The Mount Pleasant North office of Carolina One Real Estate & Mortgage is happy and proud to announce the appointment of three new Sales Associates.

Deborah Ashman is a native of Charleston with over 20 years' experience as a customer service representative for a LASIK surgery center. She was also a flight attendant for US Airways.

Carl Caldeira was formerly the North American President and CEO for a global plastics company located in Sweden. He has an Executive MBA from the University of Rhode Island and entered the local real estate market in 2003, working with both residential and commercial clients.

Lee Hughes, formerly of Places Real Estate, has her Masters degree in Education and worked for the Charleston County School District. She was also the publisher of Moms in the Know, a comprehensive guide for young families.

Meaghan Popper, manager of the office said, 'I am thrilled to welcome Deborah, Carl and Lee to our Mount Pleasant North office. With their experience and diverse backgrounds, they will undoubtedly provide buyers and sellers the highest level of service.'

Ken Klug has joined the Mount Pleasant office of AgentOwned Realty. Ken served in the US Air Force during Vietnam and is retired from AT&T in New Jersey. Ken has been in real estate in the Charleston area for 10 years and enjoys working with buyers and sellers.

Trident Technical College

Debbie Marindin has joined Trident Technical College's Division of Continuing Education and Economic Development as a business training solutions manager for information technology and advanced security. In this role, she will work with area businesses to identify training needs and customize programs to meet those needs. Marindin is also responsible for continuing education courses in organizational development, human resources, entrepreneurship, languages, financial planning, and real estate and appraisal. She will coordinate the annual Administrative Professionals Day Conference in April.

Marindin moved to Mount Pleasant from Maryland, where she worked at Montgomery College as a program director responsible for sales and marketing for business, information technology, work force development and continuing education.

She has a master's degree in management and marketing from the University of Maryland and is a Learning Resources Network (LERN) Certified Program Planner.

Justin Kiddy

McCay Kiddy McCay, Kiddy & Associates, LLC, a local CPA firm based in Mount Pleasant, would like to announce that Justin Kiddy, a Partner with the firm, has received certification as a Personal Financial Specialist.

Kiddy commented in response to his certification, 'It's a great personal and professional accomplishment to receive certification in an area that I am extremely passionate about. Personal financial planning is an area that affects all citizens of our country. Our current economic environment and factors that have lead our nation to this point demonstrates just how great of a need there is for financial literacy education and financial counseling in our country. I am blessed to be able to be a small piece of the solution as we move forward and look forward to serving the Lowcountry in this capacity.

The PFS Credential, established in 1987 by the AICPA, is granted to qualified CPA's with considerable professional experience in financial planning. Currently, several thousand CPA's hold the PFS Credential nationwide. CPA/PFS Credential holders are ranked among the most qualified financial planners in the marketplace, and many are listed as top financial planners in Worth's annual ranking.

'Given their formal education and technical training in the areas of accountancy and taxation, CPAs are the most qualified, knowledgeable and objective financial planning professionals,' said James Metzler, AICPA vice president of small firm interests. 'Supplementing this background with the PFS Credential demonstrates a CPA's commitment to providing clients with the highest level of expert financial planning services.'

Kiddy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Frostburg State University and joined McCay, Kiddy & Associates, LLC as a staff member in 2004, and as a Partner in 2006.<0x00A0> He has extensive experience in tax, advisory, and accounting engagements.

About McCay, Kiddy & Associates, LLC: McCay, Kiddy & Associates, LLC (MK) is a local public accounting firm in the Charleston South Carolina area. The firm provides a wide array of tax, financial planning, consulting, and assurance services to clients of all sizes in a variety of industries. For more information, visit www.mkaacpa.com.

Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Tara Gregori, MSP, CCC-SLP, BCBA, President of the South Carolina Speech-Hearing-Language Association, is the recipient of the Palmetto Patriot Award. Lieutenant Governor, Andre Bauer, presents the Palmetto Patriot award to South Carolinians who demonstrate good citizenship and exceptional achievement in their profession.

