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The Jayhawk Area Council Boy Scouts of America honors “Topeka’s Top 20 Under 40” to recognize young professionals who are impacting the future of Topeka in a positive way.
International brands like Mars Wrigley and Walmart have chosen Topeka as a base for new facilities in addition to longtime area businesses primed for expansion, like Polo Custom Products.
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Three Topeka hospitality venues offer cozy destinations with creative food and drink selections in decorative spaces specifically designed for convivial gatherings.
Kurt Guth, president of American Tax Service, Inc. provides a brief to-do list for clients to focus on for tax time.
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Topeka-area companies, Ernest-Spencer, Fidelity State Bank & Trust Co., and MCP Group, are each looking back at how they’ve built a business to last and looking forward at what’s next.
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Jayme Burdiek of Washburn University School of Business gets to the core of leadership and management as she discusses the constant inundation of buzz words or buzz phrases on word value and understanding.
PUBLISHER & EDITOR Tara Dimick
CREATIVE DIRECTOR & DESIGNER Janet Faust
MANAGING PARTNER Braden Dimick & SALES DIRECTOR braden@tkmagazine.com
SALES Ally Oakes ally@tkmagazine.com
COVER PHOTOGRAPHER John Burns WRITERS Kim Gronniger Chris Marshall Kelly Potter Eric Smith
John Burns Braden Dimick Jennifer Goetz
Jayme Burdiek Kurt Guth
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.
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The Jayhawk Area Council Boy Scouts of America honors “Topeka’s Top 20 Under 40” to recognize young professionals who are impacting the future of Topeka in a positive way.
This year’s honorees serve, lead, give and inspire. Learn more about these 20 young leaders and what motivates them.
by KELLY POTTER and TARA DIMICK Photos by JOHN BURNS Written and compiledArtists and innovators are often visionaries, rethinking accepted norms while proposing ideas to reshape the future. As agents of change in the financial services industry, we didn’t set out to reshape the U.S. retirement space, but we ended up doing just that. By taking a fresh look at retirement, we introduced new products and services that challenged the status quo.
Coupled with extensive expertise in multiple wealth segments, our aim has always been to help dedicated financial professionals secure confident, comfortable retirements for their clients.
After 130 years, we are not running out of good ideas.
Along our journey, we’ve been inspired by so many artists and innovators striving to make a difference.
Security Benefit was a proud sponsor of the Brown vs Board mural in Topeka, Kansas.
Security Benefit products are available exclusively through independent financial professionals.
For more information about Security Benefit, visit SecurityBenefit.com.
What do you love about your work?
I love being a part of an organization that is filled with a driven workforce working towards our mission to maximize the unique sovereign status of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation to expand and diversify the economic portfolio of the Nation. With the ultimate goal of Tribal economic self-sufficiency, Prairie Band, LLC adheres to the following core principles: respect the past, capitalize on current opportunities and contribute to a stable economic future for the Nation. It is an important
Rockell Otero is the Financial Controller for Prairie Band, LLC. She also serves on the board for subsidiary company Mill Creek, LLC in a dual role as secretary and CFO. Most of Rockell's time is spent within the Contracting Division of PB, LLC where project management, business development, and strategy planning are the focus.
Rockell is treasurer for Junior League of Topeka, a member of Topeka United, a cluster coach for the Topeka Mosaic Partnership, and a graduate of Leadership Greater Topeka, Class of 2020.
Rockell and her husband coach recreational basketball where they focus on 5th grade boys and are working to build a basketball program that offers opportunity to all athletes without barriers.
mission that I take a lot of pride in working towards. The hard work we input, the profits we generate, the jobs we create, the taxes generated, all of this and more continue to build a strong economic portfolio for the Nation.
What do you do for fun?
Anything I can enjoy with my family. We go in a lot of different directions so when we can all be together and enjoying something, I am most at peace. We explore trails and parks, attend community events like First Friday or Eats
and Beats, and visit places like the Zoo and Discovery Center. At home we enjoy movie nights and cooking or baking together. We are all competitive and even though competition might end with someone crying or mad, we still love the challenge.
What is your most used emoji?
My most used emoji is the purple heart. Purple is my favorite color and I always add some love <3 to the end of my messages. Runner-ups are the eyeroll and annoyed face.
What's the best part of your work?
The best part about being a contract lobbyist is that every day is different and I am constantly learning, which is a perfect fit for me because curiosity and lifelong learning are some of my core values. Having a variety of clients in different fields means I must learn about several subject matter areas to successfully translate a client’s work and expertise into the policy process. I have learned so much, and continue to learn so much, from our clients’ expertise. It's exciting to turn that expertise into good policy. The added bonus is that I get to do this
Mallory Lutz serves as an Associate Lobbyist with Little Government Relations where she lobbies before the legislature, works directly with clients to develop policy priorities and coordinate legislative strategy, and facilitates lasting relationships with policymakers. She is responsible for developing comprehensive weekly and monthly legislative reports for the firm’s diverse group of clients and provides policy and strategy presentations for clients.
Mallory serves as co-chair of the Forge Young Professionals Leadership Committee and on the boards of the YWCA of Northeast Kansas, the Shawnee County Historical Society, and the Friends of the Free State Capitol. Mallory also serves on the First United Methodist Church Board of Trustees, where she is also a liturgist and substitute with the bell choir.
while working in the beautiful, historic Kansas Statehouse, where I’m building relationships with elected officials and fellow Kansans who care greatly about their communities and our great state.
How have you evolved in your career?
I’ve come a long way in learning to trust myself, my judgment, and my capabilities. It’s a daily challenge— working with people who are older, more experienced, and more established. As a young woman working in politics, I have to remind myself often that my voice and my presence matter too. My work and my
clients—and my livelihood—depend on that. I’ve come to realize I’m capable, confident, competent, and worthy of playing an important role in shaping policy in Kansas.
What do you think is the secret to a good life?
I think the secret to a good life is right here, all around us—in the embrace of a loved one; the everyday rhythms of nature; surrounding ourselves with people who accept us for who we are and who also challenge us to do great things.
Emmanuel “Manny” Herron is the founder of Infinite Properties Group LLC where he manages full-house renovations and minor projects, builds project scope, works estimates, manages subcontractors, and leads and develops his team.
Growing up in a single-parent home in one of the poorest counties in Kansas, Manny was born dead (literally for 20 minutes) and has been challenged by extreme odds. At 19, Manny spent over 10 years in federal prison for his first and only offense. While incarcerated, he learned to read when he was 21 and is now fluent in Spanish. Since his pardon by President Obama for outstanding rehabilitation in 2016, Manny has started and grown businesses that are adding jobs to the economy and dignified homes in Topeka.
A graduate of the Strategic Leadership Academy and recipient of the Greater Topeka Partnership Award of Excellence, Manny is a co-leader of a community group with Fellowship HiCrest, board member of GO Topeka and member of the Momentum 2027 Housing Task Force.
What led you to this career?
My mother was a single parent, and we rented most of our lives. We didn't always have the best landlords, though she always paid her rent on time and did a great job keeping the place up. However, when something broke, they wouldn't want to fix it. I found my mother being taken advantage of, which broke my heart. I knew one day I wanted to build houses and give them away to single mothers trying their best.
When I was 12, I mowed lawns for a guy who was a real estate investor. After
that, I no longer wanted to cut the lawns; I wanted to own them.
I've learned to become a better listener and question-asker. I'm comfortable with not having all the answers so I surround myself with the right people.
Slow and steady wins the race, but it can also cost you. I better understand how to recognize the path to take due to failures. I'm not afraid of mistakes or tension; I've learned it's best to seek them out before they find you. As a result, I believe I'm a
more grounded leader who leads through a lens of empowerment instead of dictatorship.
What advice do you wish someone had told you during your career journey?
Have a WHY bigger than your WHAT. If I had known that initially, I could've made more intentional long-term and short-term decisions. Now that I have a WHY, and it's bigger than the WHAT I do, I make value-based decisions that will move the organization with fewer losses and intentional gains.
Since 2016, Julie Phillips has served as Director of Grants for Communities in Schools (CIS) of Mid-America. Her focus is programming in Kansas and the Kansas City Metro area and funding the entire organization through grants. Julie assists other development team members with grants covering other communities, while leading CIS annual campaigns.
Julie is a Blue Badge member with Topeka South Rotary. She served as secretary for the Heartland BMS Board of Directors and is the president of the Whitson Elementary School PTO. Julie organizes and manages the FutureNow–Finance events at Highland Park, Topeka High and Topeka West to provide high school students the opportunity to manage expenses and balance a budget.
In 2022, Julie started a project to spread awareness about the effects of gun violence through the Say Their Names Rock Project. Julie has handpainted more than 500 names of people killed by gun violence on rocks still traveling throughout Topeka and the United States.
What word describes yourself?
Kind. That one word is the foundation of who I am and how try I approach everyone and everything in my life. I pride myself on being a kind person, and hope people feel that when interacting with me.
What is the most valuable lesson you have learned?
I have learned in life that there will always be people that don't like you. It doesn't mean anything is wrong with you or there is anything you need
Photo by JOHN BURNSto change about yourself. You won't be everyone's cup of tea and that's okay.
