Award received

ALTONA — Kristen Ashline has earned the lia sophia Excellent Beginnings Program achievers award for outstanding sales accomplishments and professionalism.

Having just joined the fashion-jewelry business, she accomplished this in the first 15 weeks by attaining certain sales levels and by sharing lia sophia with other new advisers.

All new lia sophia advisers have the opportunity to increase their earnings and earn free jewelry as part of the program. The plan celebrates the success of advisers who stay on track in the first four months in business. Lia sophia also provides ongoing opportunities for recognition including monthly, quarterly and annual awards.

Lia sophia is a direct-selling opportunity offering fashion jewelry through personalized, in-home demonstrations. For more information, contact Ashline at Kristenbabbie@hotmail.com.

Ratings earned

LAKE PLACID — Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa has received the Four-Diamond Lodging Award from the American Automobile Association (AAA) for the 28th consecutive year. The View restaurant at the inn celebrates its fifth consecutive year of the AAA Four-Diamond rating.

The View is the only restaurant in Lake Placid to receive this rating. It is also one of just eight restaurants outside of New York City to earn the distinction.

"It's an honor for us to have been recognized by AAA for the last 28 years," said Ed Weibrecht, proprietor of the inn. "This rating is a reflection of the efforts and professionalism of our staff."

The inn is one of 95 hotels on the list to have held Four-Diamond status for more than 25 years. The Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa is the longest running AAA Four Diamond hotel outside of New York City in the state.

Also making the list in Lake Placid was the Whiteface Lodge, which has held a Four-Diamond rating for the last six years. Other hotels in the Adirondacks to receive the rating include The Sagamore in Bolton Landing and the Friends Lake Inn and The Fern Lodge in Chestertown.

New board members

LAKE PLACID — The Lake Placid CVB/Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism has appointed its 2012 Board of Directors.

The board, responsible for governing the organization, is comprised of 15 individuals with at least one director from each of the four tourism regions in Essex County; the Lake Placid/High Peaks, Lake Champlain, Schroon Lake and Whiteface regions.

The 2012 slate of officers are as follows:

Chair, Justin Smith, Northwoods Inn and Prestige Hospitality Group; Vice Chair, Ed Finnerty, Champlain National Bank; Second Vice Chair, Mike Beglin, Beglin's Jewelers; Charlie Cowan, Janney Montgomery Scott, Treasurer and Secretary, Debbie Fitts of the Lake Placid Sinfonietta.

Newly elected directors include Cristina Lussi, vice president and co-owner of the Crowne Plaza Resort; Tim Garrison, Town of Moriah Board Trustee; and Sharon Piper, owner of the Schroon Lake Bed and Breakfast.

They join sitting directors Beth Hill, executive director at Fort Ticonderoga; Bob Hockert, owner of Little Peak Chalet and Clearwater Camp vacation rentals, Mary Ann Hawley, Parajax, Inc.; Kate Fish, Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA); Deb McLean, the UPS Store and Jamie Rogers, energy program coordinator at ANCA.

"With representatives from diverse facets of the business community, including lodging, retailers, financial institutions, attractions, the arts and educators, the Board of Directors represents a broad range of perspectives and expertise," said CEO James McKenna.

Model search

PLATTSBURGH — Maurices has launched its second annual Main Street Model Search. The young women's retailer is looking for 12 girls in all sizes to model maurices's clothing in upcoming fall, holiday and spring campaigns.

"Through last year's Main Street Model Search, we were able to express maurices's passion for embracing real girls from hometowns across America," said Brad Hartmann, maurices vice president of marketing. "We're excited to give another group of women the opportunity to live their dream of modeling while demonstrating what the maurices brand is all about: fashion, fun and giving back."

Women ages 18 and older can enter online. They'll need to upload photos of themselves, write a short essay and provide other key details.

Judges will select models based on appearance and how well they represent the maurices image. The top 12 models will each receive a photo shoot in one of three iconic destinations in the United States and national exposure at maurices locations, www.maurices.com, mailers and social media; a $1,500 maurices gift card; and $7,500 for a charitable makeover to be awarded directly to a community or charitable organization in her hometown.

Women can enter online through Feb. 13. Online voting is open from Feb. 27 through March 19, with people receiving a coupon offer from maurices every time they vote, plus a chance to win as much as $1,000 in gift cards. Online voting will narrow the field to 100 who will be required to create a video as part of their submission. Maurices will select 20 models for a final casting call in Minneapolis, Minn., the week of April 16. The top 12 models will be announced April 23.

For more information, visit maurices.com, face book.com/maurices or mau ricesmainstreetmodel.com.