IN BRIEF
CONNOQUENESSING TWP — Joe Palmiero, vice president of Honda North, has been nominated for the 2015 TIME Dealer of the Year award.
Palmiero is one of 55 dealer nominees from across the country who will be honored at the 98th annual National Automobile Dealers Association Convention & Exposition in San Francisco on Jan. 23.
The TIME Dealer of the Year award is one of the automobile industry's most prestigious honors. Recipients are among the nation's most successful auto dealers.
Palmiero, 75, was chosen to represent the Pennsylvania Automotive Association in the national competition for the 46th annual award.
“My enthusiasm for the car business must have been contagious as both of my children have followed me into the retail automotive industry,” Palmiero said. “My son and my daughter are now presidents of the dealerships I started.”
Palmiero is a 1957 graduate of Meadville High School in Meadville. He studied economics at Grove City College.
WARRENDALE — rue21, a teen specialty apparel retailer, has launched its new junior plus size division, rue+, which has trendy and affordable plus size apparel and accessories.rue+ will range in sizes 14-24, 1x-3x. The assortment includes apparel, outerwear, accessories, footwear and more.“Our customers have been asking for expanded sizes for years. I am thrilled that we are able to give them the fashion and value they deserve with the launch of rue+,” said Bob Fisch, president and chief executive officer at rue21.Thursday also was a milestone for rue21. In addition to the launch of rue+, the company opened its 1,100th rue21 store, which includes 1,000 stores carrying the etc! brand of footwear, fragrance, beauty, jewelry and accessories.
The Butler Health System has joined Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield's Community Blue Medicare HMO.“Butler Health System joining our network will help seniors in that region to have access to a product that meets their health care and financial needs,” said Barbara Gray, Highmark's senior vice president of senior markets, in a statement.People who select Community Blue Medicare HMO will have the option to choose between two plans, which both include Part D prescription drug coverage: Community Blue Medicare HMO Signature and Community Blue Medicare HMO PrestigeCommunity Blue Medicare HMO does not include UPMC physicians and facilities. Seniors will continue to have in-network access to UPMC through the Freedom Blue PPO and Security Blue HMO products.
Jerry Millin, vice president and information technology manager, and Andrew Hogue, assistant vice president and facilities and security manager, of the Farmers National Bank of Emlenton recently earned Certified Community Bank Security Professional certification through the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers. The association offers the program to ensure financial institutions are educated on how to actively respond to Internet crime and threats.
