AWARDS

Honors, designations and recognitions

CONSTRUCTION

Washington, D.C.-based National Association of Home Builders gave 2014 Best of 50+ Housing Awards to a number of regional facilities and companies. RGS Associates of Lancaster, Benchmark Construction of West Earl Township and RLPS Architects of Manheim Township received a Gold Achievement Award in the Best 50+ Recognition of Sustainable Features category for their work on the Landis Homes south campus expansion in Manheim Township. The project also received an Innovation Award for creative and innovative solutions that went above and beyond industry expectations, particularly through its thoughtful integration of rain gardens, bioswales, rain barrels and floodplain restoration in managingwater resources. Traditions of America at Lititz won a Gold Achievement Award in the Best 50+ For-Sale Community On the Boards category and Traditions of America at Silver Spring in Cumberland County won a Silver Achievement Award in the Best 50+ For-Sale Community (Over 200 Homes) category. Willow Valley Communities won a Silver Achievement Award in the Best 50+ Brochure category.

Michigan-based American Shotcrete Association gave Russ Ringler an Outstanding Architecture Project Award for his shotcrete work on the Stoneyhurst Quarry reclamation project in Bethesda, Md. Shotcrete, also sometimes referred to as gunite, is a high-quality and durable concrete that can be enhanced with additives. The process allows for versatile application in comparison to conventional concrete. Ringler is the shotcrete manager for G.A. & F.C. Wagman Inc. in Manchester Township.

DESIGNATIONS

BenchmarkPortal certified United Concordia's commercial call center as a Center of Excellence.

Washington, D.C.-based American Bus Association named Jonathan Snavely a certified travel industry specialist. He is business development manager of Premiere #1 Limousine in Londonderry Township.

American Hospital Association'sChicago-based American Society for Healthcare Engineering gave health care construction certificates to Mike Pluta, Greg Spaulding and Bob Walsh. Pluta is a project manager, Spaulding is a senior project manager and Walsh is vice president of project management with East Lampeter Township-based High Construction Co.

Pennsylvania Department of State named Evan D. Laub, Dentin Lehr, Dave Scheib and Nathan C. Simpson licensed professional engineers. Laub is a project manager specializing in structural design services with York-based C.S. Davidson Inc. He has a BS in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. Lehr is a structural engineer with Century Engineering Inc. of Fairview Township. He has a BA in engineering from Elizabethtown College and a BS in civil engineering from University of Delaware. Scheib is an energy use specialist with Cumberland Township-based Adams Electric Cooperative Inc. and has a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Weidner University. Simpson is a project manager specializing in civil engineering with C.S. Davidson. He has a BS is in civil engineering from Pitt.

The state of New York named John Luciani a licensed professional engineer. He is president of First Capital Engineering in York. He has a BS in civil engineering from Drexel University and an MBA in finance from the University of Scranton.

The U.S. Green Building Council named Matthew Shimer a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional for Neighborhood Development, which recognizes proven expertise in the design, construction, operations and maintenance of neighborhoods that save energy, use fewer resources, reduce pollution, and contribute to healthier environments. He is a designer with Lancaster-based RGS Associates Inc.

GOVERNMENT

As part of the 70th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy, France, Olivier Serot Aimeras, Consul General of France, named Everett Sumner and other American veterans Chevaliers of its National Order of the Legion of Honor in recognition of their contributions to the liberation of France during World War II. In 1944, Everett was a 19-year-old radio operator with the 254th Engineer Combat Battalion of the U.S. Army. The 254th participated in the D-Day invasion of Normandy, and after the landings, it cleared mines and booby traps, repaired damaged roads, and built bridges, which greatly facilitated the link up of the Utah and Omaha beachheads. While accompanying the 5th Armored Division in September 1944, the 254th became one of the first American Units to reach German soil. During assaults on the Siegfried Line, the 254th destroyed 52 fortified enemy positions, and during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, it destroyed key bridges and created obstacles, delaying the Germans enough for the Allies to organize a counteroffensive. Without adequate weapons to combat the German armor, and under heavy artillery fire, the 254th engineers withdrew to successive positions and maintained a heroic resistance for nine hours. As a result, the battalion earned a Presidential Unit Citation and a French Croix de Guerre with Silver Star. The battalion also participated in the Rhine River crossing and constructed the largest tactical bridge in the European Theater of Operations. Additionally, it took part in the liberation of Pilsen, Czechoslovakia, and assisted in the cleanup and reconstruction of the city after the end of hostilities. Today, Sumner is a resident of Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community.

HEALTH CARE

Chambersburg-based Lutheran Home Care & Hospice Inc. gave its 2013 Karen A. Rohaly Award to Lindsay Johnson, a registered nurse and hospice supervisor with the main office. She joined the agency in 2005 as a visiting nurse with the home health program. Before becoming a hospice team supervisor, she was a home health supervisor for a number of years. She was nominated for the award by four of her colleagues in recognition of her dedication to the agency, mission and hospice philosophy in the way she handles her job duties and client questions and concerns.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health named a number of regional health care facilities to its Employee Vaccination and Patient Safety Honor Roll, which recognizes facilities that have achieved employee influenza vaccination rates of 90 percent or more, including: Chester County Hospital and Lifecare Hospital Chester County in Chester County; Colonial Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Hanover Hall Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Margaret E. Moul Home and Rest Haven York Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in York County; and Conestoga View Nursing & Rehabilitation and Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community in Lancaster County. According to the department, preventing influenza in the health care workforce reduces absenteeism and improves a facility's ability to respond to the needs of its community and patients. In addition, universal health care worker vaccination is one the best ways to protect vulnerable populations.

