Issuu

Honoring Outstanding Lawrence Business Leaders

The 2025 Hall of Fame Class

Brenda McFadden

Jeff Sigler

Rick Renfro

Les Dreiling

The McFadden Group, LLC

Sigler Pharmacy

Johnny’s Tavern

Great American Bank

The purpose and intent of the Lawrence Business Hall of Fame event is to recognize prominent business leaders who have made extraordinary contributions to Lawrence, earned the respect of the local community, and called attention to the Free Enterprise System and its value to our country and citizens in shaping our local way of life. Individuals introduced into the Hall of Fame have demonstrated business excellence, have vision and are courageous thinkers, are innovative and inspiring leaders and are community minded. They have worked to lead our community to a better, higher level.

ABOUT JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT Junior Achievement is proud to address this critical issue by ensuring that every child in America has a fundamental understanding of the free enterprise system by providing economic education programs to students in kindergarten through twelfth grade classrooms. Each of our JA programs educate our students about entrepreneurship, financial literacy and workforce readiness for the student that participate in our programs each year. By participating in these types of programs, students are able to develop the desire to stay in school, have a positive attitude toward work and appreciate lifelong learning, and become prepared for a future of success and leadership. Volunteers from local businesses bring JA’s real world economic lessons into classrooms, serve as role models, share their working lives, and help students gain a new sense of self-esteem, respect for others and understanding of how to turn challenges into opportunities. During the 2023-24 academic year, Junior Achievement of Kansas will have worked with 20,318 children including over 5,348 children in the Lawrence area. This school year Junior Achievement in the Lawrence school district will continue to reach more than 5,000 students. Junior Achievement programs are provided at no cost to the school district and is funded through local fundraising events throughout the year.

MAY 4, 2025

PG 1

The 2025 Hall of Fame Class

renda McFadden was born in Charleston, WV. Because her father felt there were greater opportunities for their family elsewhere, he took a job that moved them to Cary, then Raleigh, NC, then to the St. Louis area, where they finally settled in St. Charles. All that moving meant that she attended six different grade schools in six years, making her the new kid in class every fall. Looking back, having to start from scratch and make new friends every school year is likely what made

Q&A with Brenda

Brenda McFadden The McFadden Group, LLC

“Brenda is one of the kindest, most unassuming people I know. She does things from the heart and works for others. She never looks for recognition, and when she does receive it, she always seems surprised by it.” BONNIE LOWE, PRESIDENT & CEO, THE CHAMBER

What do you consider to be the most important attributes of a successful businessman/woman? In my opinion, the most important and critical attributes that help to make one successful in business are honesty, consistency in not only your work product but in how you treat others – employees, clients, customers, vendors, etc. - regardless of their station in life, wealth or income level, owning your mistakes and give credit where credit is due, i.e. never, ever blame others for your mistakes and never, ever take credit for someone else’s work/idea, a good sense of humor, being in the moment – be present and look others in the eye - and finally, be kind – to everyone. What tips can you provide future businesspeople to help them get through those early struggles? There are no easy fixes, but as with most things in life, you have to work hard because there are rarely any shortcuts to success. It is important that you believe in yourself and surround yourself with others who believe in you and that are a net-positive influence on you and your mission. A supportive spouse or partner also helps. Find a successful mentor in a similar business to learn from and emulate. Ask them about their early struggles and mistakes and try not to repeat them. Search out non-profits in town in an area that you are interested in or passionate about and find out how to serve on their board of directors. This is a great way to do good in the community and for others in the community to learn about you and your business and that you are a good person and cherish the town in which you live and work.

