The Southern Landscape Group (TSLG) in Pinehurst was recently awarded an overall safety achievement award from the Professional Landscape Network (PLANET).

This is the seventh consecutive year TSLG has been recognized for its safety achievements. PLANET is the association of members who create and maintain the quality of life in communities across America, a news release said. With nearly 3,800 member companies and affiliates, these firms and their employees represent more than 100,000 green industry professionals.

The award, part of PLANET’s annual safety recognition awards program, honors those companies with thorough, high-performing safety programs that create and maintain safe work environments in the green industry. It is designed to reward green industry companies that consistently demonstrate their commitment to safety.

TSLG was evaluated on the number of accidents, number of days that employees were away from work, and number of employee injuries and illnesses. In addition, a checklist was used to rate the company’s complete safety program.

“Providing a safe work environment shows our employees and clients that we care,” said Billy Gray, TSLG president. “We will continue to promote safe work habits and continuously train our employees to ensure their well-being, because we recognize the importance of safety in the workplace.”

TSLG, established in 1999, is a full service landscape company. It provides both residential and commercial landscape maintenance, landscape design and installation, including planting, hardscape, irrigation and drainage.

It is the authorized installer for Belgard Hardscape materials for Moore County. TSLG was the Moore County Small Business of the Year in 2008 and certified as a North Carolina Green Business in 2010 by Sustainable Sandhills.

Anyone needing more information can contact TSLG at (910) 944-2361.

Barmore Receives Specialist Certification

Bob Barmore, with the Pinehurst Southern Pines Association of Realtors, has been awarded the Resort and Second Home Specialist (RSPS) certification.

The RSPS certification is a nationally recognized certification awarded by the National Association of Realtors to real estate professionals who demonstrate and promote — to consumers and their peers alike — their expertise in the resort and second home specialty, a news release said.

Barmore joins more than 1,500 real estate professionals nationwide who have earned the RSPS certification. He and Kathy Hawks, of Kathy Hawks Resort Properties LLC, are the only Realtors in the area to hold this certification, the news release said.

He received the RSPS certification having successfully completed the resort and second home markets education requirement and holding the Accredited Buyers Representative designation.

The educational requirement for the RSPS certification includes tax implications of second home ownership, working with international buyers, and promotion of resort/ recreational properties.

“I consider the RSPS Certification vital to providing the highest level of service to clients in the Pinehurst/Southern Pines area,” Barmore said. “Second homes, investment properties and ‘pre-retirement’ homes represent a large percentage of the activity in our market day to day. The ability to promote our unique area nationally and internationally is a talent which will benefit clients and businesses alike, especially with the 2014 U.S. Opens looming on the horizon.”

Window Cleaning Company Opens

Sandhills Window Cleaning Service recently opened in the Moore County area.

Services offered include cleaning windows, screens and gutters, power washing, and stage one window restoration. The company uses only the latest techniques and equipment to properly clean the first time, a news release said. It also uses environmentally friendly soaps and chemicals to ensure landscaping and pets are safe.

Owners Rich and Sheryl Yeager are both local professionals who said they wanted to put together a business in the Sandhills that would give residents of Moore County a company that would provide outstanding customer service.

The company website, www.sandhillswindow cleaning.com, offers monthly window cleaning tips.

It cleans both residential and commercial properties, and is licensed, bonded and insured.

Anyone needing more information can call (910) 638-6730.

First Casualty Names Ferrier to Position

First Casualty Insurance Group Inc (FCIG), a full service independent insurance agency, has appointed Amanda Ferrier as an account executive.

Ferrier brings nearly 12 years of professional insurance experience in life, health and accident insurance. She will be responsible for personal lines, life and small business insurance.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Amanda’s experience and training to join our agency,” said FCIG President Ann Wooten Kunce. “Amanda will bring the agency a successful track record of great service and technical expertise.”

Ferrier’s previous experience includes senior employment specialist at GEICO, sales manager at Liberty National Life Insurance and CSR at State Farm.

FCIG has more than 90 years of combined experience, a news release said. It provides personal and business insurance services to customers in North and South Carolina and Virginia.

Additional information can be found at www.fcignc. com or by calling (910) 692-8303.

Grimshaw Completes Advanced Training

Dr. Mandy Grimshaw, of Kuhn Dental Associates, recently completed the comprehensive aesthetic occlusal reconstruction continuing education course at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Studies.

