TK Business Magazine - May 2022 Issue by E2 Communications & Publishing

GLAMPING THE KANSAS WAY | BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE | FRESH. TASTY. LOCAL. | PROFESSOR MAY/JUNE 2022

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CONTENTS TK BUSINESS MAGAZINE | MAY/JUNE 2022

Photos by JOHN BURNS

Entrepreneurial Spouses Husbands and wives often go into business together. But what happens when each spouse owns their own business?

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CONTENTS

TK BUSINESS MAGAZINE | MAY/JUNE 2022

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48 Glamping the Kansas Way

Mompreneurism

PlainsCraft is taking glamorous camping to a whole new level with luxurious coverage wagons fitted with full bathrooms and air-conditioning.

Women in Topeka have established businesses that satisfy their career aspirations and provide space for a flexible, fulfilling family life too.

Building for the Future

From Spice Rubs to Sprinkles

Several local companies are either building new facilities or renovating spaces in Topeka. TK talks to the people behind a few of these projects.

Things to Know Before You BUY. LEASE. BUILD.

Protecting Your Family in a Family Business Steven & Brand, L.L.P. attorneys share thoughts on structure, operation and succession plans.

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Barbecue master Mike Babb finds his sweet spot as the new owner of Paradise Donuts.

From the Professor

City of Topeka expert gives commercial building and planning advice.

Inflation is only one of the “flations” you should be concerned about as a consumer.

Fresh. Tasty. Local.

Local companies generate revenue by marketing their farm fresh goods at the local Farmers Markets.

Hear Here: NuSound Hearing Center

Belinda Gonzales-Allan has built a business to not only help people hear better but also help them cope with the other problems that come with hearing loss.

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CONTRIBUTORS PUBLISHER

Tara Dimick

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Lisa Loewen

CREATIVE DIRECTOR & DESIGNER MANAGING PARTNER & SALES DIRECTOR

Janet Faust Braden Dimick braden@tkmagazine.com

MARKETING DIRECTOR & SALES Ally Oakes ally@tkmagazine.com COVER PHOTOGRAPHER

John Burns

WRITERS

Samantha Egan Kim Gronniger Lisa Loewen Eric Smith Adam Vlach Kathy Webber

PHOTOGRAPHERS

John Burns Emma Highfill

EXPERTS

Fran Hug Denise L. McNabb Dr. David Price Richard S. Schoenfeld

2022 TK Business Magazine is published by E2 Communications, Inc., 7512 SW Falcon St., Topeka, KS 66610, (785) 438-7773. 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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PLAINSCRAFT COVERED WAGONS GLAMPING THE KANSAS WAY By LISA LOEWEN Photos by JOHN BURNS

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Five years ago, while serial entrepreneurs Dennis and Donna Steinman were looking for a new business venture, they discovered a trend taking the outdoor hospitality industry by storm: glamping. At the time, glamping (glamorous camping) meant luxurious tents with furniture, amenities and even air conditioning. Dennis had a vision to take glamping to the next level. Instead of a tent, why not experience the great outdoors from inside a traditional covered wagon like those the pioneers used to settle the West? With a few modern improvements, of course. Dennis’ love for covered wagons began at an early age. His father built one that Dennis and his sister would

Photos by JOHN BURNS

Dennis and Donna Steinman, owners of PlainsCraft Covered Wagons, turned his boyhood love for covered wagons into a glamping experience.

drive to the fair with the help of the family pony. “I’ve always been fascinated by these schooner wagons and especially the grit of the people who traveled across the prairie with only what the wagons could carry,” he said. That fascination soon had Dennis sketching ideas for what a glamping covered wagon would look like. He enlisted the help of a friend who was experienced with CAD design, and together they slowly developed the blueprints of the first covered wagon, working through the specifications to make sure it was structurally sound. Once the initial plans were drawn up, Dennis built the first two wagons himself, in the corner of a little building in Perry.

“Of course, I made a lot of changes along the way,” Dennis said. “So much of this process was trial and error.” That trial-and-error process helped solve the problem of shadows showing through the canvas cover at night by creating a proprietary multi-layer insulated cover that is manufactured for them by a company in Colby, Kansas. They sold the first PlainsCraft wagon to an 80-year-old lady who was friends with Dennis’ sister. She lived in Colorado but ordered a wagon to put on the family farm in western Kansas so she would have a place to stay when she visited family. “She didn’t even want electricity,” Donna said. “She just wanted an authentic covered wagon to stay in.”

Dennis and Donna knew they were onto something. They just needed more working room to make their vision a reality, so PlainsCraft moved operations to a larger facility in 2019 at 435 NW Independence Ave. That space should have been more than adequate, but when the pandemic shut the country down, everything associated with outdoor hospitality experienced a surge—RVs, boats, UTVs, camping equipment, and glamping. “People really wanted to find alternative experiences that they could do with family and friends outdoors,” Dennis said. “That is where these unique structures come in. With our wagons, people find those unusual adventures.” The first official hospitality industry sale came from attending the Wisconsin Association of Campground Owners trade show in Wisconsin. Dennis took a wagon to display at the show and someone from Apostle Island bought it on the spot. After being married to Dennis for 34 years, Donna understands all too well his entrepreneurial spirit. But that doesn’t mean she didn’t think this new venture was a little crazy. When the pandemic forced stores to close, Donna decided the time was right to shutter her retail store in Lawrence and enjoy a well-earned retirement. Dennis was in the process of moving into the new location with the help of his

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Photo by JOHN BURNS

It takes the PlainsCraft team about a week and a half to build two wagons while ensuring quality remains the top priority.

friend Bill Taylor, who was retired from the military. So, Donna went to lend a hand. “Bill was just going to move us in and help us with trailers while we were at the trade show in Wisconsin,” Donna said. “Neither one of us really saw it coming, but we are both still here. I thought I was retiring, instead I am busier than ever decorating covered wagons.” Marketing through trade shows across the country, paid advertising, social media and word of mouth paid off. Zion Weeping Buffalo Resort in Utah purchased 20 covered wagons in 2020 and built an entire resort experience around them. “I think that sale is what really put us on the map,” Donna said. PlainsCraft sales to campgrounds and resorts went sky high. But increased demand meant more orders to fill, which required more space to build wagons. Fortunately, the space next to them became available last year, allowing PlainsCraft to double its footprint. It takes the PlainsCraft team about a week and a half to build two wagons. This year they expect to build 80 wagons. “Sales are on a steep growth curve right now,” Dennis said. “At this rate, it won’t be long before we will be needing a bigger space once again.” Taking the business to the next level means more than just sales. Now up to 11 employees, they have streamlined their processes and procedures, perfected the blueprints, implemented quality controls and installed safety protocols.

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And they are creating gorgeous wagons that are turning heads across the country. Outdoor hospitality providers can choose from seven configurations ranging from a two-person wagon with a king-sized bed, nightstands, table and chairs and a full bathroom, to a bunkhouse wagon that sleeps 12. Every wagon is fitted with a 2-ton air conditioner/heat pump (cleverly hidden in the wooden box at the rear of the wagon), a proprietary all-weather insulated cover and a lockable door with an operational window. Prices range from $35,000 to $50,000 depending on the configuration. Glampers expect a luxurious experience but also want to feel that the furnishing are rugged and period appropriate. That is where Donna’s expertise comes into play. “When I owned my store in Lawrence, I used to buy furniture from a mom-and-pop company in Missouri who would dry all their own wood and build everything by hand. I order our nightstands from them because they are durable and beautiful,” Donna said. “A Washburn University teacher builds the beds, doors, and cabinets.” Once a wagon is built and the furniture placed inside, they shrink wrap them and load two at a time onto a flatbed truck to be shipped to their destination. “Drivers love hauling these for us,” Dennis said. “Every time they pull into a stop, someone asks them what they are hauling because of the odd shape.”

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When PlainsCraft wagons arrive at a campground or resort, they are set up just like an RV, complete with water and electricity hook-ups. “More than 95 percent of the wagons we sell have bathrooms,” Dennis said, “so, we designed them to access the water facilities already in place.” Dennis sees a bright future ahead for PlainsCraft because the number of glamping covered wagons the U.S. right now is tiny compared to the market demand. “We are on an aggressive growth track,” Dennis said. “But quality remains our number one priority. I try to live by what Henry Ford said, ‘The two most important things in any company do not appear in its balance sheet: its reputation and its men.’” While supply chain issues have caused some major headaches this year, the one thing Dennis hasn’t had to worry about is employee turnover. “What we’re doing here is kind of fun. We have a great team spirit, and we are making a really cool product that our employees are proud of,” Dennis said. “We are all on the same page.” As for the PlainsCraft reputation, Dennis and Donna stake their future on it. In fact, the gorgeous covered wagon sitting in the PlainsCraft showroom right now is headed home with them. “We want to enjoy glamping for ourselves once in a while,” Donna said. “Plus, when people fly in to look at our wagons, it will give them a chance to actually experience them.” TK

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THE POWER OF PREMIER FUELS AND LUBRICANTS

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE By LISA LOEWEN

Business sectors from restaurants to living space to health care are seeing renewed growth taking place both nationally and locally. Many companies are looking to grow their operations this year or offer new services to clients, but expansion often requires adding physical building space. The benefits of these new builds and renovation projects reach beyond the businesses making the investment and the clients they hope to serve, however. Each project impacts the larger community by melding the work of architects, general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers who collectively employ hundreds of people. TK Business Magazine highlights four regional building projects currently underway:

16 PG 20 PG 24 PG 28 PG

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Jefferson’s Restaurant Wheatfield Apartments Stormont Vail Manhattan Medical Campus Family Service & Guidance Center Youth Crisis and Recovery Center

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Alyx Griffin, Project Manager | MCP Group Rebel Beatty, Superintendent | MCP Group PHOTO SUBMITTED

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CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

JEFFERSON’S 2915 SW Wanamaker Road

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Interview with the Client: BRANDON GRAHAM President Jefferson’s Franchise Systems What is your vision for Jefferson’s and what made you decide to bring it to Topeka? We want Jefferson’s to be a family-friendly experience with a decidedly Midwest feel. We have found great success in Lawrence and wanted to bring our good food and family atmosphere to Topeka. We had been exploring the idea of expanding into Kansas City and Topeka, but nothing was solidly in the works in Topeka until this building came onto the market. It made us move a little quicker than we had planned, but we couldn’t pass up such a fantastic location. It has a high traffic flow, great visibility, and lots of fantastic surrounding businesses. What was important to you in the design of Jefferson’s? When you are renovating a bank, there are some good and bad things that go along with that. Obviously, we needed to take out the drive-up windows, but we wanted to keep the interesting outdoor feature on the south side of the building. People have driven past that building for years, and we wanted to keep a little of the nostalgia intact. Another interesting feature that we kept from the bank was the vault. In hindsight, that might not have been the best idea because of the cost it added to renovations, but it is a really cool feature that adds to the uniqueness of this Jefferson’s location. It can be difficult to see the vision of space—what was that process like? We already had some ideas for what we wanted in the space but working through the design process with the builder allowed us to make informed decisions. Of course, we had to deal with various supply chain issues along the way, but overall, this has been a great project from the start.

