Promotions and new on the job

• Richard Vander Straten has been named plant manager at Ellison Surface Technologies (EST), Hebron-based thermal spray coating operations. Vander Straten comes to EST from Hitemco in New York, where he spent over a decade leading the company's thermal spray operations.

• Vince DeStefano has been named vice president at Fifth Third Bank; Stephanie M. Spaccarelli to assistant vice president; Shama Prasad and Jennifer R. Dome to assistant cashiers.

• Pamela Plunkett has been named marketing director of Educational Excellence Inc., d/b/a/ Sylvan Learning Centers; Dana Clolinger joined Sylvan Learning Center as director, West Chester Township; Diana Schrager joined the Western Hills Center as director of education; and Sarah Benson joined the Eastgate Sylvan staff as director of education.

• Greg Foote, president and chief executive officer of Capital Construction Co., has joined the board of directors of Arxx Building Products, a privately held commercial construction products company headquartered in Cobourg, Ontario.

• Jay Roberts has joined Rumpke Consolidated Companies Inc. as director of engineering and environmental affairs.

• Tanner Cornett has joined the Tri-County team of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Inc. as a home mortgage consultant. Cornett comes to Wells Fargo after 15 years in the mortgage industry specializing in new construction, private banking and relocation. She holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Kentucky.

• Mark Schutte has been appointed executive director at the Northern Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau.

• The following have joined Sibcy Cline Realtors as real estate sales associates: Lisa Latham, Eastgate; Roxanne Barden and Barbara G. Grollmus, Fairfield; and Amanda R. Ackley, Anderson. Warren Dedich joined as residential real estate specialist, Northern Hills office.

• Scott Weiland has joined Vector Construction Co. as project superintendent.

• Dale E. Price, principal instructor for The Environmental Training Center, has been named vice president, business development for the firm.

• Nick Ursini has been named campus chair of the Undergraduate Business Program at the University of Phoenix, Cincinnati campus, Karina H. Sherman and David K. Snider to corporate education specialists.

• Dr. Jason Niemann, chief executive officer of The Prescriptive Authority Inc., has acquired Generations Rx.

• Greg Smith has been named a partner at The Advisory Team, a Mackey McNeill Co., formerly known as Mackey McNeill Mohr, PSC Certified Public Accountants.

• Patrick Foley has been appointed chief operating officer at Trasys, information technology services firm. Foley has full responsibility for the management and control of business operations. He joined the company in 1999 as branch manager of the Cincinnati office. He holds a degree in employment relations from Michigan State University and recently returned there to complete an executive development course.

Awards

• Mary Goard has received the Top Growth Producer Award for 2003 at Hukill Hazlett Harrington Insurance Agency in Sycamore Township. Goard exceeds 25 years experience in the insurance industry.

• HSR Business to Business has been elected to become a member of the American Association of Advertising Agencies, a national trade association serving the advertising agency business.

• Greater Cincinnati Human Resources Association has received the Pinnacle Award from the Society for Human Resource Management and Careerbuilder.com for best practices in the profession.

• Three + Associates, a corporate and marketing communications and graphic design firm, has been honored by Graphic Design USA magazine for the 2002 annual reports produced for Federated Department Stores and Frisch's Restaurants Inc.

Submissions

Have news of promotions, awards, honors, retirements or company openings or relocations? Send information to Shirley Dees, Enquirer Business News, 312 Elm St., Cincinnati 45202 or e-mail sdees@enquirer.com