Briefs
Hiatt hired as e-librarian
C. Derrik Hjutt has been hired as the new elec
tronic resources librarian for the Z. Smith Reynolds
Library at Wake Forest
University.
He will assist in manag
ing the library's suhscrip
? tion-hased electronic
resources.
Hiatt comes to the posi
tion after having served six
years as the assistant serials
librarian for the Harold B.
Lee Librar\ at Brigham
Young University" in ProVo.
Matt
UlOlj.
A North Carolina native, Hiati holds a Bachelor
of Arts degree in music from Bngham Young
University and a Master of Library Science degree
from Southern Connecticut State University.,?
Dean named president
of research parks group
Bill Dean. Director of the Piedmont Triad
Research Park-* was elected President of the North
American Division of the International Association
of Science Parks < I ASP) during an 1 ASP leadership
meeting on Tuesday. June 2 in Raleigh.
During his two-year term as North American
Division president. Dean will serve on I ASP's
esteemed International Board of Directors, com
prised of science park leaders from around the globe.
The organization -celebrated 25 years of operation at
the recent- conference, with representatives' from
more than 50 countries in attendance. Dean present
ed a paper at the conference titled 'The Next
Research Park Model: North Carolina Research
?Parks' Experience"."
"It is an honor to serve OH this prestigious inter
national board of directors and to collaborate with
IASP and global science park leaders." said Dean.
IASP highlights the importance of innovation cen
ters as catalysts for regional economic transforma
tion."; - ' "?
The Piedmont Triad Research Park is an active
member of IASP and the North Carolina Research
Parks Network, a coalition of research parks and
innovation centers across the state. Dean also serves
as the inaugural Chairman of the North Carolina
Research Parks Network.
Bob Johnson opens
resort in West Africa
BET founder Robert L. Johnson has opened his
latest business development - the RLJ Kendeja
Resort & Villas in Monrovia. Liberia (West
Africa).
Locateu on i j-acres 01
ocean-front property, the 78
room' villa style hotel offers
first-class amenities catering
to domestic and international
travelers and includes an on
site restaurant, full service
spa. tennis courts and swim
ming pool with poolside bar.
Johnson hopes that the facili
ty will play a critical role in
the national reconstruction
Johnson
and economic development
efforts put forth by Liberian President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf to rebuild and revitalize the coun
try- . ;
"I believe passionately that African-Americans
have a responsibility to support Liberia and it is
important to ensure that President Sirleaf succeeds
in her ongoing effort in rebuilding the country."
said Bob Johnson, who also owns the Charlotte
Bobcats although recent reports suggests he is try
ing to sell the team. "The potential is unlimited and
we are delighted with today's announcement and
the hotel's grand opening. This is the first steps to
strengthen and broaden the ongoing business rela
tionship between Africa and the United States."
The RLJ Kendeja Resort & Villas is now open
for business and reservations can be made online
by visiting www.rljkendejaresort.com or by calling
888-860-0338.
Wake Law grad named judge
Winston-Salem native and Wake Forest
.. 4" t ?...
university tciuhh ui l-uw
graduate Marvin K. Hlount
III of Greenville has been
named a Special Superior
Court Judge b\ Gov. Bev
Perdue.
Blount is a partner with
the law firm of Blount and
Blount, PC., concentrating
in civil litigation including
class action and pharmaceu
tical matters in both State
and Federal Courts. Prior to
Mount
establishing his lirm. Blount was an attorney with
the Blount Law Firm. Blount previously served as
Special Assistant and Counsel to the Chief of Staff
of the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust
Division in Washington, DC., and as an Assistant
Advocate for the Chief Counsel of the l/.S. Small
Business Administration, Office of Advocacy in
Washington, D.C.
Blount attended East Carolina University, grad
uating Magna Cum Laude in 1993. He earned his
law degree at Wake in 1996.
Johnson
elected
vice-chair
of N.C. GOP
CHRONit II STAF1 Kl POR1
Si aic Republicans elected under
dog Timothy F. Johnson as the vice
chairman of the N.C. GOP. making
him only the second African -American
to hold a prominent leadership posi
tion in the st. itc part)
Johnson is chair ol the Buncombe
County GOP. He and his wife, Latessa.
live in
A s h e v i 1 I e. ,
where she
serves as direc
tor of Student
Services for
Asheville City
Schools.
Johnson, who
holds a Ph.D..
is an adjunct
professor at
S h a w
U n i versity 's.
Coltege of
Johhson
Professional and Adult Education
Asheville campus. Ho is also president
and CEO of Leadership 101 , a consult
ing company. He has four children and
two grandchildren.
At fast weekend's GOP state con
vention in Raleigh. Johnson heat Out
incumbent David Sawyer for the vice
chairmanship. He had built a strong
coalition of supporters from across the
state. They praised Johnson, who spent
21 years in the Army, as the change
that the struggling GOP needs.
Johnson has vowed to help the state
party increase its membership among
teenagers and young adults. He also
says that he will "redefine" the GOP
and conservatism to help the party
appeal to AfricanTAmericans,
Hispanics and other minority commu
nities.
Johnson will work with Chairman
Tom Fetzer. the former mayor of
Raleigh, to revamp the state party,
which is still mending after losing the
'08 presidential election and U.S.
