News about area businesses and businesspeople.

Messenger receives state educator award

At the recent annual meeting of the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education, Cheryl Messenger was named Environmental Education Individual of 2010, the highest individual honor bestowed by the statewide organization.

Messenger is the director of environmental education at Mammoth Cave National Park.

Messenger and her staff work with more than 30,000 K-12 students each year, both in the classroom and all over the park, plus college students.

Lessons are coordinated in advance with teachers and accomplish far beyond the realm of a traditional field trip.

BG visitors bureau earns state honors

The Bowling Green Area Convention and Visitors Bureau received recognition at the 2010 Kentucky Tourism Industry Annual Conference last month in Covington.

Marketing Director Emily Causey was named the 2010 Kentucky Tourism Council Rookie of the Year. This honor is awarded once a year to one Kentucky Tourism professional who is new to the industry and has demonstrated excellence in his or her involvement with KTC.

The Bowling Green Area CVB, in its division of a Destination Marketing Organization, received Honorable Mention Marketing Campaign for the “Get Rolling” print advertising campaign and Honorable Mention 2010 Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour Dash Plaque.

Readiness program deployed in area

The Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet is touting the benefits of the National Career Readiness Certificate program.

The cabinet and Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce Workforce Development Committee and Economic Development Team will host a luncheon meeting for this presentation.

The luncheon is 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 9 at the chamber, 710 College St.

The event is open for all business owners, managers, human resource personnel and anyone interested in quantifying and improving the skills of the state’s current and future work force, which would enhance the short-term and long-term productivity and profitability of the state’s businesses.

RSVP to Lindsey McClain, lindsey@bgchamber.com or 901-4610, or to Jennifer Ford, jennifer@bgchamber.com or 779-8292. Deadline to register is 5 p.m. Friday.

Through this presentation, participants will be informed about the financial and procedural support that Gov. Steve Beshear and the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet are investing in the success of this program for Kentucky’s businesses. Participants can learn how the NCRC program will give employers, employees and prospective employees information about where their skills are strongest and where they need improvement.

— For more information, go to www.nationalcareerreadiness.org.

Two local engineers honored at convention

Two DDS Engineering employees took top honors Oct. 8 at the annual meeting of the Kentucky Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers, held at Holiday Inn University Plaza and Sloan Convention Center in Bowling Green.

The annual meeting was hosted by the Pennyroyal Chapter of the Kentucky Section of the ASCE.

Dennis D. Smith, PE, PLS, M.ASCE, president and CEO of DDS, received the Outstanding Engineer in Private Practice Award for 2010. Smith also serves on the Kentucky State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors and serves on numerous committees at both the state and national level representing the engineering and surveying professions.

Matt Rogers, PE, M.ASCE, division manager of the Geotechnical Engineering and Materials Testing and Construction Inspection Division of DDS, received the Outstanding Young Engineer Award for the ASCE for 2010.

Smith and Rogers are members of the Pennyroyal Chapter of the Kentucky Section of the ASCE. Rogers serves as secretary-treasurer of the chapter.

Each award is given each year to only one outstanding engineer who has demonstrated talents, achievements, community involvement and dedication to the advancements of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Search soon to narrow for BG chamber chief

The search continues for a new chief executive officer for the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce.

Daniel Logan, chief operating officer for Pace Group, said there have been 70 to 75 applicants.

“But there are a lot of other candidates who we are out there recruiting as well,” Logan said. “We are getting out there talking to perspective candidates and that number increases daily.”

Logan said economic developers/chamber leaders from Massachusetts to Washington state have shown interest, with a high concentration in the Southeast.

“We are going to narrow the field down to five or six tier-one candidates and then the committee will decide who … they want to interview,” he said. “We are hoping those interviews would be in 30 to 45 days.”

Ideally the chamber would like to have a new leader shortly after the first of the year, according to Rodney Rogers, chairman of the selection committee.

Downtown Christmas open houses planned

Several downtown Bowling Green businesses plan to kick off the holiday season Thursday with special shopping hours and open houses.

Several downtown businesses will have receptions from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday. The holiday open houses continue from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Susan Hoechner of Barbara Stewart Interiors said most, if not all, of the businesses will be participating.

“And of course the restaurants will be open,” she said.

Deemer’s Florist, Heart Strings and Chatters also will be having holiday open houses during the same time.

Factory Connection opens in Glasgow

The Glasgow-Barren County Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting for Factory Connection on Oct. 22. Located at 211 N.L. Rogers Wells Blvd. in Glasgow, the Factory Connection specializes in providing “fashion forward, name brand” merchandise for customers in small to medium-size markets. Now with more than 240 stores in 10 states and growing rapidly, Factory Connection is a destination store for many customers.

— For more information, call 270-659-2924.