TK Business Magazine Winter 2015

WINTER 2015

TK Business Magazine

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Excellence is here.

The lasT Thing you wanT is for your child To need a pediaTric oncologisT. BuT if she did, The firsT Thing you’d wanT is for ThaT oncologisT To Be righT here.

Nobody wants a cancer diagnosis for their little one. Yet when it does happen, it’s good to know there are pediatric cancer specialists right here.

Jakica Tancabelic, M.D. Pediatric Oncologist/ Hematologist

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Youmna Othman, M.D. Pediatric Oncologist/ Hematologist

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Dr. Jakica Tancabelic and Dr. Youmna Othman both have proven track records in the field. Their expertise means more kids stay close to home for cancer care. Watch a video to learn more about these specialists at stormontvail.org.

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CONTENTS

FEATURES ► PG 10

Stop Giving Back

Local companies are going “all-in” to pay it forward. ► PG 18

The New Hire

Six suggestions to improve education and recruitment of entry-level business professionals. ► PG 20

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Topeka’s Top 20 Under 40

Meet the Jayhawk Area Council Boy Scouts’ 2015 Honorees. ► PG 56

Made in Topeka

Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant PT’s Coffee Roasting Co. Glacier’s Edge Vineyard & Winery

58 IN EVERY ISSUE ► PG 66

TK Business Experts

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Thomas Underwood Doug Von Feldt Eric Stafford Rich Drinon Gina Penzig ► PG 77

Scene About Town Who’s who at local business events. ► PG 78

Last Word: Bryon Schlosser

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TK talks with Bryon Schlosser, CEO, Owner & General Counsel Coldwell Banker Griffith & Blair American Home.

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From the publisher Tara Dimick

Over the last six years we've partnered with the Jayhawk Area Council Boy Scouts to showcase their annual selection of the top 20 professionals under the age of 40. Over that time, here are four things that I've learned.

By the way, that down time makes them better employees. And, by establishing a company culture based on working smarter and honoring time away, your business creates a culture that employees of all generations will thrive in.

Don’t be quick to judge them.

They want to be the change.

Yeah, I’m a Generation Xer, and I still have a tendency to group all young people as Millennials, like it defines them.

But time and time again, these 20 Under 40s break the stereotypes and assert themselves as hard working, passionate and loyal. See them as whole and valuable, not as their generation, and you will find greatness.

They want to work smarter.

I think the idea of work/life balance can be confused with laziness or lack of loyalty. But this is far from the reality.

Young professionals today love to work hard, but they love working smarter even more. This desire, if nurtured and supported, will help your company become more effective as these young professionals look for solutions to bottlenecks and inefficiencies in your company. In return for their efforts to work smarter, young professionals are looking for employers who will allow them to unplug from work without feeling guilty or worrying about losing their job.

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Hosted by Tara Dimick, Owner & Publisher of TK Business Magazine

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We continually see incredibly high engagement in the community by the 20 Under 40 honorees. They are drawn to service and have a strong desire to make the community better. They are excited to get their hands dirty in the work that is necessary to change the community and the world. They live by Gandhi’s words, “Be the change that you want to see in the world.”

They have overcome adversity.

No, they have not had to enlist in the draft or felt the suffering of the Great Depression, or even walked nine miles to school up hill, both ways, in the snow. However, many have overcome tremendous adversity. They have lost children, fought in wars, lived in poverty and overcome life-threatening diseases.

So before you decided that all young people have it easy and don’t know what it is like to overcome hardship, take some advice from the Golden Generation…

Don’t judge a book by its cover.

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CHECK OUT WHAT'S ON

magazine.com Check out TKMagazine.com to keep up on business happenings in Topeka. Get expert business advice and up-to-date information on business in Topeka. Send your news releases to tara@tkmagazine.com. Trending now:

BUSINESS GROWTH

PUBLISHER Tara Dimick EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lisa Loewen CREATIVE DIRECTOR/DESIGNER Janet Faust COVER PHOTOGRAPHER Nathan Ham, Nathan Ham Photography

Begin with 3 things to stop the End in Mind doing to your RICK LEJUERRNE brand now MARTHA BARTLETT PILAND

Performance Evaluations What to keep in mind KRISTINA DIETRICK when considering IT outsourcing The holy grail of KATE FREDRICKSON marketing ALISSA MENKE

WINTER 2015 Contributors

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CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Melissa Brunner Nathan Ham Keith Horinek Rachel Lock CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Esmond Alleyne Melissa Brunner Lisa Loewen James Martin CONTRIBUTING EXPERTS Rich Drinon Gina Penzig Eric Stafford Thomas Underwood Doug VonFeldt ADVERTISING SALES Tara Dimick 785.217.4836 tara@tkmagazine.com PUBLISHING COMPANY E2 Communications PO Box 67272 Topeka, KS 66667 785.217.4836

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CRC ANNOUNCES AWARD OF EXCELLENCE HONOREES

2015 TK Business Magazine is published by E2 Communications, Inc. Reproduction or use of this publication in any manner without written permission of the publisher is prohibited.

MARS CHOCOLATE AND DOWNTOWN TOPEKA, INC. ANNOUNCE KANSAS CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL READ MORE AT TKMAGAZINE.COM Share your news on TKmagazine.com. Email your business news to tara@tkmagazine.com.

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@TK...Topeka's Business Magazine

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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 therein. 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 company. 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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WINTER 2015

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STOP GIVING BACK

Companies are going “all-in” to

PAY IT FORWARD.

By Lisa Loewen Photos Submitted In today’s business world, the term “giving back” has become almost cliché.

Everyone does it.

continued on page 12

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Advisors Excel employees volunteering for local food drive.

continued from page 10 Businesses understand the importance of helping others; they give back to the community because it plays an integral role in making their company successful; they want to do something for others because it is the right thing to do; they have worked to create a culture of giving within their organization.

However, giving back may not be enough anymore. Some companies are discovering the rewards of aggressively paying it forward.

Yes. There is a difference between the two. When we give back, we are doing service “for” people. We give to causes that ask us for money. We allocate charitable funds based on how the company performed that year. When we pay it forward, we serve “with” people.

We give generously without tying it to our bottom line. We give without being asked, simply because it is the right thing to do. The power that separates those two words is immense, and the gift of giving pays greater dividends when we choose to serve “with” rather than “for.”

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Many Topeka businesses are already actively working to shift their focus to paying it forward rather than simply giving back.

MAKING AN IMPACT

Advisors Excel is no stranger to making an impact in the community.

With headline grabbing fundraisers such as its company wide ice bucket challenge and monetary donations to various organizations and causes throughout Topeka, Advisors Excel is known for its civic involvement. However, founders Cody Foster, David Callanan and Derek Thompson wanted to make a bigger impact on issues affecting the local community. They made a calculated decision to stop giving back and start paying it forward.

“We are excited about really engaging our employees in going out and serving,” Foster said. “We are finding ways to do things in our own style.”

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Strategic Giving

That Advisors Excel style is to go “allin” to make the biggest impact possible.

Instead of granting a few employees time off here and there to volunteer in the community, Advisors Excel looked at how it could magnify that desire for service to facilitate greater change. The first step was to create a new full-time position for a Community Outreach Coordinator responsible for identifying opportunities for Advisors Excel employees to serve the community. The second step involved narrowing the charitable focus to three or four specific causes.

“Our shift has gone from what good can we do for the community to how we can work together to do the MOST good,” Thompson said.

Advisors Excel’s goal going forward is to make a quantifiable difference in those core causes by investing money, time and resources.

Investing Money, Time & Resources

The partnership with Harvesters is the first example of that new model for paying it forward. In September, Advisors Excel pledged $500,000 ($100,000 per year for the next five years) to feed more than 750,000 people in Kansas and Missouri.

In addition to financial support, Advisors Excel plans to commit 4,000 hours of employee time and resources over the next year. Every Thursday, from noon to 5 p.m., the company will send groups of 20 to 40 people from various departments to work alongside other Harvesters volunteers making sure people have access to quality food. This continuous cycle will allow employees to rotate through the volunteer process every eight weeks and provide Harvesters with much needed manpower. “Giving money is cool, giving people is powerful,� Foster said.

Pay It Forward Culture

Paying it forward is not only good for the community; it is also good for business. Callanan says employee morale has improved because working together for a common good creates a sense of teamwork within the organization.

continued on page 14

Advisors Excel employees volunteer at Harvesters.

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continued from page 13 Dustin Campbell, annuity operations consultant, says he feels honored to work for a company that gives him the opportunity to volunteer in the community.

“I believe everyone can and should give back at some level to their community, but what Advisors is doing is more than giving back. These guys are committed to making a difference, and it is contagious,” Campbell said.

That sense of pride helps with employee recruitment and retention, which in turn creates a compelling business environment.

“A generous business is attractive to people,” Foster said, “and having a company made up of generous people is attractive to potential advisors.”

The Big Picture

Advisors Excel praises the generosity of the people in our community.

Businesses, both large and small, open their hearts and their wallets to support local causes. Callanan says one of the biggest factors behind their shift toward more aggressive giving tactics is the desire to provide a platform for other businesses to join the movement. They invite other companies to partner with Advisors Excel in their efforts to pay it forward.

“We’ve been really engaged in the community, but we’ve never really talked about it,” Callanan said. “We will probably be more proactive in communicating what we do because there are a lot of good things going on in Topeka and people don’t hear enough about them. We feel like there is a lot of momentum going on right now and we want to encourage others to jump in and participate.”

PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE

Founded on the principle of “People Helping People,” Educational Credit Union has developed creative ways to allow more than just their employees to serve the community. They offer their credit union members the opportunity to pay it forward as well.

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Empowering Members

As a huge supporter of TARC, Inc., ECU employees have been volunteering at Winter Wonderland and participating in their golf tournament for several years. However, Jennifer Kirmse, vice president of business development, said the company wanted to do more than just volunteer their time. After considering their options, ECU created the TARC Visa debit card to allow their credit union members to get involved. Every time a member swipes and signs, ECU donates $.10 to TARC. In 2014, ECU donated more than $21,000 to TARC, and this year they are on track to up that total to $24,000.

That program was so successful that ECU opted to create a similar card

TK Business Magazine

for another cause it holds dear—The Topeka Rescue Mission. They launched The Topeka Rescue Mission debit card in November 2014 at the Rescue Run. “The Rescue Mission does an amazing job of helping people, feeding them, giving them a place to stay, and work skills development,” Kirmse said.

“We just felt compelled to be part of that effort.”

Today, almost 500 members carry The Topeka Rescue Mission debit card.

And ECU is on track to donate at least $10,000 to the Rescue Mission this year as a result of the debit card and their holiday skip-a-pay program.

“We wanted to put it into the hands of our members and allow them to have a voice,” Kirmse said.

continued on page 16

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FOCUSED COMMITMENT

For one Topeka company, paying it forward means taking care of our furry friends as well. Hill’s Pet Nutrition began its Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love program in 2002 as way to improve shelter pet adoption rates.

Food, Shelter & Love

ECU employees raise money for TARC all year long. continued from page 14

Empowering Employees

That desire to serve permeates the entire organization. Employees volunteer their time for various community causes, management supports an environment of service, and even the executives roll up their sleeves and join the cause.

