Louis P. Stanasolovich, CEO, president and founder of Legend Financial Advisors Inc., was chosen by FORTUNE Small Business magazine and Winning Workplaces as one of 2004’s Best Bosses In America. Stanasolovich was one of 15 people selected from among 35 finalists.
In all, 210 candidates were nominated for this second annual list. The “Best Bosses” list is compiled annually to honor innovative leaders of small to midsize businesses who have created innovative and productive workplaces, and who are able to adapt and thrive in an era of economic insecurity, layoffs and overwork.
FORTUNE Small Business and Winning Workplaces searched the country for six months and identified 210 nominees who were asked about employee tenure, benefits, management challenges and metrics for measuring success. Clients, professional references and employees were also interviewed. The list was narrowed to 35 finalists, who answered a second set of questions about employee training, financial incentives and information sharing.
The finalists were then evaluated by a panel of judges based on criteria including key metrics such as sales growth rate and lack of employee turnover, innovation and response to business challenges, leadership skills and employee training.
DESBROW & ASSOCIATES
Brian Lee Campbell, executive vice president and chief creative officer, has become an equity partner in Desbrow & Associates. Campbell has been with Desbrow for nearly four years, leads the firm’s graphic and Web design department and serves on Desbrow’s executive steering committee.
Kim Randig joined the firm as senior account supervisor. She was most recently assistant vice president/communications manager with Dollar Bank, where she supervised an in-house communications and graphic design department.
HDR
Brandon Laskey, a recent graduate of The Citadel, has joined the Pittsburgh transportation section as a staff engineer. Prior to joining HDR, Laskey was a civil engineer intern with Antonocci & Associates in Jeannette.
John Lepri joined the Pittsburgh transportation section as a project engineer. He is an experienced project civil engineer/project manager proficient in highway design, civil land development and environmental remediation projects. Prior to joining HDR, Lepri worked with STV Inc. in Pittsburgh.
Christianna M. Robinson, a recent graduate of the University of Miami, joined the Pittsburgh water/wastewater section as a staff engineer.
Donald Splitstone joined the Pittsburgh Geotechnical Section as a Project Engineer where he will be responsible for field inspection, geotechnical analysis/design support and report preparation. Prior to joining HDR, Splitstone was a project engineer with Nicholson Construction Co.
ECKERT SEAMANS CHERIN & MELLOTT
Amy J. Roy joined the litigation team of Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott. Roy joins the firm as an associate. Her practice focuses on general commercial and construction litigation.
LANDMARK PROPERTIES
Landmark Properties Group hired Mark Daday as senior vice-president of acquisitions Daday has 13 years of financial planning and capital markets experience and eight years experience in business development and acquisitions, completing more than $500 million in acquisitions for a Fortune 500-sized company.
MEYER, UNKOVIC & SCOTT
Elaina A. Smiley, an associate in the Employment Law & Employee Benefits Group at Meyer, Unkovic & Scott, was elected secretary of the board of directors of Rainbow Kitchen Community Services. Benjamin D. Kerr, Stacey M. Noble and Jason M. Yarbrough have joined the firm as associates.
ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY
Edward A. Nicholson, president of Robert Morris University since 1989, will retire from his position effective July 2005. Nicholson will remain active with the university following his retirement, including in a teaching position as a professor of management.
During Nicholson’s tenure, Robert Morris has been transformed from a specialty business college into a leading broad-based university offering professional degrees at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels.
MANCHESTER HISTORIC SOCIETY
Kimberly A. Brown, a partner with Thorp Reed & Armstrong, was elected to the board of directors of the Manchester Historic Society Inc. She was also selected to serve as board secretary. Brown is a member of Thorp Reed & Armstrong’s commercial and corporate litigation practice group, and serves as coordinator of the firm’s pro bono program.
VOEST-ALPINE INDUSTRIES
John Lorenz was appointed vice president of the Rolling and Processing Division of Voest-Alpine Industries Inc. Stephen Passano was appointed general manager of the Automation and Electrical Division. Ronald Devoe was appointed to engineering manager for the Automation and Electrical Division. Norman Dietrick was appointed to manager of operations for the Iron and Steelmaking Division, where he will manage the day to day operation of the division. Dietrick has held previous positions within project management, commercial and contracts divisions.
THORP REED & ARMSTRONG
James K. Goldberg and Kimberly Luff Wakim were each elected to serve a two-year term on Thorp Reed & Armstrong’s executive committee. Goldberg’s practice primarily involves ERISA and employee benefits law, as well as general tax, corporate and commercial law. Wakim focuses her practice in the areas of bankruptcy, creditors’ rights, workouts, commercial finance and transactions, commercial litigation and commercial real estate.
