LIMELIGHT Awards, achievements

WARREN -- Julie Ferguson, manager of information technology consulting at Packer Thomas, certified public accountants and business consultants, has earned the Microsoft Certified Professional Designation in visual basic programming. Ferguson is also an adjunct faculty member for Kent State University teaching courses in computer technology and business. She has a master's degree in business administration from KSU, a bachelor's degree in business management from Hiram College and an associate of applied business in banking and financial technology degree from the KSU Trumbull Campus.
WARREN -- Joe Sokol, a self-taught candlemaker who distributes his candles through a business called Home Cookin' Candles, was named 2001 Candle Artisan of the Year last month at the 36th annual International Guild of Candle Artisans convention.
LORDSTOWN -- Patricia Poppe, an area manager for the General Motors Lordstown Assembly plant, is one of four recipients of the Automotive Hall of Fame 2001 Young Leadership and Excellence Award. Poppe has bachelor's and master's degrees in industrial engineering from Purdue University. A Poland resident, she had been body-shop area manager at the Lordstown plant before taking her position in April.
AUSTINTOWN -- Leo Connelly Jr., executive vice president of sales for Acme Steak Co., has been named the company's salesman of the year for 2001. A Youngstown native and Chaney High School graduate, he is a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War. He achieved sales of more than $1 million for the company in a six-month period.
VIENNA -- P.L. Gibson-Governor Insurance Inc. in Vienna has achieved senior partner status in the Grange Mutual Insurance Co. The status recognizes the company's top property and casualty producers.