For the Week of March 29th

 nParallel (Minneapolis brand communication, merchandising strategy and display company) has hired Shawn King as its director of creative strategies. King was previously creative director for integrated design services at Shea.

MC² (Chestnut Ridge, N.Y., brand experience agency) has named Gary Benson ceo, appointed Kim Youngblood senior vp, strategic solutions, and promoted Rob Murphy to senior vp, marketing.

Cubellis Associates Inc. (Boston architecture, interior design and engineering firm) has appointed Gregory Ninow principal-in-charge of its office in Portland, Maine.

Margulies & Associates Inc. (Boston architecture and interior design firm) has hired Renee Mierzejewski as project architect, corporate and commercial projects.

spg³ (Philadelphia architecture firm) has acquired Cassway·Albert Ltd. (Philadelphia design firm).

Universal Lighting Technologies (Nashville, Tenn., manufacturer of lighting ballasts and controls) announced that Orlando-based United Electrical Sales has expanded its Universal Lighting sales territory to include the Florida Panhandle and Alabama. Also, Universal Lighting has named Gorin-Hopper-McCoy as its sales agent for Georgia.

SMART Technologies Inc. (Calgary, Alb., supplier of interactive whiteboards and other group-collaboration tools) has signed an agreement to integrate its interactive interlays with 40-inch liquid-crystal displays from Clarity Visual Systems Inc. (Wilsonville, Ore., provider of high-resolution display systems). This new interactive digital signage system is intended for retail spaces and outdoor venues.

Visual Graphic Systems (New York manufacturer and installer of signage systems) has fabricated and installed the canopy and signage for the entrance to Jazz at Lincoln Center in the Time Warner Center in New York.

The Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI, Reston, Va., trade association) has donated $10,000 to WoodLINKS USA, which partners schools and businesses to prepare students for careers in the wood industry. WoodLINKS will use the AWI donation to establish additional sites at secondary schools nationwide.

Flower City Printing Inc. (Rochester, N.Y., large-format printer) has received the William K. Marrinan Hall of Fame Award in the National Association for Printing Leadership's Management Plus competition. The award recognizes winners for management excellence in all operational areas.