“Our president is an amazing sport,” Kirmse said. “In December 2013, he challenged us that if we could raise $2,500 in a week for TARC, he would shave his head. We raised $3,140, and he shaved his head at the holiday party.”

In addition to the community impact cards and volunteer opportunities, ECU is involved with the Topeka Credit Union Foundation, which raises funds and donates to community organizations.

Employees donate a portion of their paycheck to this foundation, which has contributed more than $100,000 to local non-profits.

“We are a community partner,” Kirmse said. “We want to support the community we live in, we work in and send our kids to school in to make it the best place to live and raise our families.”

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Recognizing that healthy animals are more likely to be adopted, the company looked for ways it could work with animal shelters to improve the health of the shelter pets. Logic dictated that a company specializing in pet nutrition could offer the biggest impact by assisting with the quality of food the dogs and cats in the shelters received. As a result, Hill’s began partnering with non-profit animal shelters by offering its Science Diet brand of pet foods at a significant discount.

“Most shelters want and need help to save as many pets as possible through adoption, and healthy pets are more adoptable pets,” said Dianne Perkins, U.S. Shelter Program Manager.

The program also provides a free bag of Science Diet pet food with each adoption to ensure a better transition for pets to their new home.

Since its inception, the Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love Program has donated more than $280 million worth of Science Diet brand foods to more than 800 shelters nationwide, helping to feed more than 100,000 homeless pets each day.

Topeka’s Helping Hands Humane Society has been one of Hill’s shelter partners for the past 15 years. Dick Kline, executive director of Helping Hands Humane Society, says Hill’s Pet Nutrition been a long time caring and supportive partner with Helping Hands, providing educational activities, sponsoring community events and providing consultation service on animal nutritional care issues.

“Without this partnership, we would be at a loss to be able to provide the level of feeding needed for the animals in our care,” Kline said.

Kline said Hill’s recognizes the unique challenges that shelters have in caring for and treating the needs of homeless animals.

“These are animals that typically arrive here in distressed condition— distressed medically, nutritionally and emotionally,” Kline said. “Hill’s partners with us by working to understand the problems that we encounter with our homeless population and help find solutions.”

While the shelter benefits from the resources and support provided by Hill’s, the animals are the ones who truly benefit from this program.

“By getting started on a healthy diet while in the shelter that can be continued by the pet owner, the animal can lead a long, happy and healthy life,” Kline said.

Hill's provides a free bag of food with every adoption.

TK Business Magazine

Tails on the Trail

Hill’s has also been instrumental in the success of local fundraisers such as Tails on the Trail, a dog-friendly 5k Run/Walk that benefits Helping Hands.

“Hill’s has been our main sponsor from day one,” said Lena Hayden, chairperson for Tails on the Trail. “Not only do they contribute financially, but they are also involved every step of the way through their involvement with our planning committee to participation on the day of our event.”

Hill’s support allows Tails on the Trails to keep animals top of mind rather than having to worry about covering expenses. Hill’s employees also attend the event every year, handing out dog and cat treats to the fourlegged race participants.

“It doesn’t get any better than that,” Hayden said. “Their support makes Tails on the Trail a huge success.”

TK

Hill's sponsors "Tails on the Trail."

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THE NEW HIRE

Six suggestions to improve education and recruitment of entry level business professionals

By Esmond Alleyne, MBA, CPA and James Martin, MBA, CPA

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Internships = Better Hires.

A recent Michigan State University Recruiting Trends report cited internships as the #1 key recruiting strategy for companies. The study also listed internships as #1 in its list of campus activities, ahead of leadership positions, civic engagement and study abroad. Internships have emerged as the ideal means for companies and students to “test drive” each other prior to making a career decision.

Meaningful internships, where students are exposed to the various facets of the company operations and provided with real work, are the company’s best gateway to eventually hire the business student. Universities such as Washburn University promote internships, offer college credit in many situations, and make it easy on the employer. Internships, which once lasted a semester, have grown into open-ended internships whereby companies retain the best interns for multiple semesters until they graduate.

Recruiting Has Changed.

Have You Kept Up?

The days of hour-long on-campus interviews are not entirely a thing of the past, but other virtual locations are now much more prominent.

Internet job postings on university career service and employer websites are mandatory. Student use of websites, such as Indeed.com, is growing too. Don’t panic. Face-toface contact is not gone yet. Many opportunities for face-to-face contact still exist on campus today, but you can’t rely solely upon it.

If you are a “known commodity” to students and have a track record in recruiting on campus, an advertised table

TK Business Magazine

(staffed with company personnel), in the School of Business lobby or a “mixer” in the evening in the union or at a local coffee shop or sports bar is a low-cost way to meet students. If you are a relatively unknown or smaller scale recruiter on campus, volunteering to speak to a class, presenting to a business club or having a table at the university career fair work better.

Getting young alumni (from the targeted university) who work for you involved as soon as possible is key. These steps serve to maximize your exposure to students. You still need to formally interview them. Don’t be shocked if your competition has already interviewed your #1 prospect digitally while you are trying to schedule them into your office.

Save a Buck, Lose a Prospect.

That brand new business graduate or even the top drawer intern can be a difficult person to get hired. Top students will definitely have multiple offers in the market today. They will be looking for the job that provides interesting, challenging work with opportunities for professional growth.

Work/life balance will be important, as will company culture, but make no mistake about it, the starting salary is key. The starting salary offer should be market-based. It is no time to pinch pennies; you won’t likely get a second shot.

Money Isn’t Everything.

When you look at the most successful recruiters, you quickly see it is much more than just throwing money at students.

In many cases, employee benefits are

more important to students than the money. It is not hard for an accounting firm to capture the attention of an undergraduate when it tells her/him that the firm offers 20+ days off work annually, with pay, beginning in their first year of work. Now there are caveats that come with those days off, but I am not sure the student is listening when the caveats are discussed. Be as creative with benefits as you can.

Get Millennials to “Like” You.

Millennials were raised on technology, providing a phenomena you can tap into. Young professionals today are well connected through social media to their friends, classmates, and the yetto-graduate cohorts at their school. If your company is viewed as a good place to work, everyone will soon know it. In those cases, you will find the hiring process at a specific university for a second position much easier than the first hire there.

A Job Is Not a Career Path.

Starting one’s career in business can lead to multiple opportunities following vertical, horizontal, and diagonal moves. You will have limited opportunities to demonstrate this to potential hires.

Your business is unique. Inform the next generation of employees about opportunities at your company now. And do it a couple of times; they may not be listening the first time. Waiting until the senior interview to discuss career paths is much too late.

Washburn is Internship Central

The primary reason behind the success of Washburn University’s internship program is that Washburn is in Topeka. Topeka is brimming with good financial and accounting employment, which is the core of our internship program. Topeka provides a cluster of headquarters—large public companies, small entrepreneurial startups and everything in between. Washburn also has the ability to annually send interns to Kansas City, Wichita, and other cities in the region. Below is a partial list of recent employers of Washburn interns: Goodyear Tire and Rubber Capitol Federal Payless Shoes Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas Hill’s Pet Nutrition Advisors Excel Federal Home Loan Bank Security Benefit / se2 U.S. Bank McGladrey Westar Energy Briggs Auto Group

KPMG Waddell and Reed Koch Industries The Sunflower Music Festival City of Topeka PwC BNSF KPERs BKD CPAs Berberich Trahan & Co. Mize Houser & Company Wendling Noe Nelson & Johnson

CBIZ Douthett & Co CPA Steven A Ridpath, CPA PA SS&C Solutions, Inc. AGH CPAs & Advisors Stephen R Iliff CPA Myers & Stauffer Cummins & Coffman Topeka Tax Service KD Wallstreet Mortgage Advisors

Close the Gaps

In the university’s eyes, gaps observed by businesses of their employees in leadership, strategic thinking and execution, or change management involve high-level skills. Mastery of these skills are likely goals in most business degree programs. Other skill gaps such as planning, budgeting, forecasting, cost management, and internal financial reporting/ performance management are more closely associated with accounting programs. Often closing gaps can become part of a course objective if the gap is communicated to the university.

Communication between industry and university can easily occur through means such as companies participating on school advisory committees or by just meeting with school faculty and administration.

They can obtain your input and give you feedback regarding the education of the next generation of business professionals. In business, all changes take time. To get something changed in academia, progress comes about slowly, and it often pays to be the squeaky wheel. Businesses need to be that squeaky wheel.

Adding a certificate or a degree program at your chosen university is not out of the question. Many times the largest impediment to accomplishing this is the university’s budget. Offers by industry to fund programs or endow scholarships or faculty chairs will help sell such programs when you get that sit-down meeting with the School of Business dean.

TK

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Esmond Alleyne, MBA, CPA is a Lecturer at Washburn University, School of Business. He is the Former Vice President of Global Information Technology for Euro Africa Shared Services Organization at Colgate Palmolive Company.

James Martin is the Henrietta & G.W. Snyder Jr. Professorship in Business at Washburn University. He is a CPA and graduated from the University of Texas with an MPA. He completed a 22 year business career, retiring as the senior vice president of finance at Westar Energy.

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RECOGNIZING TODAY'S LEADERS 2015 marks the sixth year that the Jayhawk Area Council Boy Scouts of America have presented the “Top 20 Professionals Under 40” to recognize young professionals who are impacting the future of Topeka in a positive way.

In order to be considered for this honor, a person must first be nominated. Nominees then complete an application focused on personal and professional goals, leadership, professional experience, and community involvement.

Those applications are then reviewed and vetted by a selection committee made up of community leaders that have the challenging task of narrowing that list down to the top 20.

This year’s honorees serve, lead, give and inspire. The following pages provide a glimpse into the lives of these young leaders.

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Congrats Emma Starkey

(

20 under 40

)

We’re happy to have you on our team

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Dr. Jennifer Harader

Physician, Co-Founder and Co-Owner Oasis Family Medicine Associates, LLC

Best Advice Received

I have had the privilege of many mentors in various stages of life, and my interpretation of their advice, in culmination, is: Work hard, expect much from yourself and others, serve and love people.

Superpower

Listening. I understand the importance of really being heard by your spouse, your parent, your doctor. I learned long ago to let the other person speak first, listen and respond sincerely.

Accomplishments Most Proud Of

Personal: My husband and I recently celebrated our 15th anniversary, and in a time when healthy marriages are difficult to maintain, I am really proud that we are still going strong. It is one of the best gifts we can give our sons.

Career: Leaving a traditional medical practice and taking control of my professional life is my most significant career accomplishment. My previous work setting was a traditional medical practice, with emphasis on quantity over quality, numbers over names, and protocols over patients. This was not compatible with my style of patient care. I worked hard advocating for change, leading by example and trying to “be the change,” but the energy spent felt like it never bore fruit. The system didn’t budge.

Recognizing that I had the power to change my circumstances instead of accepting the status quo took time, but I finally educated myself about the options and took a leap of faith. In my work at Oasis Family Medicine, I have a significantly increased level of professional satisfaction. More importantly, I am taking better care of patients and participating in a viable solution to the broad and overwhelming problem with healthcare delivery.

“To say that she has “good bedside manner” is insufficient.

You feel like the most important person in the world when you’re talking to her. Dr. Harader’s care for the whole person does not stay at her office; she does it wherever she goes.”

— Corey S. Fields

Nathan Ham Photography

“To leave the security of employment and develop an independently owned and operated primary care clinic in this environment is beyond risky from a financial perspective.

