June
2009
COULD YOUR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION USE SOME ADDITIONAL REVENUE? “If your capacity and resources have been eroding over time while the demands and expectations placed on you grow, you might consider restructuring and/or a new business model,” Tom Kern The Lawrence Chamber of Commerce will be hosting an Internal Audit Seminar, conducted by Tom Kern, CFEE and the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce President & CEO. This seminar will examine ways to reduce the costs of your organization by looking at how you presently budget. It will also examine your current revenues and expenditures. Click here to read Tom’s article about rightsizing and restructuring, published in the Chamber Executive magazine. The seminar will take place on Thursday, June 11 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, 734 Vermont St, Suite 101. This session is free of charge for Chamber members and $15 for non-members. Click here to register online or contact J. Taylor at 785-865-4411, jtaylor@lawrencechamber.com.
For more upcoming events, including our free-of-charge Employer Seminar about Americans with Disabilities Act, click here or go to page 5.
T HE
P RES IDENT ’S
M E SSAGE
Well, I have now been in Lawrence, Kansas for a little over six months, so I thought I would share with you some of my observations. • Kansas winters are pretty mild, at least from my point of view. To give you some perspective, Traverse City, Michigan, where I really come from, had 212 inches of snow this past winter and 20 days where the temperature did not exceed five degrees. • Lawrence Kansas cost of living is low. Many people in Lawrence have told me this is the most expensive place to live in Kansas, and that may be so, but it is very reasonable when you compare it to places on either coast or to any major metropolitan area in the country. • People here are really friendly. Everywhere my wife Rosie and I have gone, people in Lawrence are always saying, “Welcome to Lawrence,” and they mean it. • People in Lawrence really care about each other. It is evident in the support that non-profit organizations receive in this community. It is evident in how people here reach out to those who are not as fortunate. • People in Lawrence are passionate about their community. This is one of the great attributes of this community, but at times, it can also be challenging as people don’t let go of issues or their point of view easily. • What’s with the tornados? I spent two hours in my basement with my wife and my two golden retriever pups. It’s no fun at all.
ATTENTION JOB SEEKERS!
Community Career Connection
Tom Kern President& CEO
• Lawrence has great restaurants and places to eat. So many choices, and they are all so good. I have gained 10 pounds since my arrival in October. • Lawrence’s downtown is very cool. I like the mixture of shops, restaurants and bars. Always a lot of people walking around, and they are nice too. • Lawrence is a great arts/culture community. The Spencer Museum, the Lawrence Arts Center, the Lied Center, KU Theatre....so many places to go... so little time. Overall, I am really enjoying living here, and I am really looking forward to the mild summers—sunny, mild and no humidity. At least that’s what my realtor told me.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 1-6 p.m. Pinnacle Career Institute 1601 W. 23rd St., Ste. 200 Community Career Connection is a free public event featuring employers such as Allen Press, Berry Plastics, Douglas Co. Bank, Health Care Access, Johnson Co. College, Lawrence Journal-World and more. It will also include workshops such as Review of Resumes and Cover Letters, Networking as a Job Search Strategy, Dress for Success...on a Budget, Interviewing Tips and much more. www.communitycareerconnection.com
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LIMITED CHILDCARE IS AVAILABLE FOR UP TO AGE 6. Call Success by 6 at 785-842-8719 for details. Lawrence Kansas Chamber of Commerce • 734 Vermont, Ste. 101 • Lawrence, KS 66044
June 2009
Hank Booth Receives the Seaver Award for Volunteer Service Hank Booth, the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce Director of Government & Community Affairs, received the Jim and Virginia Seaver Award from Douglas County Senior Services on Thursday, April 30 at Jazz It Up, a fundraiser to benefit senior services. The Seaver Award was established in 2007 to recognize people whose volunteer service has contributed to the aging population. Booth has been with the Chamber for more than a year, but has been a local radio host since 1957. In addition to his full time job at the Chamber, he continues to host a weekday show on KLWN every morning. Booth grew up in Lawrence and volunteers for many organizations such as Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Douglas County Fair, Junior Achievement and much more. Congratulations, Hank!
