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Great care. When you need it, you need it.
From ER to ExpressCare, you got it. Amazing things happen when doctors, specialists and a hospital work together as one. Like care when you need it most. Our full service ER has less waiting, and includes a Level II Trauma Center – the only one of its kind in Topeka. Plus our convenient ExpressCare locations and The Clinic at Walmart for smaller bumps and sniffles. All yours when you choose Stormont-Vail and Cotton-O’Neil. So you can get back to living. Call or visit us on the web to learn more. 785-354-5225 | stormontvail.org
Get back to living.
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TK...Topeka's Business Magazine
[contents] FEATURES
10
Social Media Makeover
15
A local business gets a social media makeover from WSBDC.
Topeka Business Hall of Fame
TK profiles six business leaders recognized by Junior Achievement.
In Every Issue
Columns
4 6 8 66 73
12 44 56 60 64
A behind the scenes look at the business of lobbying.
Business Helping Business Cooperation instead of competition helps local businesses survive and thrive in Topeka.
Your Vote Counts
Majority rules in a unique business-helping-business project.
38
Bringing Business into Schools
Local businesses partner with high schools to instill an entrepreneurial spirit.
47
Editor's Note Success
Heart of the Entrepreneur Salon 808—sisters making business work.
Tips & Tools
24 30 78 36
The Third House
Tough Love Raubin Pierce talks about what Topeka needs to look for in the next city manager.
From the Publisher @#$%
Life of a Building Lisa Loewen uncovers the story behind the Clayton Financial building.
Extra, Extra! News and updates about Topeka businesses.
From the Professor's Desk Kanalis Ockree, PhD, CPA, discusses the importance of learning to be ethical.
Scene About Town Downtown Topeka Rotary Club Topeka West Rotary Club South Rotary Club Last Word: Michael Kiley Michael Kiley, Security Benefit
[
Stepping Up To Leadership Rich Drinon teaches you how to communicate more effectively in front of groups.
Thank you to our advertisers for supporting TK...Topeka's Business Magazine
]
Business Unique
A glimpse into six businesses that are doing unique things to set themselves apart.
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[from the publisher]
@#$% The New Four Letter Word
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Spring 2012
I grew up in an oil field shop where cussing was the rule, not the exception. So, I’m sure I’ve offended a few (okay more than a few) people by dropping an inappropriate adjective here and there. But one four-letter word really makes my blood boil. No, not the usual S%&#, F@$* or D#%&. The word that makes me crazy is B-U-S-Y. We all use this word in everyday phrases to others, like: “I know you’re busy, but…” or “You seem busy, but…” Or, in personal statements, like: “I’m too busy…” or “If only I wasn’t busy…” It seems harmless. Heck, if you would have told me a year ago that the word “busy” was a bad word, I would have had my back up against the wall ready to defend my busyness. Over the last several months, I’ve been asking myself why a silly word that is so common in our vocabulary can cause me so much angst. The answers I found were simple, but painful. As an adjective, busy means to have a great deal to do; as a verb it means to keep occupied. Eek! No wonder this word makes me crazy – I don’t want to just “keep occupied because I have a great deal to do.” That is
TK...Topeka's Business Magazine
not what I signed up for. If I just stay “busy” I’ll never reach my goals, my dreams or my purpose. But this revelation also brings great discomfort and causes me to use my second most hated word…NO. Why would I dislike the word no, you ask? Because I am horrible at saying it. To be honest, I’m even horrible at thinking it. And I know I’m not alone. At this moment I know some of you are shaking your heads right now in agreement, saying “AMEN SISTER!” (fist bump, fist bump). The rest of you are rolling your eyes because you do have the ability to say no and think I’m crazy. So my epiphany is simple. Busy is okay, busy is good, busy is life – but (yes there is always a “but”) only when it walks hand in hand with purpose. So take a quick look at where you want to go and make sure “busy” doesn’t cause unwanted detours on your path.
We’re always looking for ways to give back. This time that led us to Daisy. Topeka Ear, Nose & Throat physician, Mike Franklin is an old friend of the orangutan family at the Topeka Zoo, having performed operations on four of its members. So he didn’t hesitate when the latest call came in about 45-year old Daisy, the matriarch of the group. Daisy was suffering from breathing problems and blocked sinuses, a possibly life-threatening condition for a senior citizen primate. Dr. Franklin, with the assistance of TENT associate, Dr.Robert Lane, and the zoo vet staff, flushed out Daisy’s nasal passages and pronounced her good as new. These days, Daisy’s back in her zoo habitat with her orangutan family, healthy and happy. And the docs? They’re forever connected to the animal kingdom in a way they never imagined, and they couldn’t be more proud. Caring doctors who care about our community. That’s Topeka ENT. TOPEKA
EMPORIA
920 SW Lane St., Ste. 200 Topeka, KS 66606 PH: 785-233-0500
2625 W. 15th Ave. Emporia, KS 66801 PH: 620-340-0168
Please visit our website to download new patient forms and learn more about our practice:
www. TopekaENT.com
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[editor's note]
TK
Topeka’s Business letters to the editorMagazine Spring 2012
Publisher
TARA DIMICK
Editor-in-Chief LISA LOEWEN
Success.
Most people tend to equate success with money. We believe the more money you make, the more successful you are. But if this were true, then wouldn’t that drug dealer who makes millions of dollars be a successful person? It may be that the drug dealer is a gifted businessman, but I wouldn’t call him successful because of the negative impact he has on the lives of others. Personally, I don’t think success can be measured. I believe it is defined by your goals and expectations, the attitude you have towards reaching them, and the impact that you make on those around you. This issue of TK is full of the success within Topeka, from honored individuals to partnerships to businesses challenging the status quo. On page 15, TK gives you a glimpse into the lives of six Topeka business leaders who were chosen for the Junior Achievement 2012 Topeka Business Hall of Fame. These six individuals were selected for reaching their goals, having the right attitude and making a positive impact on our community. Working with strategic partners creates a win-win situation for everyone and strengthens not only the businesses involved, but the community as a whole—success. “Business Helping Business” on page 30 explains how Hy-Vee has developed strategic partnerships with local vendors to make locally-produced goods available on its shelves. It also takes a look at a creative marketing idea that has united partners in the construction industry. Partnerships don’t have to be just business-to-business, on page 36 you will find businesses that are partnering with local high schools to offer real-world business experience to students and to instill in them that entrepreneurial spirit. We also explore businesses that are doing unique and cutting-edge work right here in Topeka—from stem cell therapy to taking you shopping in your own closet. On page 47, you will find businesses challenging the status quo and doing “Business Unique” in Topeka. If you want to know what success is, just look at your local businesses right here in Topeka.
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Creative Director JENNI PONTON
Account Executives BRADEN DIMICK - 785.806.2093 Tara Dimick - 785.217.4836
Contributing Writers Rich Drinon, Tim Kolling, Lisa Loewen, Kanalis Ockree, PhD, Raubin Pierce, Karen Ridder, Karen Sipes, Patti VanSlyke
Photographer RACHEL LOCK
Founder KEVIN DOEL PO Box 67272 | Topeka, Kansas 66667 785-217-4836 | tara@tkmagazine.com www.tkmagazine.com
Comments & Suggestions tara@tkmagazine.com
Publishing Company E2 Communications, Inc. 2012 TK...Topeka's Business Magazine is published by E2 Communications, Inc.Reproduction or use of this publication in any manner without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Every effort was made to ensure accuracy of the information in this publication as of press time. The publisher assumes no responsibility of any part for the content of any advertisement in this publication, including any errors and omissions there in. E2 Communications, Inc. makes no endorsement, representation or warranty regarding any goods or services advertised or listed in this publication. Listings and advertisements are provided by the subject companies, E2 Communications, Inc. shall not be responsible or liable for any inaccuracy, omission or infringement of any third party’s right therein, or for personal injury or any other damage or injury whatsoever. By placing an order for an advertisement, the advertiser agrees to indemnify the publisher against any claims relating to the advertisement.
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[tips & tools]
Q: Advertise
Should I buy rental car insurance?
tips tools
6 Reasons You Need to
1. To keep pace with the 2. competition. To keep your company top 3. of mind. To give you a long-term 4. advantage. To generate store traffic 5. and sales. To keep a positive image. 6. To reach new customers.
by Tim Kolling, WIBW Marketing Consultant
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According to Bob Gunther, MRH Insurance Group agent, it may be wise to purchase the damage waiver from the rental car company. Consider these points when making that decision:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
If your personal auto policy doesn’t have collision or comprehensive coverage, then damage to the rental vehicle from a collision or comprehensive loss will NOT be covered. Your personal auto policy will NOT cover other losses including administrative fees, depreciated value and loss of use.
Purchasing the damage waiver will allow you to avoid filing a claim with your insurance provider, keeping your deductible in your pocket.
The rental company’s damage waiver is a contract that has restrictions that, if violated, may terminate the waiver and leave you personally responsible.
A damage waiver only applies to damage to the vehicle. It is not a substitute for liability, medical payments, uninsured motorists, or personal injury protection.
AN ADVISOR WHOSE APPROACH IS
BASED ON KNOW-HOW. AND KNOW YOU. MERRILL LYNCH WELCOMES BRIAN CASEBEER, OUR NEWEST FINANCIAL ADVISOR. Brian Casebeer Financial Advisor (913) 906-5295
Merrill Lynch 3401 College Boulevard Leawood, KS 66211
You want an advisor who can help you realize your goals. Someone with a firm grasp of the financial landscape and a deep understanding of you. Brian can help you develop a customized strategy that considers where you want to be.
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and The Power of the Right Advisor are trademarks or registered trademarks of Bank of America Corporation. Merrill Lynch Wealth Management makes available products and services offered by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, a registered broker-dealer and member SIPC, and other subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation. Investment products: Are Not FDIC Insured Š 2012 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved. 239203
Are Not Bank Guaranteed
May Lose Value
AR96F732-05-11
Code 444606PM-0112
TK...Topeka's Business Magazine
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[social media makeover]
A Social Media Facelift by Collin Billau, WSBDC Consultant
WSBDC Consultant Collin Billau
Use Analytics Social media allows you to analyze the content that is posted and use the numbers to provide a more effective and efficient social media strategy. WSBDC suggests that Burlingame Road Animal Hospital use analytics to refine well-received post content and rework poorly received content.
Create New Conversation
One of the biggest frustrations that we see from businesses using social media is the time that it takes to gain momentum. Social media is like a train. It takes a while to get going, requiring time and “fuel” to gain enough power to get to its destination. However, once the train gets moving, it gains momentum and propels itself with greater force, becoming harder and harder to stop. A well formulated social media strategy can get you to your destination, but you must provide enough of your time and energy to make it into the powerhouse that it can be. Burlingame Road Animal Hospital was randomly selected to receive a Social Media Makeover from the WSBDC. The makeover gave the animal hospital workable strategic initiatives to spur social media growth.
Be Consistent Consistency is important. It lets your users know that you are involved in creating content for them, and that you are active in your social media platform. WSBDC suggests that Burlingame Road Animal Hospital set aside time every day to use for social media.
Learn to Monitor The animal hospital should keep an eye on the comments people are posting on its social media pages, and respond promptly. WSBDC suggests they monitor Internet banter about their brand with services such as: Google Alerts, Hootsuite and Kurrently.
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The animal hospital needs to post information that will create a conversation in social media. WSBDC suggests their posts include: • Pictures of new patients: Everyone likes to have their pet in the spotlight. • Helpful pet facts: Pet care tips and money-saving suggestions. • Video: People love to see cute dogs and cats. Using different forms of media helps to keep your social content fresh.
Use Targeted Ads WSBDC suggests that Burlingame Road Animal Hospital maximize their advertising dollars by using social media targeted to specific demographics.
Do Something Different The ultimate goal for a social media campaign is for it to create buzz and go viral. To generate this type of excitement, you must offer something different than your competition. WSBDC suggests the animal hospital create “miss you” messages from pets to owners while the pets are being boarded. Any business can create a social media presence by using the social media tools that are available today. The Burlingame Road Animal Hospital has a unique service with furry patrons that almost anyone can connect with. By implementing these simple suggestions regarding usage and content, their social media campaign can be a success. See for yourself and follow Burlingame Road Animal Hospital on Facebook!
TK
PIGSKIN’S HAS IT ALL! Nothing is better than award-winning BBQ, cold beer, hot sports and toe-tapping music. Join us for the BEST GAME IN TOWN!