Whenever I find myself worried about fitting in or trying to dim my light to appease someone else, I remind myself of these words from Rebecca Campbell, "Don’t waste your precious time and gifts trying to convince them of your value, they won’t ever want what you’re selling. Don’t convince them to walk alongside you. You’ll be wasting both your time and theirs and will likely inflict unnecessary wounds, which will take precious time to heal. You are not for them and they are not for you; politely
wave them on and continue along your way. Sharing your path with someone is a sacred gift; don’t cheapen it by rolling yours in the wrong direction."
What do you do
I love finding unique places and trying new experiences. We travel a lot for BMX races, and I do my best to make the most of it. From an alligator farm in Louisiana to a vintage penny arcade in Colorado, I enjoy discovering what every community has to offer and making fun, one-of-a-kind memories with my family.
Sean Dixon is the President of Visit Topeka and oversees destination management and marketing for Topeka and Shawnee County. This includes an annual integrated marketing campaign designed to inspire overnight travel to the area, while also investing in local events and programs such as Topeka Dino Days, Topeka Music Week and Inclusive Topeka.
Under Sean’s leadership, the 2021 annual marketing generated more than 77,000 incremental trips to Topeka resulting in $33.5 million in travel-related spending. Topeka Dino Days set several records for visitation at the Topeka Zoo, Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, and the Downtown Tourist Information Center.
SUE: The T.rex experience attracted more than 17,000 visits to the Great Overland Station. Recently, Sean launched the new Topeka Area Sports Commission that will help build the future of Topeka as a sports destination.
Sean is one of two representatives from Kansas that serves on the United States Civil Rights Trail. He is a board member of the Travel Industry Association of Kansas Board, and a trustee for the Topeka Performing Arts Center.
I spent the first few years of my career in television broadcasting working in production and engineering. During this time, I put myself through graduate school and completed a master’s degree in communication. Shortly after, tourism came calling. The Springfield Missouri Convention and Visitors Bureau had just created a social media management position and offered me the role. After seven years, I was leading the marketing operations for the entire company. In 2020, at the height of the pandemic,
I was offered the role of President at Visit Topeka.
What is your foundation?
My family. Everything thing I do, I do because I love them and want them to have the best life possible. I work hard for Topeka because I feel that Topeka is the best place for them.
I learned early on to always have a "Plan B." At the time, I had a huge presentation that required quite a bit of technical
considerations. The venue simply wasn't ready to accommodate us even though they had promised they could. Luckily, I had additional support and made it work, but that was purely coincidental. Twelve years later, I never assume things are going to work out perfectly and always have a backup plan.
What word best describes you?
Dreamer. I'm always trying to look at things differently and how the system could be better. This often means that my head is in the clouds, but that is where I find my best ideas.
What does your day look like?
I spend most days at my desk reading, researching, and writing. On days that I have an oral argument scheduled I will go over to the Kansas Judicial Center and argue before either the Kansas Court of Appeals or Kansas Supreme Court.
What is the biggest professional goal you have accomplished?
Passing the bar exam.
What do you do to recharge?
I love to travel! Practicing yoga and spending time outdoors also help me recharge.
Since 2017, Jodi Litfin has served as Assistant Solicitor General in the criminal division; conducts extensive legal research in criminal law; and throughout the year has the opportunity to argue appellate briefs before the Kansas Court of Appeals and Kansas Supreme Court. Prior to 2017, Jodi served 10 years as the Deputy District Attorney with the Office of the District Attorney, Shawnee County.
Since 2011, Jodi has served on the Sam A. Crow Inn of Court where she has been a team leader, program chair, president-elect, and currently is president. Jodi is an active member of the Topeka Bar Association and Women’s Attorneys Association of Topeka.
Jodi is a member and grant writer of the Junior League of Topeka, she previously served as a Little Black Dress Initiative advocate, the Derby co-chair and the vice president of funding development. She is the former secretary and current president of the Topeka Panhellenic Alumnae Council, the former president of the Alpha Delta Pi Topeka Alumnae Association, and a current Alumnae Panhellenic delegate.
What should one never take for granted?
The support and love you receive from people in your life.
What music do you never get tired of?
Fiona Apple or Foster the People.
What advice do you wish someone had told you early in your career?
That you are going to run into obstacles that you cannot prepare for. The key is to always be willing to learn new skills and know that it is part of the process. Don't beat yourself up if you drop a ball. Forget about the last play and get back in the game.
What is the biggest professional goal you have accomplished?
We have achieved some really significant accomplishments. We purchased a 15,000-square-foot facility.
In 2019, Michael Odupitan founded Omni Circle, a Topeka-based collaborative workspace provider for the personal and professional development of members, dedicated to creating a community that achieves success while building environmental sustainability. Prior to founding Omni Circle, Michael served as consumer affairs with Hills Pet Nutrition, and program implementation manager, while also working as an intervention specialist at Youth Villages.
Michael is a community partner with Shawnee County Parks and Rec where his company hosts programs at the Central Park Community Center such as Move Fitness Bootcamp, YMDG Youth Mentoring, Zumba, and Rev Wellness. He also partners with Habitat for Humanity by providing equipment for community cleanups in the Central Park community.
Michael is a member of the Momentum 2027 Steering Committee and a board member for the Downtown Rotary Club.
We were approved for a $360,000 grant from the Kauffman Foundation. We secured funding to completely remodel the facility.
With that, we are changing the lives of members in our organization. We have created a number of programs that support our initiative and we did all of that in just three years, while starting the organization right before Covid-19.
How has your career evolved?
What I am doing now has changed my perspective on how I see opportunities. I have also learned that the
number one investment that you can make is in yourself. I believe that self-investment has improved my leadership capacity and my ability to make tough decisions.
What has been an "Aha!" moment? That if I change my mind, I can literally change my life.
What characteristic do you most admire in others?
I really admire those who have been able to find their flow. Those who are able to find a good place between life and work.
As the Vice President of Human Resources, Ashley Esquibel leads the human resources and training teams to cultivating an inclusive, resultsfocused environment where each employee can grow throughout their career and is empowered to achieve their personal and professional goals.
Ashley started her career at Envista during college as a teller, where she was presented with experience and growth opportunities that helped her identify her passion to “ensure people feel supported and empowered to grow.”
Ashley serves as the finance director for Topeka Society of Human Resource Management where she also served as membership director, president and past president. She is a member of the Disrupt HR Committee, the Credit Union National HR and Organizational Development Council, and the National and Kansas Society of HR Management.
What do you love about your work?
I love working with my team to support and empower our employees throughout their career. During the recruitment and hiring process we strive to create the best experience by finding the right position that matches our applicants’ skills and interests. Once they have mastered their role, we get to work with them through our career pathing program to help them develop the skills needed to achieve their goals and grow with the company.
by JOHN BURNSProviding support to the people that work so hard to take care of our members is what I love most about my job.
What would have been some great advice early in your career?
Don’t be so hard on yourself! Learn from your mistakes and move on. I do not like making mistakes and used to be hard on myself when I made one. Reflecting back, I have learned more from my mistakes than anything. The perspective, wisdom, strength, humility, adaptability, and ideas derived from making mistakes are invaluable.
Setting goals and achieving them. I am determined to continuously look for opportunities to learn something new. I know if I am not learning, I am not growing. Once I achieve a goal, I am immediately looking for what I want to strive for next. I am most driven when the goal I am working toward positively impacts others.
What is your most used emoji?
The “LOL” emoji is my favorite! Life is more fun when you surround yourself with people that make you laugh.
As a Certified Crop Adjuster, Kelly Rippel is authorized to evaluate and appraise crop damage, process information affecting insurance coverage, and make claim determinations for crop insurance policyholders. Under the jurisdiction of multiple entities including the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency and Rural Community Insurance Services (RCIS), his main duty is to enter into an agreement of settlement with insureds.
His professional involvement includes serving as advisor for the Kansas Cannabis Coalition towards strategic, long-term campaigns for accelerating change to cannabis reform in Kansas. Kelly is the founding president and member of the Planted Association of Kansas. He is co-founder and vice president of Kansans for Hemp and serves as an appointed volunteer member of the Industrial Hemp Advisory Board with the Kansas Department of Agriculture.
Kelly has been a volunteer with the American Regional Theatre Society, Topeka Civic Theatre, Meals on Wheels, and Junior Achievement.
What is one word you would use to describe yourself?
Curious. I've always had a craving for learning and socializing to better understand others. I loved constructing and de-constructing when I was young and took apart electronic toys when I got older to understand how they worked. Creating and building things with friends has always been my favorite.
Learning is a lifelong process and I'm definitely in it for the long haul!
What 3 critical skills help you in your work?
Empathy. Both a value and mode of being, it requires continuous improvement. It's difficult being empathetic to others' needs and boundaries, but in order to reach solutions and "meet people where they are" we must accept differences in others while not blaming.
Active listening. Truly listening to understand is crucial as opposed to superficially hearing and judging or refusing to acknowledge others' truths. The best
solutions are reached when everyone provides input, no one is excluded, and a consensus is reached.
Courage. The courage to ask questions, clarify intent and motives, or just making sure transparency is occurring takes integrity.
What do you think the secret to a good life is?
It is not a secret. One of the most important things I was taught (that has been reinforced over time) is to find "flow" as much and as often as possible.
What is the most important part of your work?
It is the community impact made and the clients we serve. When community members’ basic needs are met, our community thrives. People can do incredible things when they feel secure, stable, and cared for. My hope is that my work both professionally and personally will impact someone in our community this way.