Jeff Sigler Sigler Pharmacy

eff began his pathway to an independent business owner with his own paper route for the Olathe Daily News in the early 70s. At 16 he started at K-Mart in Olathe where he learned the importance of providing great customer service. This also where he met his future wife, Suzi. While attending Emporia State University, Jeff worked at Hill’s Apothecary for Don Hill and began to learn what it takes to own a business, including dedication and doing what is necessary to keep customers happy. Jeff and Suzi were married in 1981 and moved to Lawrence so he could attend pharmacy school at KU. This started their love of the Lawrence community. During school he worked for Newton King at King Pharmacy. Soon after graduating he took a position at Raney Drugs Stores in Lawrence. At about this time, he and a classmate, Brent Flanders, started a publishing company, writing and selling study guides for pharmacy students. This company is currently on the 38th Edition of Sigler’s Drug Cards, selling study cards nationwide to pharmacy students. Their experience with self-publishing soon led the pair to open a Macintosh-only computer store, MacSource, in Overland Park in 1987. This company grew to three

Q&A with Jeff “ Jeff was always the one who would take on the most difficult tasks and the most difficult people — and make it fun. I think that’s a gift he has: making it fun for everyone around him.” MARY DOVETON, FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (EMERITUS), THEATRE LAWRENCE

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT ATTRIBUTES OF A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN/ WOMAN? You have to be a risk-taker at some level to be successful in business because nothing is guaranteed. Then once you decide to take the risk, you have to put in all your energy to see that the outcome is positive. What tips can you provide future businesspeople to help them get through those early struggles? The primary reason businesses fail in the first five years is because they are undercapitalized. A strong balance sheet is more important in the early years than a strong income statement.

Brenda resilient and driven to succeed. Brenda came to KU in the fall of 1982, was a Schol Hall girl for two years, and that same fall met her husband of 38 years, Mike Beaton, at The Hawk. Upon graduating with a BS in Business Administration, she took a job at a small stock brokerage firm cold-calling to sell penny stock (Yes, it was as bad as it sounds). After another brief sales position, Mike and Brenda learned they were going to be parents. Mike suggested that Brenda pursue a ‘profession’ allowing her to enter and leave the work force should they have more children. Grace was born in July 1988, and Brenda started classes towards an accounting degree in August. It took her two years but upon graduation, she was hired by Ernst & Young in Kansas City and started in their tax department in January 1991. Grace was going to start kindergarten at St. Johns, so she took a pay cut and went to work for Mike Hickman in 1993 here in Lawrence to be closer to home. In 1995, Brenda became a 50% owner in Hickman and McFadden, then bought him out in 1998 and formed her current firm: The McFadden Group. Over the years, she has been honored to serve on many boards in our community: The Children’s Shelter, American Red Cross of Douglas County, Junior Achievement of Douglas County, VNA, LMH Endowment, and was appointed by two mayors to the City’s Public Incentives Review Committee. Brenda stated “I am honored beyond words to be one of this year’s Lawrence Business Hall of Fame laureates”.

“One of the things I think is really admirable about Brenda is how frank she is. I mean, she’s not hanging back — she tells you what she thinks, what she can do, and what she can’t do. I’ve always admired that about her.” JUDY CULLEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (RETIRED) THE SHELTER, INC.

locations including Lawrence and Manhattan. This is where Jeff learned the importance of paying attention to financial reports and how they can determine the success or failure of a business. This company was sold in 1994 and soon after Jeff returned to the pharmacy profession full-time by managing the HyVee pharmacy on Clinton Parkway. In 2005, Jeff was given the opportunity to return to business ownership by opening a pharmacy in the Internal Medicine Group practice on West 6th St. The blueprint for this business was a culmination of everything he had learned up to that point. He now owns and operates three pharmacies, two in Lawrence and one in Lenexa. Jeff has served on boards for the following organizations; American Cancer Society, Douglas County AIDS Project, HealthCare Access, Penn House, Visiting Nurses Association, Cottonwood, United Methodist Church, Theatre Lawrence, and Kansas Pharmacy Services Corporation. Jeff and Suzi have two children, daughter Melissa and her spouse Denver live in Olathe and their son Andrew lives in Lawrence.