PARTY, BAND AND BASKETBALL SCHEDULE: Wed.- Sat. March 7-10 Big 12 Basketball Tournament Sun. March 11 Selection Sunday Party Thurs.- Sun. March 15-18 NCAA Tournament Sat. March 17 St. Patrick’s Day Party Thurs.- Sun. March 22-25 NCAA Tournament Sat. March 31 Final Four Party followed by Josh Vowell & The Rumble Fri. April 6 Fri. April 13 Fri. April 20 Sat. April 21 Fri. April 27
That 70’s Party Urban Graffitti Party Pigskin’s Pajama Party Josh Vowell & The Rumble Animal House Toga Party
Sat. May 5 “Cinco de Drinko” Cinco de Mayo Party KRAAZY KARAOKE With DJ Dreux: Every Friday night 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. It’s Topeka’s BEST Friday night party!
Like us and get all concert and entertainment updates, as well as daily drink specials.
2833 S.W. 29th Next to Dillon’s at 29th & Oakley | 785.273.7300
w w w. b o s s h a w g . c o m
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H G TOU Love
Love them or hate them, they get Topeka talking.
Raubin gives his opinion about what Topeka needs to look for in the next city manager.
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A good hire in business can do amazing things for a company no matter how big or how small. The same is true in government. In the fall issue of TK, we talked about our recent interview with interim Topeka City Manager Dan Stanley. We shared how he seemed to “get it”, appeared to be a problem solver and really had his sights on making Topeka a better place to operate a business, to raise a family and to just be a great place to live. How refreshing to report that Stanley wasn’t just playing lip service to the road ahead for the city. Stanley’s immediate impact on the city of Topeka was felt across the community as he hit the ground running. Showing his mettle early on with the merger of the City of Topeka and Shawnee County’s Parks and Recreation departments—after 30 years of squabbling, many thought the endeavor an impossible task—apparently they hadn’t met Dan Stanley. In short order, the proposal, developed by County Commissioner Shelly Buhler and City Councilman Bob Archer, was passed by both governing bodies, and on January 1 the newly merged Shawnee County Parks & Rec was officially in business. As a republican serving as Kansas Secretary of Administration for the Graves administration and as the Assistant Secretary of Defense under Donald Rumsfeld, Stanley put partisan politics aside when he hired democrat Vic Miller as Topeka’s Chief Administrative Judge.
Next, Stanley weathered the storm of controversy with local, national and even international media spotlight shining on our community when Shawnee County District Attorney Chadwick Taylor refused to prosecute domestic violence arrests inside the city limits of Topeka due to budget cuts. Holding several meetings with Taylor, and unable to find any solution that the D.A. found palatable, Stanley made the bold recommendation that the city opt-out of the domestic violence provision of the Uniform Public Offence Code the council was soon to adopt as a routine item on the council’s agenda. Within 24 hours, this single move forced Taylor’s hand. After 34 days and the release of more than 20 alleged batterers from jail without charges, Taylor was again prosecuting domestic violence arrests in Topeka. These examples should give the city a clear picture of the leadership qualities that this community so desperately needs to continue its march back to what it once was. After years (if not decades) of failed leadership, and six years after the people of Topeka overwhelming voted for a change from ineffective government, we are finally able to see what a truly committed individual—one who is more concerned with doing the job and not just keeping the job—can do for this community. Topeka again sits at a crossroads, able to chart the future course of the capital city of Kansas. We have had a taste of effective city governance and must now settle this question: Will we let the forces of the status quo pull us back into comfortable decline or will we continue the progress towards an open and productive government? Though it is sure to be a road with many more hidden financial pitfalls and embarrassing revelations of ineptitude, we for one are betting on the latter. We hope the old status quo continues to scurry away from the sunlight of the new dawn shining gloriously on Topeka, The Capital City of the Future! TK
[
Raubin Pierce and Megan Mosack's radio talk show, On the Other Hand, can be heard from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on WIBW 580 AM.
]
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topeka business HALL OF FAME This year's Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame inductees join an elite group of the most accomplished Topeka business leaders of all time. They represent a variety of industries, and each is uniquely distinguished, but they also have much in common. Each has been an individual who has improved Topeka's business landscape. Each has been a leader, a community advocate and a source of inspiration.
continued on pg. 16 TK...Topeka's Business Magazine
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arthur c. CAPPER Arthur Capper with Dwight D. Eisenhower. Photo courtesy of Easter Seals Capper Foundation Arthur Capper was an entrepreneur, a publicist, a politician and a philanthropist. Deb Goodrich-Bisel, author and historian, noted that Capper’s life spanned nine of the most tumultuous decades in American history, including stage coaches and rockets, cowboys and astronauts, border wars and world wars. He was small in stature, but larger than life in business.
Capper became a newspaper man at a young age. His first job was as a “printer’s devil” setting type for the Garnett Journal. After high school he began working for the Topeka Daily Capital as a typesetter, working his way up to reporter, then editor, and finally, purchasing the Daily Capital in 1901. Capper created a publishing empire that included the second largest periodical publishing plant in the world, and his holdings included WIBW Radio and TV and KCKN Radio. His love for politics moved him into the Kansas governor’s mansion in 1915, and he served as U.S. senator for 30 years. But his most enduring legacy was his concern for the welfare of children. In a message to the Kansas Legislature in 1915, Capper stated, “It is our duty to see that our future citizens are well born; that they are properly nourished, and are reared in that environment most likely to develop in them their full capacity and powers. It is our duty to them, from motives of humanity, to "give them a chance in life"; it is our duty to the state, from an economic motive, to develop them into good and useful citizens for the state." In 1920, Capper established the Capper Fund to help children with disabilities. Since that time the Capper Fund has evolved into the Easter Seals Foundation, which last year provided nearly 50,000 hours of services to more than 2,100 individuals.
continued on pg. 18
1865 1892 1901 1915 1918 1920 1927 1951 Born in Garnett, Kansas
16
Married Florence Crawford, daughter of Governor Samuel Crawford
Spring 2012
Purchased the Topeka Daily Capital
TK...Topeka's Business Magazine
Became 20th governor of Kansas
Elected to the United States Senate, serving five terms
Founded the Capper Foundation
Purchased WIBW
Died in Topeka, Kansas
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dr. robert t. cotton Although Dr. Robert T. Cotton was born in Florida, he called Kansas home. His family moved to Manhattan when he was 14 and he graduated from Manhattan High School and Kansas State University. He then went on to medical school at the University Of Kansas School Of Medicine. It was in medical school in 1945 that Dr. Cotton met Dr. Robert O’Neil. By simple coincidence they ended up in the same residency program at the VA hospital in Topeka. That relationship blossomed into a successful business partnership and lifelong friendship. “Bob was like a
part of the family,” Dr. O’Neil said. “For 64 years, every Friday night we got together, without fail.”
Dr. O’Neil remembers Dr. Cotton as one of the best diagnosticians he ever met. “He was a wonderfully smart doctor,” Dr. O’Neil said. “He was what people called a doctor’s doctor.” Dr. Cotton was an active volunteer. He served his country in the military and went on to serve his community once he was in private practice. Whether it was serving as assistant scout master of Boy Scouts of America, volunteering at the Marian Clinic or serving as director at Midland Hospice, he was involved in the Topeka community. He was an avid bird watcher and loved bugs (his father was an entomologist). We managed to remain friends even though I am KU fan and he was a K-Stater,” Dr. O’Neil said. “I never held it against him.”
1919 1937 1941 1945 1956 1987 1991 2010 Born in Orlando, Florida
18
Graduated from Manhattan High School
Spring 2012
Received a bachelor's degree from Kansas State University
Graduated from KU Medical School
TK...Topeka's Business Magazine
Joined Dr. O'Neil's practice
Retired
Medical Group name changed to the CottonO'Neil Clinic
Died in Topeka, Kansas
dr. robert h. o'neil At 90, Dr. Robert H. O’Neil is one of the most vibrant and dynamic people you will ever meet. He is full of stories about his youth, friends he lost in WWI, and his favorite hero—his father. Growing up the son of a man who was a Harvard graduate, a noted war hero, National Commander of the American Legion, with a Liberty ship named after him, might be daunting to some, but for Dr. O’Neil, it was just his dad. “My dad was the smartest man I ever knew,” he said. He was 19 when his father passed away.
A Topeka native and graduate of Topeka High, Dr. O’Neil says his first love was sports. Lettering in basketball, football and track, his dream was to play basketball for Phog Allen. “I was a Trojan Warrior!” Dr. O’Neil said. “I was sure I was the hottest ticket in the state. I got down to KU and ran into those guys whose jerseys are hanging in the rafters and got a rude awakening. After one year of basketball, I ended up playing football instead.” Carrying on the tradition of serving his country, Dr. O’Neil served as a physician in the Navy after graduating from the University Of Kansas School Of Medicine in 1945. “Medicine is really wonderful,” he said. “The first day I became a doc, people started treating me like I was important. I knew that was a bunch of baloney, but it felt great anyway.” Dr. O’Neil’s vision was to provide patients with the best possible care from the most qualified physicians, so he spent his life recruiting the best of the best. “I don’t know if it was some kind of insecurity, but I always wanted to be surrounded by the smartest guys or the best athletes,” he said. That desire to surround himself with the profession’s top talent is what Dr. O’Neil credits his success to. So, his advice on how to recruit? “Pick people who don’t need your advice.” And, his advice to those just starting out in their careers? “Pick something that you love.
Find something that you care about. There wasn’t a day that I didn’t get up and look forward to my profession.” continued on pg. 20
1920 1938 1942 1945 1951 1951 1956 2000 Born in Topeka, Kansas
Graduated from Topeka High
Received a bachelor's degree from KU
Graduated from KU Medical School
Completed residency at Topeka VA Hospital
Started private practice in Topeka
Invited Dr. Cotton to join the practice
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Retired. Still serves on SVHC board/operating committee
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mark v. HEITZ Company leaders dream of taking their business public and watching it expand into something worldwide. For most, this remains only a dream. For Mark Heitz, this dream became a reality when his company became part of the world’s oldest and largest insurance company—Aviva. “It was so fun to take a relatively small company and put together a strategy and team of people to make it successful,” Heitz said. While in law school, Heitz clerked for the Kansas Insurance Commissioner and his first job after graduating was with an insurance company. After learning the ins and outs of the insurance business, in 1986, he became president and general counsel for American Investors Life Insurance Co. Over the next
1952 1977 1981 1986 1997 2006 2007 2011 Born in Pittsburg, Kansas
20
Received Juris Doctor degree from Washburn University
Spring 2012
Returned to Topeka to work for Security Benefit
Joined American Investors Life as president and general counsel
TK...Topeka's Business Magazine
AmVestors merged with AmerUs
AmerUs purchased by Aviva
President and CEO of Sales and Distribution for Aviva, USA
Retired from Aviva USA
10 years, Heitz took the company from less than $1 million in assets to more than $3 billion. Always a forward thinker, Heitz knew that if the company was to continue to experience growth, it needed to expand its product offering. The 1997 merger with AmerUs vaulted the company into the worldwide arena, and, in 2006, Aviva, a $50 billion insurance company, purchased the company, creating Aviva Life and Annuity. Heitz doesn’t take all of the credit however. He says he is only as successful as the independent agents who are in partnership with the company. “The key to success is the relationships you maintain as you do business,” Heitz said. “We truly look at our agents as our business partners.” Evolving a small insurance company into part of one of the largest annuity companies in the world is only one of the reasons Mark V. Heitz was selected for the Topeka Business Hall of Fame. The other has to do with his love of the community and his support of Washburn University. Gary Yager, a fraternity brother of Heitz and lifelong friend, says Topekans will probably never know just how much Heitz has done for this community. “Mark is one of the most compassionate people you will ever meet,” Yager said. “He is the first one to give up his chair so someone else can sit down.” This past December, Heitz decided to hand over the reins to his successor, Mike Miller. “It was just the right time,” Heitz said. “The business is in great shape. We have strong people in place, and Mike is ready.” So what’s next for Heitz? First up is a 17-hour road trip to Florida with his wife and two golden retrievers. Doesn’t sound like a lot of fun? Heitz disagrees. “The beauty of this trip is that I finally have time to stop as much as I want to. If it takes a little longer to get there, all the better.”
