Producing New Leaders
Sunday, May 24, 2015 A supplement to
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HAYP
Sunday, May 24, 2015 • The Hays Daily News
Travis L. Adams. Age: 35 years old. Occupation: Owner, Travis Adams Agency. Where do you live? I am building a house north/east of Hays. Family Members: My wife is Shannon Adams, daughter (6) Madison Adams, Son (4) Hayden Adams, My wife was a Dreiling/Dorzweiler. College Education: I went to a Votech in Phoenix AZ- Universal Technical Institute (for Refrigeration and HVAC). What other activities are you involved in? I used to race dirtbikes until I broke my back a few years ago so now I like to golf and watch my kids play tball and soccer and dance. What advice would you give to other young professionals just starting their careers? My advice to any young professional starting a new career would be to find something that you really enjoy and stick with it, don’t sweat the little things in life and aim for what really makes you happy! What are your future goals/career goals? My goals are to build my agency up and be able to hire 2-3 producers that can write business and give me more free time to be more involved in the community and still run my agency. What goals do you have for the upcoming year? My goal for the upcoming year would be to get my Financial
License and also be the #1 agent for Farmers in 2015. What do you love most about your job? I love the fact that I get to meet and socialize with people all day and I’m able to call it “Work”!! How long have you lived in Ellis County/why did you come here? I used to live in Hays back in 1999-2004 when I met my wife and we got married.Then we moved to Newton KS and since we have always been trying to get back out to Hays. In Oct. 2013 I had an opportunity to take over an agency in Hays and we jumped on it without question and have loved being back ever since. What do you enjoy most about living and/or working in the Hays community and surrounding area? I really like being able to be back in Hays because it is so much of a caring community and the people here are so friendly and accepting. It seems like no matter where I go I always run into someone I know. I am also really thankful for having the opportunity to raise my kids in the Hays atmosphere! What is your favorite thing to do in northwest Kansas? One of my favorite things to do in this area now is getting to play golf with my little boy! He loves getting to go hit the ball while my daughter gets to drive the golf cart and look for rollypollies and lady bugs!!! How do you spend your time when you’re not working? Most of our time spent when not working is always with my family whether we are playing golf, working on our rental houses, or just watching movies. Family time is the best and most important thing for me! What or who inspires you? The one person that inspires me the most is Kevin Windham. He is a retired motorcross rider and just his willingness to do whatever it takes to win in life and the dedication he has, hes a family man and he never gives up. It pushes me to want to want to be the best at everything in life! What are two things you couldn’t live without? Well I don’t really have Watch a PRO file of Travis two things I could live without but I do have three- Shannon, Madison, and at www.hdnews.net Hayden!! I couldn’t even think about not having all 3 of them in my life!!!! Under the (brownie points)!!! Special Sections tab
Jared W. Cook Age: 25 Occupation: County Operations Trainee with the Russell County Farm Service Agency Where do you live? – I live in Hays, KS. Originally from Gove, KS. Family Members? – I have my parents, Wayne and Mary Cook, from Gove, KS. I have a twin sister, Janna Cook, living in Hays. And little sister Jessica Cook, living in Phoenix, AZ. College Education? – I graduated from Fort Hays State University, Class of 2012, B.S. in Agriculture Business. What other community activities are you involved in? – Hays Area Young Professionals – Volunteer Committee.000000 I’ve also volunteered as a coach for Hays Rec flag football. What advice would you give to other young professionals just starting their careers? – Hit the ground running. Show up to your new job/career with excitement and an attitude to do the best job that anyone can do, and then get it done. Age and experience are attributes that come with time, but it’s hard work and perseverance you need on day 1 to show your boss, your family/friends, and your community that you’re serious about what you do. What are your future goals/career goals? – My main goal is to become a family man, and to be financially stable and secure. For my career, my goal is to become a County Executive Director for the FSA in the next 12 months. I also would like to become a pillar of the community in whichever county I may become County Executive Director in. What goals do you have for the upcoming year? – Again, become a CED in a Kansas County. I also want to become a good uncle, as I will be a brand new uncle in October!!! What do you love most about your job? – I love my job because I get to deal with some of the best people in the country, the Kansas farmers and ranchers. They make my job so enjoyable. And I work with some of the best people in the FSA, which makes the job even more sweet.
