Awards * honors * accolades.

The following honorees are Gold-level members of the Detroit Regional Chamber

Caponigro Public Relations was named one of the nation's "Best PR Agencies to Work For" by the New York-based public relations publication The Holmes Report. The recognition was based on a number of factors, including Caponigro's low employee turnover the past few years and its outstanding employee benefits. Caponigro has offices in Southfield and Detroit.

Gary L. Cowger, president of General Motors North America, received the 2003 Manufacturing Leadership Award at the 16th Annual SAE/ESD Foundations Banquet at The Ritz-Carlton, Dearborn. The award recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the development of the automobile, truck or automotive industry.

Rick Wagoner, president and CEO of General Motors Corp., was honored as the 2003 Michigan Executive of the Year by the Wayne State University School of Business Administration during its Annual Recognition and Awards Program at the Detroit Marriott-Renaissance Center.

The following honorees are Silver-level members of the Detroit Regional Chamber

Troy-based Handleman Co. was named Large Wholesaler of the Year by the National Association of Recording Merchandisers for the second year in a row. The award recognizes Handleman's outstanding achievements and continuing key role as an integral part of the music industry supply chain.

James Vandenberghe, vice chairman of Southfield-based Lear Corp., received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Wayne State University School of Business Administration during its Annual Recognition and Awards Program at the Detroit Marriott-Renaissance Center.

Beverly Hall Burns, deputy CEO at the Detroit-based law firm of Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone PLC, participated in the Alumni Leaders Program of the Michigan State University College of Arts and Letters. The annual event recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves in their professions.

Michael Coakley, principal in the Detroit law office of Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone PLC and a deputy practice group leader for the firm's Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group, was recognized by the city of Bloomfield Hills for five years of volunteer service on its Zoning Board of Appeals.

Happy anniversary! Vista Maria is celebrating 120 years of helping and healing girls and their families. The organization was founded in 1883 when the Sisters of the Good Shepherd established a home for the "service of women and girls." Based in Dearborn Heights, Vista Maria is now Michigan's largest private, nonprofit residential and community-based treatment agency serving exclusively girls.

Mario Apruzzese, president and CEO of Employees Only in Auburn Hills, and Joseph Melnick, chief marketing officer and director of planning for Butzel Long PC, were honored with Platinum Recognition Awards at the 11th Annual Marketing & Sales Executives of Detroit Gala at the New Detroit Science Center. The Platinum Awards are co-sponsored by Crain's Detroit Business.

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The Epitec Group, an IT staffing and network services firm in Detroit, was named to the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City Inc. Magazine's "Inner City 100" list of the top 100 fastest-growing companies located exclusively in America's inner cities. The Epitec Group ranked No. 94 on the list.

Richard Strenger, an associate attorney at the Bloomfield Hills office of Butzel Long PC, was honored by the board of directors and staff of Community Legal Resources as "Volunteer of the Quarter" for the first quarter of 2003. Strenger was part of a team that participated in the Southeast Michigan Nonprofit Continuum Board Assessment Pilot Project.

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The following honorees are Bronze-level members of the Detroit Regional Chamber

Happy anniversary! Clayton & McKervey PC, a Southfield-based certified public accounting and business advisory firm, is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Since its inception as a sole proprietorship in 1953 by Donald Schmaltz, the firm has always focused on the future to identify emerging business issues. As a result, Clayton & Mckervey is now one of the Detroit Region's 20 largest accounting and consulting firms.

Ford & Earl Associates Inc., a Troy-based graphic design and interior architecture firm, won two design awards in the American Institute of Graphic Arts Detroit's "Design: Re:View.02" competition, co-sponsored by College for Creative Studies (CCS). Ford & Earl's poster memorial to 9/11 entitled "Reflection" earned "Best In Show" honors for Brain Castle and its own 2001/2003 Holiday Card entitled "The Winter Garden" designed by Laura Gergell Hall won in the professional design category. Detroit-based Focus: HOPE obtained ISO 9001:2000 quality certification for two of its education programs, taking a step forward on a journey toward applying for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality award. The certification is for the Center for Children and the Center for Advanced Technologies (CAT) manufacturing engineering education program.

The Stein Group of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, located in Troy, named Anis Ahmed, CLU as "Financial Representative of the Year," Brain Duggan as "New Client Leader" and Christopher Fischer, CLU, ChFC, as "Disability Insurance Sales Leader" for the agency for 2002.

For Benchmarks at the Business Builder membership level, visit the Detroiter Online at www.detroitchamber.com.

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