What is that one piece of advice you received that has served you well?
My youth mentor once told 13-year-
As Volunteer and Family Engagement Manager for Topeka Habitat for Humanity, Haley Matherly supports partner families participating in Topeka Habitat's traditional partnership program and the volunteers serving the organization. She works with Topeka Habitat leadership on developing new programming and strategies to increase volunteer engagement and retention and serves as the liaison for corporate and community volunteer groups. Haley also works with her team to assist construction and repair programs, ReStore and neighborhood revitalization efforts, and plans and implements volunteer appreciation and partner family engagement events.
Haley is the Lasagna Love Local Leader of North Central Kansas and has provided more than 60 meals for families in Shawnee County since 2021. Haley is actively involved with the United Way of Greater Topeka as a member of the Caring Club and a junior reader leader at Highland Park Central Elementary School. She is the president-elect of the Topeka Chapter of Managers of Volunteer Engagement.
old me: "Failure isn't fatal." Though these words have proven difficult to internalize at times, I think about them often.
Learning to let go of the expectations that accompany perfectionism has given me the freedom to test new strategies bravely and without fear of failure. I encourage my team to explore passion projects and try new methods with the security to both succeed and fail safely.
What are you grateful for?
I’m most grateful for my partner, Travis. His patience, understanding, and care are unmatched. He is encouraging and gently
challenging; he’s supportive of everything I do. Travis often checks in and asks, “What are your goals? What do you want to be working on creatively right now? What can I do to help make that happen?”
Having support that is both nurturing and empowering is so transformative. I hope that in mirroring his care in my relationships with Habitat’s volunteers, partner families, and team members, I’m fostering the same kind of transformation for our community.
I think if we normalized asking each other, “What are your dreams? What roadblocks can I help remove for you?” we would be amazed with the results.
I am very passionate and knowledgeable about high school dropout prevention. Early in my career, I developed a statewide dropout prevention partnership called Kansas DropINs. The goal of this partnership was to bring stakeholders together to collectively identify solutions. In 2010, I served on the Kansas Commission on Graduation and Dropout Prevention and Recovery and authored its final report, and I was the Kansas State Department of Education consultant responsible for graduation and alternative schooling for
Executive Director Kansas Volunteer Commission Kansas State Department of Education
Jessica Dorsey’s career has been dedicated to public service within the State of Kansas. In her role, Jessica manages a portfolio of $5 million, oversees all day-to-day activities at the Kansas Volunteer Commission, supervises a staff of five, engages a board of Governor-Appointed Commissioners, expands volunteerism, leads the KSDE Civic Engagement workgroup and oversees the Civic Advocacy Network Awards.
Jessica serves as a board member for Osage Parks and Recreation. She earned her doctorate in Education Leadership and Policy Studies from KU in 2022.
Jessica and her husband, Bo, have a blended family that includes seven children ranging in age from four to fifteen.
six years. Collectively, these experiences influenced my recent doctoral dissertation on The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Academic Attainment.
What advice do you wish someone had shared with you early in your career?
I wish I had known sooner that being a leader doesn’t mean knowing exactly what to do in every situation. I spent many years feeling like an impostor because I didn’t have all the answers. I saw my gap in knowledge and experience as a critical flaw and felt overwhelmed making all the decisions. Now I realize that great leaders
surround themselves with great people. They value the input of others, seek out different perspectives, collaborate on projects and share the decision making.
You’ll likely see us doing something as a family. Our children are active in boy scouts, football, dance, soccer, volleyball, theatre, forensics, basketball, band, choir, baseball and softball. It seems there is always an activity to attend or host. During football season, we watch EVERY Chiefs game, either at the stadium or at home.
What is one piece of advice that has served you well in your journey?
“Choose your regrets wisely.” That sage nugget came from my dad. It’s long held true—at least in my experience—that we regret what we don’t do much more than the mistakes we make. My dad shared this advice with me early in my career, which he acknowledged he learned much later in his life than he wished he would have. My dad is not a verbose individual, and so the sentence came with little explanation. To me, it
In Amber’s capacity as Deputy Judicial Administrator, she assists and/ or backs up the judicial administration in all day-to-day and project functions necessary to the Office of Judicial Administration (OJA) and judicial branch operations. Amber’s specific areas of responsibility include the project management team and the cybersecurity office, which is dedicated to the network security of the judicial branch used by 1700+ employees, 250+ judicial officers, and the public. As general counsel, Amber manages OJA’s legal team.
Amber is a member of the Women Attorneys Association of Topeka, Kansas Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (KCJCC) and Kansas Bar Association. She serves as president of the Washburn Women’s Alliance, and treasurer for the Jay Shideler Elementary PTO.
As part of the KCJCC, Amber is one of five who develops and oversees reporting of all criminal justice federal funding available to the states or local units of government and oversees management of the criminal justice information system.
means to carefully consider your options, being mindful of the potential for missed opportunities and how much those missed opportunities might impact you later in life.
What do you love most about your work?
I love that my work gives me opportunities to meet and work with all the people it does. In addition to my awesome team and colleagues across the state, I get to work with court users from other branches of government, professional associations and groups, as well as individuals from our rural and
urban communities. The variety of work and variety of people make the job interesting and rewarding.
How have you evolved and grown during your career?
I have definitely become more outgoing. During my childhood and even early in my career, I was very uncomfortable with public speaking and didn’t feel like I was very good at meeting new people or participating in any networking or social functions. Even when “litigation” was part of my job title, I remained extremely introverted.
First
Marcus Miller serves as the Executive Director for First Tee - Greater Topeka where he provides leadership and direction to fulfill the organization’s mission. He oversees staff, programs, expansion, and execution of the strategic plan. Marcus represents First Tee - Greater Topeka throughout the Shawnee and Jackson County areas as the primary person responsible for strategy, fundraising, governance, marketing, management, and compliance.
Marcus is a member of the Omni Circle Group, a council member of Stormont Vail Patient & Family Partnership Council, president of Police Athletic League, and a board member of Topeka Area Sports Commission. Marcus also coaches basketball for Shawnee Heights High School and the Topeka Wildcats.
Marcus and his wife have two children and are licensed foster parents.
What led you to this career?
My daughter was the start of it all. Her mother and I met when my daughter was 6 months old, and I knew then that I couldn't imagine the feeling of not being there for her. Soon after, I began doing more volunteer work and coaching, and then decided I would give my life to make sure young people and their families always had someone they could turn to.
Having high character, a heart for service to others and honesty are big things for me, so I make sure that any
program I am involved with has those same pillars in its mission. That's why I believe this organization and I crossed paths at the perfect time.
What should one never take for granted?
Their existence. Each day is a blessing, and although we can't always make the best of it, we can always try to. There are so many things that could have happened with our lives, but each day we have an opportunity to improve or get clarity for what it is. Just do what
you can, every day, and you are doing just fine.
What is your leadership style?
Passionate empowerment is what I believe in. I want others to believe in themselves as much as I believe in them, to achieve their personal and/or our collective goals. I will never stop trying to make sure people understand that happiness and believing in yourself will allow us to do great things together. Keep the purpose in mind, and the rest will fall in line.
What is one piece of advice that has served you well in your career?
My dad, Cleo Gardner, has always told me, “Lift as you climb,” and this has continuously impacted me as I have grown in different leadership roles. I hope sitting in the seats I have will allow for many of the students I served to have belief and opportunity. Multiple advocates have helped me have the opportunities I have had in the past and now in my current role.
Nick is the Principal at Ross Elementary Signature Music School. Prior to this, Nick was an administrative intern at Eisenhower Middle School. His duties as Principal include leadership with the management, facilitating professional learning, supervising instructional practices, and safety of the staff and students.
In his previous role at Eisenhower, he started a male mentoring group, Achievement Inspired Minds (AIM). The program involved guest speakers from the community, a college experience at Washburn University and weekly lessons related to setting goals and building confidence. Next year, he plans to have Eisenhower students mentor students at Ross.
Currently, Nick is the vice president for Topeka Public Schools Minority Leadership Academy and serves on the Topeka Public Schools Equity Council.
My educational philosophy centers around the word advocate. I am where I am today because I had individuals who advocated for me.
What characteristic do you most admire in others?
Integrity. I admire people who do the right thing even when no one is watching. There are many educators who do work which is never seen, but they do it for their love of children and
wanting to make the utmost difference in each student's life.
What book are you reading now?
I am currently reading Savage Inequalities by Jonathan Kozol. This is an interesting read as Kozol examines the extremes of wealth and poverty. The main call of this book is to think of equitable opportunities in all our schools. A definite must read for anyone who has a heart for education.
I started my professional life as a teacher at a credit-recovery high school in Arizona. Many of my students had left the more traditional high school setting because of personal and family struggles, including things like juvenileoffender charges or time spent in foster care. As their teacher, I tried to help them face these challenges in every way I could, writing letters to probation officers and lending a listening ear as they talked about being removed from—or reunited with—their families after foster care. These stories, and the
As Associate Attorney with Barber Emerson, L.C., Kate’s practice covers many different areas, including litigation, appellate work, family law, real estate, and land-use. Kate is also a court-appointed defense attorney for juveniles and represents children and disabled adults in reduced-fee and pro bono guardianship cases to ensure individuals receive the necessary care and assistance they need in their daily lives.
