TK Business Magazine - Fall 2019

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BEAUTY IS HOW YOU FEEL

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FIRST JOB

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SHAPING THE NEXT GENERATION

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THE PROFESSOR Fall 2019

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4TH GENERATION COMPANY

ERNEST-SPENCER PG.

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PUMPING NEW LIFE INTO TOPEKA

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TOUGH JOBS

DREAMERS AND THINKERS LOOK TO THE SKY FOR INSPIRATION, BECAUSE

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2May FALL 2019 TK Business Magazine

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CONTENTS FEATURES

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PG.

PUMPING NEW LIFE INTO TOPEKA

Vacant shopping centers and empty lots in Topeka are getting a facelift and bringing in new business.

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BEAUTY IS HOW YOU FEEL BEAUTY IS HOW YOU FEEL

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THRIVING IN THE 4TH GENERATION

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Businesses in Topeka are finding their niche by helping people look and feel more beautiful.

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IT’S A TOUGH JOB, BUT SOMEBODY HAS TO DO IT

Discover the stories behind businesses that tackle those tough jobs that most of us do not know how to do or simply do not want to do.

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THRIVING IN THE 4TH GENERATION Photos by EMMA HIGHFILL

Go inside the world of Ernest-Spencer, a 4thgeneration-owned company that continues to grow and innovate.

SHAPING THE NEXT GENERATION

COVER PHOTO PAGE 20

BEAUTY IS HOW YOU FEEL

PAGE 48

FIRST JOB

PAGE 74

SHAPING THE NEXT GENERATION

PAGE 86

TOUGH JOBS

Tamara Russell Travis Hansen Harriett Johnson Von Kopfman

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4TH GENERATION COMPANY

ERNEST-SPENCER PG.

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PUMPING NEW LIFE INTO TOPEKA

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PG.

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TOUGH JOBS

FALL 2019

IN EVERY ISSUE TK BUSINESS EXPERTS

THE PROFESSOR Fall 2019

PG.

74

Cover Photo Credit: Emma Highfill

TK Business Magazine

PG.42 Elizabeth Young PG.54 Kristina Dietrick

SCENE ABOUT TOWN

PG.92 Bajillion Agency, ActionCOACH &

MotoVike Films Grand Opening PG.95 GTP Members’ Championship PG.96 20/30 Club of Topeka Children’s Benefit Auction & Gala

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FIRST JOBS

TK’s business partners share the stories of their first jobs and the lessons they took away from them.

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SHAPING THE NEXT GENERATION

Companies in Topeka are investing in the future by hiring teenagers today.

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THE ECONOMICS OF TARIFFS

A Washburn University professor reveals the economic impact associated with tariffs.

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CURIOUS ADVENTURES OF A LOCAL SHOPKEEPER

Go inside a typical day with a Topeka shopkeeper and discover some of the quirky (and downright weird) experiences that business owners face every day.

Tracy & Megan Blocker TECHNICAL APPLICATIONS & CONSULTING

Dr. Neela Sandal ATMA CLINIC

Steve & Janney Duncan SD ENGINEERING, LLC.

YOUR STORY is our passion.

Check out the full stories at EnvistaBusiness.com

We Know Business We know that your business is more than just the product or service you sell. It’s also the employees you have and the assets you own... and all of these create risk.

Timothy A. Shultz and Cynthia J. Sheppeard have guided businesses across the midwest in a wide range of business transactions and employment law matters and have successfully defended against professional, employment, product and premises liability.

Experience matters. Trusted since 1881.

515 S KANSAS AVE | TOPEKA, KS 66603 | 785.233.0593 | WWW.GSEPLAW.COM

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CHECK OUT

magazine.com Check out TKMagazine.com to get expert business advice and up-to-date information on business in Topeka. Send your news releases to news@tkmagazine.com.

ONLINE-ONLY BUSINESS STORIES

BUSINESS GROWTH

POPPIN SQUEEZE & POPPIN MINIS together mean kettle corn, lemonade and donuts—all made fresh. A concept that all started with a 10-year-old’s question to his grandpa.

HUMAN RESOURCES:

BUSINESSES IN-THE-NEWS

FINANCIAL PLANNING:

WOMEN OF INFLUENCE honors Joan Wagnon, Cassandra Taylor, Dr. Jennifer Harader, Nicole Revenaugh, Danielle Hall, Maria Stover and Vicki Arnett.

CULTURE + ENGAGEMENT = BUSINESS SUCCESS Kristin Scott Scott HR

PUBLISHER Tara Dimick EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lisa Loewen CREATIVE DIRECTOR & DESIGNER Janet Faust MANAGING PARTNER & SALES DIRECTOR Braden Dimick braden@tkmagazine.com 785.438.7773 LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Emma Highfill COVER PHOTOGRAPHER Emma Highfill

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF— STAYING HEALTHY IN AN AGING WORLD Clint Patty, J.D. Clayton Financial

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Braden Dimick Linda Hamlin Jared Hitchens Rachel Lock CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Samantha Egan Miranda Ericsson Kim Gronniger Lisa Loewen CONTRIBUTING EXPERTS Kristina Dietrick Dmitri Nizovtsev Elizabeth Young

PUBLISHING COMPANY

ENVISTA and JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT announce the fundraising results of the Envista Cares Challenge for the month of August.

E2 Communications 7512 SW Falcon St. Topeka, KS 66610 785.438.7773

STORMONT VAIL HEALTH has been recognized among the best hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report for the fourth consecutive year.

FOUNDER ǀ Kevin Doel

tkmagazine.com

PLUG & PLAY, a globally recognized venture capital fund and corporate innovation platform, has selected Topeka to be a startup accelerator location focused on animal health science and ag tech.

LEADERSHIP GREATER TOPEKA nominations are due by September 20 for the Class of 2020.

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WORKING CAPITAL is about local and regional businesses within the KTWU viewing area. WORKING CAPITAL showcases entrepreneurship and provides an atmosphere for sharing business concepts and practical business experiences.

Tune in to KTWU-HD, Digital Channel 11.1.

2019 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.

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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FROM THE PUBLISHER

Photo by RACHEL LOCK

O Wendy Long 1970-2019

@TKBusinessMag

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@TK...Topeka's Business Magazine

TK Business Magazine

N AUGUST 5, 2019 we lost a friend and a member of the TK family, Wendy Long. Wendy wrote many of the stories featured in TK over the past few years, and we will miss her voice in the magazine.

As many of you who have felt the loss of a friend, co-worker or family member can understand, we are sad. But we are also grateful. Wendy gave us a gift. She inspired us. After learning of her diagnosis, she refused to let it consume her. She wanted to continue to share her stories with the community. She chose to spend her final year truly living, making every moment count. And we are grateful that we were able to be a little part of her celebration of life.

We honor Wendy’s passion for life by dedicating this issue of TK to Wendy and to her choice to live well.

Every day when we get up, we have the choice to be present or not. To make progress or not. To contribute or not. Not every day is easy, not every day goes well. But Wendy inspired us to be present, to make progress, to contribute to the world around us and, to simply, live well.

@TK Business

@tk_business_

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TK Business Magazine

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PUMPING NEW LIFE INTO TOPEKA

By KIM GRONNIGER

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TK Business Magazine

Although downtown Topeka revitalization efforts have been at the forefront of Topeka’s renaissance, several of the city’s blighted retail and entertainment strip mall centers are also receiving extensive makeovers designed to boost the capital city’s curb appeal and spur economic growth.

Benefitting from fresh facades and store configurations, the revitalized spaces throughout southwest Topeka are a welcome development as new and expanding businesses populate the refurbished properties alongside established enterprises.

FORMERLY VILLA WEST

SHERWOOD CROSSING Work will be underway in August and into 2020 on Phase One of Sherwood Crossing, including replacing the roof and upgrading the strip mall’s appearance with new signage, storefronts and landscaping. One new tenant, Big Biscuit, a popular regional Kansas City-based breakfast chain, has already signed on as a complement to the location’s existing tenants.

Fred E. Niemann IV, an attorney and director of development and acquisitions for Christie Development LLC in Overland Park, Kansas, is a principal of 29th Street Partners LLC, which was established to oversee the Sherwood Crossing project.

The shopping center currently has a 35 percent vacancy rate, resulting in deferred maintenance challenges that 29th Street Partners LLC is addressing. Nieman says removing dated Spanish architectural elements and a tower will assist with rebranding efforts to entice residents to revisit the area as new restaurants and other retailers move in.

“Our current tenants have a blend of leases, many of which are for five years or more, but we still have room to add other businesses to supplement our existing tenant lineup, whom we anticipate staying for years to come,” he says. “The former JoAnn’s Fabrics space

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ARK REZAC, Partner and Retail Broker with Kansas Commercial Real Estate Services Inc., says low interest rates, tax-increment financing and community improvement district funds are key contributors to a recent spate of economic investment from local entrepreneurs and national developers.

He credits the city manager, City Council, Joint Economic Development Organization and GO Topeka for sparking revitalization through public and private partnerships by creating a receptive environment for pitching projects. He also believes that the Greater Topeka Partnership’s Momentum 2022 initiative has further positioned Topeka as a regional draw.

“I heard someone at a meeting say, ‘Topeka is open for business,’ and that’s the attitude that people involved with these organizations have,” he says. “City employees are like minded too.”

And now that collective positivity, planning and perseverance are paying off with the potential to attract additional activity.

“As formerly blighted places come back to life and stimulate economic growth, other developers will look at our demographics and business climate and decide to invest too,” he says.

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is about 10,000 square feet. If we find a tenant that can use that much space, great, but more likely we’ll convert that space to accommodate two or three businesses.”

While exterior remodeling will be undertaken across the strip center’s entire expanse, individual businesses can have input as to how much interior work they want done or how much influence they want to exert in selecting floor and wall coverings, lighting fixtures and more.

“We may have tenants who negotiate with us to perform remodeling work themselves in exchange for lower rent or tenants who have more extensive needs they “Our current tenants have a blend of leases, want our help with,” many of which are for five years or more, but says Nieman. “If you we still have room to add other businesses to own a plumbing supply supplement our existing tenant lineup, whom we company, you may want anticipate staying for years to come.” to just paint the walls and put up shelves yourself, —Fred E. Niemann IV but if you’re a chicken Attorney and wing restaurant, then you Director of Development and Acquisitions might want us to install Christie Development LLC; a commercial kitchen for Principal you.”

29th Street Partners LLC For Niemann, the most satisfying aspect of revitalizing neglected retail areas is knowing that the effort’s impact is far-reaching.

“The businesses appreciate the boost to their bottom line and people in the community appreciate the opportunity to have more options for dining, shopping or doing other types of business,” he says.

“When the project stays on track, the bank gets paid back too, so everyone involved wins.”

Sherwood Crossing is one of a dozen or so projects that Christie Development has pursued in the past 10 years, including California Crossing in southeast Topeka, and the company’s most recent endeavor, Crosswinds Commons completed in 2015.

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“Sometimes when out-of-town developers come into a community with ideas, the mood can be hostile,” says Niemann, “but Topeka’s welcomed us. The mindset is bring your skills and your capital and help us improve this part of town so we can create jobs and build our economy for the whole community.”

Niemann says that the city’s governing bodies have been receptive but still push back on some things to make sure that recipients of competitive tax-increment financing and community improvement district funds deliver on their proposals.

“Topeka has a great city management team (led by Brent Trout and Doug Gerber) and they were very supportive along the way, but there is also a lot of negotiation in order to get to a deal both sides can live with,” Niemann says. “We ask for things we don’t always get, but we understand that there’s pressure on all sides to be in lockstep and do the project right.”

Phase Two calls for the addition of at least one, possibly two, freestanding buildings with 20,000 to 35,000 square feet of retail space behind Kansasland Tire and Service with the store entrance facing the strip center, similar to Crosswind Commons (where JoAnn Fabrics relocated) and also to the north of the existing shopping center.

Depending on the company’s leasing efforts, Niemann says work on Phase Two would ideally begin in late 2020 and conclude in 2021.

“We’re motivated to see Phase Two implemented because of the financing agreement we received from the City of Topeka,” he says, “but we’re also motivated because we want to see patches of grass turn into businesses that generate jobs and payroll and sales taxes. That’s good for the community and everyone involved.”

}

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“By renovating existing structures to meet our growing business needs, we realized we could also address the aesthetics of run-down, high-traffic areas and make the city look better.”

RENDITION SUBMITTED

—Cody Foster Co-Founder Advisors Excel

GAGE CENTER Advisors Excel, with more than 600 employees, has already expanded beyond the capacity of its main campus at 29th Street and Fairlawn Road with about 50 IT employees occupying space in the Tallgrass Office Building.

Anticipating continued growth for the innovative financial services marketing company, co-founder Cody Foster and his team evaluated several scenarios during the past year before deciding to repurpose Gage Center as its satellite site.

The team initially considered renovating new space that would keep the workforce under one roof to facilitate communication and preserve corporate culture but ultimately decided on a model that could potentially encompass multiple spaces and campuses throughout the city.

“We saw a lot of eyesores in Topeka that had good bones but just needed some love and attention,” he says. “By renovating existing structures to meet our growing business needs,

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we realized we could also address the aesthetics of run-down, high-traffic areas and make the city look better.”

Advisors Excel purchased the entire center with the exception of the first building on the corner of the largest strip of stores. Demolition work on two office buildings will begin in late August or early September with staff moves for its annuity operations, finance and IT teams, about 200 people, slated to begin in late 2019 or early 2020.

Foster says part of the center’s appeal for Advisors Excel is the available area in which to replicate services enjoyed by staff at the main campus, including a gym and a food services concept. Although plans are still in flux, Foster says the former Bullfrog’s Live location could be converted into co-working space with multiple meeting rooms for Advisors Excel staff from both locations to use.

One of the first Gage Center developments to benefit Advisors Excel staff and their family members is a company collaboration with Oasis Family Medicine, a full-service medical services provider that staff can access easily and immediately. Led

by Jennifer Harader, M.D. and Holly Cobb, APRN-C, the clinic team includes nurse practitioners and other health care professionals available to handle everything from strep throat and sinus

TK Business Magazine

infections to physicals and preventive screenings.

“We’re essentially self-insured with an umbrella policy through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, and like most companies we’ve been watching rates go up dramatically the past five to seven years,” Foster says. “It’s a huge line item for us so we thought having a clinic would help us control our costs more while also providing a better experience for employees.”

Since the clinic just opened June 15, Foster says the substantial cost savings the company expects to reap won’t be realized right away, but the clinic collaboration has already resulted in other benefits.

“We’ve received several emails from employees who love how easy it is to use the clinic,” he says. “We think it will further enhance workplace satisfaction and give us a huge competitive advantage for recruiting and retaining talent.”

Foster says existing Gage Center tenants, such as Annie’s Place and Los Charros Mexican Restaurant and Cantina, have a variety of short- and long-term leases so the company won’t be proactively looking for tenants, at least initially.

“We have big growth plans, so committing space to other vendors long term past current leases isn’t something we’re exploring right now,” he says.

