News about businesses and businesspeople.

Hopkins Center, employees honored

The Kentucky Association of Health Care Facilities, the trade association that represents proprietary and nonproprietary long-term care facilities throughout the commonwealth, presented more than 40 awards at the banquet at the Galt House East Hotel in Louisville on Nov. 9.

Woodburn-based Hopkins Rehabilitation and Nursing Center received the Midwestern Community Outreach Award. Five district awards were presented to facilities that demonstrated a noteworthy level of participation in their local communities.

Several employees of Hopkins Rehabilitation and Nursing Center received awards that night, including:

Teresa Eades, business office manager, who received the 2006 Supportive Services Award.

Eddie Wagoner, activity director, who received the 2006 Activity Director Award.

Randy Whitfield, maintenance director, who received the 2006 Facility Statewide Environmental Services Award. Whitfield also received the Midwestern District Environmental Services Award.

Melanie Clingenpeel, registered nurse and staff nurse, received the 2006 RN Award.

WKU announces HR certificate program

The Western Kentucky University office of Continuing Education offers the Society for Human Resource Management Essentials of Human Resource Management Certification Program.

The two-day class scheduled for Dec. 7 and 8 is for anyone managing people, especially entry-level HR professionals, those exploring HR as a career field and supervisors who have HR responsibilities.

The core content of the course includes Essentials of Human Resource Management, Employment Law, Effective Recruitment and Selection Techniques, Basics of Compensation, Orienting and Training Employees, and Ensuring Quality Performance.

The $395 course fee includes student materials, a class workbook and a certificate of completion. Discounts are available for group registrations.

India, China trade forum in Louisville

The Global Advanced Leadership Center will host a forum titled, &#8220Business Environment and Economic Growth: India and China.”

The forum is at the National City Tower, 101 S. Fifth Street, Suite 3500, in Louisville.

The forum provides opportunities for participants to discover the best practices U.S. firms can employ to maximize export opportunities and minimize risks in these dynamic, complex markets.

– To register online, visit www.galc.net or call 393-9009.

Finkbone receives Leadership Award

2006 Leadership Bowling Green Class Member, Bryan Finkbone, was named the 2006 recipient of the Bart Hagerman Leadership Award. The award was presented by 2005 recipient Lisa Dunn at the Leadership Bowling Green graduation dinner on Nov. 16. The Hagerman Award is the top honor bestowed upon a member of the Leadership Bowling Green program. The recipient is selected by a vote of his/her classmates.

Bryan Finkbone earned his degree at Western Kentucky University. He serves as the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation president-elect, is a member of the Western Kentucky University Touchdown Club, a member of the Western Kentucky University Alumni Association and served as president of the 2006 Leadership Bowling Green class. Finkbone and his wife, Tootie, attend Broadway United Methodist Church. They have one son, Ben.

The Leadership Bowling Green Program is an eight-month leadership development program coordinated by the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce.

Applications for the 2007 class may be picked up at the chamber Jan. 2.

Cindy Harris joins GALC as assistant

The Global Advanced-Leadership Center recently added Bowling Green native Cindy Harris as the latest addition to their team.

Harris joined the GALC on Nov. 20 and will serve in the position of administrative assistant.

Harris was a student at Wichita State University in Kansas, where she attended the Barton School of Business, focusing in accounting.

She is in the process of transferring to Western Kentucky University.

Harris has relocated to Bowling Green, where she graduated from Warren Central High School in 1986.

She moved near Oklahoma City, Okla., in 1987 where she lived for 13 years, then moved near Wichita, where she lived for five years.

Harris has worked as an administrative assistant for the past two years where she started as part of a college-related Independent Occupational Work Study.

Before seeking her degree in accounting, Harris spent most of her time as a homemaker with two children.

Unemployment rate falls in Kentucky

FRANKFORT – Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 5.3 percent in September to 5.2 percent in October, according to the Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Education Cabinet. October’s jobless rate was more than a percentage point below October 2005’s rate of 6.4 percent.

Kentucky’s unemployment rate of 5.2 percent is the lowest rate in the state in almost two years.

The U.S. seasonally adjusted jobless rate decreased from 4.6 percent in September to 4.4 percent in October, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly estimate of the number of employed Kentuckians for October was 1,938,531 on a seasonally adjusted basis. This figure is up 10,609 from the 1,927,922 employed in September, and up 56,055 from the 1,882,476 employed in October 2005.

The monthly estimate of the number of unemployed Kentuckians for October was 105,935. This figure is down 1,150 from the 107,085 unemployed in September , and down 22,322 from the 128,257 Kentuckians unemployed in October 2005.

The monthly estimate of the number of Kentuckians in the civilian labor force for October was 2,044,466. This figure is up 9,459 from the 2,035,007 recorded in September, and up 33,733 from the 2,010,733 recorded for October 2005.

Unemployment statistics are based on estimates and compiled to measure trends rather than the number of people working. Civilian labor force statistics include non-military workers and unemployed Kentuckians actively seeking work. They do not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked for employment within the past four weeks.

Gumm named MVP at contractors meet

GLASGOW – Thomas E. Gumm, president and co-founder of Alliance Corp., was named the Most Valuable Person by the Associated General Contractors of Kentucky during their annual meeting Nov. 10 in Louisville.

The award is the highest honor AGC of Kentucky can bestow upon one if its members. This award recognizes someone who has a sincere commitment to the construction industry, and has demonstrated unwavering dedication to advancing the goals and initiatives of the AGC of Kentucky.

Established in 1919, the Associated General Contractors of Kentucky is a full-service construction association representing a qualified membership of over 700 contractors and industry associates. The AGC of Kentucky has offices in Louisville, Lexington, Corbin, Bowling Green and Frankfort.

Richardson named Alliance controller

GLASGOW – Thomas E. Gumm, president and co-founder of Alliance Corp., recently announced the addition of Jody Richardson as controller.

Richardson is a lifelong resident of Glasgow, graduating from Barren County High School in 1991 and earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Western Kentucky University in 1995. She is married to Chad Richardson and has two children, Dylan and Melanie.

Established in 1975, Alliance Corp. has compiled an impressive project portfolio and covers the spectrum with pre-construction and construction services for general contracting, design-build, construction management and site feasibility studies.

– Items for 9-to-5 news may be submitted to acetawayo@bgda ilynews.com.