However, in her entrepreneurial spirit and her desire to spend even more time with her patients, she researched and developed a model that not only challenges the status quo, but also fits her vision for delivering the very highest level of personalized care directly for her patients.”

— Robert J. Erickson

St. Joseph Medical Center Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Chemistry from Ottawa University Doctor of Medicine from the University of Kansas School of Medicine Hometown: Colby, KS • Spouse: Matt Harader • Children: Jackson (8), Blake (5) • Age: 37

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of Kansas

Topeka Business Hall of Fame Congratulations to the 2016 Laureates: Andrew C. Corbin

neil dobler

diCK PrAtt

eugene williAmS

blue Cross blue Shield of Kansas

real estate entrepreneur

bartlett & west

Junior Achievement of Kansas annually honors businessmen and women to inspire young people to follow in the laureates’ footsteps. A committee selected this year’s laureates based on criteria including their business excellence, entrepreneurial spirit, community impact, leadership style, local influence and enduring legacy.

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Celebrate these leaders Thursday, March 3, 2016 Ramada Topeka Downtown 785.235.3700 or amy@kansasja.org WINTER 2015

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Rachel Sachs

Director of Life Operations Advisors Excel

Role Model

That's an easy one, my daughter Delaney is my role model.

Delaney was born weighing only 1 lb. 10 oz. and my son Barrett was born weighing 1 lb. 8 oz. At one week old, the twins were given a 40 percent survival rate. Unfortunately at just nine days old Barrett lost his battle.

Delaney came home with an NG tube and an apnea monitor.

Two days prior to me returning to work, she was at 100 percent oral aversion. We had a nanny come to the house to provide for her while my husband and I worked. Numerous times we would have to leave work immediately to re-insert her NG tube after she had pulled it out. We would often wake up in the middle of the night to find she had ripped out her NG tube and would have to restrain her to re-insert her feeding tube through her nose into her stomach.

The strain that our family endured the first year of her life still leaves me in awe, and I wonder how we were able to do it.

Delaney is truly my little miracle baby and continues to amaze me every day. Her strength and perseverance in overcoming all of the battles that have been thrown at her are an inspiration to me and everyone who knows her story. Every time I look at her, I forget all of the trivial things in life that do not matter, and continue looking forward to and striving to be the best mother, wife and leader for my family that I can be.

At this point in your life, what do you know for sure?

I know to hang on to the ones you hold closest and never let go; life is short and can change at the drop of a hat. I strive to live my life to the fullest with those I love and give back to those organizations that I truly cherish.

Nathan Ham Photography

“Rachel is a key leader on our Life Insurance Team here at Advisors Excel. She came in on the ground floor five years ago to a new start-up division with a team at that time of just five people. She did the tough work, getting her hands dirty in learning and developing systems so that today we now have a team of over 50 people. Rachel shows up every day with an amazing attitude and heart to improve herself and others.”

— David Callanan

Advisors Excel “Rachel is smart, creative, innovative and a true leader. Her demonstrated leadership and vision have made a positive impact on our organization.”

— Ken Jackson

Greater Kansas Chapter March of Dimes Bachelor of Arts, Washburn University • Masters in Business Administration, Baker University Hometown: Topeka, KS • Spouse: Robby Sachs • Children: Delaney (4), Barrett (deceased) • Age: 32

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“I wanted a creative alliance to help grow my art business.

I found one.”

We may not be able to draw a straight line, but as bankers, we’ve come up with some very creative solutions to help fine artist, Stan Metzger, grow his art business.

From a flexible credit line for supplies and painting trips, to loans for a studio expansion and marketing expenses, you could say we’ve created a masterpiece of a business plan for Stan. So, how can we help finance your dreams?

Stan Metzger, Fine Artist www.stanmetzger.com

3001 SW Wanamaker Rd. • 6th & MacVicar - 2620 SW 6th Avenue www.alliancebankks.com 785-271-1800

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Jessica G. Domme

Assistant Attorney General Criminal Litigation Division Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s Office

Accomplishments Most Proud Of

Personal: I am proud to be “Mom” to Alexa and Avary and a stepmom to Evan. Motherhood provides me with balance and inspiration. I love experiencing life through their eyes, with unwavering faith, abundant joy and endless optimism. I cherish exploring the world with them, getting sand between our toes and mud on our faces along the way.

Career: I am the most proud as an Assistant Attorney General when I am able to make a difference in the life of a victim or victim’s family by holding an offender accountable. As a domestic violence prosecutor, the cases I handle present many challenges due to the nature of the relationship between the victim and the offender. A strong but understanding voice is needed to respect the rights of the victim and hold the offender accountable for his or her actions.

Role Model

Growing up my role models were Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher. I admired their commitment to what was right and their ability to effect change. Churchill and Thatcher are great leaders and individuals who improved society by challenging the norm. Through their examples, I started down the road of public service only to find my true role model—my husband, Lawrence.

My husband served for 12 years in the Kansas Army National Guard and then joined the Topeka Police Department as a law enforcement officer. His sense of duty, commitment and loyalty are admirable and challenge me every day to do more.

At this point in your life, what do you know for sure?

I know that life is too short and each moment is a blessing.

Embrace life. Seize each opportunity and adventure—run through the waves at high tide, climb a mountain and hear the rush of a waterfall, rest by a lake and take in the tranquility—live life!

Nathan Ham Photography

“I can think of no one better qualified than Jessica to serve as an example of leadership.”

— Jeffrey A. Chanay

Office of Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt “Jessica’s energy, passion, and candidness are a breath of fresh air in our 150-plus-year old church, and we are grateful for her vibrant presence among us. Our church’s mission is to “share God’s love from the heart of Topeka,” and Jessica helps us do this.”

— The Rev. Sandra Stogsdill Brown

First Presbyterian Church Bachelor of Arts, Washburn University • Juris Doctor, Washburn University School of Law Hometown: Arnold, KS • Spouse: Lawrence Domme • Children: Evan (20), Alexa (5), Avary (4) • Age: 38

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Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. is an independent CPA firm providing audit, review and attest services, and works closely with CBIZ, a business consulting, tax and financial services provider.

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Brett Durbin

Founder/Executive Director Trash Mountain Project Role Model

My role model is Ed Rotz. He has been my pastor since I was a child and has always shown me an incredible amount of grace and love throughout my life. He is the definition of a humble leader.

Best Advice Received

My mom and dad taught me from a very early age to make my faith in Jesus Christ the number one priority in my life.

Superpower

Depending on God for all things. I would call this a superpower because depending on someone you can’t see just doesn’t come naturally; this is truly counting on the supernatural.

Accomplishments Most Proud Of

Personal: I have no idea where I would be in life if I would not have married Jaelle, and I simply love being on this journey with her.

Career: Starting Trash Mountain Project. It was a big step of faith for my family to start this organization, and it has been the most rewarding and challenging adventure. Serving the poorest of the poor around the world is a blessing in my life that is hard to describe.

At this point in your life, what do you know for sure?

God is real, and He loves us in ways that we will never fully understand.

Nathan Ham Photography

“Brett continues to shine in his guidance of our organization through record growth and interaction with donors of all types, from a few hundred dollars per year to more than a million.”

— Timm Collins

Trash Mountain Project “As part of his outreach, his organization is experimenting with building aquaponics facilities overseas (producing fish and leafy vegetables) so that the schools, churches, and food kitchens he has built can become self-supporting.”

— Jim Congdon

Topeka Bible Church Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, Washburn University • Master of Criminal Justice, Washburn University Master of Arts Christian Leadership, Asbury Theological Seminary • Hometown: Topeka, KS • Age: 35 Spouse: Jaelle Durbin • Children: Gabriel (9), Matthew (7), Susan (5), Josiah (3), Hannah (3 months)

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Brendan Jensen

Technology Strategist Jensen Communications

City Councilperson City of Topeka

Role Model

Thomas Edison never failed at anything; he just figured out a number of ways to make something that didn’t work. No one ever benefits from pessimism, and continuing to say something can’t be done will never get the idea off the ground. We can’t be afraid of failure or we will never try anything. At the same time, we need to remember that sometimes simply giving up when things get tough is also not an option.

Superpower

Dad Jokes, they make everyone laugh. Mostly at me.

Accomplishments Most Proud Of

Personal: Getting Elected to City Council. Showed how much the community believes in me.

Career: Starting my own business. Always been a dream to work for myself.

At this point in your life, what do you know for sure?

That I must live every day to the fullest.

Nathan Ham Photography

“Brendan has established himself as one of Topeka’s leaders.

A strong proponent of a revitalized downtown, he has purchased a building to help accelerate the revitalization process. He is always eager to provide his time and resources to better Topeka. His election to the city council is truly representative of his commitment to doing whatever he can to be a leader for our community.”

— Vince Frye

Downtown Topeka, Inc.

“Brendan always has excellent, creative suggestions and participates in a community group with a positive manner.”

— Larry Wolgast

City of Topeka Mayor

Bachelor of Science in Business Management of Information Technology Systems, Colorado Technical University Hometown: Rogers, AR • Fiancé: Dr. Amber Beckley • Age: 33

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Owner and Chiropractor Beckley Chiropractic

Dr. Amber Beckley

Role Model

Malala Yousifazi is the epitome of courage and strength.

Best Advice Received

Live the present moment wisely and earnestly.

— Buddha

Superpower

Caffeine Empowerment. I morph into a super productive human.

Accomplishments Most Proud Of

Personal: Passing the chiropractic board exams.

Career: Receiving the 2014 Young Doctor of the Year Award.

At this point in your life, what do you know for sure?

God never gives us more than we can handle.

Why Topeka?

I lived in St. Louis while earning my doctorate in Chiropractic and then in Chicago during my internship. However, being born and raised in Topeka, I wanted to move back to my home town to start my career.

I began managing the family practice, Beckley Chiropractic, which has been specializing in the treatment of neck and lower back pain since 1982. Since my return to Kansas, I have gotten involved with many organizations, including the young professionals group, Fast Forward, the Kansas Chiropractic Association and the Topeka Chamber of Commerce.

Nathan Ham Photography

“Dr. Amber Beckley not only returned to Topeka to build her chiropractic practice, she embraces her city to make it more appealing and vibrant for Topeka residents.”

— Edie Smith

Downtown Topeka, Inc.

“It has been inspiring to watch Amber grow as a business owner, a community advocate and a person.”

— Jennifer Owen Biology Degree, Benedictine College • Doctorate of Chiropractic, Logan College of Chiropractic Hometown: Topeka, KS • Fiancé: Brendan Jensen • Age: 31

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Brett Klausman

Vice President of Operations Midwest Health, Inc.

Best Advice Received

“If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.”

— Marty Mcfly, Back to the Future

Role Model

I know it is a bit cliché, but I would have to pick both my mother and my father. The two of them built this company 38 years ago, and over the years I have been blessed with learning some of the best qualities from both of them.

My father is the visionary who never had a problem taking risks, which instilled a sense of entrepreneurship in me. In contrast, my mother is the pragmatic type. While she is no longer working in the company, she approached things with more caution. This helped me develop a sense of due diligence that I link to being data driven in my decisions. I continue to learn from them not just in my professional life, but my personal life as well.

Superpower

Sleep. I have the ability to fall asleep anywhere at any time.

