Tekelec posted another strong quarter Wednesday, largely driven by a recovery in product sales in North America.

Based on the sales boost, and a rise in customers orders, the Morrisville technology company increased its guidance for the year, saying per share earnings would be between 95 cents and $1. Previously the guidance had been between 90 cents and 95 cents.

"We had a very strong quarter in very challenging circumstances," said Bill Everett, Tekelec's chief financial officer.

A Raleigh-based recruiting and hiring firm has lured one of the Triangle's veteran human resources and recruiting executives.

Headway Corporate Resources has hired Alvin Ragland to oversee its work for corporate customers in the energy and technology sectors.

Ragland most recently was vice president of human resources with Morrisville-based Tekelec. He also has held positions with Sony Ericsson, Northern Telecom and Carolina Power & Light.

He's also on the board of Raleigh-based Paragon Commercial Bank and chairman for the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.

Headway moved its corporate headquarters to Raleigh from New York City in 2005.

Tekelec, the Morrisville telecom gear maker, continues to outwit the recession with a strong balance sheet and a suite of products that phone companies need to function.

The company said this morning that revenue from continuing operations was $114.2 million, down just 2 percent for the second quarter. Income was up 9 percent to $16.8 million, or 25 cents per share, and better than Wall Street analysts had expected.

Product orders fell 15 percent compared to the same three-month period last year. But Tekelec officials are confident that orders will rebound and they boosted their sales predictions for the year.