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

• Harvey W. Berman, a member of Bodman PLC's Ann Arbor office and chair of the firm's Construction Practice Group, spoke for the second year in a row at the Michigan Solid State Lighting Association event held at the Oakland University Business INCubator on Thursday, Nov. 10. The theme of the speaking and networking symposium was to discuss job creation, workforce needs, and policies to help build demand for energy efficient products in Michigan. Berman's presentation, "Best Practices for Limiting Risks and Quickly Resolving Disputes," addressed the buying and selling of goods and services, and ways to resolve disagreements, should the need arise.

• Mary Newton has joined the team at real estate firm Keller Williams Ann Arbor as an agent.

• Lakeside Software, a provider of business intelligence solutions for Information Technology professionals, announced Dec. 1 the acquisition and opening of a new research and development facility in Ann Arbor. This facility will primarily be used for product design and development and is expected to accelerate company growth by making it easier to hire top technical talent from the greater Ann Arbor area. The new, fully-functional facility is located at 112 S. Main St. in Ann Arbor. Lakeside's corporate headquarters will remain in Bloomfield Hills.

• The University of Michigan Museum of Art has received a grant of $650,000 from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support and expand a comprehensive initiative for collections-based teaching and learning. The 40-month grant from the Mellon Foundation will be directed toward three objectives: 1) to engage and sustain curriculum-based relationships with students, faculty and staff in a more systematic way; 2) to expand the range of exhibitions that highlight U of M's varied collections; and 3) to fund training and support for future scholars, historians and curators in various stages of their careers.

• Laura Bennett has joined the Ann Arbor office of real estate company Edward Surovell Realtors as a sales associate.

• A total of 11 southeast Michigan women leaders will be honored by the Michigan Business and Professional Association at its 16th annual “Women and Leadership in the Workplace” Conference and Awards program on Jan. 26, 2012 at The Henry Ford in Dearborn. Two of the honorees have links to Washtenaw County: Dr. Ora H. Pescovitz, CEO of University of Michigan Health System and executive vice president for Medical Affairs at the University of Michigan was honored in the Professional category, while Susan Martin, president of Eastern Michigan University was honored in the Education category.

• The University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers are among the safest and most effective hospitals in the country, according to a new national ranking from the respected independent health care quality rating organization, The Leapfrog Group. This is the second year in a row, and third year overall, that Leapfrog named the U-M Hospitals and Health Centers a top hospital. The U-M Hospitals and Health Centers ranks among 65 institutions named 2011 Leapfrog Top Hospitals, based on a rating system that provides a detailed assessment of a hospital's safety and quality. The 2011 Top Hospitals list is based on the results from nearly 1,200 hospitals that responded to the Leapfrog Group's Hospital Quality and Safety Survey. The University of Michigan Health System includes the U-M Hospitals & Health Centers, which comprises: three hospitals (University Hospital, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital) and dozens of outpatient health centers and clinics; the U-M Medical School with its Faculty Group Practice and extensive research and education programs; and the clinical operations of the U-M School of Nursing.

• The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation and the United Way of Washtenaw County recently completed the third phase of their coordinated funding program - working together to award $225,000 in capacity-building grants. Grants were awarded for projects and initiatives that promise to increase efficiencies and enhance the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of local human services. The projects that received funding, and the amounts received were: Avalon Housing Inc. - Sustainable Avalon, $18,000; Blueprint for Aging - Volunteer Washtenaw Expansion, $37,600; Community Action Network - Collaborative Case Management, $24,775; Hope Medical Clinic Inc. - Online Client Registration Project, $11,046; Jewish Family Services - Business Development for Amster Center, $24,000; Michigan Ability Partners - MAP Internal Systems Capacity, $11,409; Milan Seniors for Healthy Living - Transportation Service, $8,480; SOS Community Services - Family Support Network Education Coordinator, $25,000; Washtenaw Alliance for Children & Youth - Shared Professional Development Cross-Agency, $32,225; Washtenaw Area Council for Children - Building Sustainable Funding, $7,465; Washtenaw Housing Alliance - Back Office Consolidation, $25,000.

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