“Most of us in business try to look a step or two ahead. Mark is always eight or 10 steps ahead. He looks at the big picture for the long term.” Gary Yager, Vision Bank continued on pg. 22 TK...Topeka's Business Magazine
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michael e.
mcpherson When you think of notable brothers throughout history, many of them didn’t have the best of relationships. Take Cain and Abel for instance. That story didn’t end well. Neither did that of Zeus and Hades or Fredo and Michael Corleone. What those famous brothers lacked was the glue that holds Mike and Bruce McPherson together—mutual respect. At first glance, Mike is the consummate big brother. Five years older than Bruce, he had a head start on life and business, so he served as a mentor for his younger brother when they started McPherson Contractors, Inc. in 1972. “Mike gave me a lot of support when we first started out.” Bruce said. “He allowed me to grow into a position of equal partnership in the business.” Upon closer inspection, it is apparent that the relationship between the two brothers is truly the secret to the company’s success. Mike may come up with an idea, but then Bruce brings the design to life. “We’re different in a lot of ways,” Mike said, “probably more different than we are alike, but we each kind of fill the void for the other one.” Construction has always been a part of the company and served to drive the development side of the business. In turn, that development resulted in more construction. “We’ve always adapted to the changing landscape of construction and development,” Mike said. Brilliant ideas from partner Bruce Christenson combined with the McPherson’s knowledge of construction and development has resulted in
michael
a $100 million company working on projects in more than 20 states. The brothers refuse to take the credit for the company’s success however. They attribute it to the people who work with them. “It’s not really about Mike and me,” Bruce said. “It’s about the team we have in place—the great managers and partners who work with us on a daily basis.” More than
1943 1962 1966 1968 Born in Topeka, Kansas
22
Spring 2012
Graduated in the first Topeka West senior class
Received a bachelor’s in business from KU
TK...Topeka's Business Magazine
Developed and owned several Pizza Huts
bruce
1948 1966 1971 Born in Topeka, Kansas
Graduated from Topeka West
Received a bachelor's in business from KU
bruce m.
mcpherson 1 scoop of opportunity—reward people for hard work. i 2 brothers who understand that you are only as good as the people who work for you. Over the past 40 years, Mike and Bruce have built McPherson Contractors into a well-oiled machine. They find inspiration and strength in each other. And when problems arise, they pull together. “We’re family,” Bruce said. “At the end of the day, we’re still brothers.” i
70 percent of McPherson’s employees have been with the company for 20 years or longer. The recipe for that kind of loyalty? i 1 heaping of empowerment—to let employees make decisions and take ownership. i 1 dash of forgiveness for mistakes—everyone makes mistakes and can learn from them.
mcpherson contractors
“Families can be difficult to work with or for, but these two have done a phenomenal job of building a business together that can go into the next generation.” John Dicus, Capitol Federal Savings TK
1972 1974 1982 1984 1987 1990 2001 Michael & Bruce started McPherson Contractors, Inc
Developed Brookfield subdivision
Started McBiz Corp. with Bruce Christenson (30 Chuck E. Cheeses in nine states)
Developed Shadywood West
Started MRV, Inc. developing more than 5,000 multifamily units in five states
Developed Clarion Woods
TK...Topeka's Business Magazine
Developed Clarion Lakes
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The Third House
The Business of Lobbying by Patti Van Slyke | photos by RACHEL LOCK
Lobbyists.
If you are among the uninitiated, the word may conjure up images of shady men in dark suits skulking about the corridors of power or congregating in murky smoke-filled rooms to cut illicit deals with elected officials. Guys in trench coats with hundred dollar bills sticking out of their pockets, ready to be passed off to an easy mark for political favors. Unscrupulous individuals looking out for greedy special interests, unconcerned about the impact of their agendas on the little guy – little guys like you and me. Yeah. Not so much. These conceptions are more melodrama than truth. Over the course of some 20 years on staff in the Kansas Senate, I saw more than my fair share of lobbyists, and I cannot think of a one (well, okay, maybe I CAN think of ONE) who fits this distorted image. Today’s lobbyists are an integral part of the
legislative process. They operate under a battery of statutes and regulations requiring adherence to ethical behaviors and financial reporting. Even more significant, is the unwritten code among the lobbyist corps guiding them to abide by the highest standards of conduct. Tell jokes at
their expense and call them what you will, but lobbyists have earned their place in the process and are known – not always sarcastically – as “the Third House.” The Voice of Many
Successful lobbyists provide an effective voice for the individuals in the entities they represent. That could give one lobbyist the weight of speaking for thousands of Kansans in a particular association. You may hear the complaint that lobbyists provide an unfair advantage to special interest groups, but remember, one person’s
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special interest group may be another person’s professional association or a huge industry employing thousands of Kansans (teachers, public employees, hospitals and public schools are cases in point). It would be impractical and unmanageable for every single individual to come to the Capitol to talk to their senators and representatives and to monitor committees. The cadre of lobbyists is there to provide that specific representation.
Keeping Constituencies Connected Back in the day (as the kids say), before extensive renovation and restoration rendered the rotunda inaccessible, lobbyists often gathered around the polished rail encircling the third floor rotunda, putting them in close proximity to both chambers. Even now, with the rail area blocked off, lobbyists gather in the areas right outside each chamber when floor sessions are underway, armed with iPads and cell phones and notebook computers to keep in close touch with their constituencies and their key legislators. When neither chamber is active, lobbyists tend to congregate outside the committee rooms where their issues are being heard and discussed.
No Tolerance for Cutting Corners A competitive lot, they do not tolerate those who cut ethical corners, abuse relationships with legislators or clients, or fail to fully perform their duties. They have no tolerance for those who underperform or simply “phone it in.” As one lobbyist I spoke to put it, “If they (the legislators) are there,
That could mean early mornings or late nights. It
we are there.”
could mean all nighters spent in Capitol hallways or committee meeting rooms, waiting, listening,
being available if needed to clarify a point or to provide information to secure one more vital vote.
Educating the Legislators Being a lobbyist is not all fun and games. While hosting events and sitting down with lawmakers over lunch or dinner may be part of the gig, any legislator or lobbyist will tell you pretty much the same thing: lobbyists serve a vital role in educating legislators on issues and are often the best sources a legislator can find when lost in the process. Some lobbyists have been around for decades. Their experience and institutional knowledge can be major resources to inexperienced legislators. While orientation is offered to newly elected legislators by both legislative chambers, the sheer volume of information is a lot to absorb in one or two days. Lobbyists can help underscore that training by being there when a legislator is literally or figuratively lost. They want to foster strong relationships for the long term, and that can only be accomplished by being completely honest about themselves, who they represent and their issues.
Good Reputations are Not Bought or Sold As for the rap on lobbyists that they can “buy off ” legislators with expensive gifts and lavish meals, that notion does not hold up well under scrutiny. By law, no legislator may accept a gift or gifts in excess of $40 from a lobbyist. And any legislator whose vote can be bought for the cost of a meal is not likely to last long in
either chamber. The value of a good reputation cuts both ways.
Types of Lobbyists There are basically two types of lobbyists – contract lobbyists who are hired from the outside to represent a business interest or cause, and lobbyists who serve that function as part of a job within the business they represent. For example, Tom Palace is the Executive Director of the PMCA (Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association of Kansas). Lobbying during the four to five month legislative session is but one part of his job. Coleen Jennison is the Director of Governmental Affairs for Cox Communications. She is responsible for communications and public affairs in Topeka, among other duties. Conversely, there is Steve Kearney, President and CEO of Kearney and Associates, Inc. and of Kearney Law Office, PA. His firms maintain about 20 clients, mostly non-profit, mostly professional associations. When the Legislature is not in session, he and his staff work with their clients to help them thrive and succeed in their respective missions by providing training, conferences, assistance with governance through board meetings and, where necessary, with legal counsel.
Thomas M. (Tom) Palace
Executive Director Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association of Kansas (PMCA) The 2012 Legislative Session is Tom’s 17th as a lobbyist with PMCA. After graduating from Washburn with a degree in Elementary Education, Tom went to work in the Savings and
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tom palace
Loan industry and for the Savings and Loan Association for several years. As fate would have it, he met former PMCA Executive Director Nick Nicolay at a trade show. That connection led to Tom succeeding Nick as the top man at PMCA. Tom’s most significant responsibility is to present the concerns and interests of his association to legislators, educating them on pros and cons, so they can understand why the association has staked out a particular position. He stressed the need to be forthright and accurate. “Your reputation,”
he emphasized, “is your most valued asset in being an effective lobbyist.”
coleen jennison
Tom takes issue with the public’s misconception that legislators do not work hard. “Legislators work very long hours becoming familiar with a huge range of issues that require tremendous amounts of reading and listening,” he said. “It is not unusual to be up all night between the statehouse and my office. Sometimes, I’ve stayed for late nights in the Capitol and gone on to breakfast with legislators in the morning.” When the legislature is not in session, Tom’s time is taken up planning and presenting four board meetings each year, trade shows, educating association members through newsletters, the association’s magazine, email blasts and developing and providing other member products and services.
Coleen Jennison steve kearney
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Director of Governmental Affairs Cox Communications Coleen has lobbied as part of
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her job with Cox Communications for 10 years. She started her path as a journalism major at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan. The summer before her junior year, she took an internship with Taggart and Associates in Washington, D.C. Following graduation, Coleen went to work for the firm in D.C. for three years. From there, she was hired by thenKansas House Majority Leader Vince Snowbarger as his communications director. She later served as Chief of Staff for then-Speaker of the House Robin Jennison. Coleen must balance session responsibilities with her everyday tasks of public affairs and communications for Cox, taking part in strategic planning for the corporation and other initiatives. Instant access to information by her constituency is one of the greatest changes Coleen has witnessed in the past decade. So much information flows so quickly, that sometimes people react while only having part
“There used to be a greater appreciation for the legislative process,” she said.
of the story.
“There was a respect for the institution and the knowledge that making laws was a significant undertaking, something of real value and real public service. Expectations have changed.” Coleen sees educating legislators as her most critical role. “Lobbyists have this bad rep, but in reality, they educate legislators on issues that impact business.”
Steve Kearney
President and CEO Kearney and Associates, Inc. Kearney Law Office, PA Steve Kearney is in his 22nd year as a contract lobbyist in Kansas. From a double major in criminal justice and
anthropology, Steve went on to earn his JD. He worked in law enforcement until he learned that then-Senate Majority Leader Fred Kerr was seeking a new Chief of Staff. Steve filled that position, and from there was recruited by Pete McGill, who once was one of the biggest, most successful contract lobbyists in the state. After working with McGill, Kearney left to start his own firm. Because he owns his own firm, Kearney can determine with whom he wants to work. He operates by his own moral and ethical compass and does not take on clients with missions that do not mesh with his. He particularly enjoys working with non-profits, helping them manage their associations and legal issues, helping them most effectively
“I feel very deeply invested in Kansas,” he said. “I enjoy helping my clients thrive and eliminating barriers to growth and success.”
use their resources.
Steve says he enjoys lobbying; he doesn’t get bored because subject matter, personalities and dynamics change. He said it can all be summed up by an old law enforcement adage: you know where you are going but not what will happen. The greatest changes he has seen in the legislature include the state’s political shift. When Steve was on staff in the Senate, the balance was 22 Republicans to 18 Democrats. The balance is now 32 Rs to 8 Ds. Steve has enjoyed the challenge of advising clients through that process. What he doesn’t enjoy is the fact that there are no guidelines for truth or accuracy for conferees or those offering testimony before a legislative committee. “No one has to swear-in, so there is no penalty for being untruthful or inaccurate.” In spite of that drawback, though, it remains clear Steve is a true student of the legislative process. “I like the fluidity of the process,” he said. “It can be so schizophrenic and the pace can be frenetic, but I enjoy taking all of that and condensing it down to make sense to my clients. I appreciate having the opportunity to influence public policy-making in a positive way.”
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Ida Miller, Doug Holiday, Shawn Brown and Kevin Conard in the Topeka Hy-Vee kitchen
by Karen Ridder
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When Hy-Vee came to Topeka four years ago, it brought a new model of grocery store to town. The larger produce selection, fresh food options and variety on the shelves are easy to see. A customer may have to look harder to spot another important difference. It is a business-helping-business opportunity making a difference for some local producers. Whenever a quality product is available, the store tries to stock local options for customers. Regional small business owners get an opportunity for extra retail sales and Hy-Vee is able to offer customers a local flavor despite being a big retail chain. “We get involved in community and give back to the community as much as we can. We also try to help support the businesses in town,” said Store Director Shawn Brown. The Hy-Vee corporate office gives Brown enough autonomy to choose the products he believes best suit the Topeka market. Brown takes advantage of this freedom to bring in locally produced goods because he believes it is important for Hy-Vee to be a part of the community. The availability of these local products is integrated so perfectly with the standard store goods that it is still a surprise for many people. “I don’t think a lot of customers realize the amount of items that are in our store that come from down the street,” Brown said. The inclusion of local products meets customer demand for greener operations. At a corporate level Hy-Vee is focused on overall healthy living. It also encourages stores to look at ways to reduce their fossil footprint. The attempt to offer locally grown and produced products is one of the energy saving aspects of the Topeka Hy-Vee operations. For Brown, the philosophy of bringing in local businesses is more than just the right thing to do. It also makes good business sense by building a larger customer base and providing what the consumer wants. Neighbors and customers of local businesses enjoy being able to buy the products their friends make at an all-inclusive grocery venue. “People know Shawn Brown, store director of Topeka Hy-Vee
them, and think it is cool that they can come in and buy their products in a major grocery chain like ours,” Brown said.
