News about businesses and businesspeople.

Runner selected by governor for Commission on Women

Gov. Ernie Fletcher announced last week the appointment of Velma K. Runner of Bowling Green to the Kentucky Commission on Women.

Runner is the owner of Runner Trucking Co. An active member of the community, Runner is a member of the Warren County Homemakers Association, the Richardsville Club and the Barren River Right to Life Board of Directors and an elementary school test administrator for the Reading First Impact Study. She is married to Phillip Runner.

Bouvette announces changes for state’s Porter Bancorp Inc.

Maria L. Bouvette, president and chief executive officer, on Friday announced Porter Bancorp Inc. began the 2006 year by making two strategic changes to its organization.

Its four independent Kentucky bank charters were collapsed into a single charter, allowing Porter Bancorp Inc. to unite each of its Kentucky subsidiary banks under one common name. Second, it acquired Associates Mortgage Group, a mortgage banking operation and title company based in Louisville.

All banks known as Central Bank USA, Bullitt County Bank and Brownsville Deposit Bank located throughout Henry, Bullitt, Hart, Edmonson, Butler, Barren, Green and Cumberland counties will be renamed PBI Bank. Ascencia Bank will be renamed Ascencia, a division of PBI Bank.

Customers will see little change at the banks, other than the name. In most cases, customers will be able to use their same checks, ATM cards and personal identification numbers, and online banking will continue without interruption. ATM and debit cards will be reissued as they expire.

PBI Bank is different from other regional or community banks. The company has banks, not branches, and loan decisions are made at the bank, not at corporate headquarters and are not based simply on standard formula scores.

BG Medical Assistant Society expanding its membership

The Bowling Green Medical Assistant Society is expanding membership to include all medical assistants and medical technicians in the Bowling Green Community

The society at Draughon’s Junior College is a fellowship designed to advance the purposes and principles of the American Medical Technologists by promoting the standards and the profession of its certificates and students through the promotion of education and social advantages and functions.

It offers up-to-date continued education credits and the opportunity to take the registered medical assistant exam and the phlebotomy exam for $90 per exam.

To learn about the exam schedule contact program director and society adviser, Jan Akin at (270) 217-9347. The cost of membership will be decided at the next meeting, Feb. 22. Meetings are at 5:30 p.m. the last Wednesday of each month at Draughon’s Junior College, 2421 Industrial Drive.

Beekeeping school accepting applicants for Feb. 4 event

Registration is under way for Central Kentucky & Tennessee Beekeeping School.

The event will be Feb. 4 at Western Kentucky University’s Agriculture Exposition Center, with times to be announced.

The event is $6 a person, with lunch available for purchase. Tentative classes include information about small hives, planting for honey production, swarm removal and others.

– For more information, contact Martin J. Hickey, 1664 Blue Level Road, Bowling Green, KY 42101 or queenannsre venge2002@yahoo.com.

Local young professionals to host first leadership lunch

The Young Professionals of Bowling Green will host its first leadership luncheon at noon Thursday at the Carroll Knicely Center.

Guest speakers will be Bowling Green Mayor Elaine Walker and Warren County Judge-Executive Michael O. Buchanon. The event is sponsored by English Lucas Priest and Owsley LLP and is open to the public. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $13, and a variety of door prizes will be given.

– For more information about this event or the Young Professionals of Bowling Green, visit www.ypbg.org.

Camping World employees complete technician training

Camping World RV Institute announced Andrea Kidd and Tommy Simmons, both of Bowling Green, completed some of the nation’s most advanced, well-trained RV technician training.

Kidd and Simmons now plan on becoming RVIA-certified and continuing their careers with Camping World.

Camping World RV Institute is the nation’s top school for RV service and repair, offering numerous courses and opportunities for hands-on experience to all who attend.

City’s chamber of commerce to hold ribbon cutting today

The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce has a ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. today at Total Fitness Connection’s new facility on Three Springs Road.

It is the kickoff for the center’s annual fund-raiser to benefit the Family Enrichment Center.

The chamber also will have a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. Wednesday for Professional Tax Services, 600 U.S. 31-W By-Pass.

Farley earns Five Star award; check goes to local nonprofit

U.S. Bank employee Kendra Farley was honored with a U.S. Bank Five Star Volunteer Award for exceptional volunteer service.

The Family Enrichment Center will be $1,000 richer as a result.

Recipients of the U.S. Bank Five Star Volunteer Award were chosen based on nominations submitted by employees or the organization for which they volunteer.

Farley, who works for U.S. Bank in Bowling Green, joined the Family Enrichment Center board in 1999. She has served in numerous roles, including chairperson of the board’s &#8220Buckets of Hope Campaign” in 2004, its first year. Under her leadership, the fund-raiser raised $10,000.

Farley also served on the board development committee, which was created in 2001 to help educate board members on the services the center provides to those with abuse claims in the community, as well as the foster/adoptive programs to help place children in safe homes.

Nominations are being accepted for the first round of awards for 2006 and may be made by an employee or a nonprofit organization. The deadline is April 15.

To request a nomination form, e-mail fives tarvolunteer@usbank.com.