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Interview with the Contractor: PAT TOLIN President & CEO MCP Group

SUBCONTRACTORS: Bettis Asphalt McElroy’s Sowards Glass Samco AB Painting Schendel Lawn & Landscape

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What is your process when working with a client through the construction of their building? MCP believes the success of any project begins with forging a strong foundation between the builder and client well before breaking ground. Our preconstruction team reviews conceptual drawings and visits the site to prepare accurate cost estimates. We collaborate to help identify any possible challenges and create a solution before the work begins. As the construction phase approaches, we meld our knowledge of the local contracting environment with our experience as builders to keep your project on track from the first day we break ground through handing over the keys. For example, we provide weekly progress reports and Owner/Architect/Contractor meetings, real-time automated schedule analytics, weekly jobsite subcontractor coordination meetings, and pre-installation meetings throughout the construction process. At the end, we will all be ready to celebrate the success of the project at the ribbon cutting and dedication of your project. What impact does MCP make on our community when you build? We take great pride when we build in our own community, as it allows us to utilize our talents locally by constructing an awesome project. More importantly to us, though, it allows us to provide work to local companies. Those companies are largely staffed with local talent, which means not only are we able contribute to the economic support and success of our local businesses but also to our fellow community members working for those companies. What do businesses need to know when it comes to their next building project? MCP exists to turn big ideas into completed projects. We want to be a trusted partner and see you succeed. We treat your project and business like it’s our own. Our solutionsfirst mentality allows us to add value to your ideas and deliver your projects as you intended. Our transparent client service means no surprises. Our meticulous planning process allows us to deliver projects on time and on budget. When it is time to roll up our sleeves and get to work, our standards for quality and attention to detail shine. We can give owners what they need to make informed decisions at the beginning of a project, whether that is on site selection, materials, constructibility, schedule, or plethora of other aspects involved in the project process. We strive to provide a level of service and involvement in the process that makes you feel like we’re your “in-house” contractor.

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Celebrating 38 years of dedication and leadership

Driving community and industry forward, together.

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CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

WHEATFIELD VILLAGE APARTMENTS } 29th & SW Fairlawn Rd

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Interview with the Architect: GREG SCHWERDT Founder Schwerdt Design Group What drives your process in designing? Our clients unequivocally drive our design process. We work to develop a deep understanding of the client’s project vision, mission and goals to design forward-thinking, yet functional, spaces. We work directly with clients to establish their project budgets early, provide accurate estimates, and implement cost controls to stay within budget.

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Over 85 percent of our business is from repeat clients. We believe successful projects occur by forming quality relationships with our clients – relationships based on open communication, trust, and mutual understanding of expectations. What was your vision for the Wheatfield Apartments? It has been 20 years since a new multi-family living building has been built in southwest Topeka. Consumer preferences have dramatically changed since then, and we want Wheatfield Village Apartments to meet and exceed those expectations. Our goal was to create a place where everyone from empty nesters seeking to downsize to young adults striking out on their own feel at home.

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Crossland Construction SUBCONTRACTORS: DL Smith Electric Restoration & Waterproofing Contractors RD Johnson Excavating Schendel Lawn & Landscape Schwerdt Design Group

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What made this project unique? Wheatfield Village is unique in that it is the first development of its kind for Topeka in that it combines businesses, dining, a nine-plex theater, hotel and apartments. This development sits on 14 acres of land and is between a major highway and the Shunga Trail system. As a result, we had to make the best possible use of every inch of space to ensure a positive experience for residents, business owners, and visitors. What is your vision for your company? SDG would not be what it is today if it wasn’t for Topeka’s connections, passion and people. We pride ourselves in fostering environments that allow for the success and empowerment of everyone. From charitable initiatives to new commercial districts. From healthcare to downtown revitalization. From new manufacturing opportunities to riverfront development. Topeka is writing a new narrative, and we are proud to be a part of those efforts.

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Systems Director-Facilities Management Stormont Vail

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Interview with the Client: KEITH GRIFFIN

Tell us about the growth of Stormont Vail into Manhattan. Stormont Vail’s momentum of growth in Manhattan has increased access to care and enabled many to receive care in or near their home community. This investment in quality, patient-centered care is the reason Stormont Vail is creating the Manhattan Medical Campus. The facility will include stateof-the art technology and will power our providers and team members with the tools, space, and resources to do their jobs well. In July 2023, our 79,000 square foot Stormont Vail Health Manhattan Campus will be fully operational. Stormont Vail Health Manhattan Medical Campus will bring services for which the Manhattan market has a deficit, such as primary care, cardiology, infectious disease, plastics and reconstructive surgery, neurology, psychiatry and others. Expanding services available to patients include imaging (addition of x-ray, MRI and an additional CT), full laboratory (expansion of testing capabilities to include histology), infusion services (access to infusion bays for oncology outreach and specialty medication), walk in clinic, and medical weight management. Not only does the new facility bring quality care closer to home, it is also a community benefit. Once open, the Manhattan campus will employ 125 full time employees, a 64.3% increase in team members, equating to approximately $18 million in annual payroll. This means, Stormont Vail will support approximately $10.7 million of additional income throughout the community. How does Stormont’s growth impact Topeka? Stormont Vail Health’s growth impacts all of Northeast Kansas. Our growth impacts Topeka, and other surrounding communities, by creating more and important connections and affiliations with providers and other health care entities all over the region. This allows us to provide the highest quality of care to help improve the health of the health of our community. What’s the next project? Construction is underway for our expansion and renovation of the Cotton O’Neil Cancer Center. The Cancer Center in Topeka opened in 2006 providing a beautiful setting for state-of-the-art technology for diagnosis and treatment of cancer and a patient-focused design. Today, 16 years later, our cancer center continues to set the standard for bringing our patients and community the best in care. The expansion will create additional exam and consult rooms, opportunity for patients to meet with a multi-disciplinary care team, expand space for our infusion center that will relocate to this location, enhance pharmacy operations, and provide more comfortable areas for patients and visitors. We are grateful to our Foundation donors and supporters for helping turn this plan into action. The completion of this expansion project is expected in June 2023.

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CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

STORMONT VAIL } Manhattan, Kansas

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Interview with the Contractor: TANNER SMITH Project Manager Kendall Construction What makes this project special or unique? Stormont Vail is making a significant investment to better serve Manhattan and the surrounding communities. This is also the largest single contract for Kendall Construction, and the fact that we can complete this project for such a strong community leader is a huge plus. We look forward to using this experience to build a stronger business and continue our growth.

SUBCONTRACTORS: Schmidtlein Excavating HME, Inc. Kolde Concrete Construction Prestige Masonry Soward’s Glass McElroy’s Inc. DL Smith Electric Jayhawk Fire Sprinkler Topeka Foundry & Door Co.

What is your process when working with a business to build their vision? We have a customer-first way of doing business that begins with active-listening to understand the clients’ goals and vision for their investment. Our team is highly involved in every aspect of the project from beginning to end and we are in constant communication with our customers with a proactive problem-solving approach. Our focus is on building partnerships with our clients and to ensure they are getting a quality project, both on time and within budget. How do Kendall building projects impact the community as a whole? A project of this size will have over 100 employees touch the jobsite from more than 15 local companies, that doesn’t include the offsite employees involved. A huge part of our success can be attributed to partnering with local sub-contractors on each project. These partnerships allow us to help keep our clients’ investment within the community and build strong business relationships here. What is your vision for our community from a builder’s perspective? Inviting new businesses to town and growing existing businesses is what this community needs to continue its success. We feel that we are growing and expanding as well with the community by expanding our ability to take on larger projects and building lasting relationships with customers that have helped us get where we are today.

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Enhancing Health In

Manhattan

McElroy’s is proud to be the mechanical systems partner with Kendall Construction on the new Stormont Vail Health Manhattan Medical Campus building.

MCELROYS.COM

785.266.4870

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CEO Family Service & Guidance Center Tell us about the Youth Crisis & Recovery Center. The Youth Crisis & Recovery Center will be a state-of-the-art 24-bed, 24,000-square-foot facility that will house services for two dramatically underserved groups. First, the Center will provide enhanced services designed to support and stabilize children experiencing a mental health crisis. The stress of the pandemic has created a mental health crisis in our community not only because of a record number of children and teens needing services, but also the condition of those who do enter our doors is more severe than we have ever seen in our crisis programs. In addition, the Center will house a treatment program for adolescents who are living with substance use disorders and mental health challenges concurrently. FSGC will take an integrated approach to care. That means that our mental health professionals will also be trained as Addictions Counselors, allowing adolescents in this program to receive all their treatment at the Youth Crisis & Recovery Center rather than having to see providers in two different locations. Why is this build so critical? Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately one in five children ages 3-17 struggled with feelings of helplessness, depression and thoughts of suicide. The Covid-19 pandemic just made it worse, disrupting millions of children’s lives. Unfortunately, for children and adolescents experiencing a severe mental health crisis, the wait for a psychiatric hospital bed in Kansas is anywhere from three to six months. The

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Interview with the Client: KATHY MOSHER

waiting list typically includes about 30 children and adolescents from Shawnee County alone. When it comes to youth with substance use disorders, the situation is just as dire. There is a terrible shortage of substance use treatment providers for adolescents, including adolescents with mental health challenges. Our integrated approach will give them the best chance of a long-lasting recovery, but we needed a place that is tailored to provide these kinds of services. What was important to you in the design of the building? Members of FSGC’s Leadership Team made a number of visits to similar types of facilities in our region. We spoke at length with staff members at all levels and asked them questions about what worked and what didn’t. We quickly learned that there would be a delicate balance between safety and creating a welcoming environment. We considered that long-term psychiatric hospitals are all about safety to the point of being stark and institutional — about as far from “homelike” as they could get. We must keep our children and teens safe, but we also need to create an environment in which our children and teens will open up and fully engage in their own healing. One idea we’re considering to promote healing and recovery is planting a therapeutic vegetable garden. Research tells us that being in nature boosts a person’s mood and contributes to their overall health. By incorporating a garden and nature to help our patients reach their therapeutic goals, we would give clients a lifestyle skill that they can use to stay happy and healthy throughout their lives.

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CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

FAMILY SERVICE & GUIDANCE CENTER } 325 SW Frazier Ave

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Interview with the Architect: SCOTT GALES Architect & CEO Architect One

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What was important to you in the design of the Crisis & Recovery Center? Our team at AO worked closely with the FSGC staff and leadership to best understand how their operations within the facility would function, and where we could design in efficiency. It was important for the space to create an experience opposite of being confined. The use of comfortable space volumes, natural light, soothing colors, and acoustically effective materials were constantly considered with every design solution we together on. What made this process special or unique for you? We were able to effectively work with the FSGC team to develop a great design solution despite all the challenges we were dealing with during the height of the pandemic. Everyone worked closely with great patience and grace will we worked through the entire process and develop a well-design building to best serve their clients and the community. As an architectural firm, what is the impact you hope to make on the community? Topeka, and the other communities we have offices and work with clients in, are great communities full of great people working to leave them a better place for the next generation. We have a great team at AO who all understand the importance of this and understand the better we lead by example, the more opportunities there are to inspire others like we were inspired by those before us.

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Coal Creek Construction SUBCONTRACTORS LIST: Not available at time of printing

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What is the economic impact of a build like this one for our community? The impact of a facility like FSGC’s Crisis Center is immense. This state-of-the-art facility will not just serve a local market, it will be unique in the state of Kansas, so the impact is regional. The professionals that will work here are experts in this service they are providing their clients and this community. All of this is a financial impact on our local and regional community. The stress and challenges of the pandemic have dramatically increased the need for more-effective services and facilities to serve families, and specifically the children of these families. The construction of this facility in this part of the state will also have an economic impact. It’s not uncommon for there to be 50+ contractors and suppliers involved with a project of this scale. Most of these contractors will be based locally, or regionally locally. All of those companies have payrolls and spend money in this community. Economic activity begets more economic activity. TK

LISTEN. DESIGN. INSPIRE.