Accomplishments Most Proud Of

Personal: Marrying my wife and having two wonderful boys.

Career: Implementation of an electronic health record. It has the ability to continue to drive our quality while decreasing costs.

At this point in your life, what do you know for sure?

That I don’t really know much.

“Brett is committed to making Topeka a better place to live.”

— Vince Frye

Downtown Topeka, Inc.

Nathan Ham Photography

“Brett’s contribution to our community is invaluable. He brings a fantastic mix of business sense and creative energy to any topic or event. Brett has an appetite for learning, natural leadership abilities and a desire to give back. He is one of Topeka’s finest young leaders. Brett has the qualities I would like to see in all our future leaders. He is honest, responsible, sensitive to others, intelligent, service oriented, curious and has a controlled ego with a sense of humor.”

— Greg Schwerdt

Schwerdt Design Group Inc. Bachelors of Business Administration, University of Kansas Hometown: Topeka, KS • Spouse: Liz Klausman • Children: Chase (7), Conner (4) • Age: 37

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Jay Loschke

Commercial Loan Officer Best Advice Received

“It’s easier to stay out than to get out.”

— Anonymous

Role Model

My mom is the epitome of the word brave. While there are a million reasons why my mom is the person I look up to, primarily she is my role model because she doesn’t know the meaning of the word quit even when standing eye to eye with adversity that would have crushed anyone else. She’s the strongest person I know. She’s made more sacrifices for me and my brother and my sister than could ever be counted. She’s led by example and has taught her children the meaning of caring and the meaning of love.

Accomplishments Most Proud Of

Personal: This is still in its early stages, but I am proud of creating a mentorship program that connects high school and college age students with individuals who can help make those young people aware of the numerous career opportunities that exist around them and subsequently expose them to the financial outcomes of those opportunities.

Career: That I have been able to develop an immeasurable number of relationships that may have started out as strictly professional but have blossomed into lasting friendships and alliances.

At this point in your life, what do you know for sure?

That tomorrow isn’t promised.

“Jay’s drive and desire to make Topeka a tremendous place to live and work is very commendable. He is civic-minded, business-minded and compassionate for our City.”

— Edie Smith

Downtown Topeka, Inc.

Nathan Ham Photography

“Jay has played an integral role in promoting the city’s attributes to young professionals by serving as chair of the Fast Forward program and by helping formulate a high school mentoring program through his participation in the Leadership Greater Topeka 2015 class. Jay is also an ex-officio Chamber board member, who brings passion and vision to his volunteer endeavors. He is committed to enhancing Topeka’s quality of life, particularly with regard to attracting and retaining top talent.”

— Kim Gronniger

Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce Bachelor in Business Administration, Washburn University Hometown: Osage, KS • Age: 34

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Risk Manager Key Staffing

Jamie Stafford

Role Model

There are multiple people that have positively impacted my character. Larry Robbins has helped me develop professionally and taught me to demand respect. Allan Towle is a tremendous example of dependability, and has taught me pride in giving back more than you can get.

The individual that has most prominently influenced the direction of my life is my mother, Patti Bossert. She is a true example of service above self. She has instilled in me characteristics of loyalty, trustworthiness, and dependability. I admire her strength and professionalism in the workplace and community.

Superpower

X-ray Vision. I have the ability to see the potential of people to be productive and successful. I use my superpower every day for the good of our community, whether it is in matching local adults with employment opportunities or fitting children in low-income homes with a brand new pair of shoes.

Accomplishment Most Proud Of

Personal: I lead a group of wonderful volunteers through Topeka South Rotary’s Sole Mates program and we have distributed over 1,000 pairs of shoes and socks to Topeka kids.

Career: Becoming a Certified Staffing Professional. It means I’m knowledgeable in Federal and State Employment Laws.

At this point in your life, what do you know for sure?

With one idea and a team of compassionate individuals, there are no limits. We can be a force for positive change and impact in the community.

“Jamie has driven new programs and initiatives that make and save our company money. Others look to her for direction and expertise.”

— Paul Bossert

Premier Employment Solutions & Key Staffing

Nathan Ham Photography

“Jamie is a young professional who has established a track record of business success, and a strong commitment to volunteer efforts within the community. Jamie’s volunteer spirit led her to join the Topeka South Rotary where another member and she developed a program to provide shoes and socks to needy school children. This program is called Sole Mates and has provided new shoes and socks to 921 Topeka Public School’s students.”

— Larry Robbins

Topeka Public Schools Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Washburn University Hometown: Topeka, KS • Spouse: Jason Stafford • Children: William (3), Johanna (1) • Age: 31

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Juli Watson

Assistant Principal Highland Park High School Superpower

My superpower is working with children and not giving up on them. Every day I work with students who are going through challenges. Regardless of what happens, I help them to pull through and continue on their path to achieve. I never give up.

Role Model

My mother is my role model because she went above and beyond to provide for me and my sisters. She taught me to work hard, never give up, and push through the obstacles to come out on top. I am who I am because of my mother.

Best Advice Received

“God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will show you a way out so you can endure.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

Accomplishment Most Proud Of

Personal: I am most proud of my children. They are the most amazing people I have ever met. It blows my mind every day that I created them.

Career: I am most proud of the relationships I have created with the staff in my building. I have worked hard to support them and help them to accomplish their goals.

At this point in your life, what do you know for sure?

I know I could not have made it where I am today without the grace of God. “Ms. Watson has been a missionary to Africa, a teacher in deprived areas, and an enthusiastic instructor in both high school and university settings over her professional career.

She is highly respected by her colleagues and never presents herself as anyone other than a lifelong learner.”

— Dr. Beryl A. New

Highland Park High School

Nathan Ham Photography

“Her expertise and knowledge in leadership coupled together with the genuine care and connection to the community makes an excellent fit. Her love and compassion for people goes beyond the walls of her school, church and home, and filters into the community after hours and whenever needed.”

— Doria Watson

El Shaddai Ministries Bachelor of Arts in Secondary English Education, MidAmerica Nazarene University Masters of Science in School Leadership, Baker University • Hometown: Norwalk, CT • Age: 35 Spouse: Evan Watson IV • Children: Evan Watson V (16), Elijas Watson (13), O’rion Watson (3), Oliana Watson (1)

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Krystal Wiltz

Logistics Manager / CoE Manager Home Depot Distribution Center

Adjunct Professor Washburn University

Role Model

My role model is my mother, Sandra Clear. She instilled in me the desire to help others, as well as the drive to work hard.

She worked in nonprofits while I was growing up, so I was always helping her, whether it was stuffing envelopes for the United Way, or washing dogs at the Humane Shelter. When she was 48, she decided she wanted to be a teacher so she went back to school and earned her Master’s degree. She taught me that educating others was equally as important as educating myself.

Most recently, she was elected to the Topeka City Council. The experience of her running for that role has taught me that it’s important for your voice to be heard and to fight for those who may not be able to.

Accomplishment Most Proud Of

Personal: When I was with the Target Distribution Center, I was the selected associate from our region to attend a Halloween party at the Target House (Memphis, TN) for kids receiving treatment from St. Jude Hospital. It was such a humbling experience to get to see the joy these kids had while trick or treating through the hallways of the Target House.

Career: Since I have been with The Home Depot, I have been promoted twice in two years. First from an Area Supervisor to an Operations Manager and then to a Logistics Manager. I am committed to The Home Depot values and it is very rewarding to have made the difference I have within the Topeka Distribution Center.

“Krystal shows a level of dedication and discretionary effort above and beyond the scope of her job. Krystal exhibits a winning attitude, commitment, talent, self-discipline, and selflessness. She is in a class all her own, and makes the rest of us better just by knowing her.”

— Scott Dolan

The Home Depot Topeka RDC

Nathan Ham Photography

“Krystal’s heart is genuine and her dedication to help others is evident in the numerous youth serving organizations she is invested in. Her impact is immeasurable because the effort she puts forth is not limited to her own hands but the army of individuals that she constantly inspires to make a difference.

She does this with ease, a smile and never an expectation for recognition; it is always about serving others to rise above and achieve greater things.”

— Dawn McWilliams

Boys & Girls Clubs of Topeka Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media and Advertising, Washburn University • Masters in Business Administration, Baker University Hometown: Topeka, KS • Age: 33

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Recognizing

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This event supports the Jayhawk Area Council, Boy Scouts of America and it’s outreach programs. The Jayhawk Area Council provides character development & leadership programs to more than 5,200 youth annually.

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Sparky Edwards

Chief of Police U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Police Best Advice Received

I was told once by my Army Sergeant Major, “Life is a competition. It is a healthy competition that we must learn to balance and to compete in only against ourselves.” I took that advice and constantly compete with myself no matter where I am in life.

Superpower

I am called “The Bloodhound” because I can sniff (metaphorically of course) out guns and drugs on an oddly supernatural level. It works great in my profession.

Role Model

My mother has stood by my side through some of the best times and those unimaginable. She has consistently shown me what it means to be a good person, a leader and a role model to others around me. My mother went from being a young college student who was pregnant to becoming a doctor. She is amazing and the voice I need in my head and my heart.

Accomplishments Most Proud Of

Personal: I am most proud of my family and my faith above all else.

Career: Becoming the youngest Chief of Police in Federal Uniformed Service. My life’s goal was to be a police officer and care for my community. I am lucky enough as a Chief to get to care for Veterans, my community and my police officers.

At this point in your life, what do you know for sure?

I found God, found love, and I have found many ways to make a difference.

Nathan Ham Photography

“In spending time with Chief Edwards, one quickly recognizes his heart for service. He first demonstrated his willingness for daring sacrifice in serving a fellow soldier, for which he was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for Valor.

He continues laying down his life for others who are in vulnerable positions.”

— Rachel R. Clayton, RT (R)(M)(MR)

Colmery O’Neil V.A. Medical Center “Sparky is generous, caring and deeply committed to giving back to his community and country. We are grateful to have him as an advocate.”

— Louis A. Cabrera

National Guard Youth Foundation Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Intelligence and Masters in Defense Management and Business, American Military University Hometown: Fort Gibson, OK • Spouse: Nikki Edwards • Children: Jenavive (7), Sparky Jr. (4), Gabriel (2) • Age: 32

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Billie Jean Graham

Disbursement and Expense Assurance Manager, Finance Department BNSF Railway

Role Model

My grandpa, George Henry Bergmann. He was a man deep in his faith whose goal in life was to get all his family members to Heaven. He never sacrificed his integrity, and he always helped others in need by giving back to his community through his time, talent and charitable giving. He was a hard worker and worked up until the day he was hospitalized with Leukemia. He never gave up the fight and surpassed all his doctor’s expectations. I aspire to be like him in every aspect of my life.

Superpower

If I had a superpower I’d want it to be healing. It’s hard for me to see someone suffering and not feel a need to help them. I enjoy helping others in need, whether it is volunteering my time, lending an ear to listen or donating to charity.

Career Accomplishments Most Proud Of

Helping with the design and implementation of electronic income withholding orders (E-IWO) at BNSF. It was a two phase implementation and was completed without capital funding dollars. E-IWO allows BNSF to receive child and spousal support orders from state agencies electronically. The interface automatically updates the garnishment orders in the payroll system, which allows orders to be processed timely and decreases the risk of over/under withholding from employees’ paychecks.

