Christopher Brown

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

Realtor Christopher Brown has joined the sales team at Weichert, Realtors - Ehman & Greenstreet in Ypsilanti. Brown is a lifelong area resident who makes his home in Dexter. The agency, owned by Broker Clark Brown, has additional offices in Ann Arbor and Farmington Hills.

• The A2Y Chamber recently added two new membership sales representatives and a new senior accountant to the staff. Julie Kedroske, a resident of Chelsea, began at the chamber as a marketing and events intern over summer 2011 and was hired for the sales position in November. The second newly-added sales rep is Rosalind Vaughn, an Ypsilanti resident who spent the last nine years as a mortgage loan officer. Senior Accountant Cindie Dulaney, a resident of Fenton, is currently studying for her MBA at the University of Michigan. In additional news from the chamber, officials announced a new name and a new direction for what used to be the Ambassador Corps, MAT and DRIVE Team. This new group will be called A2Y Connect, and the focus will be strengthening relationships between chamber members, helping members maximize the benefits of their membership and promoting Chamber programs and services.

• Gov. Rick Snyder on Dec. 28 announced the appointment of four members to the Michigan Strategic Fund, a board whose mission is to promote economic development and create jobs, including authorizing community development block grant applications to acting as the fiduciary agent for the 21st Century Jobs Fund. Among those appointed to the board was Sabrina Keeley of Ann Arbor, the chief operating officer of Business Leaders for Michigan. Keeley will replace Linda Ewing. Appointees will serve four-year terms expiring Dec. 31, 2015.

• In related news from the governor's office, Gov. Snyder on Dec. 29 announced the appointment of seven new members to the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council, an 11-member panel housed in the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development working to boost Michigan's wine industry. Among those appointed to the council were two Ann Arbor residents. Claes Fornell is the founder and chairman of CRI Group USA LLC. He is also the Donald C. Cook Professor of Business Administration at the University of Michigan's business school. He will represent grape growers and replaces M. David Anthony. Michael Marsh is the co-founder, owner and vice president of Flatout Inc., a bakery based in Saline that sells breads in all 50 states, Canada and Mexico. He is appointed as an additional member as allowed by statute.

• Susan Westhoff was hired as the new executive director for Ann Arbor's Leslie Science and Nature Center in December. Westhoff, a graduate of the University of Michigan, previously worked for a nonprofit organization in Chicago. She replaces former executive director Greta Brunschwyler.

• Rachel McDuffe, a resident of Belleville who is employed by the University of Michigan, was the winner of a 2012 Ford Focus SE from State Farm. She won the car as part of the launch of State Farm's Road Trips and Road Aware driving tools. See a video of McDuffe talking about winning the car and learn more about State Farm's safe driving programs by clicking here.

• As part of a gift aimed at teaching students the principles of philanthropy through practical experience, the University of Michigan students in Dr. John Burkhardt's Education 769: Philanthropy and Higher Education course were given a $50,000 gift by an anonymous donor. The class chose two nonprofit organizations in southeast Michigan to receive the donations: The Youth Connection and Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit will each be given $25,000 from the class.

• A Design Line Embroidery LLC, formerly based in Willis, recently announced a move to a new location at 10669 Belleville Road in Belleville.

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