Kevin Conard, owner of Blue Jazz Java
Partnering with the large grocer has been a successful model for Kevin Conard of Blue Jazz Java. Conard mainly wholesales his Topeka-produced coffee product for offices and convenience stores. While there were some small outlets for a retail version of his product, it wasn’t until Hy-Vee agreed to carry the coffee that he was able to give friends and fans a reliable place to pick it up to brew at home. “Hy-Vee has been tremendous for us. They take a small business owner like myself and help me get on their shelf. Hy-Vee is willing to work with me,” Conard said. The shelf placement gives Blue Jazz Java a better local presence and exposure to the public. It makes Topekans aware that he offers this local brand. Conard says he also understands the benefits for HyVee. “I think it’s great for their own business plan,” he says. “I tell everyone to go to Hy-Vee to shop. Networking wise they are getting in with the local people who know everyone in town, and they are developing a lot of goodwill for their business.”
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Doug Holiday, owner of Biggs Barbeque
Biggs Barbeque developed its first retail products for the shelves of the Topeka Hy-Vee after repeated requests from customers to buy their sauce in bottles. “We knew that HyVee dealt with a lot of the smaller businesses and had some autonomy on a local level,” said Biggs owner Doug Holiday. Brown already knew the Biggs product and worked with the owners to get the retail sauce sales started. Since their first sauce sales two years ago, retail sales have experienced a huge growth. Biggs has been able to move into the Lawrence and Kansas City market and now have availability in more than 40 retail locations. Like Conard, Holiday says some large retail chains often don’t pay attention to local business owners. “Hy-Vee has been very instrumental in getting us into grocery stores, which is unique,” he said. “There’s a couple of grocery stores in KC and Lawrence that are so big they don’t really concern themselves with what’s going on at a local level.” Holiday says he believes it gives Hy-Vee a leg up on the big-box competition because it is a way the chain store can have a local flavor. “It’s a symbiotic relationship,” Holiday said. “They are helping us, and they recognize it is kind of neat to go into a grocery store and to see a product that you recognize on a local level. Many big box retailers or mega grocery store chains just don’t take the time of day to create the same kind of relationships with small business owners.”
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Bill Koelzer of Koelzer Bee Farm also sees a symbiotic benefit that local small businesses offer a larger retailer like Hy-Vee. “We offer a product that is unique and they offer a market that is a repetitive situation,” he said. “We give them something that is organic and local.” The skin care products the company makes out of its honey are popular all over the United States. While Koelzer has a wide distribution for these products, most of Koelzer’s regular customers find them at trade shows instead of regular retail venues. Closer to home, Kansas customers are more interested in purchasing the honey. “A growing number of customers are looking for local honey because it has a unique flavor,” Koelzer said. “Customers are willing to pay for a product when they know where it comes from.” The company’s retail sales started in small town grocery stores. Hy-Vee is the biggest retailer that has taken on the product. “Hy-Vee is real receptive to local products and organic products,” Koelzer said. “They are always after a market that is growing. Right now, they have a large awareness of organic and locally grown products.” While the majority of Koelzer’s profit margin does not come from grocery store sales, he still sees the benefit of the venue for his business. The grocery stores sell a lot of honey and do different kinds of marketing. “They have a lot of good ideas about the product and how it is perceived. So, it works for us, and I’m happy to work with them.” Bill Koelzer, owner of Koelzer Bee Farm
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Richard and Angela Britt, owners of Britt's Garden Acres
Most local customers know the produce offered by Britt's Garden Acres from the Topeka Farm and Art Market. The Britts offer vegetables there on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Customers who can’t make it to the farm market, or want their product as a part of a complete grocery shopping experience, can pick up many of the same products at Hy-Vee. The growers offer a variety of products in Hy-Vee’s produce isles from April through November. Early spring produce includes asparagus and rhubarb followed by tomatoes, watermelon, cantaloupe, sweet corn, peppers, zucchini and yellow squash in the summer. They finish out the growing season in the fall offering fresh winter squash, spaghetti squash and sweet potatoes. Before the Topeka Hy-Vee opened, the Britts already had a working relationship with the Hy-Vee stores in Kansas City and Lawrence. The local partnership was a natural fit. “They really focus on keeping things local and fresh and love to have things on his shelves that have only been picked a day or two in advance,” Angela Britt said. Throughout the summer, the growers are in constant contact with the HyVee produce manager, making a couple of deliveries a week. As a small business, Britts gets wider name recognition by being on the shelf at Hy-Vee. They also are able to build a base of customers extending beyond those who would make the extra effort to buy at a farmer’s market. “It’s wonderful for my customers to be able to go to Hy-Vee throughout the week and pick up what they need there,” Britt said. “It has definitely helped. It’s always great to have more outlets for our product.”
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Ida Miller also started her local business by selling granola at Topeka’s Farm and Art Market. It was successful, but customers began to ask how they could get the product in the winter. After getting a certified kitchen to expand her business, she started offering retail products at some smaller local locations. Hy-Vee was the first larger retailer to agree to take on her product. “Hy-Vee looks out for the smaller businesses because they are interested in local products and local people,” Miller said. Without a storefront of her own, Miller says it has been important to her small business to have this kind of partnership. It has helped her keep overhead low, and allows her to work from home on her own time. While Hy-Vee was the third store to carry her granola, her company’s retail sales have grown considerably since she started selling her product on Hy-Vee’s shelves. The Hometown Granola Shop product is now offered in about 15 different stores. While she still sells at the Topeka Farm and Art Market, those receipts currently account for only about 25 percent of her overall business. As a partner, Hy-Vee has helped Miller with her advertising and calls her when they get low on the product. Miller says that assistance has made Hy-Vee easy to work with, and has expanded her ability to have a retail offering.
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Ida Miller, owner of Hometown Granola Shop
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Your vote
counts! by Karen Ridder photo by RACHEL LOCK
From left to right: Tina Rosenthal and Lisa McDermott, Budget Blinds; Michael Boeckman, BK Electric; Carol Ronnebaum, Coldwell Banker; Terry Ronnebaum, Ronnebaum Construction; Leslie Noller, Allied Paints (front); Jill Miller and Jason Mroz, Carpet One; Allan Wessel, Custom Wood Products; Travis Daniels, McCray Lumber; Joe Jennings, Factory Direct; Max Ronnebaum, Ronnebaum Construction; Tim Mulroy, Black Gold Inc. (front); Larry Law and Ralph Steinlage, Gold Star Concrete; Jeff Amrein, Capital Title Insurance; Blake Meyer, Denison State Bank (not pictured: Kelly Long, Long Lighting)
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Majority rules in a unique Topeka business-helping-business project found at letsdesignahouse.com When husband and wife team Terry and Carol Ronnebaum, general contractor and realtor respectively, considered their newest house project, they were looking for creative ways to get people excited about new home construction in Topeka. Terry Ronnebaum Construction, Inc. partners with a variety of suppliers and local small business owners on a regular basis. “Everyone has been hurt by this economy. We asked. ‘What can we do to bring excitement to the building industry again?’” Carol Ronnebaum said. They decided that working together on a creative marketing idea could give everyone a boost and promote local new home building in Topeka. The plan involved creating an online project to engage and educate the community about what goes into building a new home. Fifteen local businesses partnered with the Ronnebaums and agreed to let the public vote on several key components of the construction. The areas up for voting are: • Exterior stone and paint • Kitchen cabinets, granite and hardware • Interior flooring, hardware and carpet • Interior doors, paint, lighting fixtures and window treatments • Bathroom tiles, showers, vanities and faucets Carol has been blogging about the building process every step of the way in order to educate potential new home buyers about what is involved in home construction. “The process is much easier than a lot of people have in their minds,” Ronnebaum said. “Building a home is not hard if you have professionals that you’re working with.” Lonny Cohen, executive director Topeka Home Builders Association, says the letsdesignahouse.com project is important for Topeka businesses because it represents creative marketing. Many home builders are
recognizing they need to find new ways to market their products, and this business-helping-business project is a good example. “It is so out of the box,” Cohen said. “Today, we can’t do business the way we did it before. There’s a new normal in business, and people need to look at ways to find and do business.” Cohen says he also believes the project takes extra steps to help local businesses because it brings people on the fence about building a new house the opportunity to get some local knowledge on the subject. Carol hopes for the same result. “I want to see the building industry in Topeka take off again,” Ronnebaum said. “We’ve got a lot of great local companies in Topeka that depend on the construction business and we’ve seen some of them close their doors. I hate that. We need to support our local economy.” Construction on the home is expected to be completed in April or May. The home will then be for sale to the general public. The house is at 4428 SW Shenandoah. The website can be followed at letsdesignahouse. com.
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bringing business into
SCHOOLS by Karen Sipes | photos by rachel lock
Business leaders understand the importance of instilling an entrepreneurial mindset in future business people as early as high school. That is why companies like PT’s Coffee Roasting Company, Silver Lake Bank and Kaw Valley Bank have partnered with local high schools to provide real-life business experience for students. Fred Polzin, co-owner of PT's, worked with Washburn Rural High School to open a student-run coffee shop, Common Grounds. Polzin helped design the space and worked with students to develop a business plan to present to the school board. Students conducted surveys of their fellow classmates to determine what products would sell. They designed the graphics and the menu for the business and now work in the coffee shop each morning and noon hour. “We tried to make it so much like a real-life coffee shop so they can go out and be a barista,” Polzin said, adding that
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is a good skill to have either for a career or for someone wanting to work their way through college. Polzin, who also was involved with helping set up coffee operations at Broadmoor Academy in Overland Park and Lawrence High School, now is working with Shawnee Heights High School to develop a more basic coffee shop that will sell regular coffee, not espressos and lattes.
“It has been a fabulous experience, and I look forward to doing it more,” Polzin said. “It brings the real world of business to the students. What better education can you get than running a business on a small scale?” Although approval for Common Grounds had to go through the board of education, the coffee shop is very much a student operation, with business teachers Teresa
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Golden and Brian McFall overseeing it. Students design the menus and logos, determine the prices and are responsible for making and serving the coffee, McFall said. While the coffee shop just opened this school year, the WRHS Bank has been in operation since 2005. Today, it handles savings accounts for 43 school organizations and 106 students and staff. The student bankers are responsible for processing concession money for the PTO, selling tickets to activities like dances and plays, and handling fundraising money, such as for band trips and club dues. The bank, which is sponsored by Silver Lake Bank, also handles the income from Common Grounds and pays the coffee shop's invoices. Kay Graham-Scott, senior vice president for Silver Lake Bank, worked with Washburn Rural to get the bank established. Although the school owns the student bank, Silver Lake Bank provides the financial and human resources to train the students on how to operate the bank as well as the equipment the students need, including the vault, cash drawers, computers and forms. The WRHS bank has tellers, bookkeepers and auditors. Students have to balance their cash drawers and books as well as send out monthly statements.
“It's a great experience because the kids take it to heart. They work so hard. That is exactly what we do at the bank. They have the same experience we have every day,” Graham-Scott said. That was one of the objectives for starting the bank. The students have to deal with problem-solving and learn how to fix situations. Graham-Scott and Washburn Rural didn't have to reinvent the wheel to start the WRHS Bank. Seaman High School has had a student-run bank since 1927. Its sponsor is Kaw Valley Bank. Both schools require a two-year commitment from students involved in running the bank. That ensures there are
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experienced students helping train the new ones. Students at both schools have to apply for the jobs and go through an interview process.
“As juniors they are learning the different positions,” said Kevin Hoffmans, Seaman business teacher who oversees the bank. “As seniors, they progress to leadership positions.” In addition to student and organizational accounts, the Seaman bank also handles all of the Seaman High School transactions. These partnerships between local businesses and high schools help students learn there is more to running a business than just being in charge. It lets them experience realworld problems and teaches them to think critically to find solutions for those problems. It also teaches them about responsibility and accountability. But most importantly, it makes the entrepreneurial dream a reality. That is a positive not only for the students but for the community.