Family Service and Guidance Center Youth Crisis and Recovery Center Topeka, KS

Our client is breaking ground on a new ground-up 24,000 sf two story building that will assist youth in our community get the treatment and care that they need right here in Topeka. This facility will not only be the only one of it’s kind in the county, but also in the State of Kansas.

ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN MASTER PLANNING & SITE DESIGN SPACE PLANNING & INTERIOR DESIGN

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CITY OF TOPEKA PLANNING

BUY. LEASE. BUILD. THINGS TO KNOW By FRAN HUG You plan to buy a building, lease space, or build a building for your business. The City of Topeka teams will facilitate development of your project in a manner that results with you opening your doors to the public in a building or space that meet your needs and expectations, is safe, healthy and a benefit to the welfare of our community.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK • Create a business plan that includes ideas for when, where and how you’ll grow your business from that special idea to finding and developing space for your business with budgets for costs related to development and operations of your business, financial needs, financial resources, and timelines. • Collect photos of what you want your business to physically look like. • Accumulate ideas that help you evaluate whether your business will be located within a hard-walled tenant space, your own existing building, or maybe result in design and construction of a new building. • Ask yourself, “What conditions may drive my decisions about my business development and potential physical location?” For example: Will the locations I’m considering generate the level of traffic and patronage access I want? City of Topeka staff representatives of multiple departments team up to provide assistance and customer service to you. We can offer helpful suggestions, answer questions, and share information to assist you with understanding City standards, requirements, and processes, as well as providing clarifications of planning regulations, building, fire, mechanical, electrical plumbing code provisions, explanations of design standards, and information about available City initiatives.

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ASK QUESTIONS You know better than anyone what you want to do. We can assist with looking at what may impact some of your initial decisions. Some questions common questions that we hear: • Will the occupancy classification for my proposed use result in required alterations to an existing building or space, and what will that mean for my plans? • Will I be required to complete any preliminary land use or planning processes before being able to even consider having my business in a particular location? • Will my business be permitted to be in the locations I am considering—is the property “zoned” for my intended use by planning regulations? • Is the property eligible for a zoning waiver, conditional use permit or for being “rezoned” for my use? • Will I have to invest in contracting for preliminary design services by architects and engineers to even determine if this location will work for me? • Does the location, building or space have what is needed for my use? UNDERSTAND PERMITS Locating your business within a building will usually require a commercial building permit because changes and alterations to an existing space are typically required. If your business use is considered a “change of use” for the building or space by planning regulations or building/fire/life safety codes, application for a commercial building permit is also required. Commercial spaces and buildings are categorized by our adopted building code by occupancy classifications in one or more groups based upon intended purpose, uses and operations. There are 10 basic classifications: 1. Assembly: Groups A 2. Business (including professional services): Group B 3. Educational: Group E 4. Factory and Industrial: Groups F-1 and F-2 5. High Hazard: Groups H1-H5 6. Institutional: Groups I1-I4 7. Mercantile (Retail): Group M 8. Residential (Commercial Residential): Groups R1-R4 9. Storage: Groups S1 & S2 10. Utility and Miscellaneous: Group U

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CITY OF TOPEKA PLANNING

TEAM APPROACH Our teams from Public Works, Engineering, Utilities, Development Services (permits and inspections), and Planning are ready to work with you to discuss your building project and provide input on the following subjects: • zoning requirements • design standards • parking requirements • availability of utility services at the location – sewer, water, electrical, fire hydrants • vehicle traffic and pedestrian access standards • general local building, fire, life safety, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing code requirements • fire sprinkler, alarm, and commercial exhaust hood requirements • ADA accessibility design standards and requirements related to site development, parking, entry access, restroom(s), customer service counters and service areas, drinking fountain • special requirements for proposed uses • additional permits and service connection requirements • potential business incentives via City opportunities, private business development programs, state, and federal

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OTHER SERVICES THE CITY PROVIDES • Checking on local zoning ordinances, licenses, regulations, building permits, building and fire codes, and ADA standards. • City of Topeka, State of Kansas, and Federal Standards. • Registry requirements of a business. • Licensing of various business services are required through the City Clerk’s Office.

Fran Hug is an architect and Special Projects & Permit Manager for Development Services at the City of Topeka. PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT LINKS: www.topeka.org > Government > Departments > Development Services www.topeka.org > Government > Departments > Planning Email: sdpermits@topeka.org. This is a group email address for contacting the Development Services Division—Permit section staff. TK

PHOTO SUBMITTED

PRE-APPLICATION MEETING Before you apply for a commercial building permit, we offer a preapplication meeting for all projects that involve use of buildings, property, tenant space within buildings, and potential new building development.

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IS J MAN D & JENNY TROY & KAREY BROWN

By ADAM VLACH Photos by EMMA HIGHFILL

s e s u o p S

ENTREPRENEURIAL “Two are better than one,” at least according to conventional wisdom (and a few pop-culture references). This can especially be true when couples are in business together. But what happens when each spouse owns their own separate business? Two Topeka-based couples prove day in and day out that individual businesses thrive when two entrepreneurial spirits come together to build each other up and capitalize on opportunities.

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Get It All In One Place.

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Spouses

ENTREPRENEURIAL

JENNY & DJ MANIS

Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL

Automotion Elite Towing

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LARGE RESOURCES. LOCAL RELATIONSHIPS. Peoples and Safety Consulting have joined forces with World Insurance Associates to bring you even more products and services to protect your people, your family, and your business. We are excited to work with our clients on a deeper level for decades to come.

For more than 20 years, Peoples Insurance Group has been offering its clients quality products and services combined with personalized service. We specialize in providing a comprehensive review and evaluation of your unique business risks and will implement risk management strategies custom to your situation. And thanks to our new affiliation with World Insurance Associates, we can offer solutions across all your business and personal needs.

Safety Consulting Inc. has been providing its clients with industry-leading safety consulting for more than 50 years. Our team develops and delivers personalized on-site programs that increase workplace safety, ensure state and federal regulatory compliance, improve employee health and awareness, and often help you save on your insurance premiums. We specialize in almost every aspect of safety in industries across private and public sectors.

WE CAN HELP YOU WITH: • Business insurance • Workers’ compensation insurance • Contractor performance bonds • Surety and fidelity bonds • Payroll & HR solutions • Business perpetuation products • Life and personal insurance • Employee and executive benefits

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CRAIG STROMGREN Principal Safety Consulting, Inc. A World Company 4111 NW 16th St., Topeka, KS 66618 800-748-7887 css@safetyconsultinginc.com

MICHAEL LESSER Principal, Midwest Sales Manager Peoples Insurance Group A World Company 1415 SW Topeka Blvd, Topeka, KS 66612 785-271-8097 x214 mlesser@peoplesinsure.com

World is a Top 100 insurance organization offering quality products and services from all major carriers, combined with attentive service from local advisors who are experts in their field and cater to many specialized industries. Never compromise again when it comes to managing and protecting your most important assets—your people and your business.

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Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL

Employed at Automotion since he was 15, DJ Manis seized the opportunity to purchase the building when the former owner decided to retire in 2005.

Jenny and DJ Manis met when they were in high school and taking classes at Washburn Tech, where they were pursuing their mutual interest in cars and the auto industry. Jenny was enrolled in autobody classes, DJ in auto mechanics. It wasn’t long, however, before they both realized they’d found something at Washburn Tech they liked even more than cars: each other. They began dating in 1999, which is where the story of Automotion and Elite Towing begins. “I started working at Automotion when I was 15 years old,” said DJ. “There were only two of us there, plus the owner. When Jenny got out of school, she went to work for Bill Kobach Buick Bodyshop, which was a block away from Automotion.” After a few years of dating—and being work neighbors—DJ and Jenny were married in 2003. Then, two years later, the couple decided to take another leap together. “In 2005, the owner of Automotion decided to retire,” DJ recalled. “I had actually bought a house while I was still in high school,

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and I had quite a bit of equity, so I refinanced my house and bought the assets of Automotion in ‘05.” Jenny would soon join up with DJ at their newly-acquired business, leaving her position at Bill Kobach Buick a few months after DJ purchased Automotion. “I ran customers to and from appointments, managed bills and payroll, and those types of office duties—and quite a bit of customer interaction,” Jenny said, detailing her role at Automotion. “A lot of people would say, ‘I don’t know how you work with your husband or wife all day.’ The reality is, we were working together, but we weren’t actually around each other a whole lot. However, it helped me understand DJ’s late nights and his long hours. I understood that and could relate to it because I saw it. Had I not been there seeing it every day, I don’t think I would have understood it.” Hailing from an autobody background, Jenny found the work at Automotion something she understood intuitively and an arena

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in which she could deliver great value. However, something was still missing. “I’d never really had my own thing, per se,” Jenny said. “Automotion was kind of DJ’s baby. Even though I helped grow it, it’s been his deal, and I always wanted something that was my own accomplishment. I don’t know that there was a moment when I decided to start Elite Towing, but we saw an opportunity.” DJ went home one night and announced to Jenny, “I did something today.” When she questioned his remark, he added, “I bought a tow truck.” Jenny asked, “What are you going to do with it?” DJ replied, “I’m not going to do anything with it. You are.” Just like that, Elite Towing was born. In July of 2020, Jenny seamlessly made the switch from MVP employee at Automotion to entrepreneur and business owner. “We started the towing company in July of 2020,” Jenny said. “It really grew quickly. There was definitely a need for it in Topeka.”

Elite Towing began as a business with a single tow truck. In less than two years, the business has expanded under Jenny’s leadership to a fleet of seven tow trucks offering 24/7 service. Jenny points out as a business owner, there’s no longer an “off button” like there is when working as an employee. That has been the biggest difference between working at Automotion and running her own company. All the same, the fulfillment derived from helping customers in need—often in emergencies or crisis situations—offsets many of the stressors of entrepreneurship. What makes it even more rewarding is remembering that all those meaningful moments with customers are only possible because of her own determination, grit and vision. “I’m very proud of Jenny for what she has accomplished in just two years,” said DJ. Jenny’s departure from Automotion and the ascent of Elite Towing meant changes for everyone, both at work and at home. It presented a new dynamic, and yet, there were many similarities. Like the seasoned trailblazers they are, DJ and Jenny adapted quickly. “The biggest adaptation at Automotion has been filling the office role that Jenny held. If somebody called and had pointed questions that were better suited for the business owner, I could always share that responsibility with her,” DJ said. In terms of how they’ve been so successful managing two businesses and a family, Jenny pointed to the importance of empathy, understanding and patience. “Being in business, you gravitate toward people who are going through something similar, so we’ve had lots of friendships through the years with other business owners,” said Jenny. Jenny adds another piece of advice to fellow married entrepreneurs. “If only one of you has a business, remember that the spouse who’s still at home is taking on a huge load to support the family. Before Elite Towing, I was at home raising two teenage boys and taking care of the house while DJ was at work. Him remembering how much I was doing was important, as well as me understanding that being a business owner requires a lot of dedication. There were weeks where he wouldn’t get home until 10 or 11 at night. That, I think, is the biggest thing—be patient and understanding.”

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With the establishment of Elite Towing in 2020, Jenny Manis fulfilled a life long goal to own and run her own business. Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL

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Spouses

ENTREPRENEURIAL

TROY & KAREY BROWN

Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL

Brown’s Tree Service CDC Disaster Relief & Hauling }

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Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL

After buying the business in 2000, Troy Brown has grown Brown’s Tree Service staff from one to 30.

