• Karen Friend, executive director of the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, has been awarded with the 2017 Outstanding Public Transportation Manager in Oregon. Karen led the creation of the Central Oregon public transit system Cascades East Transit in 2008. She has also served in leadership capacities within COIC for 21 years, most recently as transportation manager and deputy director. She is an advocate for state and regional transportation improvement, funding and partnerships as a member of the Oregon Transit Association board of directors and Oregon Public Transportation advisory committee.

• Alyssa Abbey has joined Aspen Mountain Dermatology as physician assistant and is certified by the National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistants. She is a member of the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants and American Academy of Physician Assistants. She has practiced dermatology for the last 10 years at Bend Memorial Clinic and Central Oregon Dermatology.

• Leah Cordes of Coldwell Banker Morris Real Estate has obtained an Oregon real estate license. Leah has joined the Robinson-Ludwick property group as a licensed executive assistant.

• Gordon Welborn, managing partner with Hart Wagner LLP, Redmond, has been recognized as one of the top 50 attorneys in Oregon, as chosen by their peers, in the 2017 issue of Oregon Super Lawyers magazine.

• Chris Reid, Scott Distribution, has been elected president of Communicators Plus Toastmasters.

• Corinne Westphal, The Benton Group, has been elected vice president of membership of Communicators Plus Toastmasters.

• Nils Westphal, Tricanes LLC, has been elected vice president of education of Communicators Plus Toastmasters.

• Bill Martin, U.S. Forest Service, retired, has been elected vice president of public relations of Communicators Plus Toastmasters.

• Lorelei Kryzanek, Deschutes County, has been elected secretary of Communicators Plus Toastmasters.

• Fredrick Moore, Department of Environmental Quality, has been elected treasurer of Communicators Plus Toastmasters.

• Sam Hauxwell, Raymond James Financial, has been elected sergeant-at-arms of Communicators Plus Toastmasters.

• Joan Amero was honored with a 2017 Volunteer of the Year award from the Deschutes Land Trust for her dedication to conserving land in Central Oregon. She began volunteering for the Land Trust in 2016.

• Carol Moorehead, a retired dean at Central Oregon Community College, was honored with a 2017 Volunteer of the Year award from the Deschutes Land Trust for her dedication to conserving land in Central Oregon. She has been a Land Trust member since 2000 and a volunteer since 2012.

• Paul Edgerton, a retired biologist and research ecologist, was honored with the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Deschutes Land Trust for his dedication to conserving land in Central Oregon since 2003.

• Davida Plaisted with the Madras Chamber of Commerce, David Haines with the Bend Chamber of Commerce and Larry Holeman with Economic Development for Central Oregon, in Redmond, were hired as internship coordinators for Youth CareerConnect. The public-private partnership with Central Oregon businesses, school districts, higher education institutions, government agencies and nonprofits places internship coordinators in local business associations to act as liaisons between educational institutes and employers.

• Chris Condon, director of agronomy at Tetherow, will receive the Mike Hindahl Environmental Stewardship Award from the Oregon Golf Course Superintendents Association at the 2017 Environmental Seminar held Tuesday. Tetherow is known for its natural and recycled building materials and commitment to wildlife and education.