Raising Entreprenuers
Economics, marketing research and strategies, financial issues, developing business plans. That may sound like the curriculum for a college business major, but these subjects are all part of the Youth Entrepreneurs program at Topeka High. The year-long YE course, an elective also available at Topeka West High School, strives to give participants the basics of running a business. Murray Moore, who went back to school to earn his teaching credentials after 15 years in the corporate world, teaches the class at Topeka High and gets students involved outside of the classroom by volunteering at Let’s Help and attending Rotary and Chamber activities. “They develop relationships with adults so they get more comfortable asking for help,” he said. YE students develop a business plan for a product or service that they can market and then sell. While he sees
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plenty of plans for daycares, salons and coffee shops, Moore also has had some unique business ideas cross his desk. One was Jessie on the Job, a business providing portable johns geared to women. Another was a break-up business, a service that would help someone wanting to break up with a spouse Murray Moore, Youth Entrepreneurs or girlfriend or boyTeacher at Topeka High friend. More and more, students are coming up with web-based and virtual business ideas.
“I try to give them the tools that will help them in the next stage, whether it's college or the workforce,” Moore said. “We take a lot of field trips and expose them to successful people who weren't always successful.”
Moore brings in business professionals from the community to advise the students on their business and marketing plans. They also teach them about licensing and permits and the importance of outside support, such as bankers, attorneys, insurance people and accountants. Moore sees the students gaining more than just the nuts-and-bolts knowledge about running a business. “Entrepreneur class does two things,” he said. “It makes you a lot better employee, and it eliminates your fear of success.” Or your fear of trying. Denise Alvarez, a YE participant, never even considered the idea of having her own business before taking the class. “I thought it was something impossible and something I would never do,” she said. Through YE, she learned about financing and other supports. Then, once she started her business plan, she decided there really might be a way to make it happen. The class also has set her on a goal of going to Washburn and studying marketing and accounting. As Vice President of Entrepreneurial and Minority Business Development for the GO Topeka Economic Partnership, Cyndi Hermicillo-Legg sees the YE program helping to bridge “the gaps between economic development and the school house.” “We understand the need to support adults and youth entrepreneurs alike and such curriculums like YE’s yield
positive results,” she said. “Entrepreneurship is more than providing entrepreneurs with specific business skills; it’s a mindset. Regardless if students go on to open a business or not, they learn to own an entrepreneurial mindset that allows them to see, capture and reach for opportunities more readily than others.”
*YE (www.yeks.org), which was started 20 years ago by the Charles G. Koch Foundation, is a licensed program of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship. Students have the opportunity to earn scholarships and venture capital money competitions involving their business plans. YE provides $1,000 and $2,500 awards for regional and state awards. NFTE sponsors a $10,000 award for the national contest. (In 2010, a Topeka student's plan for an animal themed daycare advanced to the national finals.) As alumni, YE graduates also are given the opportunity to apply for scholarships.
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e h t of
ur e en
pr e Entr
t r a e h
Sisters Jandi Terrell and Carrie Dinwiddie hadn't planned on being business partners. Jandi was a metal smith;
by Karen Sipes photos by RACHEL LOCK "We have moments of frustration and bad days occasionally, but through it all we remember where it all started and how much we have achieved” Jandi Terrell
Carrie was a hair stylist. But today, they are co-owners of Salon 808 in the Historic Holliday Park area. Their joint venture began in 2005 when a tenant moved out of the historic building owned by their family in the 800 block of West 8th. Sharing a love of historic preservation, the sisters decided to open their own hair salon in the vacancy. Carrie would be the stylist; Jandi would be the manager.
“We thought we would open the business and make it big right away,” Carrie said.
They soon found out, however, that it takes time to develop a clientele, and the income that does come in often has to be put back into the business. They decided to give themselves three to five years to really determine if the business could succeed. Now, it has been six years and they are still going strong. “We have been fortunate,” they said. When the salon opened, there were only three stylists. That number gradually increased to four stylists and then five. Just recently, they added a sixth, finally filling all of their available stations. But even with the additional stylists, Carrie remains as involved as ever. “I love what I do,” she said. “And I love my clients.” They expect that same attitude from all of the Salon 808 stylists. They want clients, both men and women, to feel comfortable knowing they will get the same level of service from all of the stylists. The sisters want their stylists to be comfortable as well.
“Keeping quality employees is a very important thing,” Jandi said. “I find I am constantly worrying about keeping them happy.”
Although they have maxed out on stylists, the sisters see areas in which they still have some room to grow the salon—especially in the area of manicures and pedicures.
Jandi Terrell and Carrie Dinwiddie 44
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“We are not a spa,” Jandi said (and they don't have any plans to become one). But, in addition to the haircuts, coloring and permanents, the business does offer facial waxing, natural nails (both Shellac and Axxium) and pedicures. They would eventually like to add more retail products and makeup. Jandi and Carrie have promoted the business through advertising in local media and with Groupon. However, word of mouth is a big part of helping to attract clients. So is their location. Just a few blocks west of downtown, the salon may not be in as high a traffic area as some farther west, but the sisters feel they have an ambiance that wouldn't be found in new developments. “You won’t see this in a strip mall,” they said. The sisters take great pride in their building, which was built in 1887 and today houses the salon, a photo studio, cafe and 23 upstairs apartments. They had to do some restoration work when they moved into the building incorporating the needs for a modern operation. But they tried to leave the historic feel intact. “We tried not to insult the integrity of the space,” Jandi said. “We wanted it to be upscale but comfortable,” Carrie said.
Partnerships can be rocky, and when the business partners are sisters, it opens up an entirely different can of worms. Jandi and Carrie seem to take it all in stride. It helps that their areas of expertise complement each other rather than compete. “She is the hair professional and I am the business person,” Jandi said. And that arrangement seems to be working for them. If they do disagree on something, rather than letting conflict simmer, they talk things out. They have learned that most of their disagreements or misunderstandings come about because of a lack of communication.
“We bounce things off each other when issues come up that affect the salon and we respect each other's opinions,” said Jandi. With a quick smile she adds, “I won't say that there have not been a few tense moments, but they always pass quickly and we move on.”
Nevertheless, that doesn't mean they don't sometimes worry about what is in store. “We have moments of frustration and bad days occasionally, but through it all we remember where it all started and how much we have achieved,” Jandi said. “We are excited to look into the future and see how far we can go.”
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B uu sn i i nq eu se s
by LISA LOEWEN photos by RACHEL LOCK
Brain optimization through neurofeedback. Stem cell therapy. Custom medications for hospitals and veterinarians. Cutting edge marketing research focus group facilities. Award winning advertising jingles. Wardrobe reinventions. Sounds impressive, right? Guess what, it's all happening right here in Topeka.
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R et u n e Yo u r B r a in formance O pt im u m P er S o lu t io n s
Have you ever found yourself frustrated because you can’t accomplish your goals? Maybe you have climbed the corporate ladder, but you just can’t seem to make it to the next level no matter how hard you try. You can see where you want to go, but something inside your head seems to get in your way, blocking your progress. The solution? Change the way you think—literally. By optimizing your brain function, you can actually change the way your brain operates on a chemical level. This optimization, called neurofeedback, is one of the treatment solutions offered by Thomas Matthews, Ph.D., psychologist and psycho physiologist at Optimum Performance Solutions. From business professionals to children and adolescents, from treating attention deficit disorders to people with brain-related problems resulting from an accident, Dr. Matthews uses neurofeedback to help people achieve their highest brain functioning.
“My intervention process is very much like a coach,” Dr. Matthews said. “The patient is the athlete, I give them the training they need and resources to help that patient succeed.”
Neurofeedback isn’t for everyone, however. An initial consultation will address your medical history, concerns and current symptoms. Next, an assessment using various tests, as well as an EEG to measure electrical output from the brain, builds a picture of what’s happening on a chemical level in your brain. If you are a good candidate, live EEG sensors, which are connected to a computer, are placed in specified areas on your scalp. As you watch a video display, you focus on performing a given task— such as keeping a colored bar above a specified line on the screen. If your brain behaves as desired, you receive positive reinforcement in the form of bright colors or images on the screen. Over time, this positive reinforcement will result in behavior modification. “I’m picky about getting this right,” Dr. Matthews said. “I have to be if I am going to retune your brain.”
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Thomas Matthews, Ph.D. administers an EEG on TK’s Editor-in-Chief Lisa Loewen
Veterinarians Larry Snyder and Travis Gratton harvest stem cells from their canine patient.
m ed ica l &bSmralelaAnkimtalhClrinico u g h s Un iv ersi ty Bi rd
The monitors beep steadily in time with the patient’s heartbeat as the surgeon wields his scalpel. The surgery will repair a torn cruciate ligament (knee), but first, the doctor must harvest stem cells from the patient’s fat stores. These stem cells will be injected into the joint once the knee has been repaired to facilitate healing and prevent inflammation and arthritis. This cutting edge stem cell procedure is not taking place at Johns Hopkins or the Mayo Clinic. It isn’t even on a person. The patient on the operating table is Spot, a 6-year-old Jack Russell Terrier, and the hospital is University Bird and Small Animal Clinic in Topeka. Veterinarians Larry Snyder and Travis Gratton began performing adipose stem cell therapy on dogs in November 2010. The procedure on Spot is the 36th one performed at the clinic. Stem cell research has been around for decades and has been the subject of great controversy. While adipose stem cell therapy isn’t FDA approved for use in humans, animals don’t fall under the same restrictions. Snyder says it’s important for people to understand that adipose stem cells are collected from fat cells, not embryonic cells. In the procedure, adipose tissue is removed from the patient and processed with a combination of platelet rich
plasma and low laser light. Four hours later, literally millions of the animal’s own newly activated stem and regenerative cells are injected back into the dog’s body to begin working on arthritis and painful inflammation. There is no chance of rejection since the therapy uses the animal’s own cells. Within four days, swelling is greatly reduced and owners usually see visual improvement in their pets. “Are all animals like puppies again?” Snyder said. “Of course not. But their quality of life is so much better.” Results can last for one to three years. The clinic now plans to offer stem cell harvesting and storage from spays and neuters. The cells will be kept in liquid nitrogen at a storage facility for use when the animals are older. Stem cells not only reduce inflammation, they also facilitate regeneration to actually reverse the effects of arthritis.
“This is the future of medicine,” Snyder said, “for both the four legged and two legged species.”
Right now, however, all Spot is worried about is how soon he will be able to start chasing rabbits again.
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u n iqu e "c o n c o ct io n s" Ki ng Ph ar m acy
Walk into King Pharmacy in Topeka and you won’t find the pharmacists counting out pills behind the counter, filling commercial prescriptions. You are more likely to find Jim Schwartz, owner and pharmacist, inside a HEPA filtered, sterile glass room mixing up a unique “concoction” for a physician or hospital. The day we caught up with Jim he was making Lidocaine for one of the local hospitals because it was in short supply from the pharmaceutical company.
the end goal and create a product that accomplishes that goal. "We respond to patients falling through the cracks where commercial medications aren't working," Schwartz said. The possibilities are endless for what compounding medications can create. If a raw chemical is legally available and is off patent, King Pharmacy can purchase it for use in mixing up new compounds. These new compounds are not FDA approved because they are custom
biochemistry of every compound is what Schwartz says makes his job fun.
"This is a great atmosphere because you have to engage your mind much more," Schwartz said. King Pharmacy was founded on an idea by Schwartz’s business partner, Newt King. They picked Topeka as the location because there happened to be an empty space available that already had an appropriate sign on the wall
Pharmacist Jim Schwartz fills custom-made prescriptions.
King Pharmacy is a compounding-only pharmacy in Topeka that has been making custom medications for the past 25 years to meet the individual needs of patients and animals. Whether it is flavoring a medicine to make it more pleasant for children to take, or creating a medicated gel for people who can’t swallow pills, the pharmacists evaluate
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made for each individual case. Schwartz says it is legal and safe because physicians have the right to prescribe any medication they feel is appropriate for treatment of a patient. This includes, having a compounding pharmacist create a new one. That process of creation and understanding the complexity of the
TK...Topeka's Business Magazine
that read “King Prescriptions.” Now, 25 years later, with everything on the shelves from cyanide to mustard oil (the most dangerous chemical in the place and it’s used for making Topeka’s famous hot pickles), King Pharmacy is still doing what it does best—making concoctions.
Facilitation room at the Ramada’s Topeka Round Table
p u r e r es u lts We have all seen those cop shows where the suspect is in the interrogation room and a detective is trying to get a confession. That two-way mirror on the wall hides an observer who is not only listening to the conversation, but who is also studying the facial expression and body language of the suspect to determine if he or she is telling the truth. Creepy right? However, being able to observe people without them being able to see or hear you or without any physical interaction is crucial to obtaining accurate and unbiased data about how they react to various situations or information. That is why this type of observation has become essential in conducting market research. Focus groups provide a wealth of information on everything from brand image to consumer education
To peka Ro un d Ta ble
needs. But, they are only effective if the results are pure. Conducting a focus group can be time consuming and costly. First, you have to recruit subjects who are representative of your target audience, meeting a rigorous set of standards. Then you need a neutral location to conduct the focus group. It has to be comfortable and intimate, yet large enough to handle groups of 10. But, most importantly, you must have the ability for two-way observation, so you can monitor nonverbal responses and cues without interrupting the session. Finding a facility in Topeka that meets all of these requirements may seem impossible. But, when Don Hardesty talked with Jim Parrish about the need for such a place in Topeka, Parrish and the Ramada responded with the Topeka Round Table. This quiet, four-room facility
offers a test kitchen, a waiting room and lounge, a brainstorming room and an observation area. With stateof-the art visual and voice recording technology and a mirror on the wall opposite the observation room, observers can truly capture the sights and sounds in the room without ever coming in contact with the focus group participants. Valerie Baker, marketing director for Parrish Hotels, says a hotel is a logical place for this type of facility because there are plenty of rooms for out-of-town participants, catering and entertainment are already on site, and they have the resources to recruit focus group participants.