Troy Brown is a Topeka native. Born and raised in the Capital City, top-tier tree services served as the backdrop of his youth. As he tells it, Troy knew taking over his father’s tree service business was a question of when, not if. “I grew up working in the tree business as a child with my Dad. When I turned 19, I went to work for Hayden Tower Services,” said Troy. “That’s where I met Karey.” Karey Brown, originally from Arkansas, moved to Topeka at the age of 21 and accepted a bookkeeper position at Hayden Tower, the same company where Troy worked as a crew foreman. Troy and Karey started dating and tied the knot in 1999. As it just so happened, Troy’s father was looking to retire around the same time that Troy and Karey were kicking off their new life together. “We were starting to have kids, too, so the stars kind of aligned and it seemed the right time to take over the company,” Troy said. “So, I bought the business and started running the tree service.”

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Troy left Hayden Tower and took over Brown’s Tree Service on February 14, 2000, and he’s been at the helm ever since. When he first took the reins, most of the equipment was outdated or in need of replacement. On top of that, the business boasted a staff of one. After refreshing the equipment— including adding a crane to their arsenal, which allows the business to reach high and hard-to-reach branches or trees and cut them down via a mechanized crane arm—Troy began building up the company’s ranks. Today, Brown’s Tree Service has grown 30-fold in terms of headcount since Troy took charge. Meanwhile, as Troy was revamping Brown’s Tree Service, Karey started launching some entrepreneurial ventures of her own—on top of managing a household of three young ones. “After we had our first child, I was looking at a house with a real estate agent who suggested that I should really consider becoming an agent,” Karey recalled. “Then, when we bought our house, Troy told me the same thing.”

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That was all it took for Karey to lock her sights on a career in real estate. “At that point, we had two little babies at home, so I started doing real estate part-time. I got really busy by my third-year in. I sold a ton of houses, well above the average. Then in 2014, I bought a real estate executive franchise that had basically been abandoned for six months.” Karey ran that franchise for five years. At one point she was overseeing a team of 21 agents, before deciding her true love was selling houses, not running the administrative side. This realization led Karey to decide against renewing her franchise lease and instead to pivot and leverage her experience to secure a team lead role at eXp, a cloud-based brokerage. “I’m still a real estate broker and I assist the brokers here when they have questions, but it’s a lot less stress than owning the brokerage. I now actually enjoy what I do,” said Karey. When she is not selling houses, Karey shares her time and talent to help others learn the trade and just about anything else one might want to

Karey Brown leverages her real estate experience in a team lead role at eXp, a cloudbased brokerage while also launching CDC Disaster Relief & Hauling in the past year. Photo by EMMA HIGHFILL

know about the world of real estate. Karey has produced hundreds of posts, podcasts, and community-driven conversations centered around real estate on her “Real Estate with Karey Brown” blog, YouTube channel and Facebook group. “Right now, we’re interviewing local businesses and working on another Facebook group called Support Topeka Businesses. It focuses on getting the word out and supporting local businesses, especially after the impacts of Covid-19,” Karey said. And then, as if all of those endeavors are not enough to keep one busy, Karey also launched CDC Disaster Relief & Hauling just in the past year. “CDC stands for Cody, Dalton, Cassidy—which are our kids’ names—and not Centers for Disease Control,” Karey quipped. “It subcontracts out disaster relief projects, such as tree damage after a bad storm.” With so many irons in the fire, it’s a fair question to wonder how a couple balances business with personal life. As it turns out, the fact that Troy and Karey are both entrepreneurs allows them to support each other in ways someone without that experience might not understand. “We both know what’s going on with each other’s business because we can talk freely about it,” Karey said. “We counsel each other and bat ideas around, vent and discuss strategy. There have been times where his business was struggling, and I would pick up the slack, and then times where my business was struggling, and he would pick up the slack. Throughout the years it kind of ebbs and flows, and we cover for each other. I think it would be more difficult if one of us didn’t own a business and was more used to a 9 to 5 job. It would be hard to wrap your head around all the pieces that go into it. You’re both living it, so you both understand.” TK MAY/JUNE 2022

TK Business Magazine

FAMILY BUSINESS STRATEGIES

DETERMINE TYPE OF BUSINESS ENTITY

PHOTOS SUBMITTED

PROTECTING YOUR FAMILY IN A FAMILY BUSINESS

Denise L. McNabb Stevens & Brand, L.L.P.

Richard S. Schoenfeld Stevens & Brand, L.L.P.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “PROTECT YOUR FAMILY IN A FAMILY BUSINESS?” The obvious answer perhaps is to build a successful business that financially provides for yourself and your family, while living the “American Dream” of owning your own business. However, for anyone who has made the decision to go it on their own, the answer is much more in depth. Pressing issues often lie just beneath the surface after you or your spouse has made the decision to go into business for yourself. Deciding on how to structure your business as well as the operation of the business can be complex in the simplest of circumstances. The addition of family members to the business can add even more confusion and complexities to the structure.

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One of the first things to consider is whether you should form a separate legal structure to run your business. The foremost purpose in forming a separate legal structure, such as a limited liability company or for-profit corporation, in family businesses is to legally separate the owner’s business from their personal assets. If, for example, you elect to operate a family business as a sole proprietor or partnership and the business is subjected to a lawsuit, then, in addition to your

business assets, your home, cars and other personal assets could be at risk as well. Forming a limited liability company or corporation creates a “Corporate Veil” that helps establish a barrier between your personal and business assets. In the event of a legal proceeding, the corporate veil makes it more difficult for a plaintiff to reach your personal assets. The selection of an appropriate business entity is a matter to be discussed with your attorney and tax professional.

IDENTIFY CLEAR ROLES Another difficulty encountered in running a family business is establishing the roles of the members in that business. Failure to clearly identify roles of the individuals and members in the business can create chaos, confusion and hard feelings that may lead to a failed business. If at the onset of your business you elected to form a limited liability company or corporation, then the

operating agreement and/or the bylaws can be drafted to more clearly identify the roles that the family members have agreed upon and envisioned prior to engaging in the business. In addition to providing a better structure for the operation of the business, this identification of roles can become crucial in the event of a separation, divorce, or even death of a family member in the business.

CREATE A SUCCESSION PLAN planning. But for family-owned Several other considerations businesses, estate planning can must be taken into account if the business is successful and on-going, become even more crucial to provide for proper succession such as: planning from one generation to the next. Business succession, family 1) Is there an “exit strategy” harmony, and treatment of children or “succession plan” when that are (or are not) involved in the the primary operator/ daily aspects of the business are owner retires? all important matters to address. 2) What would happen if Ideally, a comprehensive plan will the primary operator of describe in detail how ownership the business becomes is to be divided and how business disabled? affairs are to be handled when 3) What is the fate of an owner passes away. Estate the business if the planning is a key component of owner passes away family business plans. With the unexpectedly? proper preparation and oversight, Most of us understand the need it is possible to avoid an array of for proper succession and estate potential pitfalls.

DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE FAMILY BUSINESS PLAN Family-owned businesses have their own unique dynamics and history that few (if anyone!) outside of the family will fully understand. A comprehensive business plan makes it easier for the family business to transition from one generation to the next. This type of plan will include organizational documents, like an operating agreement, articles, bylaws, etc. It may also include buy-sell agreements, transfer restrictions, and even key-man life insurance. These documents should integrate seamlessly with the elder’s estate planning documents, such as a revocable or irrevocable trust, life insurance trust, or last will. A business succession and estate plan should also look at taxation issues as well. It will take some time to develop a truly comprehensive family business plan that

secures both business transition and your estate planning goals. This type of plan should take into consideration how active or inactive members of the family will be treated, if there are substantial non-business assets that may be left to non-active members, and ultimately how the elders feel about “fair” versus “equal.” Often elders will provide family members with an opportunity to contribute to the discussion and request feedback from all family members involved in the business. As the adage goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” While the unexpected will nevertheless come up, taking the time to develop a business succession plan as part of your overall estate plan will hopefully result in a smoother process with the increased changes of continued business success and family harmony.

There are many considerations from the onset of the decision to become a business owner, ranging from the decision to form a legal entity until the last days when the business is transferred to the next generation, or if the business is faced with dealing with an unexpected tragedy. In light of this, it is essential that you consult with your attorney and tax professional to create the best plan possible for you and your family in both protecting your assets and providing for a long, rewarding and successful business life. TK

Denise L. McNabb is an attorney practicing in the areas of trust and estate planning, elder law, long-term care planning, probate and has significant experience with small businesses, including business formation, contracts, and negotiations. Richard S. Schoenfeld maintains a general practice with a focus in the areas of real estate law, commercial leasing, corporate law, and entity formation including general business operations and disputes, landlord and tenant law, business succession and estate planning.

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Mompreneurism By KIM GRONNIGER Photos by JOHN BURNS

Mompreneurism is more commonplace as women establish businesses that satisfy their career aspirations and provide space for a flexible, fulfilling family life too. With courage, commitment and ingenuity, five local moms have turned serendipitous moments into transformative employment solutions for professional and personal growth.

50 Ariel Unselt PG

54 Holly Cobb & Jennifer Harader PG

60 Allison Malmstrom & Lisa Anderson PG

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Decor, Furniture, Home Fragrances Gifts & Custom Faux Florals

Fairlawn Plaza Shopping Center 2131 SW Fairlawn Plaza Drive Topeka, Kansas 66614

reddoorhomestore.com 785.250.7720

Your Story. Our Purpose. Townsite Plaza 3 120 SE 6th Ave, Suite 110 Topeka, KS 66603

endeavorpw.com 785.329.2510 MAY/JUNE 2022

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Photo by JOHN BURNS

Mompreneur: Ariel Unselt

Chinell’s by Ariel Floral and Event Design | Rogue 50

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Ariel Unselt made a life choice to leave the corporate world in order to put her family first even though buying a work-from-home floral business from a friend was daunting and challenging.

Ariel Unselt’s career made it difficult for her to pick up her kindergartner at the bus stop whenever her husband had to work overtime shifts. “I was having a hard time in the corporate world putting my family first and I knew I had to rethink the situation,” she said, “especially when I was pregnant with my second child.” When her friend, Chris Page, pursued a real estate career and slowed down her floral business, Unselt was intrigued by the chance to work from home. She asked Page to teach her how to make floral arrangements, and in October 2017 Unselt bought the business from Page. When she quit her job to focus on Chinell’s by Ariel Floral and Event Design full time, the initial financial hurdles were daunting, but seasonal work at a bakery provided Unselt additional security as she transitioned from paid professional to fledgling entrepreneur. Unselt and Page created an arrangement through which Page would keep her current clients and Unselt would handle any new ones. Unselt handled floral arrangements and other services for about 30 weddings in 2018. By the end of 2021, that number had risen to more than 70 events. Unselt loves interacting with clients about their ideas, creating design boards and executing their wishes. One of her favorite events was a 2020 wedding for which a bride envisioned elevated centerpieces, overhead installations, and other high-impact elements she considered priorities for orchestrating her special occasion. “It could not have gone better,” said Unselt. “She was so happy and we were, too, because it

Photo by JOHN BURNS

was the biggest proposal we’d handled. The bride still makes social media posts about how much she loved everything.” In May 2020, Unselt expanded the business to include The Rogue Florist. “With the pandemic, we needed to be creative in a different way,” she said. “No one was hosting weddings so we needed to be a resource for birthday, anniversary and just-because bouquets. We marketed The Rogue Florist through social media and picked up clients.” In September 2021, Unselt purchased Studio in the North Topeka Arts & Entertainment District (NOTO) to provide space for small events as a complement to floral services. Rebranded as Rogue, the business’s tagline is “Exceptional Events and Experiences Empowered by Flowers.”

