TK...Topeka's Business Magazine - Fall 2010

TK Magazine

Fall 2010

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More than meets the eye Topeka’s Highest Rated Hospital

It’s what’s inside that counts St. Francis Health Center ranks among hospitals in the top 5 percent nationally in clinical excellence for 2009 and 2010, according to HealthGrades, a national health care ratings organization.

Innovative Care with a Soul™

The clinical excellence rating looks at mortality and complication rates among Medicare patients across 26 procedures and diagnoses, from heart attacks to total knee replacements. According to HealthGrades, St. Francis Health Center patients who have procedures done at St. Francis are 27 percent less likely to die and 8 percent less likely to incur a major complication.

Also in 2010, HealthGrades awarded St. Francis its Women’s Health Excellence Award. Only 165 hospitals out of 5,000 met the criteria.

It also earned the HealthGrades 2010 Emergency Medicine Excellence Award™, placing it in the top 5 percent in the nation for emergency medicine services.

1700 SW 7th Street, Topeka, Kansas | 785-295-8000 | www.stfrancistopeka.org

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Fall 2010

MISSION STATEMENT | We will, in the spirit of the Sisters of Charity, reveal God’s healing love by improving the health of the individuals and communities we serve, especially those who are poor or vulnerable.

TK Magazine

“Downtown 6 PM” byTKBarbara Waterman-Peters Magazine Fall 2010

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TK Magazine

[contents] FEATURES

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A Vision for Topeka

A look at current ideas and projects happening in the Capitol City, and their vision of change and progress for Topeka’s future.

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Dress to Impress

Six Topeka business leaders volunteered to let TK turn them over to local salons and fashion experts for a re-do of their professional style.

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5 Reasons to Dress to Impress

Still not convinced that your style matters in the business world? We have five reasons that will change your mind.

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In Every Issue

Columns

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By the Numbers Local, regional and national news and statistics.

Help Desk You have questions, Topeka experts have the answers.

For Your Health: Ask Dr. Josie Norris What is Hypertension?

1 on 1 Q&A with Doug Hall, Innovation Engineering Leadership Institute Scene About Town Entrepreneurial & Minority Business Development Conference

The New Midlife Crisis

There are many transitions in life, but few are more life-altering than starting a business. More people than ever are transitioning to self employment. But should you?

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Catering & Facility Guide

With the holidays around the corner, its time to decide where to hold your office party and who will provide the food. TK presents the Catering Guide as a helpful resource for your party planning.

Fast Forward Lunch with Leaders

Business Toolbox: Keeping Up With Changes Tim Kolling brings you tips and tools to help your business grow.

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Tough Love with Raubin & Megan Raubin Pierce and Megan Mosack offer their own ideas about how to make Topeka a better place to live and work.

36 48

Branding Topeka Historian Deb Goodrich tells the stories of Topeka’s business beginnings.

Generational Perspectives Sharon DuBois, Lisa Loewen and Andrea Engstrom discuss the evolving workforce.

42 54

Extra, Extra!

News and updates about Topeka businesses.

Last Word: Nancy Johnson TK highlights Nancy Johnson, Executive Director of the Community Resources Council

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU… Send your Letters to the Editor to editor@tkmagazine.com or write to PO Box 67272, Topeka, KS 66667.

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Photo by Lock Photography

[from the publisher]

“Change” I am starting to despise that word. When I hear it, it’s like fingernails down a chalkboard. It makes my skin crawl. Change is constant. It can be good or bad. Positive or negative. What it can’t be is neutral. Yet that’s what it is starting to become—just another overused word without any meaning, an idea without action.

We hear of “change” quite often. We’re going to “change this, and then we’re going to change that.” But what often happens is nothing, or worse, broken promises that chisel away at our foundation.

I don’t want change for Topeka, I want progress. I want community.

I want prosperity.

Think Big Topeka has served as a powerful example of all three of these keystones. It took the community to progress an idea that has provided prosperity for Topeka.

Progress has to be smart. It has to make sense. Sometimes it takes money and implementation, other times it just takes a commitment of will, desire and passion. Most times it takes both. But nothing can progress effectively without the community—a trusting community.

We all must do our part to be plugged in to what Topeka has to offer, to engage in conversations with people of all opinions, not to battle, but to understand. Bottom line, we all have to come together and contribute to move towards prosperity.

So enough of this word “change.” Let’s continue to progress and prosper…together.

TK

Topeka’s Business Magazine Fall 2010

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief TARA DIMICK

Creative Director JENNI MONHOLLON TALON COMMUNICATIONS

Writing Director LISA LOEWEN

Account Executives Tara Dimick, Kevin Doel, Ed Swift

Contributing Writers & Columnists

LISA LOEWEN, KAREN RIDDER, SHARON DUBOIS, ANDREA ENGSTROM, TIM KOLLING, DEB GOODRICH, RICK LEJUERNNE, MEGAN MOSAK, RAUBIN PIERCE, LES STREIT

Production Coordinator WHITNEY WHITSON

Cover Photographer PAT VINCENT G. ABELLON

Photographers DITMER DIGITAL & DESIGN NATHAN HAM PHOTOGRAPHY LOCK PHOTOGRAPHY

Founder KEVIN DOEL PO Box 67272 | Topeka, Kansas 66667 785-217-4836 | editor@tkmagazine.com www.tkmagazine.com

Comments & Suggestions Editor@tkmagazine.com

Publishing Company E2 Communications, Inc 2010© TK is published and copyrighted by E2 Communications, Inc. Reproduction or use of this publication in any manner without written permission of the publisher is prohibited.

Tara Dimick

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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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TRUST AND ASSET MANAGEMENT

TK Magazine

Member

FDIC

Fall 2010

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[by the numbers]

$150,000

Hummer Sports Park named its football fields in honor of Chuck Lower, lifelong Topekan and owner of Lower Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, thanks to gifts totaling $150,000 to Hummer Sports Park Endowment.

$50,000

TIDBITS

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Men and women hold an average of about 14 jobs by the time they turn 40.

With building construction underway, the Topeka Active 20-30 Club recently made good on its promise to fulfill its pledge to the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center. Over the past five years, the Club has donated $50,000 to bring this dream to life. “We could not be happier to be part of the Discovery Center becoming a reality for the children of our community. 20-30 has been involved from the beginning – it’s a great project that we hope to continue to support,” Gary Haag, Haag Oil Company and Topeka Active 20-30 President.

$45,781

$400,000,000

90

The Guggenheim Partners-led investor group is investing $400 million in the transaction to acquire Topeka-based Security Benefit.

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by the numbers

Fall 2010

TK Magazine

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

The median household income in Topeka, Kansas is $45,781.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Census Bureau, The Martin Prosperity Institute.

90 percent of women will turn right upon entering a department store.

Source: www.funfactz.com

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[help desk] HUMAN RESOURCES

Q.

What can I do to make myself attractive to a potential employer?

A.

With the recent layoffs and economic uncertainties, employers are taking a more thorough look at potential candidates before making a job offer. You need to do an honest self-analysis and make improvements where you can before “putting yourself on the market.”

• First, thoroughly review your resume. This is your “first impression” to the potential employer. It needs to contain complete information about your work history and dates of employment (month and year!) List your primary job responsibilities in reverse chronological order. Keep it professional!

• Put together a list of 3 positive business references to give employers. Verify that the phone numbers are current and working. Call your references, let them know you are looking for employment, and ask them if they will be a positive reference for you. You are more likely to receive a better reference if you observe this common courtesy.

• Review your e-image. If the employer “googles” you, what will they find? Does your facebook contain pictures or a profile that you would not want a potential employer to see? Do you have a professional LinkedIn profile?

• Take a good look in the mirror before you go to complete an application. Are you dressed appropriately if you are given an interview that day? Dress one step above what you think the position requires and you will never go wrong.

• In the interview, be professional at all times. Never complain about your previous employers or coworkers.

Instead, focus on what you have accomplished in your prior positions. How did you make or save money for the company?

• Don’t ask about salary or benefits in the first interview!

Show that you are more interested in the opportunity than what it pays by asking, “If I were hired, what would my primary job responsibilities be?”

Relax, smile, and Good Luck!

Patti Bossert President & CEO Premier Employment Solutions and Key Staffing, Topeka 785-273-9944 28 years experience

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TK Magazine

FASHION

Q.

My wardrobe needs a facelift, what should I do to improve it?

A.

Before you can start looking like a fabulous, successful business person, you need a few key building blocks for a professional wardrobe that is versatile and costeffective.

