Power Curbers Inc. has recognized two associates for commitment to the company, its associates and its customers.

Steve Luther of China Grove and Bob Durette of Salisbury have been chosen as the 2006 recipients of the Richard D. Messinger Commitment Award.

The award winners were nominated by employees and chosen by an employee panel.

Each year, the company honors two employees with the Messinger Award. They each receive $1,000, a pin and a certificate. The award is named for the late Richard Messinger, who was chairman of the board.

Luther joined the company’s marketing department part time in 2000 and became full time in April 2001. He now works in the shipping and parts department.

He is a graduate of South Rowan High School and Appalachian State University. He is a member of First Baptist Church of Salisbury and is a former deacon and Sunday school teacher. He and his wife, Jane Harwood Luther, have two sons, John and Joel.

Durette has been employed by Power Curbers for 81?2 years. He has worked as a painter and now assembles machines. He and his wife, Mary Anne, have two children and one grandson.

Associates recognized for service include Dyke Messinger, 30 years; Randy Ward, 20 years; Jim Mikolajski, 15 years; Rusty Humphries and David Shoe, 10 years; and Steve Powers, Walter Pence, Stephen Carlton and Steve Luther, five years.

Power Curbers specializes in curb and gutter machinery, selling its products in more than 80 countries.

National sales award

Rowan native Aaron Arrowood was recognized as Kindred Pharmacy Services’ 2006 top salesman at the company’s recent national sales meeting in New Orleans.

Kindred is a pharmacy company specializing in providing services to long-term care facilities. Arrowood led the company’s growth in the Carolinas and Virginia and was also named Top Regional Account Executive of the Year and Top Revenue Producer.

“This recognition and distinction is well deserved, and it should also be noted that Aaron has been acknowledged not only for his sales performance but also for his teamwork and best practices,” said Scott Burns, vice president of sales and marketing.

“Aaron dominated his colleagues almost every quarter in 2006 winning various awards for his sales performance, which led up to him receiving the Regional Account Executive of the Year Award.”

Arrowood sells for company pharmacies in Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh.

Kindred is the nation’s third largest institutional pharmacy company specializing in providing pharmacy and consulting services to more than 1,000 long-term care facilities across the country. Its Web site is www.kps-rx.com.

New laundry owners

Duke and Gerry Brown will open Village Laundry Center at 2172 Statesville Blvd. Monday.

The Browns purchased and renovated the existing laundromat at the end of the Queen City building across from Salisbury Mall. They have also added new large-capacity machines.

Village Laundry is a self-service laundry, but the Browns may add wash, dry and fold services. Other features include an arcade section, a snack and drink machine and television.

The property will be under 24-hour video surveillance for customers’ security. The Browns will be assisted in the day-to-day operation by sons Coty and Duke II and Duke Brown’s father, Pete.

Hours are 7 a.m.-11 p.m. seven days a week.

‘Racing for Dollars’

“Racing for Dollars,” an event designed to help local businesses improve their bottom line by increasing customer base, decreasing employee turnover and maximizing productivity, will be sponsored by Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Feb. 1.

The event is scheduled 8 a.m.-noon at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

The program will feature three of the many offerings available through the college’s training and workforce development department, highlighting the topics of leadership, customer service and diversity/inclusion.

Participants can also find out how their company may qualify for state funding to support training and development efforts.

For more information or to register, call Rowan-Cabarrus Community College at 704-788-3197, extension 476.

Cathy Griffin installed

Cathy Griffin was installed as the Salisbury/Rowan Association of Realtors’ president for 2007 at the group’s Jan. 9 meeting at the Country Club of Salisbury.

Treasure Faircloth, National Association of Realtors director and the N.C. Association of Realtor’s outgoing Region 6 vice president, installed Griffin, other officers and directors.

Griffin’s son Trent pinned the 2007 President’s Pin on his mother.

Other officers are Shelly Kranz of US Realty Inc., president-elect; Mike Rusher of 1st Cooperative Realty, treasurer; Debbie Miller of Rowan Realty, secretary; Marie Leonard-Hartsell of Wallace Realty, past president.

Directors are Dianne Hunter, Kirby Realty; Jane Bryan, Sheryl Fry and Elizabeth Bean, Century 21 Town and Country; Jim Crawford, Key Realty; Jeff Ketner, Apple House Realty; Patrick Davis, Salisbury Realty; Bonzie Everson and James Poe, Wallace Realty; and Melissa Morefield, US Realty.

Griffin presented Leonard-Hartsell with a past-president plaque.

Nash Isenhower of Wallace Realty was named 2006 Realtor of the Year. Selection criteria include Realtor spirit, civic activity, local board activity, NCAR and NAR activity as well as business accomplishments.

Margaret Kirby of Kirby Realty, chairman of the Realtor of the Year Committee, presented the award. Valinda Isenhower was on hand for her husband’s award presentation.

As keynote speaker, Faircloth commended members for their activities and a $1,750 contribution to NCAR foundation Homes4NC, which provides grants to housing related organizations that assist first-time homebuyers, the homeless, families threatened with losing their homes and victims of natural disasters.

In 2006, the local association also made contributions to Nazareth Children’s Home, Rowan County Rescue Squad, American Cancer Society, Catawba College Center for the Environment, Rowan Regional Medical Center Foundation and Rowan Helping Ministries.

In other business, Griffin reported that the association raised $730 this Christmas for Godstock and will participate as a sponsor in Winter Flight 8K Run and Health Walk on Jan. 20 at Catawba College. Godstock was founded by John Bouk of China Grove and assists families of critically and terminally ill children.

Bean certified

Elizabeth Bean has been awarded the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Designation by the Council of Residential Specialist, the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of Realtors.

Realtors who receive the CRS designation have completed advanced courses and demonstrated professional expertise in the field of residential real estate. Only 35,000 Realtors nationwide have earned the credential.

Bean is a sales associate with Century 21 Towne & Country in China Grove. She is a member and past president of the Salisbury Rowan Association of Realtors.

Linda Braswell compiles the Rowan Roundup of companies, organizations and individuals. You can submit information about new businesses, honors and management promotions to her at the Salisbury Post, P.O. Box 4639, Salisbury, NC 28145-4639; fax it to 704-639-0003; or e-mail lbraswell@ salisburypost.com.

Please include a daytime phone number.