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In 2021, Ariel Unselt purchased a space in North Topeka Arts & Entertainment district (NOTO) to be able to provide a venue for small events.

Photo by JOHN BURNS

Unselt credits her supportive small business network with helping her succeed. “There are so many powerhouse people to link arms with here,” she said. “In my previous job, I used to roll my chair over to the next cubicle if I needed help, but when you’re working by yourself and making decisions, it’s empowering to visit with others encountering some of the same things, even if they’re competitors. We have to lift each other up and do this together.” As a small business owner, Unselt appreciates the opportunity to focus on her flair for floral design and forging partnerships that make her business thrive while delegating tasks she’s not as skilled at to others who are. “We put so much pressure on ourselves to get better at things we’re not good at and it’s 100 percent okay to rely on other people,” she said. “We don’t have to be good at it all.” In addition to the satisfaction Unselt derives from customers pleased with their arrangements and event results, Unselt also values the flexibility she’s been able to achieve with team members she counts on, especially since her youngest child’s recent ADHD diagnosis. “God has a plan,” she said. “I have to lean into this diagnosis and know that it’s okay to be a mom first while my team takes the reins of the business when I need to step away. I knew starting out in 2017 that flexibility was important to me, but I didn’t know just how necessary it was going to be for my family.” For others looking for encouragement in forging more harmony between work and family, Unselt stresses the need for persistence, dedication, and an ability to see failure as an opportunity for improvement. “A lot of people have a roses and candy canes view about owning a business and often comment that entrepreneurs must have tons of money, but most have never been more broke,” said Unselt. “At the same time, I don’t feel like I knew who I was until I owned this business. I have a quote on my vision board that keeps me pushing: ‘Don’t wait for other people to light your fire. You have your own matches.’”

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Congratulations to Jake Holly, Topeka Bar Association’s Outstanding Young Lawyer

JAKE G. HOLLY jholly@foulston.com 785.354.9401

Attorney Jake Holly joined Foulston Siefkin LLP in March 2020 to focus on business and corporate law, real estate, and estate planning. He followed his undergraduate degree from Washburn with a juris doctor from Washburn School of Law. Jake is past president of the Topeka Bar Association Young Lawyers section, a member of Forge Young Professionals, and at-large associate representative for the Sam A. Crow American Inn of Court. He’s also a member of the Kansas and American Bar Association. Jake, we congratulate you on your commitment to your community and the legal profession. Thank you for supporting Topeka’s growth and success through your contributions and leadership.

FOULSTON.COM MAY/JUNE 2022

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Mompreneurs:

Holly Cobb, NP Photo by JOHN BURNS

Photo by JOHN BURNS

Jennifer Harader, MD

Oasis Family Medicine Associates LLC 54

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Holly Cobb, NP, and Jennifer Harader, MD, share that their direct care model at Oasis Family Medicine Associates LLC, has served them, their patients and their families well.

Photo by JOHN BURNS

Holly Cobb, NP, worked as a bedside nurse for several years while raising a family and studying to become a nurse practitioner. During graduate classes at Washburn University, Cobb became captivated by a direct care model and completed her capstone project on the topic. “I was good at my job and had lots of ideas, but it’s easy to get beat down in a bureaucratic system,” said Cobb. “I got to a point where I felt stagnant and believed I was ready to pursue a direct care solution.” She approached her neighbor, Jennifer Harader, MD, with the concept. Harader, a mother of two small children at the time, was receptive but needed time to consider. “I was working very hard to advance my career and choosing family time where I could while trying to meet lots of expectations as part of a large system,” Harader said. “I needed a different way to practice medicine and that backyard conversation between neighbors is how mompreneurs get it done.” “When Jenn came back a couple of months later and said let’s do it, I had just accepted a new position that I was reluctant to back out on,” said Cobb. “We each ponied up a fair amount of change and decided that she would get her patient panel put together first and six months later I would follow suit.” Patients of Oasis Family Medicine Associates LLC pay a monthly membership fee not covered by insurance, which provides them access to primary and urgent care 24/7. Across two locations, Oasis employs three nurse practitioners and four nurses, all of whom are moms too. Oasis provides health care for Advisors Excel employees and more than 25 small businesses in the capital city.

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“We listen to our patients’ concerns and discover cues that can help us diagnose what they need,” said Cobb. “If they need a scan or procedure that their insurance won’t pay for, we can still accommodate that service through our cash-pay model and not jump through insurance hoops.” Harader, a family medicine physician, appreciates the freedom to treat patients without administrative constraints and the flexibility to participate more fully in family activities and school events like holiday parties and field days. “In my previous practice, my schedule was full far in advance, so if I wanted to attend a school program I couldn’t because it would require rescheduling patients six to nine months later,” she said. “Now

if something comes up that I want to participate in with my kids, I can ask my patients if I can move their appointments to a different time that same day or week. They understand that we are more than health care professionals.” Harader has also discovered that although she and Cobb continue to work hard and put in long days, the arrangement allows her to not only say yes to more opportunities with her kids but also to research best practices for primary care. “I can take on a school project or help with other activities because I have energy now where once I was just exhausted,” she said. “Holly and I can also spend more time researching options for patients and learning about new procedures.”

Cobb had two children in college and one in high school when Oasis opened in 2015. In the early years, Cobb’s daughter did data entry work, and her son broke down boxes and hauled items away. “My kids understood that this was a big deal for me and asked a lot of business-oriented questions when I first shared the plan,” said Cobb. “Some people, including my husband, thought we were crazy, but now my husband, Alan, talks about the business all the time, and Jenn’s husband, Matt, is a huge cheerleader too.” The growth of the clinic demonstrated to Cobb and Harader a need in the community for the model of medical care they provide. “It’s been so gratifying to see patients willing to take a chance on a

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Patients of Oasis Family Medicine Associates LLC pay a monthly membership fee not covered by insurance, which provides them access to primary and urgent care 24/7.

Photo by JOHN BURNS

model they were unfamiliar with and see success,” said Cobb. “We’ve been able to be flexible and right the ship when we needed to. Best of all, we can always take as much time as we need with our patients.” Harader’s husband handles the clinic’s finances, and their collaboration has inspired Harader’s oldest son to become a small business owner too. “We were rebels in stepping outside the norm and that creative decision has served us, our patients and our families well,” said Harader. For others yearning to be their own boss, Cobb said, “Do your homework and get your champions. If as you’re telling people about your idea, they consistently get that lightbulb moment of understanding, get a great partner and your supporters and do it! If not, then back off a bit and reassess.” Commitment is also a critical component of entrepreneurship. “When you own a business, everyone gets paid before you, but that downside is also a powerful part of the motivation to see your company grow,” Cobb said. “Your business is like nurturing another kid.” For Cobb, being a mother has been good training for her entrepreneurial role. “You tell your kids to be honest, be kind, put your best foot forward, stand up for yourself and be respectful,” she said. “Being a mother is a good primer for running a business. The responsibilities overlap in a lot of ways.”

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Mompreneurs: Allison Malmstrom

Photo by JOHN BURNS

& Lisa Anderson

Footlights 60

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Dance moms, Allison Malmstrom and Lisa Anderson, began their mompreneur adventure in order to provide a store where dancers could try on items before buying them rather than ordering online and hoping the outfits fit.

Allison Malmstrom and Lisa Anderson spent a lot of time traveling with their daughters to competitive dance events all over the country and seeking outfits that would help the girls stand out at conventions. Many apparel options were only available online and sizes varied so much that the two friends, frustrated by the hassle of returning items, fantasized about owning a store where dancers could try on items before buying them. When they began considering the business venture, Malmstrom, a mother of two, had retired from a trade association and had worked at Ash Boutique occasionally, while Anderson, the mother of four daughters, stayed home full time. “With my youngest about to enter school, my husband, Jared, said he couldn’t see me being home all day and asked me what was holding me back from pursuing this idea,” said Anderson. “He and Allison’s husband, Matt, couldn’t be better supporters.” Footlights, a family-owned business in Topeka, had been providing dance shoes, apparel, and accessories to customers for more than 30 years. Anderson stopped by the store to inquire. “The owner asked me how she could help me, and I asked her how we could help her by buying the store,” said Anderson. “Allison and I saw the potential to take an established business farther and we were encouraged by the responses we got from friends and others in the dance community.” They purchased the business in October 2019 and began providing dancers in various “Nutcracker”

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Photo by JOHN BURNS

productions with supplies. In February 2020, in anticipation of spring recitals, they ordered hundreds of pairs of ballet, jazz and tap shoes, an ordinarily prudent business decision pre-pandemic but a misstep when Covid shut everything down mid-March. “We had so much inventory that we had to stack shoeboxes in dressing rooms,” recalled Malmstrom. “We didn’t know what was going to happen but we knew we had to hustle.” The business partners began making videos of themselves and their kids wearing the merchandise to build awareness on social media platforms. “Studios began conducting virtual classes, so customers still needed things,” said Anderson. “We strengthened our online presence and dropped ordered items on doorsteps for local customers. We wanted them to know we were there to support them however we could.” Footlights caters not only to the dance community but also to individuals of all ages interested in the performing arts, whether it’s someone taking a ballet,

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Footlights not only serves the dance community, but also to individuals of all ages interested in the performing arts.

Photo by JOHN BURNS

ballroom, jazz or tap-dancing class, or acting in a Topeka Civic Theatre production. “Many older people are returning to dance because they remember how much they enjoyed it before or because they want to try new things, especially since Covid reminded everyone how short life is,” said Malmstrom. Through trial and error, Anderson and Malmstrom created an event calendar and streamlined inventory to help accommodate seasonal spikes. “We haven’t experienced a normal season yet,” said Malmstrom. “Some families have opted to keep their kids out of dance temporarily and some studios have reduced class sizes. We’re learning to pivot and navigate and roll through it all with a smile on our faces.” Referring to their partnership as a yin/yang relationship, Malmstrom said each woman brings strengths to the business, which has become not only a statewide resource for dancers but a popular online site with customers from coast to coast. The store offers an array of items at various price points and apparel from vendors the partners admire. Anderson said she and Malmstrom strive to attend local events to watch their customers perform and “see a little piece of the magic as they do what they love.” As a stay-at-home mom, she said she’s worn many hats but adding business owner as one has given her kids a sense of pride in what she’s accomplished. “They like to model items and be part of the business because they know how important it is to me and Allison,” said Anderson. The two partners employ a couple of other people who can assist them when they can’t be available and take advantage of their flexibility when family commitments take priority. “My daughter had a sixth-grade promotion ceremony and Allison’s son was graduating from the eighth grade, so we closed the store,” said Anderson. “Most of our customers have families too and are respectful of our needs.” “Finding balance between business and family responsibilities is so important,” said Malmstrom. “Don’t discount your dreams because sometimes opportunities just present themselves. If we’d never tried this, we would never have known that we could do it.” Anderson agrees. “The owner I approached that day could have told me no, but taking that first step and asking the question has led us to this amazing experience.” TK

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Barbecue master Mike Babb finds his sweet spot as the new owner of Paradise Donuts. By SAMANTHA EGAN Photos by JOHN BURNS

FROM

SPICE RUBS TO

SPRINKLES! Photo by JOHN BURNS

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What does a barbecue guy know about selling donuts? Since purchasing Paradise Donuts in March 2021, Mike Babb has used the skills he gained from 20 years of running restaurants to grow the beloved Topeka donut shop. In just over a year, Babb has increased traffic, grown sales, and opened a second location in Southwest Topeka. Babb makes it look easy, but he’s quick to admit that his business savvy has been honed from multiple experiences in the restaurant industry. Using failures, trials and triumphs as his teachers, Babb has continued to get back in the business game, making each of his ventures more successful than the last—and he’d love nothing more than for others to learn from his journey.

