The Connection, March/April 2012

The Connection A publication of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce Volume 1, Issue 2

March/April 2012

Help a hero: Sponsor Valor Awards The Valor Public Safety Awards is our community’s opportunity to recognize the selflessness, valor and heroism of our first responders.

In its inaugural year in 2011, we honored 14 Lawrence-Douglas County fire fighters, Lawrence police officers, Douglas County Sheriff ’s officers and University of Kansas Office of Public Safety officers. The prosperity and quality of life we enjoy as citizens of Lawrence and Douglas County is due in no small part to these men and women.

The heart of the Valor Public Safety Awards program lies in its scholarship program. The Valor Public Safety Awards Scholarships are presented to the children of Valor honorees, subject to eligibility requirements. To date, four scholarships have been presented to help the children of Valor honorees as they enter college.

In 2011, we raised more than $40,000 to fund the Valor Public Safety Awards Scholarships. Our goal for 2012 is to raise at least $50,000 to supplement the scholarship and program funds.

We encourage you to be a 2012 Valor sponsor and celebrate the heroes – and the families – who sacrifice so much for our community.

Treanor Breaks Ground

VALOR PUBLIC SAFETY AWARDS

Visit www.lawrencecamber.com or www. lawrencekansasvalorawards.org to download the 2012 Valor Public Safety Awards Sponsorship Opportunities, and be sure to join us for this year’s Valor Public Safety Awards Golf Tournament, presented by Crown Automotive. The tournament is scheduled for Friday, May 11 at Alvamar.

The Lawrence Chamber of Commerce’s county-wide hero recognition program, The Valor Public Safety Awards, was created in collaboration with Harry Herington, CEO, NIC Inc.

Valor Golf Tournament Friday May 11, 2012 Registration at 11:30 a.m.

Alvamar Public Golf Course 1809 Crossgate Drive

Member News

$100 Chamber Members & Public $75 First Responders Reservations due May 4. www.lawrencechamber.com or 785.865.4411

The Valor Golf Tournament is presented by Crown Automotive.

Treanor Architects broke ground on its new office at 1040 Vermont St. on April 3. The new building design will integrate portions of the existing structure with a new, two-story glass façade and modern details. The building is being designed to achieve LEED certification. The new facility will unite all 50 Treanor Architects employees in one location.

Since 1981, Treanor Architects has expanded to include 75 employees in Kansas City, Topeka, St. Louis and Dallas.

For more information on the firm, visit http://treanorarchitects.com.

Just Food to Hold Ribbon Cutting Just Food, Douglas County’s main food bank, will host a ribbon cutting for its new warehouse on Tuesday, April 17.

The new warehouse will increase the food bank’s space from 3,600 to 9,600 square feet, and quadruple its capacity to store frozen and refrigerated food. Just Food serves about 4,500 people a month through three on-site programs. Partner agencies serve more than 4,000 a month.

The ribbon cutting for the new facility will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 17 at Just Food, 1000 E 11th St. For information or to donate, visit http://www.justfoodks.org or call 785856-7030.

Ribbon Cuttings Sloan Law Firm, Feb. 2, 2012 Sloan Law Firm opened a new office in Lawrence at 900 Massachusetts St. The firm, which also has offices in Topeka, provides a range of legal services. The Chamber representative for the Lawrence branch is Shaye Downing. Visit www.sloanlawfirm.com for more information.

AesthetiCare of Lawrence, Feb. 9, 2012 AesthetiCare , 3510 Clinton Place, Suite 120, provides a variety of skin care services including laser treatments, Botox, microdermabrasion, chemical peels and other treatments. Kathy Gaumer is the Chamber representative for the Lawrence office. For more information about AesthetiCare’s services, visit www. greatskinkc.com.

LHBA Home Show at Crown Automotive, Feb. 10, 2012 The Lawrence Home Builders Association kicked off its Home Show on Feb. 10. The Home Show was held in a new location this year, at Crown Automotive on Iowa Street. The show featured 71 exhibitioners over three days. For information about LHBA, visit www.lhba.net.

The Fix Salon, Feb. 17, 2012 The Fix Salon, 845 New Hampshire St., styles, colors and cuts.

For information, call 785. 749.0047.

Want to schedule a ribbon cutting for your business? Contact Events Director Adam Handshy at ahandshy@lawrencechamber.com or call him at 785.865.4427.

Ribbon Cuttings KLWN Arden Booth Dedication Feb. 22, 2012 This ribbon cutting, on KLWN’s Arden Booth Day, celebrated the station’s founder, Arden Booth, and the station’s 61 years in Lawrence. Arden’s son and longtime KLWN radio personality, Hank Booth (who is also serving as our Interim CEO!), was recognized for his years of service. Tune in to 1320 AM or visit www. klwn.com for details on the station.

UPS Store, March 15, 2012 This UPS Store, 3514 Clinton Parkway, Suite A., is represented in the Chamber by Steve Figuieras. UPS Stores help you protect, pack, mail and ship your most important items to locations all over the globe. For information, visit www.theupsstore.com.

“Jamie’s Wish” Oncology Rooms Lawrence Memorial Hospital, March 30, 2012 Jamie Barkes Pursley was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006.

Before she passed away from the disease in March 2011, she told her friends her dying wish was to have the infusion rooms at Lawrence Memorial Hospital made more comfortable and inviting for cancer patients. One year after Jamie’s death, her friends carried out her wish. For more information, visit http://www.jamieswish.org.

John Hooge Attorneys at Law, April 5, 2012 John Hooge Attorneys At Law opened its new location, 2619 W. Sixth St. Suites D & F. This firm specializes in debt relief and helping people file for bankruptcy relief. For more information, visit http://www.johnhoogelawoffice.com

Thank you to our Board Members, Envoy Members, Elected Officials and other Chamber Members who take the time to welcome Douglas County’s new businesses!