At this point in your life, what do you know for sure?

I know for sure that I own many aspects of my life including my happiness, my career, my reactions to situations and my beliefs. It is my individual actions or lack thereof that influence my life. I truly believe everything happens for a reason. It is how I choose to react to the happenings in life that makes all the difference.

“Billie Jean’s claim to fame here at BNSF is an unwavering positive attitude, and an immense drive to get the work done and done right.”

— Penny Kinder

BNSF Railway Nathan Ham Photography

“Upon receiving her degree, Billie Jean pledged a significant gift to the Washburn Foundation, generally unheard of from a recent graduate. In addition, Ms. Graham has served on the Washburn Alumni Association Board of Directors since 2010.

She continues to assist in making Washburn the best it can be.”

— Denise Ottinger, PhD

Washburn University Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance, Washburn University Hometown: Simpson, KS • Spouse: Robert Lee Graham, Jr. • Children: Raelyn Lee Graham (1) • Age: 28

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Hugo “Leo” Cangiani

Community Liaison and Certified Teacher Scott Dual Language Magnet Elementary

Best Advice Received

“Your words and actions are the most valuable things you have in life. And these are things you can control.”

— Leo Cangiani

Watched and learned from parents

Superpower

To lead with love. My outgoing nature allows me to connect and bring out the best in others.

Accomplishments Most Proud Of

Personal: Finding God, because I found my purpose and vocations in life.

Career: Being a part of the education system, especially at Scott Dual Language Magnet Elementary School, because I get to be a part of many kids and families lives in various positive ways and get to see their growth throughout the years.

Role Model

Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate leader, counselor, and servant.

His example inspires my daily living.

At this point in your life, what do you know for sure?

You have the choice to enjoy your life. Love the simplest moments.

Nathan Ham Photography

“Mr. Cangiani is a charismatic individual who immediately connects with anyone he meets. He is always willing to help out anyone in need. He is indeed an individual that contributes immensely to every group he is involved in and makes our community a better place to live.”

— Lalo Muñoz

El Centro of Topeka

“Once he puts his mind to something, he is unstoppable in obtaining his goals.”

— Sarah Lucero, Scott Dual Language School

Topeka Public Schools

Associates Degree, Garden City Community College • Bachelor of Education, Washburn University • Age: 33 Hometown: Buenos Aires, Argentina • Spouse: Maria Cangiani • Children: Milani (9), Gianni (5), Ariani (1), and unborn child in heaven

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Pharmacist Barry’s Drug Center / Dunne’s Pharmacy

Tiffany Strohmeyer

Superpower

Turning lemons into lemonade. I’ve had many lemons thrown my way, including living with end stage kidney disease for the majority of my life. I made a choice to not let the bad things define me. Instead, I’ve used them as motivation to expand my life, and improve the lives of others. Living with a chronic, life threatening illness has made me a better pharmacist, a more compassionate volunteer, and a stronger advocate for those dealing with their own pile of lemons.

Role Model

The mother of the donor of my second kidney transplant.

Not only did she lose a daughter in a horrible cycling accident, she was also left paralyzed. While most would have given up, she has found the strength and courage to live a life filled with hope, love and selflessness.

Best Advice Received

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

— Mahatma Ghandi

Accomplishments Most Proud Of

Personal: My recognition for 20 years of service to Camp Chimer, a summer camp for kids on dialysis or who have had kidney transplants.

Nathan Ham Photography

Career: Meeting and hugging President Barack Obama. As a pharmacist, I believe healthcare should be a right for everyone.

The Affordable Care Act isn’t perfect, but to someone like me, who has a pre-existing condition longer than a driver’s license, it represents a good start at making healthcare accessible for everyone.

“For the past 24 years, Tiffany has lived with kidney disease.

As a teenager, she spent 10 hours every night hooked up to a dialysis machine to stay alive. Tiffany was the first patient in the nation to have a portable dialysis machine so that she could attend college 700 miles from her home. And, she maintained a 4.0 grade point average at Saint Mary’s College of Notre Dame while she did it. Today, Tiffany’s pharmacy practice is more than half about caring for the poorest of the poor. She trains pharmacist and technicians, consults on medication reviews, and staffs a compounding pharmacy alone on shifts around the clock. She developed a drug database for a research company. All of this, in addition to public speaking nationally.”

— Helen Crow

Kirk & Cobb Inc. Chemistry Degree, Saint Mary’s College of Notre Dame • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Washburn University Doctorate of Pharmacy, University of Kansas • Hometown: Manhattan, KS • Age: 39

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Randy Schumacher

Pediatrician PediatricCare Stormont-Vail HealthCare

Role Model

My father has always been my role model. Despite his busy schedule at work, he always made time for my interests and activities and helped shape the man I am today.

Best Advice Received

Never pet a burning dog.

— My Father

Superpower

Empathy. I think that my greatest strength is the ability to connect and understand what others' needs are.

Accomplishments Most Proud Of

Personal: My kids are my biggest accomplishment, and not just having kids, but seeing the people they are shaping into, makes me proud to be their father.

Career: When I started at PediatricCare, I took over for my pediatrician growing up, Dr. Patrick. This was a big honor for me as he has always been someone I have looked up to.

At this point in your life, what do you know for sure?

I know I have a lot left to live and learn.

“Without need for recognition and without personal gain in mind, Dr. Schumacher works to make Shawnee County better from the inside out, starting with our most vulnerable population, our children. Dr. Schumacher recognizes that even one abused or neglected child in our community is one too many.”

— Sara Hortenstine

United Way of Greater Topeka

Nathan Ham Photography

“In addition to being a super and excellent quality physician, he has already distinguished himself in leadership of our Patient-Centered Medical Home project as a part of the Physician Advisory Committee.”

— Eric Voth, M.D., FACP

Stormont-Vail HealthCare

Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, University of Kansas • Doctor of Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine Hometown: Topeka, KS • Spouse: Hannah Schumacher • Children: Oliver (7), Lucy (4), Theo (2) • Age: 33

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What do banks consider when making a decision?

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Suzie Gilbert

Director of Public Relations Security Benefit Corporation

Role Model

My best friend is self-aware, leads by example, and I’m in awe of her work-life balance.

Best Advice Received

Advice on happiness from my mom: “Adjust your expectations.”

Superpower

I’m intuitive and can easily connect with people.

Accomplishments Most Proud Of

Personal: I have cultivated the greatest group of friends.

Career: I’m proud to have landed a career that makes full use of my talents.

At this point in your life, what do you know for sure?

The airplane rule: Before you can take care of anyone else, you must take care of yourself.

“Suzie is trustworthy, bright, creative, perceptive, has great attention to detail, and shows maturity and professionalism well beyond her 27 years. She leads with a caring spirit and positive energy that makes others want to join her cause. And she has a passion for helping others, whether they are coworkers, community partners, or not-for-profit organizations.”

— Michael P. Kiley

Security Benefit Corporation

Nathan Ham Photography

“Suzie is quick to research, inquire, and learn about the topics or situations at hand. She keeps an open mind, listening to and understanding varying points of view on complex or sometimes controversial issues before making her decision.

At that time, she speaks her mind in a poised, professional manner.”

— Karla Clem

Polo Custom Products, A Division of M-C Industries, Inc.

YWCA Northeast Kansas

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Broadcasting, Northwest Missouri State University Hometown: Pensacola, FL • Age: 27

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Editor of KANSAS! Magazine and Publications Manager Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism

Andrea Etzel

Role Model

My mom inspires me every day through her strength and courage. Her kindness and generosity has taught me by example the type of woman I hope I am and the mother I hope to be someday.

Best Advice Received

“The more you do, the more you can do.”

Superpower

Strong intuition, the ability to read people and situations.

I won’t say it’s 100%, but I’m still surprised how often it’s right.

Accomplishments Most Proud Of

Personal: Taking a leap of faith and quitting my full-time job (a professional career of six years) and moving to the east coast to attend college full-time. The outcome: being the first in my family to graduate from a four-year university.

Career: Since high school I wanted to work in the world of publishing. I’m the chief editor of a regional magazine that won Magazine of the Year in 2014.

At this point in your life, what do you know for sure?

Be happy. No matter where you are in life, you can always change your course; just follow your heart.

Nathan Ham Photography

“Andrea has an incredible work ethic. She is apt at handling challenging situations with diplomacy and confidentiality in order to create positive outcome. Andrea is an outstanding team player, is up for the challenge with a “can-do” attitude, and does not shy away from tackling new projects. Her dedication is tremendous and speaks volumes.”

— Joanne Morrell

Impact! Marketing Group, Inc.

“Andrea has become an integral member of the team. She is organized, enthusiastic, creative, self-motivated and an overall team player.”

— Linda Craghead

Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography, Savannah College of Art of Design Age: 32

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Emma Starkey

Director of Communications and Education Community Resources Council

Role Model

Ruth Bader Ginsberg—women’s rights champion, trailblazer, notorious RBG.

Best Advice Receive

“If you invite influential people to your meeting and don’t allow them the opportunity to speak, they won’t come back.”

— Harry Craig

Superpower

Crippling sarcasm.

Personal Accomplishments Most Proud Of Tearing my body in half to birth a child, of course.

At this point in your life, what do you know for sure?

The thing I value most is authenticity. I surround myself with people who will always be honest and frank, and appreciate me for doing the same.

“Ms. Starkey was an integral part of the team that developed the Shawnee County Community Health Improvement Plan.

She utilized her experience and passion for the community to develop partnerships that will ensure success as the Community Health Improvement Plan is implemented in Shawnee County. She is constantly looking for ways to improve access for those that are less fortunate and to find ways to make Shawnee County a more livable community for all.”

— Allison Alejos

Shawnee County Health Agency

Nathan Ham Photography

“Over the last few years, Emma has been working with over 100 not-for-profit or for-profit organizations in our community to encourage a shift in thinking on how we assist those in need in our community.”

— G.R. Laughlin

Community Resources Council

Bachelors of Fine Arts in Visual Arts, Ceramics, University of Kansas Hometown: Meriden, KS • Spouse: Jared Starkey • Child: Amelia (2) • Age: 25

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Preserving History for Generations to Enjoy

For more than 100 years, the steeples of St. Joseph Catholic Church have added beauty and interest to the Topeka skyline. In its glory, the church boasted spectacular frescoes and details. Over time, mandatory preservation efforts required that the plaster be covered.

Today, the parish is embarking on an important mission to repair and preserve this magnificent structure that welcomes art and history enthusiasts from around the globe.

Please join us in our quest to preserve this historic landmark and return it to its former splendor.

Go to StJosephChurchRestoration.org to learn more about the project and how you can help us restore this crown jewel!

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Sabrina Womack

Program Manager of SilverSupper Silverbackks, Inc.

Role Model

My mother has overcome many obstacles in her life: moving halfway across the world from Germany, learning English, teaching herself life skills, having children, losing a child. Even with all that, she still remains a woman of strength and grace.

Best Advice Received

Give everything you’ve got to everything you want. My dad always told us to work hard for what we want, nothing comes easy.

Superpower

Compassion. I always try to look beyond first impressions and give people the benefit of the doubt. A lot of times, circumstance has made people who they are; who am I to judge before giving someone a chance to prove their worth.

Accomplishment Most Proud Of

I am humbled and honored to be considered worthy of the Top 20 Under 40 award.