WHEN A HOBBY BECOMES A HUSTLE Back in the late 1990s, Babb and his brothers shared a passion for smoking meats. Babb did catering on the side for years until one rave review changed his life. After coming back three times in one afternoon for ribs, one customer became an investor who helped Babb turn his hobby into a business. Babb Brothers BBQ opened in Topeka in 1999. While the restaurant was always busy, Babb wasn’t making money. “I knew I could cook, but I didn’t know a damn thing about business,” Babb said. “There’s more to having a great restaurant than having the best product.” After a year and a half, Babb closed the business. Years later, Babb was living in Dallas, Texas, and was working as an athletic director and basketball coach. But the kitchen still called to Babb, and he continued to cater for friends on the side. Once again, Babb’s food earned rave reviews, and a friend encouraged him to take another turn at running a business. Babb opened Babb Brothers BBQ, thanks to a group of Dallas entrepreneurs looking to invest in aspiring restaurant owners. But this time, he did things differently. While the quality of his food spoke for itself, Babb knew he needed something special to draw in customers. So, he took his barbecue concept and added a blues club. “There’s barbecue on every street corner in Texas,” said Babb. “I learned you have to figure out how you’re going to stand out.” Dedicated to giving customers what they wanted, Babb was constantly in the restaurant. Noticing people brought their kids, he scheduled live blues shows earlier in the evening, so even families could have a night out.

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Donut making begins at 10 each night to ensure there are fresh donuts when Paradise Donuts opens at 6 in the morning.

Babb ran the restaurant for six years until he got a call from a friend in Topeka who offered him an opportunity to help be a part of the downtown revitalization. Excited to be part of it, he packed up to seize the opportunity. DOWN-HOME COOKING BACK HOME After working for other friends’ projects in Topeka, Babb soon got the opportunity to start his own venture once again in the space previously occupied by Next Gen Chophouse in Maple Hill. While he knew barbecue would be part of his concept, Babb wanted to find out exactly what the community wanted. So, he went around and asked them. “We as entrepreneurs can have our own ideas about what we think is going to work,” Babb said. “But until you talk to people, you don’t know what will get them to come out.” Learning that residents were craving a local hangout, Babb opened Flint Hills Smokehouse, a casual restaurant that served up down-home cooking and plenty of light beer. The timing wasn’t just ripe for casual dining. Opening amid

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the national riots and protests that followed the death of George Floyd, Babb knew that as one of the few African Americans in the area, he had an opportunity to use Flint Hills Smokehouse as a platform. “Through my restaurant, the community could see another side of the racial tensions,” said Babb. “They saw me as someone who lives in the community who was bringing something different—and they accepted that.” While Flint Hills Smokehouse became a social meeting place, Babb still wasn’t making enough to earn a living. So, when Babb’s friend, the former owner of Paradise Donuts, tried to convince him to take over the business, Babb was intrigued. After researching donuts and learning how to make them, Babb decided to purchase the business. AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SOME DOUGH At first, Babb ran both businesses. But keeping up two places that operate at opposite hours meant sleep became a leisure activity for Babb. He would go make donuts at 10 o’clock each night, then help behind the counter when

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doors opened at 6 in the morning. Then, a few hours later, he’d head back to Maple Hill to work in the restaurant. After a month, Babb had enough. To be the hands-on owner he wanted to be, he had to choose where to put his focus. Seeing potential in Paradise Donuts, he closed Flint Hill Smokehouse. “I needed to do something for my own wellbeing and take an opportunity to make money,” said Babb. “Paradise Donuts is the first time in any of these concepts I’ve ever done something for myself.” Since purchasing the shop, Babb has fallen in love with the art of making donuts. “It’s way out of my comfort zone, but I truly enjoy being here at night and seeing people happy the next morning,” said Babb. “When people come into a donut shop, most of the time they’re happy.” In just over a year of taking over the business, Babb has seen traffic increase along with sales. “There’s an excitement about Paradise Donuts,” Babb said. “People want to support the local guy.” SUCCESS THAT GIVES BACK After learning from investors and partners for over two decades, Babb wants to help other aspiring entrepreneurs follow their dreams. “I’ve been given great opportunities,” said Babb. “I want to help someone who wants to be an entrepreneur by showing them the good parts and the bad parts.” Babb also feels a responsibility to support other local businesses in Topeka. “I wish more entrepreneurs would know that it’s OK to support the next guy, even if he’s doing the same thing you are,” Babb said. “It’s better for everybody.” So, is Babb done with barbecue? Maybe not. The new Paradise Donuts location happens to have a kitchen, and Babb has thought about serving barbecue lunch. After all, the call of an entrepreneur never dies. TK

Momentum “When I look around Topeka, I see the impact the Momentum strategy has had” said Matt Pivarnik, CEO of the Greater Topeka Partnership. “The impact has been felt across our community from a new Walmart Distribution Center in the South, to revitalized shopping in the West, a thriving arts district in the North and Washburn Tech offering new learning opportunities in the East. This truly has been a strategy intended for all Topekans.”

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FROM THE PROFESSOR

Inflation Is Only One of the Flations You Should Be Concerned About As a Consumer By DR. DAVID PRICE Inflation, or a sustained rise in prices, has been increasing dramatically over the past year. Prices have been going up at their fastest rate since the early 1980s, rising 7.9% in February and 6.4% over the last 12 months. Driven by supply chain disruptions, labor shortages and consumer demand after the pandemic, most of us started to feel the pinch of increased prices immediately. This economic squeeze often leads to a reduction in consumer spending, and that can be bad for firms and the economy. Companies face their own rising prices, such as costs passed on from suppliers, transportation expenses or increased wages. Many firms are still feeling the effects of the pandemic where sales deteriorated (e.g.

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retail, travel) and consumers were finding alternatives (e.g. home entertainment). Being competitive in this environment has been difficult, and while firms want or need to pass along costs, they are concerned that increasingly fickle and pricesensitive consumers won’t pay for it. Therefore, companies are searching for other ways to remain profitable. One method firms use against inflation and pricesensitive consumers is to keep prices at a similar level, but reduce other component parts of the product that are not as noticeable. These are the other “flations” that creep up on us and we often don’t know it’s happening. These are: Hideflation, Shrinkflation, and Skimpflation.

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HIDEFLATION

Normally termed hidden inflation, this type of inflation occurs in the form of hidden fees and surcharges that are not always obvious and are not included in the advertised price. This flation hit a high at the start of the pandemic, with businesses such as restaurants including “Covid-19 fees” due to their extra costs, up to 20-30% in some large cities. Recently I was booking an international airline flight and was charged for a “seat booking” which apparently is a cost to reserve your seat (I thought I was doing that?). This additional amount was between $25$60 per seat, for each of the four connecting flights. There was an extra $200 for a second bag (each way, with strict size and weight limits), and a fee for using a credit card (how else does a person pay for a flight?). These hidden fees have also been called “junk fees” and in the case of airlines the Department of Transportation is investigating the issue. The hotel industry has increased hidden fees (e.g. resort fees, cleaning fees) and in the financial sector the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is looking at some of the exorbitant late or overdraft fees charged. For consumers, this can be confusing and frustrating, and several watchdog groups and government agencies feel that by not providing price transparency it hurts consumers in making informed choices.

SHRINKFLATION

Shrinkflation is the process of items being reduced in size or quantity while prices remain the same or even increase. It is commonly found with food, beverages, and disposable products with high turnover. For example, consumers may find less sheets in a roll of paper towels, less pet food in a can or an ounce less cereal in a box. While shoppers may be price sensitive, they may not notice subtle changes in packaging, or read the fine print on the size or weight of a product. The result is consumers getting less for the same price. Also called package downsizing, it has been a strategy common in marketing, but it gained momentum during the pandemic and now with inflation. For shoppers to truly know how much product they are getting, they should look at the unit price. Research in this area suggests that we don’t usually look at unit prices, even though they have been legally required since the 1970s (although this varies by state). Examples of shrinkflation abound, one study in the UK found that nearly 3000 food products found in a typical grocery store have shrunk since 2012. Recent examples include Hershey, that used unusual package sizes like 8.94 ounces for a bag of assorted chocolates. Frito-Lay reduced the amount of chips in Doritos bags, from 9.75 ounces to 9.25 ounces, or about five fewer chips. Crest toothpaste shrank from 4.1 ounces to a 3.8 ounces tube, and Charmin’s mega rolls shrank from 264 double-ply sheets per roll to 244. Sometimes shrinkflation can be hidden and promoted as something else, like when Bounty switched to smaller paper towels but suggested the reason was, they are now more absorbent. Gatorade adopted a new bottle design, that downsized in volume from 32 ounces to 28 ounces, saying the bottle is better for consumers because “it’s more aerodynamic and easier to grab.” However, it makes one suspicious of the true motives. Shrinking or downsizing a package in the United States is legal, and often the empty space in a package that we may lament as ‘paying for air’ serves a purpose. For example, in a bag of chips the air has shipping and handling benefits so the chips don’t break, or a bottle might need additional space for machinery to insert and fill it. Bottom line, if a package is clearly marked, even if it holds less than it did before, it is the responsibility of the consumer to do the math. However, companies can face legal and consumer backlash over some of these decisions. McCormick paid $2.5 million in 2021 to resolve claims when they sold less black pepper in the samesized cans. Mondelez famously faced legal action in 2017 when they put more space between the peaks of their Toblerone candy bars, they then reverted to their original version.

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FROM THE PROFESSOR

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These additional reductions in value are part of the reason inflation bothers us so much, it’s not just prices, it’s the less obvious shortages and frustrations that are part of the problem. When we take into account these additional methods firms use to save money, I think inflation is much worse than we realize. If the labor shortage and supply chain issues are rectified, it will be interesting to see if firms respond by increasing service, reducing fees or even reducing prices. However, it is much easier to eliminate fees than to lower prices, as higher prices are often “sticky” meaning that it is unlikely they will re-adjust down, even if market forces warrant the adjustment. Of course, there is no obligation for companies to keep their products and services the same size or quality, and there is no obligation for shoppers to buy them. Perhaps the best thing a firm can do is to communicate openly with consumers when changes have been made, at least that way we know it’s happening. TK

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This type of flation is often termed “shadow inflation” and differs from the previous two as it focuses on a reduction in services or service quality. Examples can include longer lines or wait times, less employees, less menu options or less included, poorly stocked vending machines or condiment sections in restaurants. Hotels may not have daily cleaning services, or perhaps the “included breakfasts” only have a few boxes of cereal on a table. Augmented services are part of the product we purchase when we buy the actual or primary product. For example, when buying a car, the car is the actual product, but other additional services may sway our purchasing decision, such as warranty, financing, after sale service, and so on. The same holds true with services such as flights, where we normally expect other services, for example smooth and efficient ticketing, meals, drinks, in-flight entertainment, clean seats, etc. It is these additional augmented services that are often sacrificed when firms feel inflationary pressures. A recent flight I took last year was cancelled 30 minutes prior to departure, no employees were available, the lone customer service desk was overwhelmed, and no answer on the toll-free line. Even weeks after the flight, I attempted to reach the customer service department digitally and was given a “we can’t help you right now” message. I had no recourse with any of the touchpoints within the company. Recently while grocery shopping, we wanted to know the price of an unmarked item and could not find an employee, after a search to find a bar scanner, we noticed it had been removed and we’re now required to download an app to find the price. Most of these service reductions are not being measured when calculating inflation. There are attempts to track the changes in the physical product quality, known as hedonic adjustment, such as the value a backup camera adds to a car. But changes in service quality and especially augmented services are ambiguous and hard to measure. One person’s interpretation of quality enhancement is another’s decline, such as the self-checkout at a grocery store. Is this a valuable private and time-saving feature, or is it a loss of personal touch and additional work for the customer?

