For the Week of May 12th

Management Changes:

BHDP Architecture (Cincinnati architectural firm) has hired Patrick Lynch as a project architect in its retail group.

Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design (New York lighting design firm) has promoted Lee Hanel, Ann Little and Guy Smith to associate.

RPA Worldwide (Columbus, Ohio, retail design firm) has hired Jenny Barrett as director of strategic services and Heather Phelps as human resources manager. In addition, Jacqueline Pollok has been promoted to senior strategist.

Ambrosi (Chicago, advertising and marketing firm, subsidiary of Black Dot Group) has promoted Dan Morrissey and Mark Pearson to co-presidents. Morrissey will continue to direct operations, production and photography units at Ambrosi, while Pearson will retain his responsibilities directing creative and account services.

Business Briefs:

The Visual Merchandising Trade Association (VMTA) has been founded with the mission to raise the profile of the visual merchandising profession within the retail community. Membership benefits include on-line digital portfolio hosting, career opportunities listings, monthly newsletter and project referrals. For information, contact VMTA, 505 Court Street, Suite 9D, Brooklyn, NY 11231. Phone: 718-422-7971; Internet: www.vmta.org.

Levi Strauss & Co. (San Francisco jeans and apparel retailer) has opened an 8000-square-foot visitors center and museum in the glassed-in lobby of its San Francisco headquarters. The area features six pavilions that cover Levi's history and culture, including signs, clothing and video.

Deep Video Imaging (Hamilton, New Zealand, Multi-Layer Displays designer and manufacturer) and Silicon Graphics (Mountain View, Calif., data management solutions supplier) have entered into a reseller alliance for multilayer visualization solution. Through the agreement, Deep Video Imaging's Multi-Layer Display technology is available for all SG systems.

Azar Intl. Inc. (Nanuet, N.Y., p-o-p display manufacturer) has redesigned its web site, www.azardisplays.com, with enhanced navigation and improved online shopping capabilities.

Awards & Competitions:

PAVE (The Planning and Visual Education Partnership, St. Louis, educational association) has posted information, including guidelines and deadlines, on its 2003 Student Design Competition on its web site, www.gmgdesigninc.com/pave.htm. True Visual Inc. (San Francisco) will host the competition judging in November.

Osram Sylvania (Danvers, Mass., lighting products manufacturer) received the “Excellence in Consumer Media Relations” from the Automotive Public Relations Council, a professional group of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association. The award recognizes Osram Sylvania's production and distribution of a video news release on the new high-intensity discharge lighting being used in the automotive industry.