"We've got everything you need to run a successful focus group," Baker said.
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st u c k in yo u r h eTwailidght Productions "Soar with the Eagle, once a week" "Fairlawn Plaza, we're just your style" "Topeka imaging,your comfortable choice, when you need an MRI" We’ve all heard these jingles on the radio. In fact, if someone started humming the tune to any of these, we could probably start singing right along with them. There’s something about a catchy jingle that sticks in our minds—sometimes for years after we quit hearing them. But who comes up with those memorable jingles? And where do you get them produced? Dan Lindquist has been in radio for 30 years. As a member of WIBW Radio’s Team W advertising crew, he was constantly being pitched for professional jingles at outrageous prices. So he started his own jingle company, Twilight Productions, to offer local businesses the same professional quality of jingle companies in California and New York, at more reasonable prices. “I call it intrapreneurship,” Lindquist said. “Building a business within a different business, and making it a mutually beneficial relationship.” Lindquist started writing songs when he was seven years old. He wrote his first jingle while attending journalism school at Kansas State University. Now, he uses his vast marketing expertise to make sure his clients have an effective message combined
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with memorable music. “I have spent my entire career studying the effect that music has on people,” Lindquist said. “Tune, rhyme, rhythm—it’s how we learned our ABCs. It etches images into our brains.” The jingle business wouldn’t be such a success without the backing of Team W, Lindquist says. He founded this marketing team five years ago to offer WIBW clients an innovative
Dan Lindquist at his in-home recording studio.
TK...Topeka's Business Magazine
marketing approach. The advertising team first works with the clients to develop a strategic message and create effective advertisements. Only then, do they talk about buying airtime. “We can make you famous if you let us,” Lindquist said. So the next time you find yourself singing that catchy tune, “Greenwave—time saved,” you can blame Twilight Productions for keeping it stuck in your head.
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Brian J. Green (785) 271-5060 5967 SW 29th St. 2900 SE Kentucky Topeka, KS 66605 brianjay1@allstate.com Proud to help put your family in Good Hands®. Subject to terms, conditions and availability. Savings vary. Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Allstate Indemnity Company, Allstate Fire And Casualty Insurance Company: Northbrook, Illinois © 2011 Allstate Insurance Company.
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m o d er n iz in g yoshuopryolurocloosket How is it I can walk into my closet, which has clothes crammed into every nook and cranny, and find absolutely nothing to wear? It seems ludicrous that with so many options to choose from, I can’t manage to put even one stylish outfit together. So, what are my options? Either I go out and buy new clothes, or I need to figure out how to turn my existing clothes into a fresh, new look. For most of us, the first option is too expensive, and the second option is too hard or we would have done it already. That’s when Marsha
Anderson, with Shop Your Closet, comes to the rescue.
"Before you go shopping and spend a lot of money on new clothes, you need to shop in your own closet first," Marsha
said. “Most people already have a lot of great outfits in their closet, they just don’t know it.” Marsha says most people simply need an objective way of looking at their own clothes. A couple of hours
Marsha Anderson consults TK’s Editor-in-Chief Lisa Loewen and daughter, Kylie, on shopping their own closets.
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of Shop Your Closet time usually will cost less than a two-hour shopping trip, and result in more wearable outfits. “We start with the problem children in the closet and go from there,” Marsha said. She livens up a basic suit with a modern belt or bold-colored accent pieces. She pairs a jean jacket with a silk blouse to offer something unexpected. She complements a flowing skirt with western boots and a patterned scarf. All the while, giving advice on everything from what type of hangers to use to how to wear your hair for each outfit. “The whole concept for Shop Your Closet was born in the closet of one of my girlfriends,” Marsha said. She and three friends were having coffee one morning on the patio when one of her friends showed them a hat she had brought back from a trip to Ireland. That spurred the question, “What are you going to wear that with?” They soon found themselves in her closet putting together the perfect outfit to go with the hat. That was so much fun that they started raking through her closet to discover other hidden possibilities in her wardrobe. After finishing in her closet, the group moved on to the next woman’s closet and then the next. It soon became apparent that Marsha had an eye for fashion and she needed to share it with others. With the encouragement of her friends, Marsha opened Shop Your Closet almost a year ago. Whether you need an outfit for a specific function, or you want a complete wardrobe overhaul, Marsha can help you go shopping in your own closet.
TK
Cair Paravel latin SChool
You are invited
Discovery Night
Thursday March 1, 2012 • 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Tour the school, learn more about our college preparatory curriculum, meet faculty, and discover the difference a classical Christian education can make for your child. This event is open to parents and students of all ages who are interested in grades 1-12.
Kindergarten Round-up
Friday March 2, 2012 • 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Now enrolling! Topeka’s only K-12 liberal arts school offering a tradition of academic excellence and family values
Fun activities are provided for kindergarten-bound children. Parents will learn more about classical Christian education and how it is different from traditional schools and other Christian schools.
Additional information and online registration available at www.cpls.org. 635 SW Clay Street • Topeka, KS 66606 • 785-232-3878 • www.cpls.org
RUST,
CORROSION
OR ABRASION,
BRING IT ON
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Life of a
building
716 Kansas Avenue
by LISA LOEWEN photo by RACHEL LOCK | interior photos by Michael C. Snell photo provided by KansasMemory.org - Kansas Historical Society. Walk into the Clayton Financial building at 716 Kansas Ave., and it might just take your breath away. Messy mortar and stone gives the interior walls a beautiful old feel, as does the numerous water stains and cracks in the wood floor that dates back to 1905. In stark contrast to the chipped stone walls—some with wooden pegs sticking out to serve as anchors for the plaster that would later hide their beauty—is a graceful curving wall that adds a modern flair and a touch of movement to what would otherwise be a long, boring corridor. Behind that wall are meeting rooms, and even a small kitchen that is cleverly hidden behind a pocket door. Paintings by Kansas artists grace the walls, and the counter tops and conference room table is made of Kansas limestone, from a quarry in Dover, full of fossils and imperfections. Steps made from the rafters of another part of the building lead up to a second story, where open wooden beams and brick interspersed with rock show where additions were made to the original building in the early 1900s. Natural sunlight streams in through skylights, illuminating the faded squares on the wood floor left behind from the bathrooms of the apartments that previously occupied this space. At the end of the building, Debra Clayton’s office has three huge windows facing Kansas Avenue, but the best view is found on her north wall—a sign, painted as an advertisement on the side of the building for Charles Trapp printers. The sign, which was covered up when the top two stories were added to the building in 1909,
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– Randy and Debra Clayton PhotoMagazine by Rachel Lock TK...Topeka's Business
continued on pg. 58
Sales and Marketing Executives of Topeka
presents
On Tick Sa ets le No w
Music
The SummiT
2012
Achieving Peak Performances in Yourself, Your Business and Your Community
Head Football Coach Big 12 Coach of the Year
Chief Operating Officer for the Urban Entrepreneur Partnership
K-State University
Kauffman Foundation
Gail McRorie
Supply Chain Solutions Successful Entrepreneur, Co-Founder and CEO
March 10
Kevin Lockett
Cinema Classics
April 14
Bill Snyder
for Northeast Kansas
Fabulous Finale
Christopher Kelts, conductor Lillian Sengpiehl, soprano Michael Moore, tenor
Wednesday, April 25, 2012 Topeka Performing Arts Center Registration at 7:30 AM • Speakers begin at 8:30 AM
Visit www.smetopeka.org or call 785.246.9600 to purchase tickets.
John Strickler, conductor Julius Kim, pianist
Tchaikovsky
Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor, Op. 23
Shostakovich
Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, Op. 47
for tickets call
785-232-2032 www.topekasymphony.org
John Wesley Strickler, PhD Music Director and Conductor
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photos by Michael C. Snell
was exposed when contractors removed the plaster from the walls and now serves as the focal point for the room. The third story contains a large space used for office functions such as Christmas parties and even has access to the roof where a patio table and chairs, complete with a bright yellow umbrella, offers a quiet place to for employees to eat lunch. Clayton Financial had been downtown for 20 years, so when Randy and Debra Clayton went looking for a new location, they never considered being anywhere else. “We love downtown,” Debra said. “There’s so much potential here.” Debra also knew she wanted an old building with a lot of character. So she started driving the streets and alleys looking for that perfect location—one that faced Kansas Avenue, had plenty of parking and the ideal amount of square footage. She fell in love with the energy she encountered in the 700 block of Kansas Avenue. “The 700 block is the best block on Kansas Avenue,” Debra said. “But I felt a little guilty because it was more of a retail area than a financial one.” Initial research showed that even though the building had been here since Topeka’s very beginning (the
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first two owners, Guilford Dudley and Hiram Higgins had been two of the original 105 settlers to Topeka Township), the building didn’t have anything famous about it. The lack of notoriety made the Clayton’s want it even more. “It just felt more natural to see that it wasn’t a famous building or built by a famous architect,” Debra said. “It was just normal people starting a business.” Randy and Debra took a leap of faith when they bought the building on Kansas Avenue. It was obviously old, with plaster walls and outdated carpet on the floor. But, when they toured the basement and saw the bare mortar and stone walls, they knew it had potential—just waiting to be uncovered. So, they hired Treanor Architects and McPherson Contractors to turn it into something magical. Just as they hoped, the stone and mortar walls went all the way to the roof. So it was a bonus when they ripped up the old carpet and found the original, beautiful wood floors under-
TK...Topeka's Business Magazine
neath. It took six months to gut the place to bare walls and floors. Then it was another year before the renovation was complete. But the end result is nothing less than spectacular. The little, old building on Kansas Avenue, that formerly housed furniture stores, shoe stores, Arthur Murray’s Dance School, a milliner, a horse harness shop, physicians and dentists, a contractor and even apartments, is now home to Clayton Financial Services, Inc., one of the largest independent registered investment advisors in Kansas. “The evolution—that this building accepts what the new generation wants to do— is fascinating,” Randy said. The Claytons say they thoroughly enjoy being in this building and show it off every chance they get. “It opens people’s ideas to how they can renovate other downtown buildings,” Debra said. “Just look at the buildings Gizmo and G-Trust renovated after touring this building.” And, if Debra has her way, one or two other downtown buildings may someday get a makeover as well. “My dream is to purchase the building next door and turn it into loft apartments…I just have to convince Randy that it’ll be worth all the work.”
TK
photo provided by KansasMemory.org – Kansas Historical Society
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[from the professor] learning to be
ETHICAL
CLASS IS NOW IN SESSION
TK Visiting Professor
Kanalis Ockree, PhD, CPA Professor of Accounting Washburn University School of Business
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Are Ethics Inherent or Learned?
The vast majority of American business people act ethically and by intention conduct business in an ethical manner to the best of their understanding. The general outrage encountered when a business person or persons engage in unethical behavior supports rather than undermines this belief. Moral indignation arises when unexpected bad behavior is encountered. If the public believed that, in general, all business people engage in unethical practices, then the open disclosure of such practices would be considered “business as usual”. However, inappropriate and unethical business practices occur more often than one wants to acknowledge. Schools of business often support the idea that the teaching of business ethics will diminish the frequency and severity of those ethical breaches. Prestigious college and university business schools across the country believe teaching business ethics is an important endeavor. At a minimum, teaching business ethics provides a business framework within which a student can reinterpret an already well
TK...Topeka's Business Magazine
defined ethical understanding. Or, for students with underdeveloped ethical understanding, ethics education can provide a new foundation for interpreting processes and actions in a business context.