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SKIMPFLATION

Dr. David Price is an Associate Professor of Marketing at Washburn University School of Business.

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TOPEKA’S PREMIER CAR WASH For 35 years, EAGLE AUTO WASH has served the community with professional car washing and detailing services. EAGLE offers an UNLIMITED WASH PASS, so you can have your vehicle washed as often as you want, starting at a low monthly price of $18.95 or $189.50 per year. Signing up for an UNLIMITED WASH PASS gives your vehicle the ongoing attention it needs to stay clean and protected, which helps to maintain its value. EAGLE also offers car washes priced as low as $7.95 every day. Every wash at EAGLE comes with an underbody flush, towel-drying, 24-hour rain/ snow check, and guaranteed clean. www.eagleautowash.com 785-272-2886

MUCH MORE THAN A MEAT SHOP Leonard Meat is a family-owned business established in 1951 as a wholesale meat company serving over 50 local Topeka restaurants and schools. Recently Leonard Meat ventured into the retail market. As a family-owned and operated business, its goal is to provide customers with quality products at a reasonable price. Leonard Meat is much more than a meat shop… with pies, spices, pickles, appetizers, and more! Whether you’re craving Honey Barbecue, Ghost Pepper, Cheddar, or Teriyaki, you’re sure to find your favorite snack stick at Leonard Meat as well as hamburger by the pound, chophouse steak, marinated chicken, bacon, pork, 9 flavors of sausage, and the one-of-akind hamburger with bacon. Leonard Meat is conveniently located in the downtown Topeka area at 105 NE Quincy on the corner of 1st & Quincy, just east of the Kansas Lottery. Open: Monday through Friday 8am-5pm and Saturday 8am-1pm. www.leonardmeat.com 785-409-5292

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DOWNTOWN TOPEKA FARMERS MARKET Photo by JOHN BURNS

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FRESH. TASTY. LOCAL. By ERIC SMITH Photos by JOHN BURNS

The freshest produce. The tastiest baked goods. Plants galore. Locally sourced meats and eggs. Handcrafted quilts, candles, wooden toys and the like. Tons of other community-created concoctions. All in a family-friendly atmosphere. Name the place in Topeka you can find all of those items? That’s right. It’s the farmers market! We’ve hit one of the most glorious times of year for Topekans who like to support local business folk and enjoy the literal fruits of the greater capital city area. And this spring, summer and fall, Topeka has a few options for your enjoyment, including the brandnew Breadbasket Farmers Market and the nearly 100-year-old Downtown Topeka Farmers Market. “My husband probably puts it the best way. He says it’s a high,” said Mary Tyler, Breadbasket market manager, in describing the farmers market. “I have never been high in my life, so I’m not quite sure what that means. But it’s very energizing. Our market is an amazing experience.” “The farmers market is one of the truly good, wholesome family things that people can get out and do,” said Barbee Szuwalski, Downtown market manager. “I love the friendliness and the consistency of the vendors. You know if you come one Saturday, and you get something you really like, more than likely you come back the next week, that same vendor is probably going to be there. We are out here, rain or shine. It’s been that way for decades.”

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BARBEE SZUWALSKI | Market Manager | Downtown Topeka Farmers Market Photo by JOHN BURNS

Downtown Topeka Farmers Market

The Downtown Topeka Farmers Market, a staple of the community every Saturday morning since the 1930s, has witnessed a few changes in 2022. Barbee Szuwalski, who has been with the market in various roles for close to 10 years, is in her first full year as market manager. The location of the market is back where it was previously, in the parking lot on the south side of the Kansas Judicial Branch building, 301 S.W. 10th, near S.W. 12th and Harrison. “The market holds a special place in a lot of people’s hearts,” Szuwalski said. “It’s just

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WE DO I.T. CLOUD • INFRASTRUCTURE • MANAGED IT • SECURITY nex-tech.com/business • MAY/JUNE 800.588.6649 2022 TK Business Magazine

Photo by JOHN BURNS

Vendor Dan Phifer sells local unfiltered honey at the long-running Downtown Topeka Farmers Market.

become a part of Saturdays in Topeka. For it to be downtown all this time, that’s something special.” The Downtown Farmers Market also began on April 2 this year and will go through Oct. 29. It’s open from 7:30 a.m. to noon every Saturday. Szuwalski estimated the market has 140 to 150 vendors on average, with about 3,000 people in attendance on a given Saturday. The market downtown also participates in Double Up Food Bucks and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, giving participants $25 and $35 in additional food for free, respectively. Szuwalski said she is very committed to continuing the tradition that the Downtown market has had while also making it bigger and better and bringing it up to speed to the 21st century.

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“The new people that are shopping today, they’re into the technology. That will allow us to reach new customers,” Szuwalski said. “Our goal is to make it more fun for families and make it more inclusive. I’m wanting to come up with ways that the younger kids will want to come and bring their parents. We hear all the time that kids are begging their parents to bring them to the market.” During the height of the pandemic, the Downtown market stayed open the entire time. Szuwalski said things were a little iffy at times, and they probably lost some elderly vendors who didn’t want to suscept themselves to exposure, but they were out there every Saturday, and for the most part, the market continues to grow. She said some vendors have left for other opportunities, but new people have joined. “It continues to be a very positive thing in the community,” she said. The Downtown market has an event committee working on new happenings for the year, and Szuwalski said they will continue to hold events like the corn feed, watermelon feed and children’s day. What’s one of Szuwalski’s favorite things at the Downtown market? “I have one vendor that I love to go to that has amazing baked goods, including jalapeno cheese bread, cookies and cinnamon rolls,” she said. “Going through the winter without their baked goods is like torture for me.”

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MARY TYLER | Market Manager | Breadbasket Farmers Market Photo by JOHN BURNS

Breadbasket Farmers Market

New to the city, the Breadbasket, 1901 S.W. Wanamaker, is in the parking lot at the end of Furniture Mall of Kansas. It was started by Mary Tyler, who is also one of dozens of vendors at the southwest Topeka location. Tyler was a vendor at the Downtown Topeka Farmers Market for nine years and manager for three before starting the Breadbasket this year. The new weekly market occurs from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday until Nov. 19. “Am I excited? I am way, way excited,” Tyler said of her new creation. “I’m a people

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Photo by JOHN BURNS

Launched this spring, the Breadbasket Farmers Market features locally grown and crafted products at its weekly Saturday markets in southwest Topeka.

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person, and I like to serve. My family serves at church every Sunday. And I’m doing this as a service to the community—to the vendors and customers alike.” The Breadbasket features strictly locally grown and locally crafted products. Tyler, who also sells baked goods as part of her business, Kan You Say Oh Yum, said she hopes to have 150 vendors at the Breadbasket by the end of the farmers market season. The new market is planning several promotions for the year and also participates in Double Up Food Bucks and the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. For the Double Up Food Bucks, those participating in the Kansas food assistance program (Supplemental

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Nutrition Assistance Program) can use their Kansas EBT card and spend $25 on food items and then get an additional free $25 to use on food. And for the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, which is for low-income seniors, participants can spend $35 on food and get an additional $35 on food for free. The Breadbasket is also joining with Harvesters once a month to help raise donations for the food bank. “Our goal is to make it a very happy, family-friendly place,” Tyler said. “The energy that comes from being at a farmers market is awesome because they’re all local vendors. They’re excited about their product. And then the customer in return is excited about buying it and supporting their friends and family.”

Farmers Market Vendors

Janice Hollander, co-owner of Country Greenhouse, has been a long time vendor at the Downtown Topeka Farmers Market and plans to be selling at the Breadbasket this year too.

Photo by JOHN BURNS

Are you looking to taste Akaushi, a high-quality Japanese breed of beef? Trying to find a good gourmet or medicinal mushroom? Or are you itching for one of 20 different varieties of tomato or pepper, an ear of squirrel corn, some kohlrabi, or even some homemade dog treats or candies? There’s a local farmers market vendor for you. All of these things are homegrown in the Topeka area and can be found at either the Downtown or Breadbasket market.

Photo by JOHN BURNS

COUNTRY GREENHOUSE Janice and Dennis Hollander have been coming to the Downtown Farmers Market for about 25 years, as part of their Holton-based business, Country Greenhouse, 17080 246 Road. Their offerings include plants, planters, hanging baskets, garden decor, fertilizer, fresh veggies, eggs, squirrel corn, seeds, onion sets, seed potatoes, sprays, wood for smoking, candy, dog/cat treats, cut herbs and much more. “We just enjoy seeing all the people,” said Janice Hollander, who has had a green thumb her entire life. “We’ve been going so long we know a lot of the customers and vendors. We like the fellowship. It’s a good place to sell our product. In the country, there’s a lot of people that won’t come out on the gravel roads to buy at the greenhouse, so we take our stuff to the market, and we do real well.” Hollander said the farmers market has been very good to them over the years, and they plan to be at both the Breadbasket and Downtown locations this farmers market season. “I would say we sell probably half of what we sell is at the market and spring and fall festivals,” she said, adding they have six greenhouses with which they grow a lot of their products. “I just think it’s a good place to get homegrown vegetables that people can’t grow on their own. A lot of people don’t have the space to do a garden, or they don’t want to do it, or aren’t able.”

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Photo by JOHN BURNS

April Cummings, owner of April’s Mushroom Houzz, offers more than a dozen varieties of mushrooms.

Photo by JOHN BURNS

APRIL’S MUSHROOM HOUZZ Another vendor you can find this summer at both the Breadbasket and Downtown markets is April Cummings, of April’s Mushroom Houzz. Selling more than a dozen varieties of mushrooms—gourmet and medicinal—she offers blue oyster, golden oyster, pink oyster, Italian oyster, elm oyster, black pearl, king trumpet, lion’s mane, shiitake, maitake (hen of the woods), chestnut and reishi, among others. A relatively new business that started in 2019, Cummings said she started it after her husband passed away and used mushrooms as a means to get over the grief. A mom of four, her children, including twin 13-year-old sons, help her with the business. “I just like to be able to talk to people about my mushrooms,” Cummings said. “A lot of people are really interested in mushrooms.” Depending on the mushroom, the fungi offer several benefits, Cummings said, from everything to a vegan or shellfish substitute to a source for prevention, alleviation, or healing of multiple diseases. Growing from her farm in the Danbury neighborhood of west Topeka, the ex-mechanical engineer built her farm from nothing, learning initially from magazines and YouTube videos. She has even taken the initial steps to be an organically certified mushroom grower, she said. She also sells her mushrooms at the farmers market locations in the City Market and Brookside in Kansas City. Additionally, she sells to several restaurants, including the White Linen and Flavor Wagon food truck, and several more in Kansas City. “One of the reasons I go to the farmers market in Topeka,” Cummings said, “is because I don’t have a presence in Topeka.” Cummings said she is working with vendor Casey Jamison, who sells jams and relishes through a company called Got Damn!! Peppers & Jam.