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REACH your est PROSPECTS Take advantage of our Quarterly Member-to-Member Direct Mail Campaign. Your message will be delivered to 1,200 Chamber members and their representatives––all potential customers. Provide us with 1,200 promotional items such as brochures, ads, flyers or coupons by 5 p.m., June 19, and we will take care of everything else. The cost is only $100.
If you would like to participate, please contact Natasha Buller at 785-865-4420 or email at nbuller@ lawrencechamber.com no later than June 12.
Exclusive offer for Chamber members only
The mailing is scheduled to go out on Wed., July 1 to all Chamber Members.
3 785.865.4411 • lawrencechamber.com
BUSINE SS S POTLIG HT
Berry Plastics: One Great Community-Centered Success by Natasha Buller In 1970, as the country was going through the Cold War détente, a countercultural revolution and stagflation, PackerWare Corporation was founded by James Schwartzburg. Notwithstanding the less-thanideal business conditions, the private-sector company flourished. In 1997, the company was acquired by Berry Plastics, a leading manufacturer of plastic packaging products, and continued to grow at a steady rate. The 20-acre plant, located in northern Lawrence, began to run out of space with the “Project Gateway” expansion in 2006. The main goal of the $65 million expansion was to add seven thermoform machines, which use a more efficient way of processing plastic products than the injection molding process—the only process used by the plant at that time. Each machine requires about 35 employees and constitutes about a 25 percent growth in the company’s revenue. The company grew from 400 to more than 750 employees. This four-year expansion is still underway and should be completed by the middle of 2009.
On the left: Steve Brown, Plant Manager for the Lawrence division of Berry Plastics.
The company currently has 500,000 square feet of warehouse space on Packer Street, about 30 percent of which was filled because of the “Project Gateway” expansion. They also have 304,000 square feet of warehouse space in the former E and E Display Group building near the corner of 29th Street & Haskell and a 250,000 square-foot warehouse in Topeka. Berry Plastics’ production includes anything from houseware products to drink cups. Recently, they produced and delivered four million cups to the NCAA Final Four tournament in Detroit in just four days. “Normally, a project like this takes three to four weeks to accomplish,” said Steve Brown, Plant Manager for the Lawrence division. The local division not only provides services to clients such as the NCAA, Target, Walmart, McDonalds, Taco Bell and Starbucks, but also donates their products and time to local church organizations, the Boys and Girls Club, the Chamber of Commerce, local schools and events. “We encourage our employees to volunteer in the community,” said Brown. “We cheer each other on and celebrate worthwhile work and teamwork. We also share this with all new employees.”
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The employees are a group of diverse and dedicated individuals. They take pride in their work, Brown said. Berry Plastics believes in respecting the diverse cultural backgrounds of its employees. The company
displays 37 flags around the plant to represent the countries of their employees. In addition, every time an employee retires, they display a banner in their honor. The plant even has its own organic garden, which is maintained by the employees. “We also have preschool kids, mostly employees’ children, coming in to plant flowers around the garden,” Brown said. While treating their employees well is important to the local division of Berry Plastics, the community in general is of great importance to them as well. Recently, Berry Plastics received the “Business of the Year” award from Cottonwood, Inc. This was the first year Cottonwood, Inc. gave the award, and even though they have many partners, they chose Berry Plastics for the first award. “We have 30-year relationship with Cottonwood,” Brown said. “They collate baskets into sets for us. It’s a great partnership.” Berry Plastics is located at 2330 Packer Rd., along North Iowa Street, north of the Kansas Turnpike. The plant is open 24/7 and 360 days a year.
Lawrence Kansas Chamber of Commerce • 734 Vermont, Ste. 101 • Lawrence, KS 66044
E V E N TS
June 2009
Business After Hours Mixer Hosted by Hite Collision Repair
Are You a Human Resource Professional or a Business Leader?
Wednesday, June 17, 5-7 p.m., Hite Collision, 3401 W. 6th St.