At this point in your life, what do you know for sure?

That it’s not over yet!

“Sabrina is one of the founders of the nightly meal program, SilverSupper and the driving force behind its expansion to two additional community centers.

Yet despite her vast impact in our community, Sabrina’s name is one that you will not hear often.

She is the most humble individual that one will ever have the pleasure of knowing—often too quick to encompass many in the gratitude that she receives for her individual accomplishments.”

— Janice Watkins

Children’s Advocacy Resource Center,

Kansas Legal Services

Nathan Ham Photography

“Sabrina has successfully groomed several volunteers into co-leads, which not only sustained the program, but also allowed us to further expand the program to a third location, Garfield Community Center. She illustrates the epitome of volunteer spirit every day and is always willing to jump in and help where help is needed. ”

— Veronica Wooten

Silverbackks, Inc. Hometown: Topeka, KS • Age: 33 Spouse: David Womack • Children: Miah (13), Emma (5), Clara (5), Brenna (3)

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SPOTLIGHT ON: Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant PT's Coffee Roasting Co. Glacier's Edge Vineyard & Winery Photos and Stories By Melissa Brunner 56

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sat down with the Blind Tiger's former owner, Jim Caplinger.

"I always wanted to own my own business and, when I was 55 and had a nice nest egg built up, I thought it was time to do it," Jay said. "I wasn't a craft beer aficionado at the time; I wasn't a foodie, but I was a customer service fanatic."

The Proper Tools

Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant "We never jumped up and said we're going to build a microbrewery and be big."

— John Dean Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant Brewmaster In his younger days, John Dean developed a taste for beers from far reaches of the world, the kind his father used to tell him about making at home, inspired by an Air Force stint in Germany.

As John's thirst for flavors grew, his bank account dwindled.

"Poverty led me to home brewing," John jokes.

Lucky for the Blind Tiger and fans of craft brews.

Tapping an Idea

The Blind Tiger Brewery and Restaurant opened its doors at 417 SW 37th St. in 1995 as Topeka's first craft brewery. At the time, it was also the largest

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in the state. Four years later, John, who'd started brewing professionally, came on board as brewmaster.

"I just absorb beer knowledge anywhere I can," he said. "In the early years, I was reading books and books and books. Any chance I get to travel out of the country and try new beers, it's a palette education."

As John learned, so did Topekans, and the Blind Tiger quietly gained a following of devoted beer lovers, who also could get a good meal while they sampled John's latest creations. Jay Ives was among the fans. He'd made a career in the telecommunications and computer businesses, but, nearly nine years ago,

TK Business Magazine

Jay did some updates and retooled the menu, but he knew the Blind Tiger's niche was its beer, with John its hidden talent.

"The best business decision I made was to let John be John and brew the beer the way he wanted to do it, and that he had the tools and ingredients he needed to do it," Jay said. "That is the secret of the success of the Blind Tiger."

Both say the major ingredient in their beers—the water—is one they have by luck. It comes right from the faucet via Topeka's municipal water system.

"You need good water to brew good beer and Topeka has excellent brewing water," John said.

From there, John launches into a litany describing malt and hops and yeast.

He not only samples from a variety of suppliers to find the best quality, he then plays with the brewing process to create the right flavor. He describes malt bills, the way in which he'll malt the grain to varying degrees of doneness, from tan colors all the way to nearly black. He says bitterness, aroma and flavor come from the hops, and the timing of when he adds them as his mixture is boiling. Finally, in goes the yeast for the fermentation process. That, too, comes in varying flavors and components.

Jay says it's something for which John has a natural skill. "(John) has a sensitive nose and palette," Jay said. "You wouldn't be surprised if a baker could take a few bites of someone else's cake and go back and know the ingredients. John does that with beer."

John has a simpler assessment.

"I just wake up and think, 'I'll invent a new beer today,' and away we go," John

said. "That's the fun of brewing beer—you get to drink your mistakes."

Also fun is coming up with names for those creations. Mister Blue Sky and Smokey the Beer are among John's favorite, along with Little Red Corvette, which he says pokes fun at some of his friends who made mid-life sports car purchases. It became their favorite to drink.

1,403 breweries in 58 countries. His entry was a wheat beer. Jay says the first thing John did after winning was walk across the street to purchase a new book he'd seen on the subject of brewing wheat beers.

"He wants to make it better," Jay said.

Tasting Success

Even with an international reputation, people still need to visit Topeka to get a taste of what they're missing. The Blind Tiger currently puts out about 1,300 barrels a year, or 350,000 pints.

The vast majority of that—about 90 percent—is consumed by the glass at the bar and restaurant. Another seven to eight percent is distributed in kegs to about a dozen restaurants in the Topeka area, with the remaining sold in half-gallon growler jugs to take home. They sold about 1,000 of those in September.

"We never jumped up and said we're going to build a microbrewery and be big," John said. "We just wanted to keep up with demand and keep customers happy."

That's not to say they're not eyeing the potential for more customers. This fall, an expansion added a cold room and 12 more steel tanks in an adjacent building that most recently housed a day spa. It should add about 40 percent to their brewing capacity.

"We'll see if Topeka keeps drinking that up under this roof or if we can expand to Kansas City," John said.

John, long ago, stopped counting how many different brews he's developed over the years. He does know you'll always find six flagship beers on tap at the Blind Tiger, plus four to six more flavors, often dependent on the season. They encourage you to try a small sample if you don't think you're a craft beer fan.

"I'm lucky in that everybody here will give me their opinion of the beer," John said. "I like interacting with the customers and hearing what they like. They're not shy about telling me when their favorite beer isn't on tap!"

TK

Jay launched a marketing plan after taking over to reintroduce Topekans to the Blind Tiger. In the first year, their beer sales doubled. Today, they're four times what they were in 2007. Jay credits John and his team, which includes a head brewer and two other brewers.

"Some brewers are inward looking and brew what they like.

John is outward looking," Jay said. "He talks to customers to find what they like. He continues to work at improving his craft."

Case in point, in 2014, John was named Champion Brewer at the World Beer Cup, a competition featuring 4,754 beers from

John Dean, Brewmaster and Jay Ives, Owner Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant

Barreling Ahead

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PT's Coffee Roasting Co.

"He's always looking at the highlight, and I help make sure it gets done," Fred said with a laugh.

Jeff said they were feeling pretty good about their success until one day he struck up a chat with a man in Lawrence who'd been to their shop. The man said it was a nice place, but the coffee was terrible.

"In my mind, I always wanted to do it because I wanted to have good coffee (and) someone called me out on the quality of the coffee," Jeff said. "I started thinking what's going to make the coffee better or worse. What we figured out is it's freshness. We were getting coffee, and it's already stale. So I called Fred and said, 'We gotta get into roasting.'"

"And I said, 'What?!'" Fred chimed in.

Jeff spent the next two years learning everything he could about roasting, documenting every roast on a spreadsheet, tasting and tweaking. Finally, he tested it side by side with the prior product. To his disappointment, it really wasn't that different. He said that's when it hit him.

Freshness isn't the only key.

"You only get out of something what you put into it," Jeff said. "If you start with a flawed ingredient, you'll get a flawed product."

"You only get out of something Growing a New Approach what you put into it."

— Jeff Taylor PT's Coffee Roasting Co. Co-Owner One was a newspaper photojournalist searching for the perfect caffeine buzz to fuel those deadline-driven, long days on the job. The other was a steady business mind who managed fast food establishments and was drawn to organizing the bottom line.

It was the early 1990s, before Starbucks became a household name. Jeff Taylor and Fred Polzin were roommates in Topeka, plotting their next steps in the world. But Jeff just couldn't function without a good cup of coffee, so he started brewing an idea with Fred—why not open their own coffee shop, and bring a higher-quality coffee to Topeka. "(Fred) knew how to manage fast food. It's the same thing," Jeff said. "He didn't even drink coffee."

Percolating a Plan

PT's Coffee—P for Polzin, T for Taylor—was born with the opening of their first coffee shop in 1993. The Barrington Village location soon became a hot spot, so they opened a second store in 1994 at Fleming Place. Their partnership combines Jeff 's ideas and Fred's business sense.

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PT's launched its roasting operation in 1997 and almost immediately began planting the seeds for what was a unique approach in the coffee industry. As Jeff explains it, at the time, coffee was sold on a commodities market. The $0.49 a pound that farmers received was less than half of the $1.20 per pound it cost them to produce it.

"The coffee industry was in crisis," Jeff said. "They were walking off their farms because they couldn't make enough to support their families."

The result was the development of fair trade. It offered farmers $.06 a pound above their production cost. Jeff said while it saved the coffee industry, farmers still had no incentive to produce a better quality product.

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continued from page 60 A coffee competition in 1999, called Cup of Excellence, transformed PT’s direct trade approach. Jeff said farmers entered their best coffee beans, and the winners were auctioned online. PT's paid $11 a pound for the winning beans from Guatemala.

"We realized we had the opportunity to meet the best farmers, and now the farmer has incentive to produce a better product if he has the chance to get a better price," Jeff said.

Because he's working directly with the farmers, Jeff said he is able to see firsthand how those from whom he buys are using their income to ensure continued quality.

"We offered them a livable wage.

It works," Jeff says of the direct trade approach. "We're changing society; changing the world in that regard."

Topeka Flavor

Which brings us back to Topeka and the PT's roasting operation, tucked among a row of warehouses at the Forbes Field Industrial Park. This is where a fresh, high-quality ingredient gets a dash of technology to capture that flavor Jeff knew coffee could achieve.

"We want to develop the bean to develop what the flavors are,” Jeff said of the roasting process. “We're looking for development that allows the nuance of the coffee to come through."

Their warehouse has three roasters of various sizes. A computer system tracks roast profiles and weather stations monitor both indoors and outdoors, since factors like humidity can impact roasting.

Don't expect to see piles of product sitting on shelves. As they've maintained from the beginning, freshness matters.

Beans leave the roaster to be bagged and almost immediately sent on their way to customers. This approach has earned PT’s Roaster of the Year honors from Roast Magazine, and consistently high scores from industry reviewers.

Ensuring customers receive the highest quality product falls largely to Jeff ’s wife, Maritza Taylor, a Colombia

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native and respected expert in the coffee industry. As PT's Director of Quality, she checks each roast and sets up cuppings, including blind taste tests, to evaluate the coffees for flavor and consistency from batch to batch.

"The roasters, the baggers, all cup coffee, so they know how it's supposed to taste," Fred said. "We want layers of flavor."

Taste of Success

Dedication to quality has given PT's a taste of success. They've grown from roasting about 5,000 pounds of coffee a year to 40,000 pounds a year, serving customers in 24 states. Fred and Jeff believe PT's is positioned well for the next transition in the coffee industry. With farmers producing a better product and roasting processes evolved, they say the focus has turned to how it ultimately gets to a customer's cup.

"It's more like wine now," Jeff said.

"We're identifying brewing processes that accent that coffee. We're trying to tell the story of that farm, where the coffee came from, and it's our job to accentuate the flavor that's there naturally."

Which means a return to their retail roots. PT's sold its original two shops years ago (Barrington Village is now Cara's Cup, while Fleming Place is the current Blackbird Bistro), but got back into the game with PT's at College Hill and, more recently, at the Crossroads in Kansas City, Missouri. They plan to develop more retail stores, with a focus less on the big brew pots and more on options like pour over bars and cold brews.

