ADVERTISING

Robinson Radio, a full-service radio advertising agency, recently announced three new hires and two promotions. Brandon Myers is Robinson Radio's new vice president of Operations. With more than 10 years of global operations experience, Myers managed key projects for the ExxonMobile, including optimizing efficiencies and quality services in the Americas' Export Division. Kristen Baker has been promoted to vice president of Media for Robinson Radio from director of Media, Research and Analysis. With the company for a year and a half, Baker oversees media strategy, buys, campaign development and testing to ensure the best performance for clients. Kieran Wagner has been promoted to creative director, leading creative development, copywriting and production. He is also the creative liaison with Robinson Radio clients. Wagner has 20 years of experience in the music and audio industry, from running his own recording studio in Richmond to being an audio engineer in New York City and Miami for major labels such as Sony, Warner Bros., InterScope and Def Jam. Angela Cousens has recently joined Robinson Radio as media specialist, concentrating on long-form segments for all of North America. Jay Smack is Robinson Radio's new production manager. His responsibilities include creating fresh, mass-appeal advertising and programming. With more than 15 years of experience, Smack has held a multitude of radio industry jobs, including copywriter, traffic producer, program director, and anchor/DJ.

JHI, a creative services company providing brand development, communications strategies, advertising, graphic and Web design, announced that April Sharp has joined the firm as Production Manager and Christen Barber has joined as project manager. Sharp comes to JHI with previous experience in project and account management at The Martin Agency and RightMinds. As production manager at JHI, April is responsible for keeping client projects on schedule, on task, and on budget. Barber joins JHI as a project manager, responsible for leading both clients and JHI in the search for creative and strategic solutions. Prior to joining JHI, Christen was an account executive with DBC Public Relations in Washington, D.C., where she was responsible for client management and the implementation of new media marketing strategies.

AWARDS

Shawn Boyer, president and CEO of SnagAJob.com, has been selected by the U.S. Small Business Administration as Virginia's Small Business Person of the Year for 2008. Boyer will be honored in April in Washington, D.C., during the SBA's National Small Business Week. Since 2000, SnagAJob.com has been hooking up America's hourly workforce with hourly jobs. Now, more than 9 million registered job seekers later, it is the nation's largest job site for part-time and full-time hourly jobs.

Reginald Johnson, general manager at the McDonald's location at 8060 W. Broad St., recently received the Ray Kroc Award, an annual performance-based honor that recognizes the top performing McDonald's restaurant managers in the country. Named after McDonald's corporate founder Ray Kroc, the award was established in 1999 to honor hardworking restaurant managers – those who make Ray Kroc's vision of excellence come to life in restaurants and for customers each day. McDonald's gives the award to the top one percent of McDonald's U.S. restaurant managers to recognize their superior performance and achievement. The Ray Kroc Award comes with a cash gift, a Ray Kroc award trophy and pin and a trip to Chicago for an awards gala hosted by McDonald's USA president, Don Thompson and chief operating officer, Jan Fields.

Kurt Negaard received the "Manager of the Year Award" for 2007 at the annual Virginia Association of REALTORS Legislative and Education Conference. The Virginia Association of REALTORS is the business advocate for real estate professionals in Virginia and represents more than 39,000 REALTORS active in all phases of real estate brokerage, management, development and appraisal. Negaard served as president of the Richmond Association of Realtors in 2004 and president of Central Virginia CRS in 2005.

CITY GOVERNMENT

Paul McWhinney, director of the city's Department of Social Services, has accepted the position of deputy chief administrative officer of Human Services. McWhinney will continue to serve as director of Social Services, while leading the Human Services Department in implementing Mayor L. Douglas Wilder's 2020 Vision human services initiatives. McWhinney has more than 32 years of experience in a variety of human services positions at the local and state levels and in the private sector. David Avery, director of Justice Services, has retired. Doris Moseley will serve as acting director of Justice Services until further notice.