She was accompanied by team members Ashley Owens, Brad Beck, Grace Clewis and Leisa Thomas. This course is part of a continuum in neuromuscular dentistry designed to help dental professionals diagnose and treat facial pain problems such as TMJ disorders, migraines, as well as neck pain, a news release said.

As a part of the training, Grimshaw restored an actual patient’s mouth to comfort, eliminating chronic headaches and worn dentition under the direction of premier dental instructors at the Las Vegas Institute. Not only was the patient’s quality of life enhanced by being pain free from headaches, but she was also delighted to have a beautiful new smile made possible by using metal-free all-porcelain crowns, the release said.

“I am so happy to be able to offer this service to patients that have suffered from chronic headaches and TMJ pain because this is the best dentistry has to offer,” Grimshaw said.

Kuhn Dental Associates has been a leader in North Carolina in general, implant and cosmetic dentistry for more than 30 years.

First Bancorp Acquires Branch

First Bank, the bank subsidiary of First Bancorp, has completed the acquisition of the deposits of the Gateway Bank & Trust Co. branch in Wilmington.

The Gateway Bank branch has been closed, and the accounts have been transferred to the First Bank branch located in the Landfall Shopping Center at 1701 Eastwood Road.

“We are thrilled to welcome you to First Bank,” Jerry L. Ocheltree, president of First Bank, said to Gateway Bank customers. “As of today, you may conduct your banking at any of the five First Bank branches in Wilmington or any other First Bank branch in our network. Thank you for the privilege to serve you.”

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 98 branches, with 82 in North Carolina, nine in South Carolina and seven in Virginia. First Bank also has a loan production office in Blacksburg, Va.

Joyner Named President of Firm

Richard Joyner has been promoted to president at Tolleson Private Wealth Management, an affiliate of Tolleson Wealth Management.

Joyner has served as a managing director for the firm’s client advisory team for the last nine years. He serves on the firm’s board of directors, Executive Committee and Investment Committee, but his primary role continues to be working with multi-generational families to provide a wide range of wealth management and family office services with an emphasis on family dynamics and family education, a news release said.

“Richard has been a key part of our private wealth management team since he joined the firm,” said John C. Tolleson, chairman and CEO of Tolleson Wealth Management. “This recognizes his remarkable contributions to his clients.”

Joyner, a former Southern Pines resident, has more than 25 years of experience in advising ultra-affluent families with their wealth management needs, the release said. Before joining Tolleson, Joyner was a tax partner and director of the Southwest Area Personal Financial Counseling practice at Ernst & Young in Dallas.

“It is a privilege to be a part of the Tolleson team,” Joyner said. “Every single person focuses completely on serving client families and serving them the right way.”

Joyner is a graduate of Wake Forest University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He also holds the CPA, CFP, CIMA, CPWA and PFS credentials.

He has been honored several times by Worth magazine as one of its “Top Financial Advisers” and by Barron’s magazine as one of its Top 100 Advisers. He has been named by D Magazine as one of “The Best Financial Planners in Dallas.”

He served on the board of directors of the Investment Management Consultants Association for nine years and continues as a member of its Wealth Management Committee.

“Richard has so much passion and commitment to serving his clients,” said Eric Bennett, chairman and CEO of Tolleson Private Wealth Management. “He is an exceptional leader and role model in our firm and industry.”

Human Resource Training Offered

UNC Pembroke’s Regional Center will offer two sessions of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) certification preparation course for those seeking to take the Professional Human Resources (PHR) or Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR) exams.

The fall session begins Sept.28-29 and continues Oct. 19-20. These are daylong sessions, with the exception of first session, which begins at noon and ends at 5 p.m.

The spring session is March 8-9 and March 22-23. All training will take place in the Regional Center auditorium, located in COMtech Park near Pembroke.

The course fee is $675, and the class instructor is Kay Robinson. Participants must be committed to taking the PHR/SPHR certification exams between Dec. 1, 2112, and June 30, 2013.

Robinson is the principal of Robinson HR Consulting. Prior to starting her own consulting practice, she was director of HR Consulting Services with RSM McGladrey in Wilmington. She has served as a consultant and practitioner in the field of human resources for more than 25 years and served as assistant vice chancellor for human resources at UNC Wilmington.

She has worked extensively with different industries but has specialized over the years with hospitals and universities, nonprofits, auto dealerships and manufacturing.

For more information, contact the Regional Center at (910) 775-4000 or email rc@uncp.edu.