• Sabatini Architects Inc., of Lawrence, announces that Katie Nichols is a licensed architect in Kansas. As project designer for the past eight years at Sabatini, Nichols’ responsibilities have included a range of work in predesign analysis through construction administration services. She also heads the firm’s LEED consulting services.

• Jamie Gabriel, Lawrence, earned the prestigious registered play therapist credential conferred by the Association for Play Therapy, according to its executive director Bill Burns. Gabriel is a licensed specialist clinical social worker.

• Lawrence Otolaryngology announces the hiring of a new physician’s assistant who will start seeing patients in August. Dustin R. Huff his Master’s of Physician Assistant this July and is licensed with the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts. Huff is also a nationally registered emergency medical technician at the paramedic level. Huff, a Lawrence native, is the first midlevel practitioner of Lawrence Otolaryngology Associates.

• Chairman and chief executive officer for Knology Inc., Rodger L. Johnson, has been named one of “Georgia’s CEOs of the Year” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, ranking 19 on a list of 25 state-based CEOs. Rankings were weighted equally on shareholder return, increase in company revenues and increase in net income as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Only CEOs who have been with companies since January 2010 or longer were considered; Johnson has been with the cable, phone and high-speed Internet provider since 1999.

• The Lawrence Chamber of Commerce announces the Lawrence Business Expo 2011, an event designed to encourage the Lawrence business community and the public to engage in local commerce. The event will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 1 at the Holiday Inn Lawrence. The day will begin with an Economic Forecast Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. All Lawrence businesses are invited to purchase space in one of the expo’s 88 booths. Booths may be reserved by visiting the chamber’s website at lawrencechamber.com. There is no charge for the public to attend the event. Tickets for the breakfast are available separately through the chamber’s website. For more information, visit lawrencechamber.com, call 865-4411 or email frontdesk@lawrencechamber.com.

• Lawrence businessman Lucio Soria is set to open Mi Tiendita in a space next to the gasoline station and liquor store adjacent to Best Buy at 31st and Iowa streets. Mi Tiendita will have a variety of Latino food, leather and household products. Soria, who previously operated a similar store in Columbus, Ohio, intends to have fresh Mexican pastries and bread brought in daily from a bakery in Emporia, a selection of Mexican sausages and cheeses and Mexican-made leather boots and jackets. Mi Tiendita is expected to open by the end of the month. Its hours will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.