Kudos

News about business awards and certifications.

GSK executive is among Heroes of Chemistry

Karen E. Lackey, vice president of discovery medicinal chemistry at GlaxoSmithKline in Research Triangle Park, was inducted into the American Chemical Society's hall of fame, called the Heroes of Chemistry.

In 1998, Lackey was instrumental in discovering lapatinib, the chemical that last year came to market as GSK's breast cancer treatment, Tykerb.

Researchers at the company's British headquarters were ready to give up on the drug, because they couldn't figure out how make it nontoxic. Lackey came up with the solution after poring over hundreds of pages of laboratory results; she resurrected the research program.

Lackey, 45, was one of 25 researchers honored Aug. 17 at the American Chemical Society's national meeting in Philadelphia.

Awards, certifications, recognitions

Kim Breeden, chief executive officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle, was recognized as the CEO of the Year at the Big Brothers Big Sisters national conference. In addition, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle's board of directors was nominated for the Board of the Year.

Allison C. Tolksdorf of Jones Insurance Agency in Garner received the National Association of Health Underwriters Eagles Award. The award is given to individuals who have demonstrated professional excellence in selling health and disability income insurance.

Anesthesiologist Paul Woodard, president of Critical Health Systems-Wake Practice Center and also president of the Raleigh School of Nurse Anesthesia, was awarded The Order of the Long Leaf Pine. The award is the highest civilian honor given by the state. Woodard received the award for his extraordinary service to the Raleigh School of Nurse Anesthesia and his community.

Erie Insurance earned a J.D. Power and Associates award, Highest in Customer Satisfaction with the Auto Insurance Purchase Experience. The award recognizes the top rankings in J.D. Power's 2008 Insurance New Buyer Study, which assesses customers' experience in purchasing new auto insurance policies.

William Travis Jewelry in Chapel Hill was named a Top 50 Designer Retailer at the Jewelers of America New York Show, an international jeweler's convention.

Flywheel Design's work for Blue Bird Bakery will be included in Print Magazine's Regional Design Annual, a survey of the best design work being produced in the United States.

John La Rocca of Grubb & Ellis/Thomas Linderman Graham is now an accredited land consultant member of the Realtors Land Institute. The ALC designation is awarded to Realtors Land Institute members who meet rigorous requirements.

David Heiser, senior environmental specialist at McKim & Creed's Raleigh office, has been named a Professional Engineers of North Carolina fellow. The designation recognizes members who have significant engineering achievements and served the PENC and the engineering profession.

Magic Happens Travel & Cruises was selected for the 2008 Best of Cary Award in the cruises category by the U.S. Local Business Association. The award program recognizes U.S. businesses that have achieved exceptional marketing success in their communities and business category.

Alicia Kirwan of HH Architecture in Raleigh earned the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design accredited professional certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Elaine Dibner, director of recruiting and human resources at Carolina Condrey Group, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, will receive the Northwestern Foundation Community Service Award for her volunteer work with the Kramden Institute, a nonprofit group dedicated to restoring and donating used computers to children in state public schools.