WOMEN Classic Suit. Black is the first choice and make sure you have the jacket, skirt and pants! If you can select a jacket that works both with and without a shirt, you will have more versatility and options with you choice.

A Great Dress. Think Audrey Hepburn. The classic sheath is very flattering and works well with jackets for a business look.

Classic Coat. Neutral or vibrant colors chase away gray days!

A Great Jacket. Buy in a fabulous color and fabric you love.

Classic White Shirting. The bread and potatoes of your wardrobe. Make sure it’s crisp and blazing white!

Note: Basic neutral bottoms and simple tees, tanks and turtlenecks pare easily with these basics and extend your wardrobe significantly.

MEN Suit. Charcoal is the most versatile option. Go to a quality men’s store for this iconic, critical element.

White Dress Shirt. You cannot have enough of these. Take them to the cleaners for optimal finish. French cuffs take this to another level!

Solid Tie. Choose a quality silk in a flattering color. Expand from there with stripes, paisleys and other patterns. Save the novelty ties for holidays!

Blue Blazer. Classic, crisp and clean. Wear with slacks and khakis. It can even be paired with denim for a night out!

Overcoat. Whether it’s hip-length (car coat), 3/4 or full, don’t get caught going into a meeting with snow or rain on your clothing. It’s sloppy. Choose high quality and it will last you for YEARS! Note: Basic neutral slacks, tees and sweaters to wear under your jackets can mix and match with hese pieces and expand your wardrobe exponentially.

Kimberly Marney Fashion Consultant ETCETERA 7 Years Experience

[help desk] Business Transition

Q.

My business partner and I have worked hard for many years to create a solid, profitable company. What should we be preparing if one of us is unable to work or if one of us dies unexpectedly?

A.

Unlike a corporation, partnership does not have an unlimited life. When a partner dies, the surviving legally becomes liquidating trustee(s), obligating the survivor to sell off the deceased owner’s share of the business.

But to who? At what price? That’s why business succession planning is so important. You will want to put into writing a formal plan of action that will allow a smooth transition of ownership and protect your family’s interest as well. A buysell agreement is one way to help assure the continuity of your business and give your family peace of mind.

Sometimes called a “business will.” A buy-sell agreement is a legal contract among business owners that states what will happen should a partner leave the business due to death, disability, or a lifetime situation such as retirement. The agreement obligates the remaining partners to purchase the business interest of the partner who has left the business, and the remaining partner (or heirs) is obligated to sell.

This type of arrangement benefits your family in a number of ways: it will help free them of business worries at a time of crisis, guarantees a purchaser, and, if kept up-to-date, ensure a fair price for your business interest. Remaining owners also benefit from a buy-sell agreement, they know the purchase price of the business interests in advance; they don’t have to worry about new, perhaps unwanted partners; and the smooth transition will help the company retain the confidence of clients and creditors. With the help of an attorney, these agreements are easy to draft and flexible, allowing for alternations with the consent of all parties involved.

Once a buy-sell agreement is in place, the next challenge is funding it. Where will remaining partners get the funds to purchase the business interest in question. There are a number of available options: • Pay Cash • Take a Loan • Sell Assets • Purchase of Insurance The purchase of insurance can be a convenient means to fund the agreement without incurring a large financial burden. Insurance creates a guaranteed source of funds to purchase the business interest in question. Proceeds are

immediately available exactly when they are needed; in the event of death or disability of the insured. These proceeds, are in most instances, free from federal income tax, and may help avoid the delays of probate.

If you are like most business owners, your business and your family are the two most important things in your life.

You do not want to gamble with either one.

Rick Friedstrom Agent New York Life Insurance 785-228-5233 38 Years Experience

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[business toolbox]

KEEPING UP WITH CHANGES

by TIM KOLLING

I asked some of my clients, from financial planners to sporting good store owners, what changes they have seen in the last few years and how it has affected them. There were two things consistently mentioned with almost everyone: social media and marketing perseverance.

Social Media Most business owners and professionals said they were using social media to not only market their business, but to market themselves. One business professional said that the more friends he has on Facebook, the more potential career options he has out there.

Social media also has a downside as many companies have now created policy regarding what they allow their employees to post on social networking sites. The last thing you want is to operate a professional business only to have your customers see you or your employees behaving inappropriately or voicing negative opinions on a social networking site.

Marketing Perseverance The other hot issue was how businesses made it through tough times by continuing to invite people to do business with them. One business owner told me they were always trailing their competition in sales, but about 18 months ago their competition decided to cut back their marketing budget. She said that was the perfect opportunity. They increased their advertising and as she put it, “leap-frogged” her competitor. It goes back to the old saying, “out of site out of mind.”

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Toolbox Tips - Use social media to promote, but be smart about it.

- Don’t quit inviting your customers to do business with you.

- We are a busy, time starved, society—you have to stand out.

- Be curious and find new ways to get your customers’ attention.

If you would like to receive Tim’s weekly marketing e-newsletter e-mail tim. kolling@morris.com

634 Mulvane, Suite 306 Topeka, Kansas 66606 telephone 785.233.1756

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There are financial parasites within every business that would like n o t h i n g b e t t e r t h a n t o f e e d o f f o f y o u r b l o o d , s w e a t a n d t e a r s . We’r e n o t y o u r a v e r a g e a c c o u n t a n t s . W e k n o w w h a t ’s b u g g i n g y o u r b u s i n e s s .

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Fall 2010

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Fall 2010

TK Magazine

A Vision for

Topeka

Change. Progress. Visioning.

by LISA LOEWEN

These are some of the catchwords being tossed around in Topeka, but they are not new ideas. We have heard these same words for decades, spoken by different groups championing ideas to move Topeka forward. To those on the outside looking in, these groups often seem like children playing in the sandbox, working on their individual sandcastles, with no one really creating anything significant because they are too caught up in making sure someone else doesn’t touch their sand pile.

So why should this time be any different? Can we afford to get our hopes up that we will see a brighter future in Topeka?

And, most importantly, do Topekans even want change? TK talked to the principal players advocating change in Topeka to find out the answers to these questions.

Heartland Visioning Leaders in the community came together in 2006 and decided Shawnee County needed a long-term visioning plan. In 2008 they began conducting focus groups with more than 5,000 people to determine what the community felt was the most important issues, and then developed a 20year Strategic Visioning Plan based on citizens’ priorities.

Why This Time is Different?

The idea of a visioning plan is not a new concept for Topeka, so why should we buy into this one? William Beteta,

executive director of Heartland Visioning, says this time it is different. “Visioning efforts in the past failed because leadership was entirely volunteer-based. As a result, it was difficult to stay focused on moving the vision forward. Now, we have staff dedicated solely to this process and to keeping things moving forward.”

Why Change?

According to the focus groups, it is what a majority of the community wants. Not everyone agrees on the what, where or when, but they do agree that Topeka and Shawnee County need to prepare for the future. Recently picked as one of America’s Top Ten Cities for the Next Decade by Kiplinger’s, one could argue that Topeka is already a pretty good place to be. But, Beteta says it isn’t enough. “Complacency is very dangerous. So, we’re number 10. How close are we to being number 11? It isn’t good enough. We should be figuring out how to be number one.”

Progress Report For the past year and a half, Heartland Visioning has been working to begin implementing strategies outlined in the plan. The process has brought together people with like ideas to facilitate the discussion of how to move forward. Beteta says that its biggest accomplishment so far is the dramatic shift in the attitude of the people

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in Topeka. That [attitude] is a foundation that can’t be underestimated,” Beteta says. “The tangible things will come from that attitude.” While this may be true, skeptics want to see results.

Go Topeka

photo by Whitney Whitson

photo by Whitney Whitson

Artwork by Jenni Gillenwater

GO Topeka is a subsidiary of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, but it is also a private company contracted with the Joint Economic Development Organization and funded by the countywide, half-cent sales tax which voters approved in 2004 to finance economic development and road and bridge improvements from Jan. 1, 2005, through Dec. 31, 2016.

GO Topeka offers performance-based incentives to attract new businesses to Topeka and to help existing businesses expand and retain employees. “The primary focus of the organization,” says Steve Jenkins, GO Topeka senior vice president of economic development, “is to attract and retain primary jobs. Primary jobs are entities that employ people, that invest in the community and that produce products or services sold outside of our community and therefore bring in new dollars.”

