Kelly Becker-Rumberg of Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home and the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home in

Kelly Becker-Rumberg of Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home and the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home in Youngstown were both recent recipients of the 2003 Pursuit of Excellence Eagle Award from the National Funeral Directors Association. Cunningham-Becker has facilities in Poland and Lowellville. The award recognizes funeral homes that exhibit outstanding community service, professional integrity and effective public relations programs. The association presented the award to 311 of its 12,200 member funeral homes across the country.
POLAND -- James Christopher Barber, a Poland native, has been recognized as top regional sales executive for Clear Channel Outdoor, a division of Clear Channel Communications in South Florida. Barber was honored for generating more than $1.5 million in new business for the company in 2003 in the counties of Palm Beach, Broward, Dade and Monroe.
Barber is a 1995 graduate of Poland Seminary High School and has a bachelor's degree from Kent State University. A resident of West Palm Beach, Fla., he joined Clear Channel two years ago.
COLUMBIANA -- Betty Belding, a Realtor with Gallagher Realty in Columbiana, was awarded the President's Sales Club Award of Achievement recently by the Ohio Association of Realtors. The award recognizes association members who achieved $1 million in sales or commercial leases or 25 sale/lease transaction credits in the past year.
BOARDMAN -- Tim Smith, owner of Smith & amp; Co. Jewelers on Boardman-Canfield Road, has achieved recertification in the American Gem Society. Smith passed a certification examination the society developed to maintain professional credentials and uphold educational and ethical standards as criteria for membership.