Test Your Ethics
Respond to each sit uation with: E - ethical or U –une thical ___ 1. Darrin, an HR manager, hire d his less than quali fied friend Chuck for a job at his firm. Ch uck has a family an d has been unemploy ed since his previo us employer went out of business 6 month s ago. The only quali fied applicant still ha s a job elsewhere. W as Darrin’s decisio n unethical? ___ 2. The CEO of corporation recent ly made a business de cision. That decisio n, when enacted, an gered and alienat ed a significant po rtion of the fir m’s customers who de cided to take their business elsewhere . Due to the loss of customers the stock price of the firm fel l significantly and in vestors lost a lot of money. Was the CE O’s action unethica l? ___ 3. The prod uction managemen t team of XYZ Co rp. does not desig n their consumer pr oducts to the high est quality standards available. Is this intentional lack of quality unethical?
continued on pg. 62
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Answers: Hopefully you recognize that there are no clear ethical or unethical responses to these questions. At first all situations may appear to be unethical or ethical depending on your point of view. In every case more information is necessary before an ethical conclusion can be reached. A better question would ask the circumstances under which each of these actions might be ethical and under which circumstances each might be considered ethical.
Business Ethics Requires Critical Thinking We do not teach ethics in business school to provide a set of immutable rules about the right or wrong of various business activities. Nor do we attempt to offer singular solutions to business dilemmas. In most circumstances ideal solutions from an ethical perspective simply do not exist. Businesses individually and collectively are complex. Each business has a different context within which they operate in relationship with their customers, their owners, their environment, the potential uses or abuses of their product or service, and so forth. Given a set of circumstances,
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multiple courses of action present themselves, some more desirable and some less desirable. The learning of business ethics can only facilitate the development of analytical processes that help to identify and differentiate among those alternatives. Ethics education can assist students in some of the following areas: i Generate sensitivity to moral issues, and a sense of the necessity to find moral solution options in uncertain situations. i Provide ideas, vocabulary and thoughtfulness for effective participation in ethical discussions and decision processes. i Help in the identification of violations of generally acceptable ethical standards both individually and as part of a group. i Increase moral courage (the “take a stand” stuff) when it is necessary. i Provide an ethical context with examples of how business people facing similar ethical dilemmas in the past resolved issues. i Develop recognition and
TK...Topeka's Business Magazine
preparation to handle an ethically inappropriate request or order from a boss. i Be able to thoughtfully consider whether requests and requirements of your employees are ethically appropriate.
Ethics Must be Practiced Learning ethical reasoning and approaching ethical competence does not ensure ethical behavior. “If persons are motivated to be good, then ethics [education] teaches them how to be good.” (Hurtt and Thomas, 20081) Traditionally, business schools’ educational focus centers on profit maximization. The goal of business ethics education, then, must be to provide students with the tools for analyzing business situations from an ethical perspective in the process of serving the best interests of the business organizations varied constituencies. 1 Hurtt,R.K. and Thomas, C.W. (2008) “Implementing a Required Ethics Class for Students in Accounting: the Texas Experience”, Issues in Accounting Education, 23 (1): pp.31-51.
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Don’t wonder about which vision plan is right for your company...
Ask your eye doctor!
Eye doctors created Vision Care Direct. We are private practice optometrists who formed a statewide association to deliver affordable, high-quality eye care directly to our community. When your company offers a plan from us, you can be sure that their doctor will give them more than just a simple refractive exam and bare bones materials. Our plans give patients access to high quality eye-health care and allow us to do what we’ve been trained to do...care for our patients. We offer the most flexible vision plans on the market, including: Comprehensive exams Large network of highly trained eye doctors and labs Multiple plan options Voluntary plans with group rates Pre-tax contributions To learn more, contact:
Michael G. Eichten, CLU, ChFC
Peoples Benefit Group
The vision plan your eye doctor recommends
TM
Phone - 785-271-8097 meichten@peoplesinsurance.com
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[stepping up to leadership]
leading groups Learning to communicate in front of groups helps individuals gain confidence, recognition and respect. Many positive characteristics will be attributed to someone who can appear in front of a group, keep a meeting on task and communicate in an effective manner. This article addresses ways of enhancing one’s credibility while better communicating with audiences and managing command and control issues in group settings.
Establishing Credibility
Rich Drinon, M.A. Drinon & Associates, President He has 25 years experience as an executive communication speaker, trainer, coach and facilitator. For more information www.drinonandassociates.com
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In order to lead, one must be able to communicate with credibility and authority. The group leader is subject to two forms of credibility – real and perceived. Real credibility has to do with “why” the individual is in front of a group. This includes experience, education, reputation, position, history or other items that give one credibility with any given audience. It’s helpful to make meeting attendees aware of the leader’s position, credentials or other forms of credibility in advance of the meeting. This can be accomplished through a memo, marketing or a speaker introduction. Perceived credibility results from the degree of congruency projected by the leader in terms of their ap-
TK...Topeka's Business Magazine
pearance, attitude, body language, vocal projection and verbal delivery. In other words, the leader must send a matched rather than mixed message.
Working Different Size Groups Whether working an intimate meeting with a few people, or a boardroom, classroom or formal setting, the leader must make adjustments to maximize communication and maintain perceived credibility. As a general rule, smaller groups are less formal and more intimate in nature, and larger groups are more formal events where the leader or speaker is expected to be informative, interesting and perhaps even entertaining. As group size changes, one must consider positioning and visibility, how he or she expresses self and what audio-visual tools will best enhance the message.
Positioning & Visibility In any group meeting the leader must be highly visible to the audience. In a small, intimate setting, one may have to be a short distance from the group to be seen by everyone, or elevated by sitting on a stool or the arm of a sofa. In a boardroom setting, the leader should stand or sit at one end of the table. In larger, formal settings,
[stepping up to leadership] the group leader may opt to stand on stage. A visible position that differentiates one from the audience – even if slightly – is essential when leading a group.
Expressing Yourself A leader is most likely to be perceived as credible when non-verbal, vocal and verbal communication match. If a mixed message is sent, the leader runs the risk of being misunderstood, disrespected and even disliked. In moving from smaller to larger groups, it is essential that everyone can hear the speaker and that gestures shift from less to more exaggerated. Verbal delivery adjusts from intimate or conversational to formal and perhaps even more “entertaining” in front of large groups. These adjustments allow the leader to communicate congruently according to the perceptions of any audience.
Audio-Visual Tools With small groups, one may want to minimize use of mechanical aids such as a flip chart or projector. Using handout materials is a fitting way to enhance one’s message in an intimate setting. A boardroom or classroom setting may call for using a flip chart, white board or projector to share the visual aspect of a presentation. With a small formal audience, one should use a projector for a visual presentation. With a large formal audience the leader will need to use a microphone and a projector.
Managing Command & Control Issues It’s vital that the leader appear in charge when leading groups. Here are some techniques that can be used to take command and maintain control in group settings.
Set an Agenda & Stay on Track. A solid agenda gives the leader and group a step-by-step path from beginning to end in a meeting. The agenda provides a legitimate tool to use for regaining control when sidetracked.
Open in a Focused, Engaging Manner. To open a meeting on a strong note, the leader should address attendees in an engaging manner, including physical poise, vocal authority and clear, concise verbal communication. Rehearsing one’s opening lines reduces the chance of misspeaking in the critical first few moments.
Use Mind/Body Techniques to Project Self Favorably. Some people need physical or mental techniques that allow them to relax and think clearly when in front of groups. Since the mind follows the body and the body follows the mind, one always has two available means of taking charge of mental states through posture and thinking. When thinking positive thoughts, one’s body language follows with a corresponding display of poise, enthusiasm or confidence or enthusiasm.. Or, if an individual is not in a favorable mental state, moving with poise and confidence will signal the mind to follow with positive thoughts.
Use Mind/Body Techniques to Improve Participation. The leader can also use mind/body techniques to engage others more fully. Getting attendees who seem closed and unreceptive, to change to open their body language will also open their mind. This can be done by getting group members to raise their hand in response to a simple question or to stand up and participate in a
physical activity. Getting participants to laugh will cause them to relax and open up physically. The trick is to keep people from becoming entrenched in a closed mental or physical mode.
Answer Questions with Smooth Transitions and Response Techniques. Fielding a tough question or comment is like playing a game of catch. When a participant fires a curve ball, fast ball or knuckle ball the leader must first catch the ball, then pause for a thoughtful moment, and then respond by tossing the ball back as an impressive reply. Good communicators usually employ transitional phrases such as, “That’s a good question. Let me answer that by saying…” This type of transition allows one time to hear the question, think of an answer, and then respond effectively to challenging questions.
Know the Players and Their Position in the Audience. Knowing participants, their personalities and where they stand on any given issue gives the leader an edge when needing to reach consensus. By identifying an “alpha” person is in the group, the leader can work to get that individual on their side -- or at least make sure they don’t rub them the wrong way. The “alpha” is the person with the most power or authority with other group members on any particular issue. The “alpha” can sway an audience or swing a vote.
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[extra, extra!] Custom Furniture Arrives in Topeka
Simply Amish opened a licensed store in Topeka, located at 3400 SW Topeka Blvd. in the historic White Lakes Golf Course Clubhouse. Built in 1907 as a dairy barn, the stone building is a fit for the handcrafted made in the USA hardwood furniture. This is the second licensed store for owner Morgan Houck, who also operates a location in Overland Park.
Burritos on the Go!
Burritos on the Go is a home-based licensed food business that sells burritos, enchiladas, casseroles and salsa to the public. Each item is ready to heat and eat or freeze. Prices range from $2.00 per item to $30.00 a dozen and require about three to five days notice. Business owner Darlene Morgan is a stay-at-home mom who loves to cook. Each item is made with careful preparation. Find out more at www.burritosonthego.com.
Wealth
is the ability to fully experience life. — Henry DaviD THoreau
Tools for Tomboys Linda Warner became a Tomboy Tools consultant last fall to provide women with tools that fit their needs. “Many women may not know how to use tools or may feel intimidated by the power tools,” Warner said. Tomboy Tools, named a Top 100 Brilliant Company by Entrepreneur magazine, is a line of top quality tools, ergonomically designed to fit women's smaller hands. There is a full line of products and accessories, from pink hammers and hard hats to garden tools, power tools, automotive supplies, plumbing and more.
Carol Wheeler to Be Honored at Career Chapter ABWA Scholarship Luncheon
Carol Wheeler, vice president and professional and regional services officer for Stormont-Vail HealthCare, will be honored as the 2012 Woman of Distinction by the Career Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association.
716 S. Kansas Avenue Topeka, KS 66603 785-232-3266 www.claytonfsi.com
CLAYTON FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. A fee-only advisory firm
Individualized Financial Planning and Asset Management
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Expanding Your Leadership Capacity Developing Leadership Skills, Behavioral Styles and Personal Maturity
• Advance to the next level of developing leadership skills, behavioral styles and personal maturity. • A three-day program addressing 18 key questions for mastering multiple leadership competencies. • Facilitated by a skilled instructor, participants critically reflect on their leadership potential and expanding one’s plan for leadership capacity. • Prior participation in the Directions in Organizational Leadership program is not required. However, the program is targeted to individuals with equivalent professional knowledge and experience. Classes start May 8 • 18 Prof. Development Hours Cost: $925 for instruction, materials and lunches. A 10% organizational discount for three or more registrations is available. For information and to register: Academic Outreach (785) 670-1399 www.washburn.edu/ao
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[extra, extra!] Top 10 AWC Nominees Announced
The Topeka Association for Women in Communications will recognize the 10 nominees for the Headliner Award at the 2012 “Women Making Headlines” event on March 7. The AWC nominees are: Rio Cervantes-Reed, seveneightfive designs Tara Dimick, E2 Communications/TK Magazine/MVP Sports Magazine Jessica Kellner, Natural Home & Garden (Ogden Publications)
Internet Safety Workshops
Freedom Leaders Marketing Group has partnered with BeanStalk to offer free Internet and Mobile Safety workshops for parents, educating them on the potential dangers and risks of the digital world. The company offers a real-time tool for parents to help them monitor their child's Internet and mobile activity. With this Internet-based service, a parent is able to receive real time notifications of dangerous or risky interactions taking place on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, or through text messages. “It is time as community leaders that we lead the way to protecting our future, our kids,” said Jennifer Vogel, CEO of Freedom Leaders Marketing Group. For more information, call (785) 783-8157 or email freedomleadersllc@cox.net.