When Jenkins took over the economic development program for GO Topeka two years ago, he decided our community couldn’t afford to wait for businesses to knock on our door. “We need to be the hunter, to go out there and bring them home,” Jenkins says.

Facing Criticism GO Topeka is criticized for an apparent lack of transparency. Jenkins says many of the projects being negotiated are under strict confidentiality agreements, so details cannot be disclosed until they are finalized. All of the incentives given by GO Topeka are performancebased. If the companies that receive the incentives do not hit specified benchmarks, they have to pay the money back.

“It’s a business deal. Good companies understand they must perform in return for our assistance,” Jenkins says.

Another source of criticism comes from local businesses that would like to see some of the economic development money used to help businesses already established in Topeka. Jenkins says GO Topeka does have programs to address small business development. The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program receives $500,000 from JEDO annually to assist identified businesses. This is also the first year for NaviGate, a joint venture between the Small Business Development Center, GO Topeka, the DBE, SCORE and the Topeka/Shawnee Public Library, to help drive entrepreneurial development.

Downtown Topeka, Inc. Downtown Topeka, Inc. promotes economic and

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TKArtwork Magazineby Barbara Waterman-Peters

construction to be completed any time soon.

Former Kansas Gov. Mike Hayden, chairman of the Topeka-Shawnee County Riverfront Authority, says a number of other projects need to be completed first, many of which could take 10 years or more. Like the downtown area, the riverfront project is waiting on the realignment of I-70, and the Army Corps of Engineers needs to repair the levies and build a weir to form a permanent lake. “These things are complicated so we aren’t frustrated. This is a long term project that can’t be completed overnight,” Hayden says.

Who is Going to Pay for it?

The riverfront development master plan cost $100,000 with half of it coming from public dollars and the other half from private donations. As for the “I view downtown as the curb appeal for rest of the money, Hayden says it the rest of Topeka” - Susan Mahoney would have to be combination of private development dollars and invested $1.65 million in the grant program, with private public funding. “The public piece has to come into place investments reaching nearly $18 million. first to build the infrastructure. The private sector will come What Happens Next? into play once development starts.”

Even though the visioning process indicated that having a vital downtown is a top priority for Topekans, too many Other Groups Weigh In obstacles remain in place for this to be feasible any time While a lot of public interest is focused on the large soon. The I-70 realignment plan needs to be completed as projects such as Riverfront Development, Downtown does a final design for Kansas Avenue. The hold-up? Money Topeka, and GO Topeka, many other groups have stepped of course. Private investors have contributed $126,000 of into the sandbox with their shovels ready and their own the estimated $275,000 needed for the plan, but the City ideas for how to move our community forward. cannot agree on how to come up with the remaining dollars.

Think Big Topeka Mahoney is optimistic however that within five years A true grass roots effort by a bunch of self-proclaimed downtown Topeka will be a thriving business district. “I “Internet geeks” sparked one of the fastest growing view downtown as the curb appeal for the rest of Topeka,” movements in Topeka and showed the community what we Mahoney says. could accomplish if we worked together.

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cultural growth in downtown Topeka. It gives a larger voice to downtown businesses on issues such as parking and street improvements.

Bringing New Life to Downtown It has been almost 10 years since the birth of the Downtown Redevelopment Plan and Susan Mahoney, DTI executive director, says improvements are happening, slowly but surely. DTI offers grants for building improvements to attract new businesses to the downtown area and encourage renovation of abandoned buildings. Mahoney says these grants are funded through a combination of public and private investments. Over a nine-year period, the City

Riverfront Development

The granddaddy of all of the proposed changes, the riverfront development project seems to have some of the biggest supporters as well as the loudest naysayers.

Proponents of the plan have a vision of a major tourist attraction with shops, living spaces, parks and trails and maybe even a baseball diamond. Those ardently against it question the feasibility of accomplishing that grand vision, especially with the $62 million price tag.

What is Happening Now? On September 4 the new 76-acre Kaw River State Park will open on the northwest edge of Topeka. Complete with a ribbon cutting, four-mile run and float trip on the Kansas River ending at the Great Overland Station, this grand opening marks the first stage of development for the riverfront. However, do not expect any additional

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How it happened Most of the general public had no idea Google was looking for a place to host its broadband experiment. But Brandon and Alissa Sheley did. They got together with a pod of fellow Internet nerds and an idea was born in their kitchen—“Wouldn’t it be great if this happened in Topeka?”

That one statement got the wheels spinning.

Jared Starkey, owner of LAMP Development, LLC, started a Facebook group the next day and sent it to all of his friends. They in turn sent it to their friends and by the end of the week the group had a name and a website up and running. The group quickly gained media attention and caught the interest of the entire city. The enthusiasm was contagious, Sheley says, but when the mayor changed the City’s name to Google for the month of March it was like a tidal wave. Of course, that tidal wave got

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even bigger when Google changed its search engine name to Topeka for the day on April 1.

What’s Next For Think Big Topeka?

Sheley says Think Big came from the Google project and will likely end with the Google project. “It is not a formal organization and none of us have the desire for it to become one,” Sheley says. However, she says if nothing else, it will spark other people to think big. It also shows that the people in Topeka have the ability to work together and get things

next three years. Before any work can begin, NOTO must determine the cost of renovation, number of spaces available and what types of lease incentives are necessary to attract a core group of artists to occupy the space. Hunter hopes this can be accomplished sometime this fall.

ArtsConnect

to provide the necessary infrastructure, however, he admits that government doesn’t always move quickly. “We need people who aren’t in government to express their urgency to get this underway,” Bunten says. City Manager Norton Bonaparte agrees that the government alone cannot bring about these changes. “It is not the city that will transform Topeka,” Bonaparte says. “It is the community and the private sector.” Bonaparte says the city’s role is to be part of the discussion, not to try to control it.

North Topeka Business Alliance

A lot of things are happening north of the river. Fred Patton, president of the North Topeka Business Alliance, says that the visioning process helped to shed new light on the opportunities in “Wouldn’t it be great if this happened in Topeka?

North Topeka. “We

- Think Big Topeka used to be the ugly stepchild,” Patton done. “We have seen a lot of good things come out of this” says. “Not anymore.” Patton says that while he is Sheley says. “People are going out and working on their own pleased with the emphasis on North Topeka right now, he ideas of how to make Topeka a better place to live.” supports growth anywhere in Topeka, not just north of the river.

Visit Topeka Visit Topeka is responsible for promoting Topeka as a TIBA tourist destination and a great place to hold conventions, The Topeka Independent Business Association focuses trade shows, concerts and other entertainment events. on the needs of small and independent businesses in Topeka Olivia Simmons, CEO and president of Visit Topeka, says and Shawnee County. They desire continued growth and that while the competition is getting fiercer, the proposed prosperity for Topeka while serving as watchdogs for taxes improvements to areas in the city will make her job a little and spending that affect the business community. “Small easier. “I am excited about the fact that I can market a city as businesses are the foundation of our local economy,” says progressive as Topeka is,” Simmons says. “Look at all of these Tara Dimick, TIBA Chair. “TIBA provides the opportunity lists Topeka is popping up on.” for these business owners to have a united voice.”

Simmons says she believes that if you build a place where Government people want to visit, you build a place where people want to So with all of these projects underway or in the planning live. If you build a place where people want to live, you build process, the last piece of the puzzle is how the government a place where business wants to be. fits into all of this. Mayor Bill Bunten says the city’s role is

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One of the top priorities of the community outlined in the visioning plan was to support the arts in Topeka.

ArtsConnect is a privately funded umbrella arts organization responsible for promoting the arts. Kathy Smith, executive director at ArtsConnect says supporting the arts benefits companies because the more vibrant the town, the more people will want to live there and start businesses. “We have a great arts community here,” Smith says. “We just need to let everyone know about it.”

NOTO The North Topeka Arts District may be the first real project out of the box under the visioning plan. The NOTO project plans include renovating vacant buildings in historical downtown North Topeka into art studios to attract artists from across the nation. John Hunter, NOTO co-chair of the Quality of Life Foundation of the Heartland Visioning process, says the project could be viable within the

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}

Is the vision one size fits all?

Not everyone is happy with the vision these organizations have for Topeka, but the enthusiasm within these groups and within the community is undeniable—and somewhat contagious. We can choose to stay the same, after all, Topeka is a pretty good place to live. Or, we can jump into the sandbox and work on connecting all those individual sandcastles into one fantastic community.

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[for your health]

Ask Dr. Josie Norris‌ What is Hypertension?

