A longtime Moore County resident with an extensive background in sales and marketing and as a physician liaison has become director of the FirstHealth of the Carolinas Wound Care Centers.

Nelson N. Harte III assumed his new responsibilities on July 9.

"I am excited about my new role with FirstHealth," Harte said, "and I especially look forward to the opportunity to further introduce our outstanding wound care program to the community and to the area's referring physicians.

"Our excellent program offers wound care that is second to none, and our excellent staff is known for its compassionate service. It's a winning combination, and I am excited about becoming a part of it. "

Harte has a long history of service to FirstHealth of the Carolinas, beginning with his position as a marketing representative for FirstHealth Home Medical Equipment, Home Health and Hospice and continuing with his sales and marketing role with FirstHealth business development.

Just prior to taking his new position with the Wound Care Centers, he served as business manager of FirstHealth Home Care Services. He received a bachelor's degree in industrial technology from East Carolina University in 1986.

As program director for FirstHealth's Wound Care Centers, Harte oversees the business operations for the wound care programs at Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst and at Richmond Memorial Hospital in Rockingham. Both facilities are designed to monitor, manage and treat chronic nonhealing wounds.

Resort Names Biggs

Retail Operations Director

Pinehurst Resort has hired Jay Biggs as director of retail operations.

Biggs has extensive experience in golf retail and operations, including a history of significantly growing merchandise sales, a news release said. He was recognized as the PGA of America's 2001 Merchandiser of the Year for the Iowa section and eight times has been honored by Golf Digest as having a Top 100 Golf Shop.

"We're thrilled to add someone with Jay's experience and expertise," said Don Padgett II, president of Pinehurst Resort. "With his proven track record, Jay will be instrumental in helping to elevate the Pinehurst Resort experience."

Biggs has been with ClubCorp since 1993, most recently serving as general manager of the Country Club of the South in Johns Creek, Ga. He served as director of operations and membership at Firestone Country Club from 2004-2010 and as the club's director of golf operations from 1993-1997.

He also has served as director of golf at clubs in Kansas and Iowa, as well as regional director of golf over three clubs in Virginia.

Biggs has a bachelor's degree in business management from Indiana University and is a PGA Golf Professional.

Ballard Appointed to Baldrige Award Panel

Marcie Ballard, a Department of the Army employee with the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), has been appointed to the 2012 Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

The award recognizes U.S. industry, professional, trade, governmental and nongovernmental organizations for performance excellence at the national level.

Dr. Patrick Gallagher, director of the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology, recently appointed Ballard to the board. This marks her sixth year being selected as an examiner.

"It's to our advantage to have Marcie involved in that process," said Thomas Bailey, director of knowledge management at USASOC and Ballard's supervisor. "She increases her skill-set in her work with the Baldrige program and gives it back to USASOC as to best practices in what leading organizations are doing, how they are evolving and innovating. A lot of her time is involved in this, which is a benefit to the command."

Ballard will serve on the board in a volunteer capacity, joining 500 other leading experts who will serve as examiners. Ballard is the chief for Process integration, Futures and Learning Division of the Knowledge Management Office at USASOC. She has worked for USASOC since 2009 and resides in Pinehurst. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University with a bachelor of arts degree in molecular biology.

As an examiner, Ballard reviews and evaluates applications submitted for the award, which was created by public law in 1987. All members of the board must take part in a preparation course based on the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence and the scoring and evaluation processes for the Baldrige Award.

The Baldrige Award may be given annually in each of six categories: manufacturing, service, small business, education, health care, and nonprofit. Awards have been presented to 90 organizations.

The award program is managed by NIST in close cooperation with the private sector.

Company Names

St. Louis to Post

Dennis St. Louis, of Southern Pines, has been named director of sales and marketing for Thrace-LINQ, a global supplier of woven and nonwoven polypropylene-based fabrics for a wide variety of textile applications, the company announced in a news release.

St. Louis, a senior level manager with more than 23 years of experience in the textiles industry, most recently served as director of sales and marketing and national account manager for Vita Nonwovens. Prior to his role at Vita Nonwovens, he was vice president of sales and marketing for Burlington House.

He will be responsible for maximum market penetration of Thrace-LINQ products and capabilities throughout the Americas.

St. Louis graduated from Milton College and attended the University of Wisconsin's Executive School of Business.

"In the past, Thrace-LINQ focused most of its efforts in the geotextile arena, however, last year we also expanded our portfolio of performance nonwovens that provide sustainable cost effective solutions for industrial and technical applications," acting President Ron Rooks said in a news release. "As we continue to grow the company's needle-punch operations and brand awareness across the Americas, we anticipate Dennis will provide the Sales and Marketing leadership needed to accomplish the growth goals and objectives of both Thrace-LINQ and those of our customers."

First Bancorp

Declares Dividend

The board of directors of First Bancorp, the parent company of First Bank, has declared a cash dividend on its common stock of 8 cents per share payable July 25 to shareholders of record as of June 30.

The per share dividend is the same as the rate declared in the comparable period of 2011.

First Bancorp is a bank holding company headquartered in Troy, with total assets of $3.3 billion. Its principal activity is the ownership and operation of First Bank, a state-chartered community bank that operates 97 branches, with 82 in North Carolina, nine in South Carolina and six in Virginia, where First Bank does business as First Bank of Virginia.

First Bank also has a loan production office in Blacksburg, Va.