}

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FORMERLY WANAMAKER KMART COMPLEX

WANAMAKER HILLS

The former Kmart complex on the southeast corner of S.W. 17th Street and Wanamaker Road will soon be home to five businesses, three of which may be open in time for holiday shopping. Ulta Beauty, Petco and Five Below, a discount store targeted at teens and tweens with all merchandise priced at $5 or less, will get possession of their new spaces in August. In early 2020, Old Navy and DSW, which sells brand-name footwear and accessories at a discount, will begin interior work on their stores.

Once completed, the $31.4 million project will feature 228,000 square feet of leased space with another 35,000 square feet of empty space in the back of the Kmart building. Slumberland, a longtime tenant in the strip mall, will remain in its location, as will Hobby Lobby and Bed, Bath and Beyond in the adjacent area. Although their facades will not change, the tenants will benefit from upgrades to the parking lot, exterior lighting features and landscaping.

Equity Investment Group, a Fort Wayne, Indiana, company, purchased the property in April 2014—its first in Topeka.

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Bob Sutton, principal and chief investment officer, says the company recognized potential in the complex’s proximity to other retail establishments and prime visibility along Wanamaker Road.

“We didn’t think Kmart would stay long term as a tenant, but we were surprised that the store closed in November of that year right before the holiday season,” he says.

Shortly after Kmart’s closure, EIG worked with Darland Construction, based in Overland Park, Kansas, on plans to renovate the structure, secured permits for signage and landscaping, negotiated leases, and tended to myriad other details.

“With construction, things take as long as they’re going to take, but without exception, the people we worked with here have been as reasonable and responsive and quick to make decisions as we’ve seen anywhere else in the country,” he says.

“They’re interested in trying to make things happen.”

At a public hearing in April 2016, governing body members of the Joint Economic Development Organization voted unanimously to establish

RENDITION SUBMITTED

the complex as a community improvement district, enabling EIG to levy a 1 percent sales tax upon customers in addition to the sales taxes they already pay to help the company cover redevelopment costs.

Sutton says the company had hoped to have new stores open for business nine months ago, but as consumers shift toward online shopping, retailers have become more cautious about their footprint commitments.

“We decided to be patient and more selective to make sure we got the right mix of tenants and we’re happy we did,” he says. “It’s gratifying to take an unattractive, vacant big box space and turn it into a productive place with new businesses serving the community. We take a lot of pride in our ownership of an area and seeing this project come together is a positive thing for us and the city too.”

“It’s gratifying to take an unattractive, vacant big box space and turn it into a productive place with new businesses serving the community.”

—Bob Sutton Principal and Chief Investment Officer Equity Investment Group

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29TH STREET & FAIRLAWN ROAD

RENDITION SUBMITTED

WHEATFIELD VILLAGE

Property located at the corner of 29th Street and Fairlawn Road, once home to a dilapidated, dormant hotel and a couple of meh strip malls, is undergoing arguably the biggest makeover in the city with a $100 million mixed-use development. By the end of the summer, the 14.7 acre site will welcome “I’ve always thought investing in Topeka customers to Johnny’s was a good idea, especially since the Tavern, a popular regional city is the state capital.” sports bar; SPIN Pizza!, a specialty artisan pizza chain —Jim Klausman restaurant; and PT’s Coffee Partner with a drive-through option.

Midwest Health This fall SpringHill Suites by Marriott will begin construction to accommodate overnight guests, and in November, B&B Theatres will open with nine screens, reclining seats, DOLBY surround sound, a restaurant and a bar for an elevated entertainment experience. The 28th Street entrance will feature a water fountain.

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Plans for Phase II of Wheatfield Village include a 178-unit upscale apartment complex with a parking garage.

Business partners Jim Klausman and Butch Eaton purchased the property five years ago primarily because of its location but also out of a serendipitous, nostalgic affinity for the area since one of their early offices was housed in a strip mall there 33 years ago.

In 1977, the two established Midwest Health, a senior living company, and eventually expanded into commercial development initiatives in Topeka and other communities. Their latest venture is adjacent to the interstate on one side and to the Shunga Trail’s lush woods on the other, providing both convenient access and a green space complement to the complex.

The city had wanted to build a $500,000 bridge to connect the trail to the north side of the creek, but instead the developer was able to dedicate land for the

trail’s expansion, negating the need for the expense.

“It’s great for the city and great for us because it’s a beautiful space and we want to encourage people who are walking or biking along the trail to stop and enjoy our outstanding restaurants and other amenities,” says Klausman.

“Jim and Butch’s vision for Wheatfield Village and the investment behind it is something the city hasn’t seen for years, and we’ve been fortunate to have the financial backing to make it happen,” says Jennifer Sourk, Midwest Health’s general counsel.

Sourk credits the project’s approval for tax incremental financing and community investment district funds for ensuring construction could begin.

Angela Broxterman, vice president of real estate, agrees. “We worked with many city departments daily and it was a team-oriented process that really worked well. We needed a lot of cooperation, not just from the city but from the public too, to make this project happen and we got it. It’s been an excellent experience.”

One extensive collaboration with the city entailed widening streets and installing a new traffic light at 28th Street in addition to other improvements to enhance access to and from the entertainment district.

Sourk recently hosted friends who attended Washburn University with her and who now live in Hong Kong. “I gave them a tour of the site, and we reminisced about how we’d

hung out at the pool hall and the bowling alley that were once there,” she says. “They were amazed at the corner’s transformation. I think the visual impact of Wheatfield Village and the things it will offer the community will be something that Topekans will be proud of.”

Klausman, who has been integrally involved in downtown redevelopment too, says, “I’ve always thought investing in Topeka was a good idea, especially since the city is the state capital. The community went through a rough economic period, but now people are feeling more optimistic and a number of them are realizing that there are opportunities to step up and collaboratively move the city forward. It’s a lot of being in the right place at the right time.”

TK

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Beauty

IS HOW YOU FEEL

By LISA LOEWEN

Photos by EMMA HIGHFILL

Some say beauty is only skin deep. Others say it comes from within. But most agree it is in the eye of the beholder. No matter the definition of beauty, helping people look and feel more beautiful has become a billion dollar industry. From state-of-the-art skincare procedures and products to 3D fingernail art and eyelash enhancement, local businesses are bringing the business of “beauty” to Topeka.

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ADIANCE MEDICAL SPA Radiance Medical Spa opened almost four years ago as a complementary business to Ricks Advanced Dermatology & Skin Surgery. Dr. Matthew Ricks was working at Stormont Vail as a physician when he began thinking about opening his own clinic. Friends with Carol Gitto, who was working as Director of Physician Clinics at St. Francis at the time, Dr. Ricks approached her about working with him on opening a dermatology clinic and medical spa in Topeka.

“He knew I had prior medical spa experience,” said Carol, business manager for both Ricks Advanced Dermatology & Skin Surgery and Radiance Medical Spa. “He asked if I was in, and I said yes.”

They found a building at 5120 SW 28th St. that was the right size to house both the clinic and the spa, but it took over a year to design the space and remodel it to accommodate their needs. They finally opened the doors in January 2016 with the dermatology clinic on the lower level and the medical spa upstairs.

As the only fellowship trained Mohs surgeon in the area outside of Kansas City, Dr. Ricks already had a great reputation and specialized services to quickly build his dermatology practice. The unknown element was whether Topeka would embrace the medical spa.

“The medical spa was a risk because we weren’t sure whether

Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL

Dr. Matthew Ricks, had a vision to open his own dermatology and skin surgery clinic in Topeka four years ago and complement it with medical spa services. He knew his friend Carol Gitto had the right skills and asked her to join him.

people would value those types of services,” Carol said.

“We were amazed at how much people wanted those services. We were busy from the moment we opened our doors.”

In fact, there is so much demand that Radiance Medical Spa has extended its hours to include three evenings a week to accommodate those clients who need to come after work.

“People assume only women in their 40s and 50s want med spa services,” Carol said, “but we have people of all ages, from teenagers to senior citizens.”

Student membership programs allows teens to get hydrofacials once a month to help prevent breakouts and improve the health of their skin. Anti-aging memberships allow older members to accumulate points toward Botox and fillers each month as well. And, Carol says, the fastest growing market is millennials looking for preventive care to keep their skin looking younger longer.

With everything from facials to laser hair removal, fillers and Botox to laser tattoo removal, Radiance Medical Spa’s trained estheticians help people feel more beautiful. They go through extensive training on every procedure and every piece of equipment.

Anyone operating a laser has to be certified by that manufacturer and undergoes online and hands on training.

“Christina, who is in charge of our esthetician hiring and training, won’t let anyone touch a patient for three-months after they are hired,” Carol said. “She puts them through weeks of training on each service.

They have to do at least 20 hydrofacials on each other before they can perform one on a patient.

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Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL

APPY NAILS

“People assume only women in their 40s and 50s want med spa services, but we have people of all ages, from teenagers to senior citizens,” said Carol Gitto, business manager at Radiance Medical Spa.

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Continuing education is vital, Carol says. All of the estheticians attend workshops with Skinceuticals, the medical grade skincare product provider and Jane Iredale, the medical grade makeup line. They attend conferences every year to learn the latest trends and products. They also stay on top of the legal requirements for supervision and procedures to make sure they are ahead of the curve on meeting regulations.

“We never have anyone operate a laser if a practitioner isn’t on location,” Carol said.

Which is not usually an issue because Dr. Ricks, a physician assistant and a nurse practitioner are all onsite downstairs. That proximity also benefits visitors to Radiance Medical Spa because if an esthetician sees a spot that is of concern during a hydrofacial or other procedure, one of the practitioners can pop up into the spa to take a look and decide if a follow-up appointment needs to be made in the dermatology clinic.

“It’s so nice to have a dermatologist in the building,” Carol said. “It elevates the level of professionalism and what we can offer patients as a med spa.”

TK Business Magazine

Manicures and pedicures have been a staple in the beauty industry for years. Pretty pink toes peek out from underneath sandals in the summer, and French manicures are no longer reserved only for brides—perfectly manicured nails adorn the fingers of all ages, from 5-year-olds to grandmothers.

However, as with any industry, businesses must continually add new products and follow the latest trends to keep customers coming back and attract new ones. Happy Nails in Topeka is doing this by adding 3D nail art to its service offerings.

Happy Nails operates under the leadership of four owners. Linh Le and her husband B, purchased Happy Nails from its previous owner in 2013, and then Jack Tran and Kelly Le joined as co-owners in 2018. The salon services include pedicures, manicures, acrylic nails, dipped nails, gel nails and nail designs.

When Linh and B bought the nail salon six years ago, it was in a state of decline. There were only three nail technicians working and business was stagnant, but Linh saw the potential and believed that with the right direction and leadership, the nail salon could thrive.

Linh and B weighed the risks against the opportunity and decided to take a chance on a dream of a better life for themselves and their children. They pooled all of their savings and financial resources and bought the salon.

But that was only the beginning of the struggle. The salon was in serious need of a remodel to not only make it look more appealing to customers but to also improve efficiency and allow them to add more pedicure stations. They did a lot of the work themselves to save money, but the expenses added up. At first, they could barely pay rent because business was so slow. But their customer base slowly began to build. Loyal customers told their friends, who told their friends, and the chairs started to fill.

“Our customers understood the work and effort we were putting into the salon to make it better,” Linh said. “We are

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

Like any other business, Happy Nails, follows what is trending in its industry and continually adds new techniques like 3D nail art to its services.

eternally grateful to those loyal customers who stayed with us through everything. They truly played a big part in achieving this dream.”

The business was growing. Chairs were filling up.

The future looked bright. And then tragedy struck.

On an extremely busy day at the salon, B did not show up when he was scheduled to work. He was never late. Linh tried calling him many times, but he did not answer. She had a bad feeling that something had gone terribly wrong because he would always answer her phone call. Linh dropped everything and rushed home to check on him. Just before reaching her house, she saw multiple ambulances surrounding a car that looked like B's car. Her heart sank into her stomach.

B had suffered a stroke as he was driving to work and had collided with another car. He was partially paralyzed from the waist up. His right hand, which is his dominant hand, was completely paralyzed.

While Linh was terrified for her husband’s health, she also had to worry about the business. Her husband, who was an integral part of the business and one of the most requested nail technicians at the salon, could not move his hand. The doctors told B to rest and let his body heal, but he could not stay away from the salon.

“B is a very hard headed person,” Linh said with a smile. “I would tell him to stay home and rest, but he would still sneak into the store to help when I wasn’t paying attention.”

The doctors told him his hand would never be the same, but through hard work, determination and probably his hard headedness, B’s hand slowly regained feeling over time. After about a year of struggling and therapy, he regained about 60 percent of his dexterity— enough to where he could actually go back to working with clients.

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Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL

Under the guidance of Linh Le and her husband B, along with newly added co-owners, Jack Tran and Kelly Le, Happy Nails Salon has grown from three nail technicians to 14 over a span of six years.

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As business continued to grow, Linh and B discovered that the demands of being business owners also grew. They were spending every day at the salon, sometimes late at night.

While they were willing to make this sacrifice, they were also missing out on being with their children and attending their school events and other activities.

So they looked for a solution that would benefit everyone.

That solution was to bring on additional partners who could share the management load. They asked Jack and Kelly to help co-own the store to take some of that workload and let them spend more time with their children.

The four owners now work together to continually improve the

TK Business Magazine

services and customer experience at the salon. They now employ 14 nail technicians, including the owners, and the nail stations and pedicure chairs are rarely empty. All four owners credit the success of the business to chasing a dream and working hard, but most importantly to the relationships they have with their clientele.

Linh and B moved to Topeka 11 years ago, but with the love and support of clients, friends and the community, through all of their struggles, Linh says Topeka is home.

“I can’t say thank you enough to people in Topeka for being there for us over the years,” Linh said. “I love Topeka and am proud to call it my home.”

At Amazing Lash Studio, every detail from the decor's colors to the crystal chandelier are meant to give the client a pampered experience.

MAZING LASH STUDIO

Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL

In the beauty industry, businesses must keep up with the latest trends seen on celebrities and super models. One of the hottest trends right now is eyelash enhancement. While this may seem like a new trend in Topeka, it has actually been around for quite some time in other parts of the world.

Janney Duncan would have these semipermanent eyelash extensions placed every year when she returned to China to visit family and business associates. She loved having thick, luxurious lashes that did not require mascara or messy, uncomfortable glued false lashes. However, when she returned to Topeka, she could not find anyone that could maintain the look for her, so she would have to go back to the dreaded mascara tube.

Then finally, in 2017, Janney discovered an Amazing Lash Studio in Kansas City that could provide the quality lash extension services she had only been able to find in China. She was wowed by the whole experience.

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Chen Duncan did not think twice about saying yes when his mother, Janney, approached him about being her business partner to open an Amazing Lash Studio franchise.

“From the time I walked into the studio, it was like I was being pampered,” Janney said. “I loved everything from the way the studio looked to the services they provided.”

Driving home from Kansas City, inspiration struck. Why not bring that experience to Topeka? No one else was offering this service.

However, already operating a successful business with her husband, Janney knew she could not open and operate a franchise on her own.

She approached her son, Chen, about being her business partner in this new endeavor. Through extensive research, they discovered the market potential in Topeka was worth the risk, so they purchased an Amazing Lash Studio franchise in 2018 and opened the studio at 2615 SW 21st St. in December of that year.

