• Alaska Communications Systems Group Inc. has appointed Anand Vadapalli as chief operating officer. Vadapalli will be responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of ACS sales and service, products and marketing, technology and operations functions. Most recently Vadapalli was executive vice president of technology and operations at ACS, and has been with the company since August 2006. Vadapalli brings more than 20 years of technology, business expertise and leadership skills in telecommunications and other industries.

• Dave Bohan has joined Patterson Insurance Brokers Inc. in commercial insurance sales and service of medium to large property and casualty accounts. He has 28 years of insurance agency and brokerage experience in Anchorage, ranging from agency owner and account executive to management.

• Angela M. Pobieglo, a senior account executive at Business Insurance Associates Inc., has become the first Alaskan to achieve the Certified Schools Risk Management professional designation from the National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research. Pobieglo is the former president of the Insurance Professionals of Anchorage, past state director of the Alaska Council of the National Association of Insurance Women International, and 2005 and 2006 Insurance Professional of the Year from the Insurance Professionals of Anchorage.

• Anita Bates, broker and Realtor at Bates and Associates, Realtors, has been named 2009 Realtor of the Year by the Anchorage Board of Realtors. This award is given annually to the individual who has displayed a strong sense of Realtor spirit, high principles, ethics and good business practices, leadership qualities with the local, state and national association of Realtors, involvement in civic activities and strong business accomplishments.

• Mark Bilan, a local doctor of chiropractic medicine, was recently awarded one of the profession's highest honorary degrees. The Palmer Board of Trustees in Davenport, Iowa, has recognized Bilan for his contributions and dedication to the chiropractic profession with a distinguished fellowship in the Palmer Academy of Chiropractic. Bilan of Bilan Chiropractic has been practicing in Anchorage since 1990.