Business group expands, seeks new members

CORNELIUS – Looking to join a group of innovative, creative, advisory and entrepreneurial thinkers? Then, the Cornelius Business Factory is looking for you.

The three-year-old group is expanding its services and looking for members who are owners and senior-level managers in the Lake Norman and metro Charlotte communities.

The group is looking for members who will advise, educate and help accelerate other members reshape and grow their small business models, according to co-founder Dale Tweedy.

Membership is by application and members must sign a non-disclosure form before participating in CBF activities.

The group meets on the third Tuesday of each month at the Champions Point office complex in Cornelius.

For information and membership requirements, go to www.corneliusbusinessfactory.com or call Mike Savicki at 704-905-9628 or email at mikesavicki@gmail.com.

Aquesta owner receives insurance award

CORNELIUS – Five Star Professional, a research firm that recognizes outstanding service professionals, has selected Denis Bilodeau, president of Aquesta Insurance Services of Cornelius, as a 2012 Charlotte Five Star Home/Auto Insurance Professional. This designation is given to fewer than 7 percent of home and auto insurance professionals in the Charlotte region.

This is the third consecutive year that Bilodeau has received the designation.

Aquesta Insurance has branches in Mooresville, Concord and Wilmington.

The company, an independent insurance agency, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aquesta Bank.

Wearable art clothing firm reborn at Orlando expo

CORNELIUS – Johnny Fly Clothing, a unique clothing company based in Cornelius, is unveiling a new website, marketing plan and products this week during Surf Expo 2012 in Orlando.

Calling it “The Fly Life,” the company said it is unveiling products and original interactive displays that are “like nothing else out there,” according to founder John Freeman.

The expo ends Saturday. For information, visit www.johnnyflyclothing.com

Wildlife group declines to honor a legislator this year

RALEIGH – For the first time in the 49-year history of its Conservation Achievement Awards program, the North Carolina Wildlife Federation has declined to name a Legislator of the Year.

“While there are certainly some elected officials trying to make intelligent decisions as to how our natural resources are best managed for the citizenry, it is undeniable that, as a whole, the NC Legislature took many steps backwards in conservation matters,” said awards chair T. Edward Nickens.

Other groups and individuals will be honored during the federation’s dinner on Sept. 8.

New advisor joins Wade & Associates

DAVIDSON – Steve Soliday has joined JJ Wade & Associates as a commercial risk advisor.

Soliday, who has experience in commercial insurance, will serve in the agency’s Innovation Risk Division, helping technology and life sciences companies with insurance and risk management.

An avid tennis player, Soliday holds the world ranking in his age group.

Toll Brothers announces Weddington home sites

CHARLOTTE – National luxury home-builder Toll Brothers has announced the opening of Bromley Estates at Weddington, a new neighborhood in Union County.

The company purchased 103 estate home sites about 25 minutes from Uptown Charlotte.

Prices will begin in the mid-$500,000 range, all offer four bedrooms, three-car garages and range in size from 3,100 square feet to over 5,100 square feet.

For more information, contact www.tollbrothers.com.

Yoga studio offers open house

CORNELIUS – Gotta Yoga Studio is hosting an open house from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sept. 29 to celebrate their first year in business. The Cornelius studio is offering 50-minute free yoga sessions. In addition to free yoga, the studio will be offering boutique specials, giveaways and discounted class packages. For information, contact Kelly Schimer at kschimer3@yahoo.com or call 704-796-3608.

Dentist receives national honor

CORNELIUS – Dr. Brad Haines, owner of White and Haines Advanced Dentistry in Cornelius, has been featured in Incisal Edge’s Top 40 under 40 dentists in the U.S. The national dental magazine cited Haines for “a family-friendly practice that relies on cutting-edge technology such as introral cameras, lasers and digital X-rays to provide the best dental outcomes possible.” Haines, a student mentor at the Nash Institute for Dental Learning, has been in business for 11 years.