Cimarron Homes Leadership Earns Green Builders Certification

Cimarron Homes president, Craig Morrison, and production manager, Danny Winters, received the National Association of Home Builders Master Certified Green Professional designation.

McKinney Acquired by Cheil Worldwide

Durham-based advertising agency, McKinney has been acquired by Cheil Worldwide, one of the world's leading marketing communications networks headquarters in Seoul, South Korea with 51 offices in 28 countries with about 3,000 employees.. McKinney will maintain its name, leadership team and headquarters in Durham, NC.

Beauty Product Developer Relocates Manufacturing to Durham

HatchBeauty will relocate its manufacturing operations to Durham. The California company develops beauty products for retailers like The Gap, CVS and Bath & Body Works; it will be located in a pharmaceutical lab company and building at 2445 South Alston Ave.

NCCU Chancellor Retires

Charlie Nelms, chancellor of N.C. Central University, will retire after serving the university for five years, effective Aug. 6. Nelms is nationally recognized for his leadership and expertise in the areas of student retention and academic success.

Luke Powery Named New Duke Chapel Dean

The Reverend Dr. Luke A. Powery of Princeton Theological Seminary will become the new dean of Duke Chapel effective Sept. 1. The first black dean of Duke Chapel, Powery has taught at Princeton Theological Seminary since 2006, where he is the Perry and Georgia Engle assistant professor of homiletics.

Perfume Place to Open in Northgate Mall

The Perfume Place is slated to open Aug. 1 at Northgate Mall selling discount men’s and women’s fragrances. The store will be located near Macy's.

Wine Room Now Open at Straw Valley

The Wine Room has opened next to Straw Valley Café at 5420 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. The wine shop's hours are 5 p.m. to midnight on Thursday and Friday, from noon to midnight on Saturday, and from noon to 9 p.m. on Sundays.

Sur La Table to Open at The Streets at Southpoint

Sur La Table is slated to open in the outdoor area of The Streets at Southpoint. The Seattle-based company sells bakeware, barware, cutlery, kitchen gadgets, glassware, grilling tools, linens, and other items.

Kenan Institute Director Reappointed to Second Term

Noah Pickus has been reappointed to a second five-year term as the Nannerl O. Keohane Director of the Kenan Institute for Ethics (KIE) at Duke University. The Kenan Institute for Ethics is a university-wide initiative committed to understanding and addressing ethical challenges facing individuals, organizations and societies worldwide.

Shore Honored with Duke Energy Citizenship & Service Award

Bill Shore was honored with the Duke Energy Citizenship and Service award for his history of activity in Durham community affairs. Shore recently retired as director of U. S. community partnerships at GlaxoSmithKline.

NetApp to Add 460 Jobs in RTP

Data storage company NetApp plans to add 460 high-paying jobs to its Research Triangle Park campus office over the next four years.

Durham Chamber Strategist Accepts Role at American Underground

The Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce's Director of Strategic Initiatives, Adam Klein, is leaving the organization to become Chief Strategist for American Underground, a start up incubator located in the American Tobacco Campus. 

Durham Yoga Co. to Open in Downtown Durham

Durham Yoga Co., a sister branch to Carrboro Yoga Co., will open in downtown Durham in September. The first day of classes is slated for Sept. 3 in the newly renovated building at 502 Rigsbee Ave.

Matt Danowski Named Duke Lacrosse Assistant Coach

Matt Danowski has been named as Duke Lacrosse assistant coach. A former Duke lacrosse player, Danowski was named ACC Rookie of the Year in 2004 and was named national player of the year in 2007 while playing for his father, Duke Lacrosse Head Coach John Danowski.

Michael Kors Store to Open at The Streets at Southpoint

Michael Kors, a luxury goods and accessories store, is slated to open on the lower floor of The Streets at Southpoint in September.

Piedmont Hires New Chef de Cuisine

Piedmont Restaurant has hired Jeffrey Satterly as its new chef de cuisine. Satterly, the former executive chef at Frazier’s in Raleigh, will take over from Chef Marco Shaw.