See Jared, page F5
Auto, Home, Life, and Business Insurance 103 E. 27th St, Ste C • Hays, KS 785-621-4790
HAYP
The Hays Daily News • Sunday, May 24, 2015
Brittney Squire Age: 25 Occupation: Administrative Assistant, Memorial Union, Fort Hays State Univeristy Where do you live? Hays Family Members? I’m single with no kids. My older sister lives in Ransom, KS, about one hour southwest of Hays with her four children. College Education? Bachelor of Business Administration, Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS What other community activities are you involved in? Right now, none. Work keeps me pretty busy and when I have extra time, I make an effort to support other campus events and initiatives. However, I’m looking to get more involved in the community which is why I joined HAYP. My employer is also a Chamber member so I try to attend as many events as I can. What advice would you give to other young professionals just starting their careers? As a young professional just starting a career myself, I would encourage my peers to network as much as possible and work to build quality professional and personal relationships. What are your future goals/career goals? I enjoy what I do and hope to work in higher education for the foreseeable future. I’m open to exploring different functional areas in the student affairs profession as long as I can remain connected to the students. What goals do you have for the upcoming year? To begin working on my graduate degree. What do you love most about your job? The students, of course. They are amazing to work with and I feel that I learn as much from them as they hopefully learn from me. How long have you lived in Ellis County/why did you come here? I moved to Hays in April 2014, so just over a year. I was looking for a position at a four-year institution and was lucky enough to find the right fit with the Center for Student Involvement at FHSU.
CONGRATULATIONS
Jordan Seirer Your dedication, enthusiasm and insight are really inspiring and we are proud to have you as part of the Nex-Tech team. We wish you many years of great achievements!
2418 Vine | 877-625-7872 | www.nex-tech.com
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What do you enjoy most about living and/or working in the Hays community and surrounding area? I enjoy the amenities of Downtown Hays. The community charm is evident by the varied restaurants, shops and sponsored events in the area. What is your favorite thing to do in northwest Kansas? I enjoy going to Cedar Bluff in the fall when it starts to get colder and the traffic is minimal. One of the best things about northwest Kansas is the quiet — spending time outside with friends and family, around a campfire, and even enjoying the stars on a clear night. How do you spend your time when you’re not working? I’m a huge television junkie and love all things pop culture — who doesn’t binge watch Netflix these days? Spending time with my nieces and nephews whenever possible is a priority. I also enjoy reading for pleasure, watching football and swimming. What or who inspires you? My colleagues at the university inspire me each and every day. I work with brilliant people at FHSU and I am continually challenged to do better for our students and the community. I value education so I’m often inspired by learning something new or having philosophical discussions on current issues. I guess that explains why I enjoy working in higher education. What are two things you couldn’t live without? Besides family and friends, my car and iced tea.
Jordan Seirer Age: 23 Occupation: Graphic designer, Nex-Tech Where do you live? Hays, KS Family Members? Livy Seirer (Wife) College Education? FHSU - Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design What other community activities are you involved in? Cancer Council of Ellis County – Secretary, HAYP Civic Volunteer Committee – Member. What advice would you give to other young professionals just starting their careers? Be involved in things outside of your job. There are many opportunities to volunteer on a regular or one time basis. These are great for meeting people that share your interests and helping the community. What are your future goals/career goals? In my free time, I am working on furthering my education in web development to become a front end web developer. What goals do you have for the upcoming year? To earn certification in HTML and CSS web development. What do you love most about your job? I love that I get to work in many different areas of my field all for one employer. How long have you lived in Ellis County/why did you come here? I arrived in Hays in 2009 to start my education at Fort Hays State University and have been here since. What do you enjoy most about living and/or working in the Hays community and surrounding area? The small-town feeling. I love living in an area where people still look out for one another and everyone is willing to lend a helping hand when they can. What is your favorite thing to do in northwest Kansas? Enjoying time in the outdoors, whatever that may be! How do you spend your time when you’re not working? Photography, movies, mountain biking and traveling. What or who inspires you? Ted Talks are an incredible source of motivation and inspiration. What are two things you couldn’t live without? Imagination and a sense of humor.
