the area’s full service real estate firms, has been awarded the Distinguished Service Award for the sixth time in seven years. The award was presented to Leigh Howard, owner and Principal Broker, at the December 13th RVAR Installation Ceremony at the Hotel Roanoke. With 83 years combined experience the REALTORS associated with Lake Team Realty extend their expertise to all counties surrounding Smith Mountain Lake, Roanoke, and Botetourt.

Holiday Inn Express in Troutville was presented with the IHG 2012 Torchbearer Award at the IHG Americas Investors & Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla. Only 102 properties out of more than 4,500 hotels in the IHG system were chosen to receive this award.

Here is the press release from Holiday Inn.

ATLANTA (Oct. 24, 2012) – The Holiday Inn Express, Troutville received the IHG 2012 Torchbearer Award, the company’s most prestigious award.

The Torchbearer Award was presented during the 2012 IHG Americas Investors & Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida, Oct. 24–26, 2012.    Read more »

Price Gutshall, a young Roanoker who is a graduate of Patrick  Henry High and Cornell University, has been hired by Downtown Roanoke Inc. to focus on economic development. Read about his hiring here.

POParazzi Studio and Gallery in Roanoke  is temporarily relocating from its current Kirk Avenue location in the Horton Building to 101 Campbell Ave. The  move is due to renovations in the Horton Building. The studio will be open Sept. 7 from 5 to 9 p.m. for Art by Night and then Monday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m.

Here is the press release from POParazzi Studio/Gallery

POParazzi Studio/Gallery is temporarily relocating to 101 Campbell Avenue due to renovations at the Kirk Avenue location in the Horton Building.

The Campbell Avenue location will be open for the September 7th Art by Night, 5 – 9 pm, and afterwards, from 12 – 5 pm, Monday through Friday.

Gerald Hubert’s solo exhibition “Charmed in Old Southwest” will open to the general public on the October 5th Art by Night at the Campbell Avenue address.

The VT KnowledgeWorks Global Student Challenge will be streamed online live tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. University student teams will pitch business concepts before judges in the Washington Lecture Hall of The Hotel Roanoke. Tune in here to watch the live streaming student challenge.

Here is the press release from VT KnowledgeWorks.

The Third Annual VT KnowledgeWorks Global Student Challenge is this Thursday, August 23 in Washington Lecture Hall of The Hotel Roanoke from 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.  We will be live streaming the entire event, so you can watch elite, university student teams from around the world pitch their business concepts before a panel of judges, and a global and regional audience. Read more »

Joyce Waugh

The president of the  Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce was named Chamber Executive of the Year. Joyce Waugh was recognized by the Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. She was given this designation for her performance in chamber management in Virginia.

Here is the press release from Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce.

(Richmond, VA) Joyce Waugh, President  of the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce,  was selected as the “Chamber Executive of the Year” by the Virginia Association of Chamber   of Commerce Executives at their annual meeting held June 21 at Mariners Landing Resort & Conference Center at Smith Mountain Lake. Read more »

The Becher Agency was given Commonwealth Best In Show honors at the Virginia Public Relations Awards. They were recognized for their work on the City of Roanoke’s  “Eat for Education” campaign. The Richmond Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America recognized businesses and companies statewide at a ceremony May 16.

Here is the press release from PRSA Richmond.

RICHMOND, VA (May 17, 2012) – The Richmond Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) last night honored statewide organizations and companies for excellence in public relations at the 2012 Virginia Public Relations Awards ceremony, held at The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Va.

“We’re proud to recognize the exceptional public relations work from across the Commonwealth,” said Jeff Wilson, APR, president of PRSA Richmond and associate vice president at CRT/tanaka. “This year, we saw some of the most creative and strategic public relations campaigns being executed in Virginia.”

The Virginia Public Relations Awards are separated into two divisions: the Commonwealth Awards, which honor the best public relations programs and campaigns of the year, and the Capital Awards, which honor the best public relations tactics of the year. First-place winners in each category are honored with an Award of Excellence, while runners-up receive an Award of Merit. Finally, Best in Show awards were given to the top overall entries in the campaigns and tactics categories.
Read more »

McAirlaid’s, a German manufacturer that moved to Franklin County in 2008, announced today it will expand and add 40 jobs, bringing total employment to 160.

Children’s Trust Roanoke Valley announced winners of the Golden Halo Awards. A ceremony at the Jefferson Center celebrated the following recipients: Judicial/Legal- Katrina Johnson, Victim Witness Coordinator, City of Salem Commonwealth’s Attorney; Child Protective Services – Robin Freeman, Roanoke County Department of Social Services; Law Enforcement – Det. Neil Gardner, Roanoke County Police Department; Medical Professional – Dr. Don Kees, Associate Chair of Pediatrics, Carilion Clinic; Mental Health Professional – Diane Kelly, Mental Health America of Roanoke Valley; Foster Parents – David and Stephanie Jones; Educator – Michele Dowdy, Coordinator of School Counseling Services, Roanoke County Public Schools; and Volunteer- Mary Ellen Verdu, CASA.

Tony Pearman, chief creativeofficer of Access Advertising & Public Relations, was also recognized with the Guardian Angel Award.

Here is the press release from Children’s Trust Roanoke Valley.

Roanoke, Va.  (April 6, 2012) – Children’s Trust Roanoke Valley announced the recipients of the fifth annual Golden Halo Awards Award during an awards celebration at The Jefferson Center on April 5. Read more »

Area leaders will come together tomorrow to discuss grants and actions taken by Roanoke City to  identify factors of alcohol-related crashes among youth and young adults. The event will take place at 2:30 on the Virginia Western Community College campus. For more information, contact Josh Meyer at 857-6311.

Here is the press release from Virginia Western Community College.

WHO: Speakers include Nancy H. Agee, Carilion Clinic president; Chris C. Perkins, Roanoke City Chief of Police; and Ray Bemis, Coordinator of the Roanoke Prevention Alliance, a constituent coalition of the Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Coalition (RAYSAC).
Attendees include grant partners from Roanoke City government, Roanoke City Police, Virginia Western Community College, Virginia Western Campus Police, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice, Youth of Virginia Speak Out and more. Read more »