Hypertension is defined as blood pressure greater than 140/90 taken on two different occasions. The small blood vessels become stiff, increasing the resistance to blood flow and requiring the heart to use more force to push the blood around the body, just like drinking through a tiny straw requires more sucking power than drinking through a big straw.

Things beyond our control Family Tendencies. Some families are more likely to develop hypertension than others.

Things we can control High salt and caffeine intake. Reducing salt and caffeine consumption, helps reduce blood pressure.

Cigarette smoking. Not smoking reduces the risk of hypertension, stroke and cardiac disease.

High levels of stress. Stress is a significant environmental factor contributing to hypertension. You will commonly have an increase in blood pressure during stressful times. If your blood pressure is regularly borderline high, a stressful time can result in a significant enough increase to become dangerous, predisposing you to stroke and cardiac disease. Stress reduction has far reaching consequences resulting in lower incidence of many illnesses such as hypertension, cardiac disease, stroke, hyperacid stomach, ulcers, colitis, migraine headaches and low back pain. Adding stress reducing behaviors to your daily life will improve your quality of life and help prevent many illnesses. Give yourself an hourly reminder to take a deep, cleansing breath. Participate in a yoga or tai chi class. Practice meditation. Exercise regularly.

Dr. Josie Norris graduated from KU Medical School and has been a physician in the Topeka area for 30 years.

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H G TOU Love Love them or hate them, they get Topeka talking.

Raubin and Megan offer their own ideas about how to make Topeka a better place to live and work.

TK: M:

Can Topeka Change?

Change is possible for Topeka. We are starting to see a shift in attitude because people are excited about making Topeka a better place to live, but we have to be careful about how we do it. Right now we have two veins for change. One is the “old school” cautious approach brought about by government trying to force change. The other is a “grass roots” effort to transform from within. While these two ideas are merging, I’m hopeful the latter approach wins out because the former has been tried before, without much success. I think the Google/Think Big campaign is the biggest opportunity that this community has ever had. Even if Google doesn’t choose Topeka, we have laid the groundwork to show people that Topeka can Think Big. It should be a great illustration of how the people can rise up and create change in our community.

I believe change is going to come. It won’t be overnight—it may be in 30 years, but it will happen. It’s great that people are enthusiastic about change in Topeka, but how we fund it becomes an issue. If you compare where we have put tax money versus private dollars, more success follows the private dollars. A common component in all of the areas looking at change in Topeka is the idea that if the government funds it, it’s going to be successful. The opposite seems to be true. When the government steps in to fund it, the government wants to dictate the process and they honestly don’t have the best track record.

R:

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What needs to happen first?

M:

Along with a change in attitude, we are longing for a “meeting place” in our community. People want a place where they can gather to visit with friends, enjoy the outdoors, listen to music and just relax.

Other successful communities have these gathering places.

Downtown is starting to emerge as a possibility, but a significant portion of the population doesn’t see it as a viable option. Creating a physical place where people can go is important to move the idea of progress in our community forward.

I’m Charlie Brown trying to kick that football. No matter how many times Lucy moves the ball, I always think the next time I am going to actually kick it. I feel the same way about our government. Before we can even think about changing our community, we need to change our government. We need people who want to be engaged in the community to be engaged in our government.

If we can’t elect people who are willing to do something larger than themselves, then we will never see the changes we want. The old adage “You can’t fight city hall” really is true. We need to change it.

R:

TK: M:

What stands in the way?

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There is a high level of frustration and distrust in the community. People feel that they are overtaxed and that government is hurting efforts to bring about change rather than facilitating it. Topekans need to voice what they want to see in this community at the polls. I would love for people in Topeka to get energized in a “get out the vote” effort to elect people who can bring about the changes they are looking for. While it is fun to vote for the president of the United States, it is equally important for us to vote for our local city council members.

Government and people stuck in their own vision.

While having a vision for our community sounds great, the Visioning Plan was hijacked from the beginning. The people who started the visioning process already had their own ideas of what they wanted to see and forced the agenda to go in that direction. There really was no honest visioning. Everything was steered to projects already underway like the riverfront and downtown. It is just like the sales tax issue. When people were asked to vote to increase taxes to maintain streets, they reluctantly agreed it needed to be done. However, right after they said “yes”, the money was hijacked for something else because the people in charge had their own vision of how it should be spent.

R:

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] 1 n [1 o INNOVATION ENGINNERING Q&A with Doug Hall, Innovation Engineering Leadership Institute

TK:

Why is innovation so important?

Innovation is the only way we, the United States, can compete in today’s world when companies in India and China are able to manufacture at a lower cost.

Innovation is about creating meaningfully unique products and services that add value to people’s lives; products and services that give such a ‘Wow!’ that customers are willing to pay more for it. Market creation through innovation is the only way American companies will compete in the years to come.

TK:

What is the most important step to the innovation process?

Not killing ideas before they get a chance. We always say “don’t kill the newborns.” What I mean by that is this: we have all seen an ugly baby before. But when that baby grows up and matures, they can turn into almost anything, and they usually turn out looking pretty good.

As Richard Branson says, “Screw it, let’s do it,” but “protect the downside.” Companies have got to develop a fail fast, fail cheap system that small start-ups do so well. When you have an idea, you have got to move past the ‘study, study, study’ and get to DOING. Doing SOMETHING, whether it

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is a small experiment or running a quick, small study group, getting moving will yield high quality products in the end.

TK:

How can a city like Topeka leverage innovation as a community?

The biggest problem is that people say they are being innovative, when all they are really doing is flapping their gums. You need to truly commit to innovation to really make it happen.

When you have companies committing to innovation, it turns viral; if companies in Topeka have the courage to commit and enact a business model focused around innovation, Topeka will become a hub, and today’s world with instant global communication makes it a real possibility. You can have a whole city and state focused on global innovation.

The innovative companies in Topeka will learn from each other, grow together, and focus on what this is all about; providing quality jobs and allowing people to work smarter rather than harder.

Those companies will attract more innovative people to the area, and those people will go off and either create their own innovative business or contribute to the growth of an existing one. It’s a cycle that once you get started can create something amazing and totally change the landscape.

TK:

TK:

In the 1970s, the US was hit with a flood of imports from Japan. Manufacturing was just dying around the country- we couldn’t compete. If something didn’t change, we were dead. Then a man named Dr. W. Edwards Deming came back to the United States. I say came back because he had spent two decades in Japan, where he taught them what came to be known as Total Quality—a belief that by improving quality, you can reduce expenses, and increase productivity and market share. So when he came back, he brought those methods back with him, and taught U.S. manufacturers how to compete. He saved manufacturing in the United States.

Right now, in today’s global world, American companies are undergoing another revolution. And it’s a revolution that we can’t hide from—we need to face it head on and beat it. Prices are dropping around the world because of cheap labor, and we need a new way to compete.

We created the Innovation Engineering Leadership Institute to teach American companies how to do that.

Companies are cutting production, cutting workers, cutting everything. So what we are doing with the Institute is teaching companies how to fight back. We can do that by becoming more innovative, as businesspeople, as companies, and as a country. By creating products that people care about and value. If you are worried about price you are a commodity.

Our partner in Kansas is Mid-America Manufacturing Technology Center (MAMTC) (http://www.mamtc.com/), so they’re a great resource for innovation right here in your own backyard.

We are also partnering with the MAMTC to bring to Kansas the Innovation Marketplace (http://www. planeteureka.org/marketplace/kansas/). The Innovation Marketplace is a collection of technologies and products that are either ready to go to market, or almost ready. It’s got a built-in rating system and potential sales calculator, so you can see right away the invention’s potential. If you are a manufacturer you can connect up with inventors to find new great products. Inventors can find someone to make their product and bring it to market. It’s a win-win for everybody.

You started the Innovation Engineering Leadership Institute at the University of Maine. Why have you decided to take it on the road to other states like Kansas?

TK:

Why have you begun focusing on teaching small and medium-sized businesses to be innovative?

Since, World War II more then 2/3 of all breakthroughs that have lead to sizeable growth have come from small to mid-size companies (study from the Kansas City Federal Reserve). It is not large corporation that will allow us to compete in the new world market it is the little guys that are going to lead us in the fight.

As the leader of Innovation Engineering, where can Topeka business professionals and business owners get more training and education on innovation?

TK:

What advice do you have for Topekans?

TK:

What inspires you?

Passion. You need to be passionate about what you dowhatever it may be. Love what you do, and it shows. When you can combine what you love with innovation, you’re golden.