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HAYP
Sunday, May 24, 2015 • The Hays Daily News
Holly Nondorf Age: 26 Occupation: Residential Real Estate Loan Assistant, Astra Bank Where do you live? Hays Family Members? My parents, brother, 3 nieces and a nephew. College Education? BS degree in Speech Language Pathology. What other community activities are you involved in? HAYP is the only one currently. What advice would you give to other young professionals just starting their careers? Don’t get discouraged. Every new/old job comes with changes and difficulties, but if you stay focused on your main goal there’s nothing that can stop you from achieving what you want. What are your future goals/career goals? My future goals for my career are just to continue learning and being involved in things within the community and the bank. Every opportunity I take on can hopefully lead me further into my career and my successful future. What goals do you have for the upcoming year? My main goal is to become a pro at my job. I
recently switched to the loan department and I have a lot of new things to learn. So by the end of the year I want to become proficient so next year I can take on more. What do you love most about your job? The opportunity to grow within the company. There are always new learning experiences and chances to gain knowledge that will later turn into promotion opportunities. How long have you lived in Ellis County/why did you come here? I have lived here for almost 9 years. I came here for FHSU. What do you enjoy most about living and/or working in the Hays community and surrounding area? The Hays community has such a great small town feel about it that it makes living here feel like home even though its 50 times the size. Working here has the same feel, employers are willing to take the time and effort in order to make sure you succeed in your given profession and that makes staying in Hays ideal to further my career. What is your favorite thing to do in northwest Kansas? Enjoy the scenery? It’s so beautiful here, summer nights are the best. Getting a group of friends together to go watch baseball, sit in my lounge chair and eat sunflower seeds. How do you spend your time when you’re not working? I enjoy spending my time with my friend, watching Netflix, reading a book or crocheting. What or who inspires you? Other professionals inspire me, I love watching a person work hard to achieve a goal they set for themselves or move up the corporate ladder. It gives me motivation to do it myself. What are two things you couldn’t live without? I’m going to get made fun for this, my cats and friends and family ( I consider my friends family so it only counts as one).
Jami Benyshek
What or who inspires you? All the people I work with inspire and motivate me to become great at my job. What are two things you couldn’t live without? My glasses and my family.
Age: 25 Occupation: Certified Public Accountant, Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball Where do you live? Hays, KS Family Members? Husband – Ryan Benyshek College Education? I earned two bachelors degrees from FHSU – Accounting and Finance. What other community activities are you involved in? Hays Area Young Professionals (HAYP) What advice would you give to other young professionals just starting their careers? Get involved! Join a community group, such as HAYP. Also, don’t be too afraid to go after what you want. You never know if you’ll get hired by your dream employer if you never submit a resume or ask for an interview. What are your future goals/career goals? I recently became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). For the past two years, that was my goal. Now that I’ve achieved it, I’m really focusing on my career at Adams Brown Beran & Ball, Chtd. What goals do you have for the upcoming year? Stay involved with HAYP and advance my position at ABBB. What do you love most about your job? The flexibility and the work-life balance. ABBB does a great job of making sure your family always comes first. I also love the daily challenges – it keeps work interesting. How long have you lived in Ellis County/why did you come here? I moved to Hays in 2008 to attend FHSU. As a senior, I wasn’t really sure where I wanted to live. ABBB offered me a job in Hays and it worked out that my husband had a good job here as well. So we decided to make Hays our home. What do you enjoy most about living and/or working in the Hays community and surrounding area? It’s just the right size. I grew up in a small town of 2,500 people so moving to Hays was an adjustment, but a good one. Now, I can’t imagine ever living in that small of a town again. What is your favorite thing to do in northwest Kansas? Wilson Lake is fun, when I get the chance to go. How do you spend your time when you’re not working? Until I passed the CPA exam, I spent my free time studying. I found out I passed my final exam in February (the start of tax season) so I haven’t really had any free time yet! I plan to spend the summer remodeling my house and reading some good books.