"We're focusing less on syrups and 20 ounce drinks and focusing more on the quality of the product, so you can taste the sweetness that's in the product by itself," Jeff said.

No matter where future growth takes them, both Jeff and Fred expect to keep PT's firmly rooted in Topeka. Fred, the analytical mind, cites good people, good workers and low overhead, along with a central location that's a plus for shipping a fresh product. Jeff, more of a dreamer, cites a more sentimental reason.

"This is where we started, and this is home," he said. u

 Check out more photos at tkmagazine.com

Jeff Taylor and Fred Polzin, PT's Coffee Roasting Co. Owners

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"We had talked about it for a couple of years, and it just kind of came together.

Why shouldn't we give it a try?" Lisa said.

A Growing Industry

Glacier's Edge Vineyard & Winery "[My Dad] decided that I should go out and grow some grapes and make some wine, so we did." — Mike Steinert Glacier's Edge Vineyard and Winery Co-Owner Gazing over the vines sprawling over 6 acres of land just south of Topeka, Mike Steinert can't help but think of his father.

"This is his fault!" Mike laughs, before growing serious and adding, "This is a remembrance of him."

The Challenge

Mike and his wife, Lisa, rooted Glacier's Edge Vineyard and Winery, 1636 SE 85th St., in a challenge from Mike's father, Jim. Jim failed in his own attempt at wine making.

"He decided that I should go out and grow some grapes and make some wine, so we did," Mike said. "We planted 125 vines and that grew into 500, and

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pretty soon we had 1,200 in the ground, and what are we gonna do with all these grapes?"

Their first answer was to sell commercially. Jim was there for their first harvest in 2009. Mike says his dad went along to the winery and watched as they crushed and pressed the grapes.

"It was just wonderful for him," Mike said. "The next weekend, he died."

But the challenge lived on and became a tribute. Two thousand more vines and a few amateur medals later, Mike, who teaches at Washburn Rural High School, and Lisa, a physical therapist, took the plunge. Glacier's Edge officially opened in May 2014.

TK Business Magazine

They aren't alone.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture says Kansas has about 350 acres of grapes. According to the Kansas Grape Growers and Winemakers Association, those grapes encompass more than 30 vineyards and support two dozen wineries. The Department of Agriculture says the Kansas wine and grape industry poured nearly $11 million into the state's economy in 2014.

Recent changes in Kansas law make it easier for wineries to share the fruits of their labor. A 2009 law allows Kansas farm wineries to obtain a special-order shipping license, which allows them to ship directly to customers in Kansas and customers in states that allow outof-state wine shipments. The law also allowed farm wineries to get a license to sell unopened bottles at a single farmer's market. Just this year, the legislature amended that law so farm wineries now may sell at any farmer's market statewide.

It wasn't until 2012 that wineries could sell unopened bottles of their products at special tasting events and wine by the glass at their farm locations.

Lisa says that allowance is what enables wineries such as theirs to offer customers an experience.

"People want to see vines. People want to come in and smell fermentation happening," she said. "We want them to come taste our wine, experience it, learn about it, learn about grapes. Maybe there's a red you don't care for, but the next red you'll love. Or a white."

The Wine Experience

Beyond taste, a visit to Glacier's Edge truly is an experience for all the senses.

The wine making takes place in a room just beyond the tasting area, allowing the scent of the process to permeate the building. Plus, visitors may be lucky enough to see Mike take the cover off a large vat and "punch down" the crust on a batch of fermenting grapes—the

rich color of the juice a delight for the eyes as you hear and see the bubbles of carbon dioxide gasses break the surface as they're released.

Mike says they'll stir each vat through a breakdown process for about a week before the grapes are pressed. It will take another year or two—or more—before the wine is ready to drink.

"Wine is something that you don't set a date to release it—the wine sets the date," Lisa said. "It might be something we're trying to produce and have ready to go in September, but it might not be ready until January."

Of course, it all starts with the grapes. With Mike and Lisa both maintaining full time jobs in addition to the winery, they rely on family and friends willing to help. During the six to eight week grape harvest stretching from late August into early October, they invite them into the vineyards to pick by hand, lured by the promise of lunch.

Roofing excellence since 1979.

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Bountiful Harvest

The industry's growth is paying off for the Steinerts. A building expansion will open in time for the holiday season, with more planting to follow. Mike says it takes three to five years to get a grape vine to produce from a planting, which can be a challenge since it takes an average of 13 pounds of grapes to make a gallon of wine.

Glacier's Edge wine is made from grapes they grow themselves, plus grapes purchased from five other vineyards within a 40-mile radius of Topeka. The Steinerts also take part in a "wine trail" with other area wineries, so they all can support each other in serving up homegrown flavor.

"What the previous thought was about Kansas wine is wrong," Mike said. "We are producing some very good products and people need to come and drink local."

Mike also might share a story or two about his dad while he pours you a glass. He thinks Jim would be impressed with how he's answered the challenge.

Glacier's Edge is open 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, noon to 6 p.m.

Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. They also host tours and TK special events, and take part in First Friday Art Walk.

Don’t risk your roof on an unproven contractor.

Call the pros at Midwest Coating.

Randy Morris

President

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DOUG VON FELDT THOMAS UNDERWOOD

Organizational Performance

Washburn University

ERIC STAFFORD

Kansas Chamber

RICH DRINON

Drinon & Associates

GINA PENZIG

Westar Energy

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Persuasive Communication

Public Relations

EXPERTS

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Political Advocacy

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Organizational Performance As an institution of higher education, Washburn University offers an array of academic programs to guide and prepare students in their chosen profession.

Considering this issue of TK Business Magazine features the “20 Under 40,” it is appropriate to consider the knowledge, competencies and skill sets that young professionals need to achieve organizational excellence, regardless of discipline or professional area. The three key determinants of organizational performance, outlined by Gary Yukl in the article "Why Flexible, Adaptive Leadership is Essential for Organizational Effectiveness," provide a good framework for discussion: These three key determinants of organizational performance are addressed in the continuous improvement framework of Lean Six Sigma. While Lean Six Sigma is often considered in the context of efficiency

Efficiency and Process Reliability

Organizations of all types are constantly striving to be more efficient, especially in times of limited resources and highly competitive markets. As customer demands have become more sophisticated, process reliability, or quality, is increasingly of paramount importance. Professionals need the knowledge and tools to identify and guide process improvement for greater efficiency and effectiveness.

Human Resources and Relations

Assistant Dean for Academic Outreach Washburn University

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(waste, lean operations) and process reliability (effectiveness, improving processes, reducing variation), it is much more than that. As a problem-solving process, Lean Six Sigma provides a framework for innovation and adaptation. In addition, the core elements of the Lean Six Sigma problem-solving process are people skills, such as of managing teams and effecting organizational change, therefore Lean Six Sigma also addresses the key determinant of human resources and relations.

Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric, noted that Lean Six Sigma the biggest benefit of Master Black Belt implementing Lean Certified Project Six Sigma across the

DOUG VON FELDT

Management Professional

TK Business Magazine

Whether it is adapting to changes in technologies, resource acquisition, customer demands or new regulations, all organizations must adapt to threats and opportunities or they will be left behind. Innovation is the process to enhance adaptation potential.

In the book "Collective Genius," Hill and her colleagues note that “In a time of rapid change, the ability to innovate quickly and effectively, again and again, is perhaps the only enduring competitive advantage.” To be innovative, professionals must have the capacity to think holistically and beyond the realm of their job or discipline.

Regardless of the type of organization, it is increasingly recognized that people are the most valuable asset to an organization. Our work models tend to more collaborative, people tend to look at the workplace as more than a place to collect a paycheck, and great value is placed on diversity of workforce. All this suggests that effective human relations is critical for the professional.

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THOMAS UNDERWOOD

Innovation and Adaptation

organization was that it changed “the fundamental culture of the company and the way we develop people–especially our high potentials...Six Sigma gives us just the tool we need for generic management training as it applies as much in customer service centers as it does in a manufacturing environment.”

There are many ways young professionals can enhance their knowledge, competencies, and skills sets that will contribute to excellence in their organization and their community. Lean Six Sigma can provide a professional development framework to achieve professional and organizational TK excellence.

Citations • Hill, L.A., Brandeau, G., Truelove, E., & Lineback, K. (2014). “Collective Genius: The Art and Practice of Leading Innovation.” Boston, MA: Harvard Business Review Press.ww • Welch, J. (2001). “Jack Straight from the Gut.” New York, NY: Warner Books.

• Yukl, G. (2002). “Why Flexible, Adaptive Leadership is Essential for Organizational Effectiveness.” University at Albany, SUNY.

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Second VP, Operations & Project Management Security Benefit

“Participating in the Washburn Lean Six Sigma courses has provided valuable benefits to myself and other Security Benefit associates. The knowledge and skills gained have helped foster the implementation and utilization of Six Sigma within our organization. This focus has allowed us to identify areas of improvement, aid in analysis, and improve quality and customer experience while imbedding a commitment to continuous quality improvement.”

Professional Development and Consultation Services (785) 670-1399 washburn.edu/coe An affiliation between Washburn University and the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce / GO Topeka

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Political Advocacy What do shopping and lobbying have in common?

Your first thought might be money if you’ve ever watched House of Cards or any other political fiction. But that’s not where I’m going here.

Shopping and lobbying share the value of collective effort. Consumers, like the businesses the Kansas Chamber represents, have a stronger voice when working together toward a common goal. The goal of the consumer is to purchase a desired product at the lowest possible cost.

Collaborating alongside peers with the same objective is typically more effective than working on your own, especially at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka. The Kansas Chamber has been remarkably successful in recent years securing passage of pro-business legislation because of the cooperative effort of our membership and leaders. Our unified voice at the Capitol on behalf of the business community is significantly stronger than one business owner trying to urge passage or defeat of a bill on his or her own.

Every fall, the Kansas Chamber conducts an Annual Business Leaders Poll to determine what issues are of greatest concern or importance to business owners across the state. This independent poll includes both members and non-members of the Chamber who are selected randomly each year. It is also designed to accurately reflect the industrial and professional makeup, geographical location and average size of Kansas employers.

For example, in 2014, 75 percent of employers surveyed were small businesses with fewer than 10 employees, and 84 percent of respondents had 20 or fewer employees. In the past 12 years, taxes have been the top concern coming out of the poll.

Health care and energy costs typically come in a close second or third, especially in recent years.

This poll and other tools give our governmental affairs team a good picture of the current business landscape in Kansas and allows us to effectively advocate on behalf of President of Government Affairs the business community through one unified voice.

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The Power of a Collective Voice

ERIC STAFFORD

Vice Kansas Chamber

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Get Involved

No matter your industry or profession, the odds are good that there is an advocate or lobbyist representing you in Topeka. For example, businesses, bankers, teachers, retailers, Realtors®, unions, farmers and even greyhound racing enthusiasts (not kidding) all have registered advocates in Kansas. Lobbyists are vital ingredients of the legislative process. With very few exceptions, Kansas legislators do not have paid staff to help them arrive at informed policy decisions. The role of the lobbyist is to educate and hopefully persuade lawmakers with regard to the impact that a specific piece of legislation will have on a particular business, industry or profession. Find a related professional association or business organization and join them in this effort. As the saying goes, “if you are not at the table, you may find yourself on the menu.”

