Business Notes

Communifax and Audible.com have developed a partnership to inform current customers about Audible.com's new Web site and new programs. Customers receive a letter packet with a pamphlet highlighting the services; Communifax printed and mailed the pieces as well as handled the data services necessary.

Community College of Allegheny County is launching an Entrepreneur Institute. The interactive, noncredit classes will be offered on eight Tuesday evenings, beginning April 4, on the college's Allegheny Campus. All aspects of leadership and growth planning will be covered. Partners in the initiative include The African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania, the Allegheny County Medical Association, the Builders Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh, Northern Allegheny County Chamber of Commerce, Pittsburgh Technology Council, SMC Business Councils and the U.S. Small Business Administration. CCAC also offers the Small Business Basics noncredit certificate to benefit beginners interested in owning a small business. Call Larry Furlong at 412-788-7350 or visit the Web site www.ccac.edu.

As part of ongoing brand evolution work with GENCO, Kolbrener recently completed a direct mail initiative involving four of the supply chain management leader's target markets.

Valley Care Association of Sewickley, a quality of life services provider to senior adults and their families for 28 years, launched a brand identity and informational Web site, www.valleycareassociation.org. The site presents an overview of services and programs offered.

New Business/New Offices

Tina and Mark Oesterlin, owners, opened Home Alone Pet Services in North Huntingdon to service the needs of pet owners. The firm, a member and certified with the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters Inc., is bonded and insured for all services provided. Call 724-875-3027.

Contracts

OptoTherm has received orders for its ThermoScreen fever screening systems from emergency planning organizations in the United States and in Southeast Asia. Designed specifically for mass fever screening, ThermoScreen was originally developed in response to the need to screen individuals for fever during the SARS outbreak in 2003.

Channellock Inc., which designs and manufactures high-quality pliers and hand tools, said SBC Advertising was its new agency of record for advertising, public relations and interactive services.

PWCampbell has five contracts for design/build services for financial institutions including: First Commonwealth Bank, branch office, Castle Shannon; and Westmoreland Community FCU, branch renovation, Greensburg.

Steelcoast Creative added LogicLibrary to its list of client partners. Steelcoast provides graphic design services to LogicLibrary, assisting with development of print and online marketing materials.

Grants/loans

The Sarah Heinz House, a Boys and Girls Club on Pittsburgh's North Side, received these grants: $10,000 from the Earl Knudsen Charitable Foundation for its Capital Campaign; and $10,000 from the FISA Foundation for girls after-school and camp programs.

Awards/Honors

As a winner of BAA Pittsburgh's Quarterly Customer Service contest, Nancy Miller will enjoy an all-expense paid trip to South Beach, Fla. Miller works at Spirit of the Red Horse in the Airmall at Pittsburgh International Airport.

The Braff Group was awarded the Health Care Deal of the Year for the second consecutive year by the M&A Advisor for its representation of Northwestern Memorial Home Health Care, Chicago, in its simultaneous divestiture of its Home Health Care division to TLC Health Care Services, Lake Success, N.Y., and its Infusion Therapy division to Option Care Inc., Buffalo Grove, Ill. The Braff Group was a finalist for Investment Banking Firm of the Year.