A Week In Business – September 28, 2018

Biz AColdwell Banker Residential’s Lester Chandler was recognized at a recent meeting of the Coastal Association of REALTORS® (Coastal) Board of Directors for earning REALTOR® Emeritus status. A REALTOR® is eligible for Emeritus status after holding membership in the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and in Coastal for a cumulative period of 40 years. Pictured, from left, are Chandler, Coastal President-Elect Bernie Flax and Coastal President Joel Maher. Submitted Photo 

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Certification Earned

OCEAN CITY — Reena Oettinger, president of Old Dominion Investment Corp of West Ocean City and Herndon, Va., has announced that Alexandra Dear was recognized by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for successfully fulfilling the requirements to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), which represents the highest standard of certification in accounting.

“I’m proud to say that I have earned the CPA certification, an achievement that places me in a group of financial professionals who have met rigorous standards and who have their clients’ best interest at heart,” Dear said.

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Executive Director Named

OCEAN PINES –  The Ocean Pines Chamber Board of Directors has welcomed Kerrie Bunting as its new executive director.

An active member of the Ocean Pines community, Bunting brings extensive experience in community outreach, event coordination and fiscal control to the organization. Most recently, Bunting worked as an event coordinator for Women Supporting Women and prior to that for Castaways Campground. She has also worked as a STEM grant coordinator for UMES and the annual fund coordinator for Salisbury University.

Through Kerrie’s diverse background she has developed skills in coordinating large events, recruiting and managing volunteers, fiscal control and community outreach. At the top of her chamber to do list is recruitment, not only of new business members but ambassadors and board members.

“Our Chamber leadership must grow along with our membership to better serve the community at large,” Bunting said. “I am very excited to join the chamber and am eager to get out there and meet with our community. Ocean Pines has grown so much and shows no signs of slowing down. We welcome new businesses to our area and encourage community engagement.”

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Habitat Awarded Grant

BERLIN — Habitat for Humanity of Worcester County (HFHWC) has received a $40,000 grant from The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation for its single-family home build in Bishopville this fall.

The Weinberg Foundation is one of the largest private charitable foundations in the United States. This is the first time HFHWC has been awarded a grant from this prestigious foundation. This grant makes available essential funding to be used towards a build for a local family in Worcester County in need of decent, affordable housing. Habitat families work in partnership with Habitat Worcester, volunteers, and the local community to build their homes.

“We are thrilled to be able to accept this grant award from The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation,” said Andrea Bowland, executive director of HFHWC. “We are grateful to the foundation for their support, which directly contributes to our efforts to build decent, safe, affordable housing for Worcester County families in need.”

With the new habitat home build on the horizon, HFHWC is looking for home build sponsors and volunteers.  For more information on becoming a Home Build Sponsor visit www.habtiatworcester.org. For volunteer opportunities, email [email protected] or call 410-208-4440.

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New Hotel Now Open

OCEAN CITY – Hyatt Place Ocean City/Oceanfront, the first Hyatt-branded hotel in Ocean City, is officially open.

The new hotel features the Hyatt Place brand’s intuitive design, casual atmosphere and practical amenities, such as free Wi-Fi and 24-hour food offerings. The hotel is a joint venture owned by PRBR Hospitality Group LLC and operated by TKo Hospitality Management. The hotel is located oceanfront directly on 16th Street.

“As the town of Ocean City continues to grow and thrive economically, we are excited to add to the momentum by welcoming the first Hyatt Place Hotel to the area” said General Manager Ken Conklin. “Our smartly designed social spaces and guestrooms with separate work and sleep areas, our multitasking guests can easily accomplish what they need while on their beach vacation.”

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LSLT Staff Hires

BERLIN — The Lower Shore Land Trust (LSLT) announced this week it has hired a stewardship manager and a deputy director.

Suzanne Ketcham joins LSLT as the stewardship manager and will work to identify conservation and restoration projects that deliver water quality and wildlife habitat improvements, while engaging new partnerships in conservation planning. ‘

Also joining LSLT’s staff is a familiar face. Josh Hastings, a former board member, joins LSLT after spending seven years as the policy manager for the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy. Hastings will serve as deputy director.

“We are very excited to have two incredibly talented individuals join our team!”, said LSLT Executive Director Kate Patton. “We recently received national accreditation from the Land Trust Alliance and now we have staff that can accelerate our efforts and expand the great work we are doing around the Lower Eastern Shore.”

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Agent Awarded Club Pin

BERLIN — EXIT Realty At The Beach’s Andy Rayne was recently awarded Top Producer Club Pin by Tami Bonnell, CEO of EXIT Realty Corp, International.

“It was wonderful to see the CEO of EXIT International present the award to Andy. Andy has worked hard and this award is well-deserved recognition of that effort,” said Bernie Flax, broker/owner of EXIT Realty At The Beach.

“Thank you to all my clients who have entrusted the sale of their farms and homes with me in the past year to make this award possible,” said Rayne.