Employer Seminar, Wednesday, June 17, 8:30 -11 a.m. at the Lawrence Workforce Center, 2540 Iowa St. # R; and 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, 734 Vermont, Ste. 101
Hite Collision Repair and the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce invite you to attend Business After Hours––a fun evening of networking with other Chamber members. Join us for free drinks and BBQ as you check out the first shop in Kansas to use an ecologically friendly waterborne paint system. The event will include an airbag deployment demonstration with Jim Slankard of TechZone from Kansas City at 6 p.m., an auto glass repair demonstration by Gary Ziegler of Ziegler Glass from Lawrence, and a paintless dent removal demonstration by Elite Dent from Springfield, MO. Hite Collision has been a collision repair facility since 1960 and is currently owned by David and Julie Buller. With a great reputation for its expertise in collision repair and customer service, Hite Collision Repair has managed to keep hard working and dedicated employees through major transitions such as a change of ownership. Not only do they offer great services to the community, but they also care about the environment. Hite Collision Repair is the first shop in Kansas to make a transition to a waterborne paint system. Waterborne coatings use water as primary solvent, which reduces volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. Furthermore, they recycle all headlights, sheet metal, tires, bumper covers, wheels, batteries and any other recyclable parts. Other sponsors of the mixer include Boulevard Brewery, Vermont Street BBQ, Akzo Nobel Coatings and Automotive Industrial Distributors. Parking will be available across the street from the KU Credit Union building.
5th Annual CYPN Putt-Putt Pub Crawl! Friday, June 12, 5:30 p.m. Chamber Young Professionals & their guests are invited to join this highly anticipated and fun event! More than 70 people participated in the event last year.
Join us for this free-of-charge educational seminar about the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) to get an update on recent changes, court decisions and the EEOC’s interpretations of those decisions that caused the changes, reasonable accommodations, and the Employer’s responsibilities under the ADA. To make your reservations for the morning seminar at the Workforce Center, please email Jay Pryor at jpryor@heartlandworks.org or call 785-840-9675. For the noon seminar at the Chamber, please contact J. Taylor at jtaylor@lawrencechamber.com or call 865-4411. Seating is limited.
Upcoming Ribbon Cuttings LANDMARK NATIONAL BANK Thursday, June 4, 4:30 p.m. 4621 6th St. (presently CornerBank) VAN GO MOBILE ARTS Wednesday, June 10, 11:30 a.m. 715 New Jersey I GLOBAL NETWORK Thursday, June 18, 11:30 a.m. 10 E. 9th Street, Ste. B BREAST CENTER AT LAWRENCE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL SOUTH Tuesday, June 23, 4:30 p.m. 3500 Clinton Place MYERS MOBILE DJ SERVICES Thursday, June 25, 11:30 a.m. The Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, 734 Vermont St.
The participants will be visiting several downtown Lawrence establishments and will play with teams of four. There must be at least one Chamber member on each team. Individuals without a team are encouraged to sign up as they will be grouped with other teams. The first place team will receive prizes. Drinks will be available at each establishment. More details will be available soon at www.lawrencechamber.com. Please click here to register online or call 865-4411. The cost is $15 per person.
5 785.865.4411 • lawrencechamber.com
E V E NTS
The 2009 START HERE Golf Tournament took place on Friday, May 8 and was a great success. FIRST place was taken by Kent Beisner of the Kansas State Chamber of Commerce, Mark Anderson of Barber Emerson, L.C., Phil Struble, P.E. and John Selk, P.E. both of Landplan Engineering. Second place went to Bryan Culver and Marty Mosier both of Peoples Bank, Gavin Smith of Fatso’s Public House & Stage and Spencer Wilson of Golf USA.
GOLF TOURNAMENT 2009
The Putting Contest winner––Owen Foust of Foust Fleet Leasing, the Closest to Pin winner– –City Commissioner Lance Johnson of Peridian Group, Inc., the Longest Putt winner––Joel Dankenbring (guest), the Longest Drive Men winner––JR Neutel of Reuter Organ and the Longest Drive Women winner––Sue Hutchens of McGrew Real Estate, Inc.
6 Lawrence Kansas Chamber of Commerce • 734 Vermont, Ste. 101 • Lawrence, KS 66044
E V E N TS
Thank you!