Ms. Gregori is a Speech Language Pathologist, Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and National Board Certified Teacher in the area of Exceptional Needs.<0x00A0>She is an active member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association<0x00A0>and the Council of State Association Presidents. As<0x00A0>a Speech Language Pathologist and BCBA, Ms. Gregori maintains a private practice in speech language pathology and provides home and school-based speech and language therapy services, as well as behavioral consulting<0x00A0>for<0x00A0>clients with Autism Spectrum Disorders.<0x00A0>

For 14 years Ms. Gregori was a speech language pathologist and preschool autism teacher in the Berkeley County School District. In 2005, Ms. Gregori was named the South Carolina Exceptional Educator of the Year by the State Department of Education and the Council for Exceptional Children. <0x00A0>Ms. Gregori lives in Mount Pleasant, SC, where she enjoys volunteer work that supports the special needs community. She serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for Camp Good Times of Charleston, Inc., a local summer camp for lowcountry children<0x00A0>with Autism Spectrum Disorders.<0x00A0>

The South Carolina Speech-Language-Hearing Association, a professional and scholarly organization for speech language pathologists and audiologists, works to meet the needs of its members and the individuals they serve by promoting and advocating for the highest quality services and professional standards, providing opportunities for professional growth and the exchange of knowledge, and educating the public about communication disorders.

Sylvan Dell

Library members and families with children in area elementary schools now have unlimited internet access to award-winning, animal and nature picturebooks from local publisher, Sylvan Dell.

In a concerted effort to promote a love of reading, this new digital program features 55 fun eBooks that read aloud to the children in either English or Spanish. Over 5,800 schools and libraries across the country, and in Canada, have used this reading program. The program includes an online science, math, geography, and Spanish language learning component.

Parents and teachers are encouraged to discuss with the children the four-six page For Creative Minds educational section found in the back of each book. Then, go to the book homepages where they will find 40-60 pages of cross-curricular Teaching Activities plus three Interactive Reading Comprehension and Math Quizzes. As Erica Beyerl, Sylvan Dell's Education Program's Manager points out, 'We want each book to engender a love of reading but we also want parents and teachers to realize that each is offered up as a teaching moment for comprehensive learning.'

Library members can find the Sylvan Dell eBooks on branch computers and online at www.ccpl.org. Click on 'listen to me' found on the left sidebar and then click the In Library Access or Home Access link.

Thanks to Charleston County School District's media specialist, Connie Dopierala and as part of Sylvan Dell Publishing's School Resource Grant program, 59 elementary and middle schools were provided one-year free access. Each school now has unlimited access on all computers, and media specialists are disseminating access information so that families can view them on school websites and home computers.

Agent Owned Realty

Alma Kenneally Certa recently joined the Agent Owned Realty, Mount Pleasant office and is excited to assist you with selling your home or purchasing a new one. In addition to serving your real estate needs, Alma serves as a reserve member of the US Coast Guard. A graduate of the US Coast Guard Academy, Alma is a Lieutenant Commander stationed in Charleston.

Cheri Lasher has joined the Mt. Pleasant office of AgentOwned Realty. Cheri lives in Charleston with her husband, 'Lash', who runs a small software Services Company based in Atlanta, Ga. Cheri and Lash are not originally from Charleston, but they got here as fast as they could! Cheri combines her enthusiasm, love of the low country beauty and style, and previous sales and marketing background, to help sellers and buyers accomplish their dreams. Cheri feels working with her customers one at a time, coupled with her loyalty and follow up are key components to her success.

Kerri Price has joined the Mount Pleasant office of AgentOwned Realty. Kerri is a graduate of Clemson University and is currently a teacher at Buist Academy, teaching Social Studies and English Language Arts to 6th graders. Kerri was Teacher of the Year in 2007-2008 while teaching at Seneca Middle School, and CCSD 'Top' Teacher while teaching at Buist Academy in 2008-2009.

YesUmay Cookies

Talented baker and entrepreneur, Ashley Swider, has followed her passion for the sweeter side of life with the opening of her newest venture, yesUmay Cookies and yesumaycookies.com.

Inspired by her active lifestyle and love of life, Swider envisioned opening a cookie shop where she could spread her passion and positive energy to the masses. She encourages friends old and new to drop in, say hello, and watch the baking process.

YesUmay Cookies is located in The Shops at Northcutt Plaza at 280 West Coleman Blvd. in Mount Pleasant and can be contacted at 843-647-6217 or toll free at 866-986-6946, or visit www.yesumaycookies.com.