Durham-based SJF Ventures invests in Aseptia

Durham-based SJF Ventures announced it has invested in Raleigh-based Aseptia, a food processing technology company.

Design Firm Moves Downtown

The engineering and landscape architecture design firm Stewart announced that its Durham office has moved downtown to the Kress Building at 101 W. Main St. The new 5,100-square-foot office is in a building that previously housed the department store S.H. Kress & Co.

Cenduit adding jobs, office space in Durham

Cenduit, a global provider of services related to clinical trials, is adding 44 percent more office space at its Durham headquarters and plans to increase its local staff by some 30 percent this year.

StartUpBus adds Durham Stop

The StartupBus has added Durham’s American Underground as a stop on its route on the way to the South by Southwest Interactive conference in Austin, Texas. The bus packs "entrepreneurs" – all strangers – who are tasked with conceiving of and planning the launch of a startup over the course of a three-day road trip. Upon arrival, these “buspreneurs” are supposed to ready to launch.

NCSU food tech spinoff Aseptia raises $6M in venture funding

Aseptia, a fruit and vegetable processor company built around patented technology developed at North Carolina State University, has secured $6 million in a third round of venture funding to expand its manufacturing capabilities.

DDI Hires Concert Producer Ocaña

Downtown Durham, Inc. has hired Tess Mangum Ocaña to produce its summer concert series.

Hilton Becomes DoubleTree

The Hilton hotel property located off of Page Road in Durham has officially switched its flag to the DoubleTree by Hilton brand after completing a seven-month, $8 million renovation in February.

Duke Confers LEAF Award

Alexander McCall Smith, bestselling author of the “No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” series, will receive the 2013 Duke LEAF Award for Lifetime Environmental Achievement in the Fine Arts.

Walton Named Chair

Anita Walton, director of alumni relations at N.C. Central University, is the new chair of CASE District III Board of Directors.

Three Appointees Made to City of Durham Boards

Three appointees were named to City of Durham boards, committees or commissions. Ashley O. Hernandez, Jr. was appointed to the Equal Business Opportunity Program Advisory Committee; Edward M. Binanay was reappointed to the Durham Performing Arts Center Oversight Committee; and Margaretta (Marty) Belin was also reappointed to the Durham Performing Arts Center Oversight Committee.

City of Durham Names New Fire Chief

City Manager Tom Bonfield has announced the appointment of Daniel Curia as the new chief of the Durham Fire Department. Curia has served as the interim fire chief since December 2012.

Durham Announces Human Relations Award Winners

The City of Durham Human Relations Commission honored four residents who have distinguished themselves by contributing their time and talents to promoting good human relations in Durham.
The four honorees were Mary Joyner  of the QUEENS Program; Rev. Phillip Jackson, director of New Beginnings Outreach Community Development Corporation; Henry M. "Mickey" Michaux, Jr., North Carolina General Assembly Representative; and Maya Bryant, a student at Durham School of the Arts.

Duke Trustees Approve Upgrade of Programs, New Tuition Rates

The Duke University Board of Trustees on Friday approved the creation of a Department of Neurology within the School of Medicine. The board also approved upgrading the status of International Comparative Studies, as well as new tuition rates for 2013-14.

Duke Athletics Receives $5M

Roy and Merilee Bostock have given $5 million to Duke Athletics "Building Champions" fundraiser

Char-Grill and Salsarita's to Open at RDU

The Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority gave the go-ahead on Thursday for Char-Grill and Salsarita's and three others to open in Terminal 1 next year after renovation is complete.

RDU Board Gets Two New Members

Raleigh real estate developer John Kane and attorney Clay Wheeler have joined the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority.

Raleigh Venture Capitalists Collaborate with Durham Startups

Two veteran Raleigh venture capitalists, David Jones and Jason Capalin, partners in Southern Capitol Ventures have launched an effort to raise $25 million for a new seed-stage venture fund that would collaborate with business startup activities in Durham.

RDU Traffic Grows in January

A total of 323,000 people boarded flights at RDU last month, up 3 percent from January of 2012.

Fullsteam Expands to Charleston

Fullsteam plans to distribute a mix of its year-round and seasonal beers, like the Carver Sweet Potato Lager and Summer Basil Farmhouse Ale, in the Charleston market.

Durham-based IDEA Fund invests in Florida analytics firm

Durham-based IDEA Fund Partners, an early-stage fund joined a syndicate of three other investors in backing Florida-based 71lbs, a startup focused on helping clients collect money-back, on-time guarantees.

