Brian Eckel, partner at Cape Fear Commercial, recently earned the SIOR (Society of Industrial and Office Realtors) designation. As a group, SIOR designees sold or leased more than 3.3 billion square feet of space in 83,500 transactions.

Raleigh Metro Magazine recently announced that Intracoastal Realty was voted “1st Place, Standing Ovation” by readers in the Best Coastal Real Estate Company category. Results will be published in the magazine’s July and August editions.

Century 21 Sweyer & Associates was recently named the top producing Century 21 company out of 300 offices in the North Carolina Region for the month of May. The Landfall office was recognized as the No. 1 office in the region and named the No. 37 office nationwide in the Century 21 system. The Monkey Junction office was ranked No. 8 in the region and the Hampstead office was ranked No. 12.

Network Real Estate recently announced its top agents for June. They include, for the Carolina Beach Office, listing agent Shelly Palmer, sales agent Paul Zickell and top producer Renae Perrett. For the College Road Office, they include listing agent Linda Coite, sales agent Jeff Campanello and top producer Mary Martin. For the Water Street Office, they include listing agent Donna Halsey, sales agent Laura Heitz and top producer Madeline Batson.

Coldwell Banker Commercial Sun Coast Partners recently announced Cody Cress as Agent of the Month for April and June 2010. Cress specializes in industrial and office properties. The company also announced Garry Silivanch as agent of the month for May 2010. Silivanch came to the company in last year’s merger with Prudential CRES.

Coldwell Banker Commercial Sun Coast Partners recently announced the company earned 2009 Commercial Elite award which is bestowed upon the top 15 of 220 Coldwell Banker Commercial affiliated companies globally. The award honors a combination of financial performance and client service.

Coldwell Banker Commercial Sun Coast Partners’ Property Management division recently won a spot in the company’s Bronze Level Circle of Distinction based on their transaction revenue for 2009. The Circle of Distinction is an honor given to the top-ranking producers among Coldwell Banker Commercial professionals.

Senn Dunn Insurance in Wilmington recently hired Walt Gray as a Commercial Insurance Advisor.

Jarrett Shearin, Commercial Insurance Advisor at Senn Dunn Insurance, recently became a partner owner of the Wilmington branch of the agency. Shearin is the head of the Wilmington office and is the first owner functioning from this location.

WK Dickson, a local infrastructure consultant base, recently brought on David Hollis as the newest project manager for its Water Resources Group.

Dr. David Hill began a three-year term on the executive board of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Communication and the Media July 1. Hill is vice president of Cape Fear Pediatrics and adjunct assistant professor of pediatrics at UNC Medical School.

Jim Merritt, president and CEO of QuickTrainer Inc., has been certified by Intuit in the QuickBooks 2010 software. Merritt currently holds all certifications offered via the Intuit ProAdvisor program including Advanced, Pro/Premier, Enterprise Solutions and Point-of-Sale.

Wilmington attorney Charles S. Baldwin IV, partner at Rountree, Losee & Baldwin, LLP, recently earned the designation of Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) from the National Association of Small Business International Trade Educators. Baldwin practices in the areas of international trade, business, education and municipal law.

Brad Hudson, investment management consultant and branch manager of Raymond James in Wilmington recently obtained the Certified Investment Management Analyst certification. The CIMA certification identifies those individuals who have met the experience and ethical requirements, have successfully completed advanced investment management consulting coursework and have passed a rigorous examination.

Seegars Fence Co. of New Hanover County recently promoted longtime employee Jason Riddle to vice president and managing partner of Seegars Fence Co. of New Hanover County. Riddle will oversee day-to-day operations, participate in sales calls, estimate future projects, and manage the installation crews. He moves to Wilmington from Greensboro. He will take over for Clip Davis who retired in February after 30 years with the company here.

Thomas Construction Group recently announced it has been awarded the construction contract for the Wrightsville United Methodist Church Expansion project. The company hired Tommy Williams as Project Superintendent. Williams joins the company with 28 years of local construction experience.

Premier Surgeon magazine named Dr. Alan W. Brown of Brown Surgical Eye Care one of the top 250 innovators in the field of premium IOL implant surgery. The list identifies the top one percent of surgeons in the country leading the way in Premium lens innovation, a technology that allows patients receiving the surgery to see both near and far away without glasses.

Nurse Practitioner Julie Fredericksen recently achieved the distinct credential of Multiple Sclerosis Certified Nurse after passing an examination in June. The exam tested Fredericksen’s knowledge, skills and tasks as applied to the domains of multiple sclerosis nursing, including clinical practice, advocacy, research and education.

Registered nurse Lowell Higgins was recently named June Employee of Excellence at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Higgins, a registered nurse in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, was nominated by his peers.