CRANBERRY TWP — Westinghouse Electric said it is developing a specialized option of its AP1000 nuclear power plant for use in locations with greater earthquake potential.

Westinghouse has begun the process of obtaining U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission review and approval of the specialized seismic option.

Westinghouse is working on a limited number of customized materials and/or reinforcements that will allow new units to be built in areas that have earthquake potential.

However, most of the plants that Westinghouse will design will continue to be the standard AP1000 plant because it is most appropriate for the great majority of global sites.

PITTSBURGH — Jeff Donaldson of Cranberry Township has joined Burson-Marsteller in Pittsburgh as a director in the agency's consumer and brand marketing practice.Before joining Burson-Marsteller, Donaldson spent nearly eight years at Elias/Savion Advertising and Public Relations in Pittsburgh, most recently as vice president of communications and public relations.Before that, Donaldson was director of marketing and public relations for La Roche College in Pittsburgh.Also in that past, Donaldson was a TV and radio news anchor/reporter for a number of radio and TV stations in New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania.He is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

Aaron Gross joined Mars National Bank as vice president, mortgage lending.Gross has nearly 20 years of residential mortgage lending experience. His responsibilities at the bank include developing and managing client relationships.“Mr. Gross is a seasoned mortgage professional,” Shawn Proper, Mars National Bank senior vice president, mortgage and consumer lending, said in a news release. “He brings to the bank years of sales success, as well as key marketing and communication skills.”

The Tanglewood Center will host the third annual Tee it Up for Tanglewood golf outing Aug. 23 at Lake Arthur Country Club in Franklin Township.The shotgun start is 8 a.m. Dinner will follow the tournament.For information, call 724-287-0021 or visit www.tanglewoodinc.org.

BUTLER TWP — The Hiring Our Heroes veterans employment event will return July 30 to VA Butler Healthcare, 325 New Castle Road.It will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with an employment workshop for veterans and other military job seekers starting before the fair at 8:30 a.m.Registration for both veterans and employers is free at www.hiringourheroes.org.For information, call 202-463-5807 or e-mail hiringourheroes@uschamber.com.

The Association of Corporate Counsel has announced that Cranberry Township-based MSA Safety's law department was the recipient of the ACC Value Champion award.It was recognized for its legal management practices, according to a news release. The ACC is a global industry group for companies with in-house legal counsel.———The Farmers National Bank of Emlenton donated $2,000 to Lifesteps through the 2014 Educational Improvement Tax Credit program. The program enables businesses to receive a tax credit when a donation is made to a qualified scholarship organization.

The National Small Business Association announced Brian Stein of S & S Intersource, an Adams Township refractory business that serves the steel industry, is the overall winner of the 2014 Lewis Shattuck Small Business Advocate of the Year Award.As chairman elect of SMC Business Councils in Pittsburgh, Stein has been involved in many initiatives, including chairing the organization's tax working group that focuses on tax reform. He has testified before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and regularly attends lobbying days on behalf of SMC and the NSBA in Harrisburg and Washington.