Nimble Storage opens office in Durham

Nimble Storage, A California-based producer of data storage systems has opened a new office in Durham that could accommodate up to 100 employees.

Duke Researchers Train Rats to Sense Infrared Light

Duke scientists studying brain implants engineered rats with a sixth sense that allows them to “feel” infrared light.

TBJ unveils 10 Durham Health Care Heroes Awards finalists

The Triangle Business Journal has unveiled 10 Durham Health Care Heroes Awards finalists.  The finalists include Wanda Bride at  Duke University Hospital, Duke Heart Center; Misty Guerrero at Durham Regional Hospital; Mary Lawrence at Cornucopia Cancer Support Center; Mary Jane Moseley, Cheryl Thaxton, and Stephanie Niemchak at Duke University Hospital; Leanne Richbourg at Duke University Medical Center; Jane Rigsbee at James E. Davis Ambulatory Surgery Center, Duke; Dr. Michael Rosenberg, at Health Decisions and Walter Lee Williford at Duke University Health System.

Toyota Dealership Expands

The owner of Durham’s Mark Jacobson Toyota dealership is planning to sell used cars on a property that previously housed a RoomStore furniture store on Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard.

Quintiles Files to Go Public

Clinical testing company Quintiles Transnational wants to become a public company again after nearly a decade in private hands.

Council OKs townhouses for 751 corridor

City Council members voted 4-3 on Monday to allow a developer to place up to 149 townhouses in the proposed Southpoint Trails project in south Durham off N.C. 751.

Duke Gardens Introduces New Waterfowl

A new collection of waterfowl has joined the Asiatic Pond menagerie in Duke Gardens.

US Airways merger lifts American to #1 at RDU

The merger with US Airways will make American Airlines the top carrier at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

Clement Receives Chamber Award

Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce awarded A.J. Howard Clement III the Civic Honor Award for the time he served on the Durham city council.

RTI spin-off acquired

Nextreme Thermal Solutions, a technology company spun off by RTI International, the nonprofit contract research institute based in the Research Triangle Park, has been acquired by Laird Technologies, a designer and supplier of electronics components and systems.

Former iContact CFO joins Durham's Appia

Durham-based Appia has nabbed Tim Oakley the former iContact chief financial officer.

Railroad Project to Begin

A groundbreaking will occur today on a $10.9 million project to close two dangerous rail crossings, straighten a curved track to allow faster train speeds, and lift the trains on a new bridge over Hopson Road in southern Durham.

Joe Van Gogh to Close Duke Location Until Early Summer

Duke University notified the coffee shop chain last week that it will have to temporarily close starting March 1 due to ongoing renovations to the Bryan Center. The cafe plans to reopen in early June at its same location.

Duch Elected 2013 Duke Graduate Young Trustee

The Graduate and Professional Student Council elected Katherine Duch as the next graduate Young Trustee.

Vandendriessche Chosen as President of Duke University Union

Duke Junior Lynn Vandendriessche was selected Sunday as new president of the Duke University Union. Vandendriessche wants the group to branch out more to collaborate with other students groups during her tenure.

Planning Commission Endorses Ice Rink

The Durham Planning Commission endorsed a proposed ice rink for Triangle Curling Club that would be built in Research Triangle Park.

Durham County Gives bioMerieux Business Incentive

County Commissioners voted 4-0 on Monday to give bioMerieux, a biotech company based in the Treyburn Corporate Park a $400,000 business incentive deal to help finance an expansion of its facility.

Souther Receives Durham Tech Academic Excellence Award

Erin Marie Souther has been selected as Durham Technical Community College's Academic Excellence Award recipient for 2013.

Durham Tech Names VPs

Durham Technical Community College has named Valarie Evans senior vice president for student learning, development and support and Thomas Jaynes vice president for institutional advancement and support

Duke Hires Scottie Montgomery as Associate Head Football Coach

After a three-year stint as a wide receivers coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers, an AFC North division title and a trip to the Super Bowl, Scottie Montgomery is returning home to Duke University.

21c Museum Hotels Company Buys Downtown Tower

A Kentucky-based company that has plans to redevelop the downtown SunTrust tower into a boutique hotel has now bought the building from Greenfire Development. The property is located at 111 N. Corcoran St. A company majority owned and controlled by Louisville, Ky.-based 21c Museum Hotels bought the building for $5.25 million on Friday.