Senate race.
Locals gather in prayer around the Forsyth County Detention ( enter.
Jail Ministries is named
best-run nonprofit agency
CHRONICLE STAI K REPORT
The Forsyth Jail and
Prison Ministries is the
"county's best-run nonprofit
agency. The Ministries was
awarded the coveted Joel A.
Weston Jr. Memorial Award
for Excellence in Non-Profit
Management last Thursday
during ceremony at the
downtown Marriott:.
Executive Director Rodney
Stilwell accepted the award.
The honor is named for
the late business giant Joel
Weston Jr.. who once served
as the chairman of the
Forsyth County United Way.
Weston believed that non
profits should be run just as
effectively and soundly as
for-profit businesses.
"I want them to be w:ell
run. jn a business-like man
ner. and I want them to real
ly do what they say they will
do," Weston once said.
Weston's widow,
Claudette Weston, and his
many friends started the
Rodney Stilwell
Weston Award, which is
given annually, to honor
well-run nonprofits. Each
year, dozens of agencies
apply for the award, which
comes with a $10,000 grant
for the nonprofit.
Forsyth Jail and Prison
Ministries serves incarcerat
ed men, women and youth in
the Forsyth County
Detention Center and the
state prison on Cherry
Street. The cornerstone of its
ministry Ts the counseling
and pastoral relationships
that Volunteers and chap
lains maintain with the ? -
inmates and families.
Chaplains are called , upon
around the clock to teach
and comfort inmates during
times of despair, isolation
and hopelessness. The
Ministries' aims for its pro
grams to develop and direct
offenders to redirect their
lives so that they may return
to our community as respon
sible. productive citizens.
The Ministries is well
known for its annual Hope
on the Inside fundraiser,
which usually includes a
Concert or a guest speaker.
The agency has also hosted
several vigils where local
people join hands and pray
around the downtown deten
tion center.
Microsoft receives Higginbotham award for diversity efforts
BY BRITTANY HI TSON
NNPA SPECIAL CORRESPONDED]
The Lawyers' Committee for
Civil Rights Under Law honored
Microsoft Corporation for excel
lence in diversity at its 10th
Annual A. Leon Higginbotham
Award Dinner in New York June
3. The event coincided with the
4.<>th anniversary of the historic
Civil Rights Act of 1964.
"Microsoft is receiving the
Higginbotham Award for its
commitment to diversity and
inclusion as part of the daily
business function within every
area of the company,*' said
Barbara Arnwine, executive
director of the Lawyers'
Committee, a nonpartisan, non
profit organization that strives to
MicrosofVNNPA Photo
Barbara Arnwine with Microsoft's Gwen Houston.
obtain equal opportunity for
racial and ethnic minorities.
"They are also being honored for
their stellar commitment to pro
bono legal work."
One such pro bono project is
the "pay for performance"
approach, which was launched
by Microsoft to enhance diversi
ty in the legal profession.
The Higginbotham Award is
named in memory of Chief
Judge A. Leon Higginbotham.
Jr.. a civil rights advocate, author
and federal appeals court judge.
The award recognizes exempla
ry corporate leadership with
respect to advancing equal
opportunity, particularly leader
ship in recruiting, retaining and
Sec Microsoft on A5
Local attorney receives another honor for military service
CHRONJCt.E STAR REPORT
Winston-Salem attorney Cal Cunningham
recently received the Gen. Douglas
Mac Arthur Leadership Award during a cere
mony at the Pentagon. It is the highest honor
that the Army gives for leadership.
Earlier this year, Cunningham, who
works for Kilpatrick Stockton, received the
Bronze Star while serving in Iraq. A captain
and paratrooper in the U.S. Army Reserves,
he received the medal for "exceptionally
meritorious service to the United States" as
the senior trial counsel in the Office of the
Staff Judge Advocate. In that role, he
presided over the largest court-martial juris
diction in the Army and helped in supervis
ing. training and overseeing 27 attorneys and
70 paralegals.
Cunningham's work resulted in a compre
hensive system for ensuring contractors are
held responsible for crimes committed while
in Iraq, and he personally served as the lead
trial counsel for the first court-martial of a
civilian since the Vietnam War.
? Cunningham was one of more than two
dozen company-grade officers presented with
the MacArthur award by Army Chief of Staff
Gen. George W. Casey, who praised each
awardee for exhibiting outstanding military
performance, leadership and achievement
and for reflecting the ideals for which Gen.
MacArthur stood - duty, honor and country.
f^oto courtesy of Kilpatrick Stockton *
(ien. George H. Casey Jr., left, and the Mac Arthur Foundation's Henry Harris III,
right . present the award to Cal Cunningham.
"'These award winners demonstrate the
tremendous quality that we are privileged to
have throughout our Army." said Gen. Casey
at the awards ceremony. "These are top per
formers that have led in the most difficult and
dangerous missions and brought out the best
in the men and women they led."
At Kilpatrick Stockton. Cunningham's
work focuses on conflict resolution and liti
gation in complex business disputes, includ
ing construction, real estate, environmental
and contract cases. Before joining the firm,
he represented Rowan County in the N.C.
Senate. Some are pushing for the Democrat
to run for U.S. Sen. Richard Burr's seat in
2010.