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Business news in brief

November 16, 2008 @ 12:00 AM

Local real estate agent awarded designation

HUNTINGTON -- Tammy Spurlock of Prudential Bunch Co. Realtors has earned the Fine Homes Specialist professional designation conferred by Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential Financial company.

Spurlock received the designation for meeting the professional standards set by Prudential Real Estate for sales professionals who successfully list, market and transact sales of Fine Homes. Prudential Real Estate defines a Fine Home as a residence valued within the top 10 percent of its respective marketplace that is in top show-quality condition.

This exclusive designation was established in 1997 to define professional quality standards within the Prudential Real Estate Network and to recognize the level of specialized knowledge, experience and skills required by clients of wealth.

Spurlock concentrates on upper-tier properties in Huntington, Chesapeake, Ohio, and Proctorville, Ohio.

Forensic analyst earns Chartered Financial Analyst designation

HUNTINGTON -- Laura Savory Miller, a forensic analyst at Rufus & Rufus, AC in Huntington, has earned the prestigious Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

The CFA charter is a globally recognized credential for investment analysis and management. The CFA Program sets a globally recognized standard for measuring the competence and integrity of financial analysts, portfolio managers and investment advisers. Currently, more than 82,800 investment professionals in 128 countries and territories hold the CFA charter.

Recipients of the CFA charter have successfully completed a graduate-level, self-study curriculum and series of three intensive examinations taken sequentially over at least two years. Because of the rigor of the program, only about one in five candidates who enter the program pass all three exams and successfully complete all the requirements to earn the charter.

Miller has been an associate of Rufus & Rufus for five years, specializing in business valuations and economic damages. She is also an investment advisor with Advanced Investment Strategies, Inc. and an instructor with the Forensic Institute at the University of Charleston. Miller earned a BBA in Finance from Marshall University in 2004 and an MS in Economics from Ohio University in 2006. She is currently pursuing doctoral studies at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Miller can be contacted at 304-522-8770 or ljmiller@rufusandrufus.com.

Fruth recognized during annual awards luncheon

POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. -- Ninety-eight Fruth Pharmacy associates were recognized and honored during Fruth's 18th annual Service Awards Luncheon on Oct. 30 at the Holiday Inn in Gallipolis, Ohio.

Fruth associates are invited to attend the ceremony on their employment anniversary every five years. Service award pins and certificates were presented by Don Pullin, CEO and Charles (Laddie) Burdette, president. Burdette thanked all for their years of service with Fruth Pharmacy. "This day is for you" he emphasized stating in a press release that "it is people like you that make our customer-friends come back to our stores."

Here are some local employees that were recognized: 10 Years of service: Alison Stone, Hurricane, W.Va.; Deborah Browining, Milton; Janet Young, Eleanor, W.Va; Mary Holley, Eleanor; Vickie Fischer, Huntington; Five Years of service: Amanda Johnson, Huntington; Carolyn Powers, Huntington; Chris Childress, Winfield, W.Va.; John Taylor, Cross Lanes, W.Va.; Larry Wears, Hurricane; Malinda Moore, Proctorville, Ohio; Pamela Dutton, Milton; Rose Roy, Huntington; Shirley Goodall, Winfield; and Sylvia Sowards, Hurricane.

Fruth Pharmacy has been serving Southwestern West Virginia and Southern Ohio since 1952. For more information, log on to www.fruthpharmacy.com.

Local photographer earns re-certification, awards

MILTON -- Laura Moul, Creative Photography & Design, of Milton, has qualified for re-certification of the Certified Professional Photographer designation from the Professional Photographer Certification Commission. Moul earned this designation after meeting rigorous requirements maintaining her artistic and technical competence. The Professional Photographic Certification Commission recognizes less than 2,000 Certified Professional Photographers.

Moul also competed in two prestigious art shows in Ohio and Kentucky. At the Foothills Art Festival from the Southern Hills Arts Council, Jackson, Ohio, in October, she was awarded three Honorable Mentions on her photography (out of six entries), and at the Morehead Arts Guild show in Kentucky, Moul was awarded the Mayors Trophy, two purchase awards and nine ribbons out of 10 photographic art pieces entered, including three first places.

The West Virginia Art & Craft Guild selected one photograph for their current traveling show (Parkersburg Art Center, Wheeling Artisans Center and Concord University's Art Center) and she also had images selected for the National Miniature Show at the Renaissance Gallery.

For more information, call Moul at 304-743-8281.

Attorneys join Huddleston Bolen

HUNTINGTON -- Huddleston Bolen, LLP announces that attorneys Casey Baker, Chad Fisher and Stephen Montgomery have joined the firm. Baker and Fisher will practice in the firm's Huntington office, and Montgomery will practice in the firm's Charleston office.

Baker joined as an associate in 2008. His primary practice areas are business and transactional law, where he represents clients in real estate, bankruptcy, commercial, tax and corporate matters.

Baker graduated summa cum laude from Ohio University in Athens with a bachelor of business administration, focused on finance and business development. He received his doctorate of jurisprudence from The Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University in 2008, graduating cum laude. While at the College of Law, Baker served on the Entrepreneurial Business Law Journal, which honored him by publishing his note, "Incubating Golden Eggs: Why Attorney Ethics Rules May Stifle Small Business Development," and naming it the EBLJ's Outstanding Student Note for 2007. He also served as the EBLJ's Chief Notes Editor.

A native of Barboursville, Fisher joined in 2008. He practices in the areas of commercial litigation, personal injury litigation and general corporate defense. Fisher attended Marshall University, where he majored in accounting and minored in political science and criminal justice. He graduated magna cum laude in 2005 with a bachelor of business administration in accounting.

Following his undergraduate education, Fisher attended the University of Toledo College of Law on a full academic scholarship. He received his doctorate of Jurisprudence in 2008, graduating cum laude. Fisher resides in Barboursville with his wife, Molly, and daughter, Kylie.

Montgomery joined in 2008. His primary areas of practice are immigration law and general litigation, focusing on insurance and employment matters.

Montgomery graduated magna cum laude from Temple University in 1991, with a bachelor of science in early childhood and elementary education. After a successful 15 year career teaching in New Mexico, California, Hungary and Estonia, Montgomery obtained his doctorate of Jurisprudence in 2008 from West Virginia University. While in law school, Montgomery was a member of the Clinical Law Program and the Immigration Clinic. He also received a Public Interest Advocates Fellowship, which provided him with a clerkship with Child Law Services, Inc., in Princeton, W.Va. Montgomery currently serves on the Board of Directors for Child Law Services. He resides in Saint Albans, W.Va., with his wife, Kathy, and son, Zebulon.

All three attorneys recently joining Huddleston Bolen are currently admitted to practice in the State of West Virginia, as well as before the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.

More information about the firm is available at the firm's Web site at www.huddlestonbolen.com.