Movers and shakers
Chris Curtis of Cary assumed the position of president and chief executive officer of Schneider Electric's North American Operating division based in Palatine. Curtis joined Schneider in 1993 and was named president Schneider Electric U.S., in 2006.
Leaders Bank, Oak Brook, appointed Christian A. Saccameno vice president, commercial banking, responsible for developing and managing commercial banking relationships with privately-held businesses, entrepreneurs and high-net worth individuals.
The National Association of Social Workers Illinois Chapter named Erwin McEwen, the director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Social Worker of the Year.
CDW Corp., Vernon Hills, announced the hiring of Ann E. Ziegler as senior vice president and chief financial officer. Ziegler joins CDW from Sara Lee Corp.'s food and beverage group, where she served as senior vice president, administration and chief financial office for the business unit.
Allstate Insurance honored exclusive agency owner Dean Akey of St. Charles with its 2008 Ray Lynch Award for exceptional community service with the nonprofit organization Accident Scene Management. Akey serves as the founder and national director of the organization's Rescue Riders program.
Bill Kottmann, vice president of Edward Hospital & Health Services and president of Edward Health Ventures in Naperville, was named a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Family Home Health Services Inc., Addison, promoted registered nurse Tiffany Sirichana to hospice clinical coordinator, responsible for the coordination of hospice services, as well as coordination of multidisciplinary team staffing and staff education.
Scott Gongorek and Richard Gongorek have joined the Wachovia Securities office in Naperville as managing directors, investments.
Erle Nye, chairman emeritus of TXU Corp., and Judy Whinfrey of Geneva, a principal at Hewitt Associates LLC, Lincolnshire, were elected to the S&C Electric Co., Chicago, board of directors.
Gerard Design, a business-to-business strategic branding and design communications agency in Warrenville, earned eight Hermes Creative Awards in an international competition judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals.
Vijaya Pranitha Ananthapadmanaban of Aurora joined Crawford, Murphy & Tilly as an engineer assigned to the firm's Aurora water and wastewater group. Ananthapadmanaban is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she earned a master of science degree in civil and environmental engineering.
Brian K. Anderson of Downers Grove, a senior financial consultant and financial representative with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, has qualified for the organization's Pinnacle Council.
Algonquin resident Chuck Bennett Jr., an architect with over 24 years of experience, relocated his company, CBJ Architects, P.C., to The Esplanade, which is just south of Algonquin Commons in Algonquin.
Palos Park resident Frank Freniere was named wealth management adviser with Old Second's wealth management group.
Prager Moving & Storage, Naperville, an agent of North American Van Lines, received the company's True Blue Award, given to an agent that receives the most votes from fellow agents for unfailing service.
Dr. Mark Bancroft of Bancroft Family Dental in Aurora, earned a Mastership in the World Clinical Laser Institute at the Worldwide Super Symposium in San Diego.
Dr. Carl L. Kalbhen of Long Grove was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Radiology. Kalbhen is a staff radiologist at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights and a clinical assistant professor of radiology at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood. He is also a member of the Lake County Medical Society and performs grant review for Autism Speaks.