Chen says he did not even think twice about going into business with his mother.

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“It's part of the Chinese culture to respect family,” Chen said. “I want to be close to my mom, and I can’t think of a better way to do that than to be in business with her.”

Chen, who has another full-time job, is the majority owner and manages the franchise on the side as he learns what it takes to run his own business. He says he is fortunate to have a great example to follow.

“My mom is incredible,” Chen said. “I am so fortunate to learn from someone who is already so successful in business.”

But Janney argues that she is the one who is benefitting the most from this business arrangement.

“With this business, we work together. We get to know each other more,” Janney said.

“I get to see him grow and thrive and spread his own wings. He has changed so much just since we opened the business.”

TK Business Magazine

While they enjoy taking on this endeavor together, it is not all fun and games.

Opening a franchise is hard work. You have to find the right location. You have to hire the right people and know when to fire those who do not make the business better. You have to attract new clients and build a customer base that will keep coming back. None of those things are easy.

People may not realize what serious business eyelashes are. All lash stylists at Amazing Lash Studio have to be certified estheticians or licensed cosmetologists.

Once hired, they go through extensive, proprietary training, working on models to practice the patented techniques until they are deemed qualified to provide services to clients.

And that is when the “experience” begins. Walk into Amazing Lash Studio and the hot pink accents

and chandeliers promise a pampering experience. A lash consultant will help you determine the services that best fit your needs. You are then escorted to one of 12 private suites with soft lighting and music to help you relax while an expert lash stylist meticulously applies lash extensions to each individual lash. Once your eyelashes are complete, the stylist will instruct you on how to care for them and then will follow up with you later to make sure you are satisfied with your result.

“Our customers are our best advertisers,” Chen said.

“We just want people to look and feel amazing. We will do whatever it takes to keep our customers happy.”

That approach seems to be working. After the soft launch last December, the business quickly grew to more than 150 members, with more people discovering the studio every month—mostly by word of mouth.

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By MIRANDA ERICCSON

Photos by EMMA HIGHFILL

It’s a Tough Job…

BUT SOMEBODY HAS TO DO IT!

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We have a do-it-yourself mentality in the Midwest.

We’re proud to cut our own grass, change our own oil and wash our own cars.

However, not everyone is cut out to do jobs that are physically demanding, stressful or dangerous. Not all of us are willing to do jobs that could force us to work on holidays or in the middle of the night.

Fortunately, there are companies and people willing to take on work that is all of the above to help the rest of us, because they see a need in our community, have the necessary skills and truly want to help people live better lives. For the most part, people only think about trauma clean up, air conditioning, funeral services and septic tanks when something goes wrong, and even then, most of us do not know much about what is involved in those tough jobs.

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Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL

Travis Hansen, owner of Bio-One of Topeka, has experienced some unimaginable jobs, but says that every work day is different and never dull.

Bio-One of Topeka

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IO-ONE IS A BIOHAZARD, trauma and crime scene cleanup company. They clean and sanitize areas affected by traumatic incidents and death, including bodily fluids, as well as decontaminate areas that have been affected by MRSA, C. Diff. Colitis, human waste, pet and rodent contamination, sewer backups, tear gas, meth labs, mold and more. They support local law enforcement with jail cell and cop car cleanups, and they are the only local company that offers prep work required for bed bug extermination.

Bio-One is often called in to help people who are coping with grief or stress. Owner Travis Hansen says that the company’s motto is “Help First, Business Second.”

“When people are dealing with devastating situations in their lives, helping them through it is our first priority,” Hansen said. “These situations can be very traumatic for those involved, and we want to make it as easy as possible. We can always deal with the business details once their lives have settled down.”

Hansen notes that many people are unaware that their homeowners or

TK Business Magazine

renters insurance might cover trauma clean up services. Bio-One is familiar with the process and will offer guidance to people on how to proceed with claims.

“We initiate all of the claims for them,” Hansen said. “We know the ropes.”

One of the areas that keeps the company the busiest is hoarding cleanup.

“This is a problem that is bigger than most people ever realize,” Hansen said.

“We tell everyone if they have a mess and aren’t sure what to do, we can take care of them.”

Hoarding cleanups are sensitive work. Compassion and confidentiality are a must.

“We have a reputation as a company you can trust,” Hansen said. “We’re meticulous and work with care. We know what is valuable and what’s a keepsake. We discuss with people, what’s important to you. Every case is different.

We’ve found unopened Christmas cards, valuables, birth certificates, military records. We learned how to personalize our service, and we help people take steps to keep organized so that they won’t have to call us back in the future.”

Hoarding cleanups can be surprising, and they are not without risk. Hansen

once cleaned a house that had several thousand pairs of socks in it, but on another occasion the crew found 23 loaded firearms scattered throughout the house. A memorable job resulted in 19.53 tons of trash hauled away, and all of it was carried out to the dumpster by hand.

Bio-One takes on some jobs you would probably never imagine, too.

“We recently had a job where there had been a massive honey bee infestation in between the second and third floor of an apartment complex,” Hansen recalled. “Without knowing how bad it was, the property owners had the bees exterminated. Afterwards, honey began dripping out of the ceiling and they noticed a terrible smell. We ended up removing a 12-foot section of the ceiling completely full of honey combs and thousands of dead bees. We were covered in honey as we cleaned things up. It was a mess.”

Hansen notes that the job requires special equipment, cleaning agents, and skills that average clean-up crews do not

have because the company deals with biohazards. One example was a house contaminated with MRSA. “This particular strain was flesh eating, and the gentleman that lived there had lost both feet and part of his hands because of it,” Hansen said. “He would go to the hospital to get better and then return home where things always got worse. We are always extremely careful, but this one was a little nervewracking. The place was covered with contamination.”

There is danger from heat, too, especially in the Kansas summer. Calls to clean up bat contamination or wildlife messes in attics make for very hot work.

“The temperatures in attics can be in excess of 120 degrees,” Hansen said.

“This is only made worse by our hazmat suits, which makes it feel like it’s about 20 degrees warmer. In a matter of minutes we are soaking wet inside of our suits. We typically can only work about 20 minutes without taking a break to cool down and hydrate. This takes the process a whole lot longer!”

As you can imagine, one of the biggest challenges for Bio-One is in finding good employees. Not everyone is cut out for the demands of the job. Plus, staff are basically on call 24/7 because an emergency clean up could happen any time.

So what’s the upside? Hansen appreciates that every day at work is different and never dull. Most of all, though, he is proud to do work that really helps people.

“It’s a very rewarding job,” Hansen said. “We’ve become very close with many of our customers, and some turn into friends. I even met one of my best employees while helping her grandmother through a rough time.

I’ve kept all of the thank you cards and emails I’ve received, too. You really help people, and they appreciate it.

After a hoarding cleanup, people often say thank you for giving me my life back. We’re doing work that truly changes lives for the better.”

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Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL

A-1 SEPTIC TANK CLEANING

Tamara Russell, is a third generation owner of A-1 Septic Tank Cleaning. She runs the business while her husband Brian, does the driving, invoicing and the hands-on work.

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S

EPTIC TANKS ARE NOT usually at the top of our minds, but when they are not working as they should, we definitely notice. A-1 is a family-owned septic tank and grease trap servicing company that has been serving the Topeka area since 1947, through three generations of family. Owner Tamara Russell says that her grandfather, Henry Howland, started the business in 1947 with a focus on roadside rest stops, then expanded.

“My father went full-time in 1973, and handled most of the business until 2002, when my husband Brian Russell took over doing the driving and invoices and all the hands-on work,“ Russell said.

TK Business Magazine

“I took over the books and accounting that year, too, but my father answered phones and managed the schedule until he passed in 2009.”

Russell says that usually when people call, it is because they have heard gurgling, noticed standing water in their yard, or smelled something unpleasant. A-1’s focus is on the septic tank, not plumbing, but Tamara says that they often help people determine if a plumber’s services are needed.

Russell notes that one big challenge is that for septic tanks, the company is usually being called in response to a problem, and heavy rain makes those problems worse.

“This was a challenging year,” Russell said, laughing. “Rain makes it hard to get in to do the work, and you have to be careful, because if it’s an older system and you pump it too much, it could collapse. Sometimes the work has to wait, and that’s difficult for people.”

Russell offered a few tips to help folks take better care of their systems.

One reminder is that septic tanks do require maintenance.

“We don’t always think about these systems, but a septic tank is never maintenance free,” Russell said. “We recommend that you invest in better toilet paper, it’s easier on your system.

And baker’s yeast is a great, chemicalfree way to take care of your system. You can call us if you have questions, and we’ll give you some tips.”

Russell was raised in the business and remembers helping out and riding with her father to jobs as a child. She is proud that her family has helped others in the community for generations.

“We like helping people,” Russell said, “especially our repeat customers.

We’ve worked with a lot of restaurants for years and years now. We do steady business, because we have great reviews and a long reputation of service.”

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Harriet Johnson, owner of Bowser-Johnson Funeral Chapel and her son Amri, president of the funeral home's board of directors, ensure the funeral home continues the legacy of Harriet's late husband who spent his life building the business.

bowser-johnson funeral chapel

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EATH AFFECTS EVERYONE, but we do not like to think about it. Bowser-Johnson Funeral Chapel serves people at a very emotional time in their lives. Their mission is to provide a memorable service, with compassion for the living and dignity for the departed. The original business, Bowser Mortuary, was established in 1920. In 1976, Larry D. and Harriet Johnson purchased the business and renamed it Bowser-Johnson

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Funeral Chapel. Mr. Johnson passed away in 2017, but his life’s work carries on with the next generation.

“This was Larry’s ministry,” Harriet Johnson said. “This was the work that he always wanted to do.”

The couple’s son, Amri Johnson, serves as the President of the Board of Directors for Bowser-Johnson. He agrees that his father dedicated his life to building the business that still serves the Topeka area today.

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"Nobody likes to think about dying, but when we see that someone passes away and no one was prepared...it's up to the funeral director to help the family," said Harriet Johnson.

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“My dad wanted to lay his legacy and build a business on integrity and community,” Amri Johnson said.

“Going forward, it’s important to have people at the helm of this company who can continue that, who are committed to community. My dad emphasized that a lot before he passed on, and that’s something we’ll always honor.”

Tamyra Clark is the current Funeral Director and embalmer, and she’s also Larry and Harriet Johnson’s Goddaughter. She has been doing the job for about 10 years.

“I’ll do whatever is needed to keep the business going,” Clark said. “I believe my Uncle’s legacy needs to live on. I’ve always known that eventually this is what I would do. I tried some other jobs, even earned a CNA, but everything kept happening to redirect me this way.”

TK Business Magazine

Amri Johnson agrees. “Tammy has allowed that legacy to continue,” he said. “She’s a part of our family, and she grew up here in Topeka, so she knows this community.”

Clark and the Johnsons agree that the biggest advice they can share with their community is to prepare for the inevitable.

“Nobody likes to think about dying,” Harriet Johnson said. “We don’t prepare for death, we prepare for life. But when we see that someone passes away and no one was prepared, that’s when the anger and disagreements come out. It’s up to the funeral director to help the family look at alternatives and make a decision that’s comfortable for everyone. Larry had a gift for helping families in this way, and Tammy has that gift, too.”

“I stress the importance of information,” Clark said.

“Know the difference in whole life and term life, and insure your kids as early as possible.”

Amri Johnson recommends sitting down with the staff at Bowser-Johnson to plan ahead. He says that Clark is willing to chat with people and offer guidance, even if they do not plan to work with Bowser-Johnson’s services.

“Learn about what you need to do when someone passes,” he said. “Set up a time to sit and talk with Tammy.

It makes the loss of a loved one a lot more peaceful because arrangements are made and you can focus on mourning. It also allows a person to share their wishes with friends and family, so that their preferences will be known. Sometimes you need a friendly person to talk to, and that’s part of the service we offer to the community.”

Not surprisingly, the work of serving families after a death comes with its share of challenges.

“We just buried a baby, who was only seven weeks old,” said Clark. “I think that was one of the hardest services we’ve ever done. We held the wake and also a graveside service. He was beautiful, and of course his parents couldn’t have been prepared to lose him.”

Another challenge is serving families and offering support in their time of need, while also keeping the business viable. Bowser-Johnson has a corporate board like any business, and has to balance their budget. Harriet Johnson says that for Larry, people came first, and numbers came after.

“Often the family wasn’t prepared,” Harriet Johnson said, “and didn’t have many resources, and he would work with them to figure out what we could do.”

Clark says that every family is different, and the most important thing is to listen.

“We let the family talk it out, answer their questions, and offer guidance,” Clark said. “Then we draft and redraft a contract as many times as needed to make sure that everyone is comfortable.”

For those drawn to the work of servicing families at a time of great need, during the loss of a loved one, Clark extends a hand.

“Bowsers were running this business in Kansas since the 1920’s, and the business has always taken students,” Clark said.

Larry Johnson started out as a student, back when the business was still the Bowser Mortuary, and in the years after Johnson purchased the business and took over leadership, he trained many others. Amri Johnson recommends that those who are interested in this work come to have a chat with Clark over a cup of coffee, to learn more about what the job entails.

“My husband gave his life for this business,” Harriet Johnson said. “Even after retirement, he couldn’t stay away.

This was his life. And we’re going to keep on keeping on.

Training more students, serving more families.”

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Von Kopfman, co-owner of Blue Dot, points out their cooling, heating, and plumbing services require special skills, training, and a dedicated team that recognizes work does not stop for holidays.

blue dot

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Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL

F

OR OVER 60 YEARS, Blue Dot has been all about getting residential and business customers back into the comfort zone by making sure that cooling, heating, plumbing and drains work as they are supposed to. Blue Dot offers services to maintain many aspects of our lives that we hardly notice until something goes wrong.

It is easy to take a cool home on a hot day for granted, until the day we walk into a humid house, check the thermostat, and see the bad news.

Air conditioning is essential for some folks, due to the extreme weather in Kansas, and it is such a norm for the rest of us that we do not like to do without it for long. The same goes for heat on cold, damp, icy days, or a toilet that flushes properly. Little things, sure, but oh, so important.

It is very challenging work.

Co-owner Von Kopfman points out that the services offered by Blue Dot require special skills, training, and equipment. Despite all that, the work is still very dangerous.

“My guys are in danger every day,” Kopfman said. “We’re dealing

with high pressures, extreme heat and cold, moving parts, fan blades, capacitors, electric panels, high voltage, gas lines, water lines and more. We work in high places, crawl spaces, from trench to roof.”

It is also work that does not stop for holiday breaks, or to get a full night’s sleep. The services that we rely on could go out on us at any time, so Blue Dot is available at all hours.

“It’s all in a day's work,” Kopfman said, “and we’re appreciative of the staff that does that work, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.”

For Kopfman, job safety is personal. He lost a son in a workrelated fall, and nearly lost his own life one winter on the icy roof of a high building. The roof had no wall or guard rail to catch him as he slid toward the edge, so if not for the quick action of a colleague, who lunged out and grabbed his pant leg, he would have fallen about 13 stories to the ground.

