Symbols of achievement: Gold Star Trophies of Baton Rouge recently picked up a number of awards from the national association that recognizes standouts among those who make awards and trophies. The Awards and Recognition Association honored Gold Star Trophies owner Chris Viverata with a first-place award in both the Best Sandblasting/Etching and Best Recognition Package categories, and a second place for Best Plaque. Check out a Wall Street Journal article on the awards ceremony in Las Vegas, which includes photos of Viverata and his winning work, here. Meanwhile, Baton Rouge-based Xenetech Global, a supplier of engraving systems, was also recognized with a President’s Award by ARA. The president of ARA is also Xenetech President Guy Barone. See a full list of all the ARA winners here.
Branching out: Transworld Business Advisors, a West Palm Beach, Fla.-based business brokerage, franchise consultant and development firm, has announced a new location in Baton Rouge, at 13711 Coursey Blvd. Paul Patriarco, owner of Sign-a-rama and Minuteman Press at the same location in Baton Rouge, is the new franchise owner. Patriarco says he is looking to expand his operations into more business-to-business transactions, and will open the new store on April 1. The Sign-a-rama and Minuteman Press franchises are part of the United Franchise Group, which is also one of the parent companies of Transworld Business Advisors.
Texas tea: The president of Kenya says oil has been discovered for the first time in his East Africa nation. President Mwai Kibaki announced this morning that oil was discovered in the country’s northwest over the weekend. Kibaki cautioned commercial viability is still uncertain but recognized that the discovery is good news for the country. He says it is only the beginning of a long journey before Kenya could become an oil producer. The discovery was made in Kenya’s Turkana region. Neighboring South Sudan and Uganda both have oil industries.