The small and medium sized business owners who get up every day hoping to make this world a better place by doing what they love.

Doug Hall helps corporations with his Eureka! Ranch consulting team.

He is the author of four bestselling books and an international speaker.

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dress to IMPRESS

by Karen Ridder photos by COLIN MacMillan NATHAN HAM PHOTOGRAHY

Some Topekans take more time to perfect their careers than their image. As jobs progress and life gets busy, hair styles slide, make-up fades and clothes hang in the closet longer than they should.

That’s why six Topeka business leaders volunteered to let TK...Topeka's Business Magazine turn them over to local salons and fashion experts for a re-do of their professional style.

For those not brave enough for a complete makeover, Topeka experts suggest some points everyone should consider before stepping out to represent themselves or their company.

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The Public Face

Jeff Baker and Kim Williams have jobs where image is important. Both needed fresh looks to help them represent their organizations in a more up-to-date way.

Baker says he had the same look for a decade. As Interactive Director for FryeAllen, he has increasingly become the person who represents of his company’s ideas to clients. He says, “I think looking and feeling current and energized is extremely important. Our clients are looking for something to help them stand out and they want to be uniquely represented.”

For his look, His & Her Salon & Day Spa stylist Carrie Vogel added highlights to what Baker calls his usually conservative hairstyle. She also shortened up his sideburns and narrowed his goatee for a more contemporary look. Baker liked it, “I look less tired I think. The hi-lights take over where my coffee leaves off.”

At Boutique ten47, co-owner Ann O’Bryan put Baker in what she calls a Friday look. The big changes for Baker, who usually wears a lot of black, were slimmer lines and a colorful button down shirt, with some funky embellishments to keep that creative edge. Baker was surprised at how flattering the more fitted fashions were. “The cut really made me look slimmer and taller,” he said.

As Corporate Events Director for the American Heart Association, Williams is also often the public face of her organization, but she says taking care of her family has led her to put her own image last. “I try to do things different but it always seems to fall back into the same thing. I needed change,” said Williams.

Vogel took length off William’s layers to give her hair more movement and added depth to her blond color to give it a more natural look. For professional looking makeup, Vogel advises women keep it natural, but consider a regular update to color for a fresh look. “Makeup changes with every season. Even changing one or two colors can get you a slightly different look,” says Vogel.

The pin-stripe pant O’Bryan chose for Williams fit like jeans. So, they give a professional look and allow comfortable movement. The pink open cardigan serves the practical purpose of warmth and modesty over a sleeveless cardigan, but also adds a splash of color. “I wanted to give her something that was easy to wear. She’s very active, working with a lot of events. She needed to be able to move and groove and not feel tied down,” says O’Bryan.

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Jeff Baker & Kim Williams Jeff Baker Interactive Director for FryeAllen, Inc. Hair by: Carrie Vogel, His & Her Salon & Day Spa Clothing provided by Boutique ten47.

Denim by Citizens of Humanity: $168. Shirt by Project E Vintage: $88

Kim Williams

Before

Corporate Events Director for the American Heart Association Hair and Make-up by: Carrie Vogel, His & Her Salon & Day Spa. Clothing provided by: Boutique ten47. Pants by Spanner: $109 Ruffle top by Spanner: $89. Open front cardigan by Michael Stars: $76.

Silver belt with crystals: $66. Necklace set: $26. Bracelets: $24

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Dana Book & Laurel Leamon Dana Book Chairman Fatherhood Action Hair by: Kelly Bergman, Salon 808 Clothing provided by Dillard’s Shirt: Perry Ellis: $70 - Vest: Perry Ellis $70 Pant: Perry Ellis: $70 - Shoes: Ecco: $175 Laurel Leamon Director of Events for Downtown Topeka, Inc. Hair by: Carrie Dinwiddie, Salon 808 Makeup by: Audrey Rehwinkel, MAC Clothing Provided by Dillard’s Pant: Alex Marie, Washable Wool Suitings: $119 Jacket: Alex Marie, Washable Wool Suitings: $179 Top: Alex Marie, washable silk $79 Shoes: Antionio Melani: $90 - Jewelry: Heskell $30

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Before

For the Kids Dana Book and Laurel Leamon are both parents of small children. It’s not a position that allows a lot of time for taking care of their look.

Book is a stay-at-home dad, but as chairman of Fatherhood Action, he is often called to do public speaking and classroom presentations. He says his look is important because he has become the face of dad for many people. “When someone thinks of fatherhood, they hopefully think of me,” said Book.

Book is no stranger to the hair salon, joking that his pre-make-over style, “Is what happens after years of spiral perms.” He says, a few years ago, when professional pressure led him to cut off his long pony tail his now-5-year-old daughter didn’t recognize him. Kelly Bergman at Salon 808 decided to give Book some blended color, which covers gray but fades out for a more natural look. She also kept the cut longer than his usual “buzz cut” look he adopted after losing the ponytail.

At Dillard’s, Debra Heiland put Book in a dark vest and lavender shirt with a pointed collar. The stripe on the shirt didn’t call for a tie, but she banned him from wearing a banned collar ever again, “That’s my 80’s look I still carry around with me,” said Book. Heiland says the look dresses him up a little more, but allows for comfort and professionalism.

In her job as an event planner for Downtown Topeka, Leamon plans a lot of events for families, but it’s her own 4-year-old daughter who inspired her to go for a change.

Laurel says she realizes her image is something her daughter will pay attention to, and while she doesn’t usually place a lot of importance on looks, she wants her daughter to know it’s okay to do something good for yourself. “I just kind of like the idea that she can always feel good about herself,” says Leamon.

Salon 808’s Carrie Dinwiddie decided to go dark red for Leamon’s color and style her hair straight. The dramatic change was something comfortable for Leamon since she was a red-head as a child. At the Dillard’s MAC Counter, Audrey Rehwinkel gave Leamon a natural look that she says is achieved with the right brushes and a good blending of color.

The pin-stripe suit and bright top of Leamon’s new look are two things Heiland says women can count on for professional style. Women’s fashions are increasingly borrowing from men’s style with accents like pin-stripes. The bright splash of color on top is one that any woman can carry off.

“Every woman can wear turquoise,” says Heiland.

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A Professional Re-invention Jane Kelly and Jim Sovanski are business leaders who realized they needed a re-invention of a tired personal style.

As a photographer, Sovanski spends a lot more time considering the image on the other side of the camera than his own. But he says he’s trying to change that, “This year I decided for my birthday, I didn’t like where I had evolved to. So, I’ve lost quite a bit of weight, and this opportunity came along and I thought, Why not?”

Stylist Katrina Hamilton updated Sovanski’s look with a young cut and color. Hamilton says a point cutting technique gives a nice natural look that will grow out well. The more texturized effect is youthful and up to date. A toner color product blends out the gray, but doesn’t permanently die the hair. So, there won’t be unnatural color lines as it grows out. “It’s really good for men because they don’t want to seem like they’ve had color,” said Hamilton. The color will last about 4-6 weeks.

The khaki Docker that Macy’s manager Michelle Heck provided Sovanski are something she says are comfortable and will always look nice. An equally versatile black shirt is important for the variety of occasions he shoots. “It’s a traditional look he could wear with anything,” says Heck.

For Kelly, who is the Executive Director of the Kansas Home Care Association, it is important to dress up for meetings, seminars and conferences. However, the last three years she has travelled a lot and primarily worked out of her home.

That has put a crimp in her hair style and personal fashion. “I was basically just stuck in a rut," says Kelly.

The style Mark Sowders at Egos Salon & Day Spa, developed for Kelly took length off the front. He used vertical layering to create a more updated, easy-to-care-for look. “It’s not the kind of hair that needs a lot of product in it. It’s easy and classic,” said Sowders. Getting a really good cut that’s easy to care for saves time. He believes that is key for every woman.

“I don’t know any woman who wants to get up and spend 90 minutes getting ready,” For make-up, Trisha Williams used products by Motives that give a custom blend foundation to give a clear palate to Kelly’s skin. She also offered a spray on finishing product called “10 Years Younger” that she advises for men or women on the go. “It makes skin glow. The more glow we can get the younger the person will look,” said Williams.

The classic black pant and animal print top from Macy’s is something Heck says looks professional on its own or can be dressed up even more with a jacket. Heck completed the look with gold jewelry to match the trim-work in Kelly’s shoes. That kind of attention to detail can make or break an outfit. “Use the jewelry to tie the outfit together. Don’t be afraid of color or accessorizing,” said Heck.