Kate is active on several bar associations that include the Douglas County Bar Association and the Judge Hugh Means American Inn of Court. Kate is a member of the Kansas Bar Association Board of Editors, Diversity Committee, and represents the bar association on the Information Network Kansas Board. As Mock Trial Chair, Kate spearheaded the statewide high-school mock trial competition.
Kate serves as secretary of the Topeka Pride Board, is a governor-appointed member of Information Network Kansas, and is bylaws chair of the Potwin Place Association.
resolve of my students, greatly influenced my decision to leave teaching for the law and to find a new way to help young people navigate those kinds of challenges.
Loyalty, industriousness, and creativity. To me, loyalty is both doing right by the people you care about but also following through on your commitments. If I promise an organization that I'll be at a meeting or spearhead an effort, I am not going to back down until the work is done. A lot of times, that work is intense and time-consuming, which is why being industrious and hard-
working is also so important to me. And because novel problems often require novel solutions, creativity is incredibly important.
Coffee mugs! I have more than 60 coffee mugs in all kinds of colors and patterns. Some are souvenirs from vacations. Like the mug I recently bought after a tour of St. Louis Cemetery in New Orleans. Others commemorate my favorite musicals or feature superheroes, funny sayings, or cats. To me, each mug is a memory or a little piece of my personality, and I can never resist adding to my collection.
What led you to this career?
My parents, Randy and Debra Clayton founded Clayton Wealth Partners the year I was born. Growing up in a finance family cultivated my interest in finance and business. I also believe in "giving is receiving," where financial planning perfectly matches that belief and my background.
What advice do you wish you knew earlier in your career?
Slow down to reflect on and appreciate small achievements.
As Wealth Advisor for Clayton Wealth Partners, Eric serves more than 150 households by creating, recommending, implementing, and continuously monitoring comprehensive financial plans adherent to the overall financial success of his clients. This requires initiative and critical thinking to work independently with clients of widespread financial situations to recommend solutions or adjustments to overcome any shortfalls.
Since 2016, Eric has been an active member of the Financial Planning Association of the Greater Kansas City Chapter and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors. In the community, Eric is the board treasurer of the Riverfront Advisory Council (RAC), co-chair of the RAC Access, Equity, and Activities (AEA) Committee, and Board Treasurer of the Sunflower Soccer Association.
Eric’s service with RAC AEA led to the launch of the inaugural Topeka Capital Paddle in 2018, a three-mile paddle trip starting west of Topeka and ending at the Kaw River State Park.
Sometimes, work gets so busy that we only focus on getting it done and lose sight of the importance in appreciating small achievements. Those small achievements are what would lead to more significant accomplishments.
What should never be taken for granted?
The power of personal and professional connections. All connections require mutual effort and maintenance; otherwise, they grow distant. Giving time and care to develop your relationships will make life easier and more efficient for you. Your strong connections are
doorways to an even more extensive connected community network.
What one word describes you?
Disciplined. I like to plan and stick with the plan. If I commit to something, I will always try my best to keep my word.
Where might you be on a weekend?
You would probably catch me on a soccer field. If not there, you'd find me doing yardwork or playing with our almost two-year-old son.
Gretchen Spiker serves as the Director of Communications for the City of Topeka. In this role, Gretchen promotes the City, its employees, and the Topeka community. Her responsibilities include leading all internal and external branding and image efforts, managing City4 – the City’s Government Access Television Channel, fostering collaborations and partnerships to showcase and promote various events and programs across the community, managing the City’s various social media platforms, assisting with website development and other programing, serving the City’s spokesperson for media inquiries on a local, regional, and national scale.
Gretchen is a member of the Kansas Association of Public Information Officers, the immediate past chair for Club Blue (Boys & Girls Clubs of Topeka’s young professional organization), a board member for Shawnee County Crime Stoppers, and a life-time member of K-State Athletics Varsity K Club.
Gretchen was born and raised in a suburb of San Francisco. She attended college at K-State and in her senior year she accepted a position with KSNT. In June of 2022, Gretchen graduated from the KU Public Management Center’s Emerging Leaders Academy.
My grandfather is my greatest inspiration. He grew up on a small dairy farm in Wisconsin. He didn’t come from much, but he made it his mission to provide for his family. He joined the Navy out of high school, and later became an electrical engineer, graduating with a degree from Stanford University. He met my grandma when he was 16 and they've been together ever since.
Not only is he a person of great intelligence, but he has an exceptional moral compass. He's
loyal to causes and people he believes in. He's friendly and courteous to strangers, and would quite literally give them the shirt off his back. He's kind and generous. It's for these reasons and so many more that I look up to him. He inspires me to accomplish great things, while always staying true to myself.
What do you love most about your work?
I love that my role focuses on sharing about all the amazing people, programs, and work being done to better our community by those at the
City of Topeka. It's a privilege to have the opportunity to share about the more than 1,000 city employees who keep Topeka running. My work also aims to improve accessibility of the city to the public at a time when transparency in government is incredibly important.
What do you do to recharge?
You can find me at the barn! Being around my horse is definitely my "happy place." It keeps me grounded, reminds me of my purpose, and I always leave feeling re-energized.
As Nurse Investigator for the Kansas Attorney General’s Office, Medicaid Fraud and Abuse Division, Lauren Wolf has utilized her nursing education and experience to review complaints of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults, particularly those in Medicaid-supported facilities. She provides consultation on medical records, conducts advanced investigations of alleged fraud by medical providers, testifies in administrative/court proceedings, and provides education to provider and community groups.
In high school, Lauren spent her summers volunteering at the Topeka Zoo and Stormont Vail. She was the chair of Washburn Rural High School’s Student Council Community Service Committee where she organized monthly events for high school students to volunteer at the Topeka Rescue Mission, collect canned food for shelters, raise money for charities and organize blood drives. Most recently, Lauren has been volunteering to administer vaccines for the Shawnee County Health Department, delivering food for Silverbackks, Inc. and serving on committees at her two daughters’ school.
What characteristics do you value most in your coworkers?
Dedication. I have had the privilege of working with extremely talented and kindhearted professionals that are dedicated to seeking justice for elderly and dependent adults that are victims of abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Their devotion is admirable and it makes coming to work each day a joy.
Protecting vulnerable, dependent adults and elderly Kansans motivates me to do my work each day with a smile on my face. I love my job and the mission of my office.
What are you grateful for?
The many large and small blessings in my life include my family, friends, coworkers, health, and job. I am aware
how extremely blessed I am and I believe that drives my motivation in helping others.
What’s the last series you bingewatched?
Downton Abbey! The Crawley Family, Lady Mary, Anna, Cora, Mr. Bates…I love them all!
What do you do for fun? Yoga with my friends.
What led you to this career?
I have always loved helping people and being a part of the community. When I went through the Leadership Greater Topeka Program and saw the inner workings of the Partnership, I knew this is where I belonged. I love being able to help the community as a whole and support our small business owners.
What should one never take for granted?
Time. Time is never promised to us. It is not a guarantee that we will be able to talk to our loved ones the next day, say sorry for something or to someone that we might have hurt. Live in the now.
TJ McDonald serves as Membership Sales Manager for the Greater Topeka Partnership (GTP). TJ is responsible for the sales and retention of membership for GTP in tandem with his team and the Resource Development Team. Often you will find TJ in the community with scissors in hand at ribbon cuttings that he organizes for members, while also executing the many benefits members receive.
TJ volunteers his time as a Club Blue member for the Boys and Girls Club of Topeka, a board member of the Breakthrough House, a leadership member of Forge, and a golf instructor for kids ages 8-11 at First Tee.
TJ believes his passion for Topeka and the community are reflected in the work that he does and the people he interacts with daily. His motto is “it’s not about how much you do, but the passion of what you do—quality over quantity.”
What do you love about your job?
Not being chained to a desk. Being able to go out and meet the people that make up our community and really get to know them. Each day is different.
“Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.”
—Forest Gump
What is the most important part of your work?
This quote by Todd Whitaker sums it up nicely: "The best thing about being [an educator] is that it matters. The hardest part about being [an educator] is that it matters every day."
As a principal, it is imperative that my work as a leader is centered around advancing our school's mission and vision as well as ensuring a positive, supportive, and safe learning environment where
As Principal of McClure Elementary, Dr. Chelsea Artzer leads the school in advancing each student’s academics, behavior, and socialemotional well-being; supervising and evaluating curriculum, instruction and student assessments; and establishing an effective and inspiring school environment through communication of high expectations for staff and students, enacting policies to ensure a safe and orderly climate, facilitating a leadership team and mental health team while maintaining visibility, cultivating teacher leaders, recognizing staff and student efforts, embedding fun morale building experiences, and fostering positive relationships with stakeholders.
Chelsea serves on the Topeka Public Schools Equity Council and as the Principal/Site Leader of the Washburn University School of Education Professional Development School.
Through Chelsea’s professional and personal pursuits, McClure has made significant gains on the state assessments and was recognized as only one of two Kansas State Schools of Character. This upcoming year, Chelsea will be leading McClure in exploring the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program to provide additional opportunities for students to build skills necessary for life post school.
every student receives a quality education each and every day.
What have you learned from the pandemic?