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Photo by JOHN BURNS

Photo by JOHN BURNS Photo by JOHN BURNS

Offered at the Breadbasket Farmers Market a couple of Saturdays a month, Tim Bolz of Bolz Ranch, sells specialty beef called Akaushi with the help of his daughter, Alisha.

BOLZ RANCH If you’re more of a carnivore and you’re looking for a unique, homegrown Japanese beef, look no further than Bolz Ranch, 4990 S.W. 21st Street in Topeka. Offered at the Breadbasket Farmers Market a couple of Saturdays a month, Tim Bolz sells a specialty beef called Akaushi. “I think it’s a great opportunity for people to get a high-quality, healthier product at a reasonable price,” Bolz said, adding the Japanese breed of cattle only came to the U.S. in the 1990s. “No one has the unique type of beef we have. It’s so tender.” A chiropractor by day, Bolz has been in the cattle business his whole life. He said the beef his farm produces is all-natural, and they don’t use antibiotics or hormone injections. At the farmers market, Bolz has a trailer with five freezers full of meat. He indicated the past few years, the farmers market has been a substantial portion of their business, saying it funded quite a bit of the farming operation. Ground beef is the business’ top-selling item for quantity, he said, and people really like skirt steaks and ribeyes, as well as sirloins. He tells a story of people who would come and say his product was too expensive. Bolz said he’d give them a half-pound of hamburger or a small steak for free and say, “Just try it.” “They’d come back a few weeks later and say, ‘I gotta have more of that. Yea, I tried the other ones, but yours is so good, I’ve gotta come back,’” Bolz said. “And that’s what we’re depending on, our repeat customers and reputation that the meat is good and healthy.”

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Other Farmers Markets MONDAY FARMERS MARKET AT YOUR LIBRARY The Monday Farmers Market at Your Library is held 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. every Monday from May 9 to Oct. 3 at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library parking lot at S.W. 10th and Washburn. The market is closed Memorial Day, May 30; Independence Day, July 4; and Labor Day, Sept. 5. Topekans can shop high-quality, locally grown produce, farm-fresh eggs, baked goods, fresh-cut flowers and bedding plants. According to Bonnie Cuevas, TSCPL events coordinator, the market has been active at the library since 2009, and it serves the thousands of employees that work downtown. INDOOR FARMERS & MAKERS MARKET AT TOPEKA VENDORS MARKET The Indoor Farmers & Makers Market at Topeka Vendors Market is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the third Saturday of every month at 520 S.E. Adams in downtown. Tentative upcoming dates include May 21 and June 18. In addition to the dozens of Topeka Vendors Market vendors at 528 S.E. Adams, the farmers market features a mix of pop-up farmers and makers set up in the adjacent building (one block east of the Downtown Ramada). Bingo is also hosted on the third Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. WANT TO BE A VENDOR? Breadbasket Farmers Market breadbasketfarmersmarket.com (785) 438-8850 email breadbasketfarmersmarket@gmail.com Downtown Farmers Market topekafarmersmarket.com (785) 249-4704 email topekafarmersmarket@gmail.com. Monday Farmers Market at Your Library tscpl.org/services/monday-farmers-market (785) 580-4495 email meetings@tscpl.org. Indoor Farmers & Makers Market at Topeka Vendors Market topekavendorsmarket.com (785) 251-0944 email topekavendorsmarket@gmail.com.

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Photo by JOHN BURNS

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NuSound Hearing Center

HEAR HERE

By KATHY WEBBER Photos by JOHN BURNS

Over 30 million Americans suffer from some sort of hearing loss. Most people live with this loss of hearing for seven years before doing anything about it. This is mostly because health insurance usually does not cover the cost of a hearing device and they can be very expensive. Historically, hearing aid businesses operated with the primary goal of selling devices to help people hear better but not dealing with the other problems that come with hearing loss. Belinda Gonzales-Allan, hearing instrument specialist and owner of NuSound Hearing Center, is committed to easing the anxiety associated with hearing loss by providing service that focuses on the whole person, not just their ears. Gonzales-Allan didn’t set out with the career goal of being a hearing instrument specialist. In fact, she didn’t even know what that was until she attended a Baby Boomer Expo while working as a sales executive for Country Legends 106.9. During the event, Gonzales-Allan was tasked with assisting the businesses that had reserved booths at the expo. Out of the blue, a local businessman approached her and asked if she would be interested in joining his team and learning the trade of assisting those in need of hearing devices.

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Intrigued by the idea, Gonzales-Allan accepted his invitation, thus launching her on a career path she never expected. With the help of mentors in the hearing device industry, Gonzales-Allan earned a state license to be a Hearing Instrument Specialist. After working several years for someone else, Gonzales-Allan decided in 2011 it was time to start her own business and opened NuSound Hearing Center located at 5950 SW 28th St. “I had a real yearning to do it differently,” Gonzales-Allan said. “I believe no matter how much money you put into a hearing device, it can only be of help to you if you have the correct follow up care.” FAMILY MATTERS NuSound Hearing Center is a family-owned business and Gonzales-Allan considers each of her patients as family themselves. “That’s what makes us different, we like to be involved with the families,” Gonzales-Allan said. “That small device that we are putting in their ear, that they wrote a check for, or saved up so long for, is helping connect them to their spouse and to their kids and to the cashier at McDonald’s. It

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just makes life brighter and that is joyful. It’s what gets me up in the morning.” The care at NuSound Hearing Center does not end with the one-time purchase of a hearing device, Gonzales-Allan’s staff goes out of their way to make sure that their patients have continued care, with yearly checkups to assure that their hearing devices continue to work correctly. “We retest patients every year. Just like you get your eyes tested every year to see if you need a new prescription. I want to make sure patient’s devices have the right program or prescription downloaded in them. There are lots of people walking around with hearing devices that haven’t been retested in years, so they are not programmed as best they could be, and that makes me sad,” Gonzales-Allan said. When NuSound conducts a hearing test, those results are sent to the patient’s primary care physician because, according to Gonzales-Allan, hearing loss is often related to other health issues. “Hearing is about more than your ears. Working with your primary care physician helps monitor how your overall health and hearing systems are working together,” Gonzales-Allan said.

Belinda Gonzales-Allan, owner of NuSound Hearing Center, is committed to easing the anxiety associated with hearing loss by providing service that focuses on the whole person, not just their ears.

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SERVING MATTERS Since Gonzales-Allan had to build her patient base from scratch and relies heavily on continued marketing, when the pandemic hit, her business was greatly affected. “When I opened the business, I fully expected the first couple of years to be extremely difficult financially, but the most difficult times were these past two years. The pandemic just absolutely swept everything out from underneath us,” Gonzales-Allan said. “The way we marketed at home shows, farm shows, and garden shows just completely stopped because when you couldn’t have more than groups of 10 together, they just canceled everything. On top of that, they were telling everyone over the age of 65 to stay at home. It literally just crushed us.” Prior to the pandemic, NuSound Hearing Center had locations in Topeka, Holton and Wamego. While circumstances

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forced Gonzales-Allan to shut down the Wamego location, business is starting to pick up again and she feels good about the future. “It’s going to take us a while to get back to where we were, but it’s coming back. A lot of patients are finally at the point where they have accepted this [pandemic] is just something that we are all going to have to live with, so they might as well go live their lives. The phones are ringing now, and our events are back on,” Gonzales-Allan said. Every year NuSound Hearing Center held a patient appreciation banquet with entertainment, games and prizes for all to enjoy. After two years of not being able to have this celebration, NuSound Hearing Center is excited to finally be able to celebrate with patients once again. The yearly banquet isn’t the only way NuSound gives back. They also work to improve lives not only in the local community but also around the world through partnerships with Starkey Hearing Foundation and Military Veteran Project. “We give free hearing aids away every year and donate money to a global foundation that provides hearing aids to third world countries,” said Gonzales-Allan. “Many veterans

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Photo by JOHN BURNS

“Technology has changed and facilities like NuSound have changed the approach to helping with hearing loss.” —Belinda Gonzales-Allan Owner NuSound Hearing Center

experience hearing-related injuries while serving. To thank them for their selfless sacrifice for our country, we offer veteran discounts to not only service men and women but to their spouses or significant others as well.” HEARING MATTERS Gonzales-Allan recommends everyone over the age of 40 get their hearing checked on a yearly basis. Even if they aren’t experiencing hearing problems, it sets a baseline for future testing. “With hearing loss, so much depends on how quickly you address it,” Gonzales-Allan said. “Our brains can actually forget how to process certain sounds of speech if it goes long enough without the signal.” Truly a family business, all three of Gonzales-Allan’s adult

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children work at NuSound Hearing Center, including her son, Dr. Bryne Gonzales, Doctor of Audiology. The Topeka location is open five days a week, open late on Thursdays and one Saturday a month. The Holton location at 115 W 4th St. sees patients on Mondays and Thursdays. Gonzales-Allan is considering expanding farther North to make it convenient for more people to find the help they need. “People don’t have to feel anxious or scared or even old because they need hearing aids anymore. The technology has changed, and facilities like NuSound have changed the approach to helping with hearing loss,” Gonzales-Allan said. “If you want to hear better, make an appointment and start feeling like you are a part of your life again!” TK

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DTI president named 2022 International Downtown Association Fellow Rhiannon Friedman, president of Downtown Topeka Inc., was recently selected as a 2022 International Downtown Association Fellow, becoming one of only 30 urban-placemanagement professionals from across the country to take part in this year’s fellowship program.

Bergmann was previously a partner at the law firm of Frieden & Forbes, LLP for more than a decade. His private practice of law focused in the areas of administrative, business/corporate, education, gaming, governmental relations, labor, real estate, and workers compensation.

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Foley Equipment Announces New CPO Foley Equipment announced the addition of new Chief People Officer Erin Bradley. PHOTO SUBMITTED

Mammoth Hires Matthew Bergmann as General Counsel Mammoth Sports recently announced Matthew Bergmann has joined the company as general counsel and chief legal officer.

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GO Topeka president named one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers Consultant Connect, a leading international resource for economic developers and location consultants, has named GO Topeka president Molly Howey one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers.

Libby Rosen Named Dean at Baker School of Nursing Stormont Vail Health is a registered nurse in labor proud to recognize Libby and delivery, helped start Rosen, PhD, RN, as the the first freestanding birth Baker University School of center in Kansas before Nursing Dean on Stormont returning to Stormont Vail Vail’s campus. She was for work. Rosen has worked appointed as the Interim at Stormont Vail as a Dean in October of 2021 nurse in neonatal intensive and named the permanent care, labor and delivery, Dean on January 1, 2022. been a nurse supervisor, unit director, coordinator, Rosen’s nursing days and teacher of child and started at the Stormont parenting classes. She is Vail School of Nursing also part of the team who when she graduated in created and developed the the mid-1970s. After Breastfeeding Center at graduation she started as Stormont Vail.

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BUSINESS NEWS

“Our business has continued to grow and is showing no signs of slowing down,” explained President and CEO Ann Konecny. “As our workforce expands to meet that demand, it will be more important than ever to ensure we are living our mission of fostering a culture that attracts the very best so we deliver the very best. Erin will play a critical role in reinforcing that mission through our existing workforce and as we continue to hire new talent.”

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TK Business Magazine - May 2022 Issue

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Hear Here: NuSound Hearing Center

From the Professor

Glamping the Kansas Way