Congratulations to our HAYP members. Jessica Dennis, Jami Benyshek, Brett Henry, Jude Fox and Jeanie Rome
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Accounting & Audit • Estate & Tax Planning • Financial Services Management Consulting • Retirement & Benefit Consulting We support and honor the young professionals of the Hays business community. Their courage, vision and hard work have paved the way for men and women of today to pursue their dream and achieve boundless success. 718 Main • 628-3046 • Hays, KS abbb.com
HAYP
The Hays Daily News • Sunday, May 24, 2015
Ervis Dinkel Age: 33 Occupation: Accountant, LINK Where do you live? Hays, Kansas Family Members? 2 College Education? Master in Business Administration, Bachelor in Financial Management What other community activities are you involved in? I am fairly new to the community so, not yet, a lot of involvement. As for now I am active member of Liberty Foursquare Church. But I believe that people can do the change in a community, so will always be open to opportunities to serve in the community. What advice would you give to other young professionals just starting their careers? First of all they need to be sure they like their job. I am not talking about a specific work environment, they need to like their job. During their life time they will change work environments at least a few times, if not more than that, but they will be doing their job for a long time, so they need to like it. Another advice would be, try to change and challenge and impact, in a positive way the work environment wherever you are. Try to build a better place for everyone to work in at your current work place. What are your future goals/career goals? As for now get settled in Hays and in the near future pursue more the Finance and Accounting career. I love to learn and work, so for sure both of those are going to be part of my future. Pursuing the CPA or CA might be part of my future as well. What do you love most about your job? I love reporting and analyzing. I have been blessed to be
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allowed to analyze and prepare variance reports and other daily reports at my current job. I have always liked performing financial analysis, trying to understand the trends, and how things are going or changing. Numbers speak loud when it comes to changes and trends. Numbers show the effect of decisions in and out the company, and also help decision-making. Having correct and in-time data and analysis are key to right decision making. I really like helping in providing high management in proper decision making process, and/or suggesting changes in this process. How long have you lived in Ellis County/why did you come here? I have been here for 8 months. I am originally from Albania, a small country in Eastern Europe. I have always to describe that Albania is surrounded by Greece, Macedonia, Monte Negro and Italy, and that gets people’s attention almost always. A couple of years ago, I meet Chris, who is from here, and had no idea I would end up marrying him and starting a new life in Hays, Kansas. We married last July and I moved here in August last year. What do you enjoy most about living and/or working in the Hays community and surrounding area? Hays is smaller and flatter to what I was used to. Nonetheless people are very friendly and always ready to help. I am blessed in the place where I work, Link Inc., to have nice people and very easy and comfortable to work with. What is your favorite thing to do in northwest Kansas? Well I don’t know the country yet as well, but I love traveling so as for now, visiting places is my favorite thing to do How do you spend your time when you’re not working? We are involved in church so that takes part of the non-working time. Other activities: spending time with my in-laws, always fun and I enjoy them a lot; we travel; go to concerts; meet with a couple of very good friends. What or who inspires you? There are different things that inspire me: First and foremost I believe that God is the source of life, happiness and purpose. Therefore, He is the one that gives purpose and inspires. Secondly: family. My husband Chris’ opinion is always important, encouraging and inspiring to me. Third: A good cause is always inspiring as well, when I see something that is close to my heart I’m in. Sometimes change inspires me, to see what can be made different and improved will get my attention. What are two things you couldn’t live without? I think people are very adaptable and can actually live without things. What would make my life worthless and I would not want to never take way from my life is: God and family
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Ervis Dinkel
How long have you lived in Ellis County/why did you come here? – I’ve lived in Ellis County since January of 2009, when I first attended FHSU. There are several months scattered here and there when I have lived other places for internships and other jobs, but the majority of the time I have lived in Hays. What do you enjoy most about living and/or working in the Hays community and surrounding area? – Hays has the small town feel that I like, with a few big city thrills. Everyone in Hays has always been great to work with and have made me feel like one of the locals. What is your favorite thing to do in northwest Kansas? – My favorite pastime in NW Kansas is spending a weekend at Cedar Bluff with friends. I also enjoy taking in FHSU sporting events, as well as the Hays Larks games in the summer. How do you spend your time when you’re not working? – I enjoy hanging out with my friends that I’ve made in Hays. I’m an avid sports spectator, so if the game’s on, I’m watching it. And sometimes, I just enjoy driving around Hays and looking at all the activity. What or who inspires you? – My parents have always been inspirations to me. They’ve been my best friends and my strongest supporters. What are two things you couldn’t live without? – I couldn’t live without Kansas Jayhawks Basketball. I’ve been a HUGE fan as far back as I can remember. Even though some years I’m a little disappointed in their performance, I still get amped up for every game and cheer them on. The second thing is a material possession of mine. My Ford F-150! I love my pickup!