It's quite amazing what can be accomplished when we work together and have an innovative mindset. I will never forget the day I learned that schools would be shutting down and all of the thoughts and emotions that accompanied this realization that being in a brick and mortar
school was not going to be our reality for quite some time. Yet, in less than a week’s time, educators in our city, state, country, and world were working tirelessly to find ways to keep educating our students despite this new reality. Not only did collective action ensure school still carried on, countless other creative supports were established, such as drive thru lunch distribution sites to parked buses equipped with WIFI hotspots for community members to access.
By CHRIS MARSHALL
Photos by JOHN BURNS and BRADEN DIMICK
Topeka has a wide range of positives that make it an appealing location for growing businesses. It’s centrally located, land is affordable and employers can hire from a pool of talent with the famed Midwest work ethic. Yet when new and existing companies eye Shawnee County as a potential site for expansion, sometimes an added incentive helps them say, “Go.”
International brands like Mars Wrigley and Walmart have chosen Topeka as a base for new facilities in recent years, in addition to longtime area businesses primed for expansion, like Polo Custom Products. These are just a few on a long list of companies that have received funding from the Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDO), which contracts with GO Topeka to promote economic development through a countywide half-cent sales tax.
Financial incentives have helped attract businesses, which in turn, provide opportunities for jobs and continued growth for the city and state. Plots of land that once sat empty on the outskirts of town are now home to facilities for some of the world’s biggest names.
Walmart's 1.3 million-square-foot distribution center near 77th Street and US Highway 75, recently celebrated its one-year anniversary.
A company the size of Walmart carries a lot of clout when it comes to business deals. In 2022, the Arkansas-based retail giant ranked No. 1 on the Fortune 500 list for the 10th year in a row. Already with three other facilities based in Kansas, none were larger—or more valuable— than the distribution center announced in Topeka in 2019.
The 1.3 million-squarefoot structure, which celebrated its one-year anniversary in July, can receive up to $1.87 million in cash incentives from JEDO and opened with the goal of
creating 300 full-time jobs within a five-year period. Ryan McMichael, senior director of ecommerce fulfillment for Walmart, said that benchmark has already been surpassed.
“We’re very pleased to have met and exceeded our goals,” he said. “I’m excited about the future, not just for this building, but for the supply chain business as a whole. The upcoming season should also present some opportunities to continue to increase the head count at this facility by potentially a couple hundred.”
The impact of those jobs extends beyond
the building’s vast walls. Most of the company’s hires are Kansans, which means much of the money and goodwill generated by Walmart’s newly created careers goes back into local communities. Others, like McMichael, came from out of state but are enjoying the experience after crossing the border.
“It’s been a great opportunity for the past year and a half to get involved in the Topeka area,” said McMichael, a Missouri native who now lives in Kansas. “It’s Walmart’s goal to have a positive impact in the region and spaces we operate in. As for myself, I’m involved in different organizations that support people who are less fortunate or may like the opportunity to get involved in an organization like Walmart to pursue employment and development in a building like this.”
For Topeka, landing a company like Walmart is a big win, but Molly Howey, in her fifth year as GO Topeka president, said the collaboration doesn’t stop once a company signs on the dotted line.
“I think it makes a ton of sense for them to be here,” Howey said of Walmart. “They're brand new as far as a corporate citizen goes. So, we're building a relationship and figuring out how to best serve their wishes for community involvement.”
Maintaining an ongoing partnership helps cement the county’s reputation as a viable destination for others as well.
“When we talk to companies and site location consultants, and begin to name off the companies and the brands that we have here, it doesn't take long,” Howey said. “We're a third of the way down the list of our major companies and they're like, ‘Okay, we get it. This is a great place to do business.’”
“I’m excited about the future, not just for this building, but for the supply chain business as a whole."
—Ryan McMichael Senior Director of eCommerce FulfillmentPhoto by JOHN BURNS
Since the opening of the Mars plant in 2014, it has invested over $750 million into the community and anticipates expansion of production lines and 600 associates by the end of 2023.
For Walmart, the largest company by revenue on Earth, to confirm a multimillion-dollar venture in Kansas, it only needed to look one "planet" over. Mars built a plant in Topeka in 2014, its first U.S. facility in 35 years, and has exceeded expectations ever since.
Originally expected to create 200 jobs when it first opened, Mars announced in April 2022 an additional investment of $175 million into its chocolate manufacturing facility. The expansion included new equipment, additional production of candy lines and created another 100 jobs.
“We currently have well over 500 jobs here at the Topeka factory,” said site director Brian Pardo, who’s worked for Mars for 14 years,
including the past two in Topeka. “We are in the process of hiring more associates to meet our current expansion plans. We anticipate that we’ll have 600 jobs by the end of 2023.”
In total since 2014, Mars has invested over $750 million into the community. Snickers production has expanded, Milky Way and 3 Musketeers were added in 2022, and Pardo said more varieties of M&M’s will be added by the end of 2023.
“Mars has grown at a much faster rate than they or we thought,” Howey said, “and I think that's proof that their decision was a good one. It was a great fit for them to be in Topeka. Expanding their lines that they are producing here in Topeka helps position them for more growth in the future.”
Mars and Walmart both built in the Kanza Fire Business Park, fittingly located at the corner of Topeka Boulevard and SW Innovation Parkway. While the smell of chocolate wafting through the air is a nice plus, it’s not the reason that Walmart chose its space. GO Topeka has the ability to grant companies free land on plots the organization owns, including Kanza Fire Business Park and Central Crossing Commerce Park, which is farther north on Topeka Boulevard, and home to Frito-Lay, and Target and Home Depot distribution centers.
“Some companies find locations that are more suited for their unique needs elsewhere in the county,” Howey said. “We make it very clear that whether they choose a site that we own or not, we would offset the cost of their land purchases at the same value as ours in order to not compete with other developers and landowners.”
“We are in the process of hiring more associates to meet our current expansion plans. We anticipate that we'll have 600 jobs by the end of 2023."
—Brian Pardo Factory Director Mars WrigleyPhoto by JOHN BURNS
While Topeka’s accommodations may have initially been a surprise for companies like Mars and Walmart, others have known what was here all along. Polo Custom Products, which is celebrating its 75th year in 2022, already had its corporate offices in Topeka before opening a new fulfillment warehouse in August 2021. The expansion is expected to result in an economic impact of $61 million over a 10-year period.
Kent Lammers, Polo’s president and CEO, has lived in Topeka since he
was less than a year old, and did not need to be sold on expansion in the city he grew up and works in. However, GO Topeka’s incentives could not have come at a better time.
Polo, a contract manufacturer that designs and engineers custom products for the medical, fire and safety, industrial, and government and defense markets, had factories in Iowa and Minnesota before adding a third in Topeka. Lammers anticipated the company’s year-over-year growth to continue until COVID-19 hit their finances hard.
“We sense the positive movement of Topeka as a destination community to live and work and play, and we want to embrace that and grow."
—Kent Lammers President/CEO Polo Custom Products
The company was deemed essential and avoided layoffs, wage decreases and reduced hours, which Lammers says was the top priority, but sales in 2020 were less than half of what he projected.
Thanks to the expansion in Topeka, Polo rebounded quickly, with a 32 percent growth in sales from its pandemic low point. Lammers says the recovery “would not have been possible” without the facility and its new employees, whose training was funded in large part by JEDO.
“One of the most challenging things in any startup factory, like the one we have in Topeka, is scaling it,” Lammers said. “We have 88 people here. So, training that many people was time-consuming
and costly, and the JEDO funding really helped us get that off the ground.”
Lammers, who first joined Polo as a Washburn University student 38 years ago, worked his way up from account manager to president, with several stops in between. It’s a prime example of how the growth of one employee, when given the opportunity, can contribute to the growth of a company, and on an even larger scale, the entire community.
“We sense the positive movement of Topeka as a destination community to live and work and play,” he said, “and we want to embrace that and grow, not only the corporate facility, but possibly our footprint in manufacturing to be inclusive of the positive changes in Topeka.” TK
Most people outgrow their childhood desire for a fort fashioned from blankets, but many still crave the joy of occupying small spaces in companionship with others. Three Topeka hospitality venues offer cozy destinations with creative food and drink selections in decorative spaces specifically designed for convivial gatherings.
Photo by JENNIFER GOETZ
Brett Martin mixes up cocktails in The Principal’s Office.
Longtime friends Marc and Katie Sonderegger and Matt and Larissa Slimmer frequently traveled to Lawrence and Kansas City to enjoy cocktails and conversation in sophisticated surroundings. When COVID-19 confined their travel to backyard firepits, they circled around the idea of opening a local lounge featuring all the upscale amenities and high-end adult beverage selections they’d sought elsewhere.
In December, retail space opened in the couples’ Westboro neighborhood, and their interest escalated, culminating in a spring break decision to tour the space. Soon after, they leased the building and hosted a grand opening celebration in late July.
Marc Sonderegger is principal of Wanamaker Elementary School, Katie Sonderegger is principal of Farley Elementary School and Larissa Slimmer serves as a counselor at Wanamaker Elementary School. Matt Slimmer is a commercial plumber.
The owners did their homework, which included launching a successful Kickstarter campaign and creating a business plan in consultation with the Washburn University Small Business Development Center.
Marc Sonderegger said the hardest decision they encountered wasn’t determining the décor or the menu but coming up with a succinct name that accurately conveyed their aspiration for the space.
