For the Week of August 1st

nParallel (Minneapolis brand communication, merchandising strategy and display agency) has added the following to its production team: Gary Hanson, production manager; Dan Broady, asset manager; Chris Enselein and Dan McKenzie, properties coordinators/I&D supervisors; and Michael Looking Elk, project manager.

Universal Lighting Technologies (Nashville, Tenn.) has hired Chris Holstein as director, marketing.

Nydree (Forest, Va., parent company of Permagrain, Gammapar and Old Virginia Leather) has hired Susan Ford as its Western regional vp, sales.

InteliCoat Technologies (South Hadley, Mass., manufacturer of coated paper, film and specialty substrates for imaging and electronic technologies) has appointed Jonathan Read a digital imaging specialist.

Mergers/Acquisitions:

3M (St. Paul, Minn., diversified technology company) has acquired Mercury Online Solutions Inc. (Bainbridge Island, Wash., digital signage firm).

Relocations:

3rd Works Cleveland to 1468 W. 9th St., Ste. 500, Cleveland, OH 44113. Phone: 216-685-9800; fax: Fax: 216-685-9803

Business Briefs:

Epicenter Holdings Inc. (Greenwich, Conn., retail developer) announced its partnership with WalkerGroup (New York architecture and interior design firm) to design the Epicenter Collection's flagship location at the Polaris Fashion Place in Columbus, Ohio. The Collection, slated to open in 2006, will consist of branded retail showcases and include sections for demonstrations and exhibitions of new products, product launches and fashion shows.

MICE North America (Las Vegas marketing and communications firm) has created MICE Advantage, an Irvine, Calif., unit specializing in enhancing clients' exhibit programs.

Nanonation (Lincoln, Neb., software developer) has partnered with 810 Zone (Leawood, Kan., sports bar and restaurant) to create and install tableside interactive digital entertainment systems at 25 booths within the eatery.

Lighthouse Technologies (Irvine, Calif., manufacturer of large-scale LED video screens) donated the use of 112 large-screen displays for the recent “Art for Life East Hampton” event organized by the RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation in East Hampton, N.Y. The event raised funds for more than 70 youth arts organizations in New York and Palm Beach County, Florida.

Moss (Belfast, Maine, provider of stretch fabric displays) announced that Libby Santin, its vp, marketing, spent a day educating exhibit design students at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT, New York) on the uses of stretch fabric products.