Kopfman emphasizes that training and continuing education are a priority at Blue Dot because the company

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Blue Dot has been a mainstay in Topeka for over 60 years and its owners credit its success to being honest and fair to customers and employees.

wants to minimize the risks to their laborers as much as possible.

Of course, the company provides protective gear and keeps equipment up to date, too.

“I don’t want anyone getting hurt,” Kopfman said. “We’re committed to safety because it’s the right thing to do.

As a business owner, it’s a fine balance to offer the best value in services to our customers, while also providing the best possible for our employees. It is personal, and we don’t cut corners on either. We take care of people.”

Kopfman and co-owner Terry McCart did not plan to work in the heating, cooling and plumbing business, but an opportunity presented itself. Kopfman came into the organization as a salesman, and within a year found himself part of a small group offered an opportunity to purchase the business in 2003.

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By that time he already knew that he loved the work, and he took the offer. The two had only 30 days to make the transition into ownership, a tremendous challenge.

“We were essentially starting from scratch with banking, accounting, insurances, leases, payroll, etc.,” Kopfman said.

Despite the quick turnaround, they successfully made the transition and kept a decades-old Topeka business going. Kopfman’s reputation as an honest salesman with a consultant approach meant that he had already built many strong relationships in the area, and he continued to build on that honesty in his work as an owner of Blue Dot. “I’m straight with people and provide good value for the money they’re spending,” Kopfman said. “We have thousands of loyal customers.

TK Business Magazine

That honesty and fair play extend to our employees, too. We have many long term team members, and we’ve watched them grow both personally and professionally.”

Kopfman says that while the work is hard and dangerous, it is also very satisfying and honorable, doing work that really makes a difference in people’s lives. He points out that there is a nationwide shortage of skilled labor, and encourages parents to investigate the possibility of trade school for their kids.

“If you learn a trade, there will be work,” Kopfman said. “You can make great money if you are dedicated and work hard. There are so few people getting into this high demand work that anyone with skills and work ethic will be bound to succeed and make a good living. You’ll never be without a job.”

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BUILDING WEALTH

Elizabeth Young,

CFP®

PHOTO SUBMITTED

VICE PRESIDENT / SENIOR WEALTH ADVISOR CLAYTON WEALTH PARTNERS

How to Build Wealth While You Are Young: Be Strategic in Your Career

S

OME OF THE MOST important investing you can do when you are young has to do with your career. Investing in yourself and being strategic in your career early on can help you reap immeasurable benefits down the road. It may seem like a simple concept, but just like investing money, it takes considerable time, thought, and planning to invest in your career the right way.

As a vice president and senior wealth advisor, Elizabeth Young, CFP® finds it gratifying whenever one of her clients reaches a long-held goal with her help and guidance. Those “aha” moments drive the work she does at Clayton Wealth Partners, including serving as the primary financial planning contact for clients and overseeing general client service.

4 TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND to ensure you are on the right track and making the most of your career.

1

CHOOSE WISELY Do some homework on potential careers that interest you, and take the time to find a good fit. To do this, you need to do some introspection and get to know yourself well.

This may surprise you, but money likely should not be a big determining factor here.

The key is to find a career that inspires and excites you. If you are strategic about the career you choose from the get-go and spend the time to find something you are passionate about, you are setting yourself up for success.

If you enjoy what you are doing, it will probably show in your performance, and if it shows in your performance, then the money aspect of the equation is likely to follow.

2

FOCUS ON STRENGTHS Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes we focus so much on improving our weaknesses that we forget to highlight our strengths. Again, knowing yourself well is going to help in this area because you have to identify what your strengths are. This is more than knowing what motivates you—it is about focusing on your skill set and what you do well naturally.

Once you have identified your strengths, make it a goal to build on those strengths.

Consider getting additional training or even furthering your education in that area, and look for opportunities in your career where you can position yourself in a way that you highlight your strengths. If you can find ways to show off your best self, the likelihood is greater that you will find yourself on a quicker path to advancement.

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3

BUILD SOLID RELATIONSHIPS It is important to have good personal and professional relationships. When thinking about your career, you want to make sure you pay attention to your professional connections.

Networking is a vital part of developing those relationships, and you will probably find plenty of opportunities to network with people if you take a look around.

However, you want to be strategic about where you spend your time and make sure that the networking you do is helping your professional development. Think about how different relationships might help guide you and your career in the direction you want to go.

Once you begin connecting with the right people, make sure you spend the time to nurture those relationships that matter the most. These relationships can end up being an invaluable resource—many times when you least expect it (for instance, in the event you make a career change).

4

BRING HOME THE BACON You want to make sure you are capitalizing on your efforts to the fullest extent. As you move down your career path (and hopefully up the career ladder), you may see some significant salary increases and bonuses. Make sure you put that money to work for you—pay yourself first by increasing your retirement account contributions before using the additional income for other purposes.

You might want to consider other ways you can use your strengths and passions to earn more money. Maybe you have a hobby that has the potential to earn you extra income. Having a side hustle or a part-time job can be a great way to reaching your goals and building wealth that much faster.

Moves like choosing the right career, focusing on your strengths, and building good relationships may not seem very related to financial planning, but you could not be more wrong. These things are the foundation that much of financial planning is built upon.

If you spend the time to lay a solid foundation, the financial benefits are likely to follow. While work is a financial necessity for almost everyone, if you are strategic about it, you will have a greater likelihood of achieving your goals and having some fun along the way.

Aspire.

Prepare.

Enjoy.

With you for life.

Fee-Only Fiduciary Independent Objective

785-232-3266 716 S. Kansas Ave., Topeka, KS 66603 claytonwealthpartners.com

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4

TH

thriving in the

GENERATION

By MIRANDA ERICSSON Photos by EMMA HIGHFILL

Ernest-Spencer has been in business for nearly 100 years. The longevity is worth mentioning when any company stays in business for so long, but it is especially impressive when a family-owned business is still thriving in its fourth generation. You can be sure that nearly a century of success for a company means good leadership, growth and innovation.

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Agent | Partner 785.228.5308 mark@kscommercial.com

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This year, Ernest-Spencer expects to build 110 units of customized rubber track crawler carriers for Terramac.

I

VERSATILITY BY DESIGN Ernest-Spencer employs more than 200 people at three Kansas locations, each with their own role in the overall business. The corporate office in Meriden handles high volume manufacturing as well as large custom manufacturing components. Ottawa is home to the powder coat painting division. The South Topeka location is focused on the manufacturing of operator cabs for vehicles and sheet metal work. Each division is a piece of the whole, with their own niche. Neal Spencer, president and CEO, notes that there is also overlap between the locations.

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Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL

N THE EARLY 1920s Ernest-Spencer began its operations by designing and building grain elevators and feed mills for local agricultural businesses. Seeing a demand for parts fabrication, it established the metal working business in 1984, which eventually led to a powder coating operation as well. With state-of-art technology and machinery, Ernest-Spencer is able to provide a turnkey solution for parts fabrication and assembly.

Ernest-Spencer made news in 2014 with Dynamarine, a division of the company manufacturing airboats right here in the middle of Kansas. Today the company is making its mark through a partnership with Terramac to produce customized rubber track crawler carriers—6 or 9-ton vehicles built to carry big loads on rough terrain.

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• Construction & Renovation Reimbursement • Marketing Assistance Find out if your business qualifies and learn about your options by contacting MaryAnn.Anderson@Topekaartnership.com

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Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL

Neal Spencer, president and CEO of Ernest-Spencer, plans to focus on organic growth by investing in new technology that will maximize production for existing customers.

“It makes us very versatile,” Spencer said. “Each piece fills a niche and does something different, but they are capable of doing the same work. We can do essentially the same work in our Topeka location that we do in Meriden, and our Ottawa location can support our Topeka location.”

Many of Ernest-Spencer’s employees are cross-trained to work at multiple locations, which allows the company to move people back and forth when one plant is busier than another to maximize efficiency and production. Managers rotate through all three locations as well so they understand the specifics of each plant.

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“This strategy enables us to meet customer needs more quickly, and it means that we have a backup plan in place if one location is affected by a situation such as weather,” Spencer said. “If a tornado takes one location out, ErnestSpencer can still do the job you hired us to do.”

The company’s versatility and ability to plan for contingencies is a huge component of its success. Just as crucial is Spencer’s philosophy of seizing opportunities when they arise and building relationships with strategic partners. The acquisition of the Topeka location is a perfect example of this philosophy in action.

Much of Ernest-Spencer's success can be credited to the employees who bring their A-game to work every day, according to Neal Spencer.

Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL

Looking at ways to grow the company and meet additional customer demands, Ernest-Spencer acquired Topeka Metal Specialties in 2016. They purchased its facility, equipment, absorbed its resources and folded their staff into Ernest-Spencer’s operations.

“A lot of the growth we’ve seen in the last few years is a direct result of that acquisition,” Spencer said.

“We not only retained most of the staff, we also kept most of that company’s customers and blended the new location into the fabric of our organization.”

}

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Ernest-Spencer builds crawler carriers while Terramac provides the engineering, sales and aftermarket support in what Neal Spencer describes as the perfect partnership.

RELATIONSHIPS FOR GROWTH Spencer says he believes that trust and relationships are key to business success.

Many of those relationships lead to even more opportunities down the road.

His relationship with the general manager of Topeka Metal Specialties led to the acquisition of that company. That purchase allowed Ernest-Spencer to build new relationships with customers that had done business with Topeka Metal Specialties. One of those customers was Terramac, another family-owned business.

Topeka Metal Specialties had been making small operator cabs for Terramac. As Ernest-Spencer chatted with the company, a new partnership formed, with new ideas.

“They offered us an opportunity to build these vehicles—crawler carriers— complete, the whole thing,” Spencer said.

“After some thinking and discussion, I agreed to take on the job. They trained us on assembly and mechanics, and we started building custom vehicles.”

Work on the crawler carriers began in January of 2018. Ernest-Spencer built 45 units last year, and by the end of 2019 the company will have built 110 more. It is a perfect partnership—Ernest-Spencer builds the machines, while Terramac provides the engineering, sales and aftermarket support.

“Only a handful of shops in the country make these vehicles and we are proud to be one of them,” Spencer said.

Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL

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A New BEGINNING FOR THE TOPEKA COUNTRY CLUB

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membership - golf - tennis - health & wellness - swim - dining 2700 SW Buchanan, Topeka, Kansas 66611 FALL | (785) 2019 354-8561 TK Business Magazine 51

Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL

Ernest-Spencer is proud of its staff's strong work ethic and supports all employees with fair wage, good benefits, milestone recognitions, opportunities to collaborate and time to enjoy each other's company.

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Spencer sees the acquisition of the Topeka site and partnership with Terramac as a true game changer that sets Ernest-Spencer apart from its competition, and he expects about 25 percent more growth next year in the manufacturing of custom vehicles alone.

“Our company is almost 100 years old and I’m the fourth generation owner. Every one of those other generations had a moment in their tenure that was a companydefining moment,” said Spencer. “For me, starting with the acquisition of the Topeka site and then partnering with Terramac changed the trajectory of our company a bit. Now we’re not just the guy that makes metal parts, we’re also a company that can provide full line assembly services, mechanics on staff and more. It’s created a niche for us that wasn’t there before.”

TK Business Magazine

CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE Spencer credits much of the company’s success to the employees who bring their A-game to work every day.

“We have a lot of long term employees,” Spencer said, “folks who have been here for decades. We want people to stick around and feel fulfilled here.”

Spencer says he believes that it is his job, and that of his managers, to help staff succeed at their jobs, to empower them and support their growth in the company. ErnestSpencer offers a fair wage and good benefits, of course, but it also recognizes milestones and provides staff with opportunities to collaborate and enjoy spending time with each other. A good organizational culture means that employees feel that they are part of the success of the

company and are invested in its future. Spencer prizes a strong work ethic in his staff, and he loves motivating others to be excited about the business and the possibilities.

“I want my employees to show up, work hard, continue to learn and keep improving,” Spencer said. “I love the work I do, and I want our staff to feel the same way. Each day brings new opportunities to work on tremendous business potentials, it’s never boring.”

WHAT’S NEXT? Ernest-Spencer will focus on organic growth with existing customers by adding new technology, such as automation and robotics, to maximize production using existing personnel and infrastructure.

“Technology is a huge investment,” Spencer said. “We’re investing millions in the future.”

If history repeats itself, this investment will lead to more growth, more opportunity, and a continuing legacy of quality and innovation for Ernest-Spencer.

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REAL HR SCENARIOS

Kristina Dietrick PHOTO SUBMITTED

PRESIDENT HR PARTNERS

5 Real HR Scenarios with Solutions

1

SCENARIO You have just terminated an employee.

Within hours of the termination, the former employee has Facebook’d his many grievances about the company and his immediate supervisor. What is your advice about possible action toward the terminated employee?

SOLUTION First, what I have learned from many years dealing with social media posts with disgruntled employees, the post is usually one and done. So, my typical advice is to let it ride. My main concern is the content of the posting from the terminated employee. Is there sufficient evidence to warrant an internal investigation to see if

the terminated employee has a point?

Here is the other factor.

What if current employees comment on the terminated employee’s post? That’s why you need a current social media policy—to be able to address that with your current employees. In summary, there

are two things you can do about the post. First, contact Facebook directly—they will take it down. I’ve seen that with many clients. They do not want to be known as a vehicle for nastiness. And second, if the former employee keeps posting, there are legal ways to get them to stop.

• Cease and desist letter, defamation claim, breach of confidentiality and/or non-disparagement, and sharing trade secrets are all legal actions that can potentially be used to stop this behavior.

2

SCENARIO You receive an anonymous letter advising that two employees of the company are actively using and abusing drugs.

An accusation is made that the abuse is happening at the workplace. There are 11 employees at this particular company location. What do you do?

SOLUTION With all accusations of drug use on the job, you need to first analyze what they do for a living. In this case, the eleven employees were CDL drivers, transporting hazardous materials. So, for liability reasons, they needed to be tested as soon as possible.

The letter came in at 8:00 a.m. and they were tested by 1:00 p.m. After the meeting,

when we announced that we were going to be doing drug screening, one employee came up to me and said he was one that was “hot.” I still made him take the test because I wanted the data. In the past when I let people opt out of taking the drug test, they have come back later to say that I did not give them that opportunity.

Two people did test positive

for illegal substances, but they were not the people who were listed in the letter. So, never take anything for face value and get the data that you need to prove who is “hot” and who is not. The reason we could test everybody was we had solid polices for random and reasonable suspicion.

• Kansas law does not have any direct statutes that place limitations on workplace drug testing.

However, best practices should be followed to avoid claims based on other legal theories such as discrimination. For example, an employer may run into legal trouble based on who is tested or how the test is conducted.

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3

SCENARIO You have an employee (female) that feels she is being harassed and is working in a hostile work environment.

She comes to HR to provide this information, but she requests the information remain confidential. She does not want the HR department to act on her concerns at this time. What do you do or not do?

4

SCENARIO You have been contacted with concerns that a prospective employee has a felony in his background (10 years ago for child pornography; served 5 years in federal prison).

You do not want to hire this person based on his past record.