Director to Part Ways with Nasher Museum

The Nasher Museum of Art's first and only director, Kimerly Rorschach, will depart for a position heading up the Seattle Art Museum beginning Nov. 1.

El Coyote Bar & Grill to Open Erwin Terrace Location

A second El Coyote Bar & Grill location is slated to open in Durham's Erwin Terrace development. The restaurant is slated to open in early Fall and will serve food similar to that served in the current location.

Museum of Durham History Hires First Executive Director

The Museum of Durham History hired Katie Spencer as its first Executive Director; Spencer had served as the organization's co-director since December 15, 2011. 

Durham Golfer Hits 370 Yard Hole-In-One

Durham golfer Michael Bell hit a hole-in-one on Croasdaile Country Club’s 17th hole. A 370 yard par 4, the hole features a tricky dog-leg.

North Carolina Ranks High for Business

North Carolina was ranked 4th on CNBC's list of America's top 5 states for business.

Duke's Plumlee Named to 2011-12 Coaches Honor Court

Duke University's Mason Plumlee was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches 2011-12 Honors Court. The award recognizes those collegiate basketball student-athletes who excelled in academics during the 2011-12 season.

Porchetta Joins Durham Food Truck Community

Porchetta, a new food truck selling Italian-style, slow-roasted pork, has joined Durham's growing mobile food community.

Duke Professor Advising Obama 2012 Campaign

Duke University Professor Bruce Jentleson of the Sanford School of Public Policy has been appointed to the Obama 2012 National Security Advisory Steering Committee, and is co-chairing the Middle East working group.

Taste Carolina Offers Mexican Food Tour of Durham

Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours has added a Sunday tour of Mexican food in Durham to its weekly food tours line-up which includes stops at Los Comales, La Poblana, La Superior Carniceria, La Vaquita, and Nanataco.

Durham Fire Chief Announces Promotions

Durham Fire Chief Bruce Pagan has made several recent promotions, including promoting Edward Reid to fire marshal; Jody Morton to assistant fire marshal; Chris Iannuzzi to assistant fire chief; Charles Bolar to battalion fire chief; Joel Gullie to fire inspector and Daniel Mitcham to fire technician.

Ellerbe Creek Association Awarded $60K EPA Grant

The Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association has been awarded a $60,000 Environmental Protection Agency grant to restore water quality in many of Durham’s urban areas. The EPA recently awarded $2.7 million to 46 organizations in 32 states and Puerto Rico to help restore urban waters, support community revitalization and protect Americans’ health.

Elmira Avenue Park Wins $15K Sprite Spark Parks Grant

Elmira Avenue Park received a $15,000 grant from the Sprite Spark Parks Project to fund a new basketball goal system, repair the surface and re-stripe the courts. The Sprite Spark Parks Project initiative refurbishes courts in public parks and recreation centers across the country based on a voting process. Elmira Avenue Park receive over 41,000 votes.

Durham Police Name Deputy Chief

Larry C. Smith has been promoted to the position of Durham Police Deputy Chief, the second-highest rank in the department. Smith is a graduate of Northern High School and Campbell University. He joined the Police Department in 1988.

ReverbNation to Relocate Near Brightleaf Square

ReverbNation, a Durham-based music industry promotions tool, will move its headquarters from its current space across from Durham Athletic Park to space previously occupied by Ogilvy near Brightleaf Square.

Voorhees Steps Down as Deputy City Manager

Ted Voorhees will step down from his role as Durham's Deputy City Manager to become city manager in Fayetteville. Voorhees has been a deputy manager in Durham for 10 years.

NPR Weekend Edition to Feature Center for Documentary Studies

NPR's Weekend Edition will feature a one-hour special on July 4th of stories from Groundwork, a radio and multimedia project of the Center for Documentary Studies. The show will air on more than a hundred public radio stations nationwide, including WNYC New York, WBEZ Chicago, KUOW Seattle, Minnesota Public Radio, KALW San Francisco, among others.