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Jane Kelly & Jim Sovanski Jane Kelly

Before

Executive Director of Kansas Home Care Association Hair By: Mark Sowders, Egos Salon & Day Spa Make-up By: Trisha Williams using Motives Clothing provided by Macy’s.

Top: Style & Co.: $24.98 - Pants: Style & Co.: $29.98 Shoes: Karen Scott: $49 - Jewelry: Charter Club

Jim Sovanski Photographer and Owner of Sovanski Photography Hair By: Katrina Hamilton at Egos Salon & Day Spa Clothing provided by Macy’s: - Shirt: Tasso Elba: $29.98 Pants: Dockers Never Iron Khaki: $60 - Shoes: Steve Madden: $80

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5

Advancing Your Career Starts With What You Wear

reasons to dress to impress

1.First Impression

“It is the first thing that every person looks at when you walk in a room. It is your first chance to make a good impression,” says Debra Heiland, an area Sales Manager for Dillard’s.

Mary Ann Riederer, a consultant for the Small Business Development Center agrees that dress is a first expression of professionalism. “How seriously you want people to take you should be reflected in your dress,” says Riederer. That can be important even if someone doesn’t meet clients face to face.

“It’s a way of preparing yourself.”

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Lead All 2.Leaders Fashion.

3.

Impressions Have Impact Riederer points out that leaders in the workplace will usually set the tone for how the rest of the office dresses. As professionals rise in the ranks, they need to be aware that their own look may need to be updated or upgraded to go with their new status.

Boutique ten47 coowner Ann O’Bryan advises that people should also consider any outing as an opportunity to make an impression – on or off the job. “You see people walking into the grocery store in their pajama pants with Tweetie Bird on them. That’s inappropriate,” says O’Bryan.

4.Confidence.

O’Bryan suggests having one great outfit to rely on for important professional events or meetings.

“You need to have that go-to outfit.

When you put it on you feel confident and you feel like you look great. That’s important for people in the workforce.”

by KAREN RIDDER

on the 5.Edge Competition

O’Bryan encourages people to set themselves apart with their wardrobe. A person can distinguish themselves from the rest of the pack by making a choice to not look or dress the same way everyone else dresses. She often does this herself with striking jewelry.

For men, Heiland suggests the same kind of unique touch can be achieved by simply wearing a tie.

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Branding F

Topeka

or a long time, nothing has changed in Topeka.

Or so it seemed.

If a fire has been lit under Topekans recently, it is only the rekindling of embers that have smoldered for decades, beginning in 1854.

1854 – Topeka Was Founded July 4, 1856 – Breaking Up the Free State Legislature No other event in Kansas history so clearly defined who we would be. On July 4, 1856, the “free state” government of Kansas was meeting in Topeka in violation of the federal government’s recognition of Lecompton as the territorial seat of government. President Franklin Pierce ordered troops from Fort Leavenworth to Topeka to break up the legislative body.

A free-state militia stood on Kansas Avenue, armed to the teeth, face-to-face with United States soldiers. Kansans committed to a free state would not back down.

1861 – Topeka Becomes the Capital Imagine, for a moment, Topeka without the state capitol.

Sometimes, it has seemed the albatross, but the capitol has literally created our skyline.

1866 - The Railroads Arrive The Union Pacific Railroad came to Topeka in 1866, and ground was soon broken for the Santa Fe. These tracks literally linked Topeka to the rest of the nation, having an economic, sociological and psychological impact on our city.

1942 - Forbes Air Base Opens 1951 – Flood In 1951 the Kansas River raged through the streets of Topeka and altered the landscape, forever in some cases. Harold Worswick recalls most vividly not the devastation; but how the community came together to help with the cleanup and the rebuilding. Their spirit, he said, was never beaten.

1954 -- Brown v Board of Education of Topeka This landmark Supreme Court decision ended segregation in the nation’s schools.

1956 – Urban Renewal The original 37-block area designated for Urban Renewal contained about 13,000 homes, nearly 25 percent had no running water and 63 percent of those had no bathroom. Among the slums were thriving businesses, decent homes, and historic buildings, these too had to be torn down to give way for the construction of I-70, the Ramada Inn and Hallmark Cards, as well as other businesses that have brought jobs and tax revenue.

1966 – The Tornado On June 8, an F-5 tornado ripped through our city destroying 16 lives and an estimated $100 million dollars worth of property. Block after block of central Topeka was unrecognizable.

1970s – Forbes Air Base Closed When Forbes closed for good in the 1970s, 10,000 people left.

Through good and bad, the embers of a prosperous community have smoldered. Now, they’re getting a fresh gust of air!

Deb Goodrich Author and historian, masondixonwildwest.blogspot.com

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Photos courtesy of Kansasmemory.org.

Deb’s photo by Rachel Lock Photography

C AIR P ARAVEL L ATIN S CHOOL 635 SW Clay St. • Topeka, KS 66606

Accepting applications for select grades.

30 years of Classical Christian Education Topeka’s only K-12 liberal arts school offering a tradition of academic excellence and family values

785-232-3878 www.cpls.org

covery Center. who stay at the Re for details.) s nt tie pa e th fit or ult your tax advis All proceeds bene ctible. Please cons (Donations may be

tax dedu

Please join us Friday, September 17!

Wear your jeans and your bling and spend a very special evening with us supporting the elderly in this region. You’ll enjoy entertainment, a fabulous dinner and live auction.

5 PM – 6 PM Champagne Reception for Sponsors 6 PM – 7 PM Four-Course Dinner 7 PM – Close Live Auction and Entertainment

Please go to www.aldersgatevillage.org/gala to order your tickets today! Or, call (785) 286-7464 for more information.

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[scene about town]

Entrepreneurial & Minority Business Development Conference June 10th Shaddai Ministries

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Manufacturers of Fine Gold & Platinum Jewelry

Diamond Cutters and Importers Watch and Clock Repair

Locally owned and operated

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623 Kansas Ave (785) 234-4808

davidsjewelers@sbcglobal.net

[scene about town]

Fast Forward Lunch with Leaders June 3rd | Washburn Institute of Technology

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[extra, extra!]

Daddy Cakes Moves to New Location Recently seen battling it out on the Food Network’s Sea World Episode of Cupcake Wars, Allyson Fiander of Daddy Cakes has moved to a new location at 4036 SW Huntoon in the Gage Village Shopping Center.

Local Salon makes Elle’s Top 100 Salon 808, 808 SW 12th, is a relatively new Topeka shop that’s already getting national recognition.

The Holliday Park business was recently named to a second year on Elle Magazine’s - Top 100 – Best Hair in America list.

Sisters Jandi Terrell and Carrie Dinwiddie, who co-own the salon, say they were really surprised last year when they became the only salon in Kansas to make the top 100. Terrell, who runs the business side of Salon 808, adds when they opened five years ago they were trying to create a fun salon that was upscale and nice - “but not stuffy. We just like to take care of people,” said Terrell.

Dinwiddie is the lead stylist. She says they are very detail oriented, doing a basic wet cut before a blow dry, flat iron and then a dry cut. “We care. It’s not just a haircut to us,” said Dinwiddie. “We put our heart and soul into every cut.”

In Memory of Rico Garcia We were saddened by the recent death of Ricardo Rafael “Rico” Garcia, owner of ELS Homes, Inc. and The Jet Lounge. Rico died from health problems on July 10 playing a basketball game at the Sunflower Games.

Rico Garcia, 37 years old, was featured in the Summer issue of TK…Topeka’s Business Magazine as a Generation X Topeka business leader. We wish to extend our heartfelt sympathy to Rico’s family and friends in their loss.

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for

YOU

Go to VisitTopeka.com to create a hometown itinerary and discover what’s happening in your own backyard. y things to do y where to eat y places to go

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y 785-234-1030 y 800-235-1030 y 1275 SW TOPEKA B LVD

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2930 SW McClure Topeka 785-273-0571 ● 1420 Kasold Lawrence 785-842-8488

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[extra, extra!]

20 Under 40 Business and Community Leaders to be Honored The Jayhawk Area Council will honor 20 of Topeka’s business and community leaders under the age of 40.

The first-annual awards banquet, held on November 18th, will highlight the achievements and goals of a select group of individuals. This event is presented in partnership with the Washburn University Leadership Institute and TK…Topeka’s Business Magazine.