“We wanted to showcase that we’re a neighborhood place and finally settled on Salut Wine and Cocktail Lounge,” he said. “Salut is a friendly French greeting that can also be used as an expression about sharing food and drink with companions, so it fits our concept nicely.”
The lounge features an outdoor patio and a long bar on one side with
seven padded stools. On the adjacent side, up to 28 patrons can nestle into curved and vibrantly colored velvet chairs for small-table seating. A rotating gallery of Kansas art will soon adorn the walls.
“We wanted to create inviting, comfortable areas that would be more like a living room than a restaurant to encourage people to linger,” said Sonderegger.
In addition to sipping drinks, patrons can also enjoy small plates. Selections include grazing boards, marinated olives, dips and various tartines—grilled bread with toppings like brie and apricot, fig and prosciutto and smoked salmon and cucumber.
“You won’t find any fried cheese sticks or TVs here,” said Sonderegger, laughing. “We want people to focus on each other when they’re here instead of competing for attention with a screen.”
Salut offers a variety of fine wines and cocktails like a New York sour, an Oaxaca Old Fashioned and a Hemingway daiquiri.
“Larissa and Katie wanted to offer nicer wines that may not be found
elsewhere in the city, and we wanted to experiment with a new take on traditional drinks,” said Sonderegger.
Kickstarter backers at a certain level were invited to meet with Adam Clary, a Standard Beverage mixologist, to create signature cocktails for the menu.
“A lot of the drink names are based on nicknames or occupations,” said Sonderegger. “The Indigo Mist gin and tonic is named for a woman named Dee and is made with her favorite gin. Her husband is an attorney who drinks scotch, so his drink is The Barrister.”
Sonderegger says plenty of nonalcoholic beverages with fun twists are available too.
Salut infuses cocktails and cuisine with seasonal fall flavors like a Brown Butter Rum Old Fashioned and a tartine made with roasted butternut squash, dried cranberries, walnuts and an apple cider vinaigrette.
Promoting collaborative local business partnerships is essential to the couples’ entrepreneurial approach. They serve Blue Jazz Coffee Roasters coffee and
beers on tap from the Blind Tiger, Happy Bassett, Iron Rail Brewing and Norsemen Brewing Company. & Restaurant. The couples also enlisted Hazel Hill to create a signature Salut truffle for inclusion in their dessert trio option.
Weekend brunch service includes Bloody Mary’s, Bellinis, mimosas and sparkling cocktails complementing such fare as crème brûlée French toast, a Croque Madame tartine and almond croissants.
The couples get extra credit for transforming Salut’s basement into The Principal’s Office, a reservation-only speakeasy with a separate back-door entrance designated with an old-school principal’s paddle.
“It has a different vibe with a retro feel,” said Sonderegger. “We found a lot of the vintage furniture at stores in the NOTO Arts District, West Bottoms and Lawrence. While we were cleaning out
closets, we discovered an old console with albums, so we play those and encourage people to bring their own vinyl when they reserve their spot.”
Wooden school desks serve as end tables in the venue, which is dimly lit with lamps and candles. Old globes, books, framed maps and rugs accessorize several seating areas that can accommodate up to 24 people.
A former mural purchased at Wheatland Antique Mall has found new life as a back-wall display. The artist, Mary Dunbar-Smith, created the piece for a high school musical and recently autographed it in its new location.
Reservations for The Principal’s Office are made online for two-hour “detention” increments. An email provides instructions about parking, accentuating the speakeasy attribute of secrecy.
“We often ask individuals on arrival what they did to deserve detention,
and we’ve had some very interesting answers,” said Sonderegger.
Classic cocktails have themed names like Smokin’ in the Boys’ Room (an Old Fashioned served smoking), Hot for Teacher (a jalapeno margarita), Hopscotch (a butterscotch drink) and Crossing Guard (a classic Boulevardier with a slight bitterness from Cynar).
Simplified snacks include housesmoked nuts and spicy pretzels. Adult lunchables comprising meat, cheese and crackers are served on a cafeteria tray.
Open only a short while, Salut and The Principal’s Office have both enjoyed brisk business with many patrons drawn by social media and word-of-mouth.
“It’s been gratifying to have people saying that this is something that’s been needed in Topeka,” Sonderegger said. “Instead of Topekans traveling to Lawrence, Manhattan and Kansas City, we’re seeing people from those places traveling here.”
In an 1888 downtown building where prohibitionist Carrie Nation was once chased out the back door, a new lounge offers an enticing space for spirits and spirited conversations on soft leather sofas and velvet couches or in cozy nooks with whiskey barrels serving as tables.
The Knox, named for the bank that once occupied the building, retains its original black-and-white tile flooring, brass handrails and monogrammed doorknobs, lending a timeless nod to elegance now executed through transactions involving classic cocktails instead of deposit slips.
Located across the hall from The White Linen, Adam
and Kasie VanDonge’s five-yearold fine dining restaurant, The Knox makes it convenient for customers interested in having a drink before or after their dinner reservations while accommodating individuals who just want to catch up with family and friends in novel surroundings.
The walls are adorned with a couple of colorful paintings by John Holcomb, a Mayetta native and friend of the VanDonges who shows and sells his work internationally.
In addition to drinks, patrons can order charcuterie plates, black truffle popcorn made in collaboration with Cashmere Popcorn and small plates featuring ingredients used in The White
Linen’s rotating monthly pre-fixed menu.
“When my wife and I go out, we want to have a nice conversation in a quiet place with good drinks, good music and good lighting, so The Knox grew from that concept,” said VanDonge. “We’ve really had fun with the lighting here because that sets the mood. We have seating capacity for 28, the same as the restaurant, because we prefer smaller, more intimate settings and our customers do too.”
Each quarter VanDonge and his creative bartenders introduce a dozen or so new cocktails reflecting seasonal elements to complement a standardized menu of traditional favorites like Old Fashioneds,
martinis and daiquiris. New cocktails are named for historical elements pertaining to the building and Topeka.
“Our bartenders are great guys who take pride in preparing cocktails, so we ask customers to be patient,” said VanDonge. “They’re mixing a lot of ingredients and the good stuff takes time.”
Suspension of time at The Knox is part of the aesthetic and the attraction. A framed television shows old-school movies without sound so the diversion doesn’t distract from the lounge’s musical selections, which are often Rat Pack family favorites.
VanDonge learned to appreciate the importance of
slowing down and savoring culinary experiences while watching his paternal grandmother cook.
“She made everything from scratch, whether it was a pasta dish or a pie, and she always played records while she did it—Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin or Nat King Cole,” said VanDonge, a Kansas City Culinary Institute graduate. “Even though I grew up on a farm in Soldier, my grandmother embedded a 1960s Las Vegas vibe in me that has influenced my love for fine dining and lounges ever since. Everything’s come full circle.”
The Knox offers an artistically arranged wall of premium bottles of bourbon, scotch, rum and tequila
so connoisseurs can purchase one ounce pours of libation labels they might be curious about.
“Instead of spending $300 on a bottle of something you’re not sure you’re going to like, you can sample it before you commit,” said VanDonge.
A fan of bourbon, especially in Old Fashioneds, VanDonge said his go-to drink is made in batches.
“People do a lot of experimental stuff with Old Fashioneds, but ours is just a simple, delicious drink that I think we’ve perfected,” he said. “It’s probably our top seller.”
Patrons who prefer wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages have choices too. About a dozen craft beers, including regional favorites, are rotated frequently while Michelob Ultra and Modelo are always available.
VanDonge also operates a private membership speakeasy down the hall that serves about a dozen people at a time and provides discounts for restaurant dining. Usage is by reservation only between 4 p.m. and “whenever the last person leaves,” he said.
Transforming a historic, distinctive space into an elevated entertainment destination downtown has been a gratifying journey for VanDonge, who first conceived his idea for The White Linen through monthly word-ofmouth gourmet dinners he hosted in the Holton sandwich shop he previously owned.
“I love history and I think it’s cool that we’ve turned a place where Carrie Nation got chased out of into not just one bar but two,” said VanDonge, laughing.
“It’s awesome to have guests who’ve lived in Topeka all their lives come into this building and learn about it while having fun with their family and friends. I just love our spaces and I’m glad other people are discovering them too.”
A former bakery housed in The Topeka Country Club’s basement has been transformed into a niche dining destination for members. Named 1905 in honor of the year the club was founded, the venue hosts up to 14 people for a multi-course epicurean experience.
Edison lights with filament bulbs add to the ambiance while a vintage 200-pound Hobart mixer once used to make dinner rolls pays homage to the area’s pie making and bread baking heritage.
The first 1905 dinner took place April 4, 2015, as an experiment to boost business on traditionally slow Saturday nights.
“We began offering two or three dinners a month and they were sold out in minutes,” said Meininger.
A few days before each event, Meininger surveys the members who are coming regarding food preferences, allergies and even whether they are left-handed or right-handed to assist with seating placement in consideration of novelty dining accessories that might be introduced for a particular dish.
“If someone is allergic to shellfish or gluten, then we won’t create a menu that has those things,” said Meininger.
The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with drinks and appetizers comprising the first two courses. A third course, referred to as the “Below Freezing” portion of the evening, features a
protein delicacy and a festive cocktail served in the basement’s converted stainless-steel cooler. North Face® jackets purchased for this purpose are often distributed to guests to ward off the chill as they enjoy gourmet deviled eggs, crab mousse with sweet pea puree, blackberry glazed chicken or some other inventive treat.
