From new hires and promotions to industry awards, read on to learn about achievements by businesses and individuals in the greater Ann Arbor area:

• Bank of Ann Arbor recently announce that its president and CEO, Timothy Marshall, has been approved by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Bank to serve as chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's Community Depository Institution Advisory Council. Marshall was originally appointed to serve as one of the 12 council members representing the five-state Chicago Federal Reserve region in early 2011. In his role as chair of the Chicago region, Marshall will also attend meetings of the national CDIAC hosted by the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C. Marshall is the only community banker representing the State of Michigan on both the Chicago and national CDIAC.

• Dale Vanderford of Superior Township has joined Plante Moran PLLC's Southfield office as an associate within the management consulting group. Vanderford specializes in assisting government entities with technology, assessment, technology planning, enterprise resource planning selection and ERP implementation. Prior to joining Plante Moran, he worked for Washtenaw County as director of technology and operations and infrastructure director.

• Ann Arbor’s Leslie Park Golf Course has achieved designation as a “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, an Audubon International program. Scott Spooner, LPGC course superintendent, has led the effort to gain this certification. Leslie Park Golf Course is the 11th course in Michigan and the 960th in the world to receive the designation. Additionally, LPGC is only the second course in the state to be certified both in Audubon’s program and the Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program.

• The United Way of Washtenaw County honored the work of individuals and local businesses at an awards lunch on Jan. 26. The event is held annually during UWWC’s Workplace Giving campaign season. This year’s "Live United Spirit Award" winners are Bill Fileti, president/CEO of IHA; Rob Casalou, president/CEO of St. Joseph Mercy Medical System, and Doug Strong, director and CEO of the University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers. Additionally, three companies were awarded the second annual Huron Valley Award of Excellence, for encouraging leadership giving. The winners were Toyota (500+ employees category); McNaughton & Gunn (100 to 499 employees category) and Associated Spring Barnes (less than 100 employees). The Robert E. Guenzel Award, which honors an individual who holds an executive position and who is focused and passionate about making a difference for members of the community, was presented to Steve Dobson local community leader and volunteer. The "Rising Star Award" was given to NuStep, recognizing the company for its first few years of running a United Way campaign. UWWC’s nominees for the Spirit of Michigan award were also announced: NSF International and Randy Wise Chevrolet. These awards given to companies who are innovative in the annual United Way campaign. Winners will be announced later in February.

• In related news from United Way of Washtenaw County, education policy consultant Martha Darling has been selected as the UWWC 2012 Woman of the Year. Darling will be honored at the UWWC’s “Power of the Purse” event on March 14. Darling was chosen by the Power of the Purse committee for her extensive work in early childhood issues, including serving as a chair of the Leadership Commission of Success by 6: A Great Start Initiative.

• Butzel Long attorney and shareholder Bethany Steffke Sweeny was elected to the board of directors of SafeHouse Center in Ann Arbor. SafeHouse Center is a nonprofit agency that provides services and support for those impacted by domestic violence or sexual assault. It provides free and confidential services for any person victimized that lives or works in Washtenaw County. Sweeny will serve a three-year term on the board of directors.

• Perry Nursery School teacher Jesseca Aqui has been awarded a grant from the Terri Lynne Lokoff National Child Care Teacher Awards. Perry is a nonprofit preschool based in Washtenaw County. Aqui’s award includes a $1,000 grant, of which $500 will be used on her proposed classroom project, "Little Chefs." She will also receive an all-expenses paid trip to Philadelphia for the award ceremony, where she will be one of 52 recipients honored.

• Debra Polich will serve as interim executive director for Washtenaw County-based nonprofit The Arts Alliance as the transition team continues to consider options for the organization. Polich, currently president/CEO of Artrain, accepted the position after the Artrain board endorsed releasing her part-time for the Arts Alliance interim appointment. She will serve and split her time between both organizations. Polich's Arts Alliance post began Feb. 6.

• Ann Arbor-based Adeona Pharmaceuticals Inc., a developer of synthetic DNA-based therapeutics and innovative disease-modifying medicines for serious illnesses, recently announced several changes to its staff. The company has hired C. Evan Ballantyne as chief financial officer. Additionally, Jeff Riley, a member of the Adeona Board of Directors since March 2010 and chairman of the board since November 2011, was appointed as the company's president and CEO, and Scott L. Tarriff and Nelson K. Stacks were appointed independent members of the company's board of directors.

• Dr. Bernadette Gendernalik of Ann Arbor was recently named president/chief of the medical staff at McLaren-Macomb (formerly Mount Clemens Regional Medical Center). Dr. Gendernalik currently practices with McLaren Family Medicine Metro in Clinton Township. In addition to practicing family medicine, Dr. Gendernalik is an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

• Mainstreet Ventures Inc. recognized 15 award winning restaurant employees, one from each MSV restaurant, during the company’s annual President’s Awards program on Jan. 11. This program rewards employees found to be the best of the best in their respective MSV restaurant. 2011 MSV President’s Coin winners from Ann Arbor restaurants were Colleen Newman of Carson’s American Bistro, Walter Watts of Gratzi, Greg Bratkovich of Palio, Lorenzo Salazar of Real Seafood Company and Guadalupe Colin of The Chop House. Mainstreet Ventures Inc. owns and operates 15 eateries in five states.

• Domino's Pizza, headquartered in Ann Arbor, raised more than $2.4 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital during the 2011 St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign. This year's campaign brings Domino's total amount raised for St. Jude to over $12 million since the partnership was announced in 2004.

• Arbor Hospice and the related Arbor Hospice Foundation recently welcomed new board members and elected officers for 2012. The new officers of the board are Dr. David Smith, chair of the Arbor Hospice Board; Jackie Silhanek, vice-chair; Dr. Rosemary Berardi, secretary; and Cindy Livesay, treasurer and chair of the finance committee. Smith and Silhanek are residents of Ann Arbor, and Berardi and Livesay are residents of Saline. Additionally, Stephen Davis of Saline, Gene Eavy of Ann Arbor, Angel Gibson of Allen Park, Gregory Hawkins of Ann Arbor, Pat Jannausch of Ann Arbor, Kurt Kobiljak of Grosse Ile, Bud Lauderbach of Brighton and Kathleen Wade of Ann Arbor are new board members. Charles W. Borgsdorf, an Ann Arbor resident, continues as chairperson of The Arbor Hospice Foundation for 2012, while Todd Kephart and Bruce Carty remain in their roles of vice chair and treasurer, respectively. Kirk Albert of Ann Arbor assumes the role of secretary. Terri Denhof of Northville, Richard Reedy of Ann Arbor and Francyne Stacey of Ann Arbor are new to The Arbor Hospice Foundation Board of Directors.

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