News about area businesses and businesspeople.

Top administrator to speak at chamber banquet

Matthew S. Erskine, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of commerce for economic development and chief operating officer at the U.S. Economic Development Administration, will give the keynote address at the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2011 Business & Industry Appreciation Banquet on Sept. 29.

“Mr. Erskine’s speech at our banquet will be an unprecedented event for the chamber. His professional experience in the public and private sectors, and now at the federal level, gives him a unique perspective on the economy, both nationally and internationally,” said Rodney Rogers, chairman of the chamber’s board of directors. “We’re grateful to have such a high-caliber speaker participate in our banquet, which is our time to publicly thank our businesses and industries for their contributions to our region.”

The banquet will honor southcentral Kentucky’s targeted businesses, which conduct more than 50 percent of their business outside Kentucky, thereby bringing new dollars and investment into the region. The chamber will also present awards: Business of the Year, Newcomer, Expansion, Export Excellence, Green-to-Gold and Innovation.

— For more information about the banquet, including registration information, go to www.bgchamber.com.

Auction companies combine forces

United Country Heartland Real Estate-Auctioneers of Smiths Grove and Kirby Auction Group of Bowling Green have joined forces to form United Country-Heartland Realty & Auction. The merger operates at 905 Lovers Lane, Suite 300, in Bowling Green.

“We had been interested in purchasing a franchise and Mr. (David) Chelf extended a portion of his franchise to us as partners,” said Ron Kirby Jr., CAI, AARE, CES broker, Realtor and auctioneer for the new venture. “As individuals, we have successfully operated brokerage and auction services companies; however, we felt the timing was right for our companies to merge.”

Along with Kirby, the new team includes Chelf, broker, Realtor and auctioneer; Terry Garmon, CAI auctioneer and Realtor; and Chris Gravil, auctioneer and Realtor.

— To find out more about United Country-Heartland Realty & Auction, LLC, visit its website at www.ucheartlandrealty.com, or call 783-3000.

Area cattle named champions at fair

Champion Hill Cheyenne 7796 was named the female grand champion at the 2011 Kentucky State Fair Angus Show last month in Louisville. Caroline Cowles of Rockfield owns the September 2010 daughter of S A V Free Spirit 8164.

Awc Raven 0214 won reserve grand champion bred-and-owned bull at the state fair. Austin Cole of Bowling Green owns the March 2010 son of BC 7022 Raven 7965.

Students selected for leadership class

The Leadership Bowling Green Alumni Association selected students for the 2011 S.T.E.P. Program.

S.T.E.P. is a leadership program sponsored by the Leadership Bowling Green Alumni Association for high school seniors from Bowling Green and Warren County public and private schools. The program develops fundamental leadership skills and exposes students to numerous civic, educational and vocational opportunities within the community.

The class includes Bowling Green High School’s Haley Bunch and Helen Flynn; Greenwood High School’s Sarah Carbin, Broderick Farley, Laura-Leigh Halter and John Poole; South Warren High School’s Rachel Bush, Rachel Eberhart, Tyler Griffith, Kelly Duff, Sarah Stackhouse, Reed Norris, Morgan Humphrey, Lily Harris and Icyana Abner; Warren Central High School’s Ryan Bell, Taylor Oliver, Sayrah Jones, Hayley Doose, Drake Riley, Anna Calvin, Lesley Duke, Fikret Sabic and Alexis (Lexie) Baker; and Warren East High School’s Sarah Walden, James Bradfield, Jessica Johnson, Lauren Billhartz, Benjamin Carter, Matthew Stephens, Judith Hanson, Hillary Herrington, Erika Evans, Emily Wells and Allie Young.

CPrint honors Davis for sales growth

Joe Davis of Gerald Printing Service of Bowling Green was honored for the company’s sales growth by CPrint International during the biannual board meeting in Nashville.

CPrint awards printers that have demonstrated a significant sales growth over the past year.

JA board members, officers are installed

Junior Achievement of South Central Kentucky welcomed six new board members and new officers at the organization’s first meeting of the fiscal year.

The new members are Mike Seiler, General Motors; Amanda Reed, Halton; Anthony Stallins, Atmos Energy; Ty Puyear, Insurance Specialists; Winnie Cohron, Warren County Board of Education; and Jonathon McElroy, PNC Bank.

New board of directors officers for the 2011-12 year are Joe Tinius, Bowling Green Independent Schools, chairman; Jason Rose, U.S. Bank, chair-elect; Monica Wardlow, Republic Bank, past chairman; Kristi Smith, Carr, Riggs & Ingram, treasurer; Mary Phoenix McCubbin, BlueCotton, secretary; Tim Earnhart, Werkshop Marketing, programs/volunteers chair; Scott Thornhill, BB&T, funding & finance chair; Stacey Biggs, Western Kentucky University, awareness chair; and Tim Maloney, WBKO Television, special events chair.

First Choice receives ACHC accreditation

First Choice Home Medical received accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Health Care for Durable Medical Equipment Services, Rehabilitation Technology Supplier Services and Fitter Services.

ACHC, a private, nonprofit corporation, was developed for home care and community-based providers to help companies improve business operations and quality of patient care.

Accreditation is a voluntary activity where health care organizations submit to peer review of their practices against national standards.

Emerson celebrates golden anniversary

Emerson Hermetic Motors, a division of Emerson, observed the 50th anniversary of its Russellville plant Sept. 14.

“We are proud to be a part of the Emerson family and to have reached this amazing milestone,” plant manager Dan Brown said in a news release. “It is a great accomplishment for our employees and the community, and we are thrilled to celebrate the success of our plant and Emerson as a whole.”

The plant began operations in July 1961, roughly a year after Emerson decided to break ground on the site. Emerson now employs nearly 250 people.

Nearly one-fourth of the workforce has worked at Emerson for more than 30 years. The average length of service for all employees is nearly 20 years. In its 50-year existence, more than 10,000 employees have worked at the plant.

The 225,000-square-foot facility – double its original size – makes hermetic motors that are components of Copeland Scroll compressors for residential, commercial and industrial heating and air conditioning.

Farmers bank marks 55 years in association

Farmers National Bank of Scottsville has reached a milestone with the Independent Community Bankers of America.

The community-based bank has been a member for 55 years. The national trade association is dedicated to the nation’s more than 7,000 community banks.

Ridley attends seminar at Harvard

John Ridley, a financial adviser for Wells Fargo Advisors in Bowling Green, recently attended the firm’s Higher Education Conference at Harvard. The conference included economic insights and analysis from world renowned specialists in the field.

Ridley has been a financial adviser for 24 years.