Appointed: Rep. David Lust, R-Rapid City, an attorney with Gunderson, Palmer, Goodsell & Nelson, has been appointed as the new Uniform Laws Commissioner from South Dakota. It's a new position created from legislation granting life membership to South Dakota commissioners who have received life membership in the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws.

Earned: Carla Barber of Rapid City has earned health fitness instructor certification through the American College of Sports Medicine. She is a personal trainer at the Athletic Club and the Weight Room Cardio & Fitness, both in Rapid City. She also teaches fitness at the Weight Room and at the Rapid City Swim Center.

Joined: Bob Bertolotto has become affiliated with United Country Real Estate in Sturgis. His office will be known as United Country - Black Hills Real Estate & Auction Co. He is a Realtor and member of the Northern Hills Board of Realtors and Multiple Listing Service. The United Country - Black Hills Real Estate & Auction Co. team includes his wife, Colleen Bertolotto, who is the office manager.

Certified: The National Board of Trial Advocacy announced that Kenneth R. Dewell of the Johnson Eiesland Law Offices in Rapid City, has become board certified as a civil trial advocate. … Wyss Associates, the Rapid City landscape architectural firm, announced that Arlette Wiege has been certified with the National Recreation and Park Association as a playground safety inspector. She is a drafting and design technician with Wyss, and she has been with the firm for seven years.

Honored: The Rapid City Comfort Inn & Suites won the Inn of the Year award from Choice Hotels International, franchisor of the Comfort Inn brand. The award was announced during the company's annual convention in Florida. Choice Hotels annually presents the Inn of the Year award to hotels that demonstrate lodging excellence. The best of each brand is selected by reviewing properties' guest satisfaction and quality assurance review scores.

Appointed: Brandy Strom Dugger has been appointed to the Professional Services Division of Behavior Management Systems. In this capacity, Strom Dugger is available to provide therapy to individuals and families for a variety of symptoms. Strom Dugger has a master's degree in counseling and human-services development.

Placed: FedEx Corp. announced that Shawn Weidman, a driver for FedEx Freight in Rapid City, placed second in the twin-trailer class during the 2007 South Dakota Truck Driving Championship in Sioux Falls.

Honored: The Black Hills Children's Home awarded the Bronze Presidential Service Award to Delane Cleveland, Pat Wheaton and Kristina Stock at the annual volunteer appreciation dinner on May 17.

Earned: Steven T. Coy, a member of the Southern Black Hills Board of Realtors, was recently awarded the Graduate Realtor Institute designation by the South Dakota Association of Realtors.

Staff honors: Black Hills Central Reservations announced that Amanda Crooks was named employee of the month for March by her fellow team members. She is a Black Hills travel specialist and rates coordinator for the company. … The City/County Alcohol & Drug Programs in Rapid City named Laura Lewis its employee of the month. She is a certified chemical-dependency counselor Level III. In her current job position, she performs alcohol and drug assessments, and she has been an employee since April 2005. … The Pennington County Sheriff's Office named Bob Slatkoski its June employee of the month. He began his career with the Pennington County Sheriff's Office in 1984, and he is responsible for the computer services for the sheriff's office staff of 325. He was instrumental in setting up, maintaining and training staff on the office's new million-dollar law enforcement software program, used by agencies throughout the state.

Top sales: Black Hills Central Reservations in Deadwood announced that Norma Tesch was top sales person in both March and April. She has been with the company since it opened its doors in 1998. … Affiliated Mortgage Co. recently named Mike Leonardo its top producer. … The top producer for May at the Real Estate Center of Spearfish was Jeff Garrett.

Certified: Modrick's Travel in Rapid City announced that Stephanie Weyer has become certified by United Vacations as a Kauai Destination Specialist. She recently completed a familiarization tour of the Hawaiian island. The tour included inspections of 25 hotels on Kauai and eco-tours across the island.

Information for the Business World column must be received by 3 p.m. Tuesday. Space permitting, items will be published the next Sunday. Only one top salesperson or employee of the month per company per month will be published. Include a reference phone number. Photographs may accompany your news but are not returned. For more information, contact Dan Daly at 394-8421 or dan.daly@rapidcityjournal.com