Vienna Realtor wins best of the year

The Parkersburg Area Association of Realtors presented James Slate II of Vienna Realty Inc. with the "2009 Realtor of the Year" award during its annual Christmas luncheon on Dec. 17 at the Parkersburg Country Club.

Slate, who received the award in recognition for his outstanding service and contribution to the real estate profession, received a plaque and a lapel pin in honor of the award.

Slate started his real estate profession with Vienna Realty in 1993 as a West Virginia licensee and became licensed in Ohio in 1994. He earned his Graduate of the Realtors Institute (GRI designation) from West Virginia University at Parkersburg in 1999. He also holds a bachelor of science degree in organizational management from Ohio Valley University in addition to training on effective negotiation.

Marietta woman wins top honors for sales

Joyanne Geese of Marietta, who recently joined the lia sophia fashion jewelry business, has received top honors for the company's Excellent Beginnings Program achievers for outstanding sales accomplishments and professionalism.

She received this accomplishment in the first 15 weeks by attaining certain sales levels and by sharing lia sophia with other new advisers.

All new lia sophia advisers have the opportunity to increase their earnings and earn free jewelry as part of the Excellent Beginnings Program. The plan celebrates the success of advisers who stay on track in the first four months in business.

In other lia sophia news, Maria Huffman of Waterford has been promoted from adviser to unit manager.

Huffman has met or exceeded personal sales and recruiting goals to achieve this prestigious level of leadership. This promotion offers the opportunity for special benefits such as additional earnings, overrides, monthly bonuses and jewelry premiums.

For more information: 1-800-487-3323 or www.liasophia.com.

Businessman named senior specialist

Bill White, CEO of Offenberger & White Inc. (OffWhite), has been designated a senior technical marketing specialist with Design Services Network, a unit of Emerson Climate Technologies, Emerson Electric Corp.

As a charter affiliate of the Emerson outsource development team, White has previously worked with the company's worldwide engineering and sales resource group to create marketing strategies and tactics in support of product launch, training and applications.

White and his staff will be responsible for developing new methods to articulate emerging technology solutions through economic models, cost/benefit analyses and graphic expressions created to inform and educate worldwide sales and customer interests.

Emerson is a $20 billion technology and manufacturing company based in St. Louis, Mo. Emerson Climate Technologies and Design Services Network are located in Sidney, Ohio. Offenberger & White Inc., a Marietta-based integrated marketing firm established in 1985, serves clients throughout the USA and abroad.

From local reports