June 2009
2009 START HERE Golf Tournament Sponsors Tournament Sponsors
Club Sponsors
U.S. BANK
MCGREW REAL ESTATE
BLACK HILLS ENERGY
WESTAR ENERGY
Pro Sponsors
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LAWRENCE JOURNAL-WORLD LAWRENCE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
CAPITOL FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK BARBER EMERSON, L.C. SPORT & SPINE CHIROPRACTIC EMPRISE BANK HALLMARK CARDS, INC. O’MALLEY BEVERAGE
Hole-In-One Sponsor CROWN CHEVROLET/ TOYOTA/SCION, INC.
Hole Sponsors
DOUGLAS COUNTY BANK
ALLEN PRESS
STANDARD BEVERAGE CORPORATION
AT&T
WALMART
BALDWIN STATE BANK
VANGENT
BOSTON FINANCIAL DATA SERVICES MIDWEST
BOULEVARD BREWING CO.
Prize Sponsors
BRANDON WOODS AT ALVAMAR CAPITAL CITY BANK
23RD STREET BREWERY
CENTRAL NATIONAL BANK
STANDARD BEVERAGE
COMMERCE BANK
WEAVERS
DILLONS
KU THEATRE & FILM
HASKELL INDIAN NATIONS UNIVERSITY
THE ELDRIDGE
HY-VEE FOOD & DRUG STORE
HETRICK AIR SERVICES
INTRUST BANK
ALVAMAR COUNTRY CLUB
KU CREDIT UNION
GOLF USA
LAIRD NOLLER AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
CROWN DISTRIBUTORS
LAWRENCE BANK
MIDWEST DISTRIBUTORS
MERITRUST CREDIT UNION
O’MALLEY BEVERAGE
P1 GROUP, INC.
SPORT AND SPINE CHIROPRACTIC
SAUER-DANFOSS, INC.
GCSAA
STEPHENS REAL ESTATE, INC.
CENTRO CIGARS
UNIVERSITY NATIONAL BANK OF LAWRENCE
LAWRENCE THERAPY SERVICES
7 785.865.4411 • lawrencechamber.com
L E ADE RSHIP L AWRENCE
Leadership Lawrence Graduation––Class of 2009
Darron Ammann––Bartlett & West Derek Bailey––Lawrence Bank Sally Brandt––CARF-Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission Kathy Branson––West Junior High School Philip Brown––ICL Performance Products Pam Bushouse––McGrew Real Estate Katherine Caughey––Capitol Federal Savings Larry Chance––Emprise Bank Becky Cheek-King––The Bert Nash Center Dan Coke––Midwest Student Ministries Kassie Edwards––Kassie Edwards, NCTMB Matt Gough––Barber Emerson, L.C. Adam Handshy––The Lawrence Chamber of Commerce David Hardy––Commerce Bank Janet Horner––PROSOCO, Inc. Marilyn Hull––Douglas County Community Foundation Lee Ice––The City of Lawrence Parks and Recreation Lydia Leon––Centro Hispano Resource Center Matt Llewellyn–– 23rd Street Brewery Betty Markley––Central National Bank Oliver Minnis––Stephens Real Estate Margaret Perkins-McGuinness––The Spencer Museum of Art Megan Poindexter––The Lied Center of Kansas Rachel Rademacher––Rademacher Financial, Inc. Dr. Don Schawang––Bishop Seabury Academy Jennifer Smith––K-State Reasearch & Extension, Douglas County Jandi Smith––Sunflower Broadband Gavin Smith––Milk Truck Productions Diane Stoddard––The City of Lawrence, Assistant City Manager Kristy Wempe––American Red Cross Rebecca Wempe––Stevens Brand, L.L.P.
The Leadership Lawrence Class of 2009 graduated on April 24. A total of 31 new leaders for Lawrence and Douglas County received their graduation plaques at the event held at Alvamar Country Club. On hand to congratulate the class were Leadership Lawrence alumni from many of the 25 previous classes. Also announced at the breakfast was the class project– –the Lawrence Virtual Food Drive. This project is designed to make contributing to local food pantries easy and fun through a virtual website. Details regarding the website as well as how to contribute are currently on the homepage of the Chamber website at www.lawrencechamber.com. The program sponsor for the Leadership Lawrence Class of 2009 was Capitol Federal Savings.
