Robert Scharf has been recognized by Allstate Insurance Company for high standards in customer satisfaction, customer retention and profitability. The Robert Scharf Allstate Agency is among the top Allstate agencies in the nation in auto, property, and commercial insurance and financial service sales. Scharf will be recognized by top officers in the company at Allstate’s National Conference in Maui.

The Kitsap County Board of Commissioners, in conjunction with its annual Earth Day Awards, will give the Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Education community award to Port Orchard-based Wet Apple Media later this month. Wet Apple publishes the Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, WestSound Home & Garden Magazine, Remodel Kitsap Magazine and Kitsap Peninsula Builder.

For the past seven years, the Business Journal has published an environmental section as a part of its editorial coverage to educate the business community on local environmental issues of concern.

WestSound Home & Garden also regularly includes articles on environmentally friendly gardening, recycling, conservation, "green" building, low-impact construction and remodeling techniques, as well as profiles of local people making a difference in keeping the Kitsap Peninsula an environmental showcase.

Amy Johnson, a licensed massage therapist at Olsen Chiropractic in Bremerton, is now a preferred provider for KPS Health Plans, Premera, Cigna, Aetna and Uniform & First Choice. She can be reached at (360) 478-9788.

Artist Audrey A. Miles Cherney has recently opened Rosehip Studio, a new illustration business based in Port Townsend that specializes in portraits and scientific illustration.

She has a background in natural resource management, art and environmental education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in forest biology from Colorado State University with a second major in studio arts. She became a certified scientific illustrator in 2005 through the University of Washington. For the past 11 years, she has worked in the field of natural resources management, research and restoration for the U.S. Forest Service, Colorado State Forest Service and, most recently, the North Olympic Salmon Coalition.

Beverly Kincaid, principal of Sound Grants Proposal Research and Development, will work with a team of grant professionals from Washington and Oregon to develop the item validation component of the Grant Professional Certification Institute, a public benefit corporation of the American Association of Grant Professionals.

GPCI is developing a certification process for issuing credentials to grant writers. Currently, there is no authoritative body to assure grant-seeking organizations and funders of performance quality and ethical practices. Before starting at Sound Grants, she worked as grants manager for Catholic Community Services’ 13-county Southwest Region and in Workforce Development at Olympic College.

Recent past winners include Debbie and Steve Hill of Hill Moving Services (2006), John Eisenhauer of Mercury Online (2005), Michael and Alexa Rosenthal of Island Fitness (2004) and Charlie and Carolyn Frame (2003).

Nominees do not have to be a chamber member to qualify for this award. The winner will be honored at a luncheon on May 16 at Wing Point and will be the honorary grand marshal in the Grand Old Fourth of July Parade.

Nomination forms are available online at www.bainbridgechamber.com or at the chamber office, 590 Winslow Way E. For information, call (206) 842-3700.

What: Olympic Business Exchange, a chapter of Business Network International, will host featured speaker Janel De Los Reyes of Himalayan Goji Juice by Free Life at its weekly meeting. She is one of the chapter’s newest members. Business professionals interested in increasing business are encouraged to come. The group gathers weekly to network and pass referrals.

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