GLENVIEW, Ill. — Combined Insurance, a leading provider of individual supplemental accident, disability, health and life insurance products, has named Rick Izze vice president and divisional manager for North Carolina and Virginia.
He will oversee division territory managers and market directors, and implement new agent training and development.
Izze joined Combined Insurance in 1984 as a sales agent. Since then he has been sales manager, assistant of the divisional manager, sub-regional manager and regional manager. Most recently, he served as divisional director of manpower, and market director.
Izze, 52, lives in Salisbury, with his wife, Tammie. He has four grown children and one grandchild.
Combined Insurance provides insurance products as part of the ACE group of companies. Visit www.combinedinsurance.com for more information.

Pottery studio open house in Landis
LANDIS — Black Dachshund Pottery will host an open house and pottery demonstration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 8 and 15 to welcome the public.
Owner Margaret Deadmon, who founded the studio in 2007, has resumed pottery after recovering from knee replacement surgery. She now stands at the wheel to throw clay and specializes in deep dish pie plates, casseroles and yarn bowls, as well as custom work.
The studio, named for a pet dog, is located at 503 W. Mill St. in Landis. Deadmon also sells pieces online on etsy.com and ebay.com.
For more information, call 704-433-5564.

Cozart donates to Habitat Restore
SALISBURY — Cozart Lumber and Supply Co. has donated construction materials worth $21,617 to Habitat Restore.
The donation will help fund a home for a family in Rowan County, said Elizabeth Brady, director of store operations.

Queen’s gifts collecting gifts, food
Queen’s Gifts, 221 S. Main St., is collecting gifts for Rowan Helping Ministries.
Patrons can take a star from the “Tree of Hope” in the business, buy the item on the tag and bring the gift back to Queen’s for wrapping and delivery to Rowan Helping Ministries, the business said. People who buy gifts can keep the stars for their own trees.
Queen’s is also accepting donations of food and money. Checks should be made payable to Rowan Helping Ministries, which will send the donor a receipt after Jan. 1.
The business says it is offering a “token of appreciation” to people who buy gifts requested on the Tree of Hope and bring them to Queen’s.

Trinity Oaks shop grand opening Monday
 The grand opening for The Shop on the Corner, a gift, consignment and sundries store on the second floor of Trinity Oaks will be Monday, Dec. 3, at 2 p.m.  The public is invited.
 After a two-month renovation, the shop replaces the original General Store that served Trinity Oaks for almost 20 years.  Now operated by the Trinity Oaks Resident Association, proceeds from the store will be used to fund resident projects and interests. A committee of Trinity Oaks residents will manage the store as well as receive and evaluate consignment items. Inventory will also include seasonal merchandise.
 The store is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-noon and 2-4 p.m. One of the senior service ministries of Lutheran Services Carolinas, Trinity Oaks is located at 728 Klumac Road in Salisbury. For more information, call 704-633-1002.

Queen City TV leaving Chapter 11 bankruptcy
CHARLOTTE — Queen City Television Service Co. Inc.’s plans to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy have been approved by the U.S. bankruptcy court for the Western District of North Carolina.
Less than 10 months after its voluntary filing, the 60- year old family owned business founded by Woody and Frances Player has improved its capital structure and significantly reduced debts and lease obligations.
“We’re grateful to be emerging from this difficult but necessary process,” said Queen City President and CEO Roddey H. Player Sr. “Our company would not have survived without the patience and loyalty of our customers, the commitment of our employees and the support of our industry partners.”
Queen City is refocusing on its profitable locations in the Piedmont. Retail stores in Charlotte, Morganton and Salisbury have operated without interruption during the reorganization.

Freightliner showing off natural gas option
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Freightliner Trucks said at the American Trucking Associations’ Summit on Natural Gas in Trucking that the company is offering a customer demonstrator program for the new Freightliner Cascadia 113 natural gas day cab.
Freightliner has a manufacturing plant in Cleveland.
Five customer demonstrator tractors will be available in the United States and Canada to provide customers experience with Freightliner’s newest alternative fuel product.
“Natural gas products can result in significant fuel cost savings, making it a smart choice for increasing profitability while benefitting the environment,” said TJ Reed, director of product strategy for Freightliner.
Freightliner’s parent company Daimler Trucks North America leads the medium and heavy commercial vehicle market in the production of natural gas powered conventional vehicles with a combined sales figure of more than 4,600 natural gas vehicles across its brands. Of those, Freightliner Trucks has sold more than 1,800 trucks and tractors since 2008.
Full production on the Cascadia 113 natural gas begins next summer. To learn more go to www.freightlinertrucks.com.

Home Instead seeking donations for grants
Home Instead Senior Care is encouraging people to consider donating to the “Gift of Caring” project to help seniors in need.
In 2010, Home Instead Senior Care of Cabarrus and Rowan counties, in conjunction with a donation from A.C.N. Inc. of Concord, started the “Gift of Caring” program to provide non-medical in-home care grants to seniors.
These grants were given to seniors identified as high risk or having significant need for care but no other means to obtain similar services.
With the ongoing support of A.C.N. Inc. and the community, Home Instead has been able to continue this program into 2012.
Each grant awards up to six hours of free non-medical care to a senior in their home to assist with personal care, household tasks, preparing meals and doing medication reminders.
Robin Scharding, community service representative, said, “We have seen a wonderful response from the seniors who received these grants.”
Contact Scharding at 704-788-3399, for more information or visit the offices at 1839 Jake Alexander West, Ste. A in Salisbury or 904 Copperfield Blvd. NE in Concord.

Walker Marketing picks up awards  
CONCORD — Walker Marketing won multiple awards from the International MarCom awards for its health-care programs.
 Walker Marketing won platinum awards for its public relations program for Liberty HomeCare & Hospice Services, for media relations for Delaware Hospice and for Delaware Hospice’s radio campaign. Walker also won gold awards for Liberty’s website and for Gaston Hospice’s end of life educational video. The agency earned honorable mention for the Delaware Hospice website and Gaston End of Life coalition microsite, as well as the Carolina Bay and Brightmore of South Charlotte direct mail campaigns.
 The international MarCom Awards are given for excellence in marketing and communications.

Restoration outfit collects food for needy
Paul Davis Restoration collected 400 pounds of food in three weeks for families in Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Iredell and Union counties.
Paul Davis staff placed barrels for food in 15 different CrossFit gyms across the region, where members contributed donations for nonprofit food pantries.
Paul Davis Restoration specializes in emergency restoration services, property damage mitigation, reconstruction and remodeling for residential, institutional and commercial customers.

Bean Realty opens office in Concord
CONCORD — The Bean Realty Group has opened an office on Buffalo Avenue in Concord.
Elizabeth Bean has been a Realtor for more than 12 years. She and son Rob Bean work for Re/Max Leading Edge, listing and selling more than $15 million dollars of property in Rowan and Cabarrus counties since 2010. They recently formed Bean Realty Group LLC to serve as a property management company. Dana Christner assists.
?Submit information about new businesses, honors and management promotions to bizbriefs@salisburypost.com.

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