Are you being discriminatory?

What reason(s) do you give the prospective employee about not getting the job?

SOLUTION You must act. When employees bring information to management and/or HR, you have the legal responsibility to follow-up on the complaint, regardless of their wishes to remain confidential or for you to not do anything about it. In this situation, once this employee left the employer, she sued and said that the client did

SOLUTION There may be specific rules concerning background checks within your organization. For example, if an employee has a background of child abuse, they cannot work with children.

This tends to be required with public employers. With private employers, you have a lot more opportunity to hire employees with or without criminal histories. There are laws to protect candidates who have a criminal history. Here is the language from the EEOC.

not do anything, even though she requested that nothing be done.

So, my recommendation is, when an employee comes to you and has a complaint, you disclose at that time that you must act upon it. You move forward with as much confidentiality as possible, but you must move forward.

Federal law does not prohibit employees from asking about your criminal history.

But federal EEO laws do prohibit employers from discriminating when they use criminal history information. Using criminal history information to make employment decisions may violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (Title VII).

1. Title VII prohibits employers from treating people with similar criminal records differently because of their race, national origin, or another Title VII-protected characteristic (which includes color, sex, and religion).

2. Title VII prohibits employers from using policies or practices that screen individuals based on criminal history information if: • They significantly disadvantage Title VII-protected individuals such as African Americans and Hispanics; AND • They do not help the employer accurately decide if the person is likely to be a responsible, reliable, or safe employee.

(U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2019)

• My recommendation for giving prospective employees a reason for getting the job or not getting the job is up to the employer, but less is best. At the end of the day, you selected the candidate because they were a better fit for the job.

5

SCENARIO You have a current employee who has just returned from an extended leave for workers compensation.

Before he left, he had performance issues and now that he is back, the performance issues are continuing. Can you terminate this person with an open workers compensation claim?

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SOLUTION Yes. You can terminate employees with a current workers compensation claim, if you have the proper documentation to prove that you are terminating this employee because of performance issues. Even though the

employee is terminated, the workers compensation claim remains open and the employee can always claim medical expenses, etc., on his/her original claim, regardless of whether he/she is employed or not.

• Kansas recognizes a tort claim for retaliatory discharge. The elements of a claim for retaliatory discharge for workers compensation are: (1) the plaintiff filed a claim for workers compensation benefits or sustained an injury for which he/she might assert a future claim for such benefits; (2) the employer had knowledge of the plaintiff's workers compensation claim injury; (3) the employer terminated the plaintiff's employment; and (4) a causal connection existed between the protected activity or injury and the termination.

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TK Business Magazine

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first job

T

By BRADEN DIMICK HIS SUMMER, as I watched my 16-year-old daughter start her search for her first job, I started thinking back to my own first job as a teenager and the impact that it had on my life. So many memories flooded into my head after all these years. As I gave my daughter advice about her own job search, I thought about the life lessons I learned as a result of my first job and what I would have done differently knowing what I know now.

This trip down memory lane piqued my curiosity about the experiences other people had with their first jobs as teenagers. So I asked our advertising partners to share their memories, life lessons and advice for teens setting out to get their first jobs.

The response was overwhelming.

It was so exciting to hear each person’s stories and to watch the look on their faces as their own memories started to flow back about something they had not thought about for a very long time.

I enjoyed these conversations so much that I wanted to share them with you.

But first, I would like to share my own answers with you:

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PHOTO SUBMITTED

first job:

Field Maintenance | Cowley County Fairgrounds

Responsibilities

I was responsible for prepping seven baseball and softball fields at the Cowley County Fairgrounds.

Each day I would load my trusty Gator with a chalk spreader used to make the batters boxes and foul lines, bags of white chalk, a field rake, metal screen drag and quick dry if the fields were wet, and then drive to each field to prep them for games.

BRADEN DIMICK

Why this job?

As a kid I loved playing baseball and just enjoyed being at the ball diamonds. So I thought it would be the perfect job for me. I could prep the diamonds during the day and get to play on them in the evening.

Best Memory

I misplaced the keys to the Gator and was scared that I would get in trouble. So, I loaded all the supplies into the back of my truck and drove to each of the fields to prep. I had to hand drag each field with the metal screen drag that was designed to be pulled behind the Gator. Everything took twice as long, and my muscles were screaming for mercy. The real kicker is that I still had to call my boss at the end of the day and let him know that I misplaced the keys. That’s when I found out there was a spare hanging on the wall a few feet away from the Gator.

Life Lesson

I learned that if you make a mistake, it’s best to own up to it right away, as the resolution is always easier than trying to hide or ignore the mistake.

Teen Advice

Do your best. Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to admit to your mistakes, but be sure you learn from them. With any job, there will be things that you like and dislike. Just remember that you work so that you can live, don’t fall into the trap of living to work.

TK Business Magazine

PHOTO SUBMITTED

CHRIS MARTIN COO/PARTNER LOGAN BUSINESS MACHINES

first job:

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Counter Clerk | Baskin Robbins Age 16 | $3.25/hr

Responsibilities Scoop ice cream.

Why this job?

All the girls that worked there.

Best Memory

Made some pretty cool lifelong friends and learned a lot about responsibilities.

Life Lesson

Learned to work hard and be dedicated to finishing tasks.

Learned how to upsell and communicate with people.

DAWNA MCCABE

Teen Advice

Have fun, learn all you can and don’t expect to be paid well.

First jobs are where we can grow and learn and have some fun. You will have your entire life to build a career and climb the ladder!

PRESIDENT/CEO CENTURY BUSINESS TECHNOLOGIES

first job:

Checkout Clerk | Kmart in SE Topeka (now closed) Age 16 | $3.25/hr

Responsibilities

Manually (as there were no scanners) rang up customer merchandise and took/exchanged money for payment.

Why this job?

My mom saw a “hiring” sign in the Kmart front window and came home and asked me if I was interested. I had just got my first new “used” car and needed a way to make the payments. I hopped in my car, filled out an application and got a call immediately that I had the job.

Best Memory

This is where I met, and six years later married, my future husband, Mark. Truth be told, on days where we worked the same shift, I use to sometimes call for “price checks” for the items in his department (even

though I already knew the price) just so I could see him for a moment.

Life Lesson

“Unfortunately, until now I couldn’t have thought of anything at Kmart that impacted my career path, but it was a means to an end at the time (car payment). I worked with some really great people and some notso-great people. I believe it really taught me that you have to learn to get along with everyone and that all of our differences are a great teaching tool to what you encounter all through any career.

Teen Advice

Listen. Always be learning. Take responsibility for everything you do (the good and the bad).

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PHOTO SUBMITTED

PHOTO SUBMITTED

DAVID SOLLARS DEAN / PROFESSOR WASHBURN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

DARIN LOEWEN DENTIST GAGE DENTAL

first job:

Farmhand | My Father, Dick Loewen Age 10 | $0 (I got to eat.)

Responsibilities

I fed and watered 150 head of cattle, cut and hauled hay, and assisted with all aspects of row crop farming for 1,000 acres.

Why this job?

I was born into this job. As a fourth generation Kansas farmer, it was always expected of me to work on the farm from the time I could pick up a feed bucket.

Best Memory

Unlike other teenagers who had jobs because they were saving up for a car or to be able to do something fun, I didn’t earn money working on the farm, so my memories are about listening to my friends plan a day at World’s of Fun or at the lake, knowing I wouldn’t be joining them because my day would be spent on a tractor.

Life Lesson

You didn’t stop working until the job you were working on was complete. That included putting equipment away and cleaning up. Sometimes that meant my work day didn’t end until almost morning.

Teen Advice

No matter what job you have, take pride in your work.

Strive to do it better than anyone has ever done it before.

Regardless of whether you are cleaning out a chicken coop or designing a mobile app, give it everything you have.

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first job:

Bag/Stock Boy | Bob and Carl’s Finer Foods Supermarket Southridge in Wilmington, Ohio Age 16 | $3.10/hr

Responsibilities

Bagging groceries, helping folks get the groceries to their cars, stocking shelves, stacking bottles in the return bottles room (nasty), other duties as assigned.

Why this job?

Summer, they could give me 40 hours, and then cut back after school started again. I needed lots of gas money!

Memorable Experience

A very hot summer Saturday morning, I was wrestling a long line of shopping carts back into the store, and apparently didn’t look very happy doing so. Bob, one of the owners, looked at me and said, “David, in our store, we smile. If you want to work here, you better smile.” I smiled after that.

Life Lesson

In any job there are parts that aren’t that much fun. When we had to organize and stack return-for-deposit pop bottles in the “bottle room” we often had broken, dirty, foul-smelling, maggot and other insect-laden bottles. Nasty. On the other hand, helping “little old ladies” to their car or filling up a cart using a phoned-in shopping list from a shut-in (that we then delivered to), told me I was helping someone who really needed my help. The trick is to make the positive things a bigger part of the job—the things that help people—and try to minimize the pop bottles.

Teen Advice

Smile (and show up on time).

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PHOTO SUBMITTED

SHERI KENDALL SECRETARY/TREASURER KENDALL CONSTRUCTION, INC.

Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL

first job:

Waitress/Cook | Eastboro Pharmacy Age 15 | $.35/hr + tips

MATT APPELHANZ PRESIDENT APPELHANZ ROOFING, INC.

first job:

Gofer | Appelhanz Roofing Age 12 | $5.00/hr

Responsibilities

On the roofs I tore off shingles, carried shingles, rolled out felt paper, cleaned out gutters, and whatever else I was told to do. I would clean the ground around the property and magnet roll the yards. The foreman also had me spend a decent amount of time looking for the elusive left handed roofing hatchet.

Why this job?

It chose me—in the form of my dad saying, “Get out of bed. You’re going to work.”

Best Memory

Lunchtime every day! It was a 30-minute slice of heaven. Sitting under a customer’s shade tree, with two ham and cheese loaf sandwiches, a banana, cucumbers, two Little Debbie Zebra Cakes and a Mountain Dew.

Life Lesson

It makes me really appreciate the men and women who do the difficult, labor intensive, sometimes sweltering hot, sometimes freezing cold jobs in this world.

Teen Advice

Bring your own pen to fill out applications. Be to work early, not on time. Have a positive attitude and be willing to learn. Be a team player.

If you’re not busy, make it look like you are. Leave the cell phone in your pocket with the ringer off.

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PHOTO SUBMITTED

Why this job?

Needed money and not old enough to get a job at Falley’s.

Take-Away

Very hard work for little reward.

Life Lesson

Life is not always fair. Realized I never wanted to work in food service again (and I didn’t).

RON SMELTZER PRESIDENT/CEO ENVISTA

Teen Advice

If you work hard you can achieve anything.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Laborer | Small Kansas farm town drugstore/sundries shop first job: General Age 14 | $1.25/hr

Responsibilities

It was a part-time job, 2-3 hours a day, mostly cleaning, taking out trash, washing dishes, stocking shelves. Every once in a while I’d fill in to serve some ice cream, make a cherry coke or ring somebody out at the register.

Why this job?

Well, let’s see. I was 14, with no experience, skills or educational strengths. I was clearly not very marketable! But I was willing to work and they were willing to hire me.

It was less of a choice than about my only option.

Memorable Experience RICK KENDALL PRESIDENT KENDALL CONSTRUCTION, INC.

first job:

Dirt Mover/Gofer | EM Smith Plumbing Age 14 | $2.00/hr

Why this job?

Brother and cousins did, so I did too, plus needed money.

Memorable Experience

Brothers and cousins don’t mind yelling at the littlest one.

Life Lesson

Figured out I wanted to be a carpenter.

Teen Advice

The man who owned the place was definitely not Mr. Congeniality. If anybody broke or spilled anything accidentally, regardless of circumstances, he made you pay for it.

Retail! I remember one day being told to wash a sink full of dishes. There were several knives in bottom of the sink, and there were a few wire basket coffee filters in there, too. Somehow those coffee filters got a hole or two poked in them, and he made me pay for it. I wasn’t even aware that I had done anything. I remember it cost me most of my week’s pay.

Life Lesson

I became very aware that when you step out into the business world it is a no nonsense, performance-based environment. Nobody is going to give you a ribbon for showing up or a gold star to protect your self-esteem. No excuses. Get it done.

Looking back on it, I think I came to understand that the environment in which you work and the people you work with will generally mean at least as much as your specific job, pay rate, hours, etc. Never stay in a miserable environment.

Teen Advice

Nobody owes you anything. When you ask for a job and someone agrees to hire you at a certain pay rate, performing specific duties under certain terms and conditions you have accepted a responsibility. You’re not doing anyone a favor. Exercise that responsibility in a way that gives your employer a little more than he or she expected, do a little more than you have to do, strive to do it better than anyone else and earn the respect that comes with that. You’re always being observed, you’re always making contacts, you’re always creating a reputation. Make it a great one and it will pay off for you in ways you can’t imagine.

Learn to focus on your job and get good at whatever you do.

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ALAN COBB PRESIDENT/CEO KANSAS CHAMBER

first job: Responsibilities

I milked cows, built fences, fixed fences, bucked hay bales, hauled hay in 2-ton farm trucks, shoveled manure, scraped the cow barn and barnyard, spread manure in a manure spreader, cleaned the milk barn, fed cows, heifers, calves, pigs and steers.

I chased steers, cows and heifers across the countryside, dehorned cows, castrated bulls, plowed fields, cut cattle feed for the silo, cut wheat and took truckloads of wheat to the elevator. I taught calves to drink out of a bucket and administered medicine and some vaccines as needed. Basically I did anything and everything that was needed on a working dairy farm. We also sold raw milk out the door, as it was described then. So there was a small retail business. I washed bottles, filled them up and kept the refrigerator fully-stocked. We also had raw cream and even skim milk. The skim milk was “created” by not churning the milk in the tank overnight so all of the cream rose to the top and thus we had skim milk at the bottom of the tank. There isn’t a breakfast better than cornflakes drowning in the milk from the top of the milk jug, which was mostly cream, if you remembered not to shake the bottle.

The summer after my junior year in high school, Beechcraft bought their farm and they bought a dairy near Herington

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Hired Hand | Wolf Dairy in Wichita Age 13 | $1.00 - $1.50/hr

and Hope. I was their live-in hired hand that summer and that’s when I really learned what hard work was, rising every morning, seven days a week, to milk the herd at 4 a.m. You do not get used to that alarm at 4 a.m.

Why this job?

What kid doesn’t want to work on a farm and play with heavy equipment and animals, and have a real reason to wear cowboy boots. The Wolfs were friends of our family. We actually lived further out in the country than their farm in rural Sedgwick County.

Best Memories

There are lots, many are very funny looking back. We used old tires to weigh down tarps we put on stacks of square bales when the hay barns were full. Somehow one of the 10-month old heifers got one of the tires around her neck and was just running around the pasture, as if she liked her new accessory. Also, my boss’s fatherin-law was a John Deere dealer and occasionally we would get a new tractor; a used one but one that was new to us. Well, one of the new tractors had the diesel intake on the exact opposite end of where I was used to.