St. Paul, Minn.-based Immunization Action Coalition named a number of regional medical providers to its Influenza Vaccination Honor Roll, which recognizes health systems and facilities that have mandated influenza vaccination within their organization, and that have taken serious measures to prevent transmission of influenza from unvaccinated workers who may have received exemptions for medical or religious reasons. Garden Spot Village and MoravianManor in Lancaster County require all health care workers and volunteers, as well as clerical, dietary and janitorial staff, to receive influenza vaccine; Hanover Hospital in York CountyLancaster General Health and Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement in Lancaster County and Wellspan Health in York County require all health care workers and volunteers, as well as clerical, dietary, janitorial and laboratory staff to be immunized.

Chicago-based Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education accredited a new Penn State College of Medicine family medicine residency program in Centre County. The program was developed by Penn State Hershey in conjunction with Mount Nittany Medical Center and other State College medical providers. The first year of the program will focus on general specialties such as family medicine, internal medicine, surgery, critical care medicine and pediatrics. The second and third years will involve additional specialty and subspecialty training and an increasing amount of time with outpatient directed care and electives. Six medicine residents are expected to train in the program during the 2015-16 academic year.

The American Heart Association recognized 25 companies and organizations in Central Pennsylvania in its Fit-Friendly Worksites program. Platinum winners were Eastern Alliance InsuranceCo. ofLancaster County and Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe of Franklin County. Gold-Level winners included Adams Electric Cooperative Inc., Gettysburg Area School District, Gettysburg College and Littlestown Area School District in Adams County; Advanced Conversion Technology Inc., McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC, Phoenix Contact USA and Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union in Dauphin County; Bayer Healthcare in Lebanon County; Benecon, Donegal Mutual Insurance Co. and Kellogg Co. in Lancaster County; Glatfelter Insurance Group, Hanover Hospital, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of York, Perform Group LLC, Spring Grove School District, Stambaugh Ness, Utz Quality Foods and Westfalia Technologies in York County; and Letterkenny Army Depot and Ozburn-Hessey Logistics LLC in Franklin County. Fit-Friendly companies are recognized for carrying out wellness activities such as a company walking program and routes, gym access, allowing staff to wear athletic shoes on designated "sneaker days" or making sure healthy foods and beverages are available at company meetings and in vending machines.

Idaho-based Home Care Pulse, which helps home-care agencies monitor client and caregiver satisfaction, gave Synergy HomeCare Mid Penn of Carlisle and Griswold Home Care of Cumberland County in Shiremanstown its 2014 Best of Home Care Awards, which recognizes HCP clients who have received the highest third-party client satisfaction scores in several categories, including compassion, work ethic, communication, and training.

INSURANCE

Illinois-based Million Dollar Round Table named Timothy Nash Skiles toits Court of the Table in recognition of his exceptional professional knowledge, client service and ethical conduct. He is an assistant district manager with Colonial Life in Lancaster County.

LAW

The Dauphin County Bar Association gave its Hon. Clarence C. Morrison Award for promoting diversity to the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel. The award is named in honor of the first African American jurist in Dauphin County and is given to an individual or organization whose contributions most effectively advance equal opportunity and diversity within the bar. Since 2003, ACC has worked to build and strengthen the pipeline for law-related careers for minority students. In 2003, the chapter partnered with Maryland-based Street Lawine., which develops classroom and grassroots programs that educate students and communities about law, democracy and human rights. In 2004, it began supporting the Pennsylvania Bar Association Mock Trial Program; in 2005, it established a partnership with the Keystone Bar Association, which works to advance the careers and community service of minority attorneys in Central Pennsylvania; and in 2006, it held its first Pathways to Success fundraiser.

MANUFACTURING

Better Homes & Gardens Kitchen+ Bath Ideas magazine named Armstrong World Industries' Architectural Remnants laminate flooring one of the 30 Most Innovative Products for 2014 in kitchen and bath design. The collection combines multiple species and colors to create floors that look as if they have withstood years of use or were pulled directly from a historic structure. It is available in random widths and provides the realistic graining, texture and depth of reclaimed wood, but with the durability and easy care associated with quality laminates.

NONPROFITS

National Industries for the Blind gave ForSight Vision of Spring Garden Township a 2013 Employment Growth Award in recognition of the 24,938 hours its visually impaired employees worked in 2013, a 44 percent increase over the number of hours worked in 2012. The increase in hours is attributed to a new contract with the Library of Congress that includes cleaning and recycling audio book mailing containers and erasing and reformatting digital cartridges.

TECHNOLOGY

Texas-based Dell named Candoris of Annville Township its PartnerDirect Philanthropic Partner of the Year in recognition of Candoris' leadership and commitment to give back to the community through volunteerism and empowerment with Dell technology.

TRANSPORTATION

Washington, D.C.-based League of American Bicyclists named Cargas Systems of Manheim Township to its national list of bronze-level bicycle-friendly businesses. Cargas has a core group of employees who bike to work regularly and an employee bike club. The company sponsors a bike team, hosts annual "Bicycle Commuting Lunch & Learn" sessions for employees of neighboring businesses and organizes local bicycle rides locally. The company also has shower and locker room facilities and a custom, indoor bicycle rack for employees and visitors. Other businesses on the list include silver-level Weber Advertising of Lancaster and bronze-level Dream Ride Projects and Lancaster Family YMCA of Lancaster.

OTHER

Maryland-based Decorating Den Systems Inc. named Decorating Den Interiors of Dauphin County among the Top 40 of its nearly 300 franchises in 2013 total sales.

California-based Houzz named Annie M Design of Elizabethtown, a real estate and residential photography, home staging and marketing firm, one of its 2014 Best of Houzz honorées.

SENDING AWARDS

Please send announcements concerning awards received to [email protected]. We do not publish photos for award recipients. Please do not send duplicates of your release. Releases should include the municipality in which the company is located.