For more information visit www.bsa. kintera.org/20under40.

jones huyett Partners Chosen as Agency of Record jones huyett Partners, (jhP), a regional advertising and marketing firm based in Topeka, has been named the agency of record for Washburn University.

$200,000 MABEE CHALLENGE TO ALDERSGATE The J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation of Tulsa has issued a $200,000 challenge grant toward the state-of-the-art Recovery Center at Aldersgate Village.

The Recovery Center is a project that seeks to help individuals discharged from an acute care hospital in need of further care to recover to their highest potential. Operating within the larger community of Aldersgate Village, the Recovery Center will provide short-term rehabilitative therapies and extensive skilled nursing services in an atmosphere designed to cultivate wellness.

“We are excited to have this partnership with Mabee

Foundation,” said Leslie Gasser, Director of Enterprise Advancement at Aldersgate Village. “We know that the people of Topeka and Shawnee County will step up to the plate to help us succeed in raising the $200,000 required to receive the $200,000 challenge grant from the Mabee Foundation.”

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The New Midlife Crisis

by Rick LeJuernne

There are many transitions in life, but few are more life-altering than starting a business. It is the opportunity to do something great all the while knowing that failure is a real possibility. It can be self possessing, gut wrenching, and exhilarating, sometimes all in the same day. Is it for everyone? Absolutely not. But for some, it should be on the bucket list .

The fact is that more people than ever are transitioning to self employment.

But should you? To contemplate the question, I enlisted the help of a fellow small business consultant, Les Streit, someone who has successfully made the transition and is as passionate about entrepreneurship as myself.

Rick LeJuerrne is the Director for the Washburn University Kansas Small Business Development Center.

Les Streit is the owner of Streitline Consulting. Both work with entrepreneurs transitioning to their own business.

RICK: The biggest challenge most face in making the jump to start a business is replacing the salary or learning to live on less income, right?

LES:

It is hard to transition because of the “golden handcuffs”. It’s the salary, the health care, the paid vacation, the 401k match, etc. that make leaving a job hard to do.

RICK:

Yet more are leaving. The Kauffman Foundation recently reported that 55 to 64 year olds represent the second largest jump in entrepreneurial activity by age (just behind 35-44 year olds). Maybe the benefits are less golden these days?

LES:

There are the unspoken benefits of becoming an entrepreneur. Being your own boss is a powerful attraction.

RICK:

Maybe starting a business is the new midlife crisis? Instead of buying the corvette, more people are buying a business?

is much more fun.

LES:

I think that is a myth and overrated. Sure, the self employed pay more costs with a higher deductible, but the reality is that entrepreneurs hardly ever get sick because they are so busy.

RICK: They can’t afford to be sick.

LES: Or they work so hard that they

drop dead from exhaustion.

RICK:

Recent studies indicate that the most commonly identified barrier

TK Magazine

RICK:

The “build it and they will come” strategy is best left for the movies. If your first decision is to buy a new desk, you are in trouble.

LES: Better to buy a good pair of

shoes.

RICK: Pound the pavement.

LES: Yes, also you need to be com-

fortable with ambiguity and have the ability to zig and zag. It is advisable to have a business plan but be willing to adapt when things don’t work.

RICK: I knew we couldn’t get through this without mentioning the B word.

transition back to a job.

RICK: The other concern often stated RICK: Now that IS a scary thought. is health insurance…

honest with how comfortable you are under pressure.

Fall 2010

LES:

You have to be comfortable promoting yourself and your product or service.

LES: One last thought, if your busiLES: Right, I think starting a business ness doesn’t work, you can always

RICK: So what’s our best advice?

LES: Know the risks going in and be

46

to success was the lack of willingness or ability to take risks. I would add that good ideas are a dime a dozen, it is experience and execution that matters most.

THE 100% UNSCIENTIFIC TEST TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE READY TO START A BUSINESS. Place an X in one of the choices listed on the five categories below: No Vacation __ New Business __ Life Insurance__ New Shoes __ Ambiguity__

Paid Vacation __ New Corvette __ Health Insurance__ New Desk __ Anonymity __

If most of your X’s are in the left hand column, you are crazy enough to consider starting your own business.

If most are in the right hand column, then return to your cubicle and buy that new Corvette.

TK Magazine

Fall 2010

47

[generational perspectives: the evolving workforce] Joyful Cynic

Unapologetic Optimist

When I started

When I started my first job

In 2007, I took a position

my first job in 1967,

in an ad agency in 1991, I had my

working in an advertising agency.

there was a steno

own computer and could actually

pool—a group of stenographers,

send messages to my peers and

exclusively women, who would

to clients through a fairly new

type up whatever needed typing.

concept known as email. However,

I would write, by hand, what I wanted to have typed and send it to the steno pool.

I was tied to my desk to receive

I was outfitted with a Macbook, WiFi, and by 2009 we removed the hard wired phones at our desks. We all

etouch photo by lif

Around that time, there was a commercial on television about a boss who kept asking his secretary to revise a document. Each time she had to retype the whole thing she became more irate, and the boss became more abjectly apologetic, until finally he hid behind the door when he handed her the latest corrections—a good depiction of what it was like to send a document back to the steno pool for the 6th time.

When I left there in 1972, the steno pool was in the process of switching to something called “word processors.” The rumor was that these machines could store documents, and the stenographer had only to make the changes without the need to retype the

client emails and telephone calls.

Cellular phones were available, but not in my price range and I certainly couldn’t carry my large desktop computer (complete with floor tower) around with me.

When

developing

clients,

I

had

comprehensive

a

with

course recent meant the latest “published” data that was printed

received shiny new iPhones that our land line transferred to with a push of a button and “Sent from my iPhone” has become a norm for email tags.

With our nocubicle workplace– for

free-thinking

and

enhanced

communication among

team

members–there

are no doors to close. We simply make “I’m in the zone” our status

into books and then mailed to the

on iChat and plug in earbuds

agency). If only there was a way to

with music. How does one write

access that information instantly

a brilliant memo without a

and know it was “real-time”.

Pandora Playlist blasting in one’s

By the time I left that job, I did have a cell phone. It was a little too big to fit into my purse, but I didn’t care. I also started playing around with a new fangled

idea

you

might

have

heard

of called the

the dumbest name for a machine

TKTKMagazine Magazine

library

to

Nielsen and Arbitron ratings (of

me, but I really thought that was

FallFall2010 2010

access

books containing the most recent

It sounded like a good idea to

I had ever heard of.

media

buying strategies for advertising

whole thing.

48 48

Revolutionary Realist

Internet. photo by & design l ta gi ditmer di

Skullcandy? LOL :) I’m not sure it’s possible. Chat or text me if you need me! TTYL

Text/Chat Shorthand

LOL = Laugh Out Loud TTYL = Talk To You Later

Definitions

Skullcandy = brand of headphones Pandora = personalized internet radio service iChat = instant messaging software application

TK Magazine

Fall 2010

49

[topeka catering & facility guide] Yes

Both

Yes

Yes

Technical Equipment/ Support

Bar Services/ Alcohol

Yes

Wi-Fi

Clean up Services

Both

Maximum Capacity

Buffet/ Plated

Yes

250

Catering

Delivery

Annie's Place 785-273-0848 anniesplacetopeka.com

Both

Pickup Only

Yes

Both

Yes

Yes

55

Applewood BBQ and Bistro 785-267-1212

Both

Delivery

Yes

Both

Yes

Yes

150

Blind Tiger 785-267-2739 blindtiger.com

Both

Pickup Only

Yes

Buffet

Yes

Yes

300+

Yes

Boss Hawg's BBQ 785-273-7300 bosshawgsbbq.com

Both

Delivery

Yes

Both

Yes

Yes

135

Yes

Catering

Delivery

Buffet

Yes

Brick Oven Courtyard Grille 785-478-2742 brickovencourtyardgrille.com

Both

Delivery

Yes

Both

Yes

Yes

50

Brickyard Barn Inn 785-235-0057 brickyardbarninn. com

Both

Delivery

Yes

Both

Yes

Yes

60

Yes

Both

Capitol Plaza Hotel 800-579-7937 capitolplazahoteltopeka.com

Both

Yes

Both

Yes

Yes

800

Yes

Both

Both

Bradleys Corner CafĂŠ 785-235-0086

Carlos O' Kelly's 785-266-3457 carlosokellys.com

Catering

Delivery

Yes

Chick Fil-A 785-272-7439 chick-fil-a.com/westridgemall

Both

Delivery

Yes

Classic Bean Fairlawn 785-271-5005 classicbean.com

Both

Pickup Only

Yes

Club House Inn and Suites 785-273-8888 topeka.clubhouseinn.com

Facility

Confectionary Disasters 785-408-4016 confectionarydisasters.com

Catering

Country Inn and Suites 785-478-9800 countryinns.com Courtyard by Marriott 785-271-6165 marriott.com Daddy Cakes 785-228-2300 daddycakescupcakes.com