“Visiting the freezer with a cocktail in hand is always a popular part of the night,” said Meininger. “Drinks might be a Bellini or a peach martini, whatever signature cocktail we can think of.”
Soup, a main course, a homemade dessert and after-dinner drinks, if
desired, round out the evening.
“Our chef, Billy Fuschino, prepares the main course in front of our guests, and he enjoys being in a different venue as much as they do,” said Meininger. “We have a lot of members who come back for the experience because there are few places that offer an opportunity to interact with the professional preparing your meal.”
Tristan Weinbrenner, a level one sommelier, pairs wines for the various courses.
1905 hosted its 100th dining event in October. Although Saturday nights are no longer slow with an
influx of 150 new members and families the past couple of years, Meininger said the club will continue offering the intimate dining opportunity as an extension of its commitment to ongoing reinvention.
The club recently completed a $7.5 million renovation to upgrade its offerings for outdoor recreation and health and wellness, including a water splash park and enhanced fitness center offering 30 classes a month.
Meininger, who has been with The Topeka Country Club for 11 years, said he and his team strive to find new ways to deliver membership amenities and engagement opportunities while preserving traditional activities and menu staples.
“We still make our signature vanilla ice cream and raspberry sauce and serve fried chicken on Thursday nights,” said Meininger. “Our honey pecan chicken is a 32-year-old recipe and it’s not going anywhere.” TK
The old adage that “early is on time and on time is late” is a pretty common mentality for a lot of us. This is probably truer in business than it is socially.
Now is the perfect time to get started on year-end work for your accountant or tax professional. Here is a brief to-do list that we bean-counters would like our clients to focus on to help both of us out come tax time. For us, on time for tax preparation is actually late!
If you are not using some form of accounting system, what’s the hold up? Even a simple spreadsheet template that acts as a profit and loss report is very helpful.
Not only does your accountant need this data aggregated since we aren’t in
GUTH, Presidentyour business every day, but it gives you a basic understanding of how you are doing month-over-month and year-over-year.
Are you profitable? Can you take a salary or a draw? Can you afford to expand staff or purchase equipment? Are you spending too much in one area and didn’t realize it? Will you owe taxes, and should you pay in some through estimated tax payments now? I am constantly amazed that so many owners don’t have the data at their fingertips to answer these questions.
Now would be a good time to implement a spreadsheet template or to start using some accounting software.
“Bartlett & West helped us understand the long-term potential in biogas. By producing energy and selling to the power grid, we avoid flaring and expect to cut down on our operating costs. It’s rare to find a municipal project that generates revenue. This is a huge win for the City of Topeka.”
Now that you have your data in a useful format, talk with a tax professional about year-end. You can now answer some of those questions posed above and tackle some tax planning.
If you will owe taxes, your tax professional can estimate how much and help you get some paid to Fed and State through estimated tax payments.
He or she can also help you decide if buying equipment or contributing to a retirement account can defer some of that tax. These are some of the easy topics—tax planning can get much more complex, especially at the rate in which tax laws change.
I want to stress that if the data shows you will owe taxes, make those estimated tax payments! Future you will thank you. Making the payments will help you avoid stress at filing time, allow you to extend if you need to, avoid penalty and interest, and put you in a good position for the new year.
Now that you have addressed the general health of your business you can turn to compliance, which is more than just filing your income tax return.
If you have a payroll, you probably already have someone that is paying attention to compliance.
The real pain point here are vendors and contractors. The IRS has gotten pretty serious about non-employee compensation and the issuance of 1099 forms. If you have to issue 1099-NEC forms, you should have W-9 forms on file for each vendor that qualifies. If you do not, start now so that you aren’t missing information as the January 31st deadline looms. Again, a tax professional can help navigate the specifics related to the issuance of these forms.
So, to be early is to be on time! Use some form of bookkeeping system and pay attention to year-end compliance. Seek the help of a professional before we start the tax season and become simply too busy to address planning items.
All these things will help you reduce year-end stress and set you up for success
Anniversaries are important to observe. It’s a time to remember where you’ve been and how you’ve grown, to reflect on the challenges you’ve overcome, and to celebrate your accomplishments.
In the case of local businesses, it’s also a time to recognize the impact they’ve had on the community. Topekaarea companies, Ernest-Spencer and Fidelity State Bank & Trust Co., each celebrating 100 years in business, and MCP Group, celebrating 50 years in operation, are each looking back at how they’ve built a business to last and looking forward at what’s next.
Neal Spencer was 30 years old and the operations manager of Ernest-Spencer, when his father, Brad, owner and president of the local precision manufacturer, died suddenly in 2007 at the age of 57.
Overnight, Neal was thrust into an ownership and leadership position.
The timeline had always been for Neal to take over for his father, just not at such a young age.
“He passed away one day, and the next day I was at work,” Spencer said. “And at the time, I felt I needed to be here to prove to all of the Ernest-Spencer employees and customers that I was capable.
“Growing up as the owner’s son, you’re in the spotlight, but there’s always a question mark. Is he capable or not? Can he do what dad did or grandad did? I worked hard for the first three years or so to earn their respect. Fortunately, from age
14 all the way to that point, I had a lot of years of experience that most people wouldn’t have had at my age.”
Fast forward 15 years later, Neal Spencer, as the fourthgeneration president, CEO and owner, has Ernest-Spencer on good footing. The company officially celebrated its 100th anniversary in business on Oct. 15 with a large gathering of employees, past and present, and their families.
“For us, it’s as strong as it’s ever been,” Spencer said. “We have a bigger backlog than we’ve ever had. Our demand for new services and new products going into next year is more than we’ve ever seen.
“So, at our level, we’re not seeing a recession. That doesn’t mean it won’t come, or we won’t see some lag effect. But right now, we’ve got as much new business opportunities as we want to bite
off. The biggest hurdle is the right amount of people and the right people to do the work. But we’re strong. This year will be one of our best years on record.”
In the 15 years Spencer has been in charge, the 225-employee company has more than doubled its business. Still, Spencer knows the magnitude of overseeing a company that began just four years after World War I ended.
“There’s additional pressures just because it’s something that’s been around that long,” he said. “A lot of the traditional multigenerational companies don’t survive, and you don’t want to be the guy that causes the mistakes. You try to forge a new direction, while honoring what’s happened in the past.”
Ed Ernest, Neal’s greatgrandfather, started Ernest Engineering in 1922. The company started as one that designed and built grain elevators and feed mills for
agricultural facilities throughout the Midwest. “Bud” Spencer, Neal’s grandfather, married Ernest’s daughter Becky in 1946, and Bud and Ed joined together to form Ernest-Spencer. Bud was president from 1955-1988, and Neal’s dad, Brad, succeeded him. Neal said his grandfather, Bud, was still coming into the office when he was 90 and died in January 2020 at the age of 96.
“Growing up in the Spencer family, I wanted to go to work at a young age and watch (my dad and grandfather) do what they do and admire how great they were at it. They worked well together,” Neal Spencer said. “I saw their love for the people of the company, and their desire to continue to evolve and grow.
“There was never complacency by either one of them. I think that’s a big part of what I gained. I’m never content in what we are. We’re
always evolving to be something different. It doesn’t always mean it’s bigger. We’re just trying to keep up with the times and offerings for our customers and our employees.”
Over the years, the company established an in-house metalworking department that eventually began offering highquality fabrication services to the outside world. The company also added a standalone powder coating and finishing facility.
The company’s customer base is mainly in the Midwest, from Colorado to Missouri and the Dakotas to Texas, Spencer said, adding they ship worldwide for their customers.
From 1922 to 1993, ErnestSpencer called Topeka home. Then, making a business decision, the company moved its headquarters to Meriden, where they continue to be today at 3323 NE 82nd St.
"We’re always evolving to be something different. It doesn’t always mean it’s bigger. We’re just trying to keep up with the times and offerings for our customers and our employees.”
Neal Spencer President/CEO and Owner Ernest-SpencerThe reason for the move?
“It was a bit of contrast to what we see now,” Spencer said. “Back then, we were in Topeka, and were looking to grow. There just wasn’t a tremendous amount of incentives for existing businesses to expand. Jefferson County and the city of Meriden were open arms and really wanted us to be here and establish our roots. We’re very gracious in everything they provided us to do that. So, we made the change.”
Ernest-Spencer acquired competitor Topeka Metal Specialties in 2016, and thus, the company again had a footprint in the capital city.
“We found it refreshing,” Spencer said of coming back to the capital city. “The folks in leadership in Topeka and the Greater Topeka Partnership have been great to work with, providing incentives and support. There’s a pro-business, pro-growth vibe in Topeka that’s been contagious.”
Spencer said being at 5600 SW Topeka Blvd. in Topeka has allowed the company to continue to expand the overall picture with the employment base and recruit folks from south of Topeka that they weren’t necessarily getting in Meriden.
Any company that survives for 100 years is going to see its fair
share of challenges. Many of those for Ernest-Spencer were world events such as the Great Depression and World War II. More recently it was the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The recession in 2008-09 was a challenge for us. For me, it was right after I took over the company. I’m 31-32, going, ‘man, this isn’t what I really wanted to do,’ but you learn, and you’re stronger because of it," said Spencer. "Then came the pandemic. I think each challenged the business and challenged our people. But we came out stronger. We’ve seen record growth and we continue to take advantage of that as best as we can.”
