Business Briefs

ISMS president: James L. Milam , M.D., an ob-gyn practicing in Vernon Hills, became president-elect of the Illinois State Medical Society at its recent annual meeting in April. Scott A. Cooper , M.D., an emergency medicine doctor in Highland Park, was elected the Society's District 1 trustee. District 1 covers Lake County. Milam will become the ISMS president in April 2009. He is a member and past president of the Lake County Medical Society and has most recently represented Lake County as ISMS District 1 trustee. Dr. Milam is on the active staff at Lake Forest Hospital and Condell Medical Center. He is on the academic staff at Highland Park and Evanston hospitals

Grainger exec: Ernest Duplessis of Lindenhurst was recently named vice president of internal and external communications for W.W. Grainger Inc.

Merlin awards: Merlin 200,000 Mile Shops, a leader in the automotive maintenance and repair industry, recently recognized Don Miller of Waukegan at its national conference held in Lisle. Miller was honored with the following awards for superior performance during 2007: MER Award and National Sales Leader Award. "The Waukegan Merlin 200,000 Miles Shop is one of the best, and we are privileged to honor their accomplishments," said Frank Smola, Merlin's president. "We take the opportunity at the annual business conference to recognize those Merlin franchisees and managers who have worked hard to fulfill our commitment to long-term customer relationships and the 200,000-mile proposition. "