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HAYP
Sunday, May 24, 2015 • The Hays Daily News
Sara Bloom Age: 30 Occupation: Executive Director, Downtown Hays Development Corp. Where do you live? Hays Family Members? Husband Kael, Isaac (6), Judah (3) and Kadance (6 months May 1) College Education? Communications Degree from Fort Hays State University, minor in Informatics What other community activities are you involved in? Cancer Council of Ellis County, Tiger Gold on Friday Committee, very active in my church, Celebration Community Church What advice would you give to other young professionals just starting their careers? Be bold and don’t be afraid to take on challenges. Taking on challenges and making mistakes is how you grow! What are your future goals/career goals? My long-term goals involve growing in this position. I’m right where I’m supposed to be and I look forward to learning as much as I can, taking on additional responsibilities, and contributing to the Hays community, downtown specifically, as much as I can. What goals do you have for the upcoming year? Since I am still fairly new to this position I have one major goal for the year and that is to continue the already great success of the DHDC. The DHDC’s mission is to promote Downtown Hays and to bring awareness to the wonderful opportunities available. We do that through marketing and events like the Downtown Hays Market, Core2Campus,
Trevor Ottley Age: 26 Occupation: Sales Manager, Mid Kansas Auto Auction Where do you live? Hays, KS Family Members? Father-Mark Ottley StepmotherLynette Ottley Sisters- Ashton Ottley Brylee Ottley Stepsisters Jensen Boys Kinley Boys College Education? Garden City Community College- Associates Degree General Studies, Middle Tennessee State University - Bachelor Degree - Business Entrepreneurship What advice would you give to other young professionals just starting their careers? Listen a lot. Work hard, be honest, and always do what you say you are going to do. What are your future goals/career goals? Continue to make forward progress! What goals do you have for the upcoming year? By year end I look to get a general manager settled into Mid Kansas Auto Auction, further define roles in our organization, and continue to develop our customer base. What do you love most about your job? The people I work with. They make it exciting to come to work everyday!. I am glad they still put up with me! How long have you lived in Ellis County/why did you come here? Since I was in the fourth grade. I moved here to live with my dad. What do you enjoy most about living and/or working in the Hays community and surrounding area? I get to live in a small town that still has good hometown values and morals, but if I ever miss the city I can jump on a local flight and get anywhere I want to go. What is your favorite thing to do in northwest Kansas? Turn on the grill and cook a good steak. How do you spend your time when you’re not working? As slowly as possible. What or who inspires you? I am usually inspired after watching a ESPN “30 for 30” episode, “Braveheart,” or the first three “Rocky” movies. What are two things you couldn’t live without? My family and those chocolate peanut butter Reeses eggs they start selling every Easter.
