VISTA Today Daily News Business Briefs are concise stories that bring you up to date with what’s going on around Chester County. This Morning:

Derek A. Perini Joins Bernardon Team

Bernardon has found a new member for its team, an experienced Senior Interior Designer, Derek A. Perini. His purview will cover the firm’s senior living, multifamily, and hospitality projects.

Well-known in the region for senior living design, Perini has designed the interiors for several multi-million dollar Continuing Care Retirement Communities, and has been a speaker at both national and regional events for LeadingAge.

“Derek has a strong passion for design, managing and leading junior designers”, Kerry R. Haber, President of the Kennett Square firm said of the hire, “his exemplary career in some of our biggest target markets will make Derek a great asset to our team.”

Paul Kane of Omega Flex 2015 CFO Awards Finalist

The Chief financial officer of Omega Flex, Paul Kane, is a finalist for the 2015 CFO Awards for medium sized companies.

Kane joined Omega Flex in 2005 as a Controller, starting off running by writing the corporation’s first Form 10-K. After being promoted to a Principal Accounting Officer in 2007, he became a CEO in 2008. Today he is responsible for the integrity of the financial statements and has created all of the procedures and checklists that Omega uses.

The Exton based manufacturing corporation, was founded in 1975 and has seen its net sales increase by 57 percent and net income grow by almost 300 percent over the last three years under Kane’s watch.

Ametek’s CFO Bob Mandos Named CFO of the Year for 2015

Bob Mandos, CFO of Ametek, has been named a winner of the 2015 CFO Awards for extra-large companies.

Apart from serving as the company’s executive officer, the 34-year company veteran has direct oversight and responsibility for Ametek’s external financial reporting, analysis, information technology, treasury, risk management, tax and audit functions.

Joining the Berwyn based company in 1981 as an assistant liaison controller, Mandos rose in ranks to became the executive vice president and CFO in July 2012.

With him as part of the leadership team, margins have improved from about 10 percent to over 24 percent, and the company experienced a 400 percent growth in sales and nearly an 800 percent growth in diluted earnings per share.

400 Books Collected During the United Way of Chester County Summer Book Drive

Another summer book drive was wrapped up successfully thanks to the generosity of people of Chester County.

The United Way of Chester County has announced that their two-week summer preschool book drive ended with nearly 420 donated books, valued at over $2,300.

Local residents filled up collection bins with new and gently used books for young children, locations of which included Exton Square Mall, St. James’ Episcopal Church, and the Chester County Book Company. The donations will support UWCC’s Early Education Initiative.

UWCC has installed nine Born Learning Trails throughout Chester County since 2009, to offer families free and accessible early learning activities.

Board President of UWCC Charles Kochka explained the initiative’s value, “Studies show that when children receive quality early learning experiences, they enter school more prepared. Success in school predicts success in life.”