Weber Shandwick promotes O’Grady: The Minneapolis-St. Paul office of Weber Shandwick has promoted Polly Ligon

O’Grady to vice president in its technology practice. O’Grady is a graduate of Pendleton High School She is the daughter of Anderson County residents James T. and Martha C. Lignon.

O’Grady joined Weber Shandwick in 2000. Prior to that, she was director of public relations for Friendship Ventures, a nonprofit organization that serves people with developmental disabilities. O’Grady was also previously a writer and project manager for a Minneapolis-based public relations firm. She holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural journalism from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree in agricultural economics from Virginia Tech.

S.C. Chamber honors Senator Billy O’Dell as 2008 Public Servant of the Year: South Carolina Sen. William H. “Billy” O’Dell, R-Ware Shoals, was named the 2008 Public Servant of the Year at the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Summit. The event was held November 13. O’Dell represents District 4, including Abbeville, Anderson and Greenwood Counties.

O’Dell has a history of key votes for the business community as well as championing issues related to small business, economic development incentives and the South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership. He is the owner of O’Dell Corporation, a cleaning supply company that employs 130 people.

Visit scchamber.net for more information.

Oconee Medical Center hires new laboratory director: Oconee Medical Center has hired Jeff Higgins as its new administrative director of laboratory services. Higgins comes from Orlando, Fla., where he worked as laboratory operations manager for Orlando Regional Healthcare System.

Higgins and his wife, Barbara, have two sons who are students at the University of Central Florida.

Hull Team earns certification: The Hull Team has been awarded the Certified Distressed Property Expert Designation by the Distressed Property Institute. The Hull Team consists of the husband and wife team of Richard and Shelby Hull of Remax Foothills Real Estate Clemson.

Earning the CDPE designation means The Hull Team has received the extensive knowledge, vocabulary, forms and procedures necessary to allow them to help homeowners who are under severe financial stress.

For more information about their services call Shelby Hull at (864) 654-6337 or Richard Hull at (864) 710-8971. Also visit dickhull.com for more information.

Humphreys recognized with national award: Charles Humphreys received the 2008 Realtors Commercial Alliance National Award. Humphreys is a sales associate and member of Coldwell Banker Commercial Caine’s executive committee. He was one of only 28 individuals nationwide to earn the award for outstanding achievement in the commercial real estate industry. The award was presented by the Realtors Commercial Alliance of the National Association of Realtors.

Humphreys has been with Coldwell Banker Commercial Caine since 2000. He specializes in office leasing and investment properties. He is the 2008 president of the South Carolina Chapter of Certified Commercial Investment Members. He also serves on the board of directors for the Greater Greenville Association of Realtors, for which he is the incoming 2009 treasurer/secretary.

Rosenfield Einstein add Rempe to employee benefits team: Rosenfeld Einstein has hired Karen Rempe as a flexible spending account administrator on its employee benefits team. Rempe is a native of Mount Airy, N.C., and a current resident of Easley, S.C. She has more than 20 years of employee benefits experience, including time served with North Wind, a national environmental consulting firm, and with the state of North Carolina.

For more information visit rosenfeldeinstein.

com or call (864) 271-6336.