Applause for July 6

Autodesk dubs Unverferth as ‘Inventor of Month’

Autodesk, Inc. recently named Unverferth Manufacturing, a leading provider of agricultural equipment and machinery, its “Inventor of the Month” for April 2008.

By using the Autodesk Inventor mechanical design software and Digital Prototyping technology, Unverferth has been able to virtually design, explore and interact with a pioneering series of soil tillers before its agricultural tools are built, according to Autodesk officials.

The Inventor of the Month program recognizes the most innovative design and engineering advancements made using Autodesk Inventor software, which helped Unverferth expand its product line to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from farm operations.

Unverferth was selected from the more than 700,000 users of the software.

LMPC Diabetic Center wins honor

The Lima Memorial Professional Corporation Diabetic Center at the Lima Memorial Medical Park has been awarded the American Diabetes Association’s Education Recognition Certificate. The certificate is awarded to educational programs that meet the rigid National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education Programs.

Programs that achieve “recognition” status have a staff of knowledgeable health professionals who can provide participants comprehensive information about diabetes self-management.

Kesner Insurance designated senior partner

Kesner Insurance Agency, of Lima, was recently awarded a Senior Partner designation with Grange Insurance, of Columbus.

The Senior Partner designation is given to agencies that develop strong relationships and provide superior service to clients through partnerships with reputable insurance carriers.

Kesner Insurance Agency is a local family-owned, full-service independent insurance agency specializing in auto, home, business, life, health, worksite products and senior products.

Red Cross gets new board members

 During the annual meeting of the Allen County Chapter of the American Red Cross, conducted June 19, several individuals were appointed to the governing board, said David B. Collins, executive director. Board members appointed to begin their first three-year term were: Dr. Shama Amin, Phyllis Henderson, William Henderson, Ida Kay Keller, Dr. Praveen Maholtra and Don Witter. Board members beginning their second three-year term are: Farley Banks, Kelly Kirk and VaLaire Orchard.

UNOH promotes nine faculty members

The University of Northwestern Ohio approved promotions for nine faculty members, effective this coming fall quarter.

Promotions include: Mariann Byrne, department of business administration, to professor; Maryann Brohard, department of general education, to professor; Randy Blank, department of general education, to associate professor; Nancy Karhoff, department of office management, to associate professor; Deb Bartlett, department of business, to associate professor; Gabe Oakley, department of information technology, to senior instructor; Sarah Kidd, department of general education, to senior instructor; Shannon Warman, department of general education, to senior instructor; and Chris Cavallaro, department of general education, to senior instructor.

For more information, see www.unoh.edu or call 419-998-3120.

Dysert appointed SVP/Lima City President at Citizens Bank

Citizens National Bank recently named Ken Dysert as Senior Vice President/City President for its Lima location. Dysert will be responsible for the overall banking operations, including commercial lending and deposits, in the Lima area.

Dysert most recently served as SVP/Treasury Management for Citizens and has more than a decade of banking experience. He is a graduate of Ada High School and received a bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting from Bluffton University. He is a member of the Lima Rotary Club and serves on the Lima Allen County Chamber of Commerce Finance Board.

Barlage joins Lima/Allen Chamber of Commerce

The Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce recently appointed Jacquelyn Barlage as its new director of communications.

Barlage graduated from the University of Toledo in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree majoring in communications with an emphasis in public relations and marketing.  Upon graduation, she worked as a marketing professional in several different working environments, with several years of experience in communications and marketing.

Barlage will be primarily responsible for updating and maintaining the chamber’s Web site, coordinating the Young Professionals’ several committees and programs, and working with strategic marketing committees, media coordination and event planning.

She joined the Chamber in May.

State Patrol promotes Piper

Shawn A. Piper, electronics technician No. 2 of the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Findlay District, was promoted to Highway Patrol Electronic Technician Manager recently by Col. Richard H. Collins, patrol superintendent. Piper is transferring to the patrol’s general headquarters in Columbus.

He joined the state patrol in December 1989 and was a member of the State Electronic Technician Team of the Year in 1994 and 2007.

Originally from Convoy, Piper earned a certificate in electricity from Vantage Vocational School in 1983, and an associate of arts degree in electronics from ITT Technical Institute in 1989.

NBC Lima adds to lineup

NBC Lima added a new sports director and two new anchors to its television lineup.

Joe Downs is the new sports director. He comes to NBC Lima from WVIR-TV, Charlottesville, Va., where he did both sports and news. Before that, Downs was the sports director in Harrisonburg, Va., for five years. He also was also an executive sports producer for WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh. He is a native of Maine.

Ashley Cesarano joins NBC Lima as First Edition anchor and producer. She comes to Lima from Sioux City, Iowa, where she worked as a reporter/producer for KCAU- TV. Prior to that, she worked for NBC News in Washington, D.C. Cesarano was born and raised in Miami, Fla., and is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

Mindy Pauris joins the station as weekend anchor/producer. She graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in criminal justice. She also graduated from Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts last year. While in Michigan, she worked at Community Television Network in Ann Arbor and at Voice Over Productions in Southfield. She is a native of Lima and a graduate of Shawnee High School.

Local part of state contest winner

Winning first and second place along with two honorable mentions, Enzo’s Salon & Spa, of North Royalton and Avon Lake, had a successful showing in the 2008 Ohio Stylist cover contest, according to Danielle Victory, a Lima native and member of the winning team.

The annual contest consists of hundreds of applicants throughout the state, all vying for a spot on the cover of the trade newspaper. The editorial staff and contributors of the paper determine the best haircut, style, and make-up in the competition.

The paper’s cover was released June 15 and can be viewed at www.ohiostylist.com.

How to submit
Applause items

The Applause section celebrates accomplishments of businesses and business people in the Lima region. This includes promotions, special training, awards and other achievements. As space permits, we will also report a significant business anniversary. In this case, please provide the day of opening, key changes in location, ownership and function. Any business or business organization is welcome to submit an item for Applause. To submit an item, send to:

         Newsroom/Applause

         The Lima News

         3515 Elida Road

         Lima, OH 45807

Items may also be e-mailed to info@limanews.com. Please include the word “Applause” in the subject line. All items must include the phone number of the person submitting the item.