Business Milestones

Ryan and Tiffany Dodson of Winston-Salem have been honored with the "Top Gun" Area Developer Award for Liberty Tax Service and "Top Gun" Franchisee. Top Gun awards recognize performance in the top 1 percent of the franchise. Area developers are judged based on the development of their market area and the growth of the franchisees in their area. The Dodsons have been franchisees and area developers with Liberty Tax Service since 2004. The couple owns area development rights for the Piedmont Triad area and Knoxville, Tenn.

Debbie Sowell-Cromartie, an Allstate agency owner, has received the Agency Hands in the Community Award for her commitment to helping others. The award also came with a $1,000 grant from The Allstate Foundation for the Get A Lyfe Workshops, where Sowell-Cromartie volunteers.

Molly Haus recently joined Leonard Ryden Burr Real Estate as a real-estate agent specializing in residential sales. She has worked for Glaxo and Dupont.

George Morales has been named the director of Salem College's physical plant. He will oversee operations of the facilities department. Morales has a background in physical plant operations, as well as experience in energy management and construction project supervision. While working with Aramark Facilities Services, he was the manager of operations at Barnard College/Columbia University and provided regional support at a variety of higher education institutions.

Mike Horn, a partner in Vela Strategic Marketing & Public Relations, has been chosen to judge the American Advertising Federation's Addy Award competition in Tucson, Ariz. The Addy Awards are annual competitions sanctioned by the AAF to recognize excellence in advertising. This will be the 19th year Horn has been chosen as an Addy judge. He has judged more than 30 local, regional and national Addy competitions.

Womble Carlyle has honored these attorneys in the firm's Winston-Salem office for their service to their clients and communities: Edward Griggs, Kim Stogner and Georgi Yonuschot. Griggswas recognized for his efforts to improve the quality of the legal profession. He is one of only 16 attorneys chosen for the N.C. Bar Association's inaugural Leadership Academy, which identifies and seeks to train young lawyers in the state to become great leaders. Stogner was honored for her service to the N.C. Bar Association and civic organizations. Stogner serves on numerous NCBA committees, particularly those pertaining to estate planning and fiduciary law.Yonuschot was recognized for her many hours devoted to the pro bono clients she serves as part of her litigation practice. She volunteers with the YWCA of Forsyth County Youth Intervention Services and Forsyth County Teen Court.

The ECHO Network (Everyone Can Help Out Inc.) has appointed four new members to its board of directors: Adolfo Briceño of the city of Winston-Salem's Human Relations department; Robbie Chandler of DB Alex Brown; Alana Jamesof the United Way of Forsyth County; andDaphne Holmes-Johnson, owner of Creative Endeavors and Events LLC.Natasha Gore is the executive director of ECHO.

ECHO began as a program of the Winston-Salem Foundation and has evolved into an independent nonprofit organization, working on social capital and trust in the greater Winston-Salem community. ECHO's flagship offering, the ECHO Council, is being revamped for a spring launch.

1st in ProActive Care LLC has been chosen to receive the 2011 Best of Kernersville Award in the Non Medical Home Health Care category by the U.S. Commerce Association. The USCA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses across the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These local companies enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

CBRE-Triad will represent East Coast Wings & Grill, a casual dining restaurant company based in Winston-Salem, in all real estate transactions involving the chain's national expansion. East Coast Wings & Grill is planning to expand nationally with as many as 15 new locations each year during the next five years. CBRE will assist East Coast Wings & Grill with market analysis, lease transaction negotiation and tenant advisory services tied to leasehold occupancy requirements.Lydia Whitley, an associate vice president in the company's Greensboro office, and Charlie Coyne, a vice president in Raleigh, are heading the team for CBRE.