The following is a list of achievements by businesses and individuals in the Ann Arbor area:

• Four area attorneys were honored by the State Bar of Michigan's Representative Assembly last night at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn during the assembly's general session, held in conjunction with SBM's annual meeting. Kelly K. Burris, a patent attorney and shareholder at Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione in Ann Arbor received an "Unsung Hero" award for her volunteer work with the Air Charity Network, also known as Angel Flight, a charity that uses private aircraft to deliver medical supplies and to transport people with medical conditions who are unable to fly commercially. 

Lloyd E. Powell, chief public defender of Washtenaw County, received the Frank J. Kelley Distinguished Public Service Award for his outstanding efforts to help local law enforcement adopt race-neutral crime fighting techniques. Paul D. Reingold, director of the University of Michigan's Clinical Law Program, and a U-M professor, received the Champion of Justice Award for fighting for prisoners' civil rights, and aiding in the creation of a free health insurance program that serves more than 10,000 people. Joseph C. Basta, a commercial litigation attorney with Dykema Gossett, received the John W. Cummiskey Pro Bono Award for spending more than 20 years defending Robert Newland, a Georgia death row inmate, and for donating over 500 hours of his time to mediation services at Wayne Mediation Center. In other news from Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, Michael S. Gzybowski has joined the firm's Ann Arbor office, focusing his practice on patent prosecution and litigation of U.S. and foreign patents.

• Todd Perry, senior financial planner at Vintage Financial Services LLC in Ann Arbor recently obtained the Certified Investment Management AnalystSM designation. The CIMA designation, delivered by Investment Management Consultants Association, is the only advanced designation designed specifically for investment consultants.

• The Ford Motor Company Fund gave a $5,000 grant to Arbor Hospice. It was used Sept. 11, the National Day of Service and Remembrance, to build a play structure in a "Caregiver's Garden" on the hospice grounds at Oak Valley Drive in Ann Arbor. Ford also provided 30 volunteers to work on the project.

• The Ann Arbor ATHENA PowerLink program is accepting applications from women business owners in Washtenaw County who wish to participate in the program. The program links a business with a panel of advisors who meet the specific needs of that business. Women entrepreneurs with at least two years of experience running their own business can get a year of pro bono advice and coaching from Washtenaw county business experts. Apply online at http://www.athenawashtenaw.org/. Deadline for applications is Oct. 16.

• Saline-based Homeowner Services of America Inc. will celebrate its 25th anniversary by reimbursing 25 percent of one client’s expenditures with HSA, up to $5,000 maximum, for remodeling services completed by the company between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 2010. For more details, visit the HSA Web site.

• Sheena McDougall-Awad of Ypsilanti has become an independent consultant with Tastefully Simple Inc., a national direct-sales company featuring easy-to-prepare food products.

• Ann Arbor resident Mia Axon has been named development director for The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan.

• The law firm Dickinson Wright PLLC announced that 53 of the firm's attorneys have been named 2009 Michigan Super Lawyers, and 12 Dickinson Wright attorneys have been named "Rising Stars." Super Lawyers is a listing of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Rising Stars are the top attorneys in the state who are 40 years old or younger or who have been practicing for 10 years or less. Among those attorneys named 2009 Super Lawyers are Michael C. Hammer, James L. Hughes, Michael T. Raymond and Colleen M. Shevnock, all of Ann Arbor. Jeffrey R. Dobson of Ann Arbor was named a Rising Star.

• The Salvation Army of Washtenaw County hired Ann Arbor resident Debra Molitor as director of development. She will handle developing community/business relationships, coordinating new fundraisers and events, increasing volunteers and maintaining/increasing donations in Ann Arbor and the rest of Washtenaw County.

• Three companies were recently awarded a combined total of $137,500 in microloan funding through the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund, a collaborative effort of Michigan's SmartZones to support start-up growth throughout the state. The fund is administered by Ann Arbor SPARK. The three companies were Advanced Battery Concepts of Midland, FreeStride in Ann Arbor and RealBio, based in Kalamazoo. The three firms will use the funding to further the commercialization efforts of their technologies.

• Superior Capital Partners LLC, a Detroit-based private equity firm, has formed NAPC Holdings LLC, an investment platform created to acquire the assets of Ann Arbor-based National Archive Publishing Company in a secured party sale. NAPC Holdings will operate the business through two new subsidiaries, XanEdu Publishing Inc. and NA Publishing, Inc.

• The Ann Arbor Area Board of REALTORS elected five members to fill open seats on the 2010 board of directors. Jeffrey Hartlep of Edward Surovell, Realtors and Bill Miller of The Charles Reinhart Company were elected to a two-year term. Jason Boggs of The Charles Reinhart Company, Linda Lombardini of Trillium Real Estate and Vance Shutes of Real Estate One were elected to a three-year term. In other news from the AABOR general meeting, Jeff Fletcher of Fletcher Inspections LLC was named Affiliate of the Year and Mary Helen Gilbert was honored in memoriam as Realtor of the year. Her daughter Maria Gilbert accepted the award on behalf of Mary Helen Gilbert, a former director and treasurer of the board.

• Shareholders of Ann Arbor-based Tecumseh Products Co., a global manufacturer of compressors and related products, elected four of director candidates: Kent Herrick, Steven Lebowski, Terence Seikel and Zachary Savas. Shareholders also reelected Edwin Buker, chairman, president and CEO of Tecumseh Products.

• ReCellular Inc. a Dexter-based company, recently received "Four Star Certified Recycler," the highest level of distinction by the Michigan Recycling Coalition in the new statewide recycling certification program. In 2008, ReCellular refurbished, reused or recycled 5.7 million cellular handsets.