So I started putting diesel in the radiator of a $100,000 piece of equipment. My

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boss’s father-in-law started yelling at me about it, saying “Son, you got to think out here! You have to think!” (I still use that term all of the time, much to the chagrin of my kids, spouse and co-workers). But all was well when he said, “aw don’t worry about it, we used to put diesel in the radiators when I was a kid because we didn’t have any antifreeze.” That did teach me to be a bit more careful about things.

Life Lesson

I think about how much responsibility my employers eventually gave me, especially when they were out of town on vacations, which didn’t happen very often. I tend to assume people can reach and do much more than they think they can. Just figure it out and do it. It certainly instilled a work-ethic.

Those cows have to eat and be milked every day. There is absolutely no day off. The gates had to be closed, the calves and cows in the field had to have water. There were so many things that simply could not be compromised or put-off.

Teen Advice

Work hard, listen, learn and ask questions. Every job can be a great learning experience, but certainly the first jobs.

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KRISTINA DIETRICK PRESIDENT HR PARTNERS

first job:

Referee/Umpire | City of Lansing Age 16 | $10.00/game officiated

Responsibilities

I was a referee and/or umpire for multiple sports— Little League baseball, T-ball, softball and basketball.

Why this job?

They came to me. Since I was an athlete in high school, they thought I would be interested and could handle the pressure.

Memorable Experience

Overall, it was a great experience. I never had problems with the kids, it was the parents. In fact, one basketball game a parent-coach came to the game intoxicated and the two teenage referees had to escort him out!

Life Lesson

In order to be a referee/umpire, you need to have some very thick skin. It taught me not to take things personally when you are having to make tough decisions at work.

Teen Advice

Show up early and do your best. Every job is an important job!

MIKE CONLIN PHARMACY OWNER JAYHAWK PHARMACY & PATIENT SUPPLY

first job:

Car Hop | Collins Drive-in and Carry Out (on SW 6th Avenue and approximately Clay Street) Age 14 | $.60/hr + tips

Why this job?

My father knew Mr. Misha Sikes.

Best Memory

Being such a young kid, it took me quite a while to understand why all the high school kids would back their car into the stalls, order a Coke and then pour half the Coke out on the ground. Only after I had picked up several empty bottles of cherry vodka in the parking lot did I realize what was the real deal. Hopefully, I have become a little more “in.”

Life Lesson

Being respectful of other people. Regardless of where they are at in their life path, you can always have a beneficial and positive impact on other peoples’ lives by simply showing them respect and offering a genuine smile.

Teen Advice

Listen and learn. In spite of the fact that young people today are extremely bright, do not hesitate to learn other ways to solve a problem. There is a lot of wisdom that comes from learning other peoples’ thought processes and problem-solving skills. There are dozens of ways to solve a problem. Your knowledge and understanding will grow exponentially the more ways you look at a situation and decide what works best for you.

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KURT KUTA PRESIDENT/CEO COREFIRST BANK & TRUST

first job:

Farmhand | Fontanelle Hybrids or Pioneer Seed Corn Age 12 | $3.10/hr

Responsibilities:

We pulled the tassels out of staggered rows of corn in a field so they could be pollinated by other rows of corn (which kept their tassels). The objective was to pick the fields “clean” so the desired pollination would occur to create the desired hybrid seed corn. We would load the school buses while it was still dark in the morning, get into the fields shortly after sunrise, and get home around 6:00 for dinner. It made for wet, muddy, hot, and long days. Eventually in the latter (high school) years I ran some crews. They used to call us “straw bosses.” One of my better titles ever!

Why this job?

It was one of the few jobs for young kids at that time.

It worked well with youth/ high school sports as the

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de-tasseling season was after baseball and before football. Ended up being a great physical and mental conditioning job for football.

Best Memories

So many memories with my friends. It was tough work, but we found ways to have fun and work through it.

Playing tricks on the hardcase straw bosses. Putting frogs into other kids’ water jugs. Ambushing (or getting ambushed) in the middle of the field. Some kids (not me… never!) stopping in the middle of the field to have their cigarette (or other) break. Kids quitting in the middle of the day after they figured out they had made enough money to buy their new car stereo.

One windy day we accidently got crop dusted from a plane on an adjacent field and

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the collective puke-fest in the ditches and buses that followed.

And finally, when I ran my first crew and in one of my first management experiences, I had to fire my two sisters, a cousin and a family friend because they could not keep up nor pick their rows clean enough. Not a great family dinner that night.

Life Lessons

A couple of things: 1. You are stronger and tougher than you give yourself credit for. When you find yourself in a half-mile row of tall corn and it is 90 degrees and humid, you had to learn to just keep grinding.

2. You had to learn to work with all kinds of people to get the work done and get along.

3.

In the final two years we were paid more if we could be both fast and pick fields clean with fewer passes. So, I learned competition and rewards in the workplace works! But in order to have that work for the whole team, we had to help those that were not as fast, tall, strong… whatever…so we could all get a higher reward.

Team before me.

Teen Advice

Learn your responsibilities.

Ask questions if those are not clear. Ask for feedback.

Then always ask what more you can do and what else can you learn. The minimum responsibilities are where you start, not where you end.

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TOM ENSTROM OWNER/PRESIDENT EAGLE AUTO WASH & DETAILING SALON

first job: General Laborer | Oakland Golf Course in Nebraska Age 12 | $1.00/hr (Federal Minimum Wage at the time)

Responsibilities

I did general janitorial work, mopped floors, signed golfers up for events, put out pin prizes on the course and picked the pins up after events.

Why this job?

I grew up in a very small town—a population of 1,000 people. There weren’t any recognized employers of young people, no fast food places, etc. I hung around the golf course, raking up balls from the creek on the course, selling them to golfers and, therefore, was around the golf club when they needed help—so it just kind of came together.

Best Memory

I was given a lot of responsibility for a kid. I was told what they wanted done. They were interested in end results and I was allowed to determine how to get the job done. I found out I liked to work on my own, to organize tasks and set goals. I also liked working with the public, which led to my next job as a retail clerk.

Life Lesson

If you are given a job to do and you do it, you get a personal feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment. In addition, you may ultimately be rewarded by being offered more responsibility in the future.

Teen Advice

Take the directions given, be punctual, respect others, work hard and see the job through to the end. Don’t just do the job/task, go the extra mile, give 110%.

EUGENE WILLIAMS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/GENERAL MANAGER KTWU-TV

first job:

Bag/Stock Boy | Local Grocer Age 15-16 | Minimum Wage

Responsibilities:

I bagged groceries, delivered groceries and worked on one of the overnight stocking crews.

Why this job?

It chose me. I couldn’t drive when I started; it was about 20-minutes from my house and my parents drove me after school.

Best Memory

There were a bunch of us high school and college students that worked there. The atmosphere was electric with funny, crazy stuff all the time. Working along the Gulf Coast wasn’t really work.

Life Lesson

This was a family business and it was being run by the older son.

There were a couple of stores and about four warehouses. He had the uncanny knack of being able to know where everything was in each of those locations. To this day, I pride myself on knowing the answer, because I learned that from him at an early age.

Teen Advice

Don’t start working—stay with your parents as long as you can.

Once you take on responsibility, you become responsible and somewhere down the road that leads to accountability and before you know it, they give you authority and once you have authority, responsibility and accountability, you’re stuck with that thing called “life.” My advice is to quit before you start. 

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MARTHA BARTLETT PILAND PRESIDENT + CEO MB PILAND ADVERTISING + MARKETING

first job:

Grounds Crew Worker Butler County Community College Age 19 | Minimum Wage

Responsibilities

I pulled weeds, pruned trees, chopped down trees, dug ditches, mowed and irrigated the landscaped areas. The job started at 7:00 a.m. and went till 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday all summer long.

It was hot, heavy—character building—work.

Why this job?

I failed to find a summer job quickly enough for my dad’s liking. So, he arranged this job with the facilities manager of the college, who was also a family friend.

Best Memory

My first day on the job, they handed me a shovel to dig a landscaping trench. I was stunned and a bit intimidated—I had never used a shovel before. I knew right then that it was going to be an interesting summer.

Life Lesson

It made me value my education because a college degree meant I’d have many choices for jobs I’d actually like—not have one thrust upon me because I lacked qualifications to do something else.

It also taught me that even in a job I didn’t like, I could take charge of my attitude and find ways to see the good in my situation. I worked with some other college students who became friends. We got to listen to whatever music we liked, and we ended up with good tans. I chose to look on the bright side instead of being miserable. Attitude makes all the difference.

Teen Advice

No matter what the job is, there’s a learning opportunity. If you have a great attitude and treat the job (and your boss) like it matters, you’ll gain skills that will always serve you no matter where you go in the future.”

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Why this job?

I needed spending money for comic books and for clothes (from Structure).

Take-Away

I couldn’t wait to get a job where I didn’t have to clean bathrooms because it is NOT very pleasant.

Life Lesson

You can do almost anything for a short period of time! You will learn from each job you have and each job helps you determine your likes and dislikes. For example, bar orange juice that comes out of a beverage gun is terrible.

Teen Advice

Almost any job can turn into a good job, and it doesn’t have to be the best job starting out. I strongly recommend getting a job in the trades to help you learn how to work with your hands.

KURT GUTH

BROOKS PETTIT

OFFICER AMERICAN TAX SERVICE, INC.

PRESIDENT VAERUS AVIATION, INC.

first job:

Shipping & Parts Department Helper United Group, Inc. Age 15 | $7.50/hr

first job:

Janitor | Miss Lilly’s—Green Parrot Nightclub Age 15 | $3.35/hr + any money found on the

floor or between the seats

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Responsibilities

Packaged parts and sent them out for shipping to our customers, ran errands and swept the floors. Later I helped out on the manufacturing floor as a welder.

Why this job?

Family business. I was sure that I was on track to be promoted directly from the parts department to Chairman of the Board.

(We didn’t have a board of directors.)

Memorable Experience

I thought I was smarter than my boss, and when he’d had enough of me trying to change the entire parts department to “make it better” he fired me… and then my mom gave me the same tough love by backing him up and not giving me my job back (about 6 weeks later, they hired me back).

Life Lesson

I learned a lot from interacting with all sorts of people, whom are all dealing with their own external and internal issues. I think it caused me to learn how to try to see things from the other person’s perspective.

Teen Advice

Get dirty, learn how to build something, learn the art of problem solving and fixing mistakes. Make sure the mistakes you make in your employment will make you a better person for your next employer. Also, I believe everyone should be humbled by being fired sometime in your life… someday if you are on the other end of the conversation, your life experience will cause you to be more compassionate.

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LAWYER/PARTNER-IN-CHARGE—TOPEKA OFFICE FOULSTON SIEFKIN LLP

first job:

Farmhand | Large Farmer in Kingman County Age 14 | $6/hr

Responsibilities:

I was essentially my boss’ right-hand man during the summer.

The two of us handled all of his summer farm work—helping with wheat harvest, running a tractor, working cattle, fixing fence and fixing the machinery all summer long.

Why this job?

Not sure it was a choice! I wanted to work. We knew the family, and growing up in the country, I had been around farming and livestock my whole life. And it paid better than most of the other jobs I could have had.

Memorable Experience

Being a young kid (in retrospect) in charge of machinery worth over a hundred thousand dollars and being completely responsible to do the work and take care of it. My boss gave me a lot of responsibility that I probably didn’t recognize or appreciate at the time.

Life Lesson

Being reliable and working hard can get you a long way. When employers (and now clients) know you’ll be on time, return their calls, and do the things you say you’ll do, that goes a long way in keeping and maintaining trust and respect. If you can’t show up for your shift, why would you get a promotion or more responsibility?

When they know it’s taken care of (whether working the field or stocking shelves in my younger days, or now handling legal problems), that’s a weight off their shoulders when they don’t have to follow-up and constantly wonder if the task/problem is being handled.

Teen Advice

Be on time, be reliable and have a good attitude. Don’t leave your boss wondering if he/she can count on you to at least be there and do your best. Even if you don’t like it, don’t leave a bad impression on a boss that you can’t be counted on or lazy. Jobs may come and go, but your habits and character follow you everywhere.

CLINT PATTY MANAGING PARTNER CLAYTON WEALTH PARTNERS

first job:

Lawn Crew | Nicholson Lawn Service Age 16 | $6/hr

Responsibilities:

We traveled throughout the City of Wichita, mowing and trimming both commercial and residential lawn projects.

One of our lawns included the home of one of the founders of Pizza Hut (that was a really nice house).

Why this job?

My Dad knew the owner of the company, and I had mowed lawns for individuals around my hometown since I was 12. The big plus is they hired two of my good friends as part of our four-person crew. Job started at 6:00 a.m. and we were typically done by 2:00 p.m. and headed to the pool. Best summer of my youth.

Best Memory

Learning how to properly back-up a trailer. Still a skill I have to this day.

Life Lesson

Worked with a number of folks who were trying to put their lives back together after battling drug and alcohol issues. The owner was a big believer in second chances and had a soft spot for people battling addiction. From that were two good lessons in life for any young person.

Stay away from drugs and alcohol, and be open to second chances. Also, be careful when mowing over sprinkler heads, those come out of your check.

Teen Advice

If you can, do something you enjoy. You have the rest of your life to be responsible.

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first job:

Certified Nurses Aide | Pin Oaks Nursing Home $5.60/hr

Why this job?

I was interested in caring for people. It was truly a great experience being able to work in an actual [health] care facility providing hands-on-care for patients.

Memorable Experience

Despite the many overwhelming challenges that come with the job, the dedication and constant care that the staff nurses provided for their patients is something I will never forget.

DR. KEVIN DISHMAN CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER STORMONT VAIL HEALTH

Life Lesson

We spend so much time trying to obtain everything and, unfortunately, we lose sight of the fact that we already possess it.

If I have learned anything, it’s that the rewards of this profession are best measured by the good we do. I feel so grateful to have the opportunity to take part in that every day, for it is far greater than any monetary compensation I receive.

Teen Advice

Work hard, work honestly and give your best effort at all times.

TK

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SHAPING THE NEXT GENERATION

By SAMANTHA EGAN

Photos by EMMA HIGHFILL

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Here to Help You Rebuild Your LifeÂŽ

Has the judge made up their mind?

In divorce or family law matters, pre-trial conferences, settlement conferences and other preliminary court dates often take place.

These court appearances can sometimes take place in open court. In other instances, they can take place in chambers with only the attorneys present.

In many of these court appearances, the attorneys in the case tell the judge their client’s versions of the facts of the case. They also might tell the court what it is their client wants.

The hope on the part of the attorneys and the parties is often to have the judge weigh in terms of what they think. Many then hope that this can lead to a settlement of some kind.

Some parties even take this a step further. They worry when the judge gives some preliminary thoughts or opinions that the judge has already made up their mind. Many feel as if they might not have much of a choice but to settle after hearing the judge’s input.

While parties certainly want to hear the preliminary thoughts of

the judge carefully in terms of weighing their options, the truth is that a family court judge is not to definitively make up their mind until they have heard the evidence. While a judge might hear arguments and take in some information at these court appearances, evidence is formally admitted at a trial or evidentiary hearing.

At a trial or evidentiary hearing, witnesses can testify. Evidence can also be admitted, like documentary, photographic, video or other electronic evidence. Expert witnesses can also give opinion testimony and reports.