Both

Yes

Field of Greens/The Break Room 785-290-4733 FOG.com

Both

Delivery

Flint Hills BBQ 785-783-2300 flinthillsbbq.com

Catering

Delivery

Hampton Inn 785-228-0111 HamptonInn.com

Fall 2010

TK Magazine

Both Catering Both

Both

Equipment

Yes Yes

Yes

Facility

Delivery

Grover's Smokehouse 785-273-7331

Yes

15

Yes

50

Yes

25

Yes

Delivery

Catering

GreatLife at Western Hills greatlifegolf.com

50

Both

On Location

Aboud's Catering 785-478-9290 abouds.com

Delivery/ Pickup Only

Catering/ Facility 6th Avenue Ballroom 785-224-5401 6thaveballroom.com

Both

Yes

Yes Delivery Yes

Yes

Yes

50

Yes

Both

Yes

Yes

50

Yes

Both

Yes

150

Yes

Yes

30

Yes

Both

Yes

Buffet

Yes

Buffet

Yes

Both

Yes

Both

Enjoy the one-of-a-kind taste of Boss Hawg’s for your business lunch, company picnic, wedding reception or private party. We offer a wide range of delicious barbeque and catering services to fit your budget needs. Whether you are looking for a fun meal for the office gang or a casually elegant buffet for your big event, Boss Hawg’s has the great food your guests will love.

If your event requires an event coordinator, rental equipment or other full service catering options we’ll be delighted to assist you in planning and catering. We also offer private party and banquet rooms at Boss Hawg’s for your gatherings.

Call our Catering Coordinator, Christina Barth, at 785.273.7300, ext. 27, or visit our website for more information. We look forward to making your event something to RAVE about!

Karen Maas, at a Boss Hawg’s catered picnic.

2833 S.W. 29th

On the Terrace at Brookwood

785.273.7300 | www.bosshawg.com

TK Magazine

Fall 2010

51

[topeka catering & facility guide]

Jayhawk Corner CafĂŠ 785-357-4410 jayhawktowers.com

Both

Jersey Mike's Subs 785-273-7827 jerseymikes.com

Both

Delivery

Jimmy John's 785-272-0000 jimmyjohns.com

Catering

Delivery

Johnny Carinos 785-215-8400 carinos.com

Catering

Delivery

Kansas Expocentre 785-235-1986 ksexpo.com

Facility Both

Technical Equipment/ Support

Delivery

Wi-Fi

Catering

Both

Yes

Yes

700

Yes

Both

Yes

Both

Yes

Yes

90

Yes

Equipment

Yes

Both

Yes

Yes

250

Yes

Both

80

Yes

3000

Yes

Both Equipment

Yes

Buffet

Maximum Capacity

Jason's Deli 785-478-4144 jasonsdeli.com

Yes

Bar Services/ Alcohol

Delivery

Clean up Services

Both

Buffet/ Plated

Hy-Vee 785-272-1763 www.hy-vee.com

On Location

Both

McFarland's Restaurant 785-272-6909

Yes

Yes

Both

Yes

Yes

80

Yes

Yes

Mr. Goodcents 785-272-4747 mrgoodcents.com

Catering

Delivery

New City CafĂŠ 785-271-8646 newcityonline.biz

Both

Delivery

Yes

Both

Yes

Yes

60

Paisano's Ristorante 785-273-0100 paisanoskansas.com

Catering

Delivery

Yes

Both

Yes

Yes

40

Panera Bread 785-272-2100 panerabread.com

Catering

Delivery

Planet Sub 785-271-6230 planetsub.com

Catering

Delivery

Plaza Inn 785-266-8880 plazainntopeka.com

Facility

Ramada 785-234-5400 ramada.com/topeka

Both

RibCrib 785-273-4227 ribcrib.com

52

Delivery/ Pickup Only

Catering/ Facility

Holiday Inn topekaholidome.com

Yes

Catering

Delivery

Schlotzsky's 785-267-2568 schlotzskys.com

Both

Delivery

Senate Luxury Suites 785-233-5050 senatesuites.com

Facility

Both

Yes

Yes

Equipment

100

Yes

1100+

Yes

60

Yes

150

Yes

Equipment

Both

Buffet Yes Yes

Buffet

Yes

Yes Yes

Simply Sarah's 785-267-6000 simplysarahscatering.com

Catering

Delivery

Both

Yes

The Downtowner 785-232-5775

Catering

Delivery

Both

Yes

Yes

Both

Yes

Yes

500

Yes

Both

The Woodward 785-354-7111 thewoodward.com

Both

Top of the Tower 785-354-7746 topoftopeka.com

Both

Delivery

Yes

Both

Yes

Yes

400

Yes

Equipment

Topeka Performing Arts Center 785-234-2787 tpactix.org

Both

Delivery

Yes

Both

Yes

Yes

2400

Yes

Equipment

Fall 2010

TK Magazine

TK Magazine

Fall 2010

53

[the last word] What is the best advice you have ever received?

When I was growing up my parents gave me a poem “The Guy in the Glass” by Dale Wimbrow.

Photo by Lock Photography

Nancy Johnson Executive Director of Community Resources Council

“When you get what you want in your struggle for pelf, And the world makes you King for a day, Then go to the mirror and look at yourself, And see what that guy has to say...

He’s the feller to please, never mind all the rest, For he’s with you clear up to the end, And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test If the guy in the glass is your friend...

You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years, And get pats on the back as you pass, But your final reward will be heartaches and tears If you’ve cheated the guy in the glass.”

54

Fall 2010

TK Magazine

County and if you work with her she is the most gracious, loving, kind, sincere person I know. No matter her audience or interaction her persona never changes. John Hunter thinks further outside the box and requires all those involved to do the same. His tenacity to work on big projects is unrelenting.

Barry Feaker is a constant reminder why I am here and that little things do make a difference. Sally Zellers is the cheerleader of our community. Her love of the community is contagious.

Shelly Buhler is soft and reminds me that carrying a big stick is not always beneficial. Tara Dimick and Corrie Wright are the lights of the next generation and I know that the torches we light today will continue to grow

What is something that few people know about you?

My daddy was in the Air Force and worked in the space program. He

Nancy Johnson has over 25 years of experience in both the non-profit and business community. She serves on a number of committees, and initiates and carries the Community Resources Council’s mission to ensure that the TopekaShawnee County community has a planned, coordinated and efficient continuum of health, education, welfare, and recreational services dealing effectively with the needs of its entire people.

to as the Jackie Kennedy of Shawnee

trained the chimpanzees that preceded the astronauts into space. I’ve heard

brighter because of them.

The Community Resources Council focuses on coalitions, why?

With today’s economy we are

all the jokes!

forced to be innovative and think

Why Topeka?

Directors believe coalitions are one of

The question should be, “Why Not Topeka?” The community is alive with such excitement and commitment for

outside the box.

CRC’s Board of

the answers in expanding resources, both money and/or personnel.

east side to NOTO to the awakening of

What makes a business or nonprofit successful?

downtown to the Google experiment

Treating everyone the way you

tomorrow. From the dreams of the

– again, Why Not Topeka?

want to be treated and not taking yourself so serious – humor goes a

Who are your heroes and why?

Anita Wolgast has been referred

long ways!

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Fall 2010

55

Dominic’s passion fo translates r work to the wh ole team.

Sometim es that trans it’s the only thing lates.

BE A LEADER. THINK BEYOND THE LABEL. JustÊbecauseÊsomeoneÊtalksÊ differentlyÊdoesnÕtÊmeanÊtheyÊ donÕtÊbringÊsomethingÊofÊvalueÊ toÊtheÊconversation.ÊTheÊsameÊ goesÊforÊpeopleÊwithÊdisabilities.Ê Leaders evolve. Get the “Best Practices” and evolve your workforce now.

To THINK BEYOND THE LABEL in Kansas, visit ThinkBeyondtheLabel.com Under Start Hiring > Find Local Resources, select “Kansas”.

56

Fall 2010

TK Magazine