Business Briefs

By

Gentris Corporation, a global leader in applied clinical pharmacogenomics, has named Rick Williams as chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors. In his role he will ensure that the company continues to provide biotechnology and pharmaceutical sponsors with the benefits of cutting-edge advancements in individual patient response and biomarker utilization. 

Wake Radiology recently hired Danielle L. Wellman, MD, to the practice as a radiologist. Wellman received her medical degree from the University of Texas – Houston Medical School and recently completed a women’s imaging fellowship and a diagnostic radiology residency at Duke University Hospital.

Fast Lane, a leading worldwide provider of advanced IT training, has moved its U.S. headquarters from Cary to Morrisville to accommodate growth in service offerings and staff. The new location includes three training rooms and will also accommodate anticipated staff expansion in the coming year. “We are projecting continued growth in our IT business training lines of business, and this relocation marks an exciting time in our history,” said Chuck Terrien, president of Fast Lane Americas.

On July 30, Food Runners Collaborative Inc. delivered its 3 millionth meal to a senior through Meals on Wheels of Wake County, its largest senior meal client. Food Runners produced its first hot senior meal on March 1, 2005, and currently provides almost 2,400 hot meals per day, Monday through Friday, to six senior programs in Wake, Durham, Johnston and Nash Counties. Food Runners is a joint venture of the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and Meals on Wheels of Wake County.  “We are pleased to be able to provide these hot, nutritious meals to our clients for delivery to the senior citizens of our community,” said Fred Haggard, executive director of Food Runners. “Food Runners is producing these meals at a very low cost, helping our customers stretch their limited dollars in these tight money times. We are doing all we can to feed as many senior citizens as possible.”

Wake County recently opened a new wing of the Animal Care, Control and Adoption Center. This expansion will allow Wake County to house animals from all cities in the county as well as those from unincorporated areas. “Our partners have provided thoughtful input, and their participation has helped us develop a plan that will provide high-quality care for cats, dogs and other pets in Wake County for many years to come,” said Wake County Board of Commissioners Chairman Tony Gurley.

Eyecarecenter has added Dr. Kathryn Manton and Dr. Holly Adams to its optometry team. Dr. Manton will be working at both the Barnes and Noble Plaza and downtown Raleigh locations. Dr. Adams will practice at the Barnes and Noble Plaza and Preston Plaza offices. Both doctors will be specializing in primary care and contact lenses. Wake County Public Schools System has leased an additional 175,000 square feet at Crossroads Corporate Park in Cary. The new lease expands the school system’s presence at the property from its existing 74,201 square feet and consolidates departments and operations previously housed in four other locations around Raleigh. “We are excited that the Wake County Public School System is establishing their corporate campus at Crossroads Corporate Park. Consolidating their offices will give Wake County Schools a much more efficient operating platform and positively impact the community for many years to come,” said Erin Curry, asset manager of Mayfield Gentry Realty Advisors.

Cary has been named one of the best places to live in the Southeastern United States out of more than 100 cities nationwide by Money magazine. Cary is the only North Carolina community to make the Money magazine Top 25 list. This marks Cary’s fourth appearance on the Best Places to Live list in eight years. Factors affecting the rankings included median income, population growth, unemployment rates, cost of residential housing relative to local income levels and percentage of college-educated working professionals. Cary was also recently designated a gold-level Fit Community by the North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission.

Cloer Family Vineyards, a family farm winery, opened in Apex on June 4. It is the second family-owned farm in the immediate Triangle area that grows its own grapes and produces its own wines on-site. The vineyard offers wine tastings, self-guided vineyard and winery tours and bottles of the family’s locally grown and produced wines for sale.