At the conclusion of the evidence, this is when a judge is only supposed to make up their mind and enter a judgment. Thus, while it feels at a preliminary court appearance that a judge has already made up their mind, parties do have a due process right to a hearing in the family court. Sometimes, what a judge says in a court appearance is not always what they do after they have heard all the evidence.

Stange Law Firm, PC limits their practice to family law matters

including divorce, child custody, child support, paternity, guardianship, adoption, mediation, collaborative law and other domestic relation matters.

Stange Law Firm, PC gives clients 24/7 access to their case through a secured online case tracker found on the website. They also give their clients their cell phone numbers. Call for a consultation today at 855-805-0595.

Shawnee County Office 800 SW Jackson Street, Suite 812 Topeka, Kansas 66612 855-805-0595 | www.stangelawfirm.com

The choice of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Kirk Stange is responsible for the content. Principle place of business 120 South Central Ave, Suite 450, Clayton, MO 63105. Neither the Supreme Court of Missouri/Illinois/Kansas nor The Missouri/Illinois/Kansas Bar reviews or approves certifying organizations or specialist designations. Court rules do not permit us to advertise that we specialize in a particular field or area of law. The areas of law mentioned in this article are our areas of interest and generally are the types of cases which we are involved.

It is not intended to suggest specialization in any areas of law which are mentioned The information you obtain in this advertisement is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice.

You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Past results afford no guarantee of future results and every case is different and must be judged on its merits.

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Ashley Gilfillan first started a job selling concessions for the Shawnee County Parks and Recreation at age 16. Diligently working through numerous positions, she now is a full-time employee and serves as the Recreation Leader for Professional Services and Development.

THE JOBS THAT U.S. TEENS WORKED IN SUMMER 2018

Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL

Employment by occupation among U.S. 16- to 19-year-olds in the labor force, July 2018 (in thousands).

W Note: Data not seasonally adjusted.

Source: Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

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HEN SHE WAS 16, Ashley Gilfillan got her first job serving hot dogs at the Shawnee County Parks and Recreation pools and ball parks. Now, several years later, she still works for the county within walking distance from the concession stand, but she has not sold a hot dog in years.

Now an adult, Ashley is a full-time employee in the parks system, working as the recreation leader for professional services and development, after rising through the ranks since that first job selling concessions. Her career in the parks service, and the wisdom and

life experience she brings to her position, would not have been possible if her employer had not been willing to hire a teenager.

While today’s youth have a reputation for being screenobsessed and self centric, many Topeka businesses embrace the opportunity to give teens their first taste of the working world.

“They have to start somewhere, just like we did,” said Shelby Reutzel, operations manager at Eagle Auto Wash & Detailing Salon. “If no one gives you a chance—or a second chance—you’re not going to get anywhere.”

Shelby Reutzel, operations manager at Eagle Auto Wash & Detailing Salon, provides on-the-job training and subtle life lessons about positive attitudes.

Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL

Eagle Auto Wash has about 10 teenagers on staff throughout the year.

Most are line workers, who finish the cars by vacuuming, cleaning windows and waxing. If they show attention to detail, they can be promoted to shampooing cars.

The teenagers working for Eagle Auto Wash receive most of their training on-the-job, simply putting in the hours and learning to provide quality service. But a subtler lesson they have to learn, and one that the business

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NOVEMBER 30 GET YOUR BUSINESS LISTED IN THE SMALL BUSINESS DIRECTORY

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Just visit GOTopeka.com/TopCitySmallBiz

by October 31 to have your business included.

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Quinton Zwiesler, a 16-year-old student and employee at Eagle Auto Wash, is scheduled for just two hours on school days to allow time for chores and homework in the evenings.

Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL

emphasizes, is to always maintain a positive attitude, both with the customers and each other.

“Even if you’re having a rough day, or you’re hot and beat, just always be happy,” Reutzel tells his teen workers. “When you’re happy, it’s a great environment for everybody.”

Eagle Auto Wash’s biggest challenge with their teenage workers has nothing to do with smart phones. Instead, it’s accommodating their schedules, which are packed with school and extracurricular activities.

Reutzel solves the scheduling jigsaw by getting ahead of it. When teens first come on board, he asks them if they’re involved in sports or honors classes or other outside activities. Sometimes, accommodating their schedules means students, like 16-year-old Quinton Zwiesler, can only work two hours on a school day.

During the school year, Zwiesler starts work at 4 p.m. and leaves at 6 p.m. so he can get his homework and chores done. He says working on cars can be physically challenging at times, especially in the heat, but he really enjoys all aspects of the job.

“Tips are always nice, and the guys are really fun to be around,” Zwiesler said.

He added that he also enjoys building a rapport with customers.

“There are certain customers that, when I see their car coming down the line, it just makes me happy,” he said.

“Knowing there are people who want you to do their car—it’s just a nice thing.”

Scheduling dilemmas for employers who hire teens are the norm rather than the exception. Kory Robinson,

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"Knowing there are people who want you to do their car—it's just a nice thing," said Quinton Zwiesler.

store director of the Topeka Hy-Vee, faces a similar scheduling quandary with the company’s teenage employees, but on a slightly larger scale. Out of the store’s 300 employees, approximately 30 percent are between ages 16 and 18.

“The frustrating part is, the times that we’re busy are the times that they need or want to be off,” Robinson said, referring to holidays as one example.

Robinson tries to accommodate his teenage employees as much as possible and find a scheduling compromise. When a holiday is coming up, he asks teenagers if they can work the morning of that holiday, which many are willing to do.

Hy-Vee hires teenagers as young as 16 to work as courtesy clerks; they work on the front-end to bag groceries, help customers to their cars and do janitorial work.

Robinson says one of the biggest hurdles he finds when employing teenagers is that a lot of youth struggle with talking to customers at first. But because

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Peyton Chapman, a 16-year-old courtesy clerk at Hy-Vee, said it took him a couple of months to get comfortable chatting with customers.

Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL

friendliness is such a key part of Hy-Vee’s culture, they learn to quickly adapt.

“You can just see that they’re uncomfortable when they start this job having to say, ‘Hey, how are you doing today?’ and ‘Did you find everything alright?’ and look somebody in the eye to smile,” Robinson said.

Building teenage employees up to the level of customer service excellence that Hy-Vee expects starts with building a strong culture.

“It starts with me and it goes down to my managers and goes into my department heads and my system managers,” Robinson said. “If I’m not smiling, and I’m not friendly, and I’m not talking to customers, and I’m not solving problems, why should anybody else have to?”

Peyton Chapman, a 16-year-old courtesy clerk, said it took him a couple of months to get comfortable chatting with customers. Now, he said it comes naturally.

“If I’m in a good mood, I’ll talk a customer’s ear off,” Chapman said.

And the bad days? Fortunately, he does not have many of those.

“There’s not really a bad day at work because I like being here,” Chapman said. “I have friends

ALL SCHOOL AND NO WORK BECOMING THE NORM FOR AMERICAN TEENS Many factors are at play in the decline of teen labor force participation:  increased school enrollment  seasonal employment  decreased returns to work  reduced demand for low-wage work  minimum wage hikes  competition from older workers or immigrants Time pressure is another driver of reduced teen participation. Teens have many demands on their time and those demands fundamentally differ between the academic year and summer.

Source: www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2019/07/02

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Isaac Mulenga, a 16-year-old meat clerk at Hy-Vee thinks the people skills he is building will help him achieve his goal to be a police officer one day.

Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL

here, so they usually cheer me up really quick.”

Like Chapman, 16-year-old Isaac Mulenga, a meat clerk, said it took some adjusting for him to become comfortable interacting with customers as he stocked his department — especially since he needs to maintain a fast pace to keep the shelves full.

After a month in, however, he learned how to get the job done, while also being friendly and answering customers’ questions.

Mulenga, who hopes to be a police officer one day, said he thinks his job at Hy-Vee will help him achieve that goal, both because of the people skills he’s building and because of the atmosphere of the store.

“It’s a good positive job, and I can take that positive energy somewhere else,” Mulenga said.

For Robinson, rewarding positivity is a key part of developing his teen workers.

When someone does something extra special, Robinson makes a point out of praising them in front of others.

Such was the case when an observing customer posted a picture on Facebook

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of a teenage courtesy clerk holding an umbrella over an elderly handicapped man while he walked the man to his car, getting himself soaked in the process.

After hearing about it, Robinson went up to the clerk on the floor and gave him a $1 per hour raise on the spot.

“More than ever in the job world, younger millennials and Generation Zs need reassurance that they are doing a great job,” Robinson said.

Along with receiving recognition and praise for a job well done, giving teens the freedom to try different roles can help them discover their niches. Gilfillan did not expect her concession stand job at Shawnee County Parks and Recreation to turn into a career, but each of her many jobs in the parks system over the years helped her discover what she wanted to do as a working adult.

“I loved slinging hot dogs at the ball fields,” she said. “There were a ton of people, some of them were not always pleasant, but I liked the sights, the sounds, the smells. You kind of get a vibe for what you really enjoy.”

Shawnee County Parks and Recreation hires 300 teenagers each summer in seasonal positions ranging from park maintenance to golf course maintenance, sports site supervisors, sports field maintenance, concessions employees, lifeguards, summer camp counselors and engineers who drive the Gage Park mini-train. So, there’s plenty of room for experimenting.

Helping teens find their niche is something Mike McLaughlin, communications and public information supervisor, hopes teens take away from their time at Shawnee County Parks and Recreation.

“You can see it in some of them,” McLaughin said. “There’s this one camp counselor who is always running around putting sunscreen on kids. You just see that maturity. And you think, ‘Yeah, this person’s found something they love.’”

Because of the high amount of direct customer interaction, and in some positions, contact with children, hiring teenagers of good character is crucial to the parks system.

McLaughin said teens are often interviewed in groups. When he gets down to the final three or four candidates for a position, he gives them a scenario of something that has happened, or could happen, on the job and ask how they would handle that situation.

“It’s never failed to tell me which person was the best one for the position out of the candidate pool that I had,” he said.

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TIPS TO MANAGE AND COACH TEENAGE EMPLOYEES

1. RECRUIT • Ask for referrals from coaches, faculty, customers and employees.

• Look for leadership traits and those who volunteer.

2. SURF THE TURF • Utilize social media by posting jobs online.

• Use Facebook or other sites to investigate prospective teen employees.

3. COMMUNICATE • Communicate clear expectations from the beginning.

• Talk about punctuality and activities that should not be done at work.

• Explain customer service.

4. CROSS-TRAIN • Cross-training helps build teamwork, a sense of responsibility, loyalty and reduces friction.

5. TAKE TIME TO COACH • You are a teacher. Help, guide, mentor, train and continually train them.

• Constantly follow up and check on their progress.

6. CLARIFY INSTRUCTIONS • Patiently review instructions to ensure an understanding of what is required.

• Explain why a policy or procedure is in place.

7. PROVIDE CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK • Feel free to say, "You're doing a good job and I want you to know I know that."

• Poor performance is a training opportunity. Be clear, calm and positive when giving feedback.

8. REWARD INITIATIVE • If a teen shows a talent or interest in a specific area, give him or her the opportunity to develop those talents.

• Ask their opinions, especially in areas such as social media and merchandise displays.

9. RESPOND • Encourage questions. Answer patiently.

10. CHEER THEM ON • A manager with a positive attitude will gain respect and cooperation.

Source: Trainingmag.com; 10 Tips to Manage and Coach Teenage Employees, by Pamela Kleibrink Thompson

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McLaughin also abides by the concept of hiring for character and teaching for skills. Most teenagers do not have the job skills in place before they start a job, but the foundation of the character is already in place.

“Get the right person and they’ll learn,” McLaughin advises. “Look for a good attitude.”

A positive demeanor is key when things go wrong, as Grace Mlynek, the18year-old manager of the Adventure Cove paddle boats, has experienced.

Like Gilfillan, Mlynek started out at the concession stands. In her fourth month, she was promoted to manager. She says she thinks her problem-solving skills were a factor in her promotion.

“I learned how to take the lead in solving problems without making them a big deal,” Mlynek said, recalling how she helped out when the stand ran out of hot dogs. When a customer would order a hot dog, Mlynek jumped in to offer other options that would satisfy the customer and prevent the situation from escalating.

In her current position managing the paddle boats, Mlynek has more responsibility, including making sure

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Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL

Grace Mlynek, an 18-year-old manager of the Lake Shawnee Adventure Cove paddle boats for Shawnee County Parks and Recreation, believes her problemsolving skills were a factor in securing her current role.

safety rules are enforced, life preservers are worn and that employees are regularly rotated between indoor and outdoor stations to prevent overheating.

Mlynek is attending the University of Kansas, where she will study political science. She said she hopes the problem-solving and people skills she’s gained from working in the parks system will help her realize her aspirations to attend law school and, eventually, have a career in electoral politics.

Just as teens benefit from their employers’ willingness to give them a chance, businesses often find their younger employees defy the stereotypes that often falsely characterize them.

“I think there’s a lot of skepticism with this generation, just as there was with millennials, because they operate on a whole different wavelength,” Gilfillan said. “I don’t think that means their work ethic is any less, we just don’t communicate or speak the same language. If you just get to their character, other things can be taught.”

TK

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THE ECONOMICS OF TARIFFS

By DMITRI NIZOVTSEV For the last year and a half, every week seems to bring more news about the U.S.–China trade negotiations. Signs of possible consensus are followed by news about more trade restrictions, and vice versa. Everyone gets nervous, trying to make sense of what is really going on. Perhaps this is a good opportunity to turn to international trade textbooks and the latest economics research for help in better understanding the current events.

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IS FREE TRADE GOOD? Overall, yes. The decision to engage in specialization and trade is as common-sense as our individual decisions to focus on one primary occupation and then exchange the income from that job for goods and services that other people or entities perform for us. Instead of growing our own food or performing oil changes, most of us prefer to delegate that to a different individual or business. We do this to save time and, considering what we can do in the time we save, such a decision ends up being the least costly one. In economics language, this means achieving the goal more efficiently.

In an exact same fashion, reduction of trade barriers and greater openness to trade increase the set of opportunities for consumers and businesses to achieve their objectives more efficiently.

Naturally, this tends to make the nation as a whole better off. There is ample empirical evidence that supports this intuition. This is also the reason why

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stock market indices, which, in a nutshell, reflect market expectations about future performance of the economy, usually respond positively to any sign of progress in negotiations between the U.S. and China, and negatively to every indication that a new round of mutual trade restrictions is looming. See Figure 1.

IS FREE TRADE EQUALLY GOOD FOR EVERYONE? Unfortunately, it is not, and this inequality presents itself in more than one way.

First, the flow of cheaper imports that make consumers happy, at the same time hurts domestic industries that compete with those imports. This becomes an issue especially if the burden of trade liberalization falls onto a small group of firms or individuals, making individual losses for members of that group quite substantial. This is one of the reasons why some economists welcome the overall momentum toward

FIGURE 1.

Stock market reaction to major events in the U.S.-China trade war.

from trade within a country or among countries is rarely ideal. As many of us vividly remember, the unequal distribution of gains from trade also played a role in President Trump’s electoral campaign.

