Awards/Honors

TheSoulPitt.com was recently nominated for "Best Local/Community Site -- East USA Category by BlackWebAwards.com (BWA). Donna M. Baxter is the founder and Web mistress of TheSoulPitt.com,

Frederick Kohun, professor and associate dean, School of Communications and Information Systems, Robert Morris University, received the Best Paper Award for his project "Dealing with Isolation Feelings in IS Doctoral Programs" at the InSite (Informing Science + Information Technology Education) 2006 joint conference June 25-28 at the University of Salford in Greater Manchester, U.K. The paper, which Kohun co-authored with Azad Ali, D.Sc., associate professor of computer information systems at Butler County Community College and a 2003 graduate of RMU's doctor of science in information systems and communications program, was selected for the award over submissions from around the globe. The paper is scheduled to be published in an upcoming issue of the International Journal of Doctoral Studies.

Genco said it received top honors at the Sears Holdings' 2005 Partners in Progress awards. Genco received Innovation Supplier of the Year and overall Supplier of the Year in the logistics category and Innovation Supplier of the Year for Services, making the company one of Sears Holdings' top 12 suppliers. The Partners in Progress award is presented annually to a group of companies that provide Sears Holdings with quality products and services, from apparel, appliances and tools to marketing, facilities design and technology.

Law & Politics and Philadelphia Magazine named six Blumling & Gusky attorneys as Pennsylvania Super Lawyers. Robert Blumling, Henry Gusky, Brian Ashbaugh, Matthew Carl, K. Bradley Mellor and Maureen Sweeney. obert Blumling and Matthew Carl had been named Super Lawyers by Law and Politics in 2005.

Two patent attorneys from The Webb Law Firm, Russell D. Orkin, director and president, and Richard L. Byrne, director and secretary, have been named 2006 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers by Law & Politics magazine.

Allied Insurance Brokers Inc. said it was awarded its 14th consecutive Assurex/PAR Excellence Award for quality management and customer service. Assurex Global is a worldwide network of insurance brokers.

Dollar Bank named Randy Davis, senior mortgage representative, and Katherine M. Flaherty, mortgage representative, as the top monthly producers for August. Davis achieved the highest dollar amount and he tied with Flaherty on highest unit count of loans closed.

Dr. Berrylin J. Ferguson, associate professor of otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, was named a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award by the American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery.

Business Notes

Burns & Scalo Real Estate Services Inc. said it would be the new asset manager for The Gateway Towers condominiums on Fort Duquesne Boulevard. The building contains 557,000 square feet on 27 floors and has residential living space as well as office space.

Grants/loans

Tickets for Kids Foundation has been awarded a $2,500 grant from Massey Charitable Trust. The grant supports Tickets for Kids' Living and Learning in Our Neighborhood program, which enables lower-income children and families to be included in arts and cultural and educational events.

Let us know ...

To propose an item, send information to Natalie Hill, Dateline Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh 15222, fax to 412-263-0908 or e-mail to nhill@post-gazette.com