Tina Alvarado Shanahan, president and chief executive officer of Be Active North Carolina, has received a 2007 Triangle Business Journal's Women in Business Award, as well as the Excellence In Mentoring Award, in recognition of her leadership, influence and service to the region's business community.

Shanahan, who joined Be Active in August 2006, was one of 25 women to receive this year's Women in Business award, given to the most influential women in Triangle business circles.

She was also singled out for the Excellence in Mentoring Award, given each year to one professional who has demonstrated the strongest commitment to mentoring others. Shanahan was cited for a career that spans a broad range of professional achievements -- and praised for her commitment to young people with her Camp Carousel for Horse Crazy Kids.

In addition to her role at Be Active North Carolina, Shanahan is an experienced health-care professional, a former insurance company executive and a U.S. Navy officer. She recently was selected to the rank of captain.

Shanahan received the awards recently during a luncheon ceremony at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel in Research Triangle Park. She said she felt humbled.

"I am truly honored," Shanahan said. "The women who receive these awards are industry leaders and role models for young business professionals in our community -- to be recognized with such a talented group of ladies for my accomplishments and success is gratifying."

Shanahan founded and operates Camp Carousel for Horse Crazy Kids, which is in its third year. The camp give children opportunities they might otherwise not have -- especially those who cannot afford a horse or even an occasional horseback ride.

Shanahan holds nursing degrees from Columbia University and the Alexandria (Va.) Hospital School of Nursing. She has a master's degree in healthcare policy and administration from the School of Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Based near Research Triangle Park, Be Active North Carolina is the state's leading nonprofit devoted to the promotion of physical activity, health and wellness. With three offices located throughout the state, it has 13 employees and operates programs in each of North Carolina's 100 counties.

Furniture store wins readers award

Porto, a fine home furnishings store with locations in Raleigh and Chapel Hill, has received a Metro Bravo! Award in the category Best Place to Buy Beds from Metro magazine, a monthly publication covering a 22-county region that includes Raleigh, the Research Triangle, and Eastern North Carolina.

Each spring, Metro magazine asks its readers to select the best products, stores, services and people from a large selection of categories. The winners are published in Metro's July and August editions.

Porto offers complete collections of heirloom-quality, handcrafted home furnishings from South Cone, Cisco Brothers, Kravet and Robin Bruce, including their bedroom furniture.

Porto, a member of the Sustainable Furniture Council, is in Chapel Hill in Eastgate Shopping Center between East Franklin Street and U.S. 15-501, and in Raleigh at 4151 Main at North Hills.

For information on the Metro Bravo Awards, including a complete list of winners, visit www.metronc.com.

Broker completes green training

Mariana Fiorentino, broker and owner of Terra Nova Global Properties in Carrboro has received the ecobroker certified designation, having successfully completed a training program on the energy and environmental issues that affect real estate transactions.

Fiorentino joins the movement of professionals pushing the real estate market toward energy-efficient, sustainable, and healthier design and features in homes and buildings.

EcoBroker International's education and designation program is designed for real estate professionals who care about the environment and want to help their clients benefit from the energy-efficiency, "green," and healthier features of homes and buildings. EcoBroker provides a curriculum of energy and environmental training to licensed real estate agents. Real estate professionals must complete the extensive EcoBroker curriculum and training and fulfill additional program requirements to become Certified EcoBrokers.

Fiorentino serves on the Community Leadership Council for a Sustainable Community and is a member of the Green Building Council of the Home Builders Association of Orange, Durham and Chatham Counties.