“Jeff is a highly motivated and compassionate person. He’s dedicated not only to his business, but also to his patients — always wanting to have fun. He has a great sense of humor and is always willing to put a smile on anybody’s face.” DR. JASON ANDERSON, PHARMACY MANAGER

The 2025 Hall of Fame Class

Rick Renfro

ick Renfro is from KCMO and grew up in Prairie Village and graduated from SM West HS in 1974. Rick attended Ottawa University and transferred to KU in 1976, where he is still awaiting his degree. On coming to Lawrence and KU, Rick found rugby. It has been a passion and major influence on his life. He needed to find a job so he could still play rugby. So Rick bought a local beer joint called Johnny’s Tavern from Johnny Wilson in 1978. That was just until he could figure out what he would do in life. From the start it was a fun ride making new friends and learning on the job. Sure, there were bumps along the way. He enjoyed being around people and creating an atmosphere of fun. Being in the hospitality industry has turned into a lifelong career. In 1982 he opened the “Up & Under” a private club upstairs at 401 North 2nd. In 1991 he and partners decided to expand with another rugby friend to the KC area at 119th in Overland Park. This started the model of incorporating staff into partners. There are now a total of thirteen Johnny’s and an upscale restaurant, J. Wilson’s. Every location has a managing partner on site that takes care of the thousand and one things that need to be done. They have twelve

managing partners along with a Johnny’s Management team. They employ over 600 staff. With this team they are able to immerse themselves into each of the neighborhoods. This has been a priority. Providing jobs, a place to congregate, watch a game and share a meal. Being able to bring awareness about ways to help each community with fundraising for local causes has been the most rewarding. Collecting lifelong friends has been a goal and they feel like they have accomplished this. He has tried to bring different people together to maintain and improve our community. He is involved with many organizations which include Life Member Kansas Jayhawk Rugby Club, Board Member of Lawrence Restaurant Association, Board Member of Lawrence Bar owners Association and was the Kansas City Restaurant Association Restaurateur of Year 2022. He also supports and is involved in local organizations that include Tenants to Homeowners, Family Promise, Ballard Center, St. Pats Parade, North Lawrence Improvement Association, Lawrence Schools Foundation, Just Food and both High Schools. Rick is married to Nancy, and they have a son, Spencer, a daughter Taylor, a son-in-law Sam and grandson, Milo.

Johnny’s Tavern

“Rick has a penchant for developing partnerships, and he’s a really talented and bright guy. One of his strengths is that there’s no condition for love with Rick — he loves everybody. No matter what scale or environment you come from, he’s able to be a really, really good friend.”

“The thing that stands out for me is just his basic humanity — his real willingness to not be afraid of people. He recognizes that he may not know exactly what a person’s position in society is or what they do on a daily basis, but he’s not afraid to find out. And I think that sense of humanity is a really compelling characteristic that I value in him immensely.”

Q&A with Rick What do you consider to be the most important attributes of a successful businessman/woman?

I think it is the same as being a successful person. Show up, surround yourself with good successful people. Be empathetic and try to see other viewpoints. What tips can you provide future business people to help them get through those early struggles?

There are always ups and downs in life. Don’t get too high or too low. Business and life are cycles and you need to realize if you hang in there things will change.

CHUCK MAGREL, PROPRIETOR, FREE STATE BREWERY

BOB TUCKER, PRESIDENT, KANSAS RUGBY FOUNDATION

Les Dreiling was born and raised in Gorham, Kansas, a small community located in Central Kansas. He was one of 6 children. He graduated from Fort Hays State University in May 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Les graduated from Louisiana State University, Graduate School of Banking of the South, in Baton Rouge, LA in 1990. Les started his banking career as a management trainee with Associates in Hays, Kansas in May 1979 and transferred to the Lawrence office in 1980. In April 1981 he began his community banking career with Lawrence National Bank and served in various capacities in lending and business development until April 1991, when he became an Executive Vice President with The University National Bank (UNB) and started their commercial banking division. Les was a member of the Board of Directors for UNB and served as an officer of the holding company until September 2005. In January 2006, he was part of a group of local investors that purchased Lawrence Bank, what is now known as Great American Bank (Lawrence’s only locally owned bank) and he became the President and CEO, titles which he holds today.

