♦Fort Wayne Chapter of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors elected Neil Bryson as treasurer recently.

♦lia sophia named top sales advisors in the Fort Wayne area recently: Amber Amaro and Kristina Sheets of Fort Wayne; Theresa Murden-Myers of Leo-Cedarville; and Lisa Litchfield of New Haven. In addition, Amy Williams was promoted to unit manager.

♦Baker & Daniels announced that Samuel P. Gussis and Samuel A. Lichtenfeld have joined the real estate practice group. Gussis becomes a partner, and Lichtenfeld serves as counsel.

♦Parkview Foundation announced new employees. Heather Schoegler is director of communications; Linda Lauer was hired as database manager; and Stephanny
Smith is director of annual giving.

♦Jack Laurie Home Floor Designs has hired Jennifer Barkel as builder account manager and residential project manager.

♦Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce announced winners of the 2009 Annual Meeting Awards. Individual winners were Mike Packnett of Parkview Health, CEO of the Year, and Steve Ybarra of Indiana Michigan Power, Employee of the Year. Packnett was recognized in part for organizing a donation challenge that resulted in the largest-ever cash donation to Community Harvest Food Bank. Ybarra, supervisor of personnel responsible for maintenance and operation of the electric distribution system in Fort Wayne, was recognized in part for overseeing the efforts that resulted in restoration of power before Christmas Day after the December ice storm.

♦Youth Leadership Fort Wayne announced the members of the 2010 class: McKenna Adams, Elmhurst High School; Katelynne Baughman, Keystone Schools; David Brewer, Wayne High School; De Andre Davis, North Side High School; Desiree Dickerson, North Side High School; Andrew Dillion, Heritage Junior Senior High School; Bethany Disher, Canterbury High School; Mary Distler, Homestead High School; Hannah Field, Leo Junior Senior High School; Chris Frank, Concordia Lutheran High School; Austin Friesen; Blackhawk Christian School; Chandler Ganaway, New Haven High School; Sarah Gibson, Cornerstone Prep School; James Gilliom, Snider High School; Madeline Harris; Bishop Dwenger High School; Zac Haydock, Harding High School; Madelynne Hostetler, Woodlan Junior-Senior High School; Andreya Kennerk, Bishop Luers High School; Chelsea Lichtsinn, South Side High School; Leslie Muldoon, Wayne High School; James Myers, Bishop Dwenger High School; Lindsey Nichols, Northrop High School; Eric Niebuhr, Carroll High School; Carly Park, Leo Junior-Senior High School, Allen County 4-H; Amie Patton, New Haven High School; Taylor Rodriguez, Snider High School; Blair Ruhr, Heritage Junior-Senior High School, Cornerstone Youth Center; Brittany Salay, Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana; Hayley Rae Smith, Northrop High School; TeSharra Thomas, Elmhurst High School; Colin Walsh, Homestead High School; and Katelyn Williams, Carroll High School.

♦Shambaugh & Son announced the following new local personnel: Richard Witte, mechanical engineer; Verlyn Haggard, senior piping designer; Benjamin Hall, food process engineer; Caleb Krohn, Chicago fire protection design technician; Michael Young, Indianapolis refrigeration engineer; Jamie Feigert, Toledo fire protection design technician; Brian Gierlack, Dynalectric Michigan project manager; Michael Mitchell, Havel South Bend warehouse coordinator; Scott Muir, Havel Indianapolis project manager; Michael Laws, Haven Indianapolis project manager; Angella Ferrell, Havel Indianapolis service coordinator; Lauren Morris, South Bend mechanical/fire protection administrative assistant; Lauren Cordes, copy center clerk/food service; and Meagan Kline, food service.

♦RE/MAX of Indiana has recognized Patti Couperthwaite, Rob Harris, Patty Tritch, Penny Miller, Neil Federspiel, Stacy Rofkahr, Jami Barker, Jane Yoder, John Stock and Andy Hal of RE/MAX Results for individual sales in the top 100 year-to-date. Tamara Braun, John Sullivan, Craig Ralston, Mary Campbell and Todd Stock, also of RE/MAX Results, were recognized for team sales in the top 50 year-to-date.

♦Allen County 4-H Clubs held a volunteer recognition program recently, honoring 4-H volunteers for their years of service. Leaders with one, five, 10, 15, 20, 25 years or more of volunteer service who were recognized include: one-year volunteers: Bonnie Kemp, Bob Warner and Megan Warner, all of Fort Wayne; and Kelly VanHorn of Monroeville. five-year volunteers: Charlene Brandell and Cheryl Mudrack of Fort Wayne. 10-year volunteers: Tracy Showman of New Haven. 20-year volunteers: Mike Hallien of Fort Wayne; Marianne Hammon of Woodburn; and John Platt and Marilyn Platt of Roanoke. 25-year volunteers: Robert Hart and Vicki Weigold of Fort Wayne.

♦Nichols Co. has hired Kristin Goetterman as an account executive.

♦Beers Mallers Backs & Salin announced honors recently received by members of the firm. Stephen W. Adair has been listed for inclusion in the upcoming edition of “Indiana Super Lawyers” under elder law. G. William Fishering was recently selected among “The Best Lawyers in America 2010” in the field of construction law. W. Wayne Walston, who has become a partner of the firm, was also selected among “The Best Lawyers in America 2010” in the field of elder law.

♦United Way of Allen County recently honored nine Literacy Champions for their work with Learn United, volunteering to help students who struggle with reading. Individuals named are: Hy Plimpton for his dedication to Real Men Read, his work as a classroom volunteer and efforts to recruit volunteers to work at Southwick Elementary; Judy Lindsay for her work as a classroom volunteer, summer school volunteer and her efforts to recruit volunteers; and Bill Brown, county commissioner, for his work to promote the Real Men Read effort and United Way's literacy initiatives. Organizations recognized for their efforts are The Fort Wayne Urban League, the Allen County Prosecutor's office, Coca-Cola, Raytheon, Target and Do it Best Corp.

♦Turnstone Center for Children and Adults with Disabilities announced that pediatric physical therapist Deb Guebard will be published in the winter issue of the American Pediatric Journal. She also presented a demonstration poster to the 63rd Annual Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine. Her poster is titled “Use of Adapted Swimming to Improve Fitness for Children with Cerebral Palsy.”