Wines and Steins and Frostfest. I want to make sure that these events that have been such a huge success in the past continue that reputation under my leadership and hopefully we can throw some new ones in too like The Taste that just happened last month. What do you love most about your job? The variety! I never do the same activity two days in a row. I get to use and develop a variety of skills. One day I’m a graphic designer, one day I’m a public speaker, one day I’m an event planner and I can’t get enough! How long have you lived in Ellis County/why did you come here? I’ve lived in Ellis County since 2002 when I came to Hays to attend FHSU. I left for a year in 2005 and came back, and a year in 2014 but Hays is home. What do you enjoy most about living and/or working in the Hays community and surrounding area? I love the people and the actual sense of community. Hays still has a small town feel and I love that. I love that people watch out for others and there is always a helping hand available to those who need it. What is your favorite thing to do in northwest Kansas? I love returning to my home town of Lindsborg Kansas for their Hyllingsfest celebration. It’s a wonderful Swedish tradition with great food, dancing, arts and crafts and lots of fun. How do you spend your time when you’re not working? Reading, listening to music, running, and spending as much time outdoors with my family and friends as possible. What or who inspires you? My children. It’s because of them and their generation that I do much of what I do. I feel it’s my responsibility to make Hays the best place for them and I get to play a major role in that in my current position. I also feel like I’m serving the exact purpose I’m supposed to with the DHDC. I love my children to the moon and back but I am not meant to be a stay at home mom. I am called to serve in the community and to inspire others, my kids especially, to do the same. What are two things you couldn’t live without? My Bible is very important to me and it’s something I rely on daily. My husband. He makes me laugh every day and keeps me grounded when I think the world is going to end.
Congratulations 2015 Young Professional
Sara Bloom Exec. Director We are proud to have you leading our organization and we thank you for your dedication to the Hays community.
Join us in Downtown Hays for Fire on the Frontier BBQ Classic June 12-13. For more events visit our website today! 2700 Vine St, Hays Ŗ www.DowntownHays.com Ŗ 785.621.4171
HAYP
Jason Riegel Age: 33 Occupation: Water Conservation Specialist, City of Hays Where do you live? Hays Family Members? Wife, Aimee and sons Jonah (5) and Jude (3) College Education? B.G.S. Psychology, University of Kansas What other community activities are you involved in? Hays Area Young Professionals, Leadership Hays What advice would you give to other young professionals just starting their careers? Your motivation will fluctuate… guaranteed. Some days you’ll be fired up and ready to take on everything, and some days will be the total opposite. The best advice would be to choose a path that requires little motivation for yourself; something you believe in and are passionate about. If you can’t find that, be passionate about what you do. Sometimes you just have to make lemonade. What are your future goals/career goals? I love municipal utilities. I’ve spent most of my working career in water and wastewater, and I hope to continue to climb the ladder at the City of Hays. Utilities are often an overlooked service in a community, but it’s an essential one with many moving parts. People have a tendency to take for granted that the tap will deliver water every time it’s turned
Sharon Leuenberger Age: 34 Occupation: Adult Day Services Coordinator, Good Samaritan Society Where do you live? Hays Family Members? Husband- Aaron Daughter- Lauren Son- Levi College Education? BS in Family Studies and Human Services from K-State What other community activities are you involved in? Coach youth sports, previously volunteered with Homestead Nutrition and I volunteer helping homeless animals get transported to new homes. What advice would you give to other young professionals just starting their careers? Find something you are passionate about and pursue it! You spend a lot of your time at work so make sure you enjoy what you do! What are your future goals/career goals? My career goal is to grow the day services program and make sure more people are aware of our services. What goals do you have for the upcoming year? None, I am not big on personal goals! What do you love most about your job? I worked with the elderly while attending college and then I pursued some other career options. I am glad to have the chance to work with the elderly again. I find the work that I do very rewarding that I can help our clients and their families. How long have you lived in Ellis County/why did you come here? I grew up in Hays but have
The Hays Daily News • Sunday, May 24, 2015