• Ann Arbor-based OnSite ERT, a company that provides portable and rapidly deployable system used for tracking and monitoring emergency responders, recently released OnSite ERT Central. OnSite ERT Central is a database that facilitates multi-agency response coordination during emergencies.

• Ann Arbor-based Icon Interactive Agency, a company that provides Web development and communication services, recently added two new employees to the international team of twenty-five employees. Deborah Miller will serve ICON as the director of operations. Jennifer L. Peak was hired to the ICON team as the director of new business development. In related news, ICON Creative Technology Group recently moved to 220 Felch St. to make room for growth and expansion.

• Ricardo Inc., the US subsidiary of Ricardo PLC, based in Van Buren Tonwship, recently announced the launch of the Ocelot, a collaboration between Ricardo and Force Protection Europe. This new light protected patrol vehicle was unveiled at the Defense Systems & Equipment International Exhibition, the world's largest international defense exhibition, at the ExCel arena in London. Ocelot is designed for deployment in demanding and hostile of operational environments.

• Daniel Ray, associate professor of law, was promoted to the position of assistant dean of The Thomas M. Cooley Law School's Ann Arbor campus. School officials also announced that David Finnegan and Mara Kent will become faculty members at the Ann Arbor campus. Finnegan teaches property and international law. Kent teaches Contracts and Sales, and she is the vice chair of the contracts department.

• The Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business celebrates its 10th anniversary with the start of the 2009-10 school year. Events commemorating the anniversary will be held today and tomorrow in conjunction with the university's10th Annual Entrepalooza Symposium.

• Ann Arbor-based Borders Group Inc. attained a perfect score of 100 percent on the 2010 Corporate Equality Index published by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, a civil rights organization. This is the third consecutive year - that Borders Group has attained a perfect score on the index.

• A new product, Victory Cakes, is the brainchild of Christa Chambers-Price, managing director of Knowledgecrush.com, an online think tank based in Ann Arbor dedicated to helping individuals manage personal transformations through e-learning and networking. The cakes celebrate nontraditional victories such as getting a promotion or being approved for a home loan. The first Victory Cake design will be dedicated to helping those on the verge of losing their homes, with a percentage of each sale going toward assisting families who are in danger of losing their homes. As funds are available, The Ann Arbor Community Center will distribute them to families who are being impacted by the economic downturn. Applications can be picked up at the Ann Arbor Community Center. The cost of the Victory Cake is: $50. For more information, email christa@knowledgecrush.com.

Upcoming business events:

• Today: New Enterprise Forum will hold its monthly meeting at SPARK Central 330 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor. 5 p.m. The topic of this month's meeting is "The Devil is in the Details, Part I: Term Sheets & Investor Rights." In addition, the Showcase Presenter will be Aaron Nelson of Audiallo. Free to NEF members, $20 for non-members, $5 for students. For more information, visit the NEF Web site.

• Sept. 18: Women's Exchange of Washtenaw "You Goal Girl" goal-setting event. Eagle Crest Marriott, Ypsilanti. 7:30 - 10 a.m. $30. For more information, see the Women's Exchange of Washtenaw Web site.

• Sept. 18: Entrepalooza. University of Michigan Ross School of Business. 7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Inspirational business success stories from Fortune 100 executives and venture capital leaders, as well as unique insight into emerging trends such as social entrepreneurship and alternative financing. For more information or to register to attend the event, visit http://www.epalooza.bus.umich.edu/.

• Sept. 20: Rocktoberfest. Guy Hollerin restaurant inside Holiday Inn, 3600 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor. First set starts at 1:30 p.m. $25 includes three musical acts and a German food buffet. Proceeds benefit the Ann Arbor nonprofit Food Gatherers. For more information, visit the Holiday Inn Web site.

• Sept. 21: Oliver/Hatcher Construction 10th Annual Charity Golf Outing. Benefits C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital Child and Family Life Department. Meadowbrook Country Club, 40941 Eight Mile Road in Northville. Registration for 18-hole scramble begins at 10:30 a.m. with a noon shotgun start. Individual golfer: $250. Dinner only: $75. Sponsorships: start at $250. Registration: Contact Joanne Sweetman at (248) 374-1100 or jsweetman@oliverhatcher.com. For more information, see the Oliver/Hatcher Web site. Registration deadline is Sept. 14.

• Sept. 30: Cleary University brings the Disney Institute’s traveling professional development program, the Disney Keys to Excellence, to Howell. The program provides an opportunity to learn best business practices from Disney insiders and discover ways to adapt and apply those best practices to pick up the pace in slow economic times. Registration and fees for the program are $395 per person and include course materials and a full day of catered meals and beverages. For more information and to register for the Disney Keys to Excellence program, call 877-544-2384 or visit http://www.keysannarbor.com.

• Oct. 10: "Pink Party” Jam, a benefit for the American Cancer Society's “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer”. MidWest Financial Credit Union headquarters at 2400 Green Road, just North of Plymouth Road, in Ann Arbor.7 - 9 p.m. On-site massage, music accompanied by live drumming, and information sharing from the American Cancer Society and other local wellness organizations. Please wear pink (if you have it) and make it comfortable for movement. Light bites and refreshments will be provided. A $15 donation at the door is suggested, with profits donated to the American Cancer Society. RSVP to Jennifer Desiderio at inner_dancer@yahoo.com or (734) 340-6850.

• Oct. 23: Dine & Dash benefit for Arbor Hospice. 6:30 p.m., Travis Pointe Country Club in Ann Arbor. $350 per couple. Sponsorship information and tickets are available online at the Arbor Hospice Web site or by calling (734) 794-5152.

• Email items for People, Achievements and Paparazzi to business@annarbor.com.

Photo: Kelly K. Burris