• The Conklin Co. has named Keith Steiner of Lawrence as a 2010 Master Contractor. The 2010 Master Contractor period marks the eighth year that Steiner has held the title. Steiner is one of 72 Conklin contractors who earned the Master Contractor title for 2010 and a trip to Marco Island, Fla.

• U.S. Bank in Lawrence, 900 Mass., has named David Ludwig a home mortgage loan officer. Ludwig has been working in the financial services industry for seven years and is responsible for originating home mortgage loans for both purchase and refinance transactions.

• John R. Troutman, MSW, LSCSW, has opened a counseling and psychotherapy practice at 1012 Mass. Troutman has more than 20 years of experience working with individuals, families and couples in resolving life issues.

• Nancy Hedrick, owner of the Professional Edge Résumé & Business Services, is now a certified professional résumé writer. Hedrick has 16 years of creating executive, professional, and entry-level career documents for local, regional and national clients.

• Ron King, an American Family Insurance agent in Lawrence, has been recognized for customer satisfaction excellence under the J.D. Power and Associates Distinguished Insurance Agency Program. King has qualified for this award every year since its inception and has been an agent for American Family since 1987.

• Plans are under way to turn the Christian Science Society Church, 1701 Mass., into a veterinary clinic specializing in cat care. A rezoning request has been filed with the city’s planning department. The Cat Clinic of Lawrence PA wants to locate its clinic in the building.

• Members of the Roger Pine family recently sold about 98 acres of farm ground near North 1900 Road and East 1500 Road to Donald F. Kresie, a doctor from the Topeka area. The property was part of 145 acres that Lawrence businessman Jes Santaularia proposed in 2008 to convert into an industrial park. The property that recently sold will not affect the Pine Family’s landscaping and sod farm operations.

• Chad Lamer, Lawrence, has joined the firm of Spencer Fane Britt & Browne LLP as “of counsel” and practices with the firm’s construction group. Lamer works primarily in construction law, land use and zoning, real estate development and municipal law.

• Elizabeth Rooney has joined Callahan Creek, a Lawrence-based marketing agency focused on specialty brands, as digital experience director. Rooney, former group creative director at VML, has nearly 15 years of advertising and marketing experience, with a specialty in interactive communication.

• Callahan Creek won five awards at The Missouri Association for Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing 2010 “Show-Me Excellence” awards program. The agency was honored for its multimedia marketing campaign for Kansas City’s Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. Awards earned: Best of Show for the Million Reasons Mosaic Total Campaign; two first-place awards for radio and print; and two second-place awards for TV and Internet site.

• Santa Claus will visit Douglas County Bank from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Dec. 18 at the bank’s South Iowa Branch, 31st and Iowa streets. Participants are encouraged to bring a camera for an opportunity to have a photo taken with Santa.

• The SpeakerCraft Co., a manufacturer in the audio industry, specializing in state-of-the-art in-wall speaker design, held a President’s Circle meeting Nov. 9-11 in Los Angeles. Representatives from the nation’s electronics retailers were invited for new product presentations and roundtable meetings. Kief’s Audio/ Video was represented by Vice President Robert Kiefer.

• Courtney Longino has been appointed director of catering for the Eldridge and the Eldridge Extended hotels. Longino will work with clients to plan meetings, conferences, special events and banquets for both hotels. She is a graduate of Free State High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in communications studies from Kansas University.

• Scott Hollister, an award-winning journalist of 22 years, has been promoted to editor-in-chief of Golf Course Management magazine, the monthly publication of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. Hollister, a member of the GCM staff since 1998, will also help guide the association’s efforts in the continuing convergence of content across its various communications platforms.

• As of Dec. 1, communityworks inc will operate out of a larger office at 3210 Mesa Way, Suite B, Lawrence. The phone number will remain the same, 856-2370. Communityworks inc also earned the Governor’s Excellence Award Nov. 15 for exceptional commitment to assisting and empowering Kansans with disabilities.

• The Kansas Society of Certified Public Accountants elected officers for 2010-2011 at its annual business meeting Nov. 17 at the Hilton Wichita Airport. Paul Mason, Kansas University, Lawrence, was named an elected trustee of the Educational Foundation Board.