Engage

After you’ve joined the organization or association such as the Kansas Chamber, get engaged! Serve on the legislative committee, working groups or board of directors. Share your successes, failures and experiences with peers and provide input on how the laws and regulations that govern your industry affect you and help provide direction on how they can be improved or even eliminated.

Lobby

This is not a dirty word. A basic definition of “lobby” is “the process of influencing public and government policy.” While talking to lawmakers can feel foreign or intimidating, remember that Kansas legislators are not unlike you or your neighbors. You will soon realize they are ordinary citizens serving in the legislature on a part-time basis during the winter and early spring and most have regular jobs to return to at session end.

Don’t hesitate to contact them, attend legislative coffees, town hall meetings or even come to the Statehouse and testify before a committee on issues important to you.

Legislators value hearing from Kansans directly involved in day-to-day business operations and who are directly affected by state laws and regulations.

Develop Relationships

This is THE most important tip. Develop relationships with your elected officials so they know your name and profession. Become their go-to ‘industry expert.’ Never lie. Never mislead them. If you do, expect to lose all credibility under the dome. Saying you don’t know the answer to a legislator’s question but that you will find out is not an admission of ignorance. It’s a sign of honesty and integrity. Find the answer and follow through.

Respect is earned that way.

Explore your natural habitat.

The ripple of water, the rugged texture of stone and wood, the fresh scent of the world coming to life – right in your own backyard. Topeka Landscape’s experienced, professional staff can help develop an outdoor plan that conforms beautifully to your green spaces as well as your budget. This year, let Topeka Landscape break down the barriers between inside and out, making your yard a natural extension of your home.

3220 SW Auburn Rd • Topeka, KS 66614 • (785) 232-8873 • www.topekalandscape.com

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Persuasive Communication Whether you realize it or not, persuasion is often at work in your relationships with others. Influence is a two-way street. There are times when you need to convince others to take a certain action, and times when others are working to persuade you to make a choice.

Persuasion vs. Coercion or Manipulation

Effective persuasion leaves the influenced person feeling good about the decision made or action taken. Less ideal are coercion, or strong-arming someone, and manipulation—pushing a person’s buttons to get them to react as you wish.

Be More Persuasive, Influential and Two Primary Convincing Human Motives

Two primary motives associated with persuasion are fear of loss and opportunity for gain. If you want others to feel good about what you propose, they must see how they gain by taking action or lose by not doing so. Out of the two motives, fear of loss—the negative one—is the more powerful influence. When others are warned to take evasive action to avoid disaster the impact is much greater than when they are told or sold how they will benefit from an action.

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Three Elements of Persuasion

RICH DRINON

President Drinon & Associates

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When aiming to persuade others, you must deliver a careful mix of credibility, logic and emotional appeal. Which elements are emphasized in this vital mix changes from person to person or audience to audience. Being persuasive is knowing when credibility needs to be established or when factual proof is required versus when you must appeal to your listener’s emotions.

Some are more concerned with credibility, others with the facts of a situation and some with how they feel about what is proposed. The majority of people are moved to vote, purchase or follow someone through the emotional element. TK Rich Drinon provides Executive Communication Skills training to leadership, management and sales teams.

He has conducted thousands of programs for hundreds of organizations across the U.S. and Canada over the past 27 years.

TK Business Magazine

Making Your Case There are two approaches you can take when working to persuade someone.

Positive Approach

With a positive approach, you convey to your audience how much they will gain from a decision or new action. You must remind them of your credibility, or why you have the right to speak to them on the subject, and be sure to state facts that support what you are promoting.

Negative Approach

When people are slow to get on board or resistant to what you are urging, you will need to go with a negative approach. The three steps to this approach are the warning, rescue and next steps or more information.

For example, start with, “I’ve got some bad news….” It should only take you a sentence to get people’s attention by warning them that things are less than ideal or going badly.

Follow with, “The good news is….” And express clearly that if a certain course of action is taken disaster will be averted. Again, a few words should suffice. This is followed by sharing the next steps to be taken or more information about the situation. Conclude with the credibility element by reminding the individual or group why they should listen to and follow you. The reasons include your expertise, experience or education.

You Are the Persuasive Message!

Above all is the persuasive message YOU communicate through the five areas of Attitude, Dress, Expressions, Poise and Tone of Voice. The acronym is A.D.E.P.T., meaning capable. When you present yourself with a matched message between these five elements—or in a congruent manner—you are more likely to be trusted, respected, understood and believed.

JUST WOULDN’T BE CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU...

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Offering a full range of periodontal services, including maintenance, surgical, esthetic and implant procedures.

2015 MINIATURE ART SHOW November 6th - December 28th

www.SouthWindArtGallery.com 3074 SW 29th St. Topeka, KS 66614 785.273.5994

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Public Relations

Do Your Homework

Make Your Pitch Count

Your story pitch will likely be made by email. Find the reporter’s direct email on the news outlet’s website or call and ask for it. Email provides reporters a chance to review the idea on their schedule, refer back to it and share it with others. If previous stories they covered or something they shared on social media led you to think they would be interested in your story, say so. Share your story angle and why their audience would care. Let them know if a certain event is coming up that would make for great photography or video to go with the story. Include clear contact information so the reporter can follow up with you.

Follow up by phone in a day or two.

Have the original email at hand so you can easily forward it to the reporter and save them the trouble of searching.

Have your schedule available in case the reporter is ready to set up a time to do a story. If they aren’t ready to set a date right away, offer to call back in a few days or the next week.

Gain News Media Coverage

A blind, mass email is no more likely to capture their attention than it is yours. Target your communication.

Television stations have features that appear on different news programs.

Newspapers may rotate certain features.

Tracking topics various reporters cover or what they talk about on social media can help you identify who might have an interest in your story.

Think about your audience and that of the media.

• Why should their audience care about your story?

• Does your desired client base align with their audience?

• Your story must be more than the service or product you sell.

• How do you make lives better?

• How are you different from your competitors?

Once you’ve decided the angle of your story pitch, think about how it might be told. Visuals are critical in media today.

• Don’t waste time explaining things you can show.

• Do you have customers or clients who can and would be willing to help tell your story?

• If you provide a service, do you have clients who would allow photos or video of you working with them? Be sure to ask permission ahead of time.

Respect Their Craft

Your pitch, successful or not, can be the start of a relationship that can benefit you and the reporter. Start it with respect. If your pitch doesn’t result in a story, be ready to try again later. If you have the opportunity, it’s OK to ask why they didn’t do a story.

If a reporter decides to feature your business, the story may take a different angle or may focus on visuals other than those you suggested. If the reporter’s angle fulfills your ultimate goal, go with it. If it does not, ask politely to better understand the shift. You may both

learn more about the potential story and audience.

Respect their time. Expect that the reporter and photographer will be looking to quickly cover your story and go to their next assignment. Be ready when they arrive.

Respect their craft. Just as your goods and services are your livelihood, their skills, photos and stories are theirs. If you are interested in gaining permission to use the photos and videos or in reprints of the story, ask about their policies and pricing.

A closing thank you is appropriate and appreciated. Keep it simple. Many media outlets have rules against gifts over a certain value, and you don’t want to create an awkward situation.

Take a moment and provide a nice handwritten note. When is the last time you received one? You probably TK remember it.

PHOTO BY RACHEL LOCK PHOTOGRAPHY

Media, with their large, local audiences, are an efficient way to reach potential customers and clients. However, from reporters to assignment editors, their inboxes overflow, so gaining their attention, and then making the most of your opportunity, requires preparation.

WINTER 2015

GINA PENZIG

Media Relations Manager Westar Energy TK Business Magazine

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SCENE ABOUT TOWN

PHOTO 1 Jayme Green, Topeka Police Department; Megan Green, Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary

PHOTO 2 Sarah Jepson, PediatricCare; Erin Aldridge, Jayhawk Area Council Boy Scouts

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Mandi Walter, Network Computing Solutions; David Heit, Schwerdt Design Group; Kathleen Heit, Clayton Financial Services; Jennifer Sourk, Midwest Health

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Youth Entrepreneurs Breakfast Series Capitol Plaza October 8, 2015

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PHOTO 4 Jerry Farley, Washburn University; Mayor Larry Wolgast, City of Topeka

PHOTO 5 Matt McPherson, McPherson Contractors; Jim Klausman, Midwest Health; Greg Schwerdt, Schwerdt Design Group; Brent Boles, Schendel Lawn & Landscape

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Patrick Woods, Westar Energy; Scott Griffith, INTRUST Bank

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F I N D O U T H O W Y O U C A N G E T I N V O LV E D T O D AY !

Serendipity September 12, 2015

ENGAGE.UNITE.GIVEBACK.

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www.fastfor wardtopeka.or g

Spark!

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the last word

PHOTO BY RACHEL LOCK PHOTOGRAPHY

What’s new at Coldwell Banker?

Bryon Schlosser You weren't always in real estate. How did you come to own Coldwell Banker Griffith & Blair?

I purchased the company in 1998.

After practicing law for 11 years and being in the restaurant business for 13 years, I was looking for an opportunity in an industry that was competitive, that was marketing dependent, and relied on maximizing associates’ potential. I was tunnel-focused on the restaurant business, but when the Griffith & Blair opportunity presented itself, I realized what I wanted in a career existed in other businesses. The variety of backgrounds of people I have met in the real estate industry confirms that skills and disciplines learned in one profession are readily transferable to others.

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CEO, Owner & General Counsel Coldwell Banker Griffith & Blair American Home Who do you admire?

That’s easy. Mom and Dad. Mom for her patience and positive attitude. Dad for his entrepreneurial spirit.

What are you most proud of?

Well, that’s easy too. My kids are healthy, happily married to great people, and productive members of society.

What are you most proud of at Coldwell Banker?

We pride ourselves on creativity, integrity, passion for our profession, and flexibility in assisting our clients to have a great home ownership experience.

Whether buying or selling, our company is devoted to a win-win solution for all parties and a work ethic that does not quit. I love working with these people.

TK Business Magazine

Coldwell Banker is the awardwinning leader in innovation and technology, so there is always a new marketing technique or information gathering system to learn and use.

Interactive technology has been a theme of some of the new innovations with a focus on features that appeal to sellers.

Sellers have largely, up to now, been ignored by the internet. Innovations in technology are balanced with a focus on personal knowledge of our clients, the real value of a home to them, then finding the right house to make a home.

We have also added property management as a service we provide to investors or homeowners who may decide to rent rather than sell. This service has been a great growth vehicle as it creates a convenient option to owners, and a great source of new business for us.

What motivates your team of agents?

I think the best motivation comes from being around successful peers.

So motivation starts with showing up.

We believe motivation gets you started, but successful habits keep you going. If you have the discipline to perform your successful habits, the rewards in a real estate career are unlimited.

What advice would you share with young professionals?

Always be giving more value than receiving. Treasure personal relationships. Never be lulled by the magic and convenience of technology into thinking that it is a substitute for personal contact.

At this point in your life and career, what do you know for sure?

Discipline forms the basis for good habits that create successful lives and careers. Following a discipline is easy to do. Not following a discipline is easier.

TK

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WE’RE HERE With What Matters Most In Your Time of Need.

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