NOTO Welcomes New Businesses
Angie Marquart, jones huyett Partners Jami Nichols, Valeo Behavioral Health Care Kelly Pierce, Advisors Excel Kari Presley, Kearney & Associates, Inc. Morgan Schaeffer, Kansas Family Partnership Julie Smrha, Easter Seals Capper Foundation Lauren Tice, Speak, Ink LLC
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Five new businesses have opened their doors in the NOTO Arts District: Kaw River Mercantile, 833 North Kansas Ave Rusty Haggles, 826 North Kansas Ave. Second Chance Antiques & Collectibles, 840 North Kansas Ave. Southwest, 830 North Kansas Ave. Serendipity, 820 N. Kansas Ave
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[extra, extra!] 2012 Leadership Greater Topeka Class Announced
Thirty-eight individuals from the Greater Topeka area have been selected to participate in the 2012 Leadership Greater Topeka program Members of the 2012 class are:
Kevin Beck, Vice President & Project Manager, Cook, Flatt & Strobel Engineers, P.A.; Kurt Bossert, CFO, Brookfield Plaza LLC; Kurtisha Brister, Student, Highland Park High School; Blake Bryant, Senior Fellow, Washburn University Leadership Institute; Blessitt “Shawn” Bryant, Social Interaction & New Media Technology Specialsist, State of Kansas - Kansas African American Affairs Commission; Mary Christopher, Associate Attorney, Goodell, Stratton, Edmonds & Palmer, LLP; Erika Cozadd, Section Manager III, Hallmark Cards, Inc.; Theresa Dodson, Director, HR Operations, Westar Energy; Brie Engelken, Account Manager, jones huyett Partners; Jeremy Goodwin, Chief Meteorologist, WIBW Channels; Bryan Hall, Helpdesk Supervisor, Stormont-Vail HealthCare, Inc.; Stephanie Hall, Red Carpet/ Talking Books Manager, Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library; Kathleen Hein, Business Development Manager, Premier Employment Solutions; Greg Herrs, se2 Controller, se2/ Security Benefit; Joseph Hodgson, Health and Wellness Director, YMCA of Topeka; Christopher “Scott” Hughes, Vice President, Silver Lake Bank; Brendan Jensen, Lead System Engineer, LAMP Development, LLC; Adam Kinsinger, Student, Topeka West High School; Jennifer Kirmse, Vice President Business Development, Educational Credit Union; Michael Kolbek,
Criminal Investigations Division Commander, Shawnee County Sheriff 's Office; Richard Liedtke, Executive Director, Enrollment Management, Washburn University; Nancy McKenzie, Associate Product Manager, Prescription Diet Marketing, Hill's Pet Nutrition; Collins “Troy” Mitchell, Vice President Business Development, Fidelity State Bank & Trust, Co.; Ryan Mohwinkle, Agent, State Farm Insurance; Nathan Morris, Vice President, Midwest Coating, Inc.; Gina Nellis, Owner, UPS Stores of Topeka; Jami Nichols, Corporate Development Manager, Valeo Behavioral Health Care; Erin Nolte, Manager of Underwritten Business Claims and Data Capture, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas; Emmanuel Opoku, Student, Highland Park High School; Christopher Palmer, Commercial Real Estate Agent/Business Broker, KS Commercial Real Estate Services, Inc.; Capri Sales, Student, Topeka High School; Kathleen Smith, Executive Director, ARTSConnect Topeka; Jennifer Sourk, Attorney, Kansas Insurance Department; Julie Swift, Owner/Periodontist, Topeka Periodontics, PA; Cassandra Taylor, Project Manager & Designer, Architect One; Scott Uhl, Senior Project Manager/Vice President, Bartlett & West; Donna Verdejo, Kansas District Manager, Vice President, U.S. Bank, N.A.; and Sandra Warren, Vice President Operations, Easter Seals Capper Foundation.
Capitol City Pawn & Jewelry Celebrates 50 years
Capitol City Pawn & Jewelry celebrated 50 Years in business in February. The company was started in 1962 by two brothers, Darrell Johnson and Lanny Ells. Since then the company has opened eight additional stores throughout Kansas and Lincoln, Nebraska, making it one of the largest pawnbrokers in Kansas.
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Chamber Presents Annual Awards Brickyard Barn Inn was recognized as the Chamber Member Firm for 2011. Brickyard Barn Inn was recognized for their ongoing contributions to the Chamber’s 12 at 12 monthly luncheons and for their support of other Chamber programs. Steve Briman, Bartlett & West, was named Member of the Year for 2011. Briman, who served as chairman of GO Topeka during 2011, was cited for his focused work in recruiting Mars Chocolate North America to Topeka and for his leadership in preparing our community for growth and new jobs.
Greenwave Electric, Inc. Earns Award
Award reflects businesses’ consistently high level of customer service Greenwave Electric has been awarded the 2011 Angie’s List Super Service Award. Only five percent of all businesses rated on this provider of consumer reviews on local services. “The fact that Greenwave Electric can claim Super Service Award status speaks volumes about its dedication to consumers,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks.
Since there is no
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[extra, extra!] Mount Hope Undergoes Transformation
NEW BOARD CHAIRS FOR GO TOPEKA & CHAMBER
Maynard Oliverius, president & CEO of Stormont Vail HealthCare, has assumed the chairmanship of the GO Topeka board of directors. Greg Schwerdt, president of Schwerdt Design Group, Inc., has assumed the role of the 2012 Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce Chairman.
Since Ren and Theresa Newcomer purchased the cemetery in August 2011, an extensive transformation has taken place at Mount Hope Cemetery and Funeral Chapel. Ongoing renovations to the mausoleum and funeral chapel include a new roof, updated heating and air systems, and the addition of etched-glass doors in the funeral chapel for privacy during funeral services. The historic Abbey Chapel, built in 1927 is also being refurbished to restore the plaster cathedral ceilings.
Delta Dental of Kansas Premier Provider
Dr. Bob Lohse, DDS, located at 5100 SW 28th Street, is now a premier provider for Delta Dental of Kansas.
New Location for Brian Green Capital City Agency, Inc. Nissan Has a
The Brian Green Allstate Insurance Agency, Inc. has a new location at 5967 SW 29th Street, Suite 220B in Foxcross Shopping Center. The newlocation has the same hours as the prior office, Monday-Thursday 8:30-5:30 and Friday’s 8:30-5:00. Green has also expanded his staff to include three licensed agents at this office as well as two agents at the 2900 SE Kentucky location.
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New Home
Capital City Nissan recently moved to its new location at 1980 SW Topeka Blvd.
[scene about town] Downtown Topeka Rotary Club Meets on Thursdays at noon
THANK YOU
SMALL BUSINESSES F O R SHINING
A LIGHT
ON OUR COMMUNITY [Scott Griffith: Intrust Bank & Brady Robb; The Robb Company ]
[Bob Wilhelm: Rotary, Anita Wolgast: NOTO and Jim Ogle: WIBW-TV]
THANK YOU FEATURED SMALL BUSINESS:
[Alisa Snavely: Berberich Trahan & Co., Eric Smith: Eric B. Smith Attorney at Law, Olivia Simmons: Visit Topeka; & Stan Martindell: Topeka Electric Motor Repair]
[Doug Scott: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and Chris St. John, Lawyers Title of Topeka]
[Terry Diebolt: AT&T & Phil Oliver: Easter Seals Capper Foundation]
LINCOLN CENTER OB-GYN, P.A.
[Jane Mackey: Kansas Children’s Service League, Blanche Parks: Kansas Department on Aging, Susan Mauch: Cosgrove, Webb and Oman, Martha Hagedorn-Krass: Ronald McDonald House and Elizabeth Schlossman] Small Business Sponsor:
Get involved @
[Eugene Williams: KTWU, Roger Underwood: Community Bank, Joan Underwood: Joan S. Underwood, LLC, Nancy Daniels: Big Brothers Big Sisters and H. Hurst Coffman: Coffman, DeFries & Nothern]
www.unitedwaytopeka.org
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[scene about town] Topeka West Rotary Club Meets Mondays at 7:00 a.m. at Hy-Vee
[Sharon Berner and Susan Hsia]
[Kathleen Hickert: Kirk & Cobb and Rick Ryan: Financial Planner]
[Hal Hudson: Kansas Pest Control Association and Leif Holliday: Kansas Department of Transportation]
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[Donald H. Moses and William Nace]
[Norm Nellis, retired and Don Lumpe: Don Lumpe & Co.]
More ways to spread happiness. Valid Thru (MM/YY)
Valid Thru (MM/YY)
Valid Thru (MM/YY)
American Express® Simon Giftcards® make gift-giving easy because there are no fees after purchase and funds do not expire. Plus, they can be used at any Simon® mall and are good at the millions of locations that accept American Express® Cards in the US. You’ll find more choices than ever at Simon Guest Services.
American Express Simon Giftcards: Use only at US merchants that accept American Express Cards except cruise lines and casinos. Not for use at ATMs or for recurring payments. Not redeemable for cash. No fees after purchase. For more information, customer service, or Cardholder Agreement visit simongiftcard.com or call 1-800-331-5479. Issued by AEPCMC by license from American Express Travel Related Services Co., Inc. ®
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[scene about town] South Rotary Club Meets Fridays at 7:00 AM at Bradbury Thompson
[Carrie Magill: Washburn Endowment Association, Allan Towle: Fidelity State Bank & Gina Penzig: Westar Energy] [Don Schnacke: Don P. Schnacke, PA, Craig Beougher: Summers, Spencer & Company, Phil Tysinger: Dynamic Computer Solutions]
[Maria Wilson, Mary Anne Keating: TARC & Glenn Jagodzinske: New York Life]
[David Smith: Brown vs. Board of Education National Historic Site, Willie Dunlap: Washburn University and Jeff Sorensen: Cornerstone Advisors]
[Jerry Bergen, Stuart Douthett: Douthett & Co PA & Jim Rose: Berkley Net Underwriters]
[Karen Linn: Berberich Trahan & Co., James Slover: Confidential Testing Services and January Scott: JHS Solutions] 76
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[Adam Feldhausen: Security Benefit, Tim Swope: Johnson Controls & Steve Mohan: Mohan Construction]
There’s Always Something Happening at TCTA Now Showing: The smash hit broadway musical
Avenue Q*
A “puppet” show for adults! March 2 - 31, 2012 *Warning: Contains strong language
Other upcoming shows:
Miss Nelson is Missing (Theatre for Young Audiences) April 6 - 15 Hamlet (TCT Mainstage) April 20 - May 5 The Great American Trailer Park Musical (Studio Series) May 4 - 20
Box Office (785) 357-5211 TopekaCivicTheatre.com
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[the last word]
MICHAEL
KILEY What’s your impression of Topeka?
Chief Executive Officer Security Benefit Corporation Michael Kiley is Chief Executive Officer of Security Benefit Corporation, a Guggenheim Partners Company and serves as a Senior Managing Director for Guggenheim. He joined Guggenheim in a consulting capacity to advise management on the acquisition of Security Benefit. Prior to joining Guggenheim, Kiley served as President & CEO of Van Kampen Investments, a division of Morgan Stanley. Kiley serves on the Board of Directors of Security Benefit Corporation and se2. He is a member of the American Council of Life Insurers Steering Committee on Retirement and Financial Security. Kiley is the 2012 Chair of Leadership Giving for the United Way of Greater Topeka; he also serves on the Board of Directors for Go Topeka and HeartShare Human Services of New York.
I’ve been truly impressed with Topeka, its people, its character and the business and community leaders. As I’m getting the chance to be in the community more, I see a spirit of dedication and desire to make Topeka the best it can be.
What has surprised you about Topeka? They’ve all been good surprises! Topeka has a wonderful quality of life, is a great place to raise a family and has a tremendous volunteer spirit. I’m exceptionally pleased with the prestigious and well-regarded educational institutions in our area, providing us ample opportunities to draw upon talent.
What do you love to do? You know that expression that if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life? That’s me. I absolutely love working at Security Benefit, getting to know our associates and business partners, and representing Security Benefit within the Guggenheim organization. When I’m not traveling or working, I love spending time with my family and being outside playing a bit of golf and a variety of sports. In fact, I’m very much looking forward to getting to hit some of the beautiful golf courses in
Topeka and the surrounding area this spring.
How are things going at Security Benefit? 2011 was an exceptional year, and I believe the sky is the limit for Security Benefit in 2012 and beyond. We achieved near record volumes in revenue together with several new, successful product launches. This growth has enabled us to increase staff by more than 10 percent during the last year.
Why has Security Benefit been able to grow its workforce when many other businesses are downsizing? There are several reasons. While the economy is slowly recovering, we have been experiencing rapid business growth during the last 18 months. Further, we have our owners’ full support and commitment to invest in our growth so we are delivering longterm value. And, we also have a longstanding reputation for excellence, providing professional development opportunities and career growth for our associates. All of these factors have allowed us to add staff in Topeka and in the field. Working at Security Benefit is extremely rewarding and people like to be part of a successful organization that makes good things happen.
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Need a Doctor?
Call 888-365-0440
St. Francis has taken the stress out of finding a doctor who is taking new patients. We are actively growing our network of physicians to meet the community’s health care demands. With one phone call, day or night, we’ll make sure you find the right doctor and care for your medical needs.
1700 S.W. 7th Street | Topeka, KS | www.stfrancistopeka.org
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