8 Lawrence Kansas Chamber of Commerce • 734 Vermont, Ste. 101 • Lawrence, KS 66044
LEADE R SH I P L AW R E N C E
Several members of the Leadership Lawrence class of 2009 participated in the United Way Day of Caring. The task was to plant a pizza garden at the Boys and Girls Club main site, which included digging, tilling, planting and admiring. The class members plan to return to see how the garden turns out.
PIECE Graduation––Class of 2009
June 2009
The Leadership Lawrence Class of 2009 presented the Don Volker Leadership Award to the late Lt. David K. Dillon, of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department. Doug Dillon, the twin brother of David, accepted the award on behalf of his brother and the entire Dillon family.
Austin Barone––Bishop Seabury Reese Grabill––Bishop Seabury Megan Smith––Bishop Seabury Kale Joyce––Bishop Seabury Mariam Ali––Central Hannah Fowler––Central Skyler McCawley––Central Maria Watson––Central Taylor Eubanks––South Reid Hildenbrand––South Nicki Snodgrass––South Megan Tunget––South Natalie Wilkins––South Taylor Augustine––Southwest Payton Covert––Southwest Lauren Fleming––Southwest Regan Keasling––Southwest Adelle Loney––Southwest Jessica Mielke––Southwest Jacob Craft––West Ruben Ghijsen––West Nicole Humphrey––West Brock Morrison––West
The second PIECE Class held its graduation ceremony April 30 at First Christian Church. This class of 23 emerging leaders received plaques, sponsored by Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Following a leadership activity, Reid Hildenbrand, freshman at South Junior High, and Regan Keasling, freshman at Southwest Junior High, spoke to the class about what participating in PIECE had meant to them. For their community service project, the class spent their final retreat at the Lawrence Humane Society. The program sponsor was Sunflower Bank.
9 785.865.4411 • lawrencechamber.com
RIBBON CU T TING S
Congratulations & Welcome!
Walmart ~ 550 Congressional Dr. ~ April 29
Simply Wireless ~ 1700 W. 23rd Street ~ May 5
Douglas County VNA Care Cottage ~ 3109 W. 26th St. Westar Energy ~ 746 E. 27th St. ~ May 14 ~ May 7
Bank of America Home Loans ~ 4931 W. 6th St., Ste. 122 ~ May 19
TCK Trust Financial Advisors ~ 5200 Bob Billings Pkwy., Ste. 201 ~ May 21
10 Lawrence Kansas Chamber of Commerce • 734 Vermont, Ste. 101 • Lawrence, KS 66044
M E MB E R S H I P
June 2009
The Lawrence Chamber of Commerce advocates for business and community prosperity as it creates diverse jobs; cultivates a successful business environment; develops active community leaders; and promotes the assets of Lawrence and Douglas County.