TARIFFS AFFECT ONLY IMPORTED GOODS, RIGHT? Wrong. Yes, the U.S. Customs collects the duties only from those goods that cross the border. However, the effects of a tariff extend far beyond that.

In economics language, imported goods and goods produced domestically are “substitutes”. This is a way of saying that, as the price of imports increase due to tariffs, buyers shift toward domestic goods, increasing the demand for them. This, in turn, inevitably pushes the prices of domestic goods up. This pattern persists across a variety of markets and industry structures. In all cases, domestic producers respond to tariffs with higher prices of their own.

Sources: D. Wong and A.C. Koty, “The US-China Trade War: A Timeline,” accessed July 25, 2019 at https://www.china-briefing.com/news/the-us-china-trade-war-a-timeline/; Yahoo! Finance; author’s research.

freer trade but warn against moving in that direction too rapidly.

Second, the distribution of the overall gains between the two countries engaging in trade is unlikely to be even, either.

Once two countries’ businesses see the potential for mutual benefit, they still need to agree on prices of goods that are to be traded. Economics textbooks often leave that decision to the “invisible hand” of supply and

demand, but in reality pricing is an outcome of business negotiations, in which two sides are rarely in an equal bargaining position. If, for the sake of an example, multiple competitive importers on one side of the negotiation table face one large (maybe even a state-controlled) exporter, then that large player is likely to negotiate more favorable terms of the deal.

For either of the two reasons, the distribution of gains

ARE TARIFFS BAD POLICY? As a long-term policy tool – yes. Think of the free trade argument, only in reverse. Any trade restriction may benefit a narrow set of domestic industries, but it always does so at the expense of domestic consumers. Countless theoretical models and empirical studies confirm that notion along with the fact that the overall net effect on the economy of a country imposing trade restrictions is negative. A series of studies published by the Peterson Institute for International Economics estimate that it costs the country more than $500,000 per year to protect one job through trade restrictions.

It is also important to keep in mind that increases in goods’ prices resulting from tariffs reverberate through the entire supply chain.

Tariffs on imported steel or aluminum may be lauded by U.S. Steel or Alcoa, but they raise the production costs for automobile and aircraft manufacturers. Those producers will most likely have to pass on some of those additional costs on to consumers in the form of higher prices.

According to several independent estimates published recently, tariffs put in place by China and the U.S. would cost an average household between $300 and $800 a year. Simple economics also suggests that because of higher costs of inputs and lower demand for exports,

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FIGURE 2.

Effect of the U.S.-China trade war on U.S. agricultural exports. National, rather than state figures, were used due to insufficient data on exact crop origin.

Source: US Trade Online, https://usatrade.census.gov/data/

U.S. businesses are likely to experience weaker sales, production cuts, and possibly even layoffs, and we are certainly seeing some of this happening.

As of today, American farmers appear to bear the hardest hit from this trade war. The crop that makes the news most often in this context is soybeans. The official trade statistics in Figure 2 illustrates the drop in soybeans trade volumes over the last year, and it does not look pretty. Wheat farmers also took a hit, but a milder one. As Figure 2 shows, the volume of U.S. wheat exports to China fell dramatically, but demand from other countries buying American wheat more than made up for that. The federal administration is attempting to mitigate the damage from the ongoing trade conflict by allocating $12 billion in 2018 and $16 billion more in 2019 as farm aid. But, like with any government handout, questions remain about the extent to which this will compensate farmers for losses from decreased sales.

The two biggest exporting industries in Kansas, aircraft and beef, seem to be holding up better, due to the strong demand domestically and the fact that China accounted for only a tiny portion of the

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overall export sales. Additionally, aircraft and heavy machinery producers were given the opportunity to apply for exemptions from tariffs on steel and aluminum, and many did.

This does not intend to imply that problems do not exist. The analysis of the latest economic report by the Commerce Department suggests that the main factor slowing down the growth in national output in the second quarter of 2019 is a decrease in business investment. This is not surprising: the ups and downs in the United States’ dealings with China cause uncertainty, which makes business owners put off purchases of new equipment and other investments and send ripples throughout the entire economy.

ANY GOOD REASON TO USE TARIFFS? Most of the considerations listed above suggest that tariffs are bad for the economy.

Why, then, did the U.S. administration choose to follow this path? Three possible explanations deserve a mention here.

First, international trade theory argues that tariffs may – in theory – make the country overall better off if the country imposing a tariff is large enough (which happens to be the case of the United States). The argument goes as follows. By raising prices for consumers in the importing country, a tariff reduces domestic buyers’ demand for foreign goods. If the country is large enough, then this decrease in demand would result in the lower world price for the good it is importing. This may partially offset the price increase inside the U.S. and, combined with the tariff revenues for the U.S. budget, may even result in the positive overall effect. This logic makes sense but, unfortunately, two separate recent papers by the National Bureau of Economic Research found no empirical evidence of such an effect.

Second, recall the argument about the skewed distribution of gains and losses from trade liberalization. President Trump maintains that the U.S. was too generous to other countries in the past, letting them receive a disproportionately large share of the overall benefits generated by free trade. His other claim repeated many times on the campaign trail is that some groups in the U.S. were never adequately compensated for the losses due to trade liberalization, and that something needs to be done about that. Tariffs may be

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seen as one of the ways to mitigate those undesired side effects temporarily, but, as argued earlier, they make a terrible long-term solution.

Third and the most likely explanation is that the Trump team uses tariffs as a bargaining tool to make China agree to a trade deal that is better for the U.S. than the present arrangement. This trick seems to come directly from President Trump’s “Art of the Deal” book: if you put your opponent in a vulnerable position, you are more likely to get what you want. Clearly, U.S. tariffs hurt the Chinese economy and the retaliation by China hurts the United States. Both sides understand the benefits of free trade they are foregoing with every day of delay. The crucial question is which player in this high-stakes game of chicken can afford to wait the longest.

WHAT TO EXPECT Some sort of resolution of this tense situation is coming soon. Neither side wants this trade spat to drag out indefinitely. Here is why: China needs an agreement because the U.S. is a lucrative trading partner due to its huge purchasing power, and also because exports account for 20% of China’s gross domestic product and are an important factor in the country’s economic growth. Prior to the beginning of the trade conflict between the two countries, approximately twenty percent of Chinese exports were sent to the United States.

This amount has decreased quite noticeably lately. China has been gradually losing its low manufacturing cost advantage to other countries, not just in Asia. There are signs that multinational companies are starting to move their production out of China. According to the official U.S. trade data, exports of Chinese goods to the U.S. dropped by $25 billion in the first five months of 2019, compared to the same period in 2018, which constitutes a 12.3 percent decrease. That void is being promptly filled by other countries, see Figure 3. The longer this goes on, the larger are the losses for the

FIGURE 3.

Change in the volume of U.S. imports by country of origin, Jan-May 2019 versus the same period of year 2018 (in billion of U.S. dollars).

Compiled from US Trade Online, https://usatrade.census.gov/data/

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Chinese economy, not to mention that the process of relocating the factories is extremely hard to reverse.

The United States deals with its own set of time-sensitive issues. The next presidential election is coming up in slightly more than a year, and the economy is an important card in President Trump’s reelection strategy deck. It is no secret that the economy is currently quite robust. However, the Commerce Department reported the 2.1 percent annualized growth rate in the second quarter of 2019, which is lower than in the previous quarter and lower than the President would like to see.

Furthermore, there is every indication that the farm sector, which played an important role in President Trump’s previous presidential victory, would get in real trouble if there is no progress in negotiations and tariffs stay in place for another year. All things considered, it is in the President’s best interest to reach some kind of a deal in the next few months, soon enough to allow the economy to rebound and perhaps add that to his legacy. The exact terms of the upcoming deal, however, are yet to be seen. In the best case scenario, China will be persuaded to make some concessions the U.S. is asking for. Thing is, even if it does not, some kind of truce will give the President a reason to say he did his best trying to make good on promises made on his 2016 campaign trail.

Let us hope that, once this trade war is behind us, we all find ourselves in a better place than we were before it started. And of course, just like the majority of us, I would like to see the tariffs gone, and I hope they will be.

TK

Dmitri Nizovtsev is a Washburn School of Business professor teaching International Economics and Managerial Economics, among other courses. He can be reached at dmitri.nizovtsev@washburn.edu.

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SCENE ABOUT TOWN

Bajillion Agency, ActionCOACH and MotoVike Films Grand Opening

PHOTO 1

100 S. KANSAS JUNE 7, 2019

Rachel Lock and JD Melton, Bajillion Agency

PHOTO 2

Photos by RACHEL LOCK

Josiah Engstrom, MotoVike Films; Andrea Engstrom, Bajillion Agency; Jan Kemper, Bajillion Agency; Earl Kemper, ActionCOACH Results

PHOTO 3 Carmen Anello, Premier Advisory Group; Davis Hammet; Sheri Rippel, Topeka Collegiate; Kelly Rippel, Oral Health Kansas

1

PHOTO 4 Paula Beal; Dan Beal, McElroy’s Inc.

PHOTO 5 Melissa Carey and Kip Kraisinger, Bajillion Agency

PHOTO 6 Alexander Smirnov and Stephanie Heston Kansas Ballet

PHOTO 7 Maggie Davis, Bajillion Agency; Alex Davis, Kansas National Guard

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Services Expanded at New Location Due to their success as a leader in the office equipment industry, Logan Business Machines has expanded their business model, added a highvisibility location and given it a name that reflects its more comprehensive services.

LBM SOLUTIONS, at the southwest corner of 21st & Belle in the 21st & Belle Shopping Center, serves customers with the same quality service as Logan Business Machines has been doing since 1972. In addition to the wide variety of printing systems, supplies and solutions that won’t “slow you down,” this new location allows for expanded services that helps customers with marketing and signage needs.

The new print and graphics location opened in August and is geared up to serve clients.

“I’m really excited about the individuals that have been assembled.

With more than 40 years of combined experience in this industry, we can handle any project,” said Shannon Engler, local sales specialist and branding warrior who leads the team.

Engler went on to say, “personally, I feel very blessed to

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Heading up the art and design department is Miles Kramer, a musician and creative mind with a long history of award-winning work in the Topeka ad agency and sign industry.

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Together, the team is ready to hit the ground running and get to work for you.

Whatever your needs are, from business cards and self-promotion to LED and monument signs, LBM SOLUTIONS can do it all.

For more information, contact Shannon Engler at Shannon@logan1972.com or call 785.233.1102.

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SCENE ABOUT TOWN

GTP Members’ Championship TOPEKA COUNTRY CLUB AUGUST 5, 2019

PHOTO 1 Photos by JARED HITCHENS

Emeri Bartels, Tucker Miller, Shelby Davidson, Carly Flick

PHOTO 2 Andrew Drinkard, Cole Cook, Kyle Schmidtlein, Robert Wilson

PHOTO 3 Jeff Hiestand, Sam Somerhalder, Heather Scott, Gary Gifford

PHOTO 4 Kevin Holland, Greg Schwerdt, Brooks Pettit, Trey Pivarnik

PHOTO 5 Marc Shepherd, Craig Heideman, Tony Conrade, John Jones

PHOTO 6 Matt Rockers, Kyler Tarwater, Kellen Seitz, Allie Geist

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PHOTO 7 RD Helt, Ken Schmanke, Derek Bailey, Matt Werner

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SCENE ABOUT TOWN

PHOTO 1 Andrew & Andrea Lindeman; April & Kurtis Wells

20/30 Club of Topeka Children’s Benefit Auction & Gala

PHOTO 2 Jeff & Jennifer Molleker, Hannah Kate & Mike Kagay

PHOTO 3 Andy Harris & Bailey Stallbaumer Harris; Cody & Lindsey Winterscheidt; Kristina & Benedict Figuerres; Shawn & Stephanie Hamilton; Heather & Gabe Wurdeman

STORMONT VAIL EVENTS CENTER AUGUST 10, 2019

PHOTO 4 Ben and Britt Trier; Ried & Laine Hash; Abbie & Chris Carlson; Lindsey & Mike Munson

PHOTO 5 Photos by BRADEN DIMICK & LINDA HAMLIN

Dustin & Ally Moses; Kelsie & Stephone Stephens

PHOTO 6 Mack Mondesire & Leslie Townsend Mondesir; Paige & Philip Jones

PHOTO 7 Jared & Melissa Elliot; Megan & Andrew Turner; Heather & Aaron Scott

PHOTO 8

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Jason Williams; Michelle De La Isla; Megan Schwerdt Williams; Greg Schwerdt

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PEOPLE MATTER. GO AHEAD. HAVE IT ALL. That’s why we feel privileged to help our clients get the most out of every second. Because nothing can replace a good, old-fashioned face-to-face conversation with a potential business partner. Or a quick catch in the yard. Or date night.

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10:30 a.m.

This was a day…quite the day indeed! My morning started like any other, and then at 10:35 in pops in a warm weather regular.

He had ventured in Monday morning as well to discuss taking my portrait because he liked my hair and smooth skin... eww! He reassured me that he could say things like this because he was NOT a pervert. I am sorry sir but telling me you are not a pervert tells me you are, in fact, a pervert. Images of a murder van pop into my head as he is saying this. The good thing is, I don’t think he drives a vehicle. A murder bicycle is not quite as scary.

Today he had others things he wants to discuss, like opening a joint checking account with me.

He believes that would be easier in the long run for selling merchandise.

But again, not to worry, because he would use an alias name to make me feel safe... which, according to him, is completely legal.

After all, how do famous people have checking accounts? I had no words to respond to this.

He has one last thing for me before he goes.

He gives me a very large crucifix, which he has clearly ripped from his wall as it still has a large nail in the back with drywall hanging from it.

He wants me to keep it and think of him every

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time I pray in front of it. Sure dude, sure.

Anyone in need of a very large crucifix?

Only slightly used.

11:30 a.m.

Knock over a rack of merchandise.

Go to pick it up and spill approximately 16 ounces of latte on carpet. No merchandise harmed.

1:00 p.m.

Break down and make myself happy with Diet Coke (this is actually code for margarita).

1:45 p.m.

Decide the Diet Coke was the best decision of my life thus far.

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4:30 p.m.

Receive phone call from friend who works next door. While standing behind the front table looking out the door during our conversation, a woman walks by. She proceeds to walk backward until she is in front of my open door. We are eye to eye with approximately 20 feet and one large display table between us.

Now, what happens next, I am still unclear about. She starts wiggling and saying things like, “Look at me, I am on the phone” “oooo I have a phone” then starts laughing like a hyena. She all of a sudden stops, looks me dead in the eye, and starts screaming “C***!

You’re a C***!” Now I have not moved or displayed any emotion at this point, unsure of what exactly is going on and how I will diffuse this situation.

Enter in Hot UPS Guy (ladies, you know who I am talking about… gentlemen… face it, you do too).

I am far enough away that I cannot hear the interaction between them, but she is now happy and leaves without further disruption.

So, a big thank you to Hot UPS Guy for saving this shopkeeper’s life. I owe you a life changing Diet Coke.

This brings my day to a smooth ending.

This is what I call Tuesday.

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