Br ian and Cather ine Thornton have joined Exit Agape Real Estate Services in its new West Columbia office.

Ben Brantley Kristin Maguire will serve as the South Carolina's State Board of Education's new chair, and Tim Moore will serve as chair- elect for 2009.

Laurie Becker, Jim Blair, Jamie Hedgepath, and Dennis Lynch have been elected as members (partners) of the Nexsen Pruet law firm.

The South Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants (SCACPA) has announced five award winners for 2008: Don West, CPA, CISA, CISSP - Blytheco, Columbia, S.C., President's Award; Jimmy Burkett, CPA - University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C., Outstanding Accounting Educator Award; Deuward Bultman Jr., CPA , Public Service Award; Chander Sharma, CPA - Coveright, Blythewood, SC, Outstanding CPA in Business & Industry Award; and Donald (Donny) Burkett, CPA - Burkett, Burkett & Burkett, CPAs, West Columbia, SC, Service to the Profession Award.

Kenneth L Wiggins Jr., purchasing agent for the City of Columbia, has earned recognition from the Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council (UPPCC) by receiving the Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO) credential.

Ben Brantley, SIOR, has been named the 2009 president of the Board of Directors for the Central Carolina REALTORS® Association (CCRA).