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ELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Acme Screen Printing 847 Massachusetts Lawrence, KS 66044 Phone: 785-832-2263 Sean Conner lawrence@freshacme.com
Langford Sevier Web Marketing, Consulting & Design 105 N. 8th St. Lawrence, KS 66044 Phone: 785-371-4603 www.langfordsevier.com Jacinta Langford Jacinta@langfordsevier.com
Computerized Assessments & Learning Education Assessments & Learning 1202 East 23rd Street Lawrence, KS 66044 Phone: 785-856-3850 Fax: 785-856-3852 www.caltesting.org Andre Bourgeacq abourgeacq@caltesting.org
RC Resources, LLC Business Consulting 700 Massachusetts St., suite 202 Lawrence, KS 66044 Phone: 785-764-9790 Fax: 785-865-4102 Richard Frantz Richard.frantz@gmail.com
Eco-Logic Dry Cleaners Dry Cleaners 2540 Iowa Street Suite A Lawrence, KS 66046 Phone: 785-856-3262 Fax: 785-856-3262 Santa Berlioz Ocampo santaocampo@hotmail.com
Re-Cyclery Bicycles – Sales & Service 731 New Hampshire Lawrence, KS 66044 Phone: 785-856-1236 Fax: 785-856-1236 Brian Shay ibuybrokenbikes@yahoo.com
Exterior Elements, Inc. Roofing, Home Improvement 1900 Massachusetts St. Lawrence, KS 66044 Phone: 785-423-0527 Fax: 785-840-9996 Nathan Robinson exteriorelements@live.com
The Reuter Organ Company Manufactures 1220 Timberedge Rd. Lawrence, KS 66049-8904 Phone: 785-843-2622 Fax: 785-8436-3302 www.reuterorgan.com JR Neutel jrneutel@reuterorgan.com
U.S. Army Government – Federal 2233 Louisiana St., Ste. H-2 Lawrence, KS 66044-3010 Phone: 785-843-0465 Fax: 785-843-5281 www.goarmy.com SFC Michael Straw michael.straw@usarec.army.mil
DID YOU KNOW? The new Westar Energy facility, located at 746 E. 27th St., is designed to use 23 percent less energy than the nationally recognized baseline for new commercial construction. The office areas are conditioned by a ground source heat pump system, which is the most efficient method of heating and cooling a building. A total of 7,281 tons or 98 percent of the construction waste was recycled or salvaged from this project. If you would like to submit an interesting fact about Lawrence or its businesses, please email Natasha Buller at nbuller@lawrencechamber.com.
11 785.865.4411 • lawrencechamber.com
STAFF
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS Chair Bonnie Lowe Past-Chair Jim Otten, DDS Incoming Chair Matt Hoy, Stevens & Brand Treasurer Cindy Yulich, Emprise Bank Secretary & President/CEO Tom Kern PERMANENT POSITIONS Robert Hemenway, KU Chancellor Dr. Linda Sue Warner, Haskell Indian Nations University President Randy Weseman, USD 497 Superintendent BOARD MEMBERS Allison Vance Moore, Grubb & Ellis| The Winbury Group, Vice Chair of Chamber Member Services Bill Fuerst, KU School of Business Bobbie Flory, Lawrence Home Builders Association Bradley Burnside, U.S Bank David Johnson, Bert Nash, Co-Vice Chair of Government & Community Affairs David Livingood, Treanor Architects Debra Vignatelli Konzem, Retired
Doug Gaumer, INTRUST Bank, Vice Chair of Chamber Operations Gary Bennett, Laird Noller Automotive, Inc. Jane Bateman, Jane Bateman, The Interiors Store, Co-Vice Chair of Government & Community Affairs John Ross, Laser Logic, Inc. Kathy Pryor, KU Theatre & Film, Vice Chair of Leadership Lawrence & Strategic Planning Larissa Long, Black Hills Energy, Co-Vice Chair of Communications Linda Robinson, KU Center for Research on Learning Mike McGrew, McGrew Real Estate, Vice Chair of Economic Development Rodger Henry, Lawrence Medical Plaza Shannon Frost, Hallmark Cards, Inc. Steve Brown, Berry Plastics Steve Schwada, Meadowbrook Apartments, Venture Properties Terry Campbell, Barber Emerson, L.C., Co-Vice Chair of Communications Todd Thompson, Thompson, Ramsdell & Qualseth, P.A. Trudy Rice, Rice Enterprises
Tom Kern, President & CEO tkern@lawrencechamber.com Cathy Lewis, IOM Vice President of Membership clewis@lawrencechamber.com Beth Johnson, Vice President of Economic Development bjohnson@lawrencechamber.com Sue Hack, Executive Director Leadership Lawrence shack@lawrencechamber.com Hank Booth, Government & Community Affairs Director hbooth@lawrencechamber.com Natasha Buller, Marketing & Communications Manager nbuller@lawrencechamber.com Christy Bogner, Accountant/ Office Operations cbogner@lawrencechamber.com Adam Handshy, Project & Program Coordinator ahandshy@lawrencechamber.com J. Taylor, Administrative Assistant jtaylor@lawrencechamber.com Phone number: (785) 865-4411
734 Vermont, Suite 101 Lawrence, KS 66044