From new hires and promotions to industry awards, read on to learn about achievements by businesses and individuals in the greater Ann Arbor area:

• Washtenaw County land preservation activist Barry Lonik recently passed the landmark figure of 5,000 acres protected from his direct involvement. Lonik was the first executive director of the Legacy Land Conservancy, based in Ann Arbor, and for the last decade Lonik has been president of Treemore Ecology and Land Services, Inc. The business’ focus has been staffing locally-funded land preservation programs in Webster, Scio, Ann Arbor and Salem Townships as a consultant. He has attracted over $11 million in federal grants and over $4 million from the State of Michigan to support farmland preservation projects across Washtenaw County. Lonik lives in in Dexter Township.

• ProQuest LLC, an Ann Arbor-based database software company, recently reorganized into strategic business units designed and announced a new leadership team. Rod Gauvin, as senior vice president and general manager, heads ProQuest Information Solutions and is responsible for all library markets. Tim Wahlberg, as senior vice president and general manager of ProQuest Corporate Market Solutions, leads the corporate market business and heads up the enterprise-wide strategy and business development function. Michael Gersch continues in his role as senior vice president and general manager of Serials Solutions, while now also overseeing ProQuest’s affiliated business, Bowker. Rich LaFauci, as senior vice president and general manager of ProQuest Research Solutions, leads the consumer business as well as product brands RefWorks and the recently-launched Pivot for research development professionals. Kevin Sayar, president and general manager of ebrary, has led the company from its conception in 1999 and will continue to focus on building the business through the development of innovative research technologies and flexible acquisition models. Boe Horton, as senior vice president and managing director of ProQuest East Asia, continues his focus on developing products and services for customers in that region. Rounding out the executive team reporting to Sanford are CFO Phil Evans, General Counsel and Senior Vice President Global Content AllianceKevin Norris, Vice President Global Sales and Training Simon Beale, and Senior Vice President Enterprise Marketing and Customer Care Lynda James-Gilboe. Sy Inwentarzis serving as interim CIO, and Jill Hutton is interim head of human resources.

• The Manchester Downtown Development Authority recently received a national honor, the Kodak American Greenways Award, accompanied by a $1,000 grant from the Greenways program. The $1,000 grant will help with design and construction of a two-mile long shared-use trail through the heart of Manchester, using a former railbed purchased by the Village after the railroad ceased operations. A key element of the program involves Manchester’s participation in the ongoing “Gateway Communities Initiative,” a regional eco-tourism program designed to improve access to nature areas. The Manchester DDA is one of 21 groups nationwide honored this year for their innovative efforts to develop the Manchester Shared-Use Trail for the benefit of the community. Updates on the development of the trail can be viewed at http://www.48158.com/.

• The MASCO Corp. Foundation recently awarded a $10,000 grant to the Arts Alliance in support of its efforts with arts and education, serving as a community resource and for its Creative Connections networking programs. Masco Foundation's support will allow the Arts Alliance, a nonprofit arts and culture organization based in Washtenaw County, to follow up on a feasibility study for expanding arts education programming in the Washtenaw County public schools, support a3arts.org and the organization's cultural newsletter and strengthen arts and cultural networking offerings.

• Adam Toth, a Saline-based Edward Jones financial advisor, is supporting the Washtenaw County Toys for Tots program by using his office as a drop-off location for this year's toy drive. Area residents may help needy children in the area by bringing in a new, unwrapped toy to the office, 3400 Travis Pointe Road, Suite C, Saline, during regular business hours.

• The Humane Society of Huron Valley was a winner in the Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program, which awarded vehicles to 100 nonprofit organizations based on votes from the public, and the keys to a new Sienna van were awarded to the nonprofit at Dunning Toyota on Monday, Nov. 14. The new Sienna van will be used by the HSHV Rescue and Cruelty department. Dunning Toyota celebrated with HSHV by holding a pet food drive at their location leading up the delivery of the keys to van to HSHV representatives on Monday.

• Taylor Hulyk has joined Ann Arbor-based marketing firm re:group as social media director, specializing in developing strategies that help clients establish and maintain a strong online presence. She will also be involved in developing multimedia content and filming and producing video for re:group clients.

• Ann Arbor-based Resource Recycling Systems recently announced the addition of Kristina Kaar to the company's environmental and resource management consulting team. Kaar will work with the Carton Council to increase carton recycling opportunities throughout the Midwest and the United States.

• Eastern Michigan University’s Flora Du, who served as president of an EMU student organization that promotes understanding of supply chain and operations management, was recently recognized for exceptional leadership and volunteer service by the industry’s leading professional organization, APICS, The Association for Operations Management. Du was honored with its 2011 Student Voluntary Service Award for her efforts with EMU’s APICS chapter. Du and the EMU chapter were honored in October at the APICS International Conference and Exposition in Pittsburgh.

• The website for Merillat cabinetry was recently recognized with a Web Marketing Association's WebAward. Merillat.com was awarded the Best Home Building Website. Merillat is based in Ann Arbor and is part of Masco Cabinetry.

• The Washtenaw Area Apartment Association has announced the results of its 2012 election for the board of directors. Those elected to the board for the term of 2012-2013 are Terri Neely - McMullen Properties/Valley Ranch Apartments; Michelle Foley -- Village Green Co. at Millcreek Townhomes; Amy Khan - CMB Management; Leslie Lemerand - Arch Realty Co.; and Karen Quinlan Valvo -Fink and Valvo LLC.

• Ann Arbor-based Thomson Reuters recently released its annual study identifying the top U.S. hospitals for inpatient cardiovascular services. Among the top 50 was St. Joseph Mercy Hospital - Ann Arbor. Thomson Reuters 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals were classified into three comparison groups. St. Joseph Mercy Hospital - Ann Arbor was in the category for "teaching hospitals without cardiovascular residency programs."

• At its conference in October, the Michigan Association of Planning presented its annual President’s Award to Richard Carlisle, president of Ann Arbor-based Carlisle/Wortman Associates. The outgoing president of the association, Steve Robinson, president of Versa Development in Southfield, chose as the award recipient. The award goes to an individual who has positively influenced the outgoing president's professional career. The two met years ago across the table in Independence Township, with Carlisle as the township’s planner and Robinson proposing a real estate development. Carlisle/Wortman Associates, based in Ann Arbor provides community development services to local governments.

• As of Nov. 28, Uproar Communications, an Ann Arbor-based advertising and marketing firm, is moving to a new location: 3772 Plaza Drive, Suite 5, Ann Arbor.

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