Kansas Legislative Update

By Hank Booth Interim President/CEO, Lawrence Chamber It’s been a difficult, complicated legislative session.

With almost all of the legislative business that must be completed within the 90day session still left on the table, it is likely there will be a number of issues that should have been addressed delayed until after this fall’s elections. The legislators, who are currently on recess, resume session in Topeka April 25.

Legislative issues left to be argued and voted on include the state’s budget, Congressional and Legislative redistricting, and KPERS funding .

While some may say KPERS – the Kansas Public Retirement System – is not a priority this session, it is certainly important to the thousands of Kansans depending on their KPERS check in retirement.

The Kansas senators all will be up for re-election in August primaries and the general election in November. The state Senate has eight Democrats and 32 Republicans. About a dozen of those 32 GOP members are referred to in the media as “moderates”. At least eight of those “moderate” Republicans and most of the Democrats already have opposition in the upcoming elections. It has made for posturing and deal-making on almost every important piece of legislation in Topeka.

To help you better understand what’s going on at the Capitol, the Lawrence Chamber has scheduled our Eggs and Issues Session #3 for 8-9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 21. at the Eldridge Hotel.

Several committee meetings of both chambers will take place over the next two weeks and we will be able to get important insights on that work and predictions for the 2012 wrap-up from our local legislators. Several members of the state legislative leadership have also been invited to participate.

Eggs & Issues Session #3 8-9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 21, 2012 Crystal Ballroom, Eldridge Hotel, 701 Mass. St. $15 for Chamber Members, $20 for General Public RSVP at www.lawrencechamber.com or 785.865.4411

A message from Cindy Yulich

Chamber Leadership Search Making Good Progress

Our first round of interviews with potential candidates for our President/CEO position is nearly complete. The selection committee is very pleased with the caliber of candidates we have seen and we are confident we will find the right person to lead the Chamber.

In the next few weeks, we hope to bring a small number of candidates to Lawrence where you will have the opportunity to meet them in person and talk about their vision for our Chamber of Commerce.

Our focus is on finding a person who can work with our membership and our partners in the community to help us achieve our vision of being “the leading force for economic vitality in Lawrence and Douglas County.�

There are almost certainly rumors cir-

culating about who may or may not be under consideration for this position. The selection process must be a confidential one, balancing our desire to be open and transparent in this process while affording our candidates needed confidentiality.

Some candidates may not yet have told their current organization they are being considered for this position and we must respect that privacy.

I remain committed to keeping you informed as this process moves forward.

Our goal is to make an offer as soon as we reasonably can and to have our new President/CEO in position early this summer. When we do bring final candidates to Lawrence, I hope you will take advantage of the opportunity to meet with them. We will do our best to provide the informa-

tion on candidate visits as far in advance as possible so you can make plans to be a part of these meetings.

In the meantime, I want to extend my personal thanks to Hank Booth for his service as the interim President/CEO of the Chamber.

I also want to thank the selection committee members for their time and commitment to this process.

We will use all the communications resources available in keeping you updated on this search. Updates may be seen in the weekly Chamber Matters, through member email messages and in the bi-monthly newsletter The Connection.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at yulich@emprisebank.com and I will do my best to respond.

Calendar of Events Lawrence Chamber of Commerce Events are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated. To register for an individual event, visit www. lawrencechamber.com or call 785-8654411.

April 12: The Tan Company Ribbon Cutting. 4:30- 5:30 p.m. 831 Massachusetts St., Ste. A. April 17: Just Food’s New Warehouse Ribbon Cutting. 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Just Food, 1000 E. 11th St. April 18: Business After Hours at The Windsor of Lawrence. 5-7 p.m. The Windsor of Lawrence, 3220 Peterson Road. Members only.

April 19: Lawrence Sign Up Ribbon Cutting (New Location). 4:30- 5:30 p.m.

725 N. Second St.

April 21: Legislative Series: Eggs & Issues #3. 8-9:30 a.m. The Eldridge Hotel Crystal Ballroom, 701 Massachusetts St. Chamber members, $15. General public, $20. Reservations required; due April 18.

April 24: Plastikon Healthcare Ribbon Cutting. 4:30-5:30 p.m., Plastikon Healthcare, 3780 Greenway Circle.

April 26: Cottrell & Associates, Inc. Ribbon Cutting. 4:30-5:30 p.m. 4102 W. 6th St., Ste. A. April 27: Lawrence Home Builders Association Spring Parade of Homes Ribbon Cutting. 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Location to be announced.

April 27: Legends of Leadership Lawrence. Celebrate the program’s founders, first class and the Class of 2012. 6-10 p.m. Maceli’s, 1031 New Hampshire St. Tickets cost $60.

Reservations required.

May 11: Valor Golf Tournament presented by Crown Automotive. 11:30 a.m. registration. Alvamar Public Golf Course, 1809 Crossgate Drive. $100 for Chamber members and the public. $75 for first responders. Registration due May 4. Proceeds benefit the Valor Public Safety Awards Scholarship Program.

LL

The Legends of

LL

EADERSHIP AWRENCE

A PROGRAM OF THE LAWRENCE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Help us celebrate 30 years of Leadership Lawrence!

We’ll honor the graduates of the Leadership Lawrence Class of 2012 and recognize the Founders and members of the First Class.

Friday, April 27, 2012

6 p.m. Maceli’s, 1027 New Hampshire St. $60 per person. Reservations at www.lawrencechamber.com

Presenting Sponsor

Alumni Sponsor