The latest from The Ticker blog

• Veterinary college’s Annual Open House to be held March 31
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• Tuck Chiropractic Clinic named as one of the 2012 Best Places to Work in Virginia
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AGRICULTURE

The Virginia Agriculture Leaders Obtaining Results Program within Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has named its members: Michael Bertelsen, associate director, Office of International Research, Education and Development, Virginia Tech; Mike Ellerbrock, professor of agriculture and applied economics and director, Center of Economic Education, Virginia Tech; Alan Grant, dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech; Edwin Jones, associate dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech; Gary Larrowe, county administrator, Carroll County Public Service Authority; Dave Lawrence, president, Farm Credit of the Virginias; Vernon Meacham, director of development, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech; and Rick Rudd, community viability chairman of excellence and head, department of agricultural and extension education, Virginia Tech.

EDUCATION

Fred Piercy, a professor in the department of human development at Virginia Tech, has been named editor-in-chief of the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy.

Nancy Ross has been named head of the department of geosciences at Virginia Tech.

Edward Spencer, vice president for student affairs at Virginia Tech, has been named a 2012 Pillar of the Profession by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Foundation.

R. Benjamin Knapp, director of Virginia Tech's Institute of Creativity, Arts and Technology, received the best presentation award at the 2011 International Computer Music Conference for the discovery of a connection between human emotion and musical composition and performance.

David Kopec joined Radford University as an assistant professor in the department of interior design and fashion.

ENGINEERING

Michael Lawless, principal and environmental division manager for Draper Aden Associates, spoke at the International Professional Geology Conference in Vancouver.

FINANCIAL

Bank of Botetourt announced the following changes: Jason Bishop has been promoted to assistant vice president of human resources, Paula Rhodes has been promoted to assistant vice president of operations, Matt Jones has been promoted to bank officer, and Stacy Stevens has joined the bank's mortgage center in Lexington as a mortgage specialist.

Kellie Anne East has joined Freedom First Credit Union as vice president of retail development.

Karen Hankins has been promoted to assistant vice president at BB&T.

HOSPITALITY

Jason Smith is the new executive chef for Preston's Restaurant at the Inn at Virginia Tech.

LAW

Joshua Johnson has been named partner with Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore.

MEDICAL

Dr. Elizabeth McNamara has joined the office of Dermatology Associates of Roanoke as a board certified dermatologist.

ORGANIZATIONS

Dan Motley, industrial development manager with Norfolk Southern Corp., has been named first vice chairman of the Southern Economic Development Council's board of directors.

The Professional Coaches of the Blue Ridge recently appointed its 2012 Leadership Council: Ken Redick, president; Sandra DeWitt, programs; Janet Crawford, membership; Lynda McNutt Foster, marketing; Dr. David DeHaven, past president; Jeff Smith, member at large; and Kate Steinbacher, member at large.

The Public Relations Society of America gave the Sparky Award to Jen Ward and the Illuminator Award to Rachel Spencer

The First Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals announced its 2012 slate of officers: Jay Whitmore, president; Erin Hildreth, president-elect; Fran Szechenyi, first vice president of membership; C.W. Markham, second vice president of programs; Jenny Doud, treasurer; Jan Smyth, secretary; Travis Wirt, communications chairman; Carissa South, immediate past president; John Harlow, member at large; Rebecca Emanuelson, member at large; and Tammy Shank, chapter administrator.

The Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce has announced the members of its 2012 executive committee and board of directors. Executive committee: Steve Chiminello, chairman; Mickey Johnson, chairman-elect; Frank Baar, treasurer; Pat Cundiff, secretary; and Bill Harlor, ex-officio. Board members: Lindsey Coley, Chris Finley, Terri Stanley, Mike Greer, Traci Blido, Tom Gordon, Christopher Whitlow, Helen Wilcox, Tom Buck, Peggy Overstreet, Susan Myers, Lisa Hammock, Dany Turner, Holly Sweet, Cheryl Ward, Ted Puzio and Gary Garst

Steve Clark, assistant vice president for gift planning at Virginia Tech, has been elected to the 2012 board of directors of the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning.

OTHER

Dana Newton joined Brandon Oaks Retirement Community as general manager of building services.

Ceil Fitzgerald and Leigh-Ann Beamer have become consultants at Tastefully Simple Inc.

REAL ESTATE

Samuel Long, with Miller, Long & Associates Inc., has been awarded the CRE designation with the Counselors of Real Estate.