Salisbury’s first private audiological practice opens

Salisbury Audiology and Hearing Aid Services is now open at 644 Statesville Blvd., Unit 3.

The first private audiological practice in Salisbury, it is owned and operated by April Pittman. It offers diagnosis of hearing impairments, dispensing hearing aids, hearing aid repairs, hearing aid accessories, assistive listening devices and hearing protection.

Office hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m.-noon Friday. The phone number is 704-633-6775.

Pittman previously worked for a private otolarngology practice for three years. She graduated from Appalachian State University in Boone in 2001 with a bachelor of science degree in communication disorders and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2003 with a master of arts degree in communication sciences and disorders.

She received a doctorate in audiology from Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 2006.

She interned with Rowan-Salisbury Schools’ Special Education Department while she was in graduate school and also worked as a student clinician at UNCG’s Speech and Hearing Center.

She is a member of the American Speech Language and Hearing Association and is certified by the Board of Examiners of the Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists and the N.C. Hearing Aid Dealers and Fitters Board.

Daughter of Benjamin and Cathy Robbins of Salisbury, she lives in Salisbury with husband, Jerry, and daughter, Grayce. She is also a member of the Salisbury First United Church of Christ.

Melton on biotech

Wilmer Melton, director of public works for the city of Kannapolis, will speak about Biotech and Kannapolis at the Feb. 6 meeting of the Cabarrus County Leadership Association, a local chapter of the National Management Association.

The meeting begins at 5:45 p.m. at the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College’s Cabarrus Business and Technology Center, 660 Parkway Ave., Concord, and includes dinner.

The meeting is open to non-members for the cost of the meal. For reservations or information, call Daniel Criscoe at 704-722-2059.

Ginn joins Romedical

Dr. Thomas Adam Ginn has joined Romedical Care Inc., 1035 Lincolnton Road.

A 1992 graduate of Salisbury High School, Ginn received his undergraduate degree in anthropology and chemistry from Wake Forest University. He graduated with honors from Wake Forest University School of Medicine and completed his surgical internship and orthopaedic residency at Wake Forest University and Baptist Medical Center. He did an additional one-year fellowship in hand and upper extremity surgery.

He was awarded the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society award in 1999, the Richard T. Myers award for surgical merit in 2000, the Frank E. Pollack academic award during his orthopaedic residency in 2003 and the Resident Teaching award during his orthopaedic residency in 2005.

Originally from Salisbury, he is the son of Dr. Thomas Ginn, an internal medicine physician.

“We are pleased to have Dr. Ginn join our orthopedic practice here at Romedical,” said Gary A. Blabon, Romedical chief executive officer. “I believe that his orthopedic expertise and his fellowship training in upper extremity will not only benefit our patients but patients in the surrounding communities as well. Dr. Ginn will be able to take care of all upper extremity problems from the shoulder to the fingertips.”

New vice president

Food Lion has named Charles Davis vice president of business strategy and analytics.

Davis will report to Mike Haaf, senior vice president of sales, marketing and business strategy. In this role, he will be responsible for research, analytics and business strategy within the organization.

ebay introduction

An introduction to ebay, the popular online auction site, will be offered 3-4 p.m. Friday at Trinity Oaks Retirement Community.

Participants can also learn how to help Lutheran Services in America through Trading Graces, an annual eBay online auction benefiting Lutheran health and human services organizations across America and in the Caribbean. Trading Graces raises awareness for Lutheran social ministries and helps them raise funds supporting of a variety of programs. Trinity Oaks, a continuing care retirement community, is part of the Salisbury-based Lutheran Services for the Aging.

Charles Hoffmire, director of development for Lutheran Services for the Aging, will provide the introduction to Trading Graces and ebay. The focus will be on use of the auction site as well as opportunities for contributing to Lutheran Services in America development initiatives.

Use of ebay as a means of “downsizing” prior to a move is gaining popularity with older adults and the realtors who serve them. The seminar will take place in one of Trinity Oak’s premiere cottage homes at 310 Majestic Heights Drive.

For more information or reservations, call Diane Hundley, director of marketing and sales, at 704-633-1002, extension 477. To learn more about Trinity Oaks, go to www.trinityoaks.net.

Certification program

Kenneth L. Hardin of Salisbury recently completed the Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Instructor Certification program offered by the Crisis Prevention Institute of Brookfield, Wisc.

The 24-hour course curriculum designed for human service professionals teaches verbal and physical restraint techniques for the safe intervention with customers to address behavior that may escalate into disruptive or violent behavior.

It focused on identifying escalating behaviors and appropriate staff response, non-verbal behavior, para-verbal communication, effective verbal intervention techniques and the application of personal safety restraint techniques.

Successful completion of the program included membership in the International Association of Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Certified Instructors.

Hardin is director of customer service at Randolph Hospital in Asheboro. He will initially teach a two-day course to registered nurses assigned to the Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit and Maternity Services. Afterwards, the training will be offered to all hospital employees, volunteers and physicians.

Documentation service

Mooresville resident and entrepreneur Karen H. Roberts recently opened Digital Inventory Solutions, a video documentation service to help area residents and businesses with a detailed record of their valuables and other possessions for peace of mind should disaster strike.

Roberts, who has a bachelor of arts degree in home economics, combined her profession with her passion for photography.

“I enjoy helping people protect their investments by digitally recording their personal and business possessions and property,” she says.

She will document valuables such as antiques, fine jewelry, coins, art collectables, tools, electronics and exercise equipment, including serial numbers. Should a flood, fire or other disaster strike, the digital inventory is proof of ownership and makes filing an insurance claim easier due to a covered physical loss.

In addition, Roberts is available to videotape birthday parties, special occasions, family history and desires in estate planning and will preparation.

For more information, call 704-625-1887 or visit www.digital-inventory-solutions.com.

Marketer of the Year

Mike Haaf, senior vice president of sales, marketing and business strategy for Food Lion, received the Supermarket News Marketer of the Year Award at the Food Marketing Institute’s Mid-Winter Executive Conference held recently in Grand Lakes, Fla.

Supermarket News, a leading grocery industry publication, chose Haaf as its top marketer of 2006 for visionary and leading-edge marketing work he has led in customer segmentation and store clustering. Under Haaf’s leadership and direction, Food Lion has developed new store concepts and built differentiated brand strategies based on customers’ needs and preferences, which has helped Food Lion build greater customer loyalty and encourage repeat visits.

Haaf joined Food Lion in 2003 and directs all of the company’s marketing and business strategy endeavors, including advertising, marketing research, business analysis, sponsorships, corporate communications, the MVP customer loyalty card program, customer segmentation and store clustering analysis.

A native of New Jersey, he has a master’s degree in business administration in finance from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

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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.