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It’s all coming together

Gerry Lane Enterprises announced that the Gerry Lane Chevrolet commercial fleet and rental department, The Lane Agency Inc., and the customer service department have all relocated to the former Saturn of Baton Rouge building at 6615 Florida Blvd., next to Gerry Lane Chevy. The customer service number has changed to 926-6372.

The name game

Crown Construction announced it has changed its name to Level Construction and Development. The company—owned by D. Todd Waguespack, Business Report’s No. 1 builder in Baton Rouge in 2006—was established in 2000. Level Construction currently owns, develops and builds subdivisions in the Baton Rouge area.

One way or another

The Mall of Louisiana announced the launch of a new service that allows consumers to find any product, brand or sale available in the mall by using the Internet or mobile phones. NearbyNow, Inc., powers the service providing Internet and mobile search technology for shopping centers and retailers to increase in-store foot traffic. To search the mall from home go to malloflouisiana.com, or text message ‘ML’ to NEARBY (632729) for further instructions.

A super market

Ralph’s Market has opened its second location at 6576 Jones Creek Rd. The completely remodeled and renovated store offers an on-site butcher, home-style bakery and deli, as well as groceries, floral arrangements, liquors, premium meats and wines. A third location is planned for 2008 near Pelican Point in Gonzales.

OMNIpresent

OMNI Bank of Baton Rouge has announced the opening of its new headquarters at 7053 Jefferson Hwy. This state-of-the-art facility, designed with an open, airy architecture, symbolizes its commitment to the old-fashioned values of service, community and local ownership. OMNI moved into the Baton Rouge region in 2004.

Applications

The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance is requiring applicants to submit their applications by July 2. The two methods of applying for TOPS are by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and by completing the TOPS Online Application at osfa.la.gov. The FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA can be completed on theInternet at fafsa.ed.gov.

Awards/honors

Marybeth Lima, professor of biological and agricultural engineering, received 2007 Thomas Ehrlich Faculty Award for her use and promotion of service learning. This is the 13th year Campus Compact has honored outstanding faculty through this national award. An external panel of experts comprising campus and community representatives chooses winners.

Vanessa Maxwell, a doctoral candidate at LSU, has been selected as one of 58 Knauss Fellows of 2008. The fellowship, sponsored by the National Sea Grant College Program, provides experience to students who have an interest in ocean and coastal resources and national policy decisions affecting those resources by matching them with hosts in legislative or executive branch offices in Washington, D.C., for one year.

Woman’s Hospital was recognized by VHA Inc., with the 2007 VHA Leadership Award for Operational Excellence for earning recognition as a magnet hospital. The Magnet Recognition Program was developed to recognize health care organizations that provide the very best in nursing care. Woman’s is one of 13 VHA member hospitals nationwide that has been designated as a magnet organization.

Royal Nissan in Baton Rouge and Bill Hood Nissan in Hammond have received the Owner First Award of Excellence. Only 118 Nissan dealers out of more than 1,000 nationwide qualified for the award, and only 29 dealers received the award in Nissan’s South Central Region. The award is based on more than a dozen stringent business criteria that evaluate everything from customer feedback to adherence of visual identity standards.

The Public Relations Association of America, Baton Rouge Chapter, has awarded the 2007 Mark of Excellence Award to Sgt. Don Kelly, spokesman for the Baton Rouge Police Department. The award is given annually to a communications professional who has distinguished themselves throughout their career. Kelly has been with the department since 1986, spending most of his career as the agency’s spokesperson.

Franklin J. Foil received the Rear Admiral Hugh H. Howell Jr. Award of Excellence for outstanding meritorious service from the United States Navy. Foil is a Navy veteran and commander in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. The award is given out annually to two outstanding Senior Officers in the U.S. Navy JAGC Reserve Program, and was founded after Rear Adm. Howell, the first director of the Naval Reserve Law Program.

Pascal Calogero Jr., Chief Justice of Louisiana, won the Dwight D. Opperman Award for Judicial Excellence. The award was created to honor a sitting state judge of a trial or appellate court who has had a career of distinguished judicial service, and is given to a recipient chosen by a three-member panel. Calogero has given 34 years of service to Louisiana as a member of its Supreme Court and was nominated by four individuals.

Kohler Power Systems has named Kossen Equipment Inc. as the 2006 Distributor of the Year. Kohler distributors considered for this annual honor were measured for their efforts in building trust with customers, driving continuous improvement in sales and service, posting solid sales and market share gains and their commitment to improving their dealer development and training. Founded in 1977, Kossen provides power generation products and service for the residential, marine, mobile and industrial/commercial markets.

Dr. Guido DeJesus, LSU Health Sciences Center professor and Hospice of Baton Rouge medical director, was recently honored with the Allen A. Copping Award for Medicine. The Copping Award recognizes individuals who are uniquely gifted teachers and have demonstrated a lifelong quest for discovery. DeJesus is a graduate of LSUHSC and served as the chief resident before becoming a member of the faculty in the Internal Medicine department.