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on and the sewers work flawlessly 24-7-365. Most have no idea how much it takes to make that happen. Also, I think it would be fun to own and operate an acoustic music store, specializing in bluegrass and folk instruments. What goals do you have for the upcoming year? Volunteer What do you love most about your job? Water conservation and efficiency are forefront topics in Hays, and that in itself makes this position interesting. The message rarely falls on deaf ears. That’s a testament to current and past City commissions and staff, but especially the residents of Hays for making our community a model of water efficiency. How long have you lived in Ellis County/why did you come here? I’ve lived in Hays for a year and a half. My wife, kids and I moved from Lawrence to pursue professional opportunities and to be closer to family. I was born and raised in Great Bend. What do you enjoy most about living and/or working in the Hays community and surrounding area? Hays feels like home. Great people in a thriving community. What is your favorite thing to do in northwest Kansas? I enjoy the outdoors...camping with the family, fishing with my kids, hunting and shooting. How do you spend your time when you’re not working? I’ve dedicated a significant portion of my life to the 5-string banjo. I’ve tried to break down every banjo lick Earl Scruggs played his entire career. My wife and I have an acoustic bluegrass duo called “80 Proof Alice” and we enjoy pickin’ and grinnin’ at the lake or on the back patio in the summer. What or who inspires you? My dad. What are two things you couldn’t live without? Family and music, with Lb Brewing’s No. 09 American Hefeweizen right up as a close 3rd. lived in other towns while attending college. What do you enjoy most about living and/or working in the Hays community and surrounding area? I think Hays is a great place to live and raise a family. I feel like our community is small enough where you feel safe, but big enough to where you feel like there is a lot to do in the community. What is your favorite thing to do in northwest Kansas? My favorite thing to do in northwest Kansas is go to the lake, and be outside during nice weather when we actually have it! How do you spend your time when you’re not working? When I’m not working I try to stay active by working out or chasing my kids around. I also feel like we are always doing some project on our house! What or who inspires you? I’m inspired by people who go after what they want in life, and make the best from bad situations! What are two things you couldn’t live without? Besides my family, coffee and my dog Harley.
See two of these young professionals talk about their work and lives in Hays at HDNews.net YP HA cial r e o k f he Sp o o ! L er t tab d s n n u tio Sec
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HAYP
Sunday, May 24, 2015 • The Hays Daily News
Mike Crain Age: 32 Occupation: Director of Sales and Marketing, Covenant Builders, Inc. Where do you live? Hays. Family Members? Wife- Ashley, Daughter- Adeline (2). College Education? Bachelor of Arts from Abilene Christian University, double major 1) Youth and Family Ministry 2)History Master of Divinity from Bethel Seminary. What other community activities are you involved in? Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, Hays Area Young Professionals Advisory Board - chair elect, Celebration Community Church Children’s Ministry - teacher, Hays Area Konza Leadership Club. What advice would you give to other young professionals just starting their careers? 1) Find out what your employer’s expectations are for you and how they are going to evaluate you. 2) Under sell and over deliver.
What goals do you have for the upcoming year? To continue to improve as a husband, father, employee, friend, and person. What do you love most about your job? Getting to interact with a variety of people on a regular basis, and helping people build a home that they truly love to live in. How long have you lived in Ellis County/why did you come here? Since August of 2014. We came here because my wife was beginning graduate school at FHSU. What do you enjoy most about living and/or working in the Hays community and surrounding area? The people are incredibly friendly. You can get to know a lot of people because Hays is not too big. People you’ve met greet you and treat you Watch a PRO file of Mike nicely when you see them around town. at www.hdnews.net What is your favorite thing to do in northwest Kansas? Relax Under the on the front porch in the Spring or Fall and enjoy the breezy Special Sections tab weather. How do you spend your time when you’re not working? Taking our daughter to the park, playing softball, watching TV, reading What or who inspires you? Good Preaching, Seth Godin’s blog, talented people achieving excellence, talented people who are humble. What are two things you couldn’t live without? Grace, The Bible.
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Congratulations for Recognition as a 2015 Young Professional
Building Customized Homes in Hays • Colby • Russell • Plainville CovenantBuilders.net 785-628-6060 4101 Covenant Drive • Hays, KS
MIKE CRAIN Director of Sales and Marketing