Durham Public Works Engineer Named Fellow

The City of Durham Public Works Department civil engineer Sujit Ekka has been named an International Jennings Randolph Fellow by the American Public Works Association and the Eisenhower Institute of Gettysburg College.

Debra Saunders-White Named Chancellor at NCCU

Debra Saunders-White, deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Education, was elected NCCU’s 11th chancellor by the UNC Board of Governors. She is the first woman to be permanently named to the chancellor’s role at the 8,100-student historically black university in Durham.

Duke's Leong Elected to National Academy of Engineering

Kam Leong, the James B. Duke professor of biomedical engineering at Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE)—one of the highest professional distinctions for engineers.

Tranzyme Board to Explore Sale

Tranzyme Inc.'s board of directors will explore a possible sale, merger or business combination for the Durham drug developer, which recently ended research into its most advanced experimental treatment.

Duke Reappoints Futhey as VP for Information Technology

Tracy Futhey has been re-appointed as vice president for information technology and chief information officer (CIO) for Duke University.

Beyer Joins Grassroots Education Advocacy Group

Natalie Beyer, a member of the Durham Public Schools Board of Education, is now one of the volunteer leaders of a grassroots advocacy group called Public Schools First NC.

Parker and Otis Re-Opens

Parker and Otis has re-opened after a December electric fire closed the restaurant, cafe and gift shop.

New Concept Planned for Shiki Sushi

The owner of Durham’s Shiki Sushi Asian Bistro, Sushi & Bar at 207 W. N.C. 54 is making plans to shift the restaurant’s operations into a neighboring space under a different name, Tsau, so he can renovate the old Shiki space and open an Asian fondue, or hot pot, concept. Tasu is expected to be open in March, the new hot pot concept is expected to be open by May or by June.

Grace Park Church Launches on Sunday

Grace Park Church will launch this Sunday with its first service at C.C. Spaulding Elementary School at 1531 S. Roxboro St. in Durham.

New Distillery Finds a Home in Durham

“I think what really makes Durham a great place for new businesses is that there is so much creativity, diversity, and other start-ups already happening here. So not only is there lots of room to grow, but there’s a lot of enthusiasm and support coming from the community. There’s a whole culture of ‘we can do it’ and you just kind of feed off of that, seeing so many other businesses opening and thriving.”

— Gourmet deVille, Rim Vilgalys Brings New Artisan Liqueur to North Carolina ABC

Burt's Bees Appoints VP and GM

Craig Stevenson has been appointed vice president and general manager of Burt’s Bees, which is based in downtown Durham at the American Tobacco campus. He will take over March 1.

Melinda Gates Among 7 to Receive Honorary Duke Degrees

Melinda Gates is among seven people who will receive honorary degrees from Duke University this year. Other degree recipients include founder of PIMCO, Bill Gross, human-rights activist Marguerite “Maggy” Barankitse; immune-system scientist Dr. Max Cooper; David S. Ferriero, archivist of the United States; Henry Louis Gates Jr., professor of African-American history and literature at Harvard University; and choreographer Judith Jamison.

Duke Professor Wins Award

Barton Haynes, the Frederic M. Hanes Professor of Medicine and Immunology at Duke University and Director of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute and leader of the Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology-Immunogen Discovery, will receive the 2013 AAI-Steinman Award for Human Immunology Research from the American Association of Immunologists.The award recognizes “significant, sustained achievement in immunology research pertinent to human disease pathogenesis, prevention, or therapy.”

BPG Properties Sells 3 Buildings, Changes Name

BPG Properties, one of the largest owners of flex and warehouse real estate in the Triangle, has sold the three buildings it owns in the Triangle Business Center office in Durham. Additionally, the company announced it’s changing its name to Equus Capital Partners.

Intersil Relocates Within Durham

Intersil has signed a 7.5-year lease agreement to occupy 25,038 square feet in the Keystone Technology Park IV flex building at 419 Davis Drive. It will soon be relocating its research lab facility currently located at 4020 Stirrup Creek Drive to Keystone Park.

Old Chatham Golf Club Director Named to Leadership Role

Old Chatham Golf Club in Durham has announced that Brian Powell, director of golf course operations, has been named vice president of the Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association, a conduit for continuing education and research funding for the entire golf industry.

BioMérieux expansion in Durham to create 44 jobs

Diagnostics company bioMérieux Inc. is expanding its Durham County facility in a move that will create 44 jobs over the next three years.