ESSENTIALS: People on the move, awards, new businesses

ENGINEERING
• URS announces the hiring of John Tinucci, Ph.D., as a principal geotechnical engineer in mining. Tinucci has more than 28 years of experience in geomechanics and mining engineering consulting. He holds a doctorate from the University of California at Berkeley in geomechanics.
• URS has been awarded a Multiple Award Task order contract from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. URS will provide comprehensive design build and construction services in the western United States.
TECHNOLOGY
• Storserver announced that Meridian IT has reached Elite channel partner status. To qualify as an Elite Storserver partner, $500,000 or more in revenue and completed required sales and technical certifications must be achieved.
FINANCE
• New England Financial announces the 2009 Conference Qualifiers. Clay Sorrick Jr. and Paul Riesling have qualified for the Million Dollare Table, Court of Table and the Masters Conference. Michael Clark and Paul Clarkin have qualified for the Million Dollar round table and the Masters Conference. Carol Chiarito, Peter Horwitch and Nohemy Miralles have qualified for the Million Dollar Round Table and the Leaders Conference.
• Ent announces its 2010 Youth Endowment Series Grants. The winners are Pikes Peak Region Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Child Nursery Centers, Children’s ARK, Colorado Springs Teen Court, Fostering Hope Foundation, Pikes Peak Community Action Agency, Pikes Peak Prep, Salvation Army, Special Kids/Special Families, Tessa and Urban Peak of Colorado Springs.
REAL ESTATE
• Homes of Manitou Springs has opened a location at 713 Manitou Ave. and is owned and operated by Mike Casey, www .homesofmanitousprings.com.
OTHER INDUSTRIES
• Meeting House Hill Designs  has sold and distributed more than 1,000 wool appliqué art patterns. Kathy J. Gaul, owner, has been drawing, publishing and self marketing the current line of 20 patterns.
• The Pikes Peak Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals announced its 2010 award recipients. Peter Husak, owner of OfficeScapes was named Executive of the Year. Eileen Verosko, administrative assistant of sales for OfficeScapes, is  Administrative Professional of the Year. Marilyn Sullivan, office manager and assistant to the director for Memorial Health System Foundation, is Pikes Peak Chapter Member of the Year.
• Former Gazette reporter Linda DuVal has launched a website called Pikes Peak on the Cheap, www.pikespeakonthecheap.com. The site details specials and discounts in the Pikes Peak region for attractions, restaurants, lodging and shopping.
• Don Wick, owner of the Old Town GuestHouse, has been elected president of the Old Colorado City Association of Merchants’ Board of Directors.