Les Dreiling Great American Bank

He is also a Board Member of First Financial Bancshares. Les Dreiling has served in various community functions as a 45-year resident of Lawrence. He was active in coaching little league baseball through the Dougal County Amateur Baseball Association and was a member of the Kiwanis group. He also served on the Board of Trustees for Lawrence Memorial Hospital Endowment Association and served as its President. He was a member of the Trustees of St. Margaret’s church and was on the finance committee that helped raise funds and build the church on West 6th Street. Les was a co-founder and former President of the Kansas University Baseball Diamond Club. He has been involved in the community in various fund-raising projects and was a teaching volunteer for Junior Achievement. He is currently a member of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce. Les is married to Alica Dreiling who is a retired Speech Language Pathologist with USD 497 and they recently celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary. They have two sons, Anthony and Jordan, two daughters in laws, Brooke and Taylor, and two wonderful granddaughters, Taylor and Camyrn.

Q&A with Les What do you consider to be the most important attributes of a successful businessman/woman? • Promptness is essential for a businessperson to be successful. Be on time for meetings, return phone calls or emails in a quick and professional manner, don’t wait days or put off the tough conversations or decisions.

“The best description of Les, I’d say, is that he’s very competitive — a great leader and mentor. He enjoys life to the fullest, is fun to be around, and loves to laugh and joke around a lot. ” MARK GONZALES, EXEC. VICE PRESIDENT, GREAT AMERICAN BANK

• Attitude: I believe a positive attitude towards your internal and external clients will go a long way in helping you become a successful businessperson. Be a good team player, make those around you a better employee. • Self-Starter: Have a desire to improve and learn, don’t wait for someone else to give you directions, recognize what needs to be done and take the initiative to do it yourself. • Proactive: Take charge of situations and anticipate what may happen - I think successful businesspersons are more proactive than reactive. So many businesses/careers struggle early on. What tips can you provide future business people to help them get through those early struggles? Don’t be afraid to fail and learn from your failures. Also own up to your failures and don’t blame others, take responsibility for your failures. Communicate with your coworkers and superiors to help assist in meeting your goals and the goals of your company. Persevere - Just keep plugging away. As the days, months, and years go by, you will gain valuable experience from your past success and failures. When you’re in a position of management, remember the traits of your mentors, both good and bad, and incorporate the good into your style of management.

“After you’ve talked to him for 30 minutes, he knows more about you than you know about him — because he’s a good man with questions. He’s someone who’s anxious to meet you, anxious to hear what you’re trying to do, and to discern whether it’s a wise idea or not. He’s a helpful member of any team. ” JOHN DOBBINS, PRESIDENT, TRAXENERGY INC.

SCHOOLS THAT BENEFIT FROM JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAMS Billy Mills Middle Cordley Corpus Christi Deerfield Free State High School Hillcrest Langston Hughes Lawrence High School Lawrence Virtual School Liberty Memorial Central Middle New York Prairie Park Quail Run Schwegler Southwest Middle Sunflower Sunset Hill West Middle Woodlawn

BOUNDLESS POSSIBILITY At Junior Achievement, we believe in “possible.” Each day, we work to help young people discover what’s possible in their lives. We let them know it’s possible to invest in their future, to better understand how the world works, and pursue their dreams. If you believe this, too, we invite you to join us in supporting the young people in our community. With your help, we can provide them with the skills and support they need to reach their full potential and become the best versions of themselves. Together, we can make a difference by empowering them to succeed while building a brighter future for all.

VOLUNTEER

DONATE

Make a profound difference in the youth of our community

Together we can empower young people to succeed

Junior Achievement® is the world’s largest organization dedicated to giving students from kindergarten through high school the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success and open up a world of possibilities.

Junior Achievement expresses our appreciation to the sponsors, companies and individuals who supported the 2025 Lawrence Business Hall of Fame. Junior Achievement is proud to present this tradition in Lawrence. SPIRIT OF ACHIEVEMENT SPONSOR

LAUREATE SPONSOR

CHAIRMAN’S SPONSORS

Gary and Connie Sollars Family Fund

Backstory Photography

VIP RECEPTION SPONSOR Mike Treanor and Cindy Maude ®

INKIND SPONSORS Gary and Connie Sollars Family Fund

Gary and Connie Sollars Family Fund

Backstory Photography