Frank A Frank A. Watson has joined Palmer Brothers Inc. and will specialize in commercial and investment sales and leasing. Watson has been in the real estate business for the past 29 years and is a graduate of the University of Memphis. James P. Cole has joined the Edward LeMaster Co. as a commercial and industrial real estate broker. A former journalist, Cole received an undergraduate degree from Rhodes College and a masters degree from the University of North Carolina. William A. Avoli and Melanie A. Smith have joined Mercer Capital. Avoli has joined the firm as a financial analyst. He received a masters degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh. Smith has joined the firm as a marketing associate. She is a graduate of Rhodes College. Daniel A. Lewis has been appointed senior vice president, finance, for Smith & Nephews orthopaedic division. Lewis formerly was director, finance/chief financial officer for Carrier Corp.s residential products group. He received a masters degree from Fairfield University. The Memphis Area Association of Realtors has elected five new members to its board of directors: Lee Carter, managing broker, Pyramid Realtors; John Linthicum, broker/manager, Crye-Leike Inc., Realtors; Dave McComas, president and chief executive officer, Henry Turley, Realtors; Meredith McDonald, Realtor-associate, The Hobson Co.; and Lila Saunders, broker, The Hobson Co. Deloitte & Touche LLP recently announced several promotions: John Walendzik was promoted to senior in the audit department. He joined the company in 1994 after receiving a masters degree from the University of Mississippi. Chris Adair was promoted to senior in the audit department. He joined the company in 1995 after receiving a bachelors degree from the University of Mississippi. Chris Sullivan was promoted to manager in the tax department. He joined the firm in 1992 after receiving a bachelors degree from the University of Mississippi. William Ross has joined Co-operative Retirement Services of America as vice president. He previously was vice president of marketing services for Davidson Retirement Properties. Ross is a graduate of the University of South Carolina. Andrew J. Groscost has joined Bean & Ison, PLLC, CPAs and Consultants as a staff accountant. Groscost was previously with Sedgwick Inc. and is a graduate of Albion College. Julie Knudson has joined Signet Promotions as account manager. She has previous experience in the airline, retail and educational industries. Ruth Wallace Archer, a teacher at Oak Forest Elementary School; Patricia Willkinson Sutton, a teacher at Sherwood Middle School; and Raydine J. Yarbrough, a teacher at Florida Elementary School have been named finalists in the National Science Foundations 1997 Presidential Awards of Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching program. Allen Israel has joined Memphis AAA Baseball as director of merchandising. Israel is the president of Sunbelt Management Corp., a Blockbuster Video franchisee with four of the chains superstores. He also is vice chairman of Memphis Inter-faith Association. Jason Macaulay has joined the organization as director of food services. He most recently served as general manager of the Racquet Club and is the former general manager of the University Club. Wesley Creel has joined the Memphis Museum System as administrator of programs. He has more than 25 years of museum experience in North Carolina, Florida, Arkansas and Kentucky. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona and earned a graduate certificate in museum studies from the University of Leicester. Gordon Thompson is the new president of the Memphis Museum Systems board of trustees. He is a managing partner of Thompson Dunavant PLC. Jean Martin, former president of Friends of the Pink Palace, is first vice president, and former board president Beth Elzemeyer will be second vice president. Barbara Flynn is the new president of Friends of the Pink Palace. New members of the board of trustees include Gene Gibson, president of Jameson-Gibson Construction Co. and chairman of the board of Advance Manufacturing Co.; Elaine Hare, a member of the board of Subsidium, the Junior League and Memphis Oral School for the Deaf; Deborah Hester, vice president of community and employee relations for Union Planters Bank; and Sherrye Winford, current vice president of the Friends of the Pink Palace.