Can Ernest-Spencer make it another century?
Spencer, 45, said he has kids that could potentially be a fifth generation. The focus for him is the next 10 years, where he’ll work to continue to grow the company in customer offerings, technology and employee recruiting.
“It’s got the strength and stability to be here in 100 years,” Spencer said. “Whether it’s me or somebody else, this company will have a long, long future.”
“The bank that people like.”
That was the phrase on the original logo of Topeka institution Fidelity State Bank & Trust Co.
The expression seems very appropriate today as the bank celebrates 100 years of business—its official anniversary was April 29.
So, how did Fidelity make it to this point?
You can’t spend any amount of time talking about the bank and its history without one name popping up again and again—Anderson “Andy” Chandler.
Former long-time owner, president and chairman of the board, Chandler and members of his family moved to Topeka in 1958 after purchasing Fidelity.
For the next 51 years, he was the face of the local, family-owned
community bank, serving as both president and chairman until 2009. In May 2018, the 60th anniversary of his joining the bank, he retired as chairman of the board and remained chairman emeritus until his death a year later at the age of 93.
Chandler and his family paved the way for what Fidelity is today. Allan Towle, Fidelity’s current chairman, president and CEO, joined the bank in 1996 and gleaned decades of institutional knowledge from the then-70-yearold Chandler.
“I learned very quickly how dedicated (Chandler) was to the greater Topeka community,” Towle said. “His commitment through community service and his expectation for all bank officers
being committed and involved in the community was amazing.”
Towle became president in 2009, CEO in 2014 and chairman in 2018.
While Chandler made Fidelity a household name for generations of Topekans, it was a man named J.H. Collingwood who founded the bank in 1922. He was the longest continual president and owner of a bank in Topeka, until selling to Chandler, and oversaw the bank becoming a charter member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in 1933.
In 1947, the bank celebrated 25 years in business with the distinction of being the only bank in the capital city which was operated continuously during that time under the same name and the same president.
“I am certain (Collingwood) would be proud of the success of the bank and the legacy he started, which was continued by Anderson W. Chandler,” Towle said.
If you’ve lived in Topeka for any amount of time, you’ve heard Fidelity’s motto sung in a catchy jingle.
“We do business right here at home,” Towle said. “There are two very important statements here. Taking care of customers by doing business right and taking care of the community because it is home for us and our customers.”
While the bank, like any business, has had its ups and downs and challenges it has overcome over the years, Towle said, right now, business is good.
“During Covid, deposits went up, and as the government poured
dollars into the economy, many businesses did well and paid down loans. Others struggled,” Towle said. “The standard items of supply chain, workforce and increasing cost have impacted our community, but optimism is still apparent.”
Fidelity has 32 of the most dedicated associates a business could have, Towle said, adding they care about each other, but more importantly, they care about the customers.
“The success of our customers is what I am most proud of,” Towle said. “By knowing our customers and structuring banking services of deposits, loans, and cash management services to best meet the needs of our customers, we are able to be part of their success.”
Today, the bank has two locations, its main branch at 600 S. Kansas Ave., which sits on land that was once Kansas’ first State Capitol, and the Westridge Branch at 5926 SW 21st.
“We have remained a small community bank so that we never lose track of the value we provide the customers and the community,” Towle said. “Our focus is quality of growth and providing the extra service of experience and customer success.”
Towle said Topeka has provided an excellent opportunity for Fidelity to thrive, but more importantly the bank has helped finance the development of thousands of business and consumer opportunities for the capital city.
“Topeka is an amazing community,” Towle said. “I am a lifelong Topekan and love where we are as a city. Talking to so many people that moved here from other places has opened my eyes to how special this community really is.
“We are excited to have helped shape Topeka over the last 100 years and are positioned to continue this for the next 100 years.”
“Our focus is quality of growth and providing the extra service of experience and customer success."PHOTO SUBMITTED
Take a look around the capital city, and you’ll see the work of commercial general contractor MCP Group everywhere. Whether it’s education, health care, commercial offices, hospitality, multifamily, sports or retail, the 60-employee company has its hand in all markets.
The vision of brothers Mike and Bruce McPherson, McPherson Contractors, as the original entity was known in 1972, had the goal to “build the future” with principles of honesty, integrity, and tenacity and core values that include having character, honoring the client, pursuing greatness, working with purpose, and cultivating a family spirit.
Local projects in the recent past include several buildings on Washburn University’s campus, the Federal Home Loan Bank
headquarters, Cyrus Hotel, The Pennant, Iron Rail Brewing, Evergy Plaza, Seaman Middle and High School, and Jardine Elementary and Middle School. MCP Group has also constructed several local grocery stores, hospitals, bank buildings, and sports venues. You name it, they’ve built it.
In 1975, MCP completed its first $1 million project, Hillcrest Community Center. They completed The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics in Lawrence in 2003 and the Boot Hill Casino in 2012.
How did MCP become such a pillar in the community?
“It starts with the great people,” said Pat Tolin, MCP Group CEO and director of preconstruction. “The team we have in place is set up for the next 50 years.”
Whether it’s the 20 employees with 20-plus years of experience with
the company or the more recently hired younger employees, MCP seeks people who are “humble, hungry and smart.”
“Humble—humility is good for all of us. Hungry to do a good job; hungry to meet a client’s needs. And smart—people smart. Knowing how to read people and solve problems. This is a motto we live by,” said Tolin.
Over the years, MCP has done work as far west as Oregon, as far east as Ohio, as far south as Texas and as far north as North Dakota, but primarily, they build in Kansas, Colorado, and Texas. To that end, the company has offices in Kansas City, Denver, and Steamboat Springs, Colorado. But through it all, Topeka remains the location of the headquarters.
MCP Group, which did a complete rebrand in 2018, recognized its official 50th anniversary on Oct. 17. They’ve been celebrating all year long and plan to have official festivities with MCP families in the spring of 2023.
“Fifty years is an incredible accomplishment,” Tolin said. “Mike and Bruce started this company in Topeka, and this is our home. Topeka has been good to us, in the good times as well as the challenging times, and we intend to continue investing in our community by donating our time, talent and resources.”
“MCP has been a vital part of the expansion, rejuvenation, and improvements of Topeka for the last 50 years, and we look forward to our continued work changing
the face of our city—making it a better place to live and grow and to raise a family. Topeka is a great place to build, and we take great pride when we are able to build in our own community.”
Tolin said MCP is based on a strong foundation of delivering projects on time and within budget.
“We pride ourselves on turning napkin sketches into successful projects,” he said. “We just like to roll up our sleeves and get to work for our clients, delivering a good, positive experience during the construction process.”
Additionally, the top service that differentiates MCP is having an owner’s mindset.
“Having that mindset through planning and construction forges a strong foundation between builder and client, especially on remodel projects where they’re still occupying the building,” Tolin said. “We put ourselves in their shoes while working on their project. We think about things like controlling the noise, dust and traffic flow or just being supportive to the owner's needs.”
Tolin said the construction industry is generally behind the curve when it comes to technology, so they’re always looking for ways to be innovative on that front to differentiate themselves.
About 70% of MCP’s revenue each year is with repeat clients and most of them have been clients for five-plus years, said Tolin.
In general, business has picked up in the last few months for MCP, and many of the projects that were put on hold during the pandemic are starting to break loose. While 2020 and 2021 were slower years than they were used to seeing, MCP was able to stay sustainable and is now set up to expand in the next several years.
“We are not interested in becoming the biggest contractor in the world, but we do want to grow and continue to be considered one of the best,” he said. “We strive to do that.”
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• Business
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FROM
What’s the word all about?
Buzz
PHOTO SUBMITTEDAre there more questions or answers today? Which is of greater importance, the answer or the question? Is this factual? What does that mean? Where is the data? How was the study funded and by whom? Who fact checks the fact checkers? How will this make me the standout?
Does this barrage of jargon and pseudo information inspire a desire for quality or prompt an inclination to disconnect and a quiet acceptance of the status quo?
MANAGEMENT—DEFINING
both Peter Drucker
Warren Bennis,
Stephen R. Covey
At Washburn University School of Business, Organization and Management is a required core course for the Bachelor of Business Administration degree program regardless of major concentration. Students are presented with a comprehensive framework of management terminology, theory, and practical insights to recognize environmental and economic forces that affect business decisions and ultimately organizational success.
To begin laying the foundation for classroom and lifetime
A quick online search for management or leadership buzz words will return a plethora of results. Resume gurus and headhunting recruiters suggest the latest and greatest differentiating terms and gimmicks to implement, virtually guaranteeing a job growth paradigm shift.
Yet the true meanings, the innate characteristics of management and leadership are not trendy. They are perpetual and worthwhile pursuits. They are destinations not glamourized titles and pay scales. People, countries, and cultures are built upon them. They are cornerstones in personal lives, public institutions, and organizations alike that society cannot afford becoming desensitized to.
learning, a shared understanding of vocabulary, word meaning in context, is necessary for the transfer information to be effectively converted into applicable knowledge.
Focusing through the management lens, students are able to develop tools for understanding why organizations exist, how work gets done, who does the work, what role responsibilities are, and how to prepare to fill those roles.
policies, processes, expectations, and language of the firm because everyone manages something, somewhere, every day. Decisions made at all levels of an entity affect productivity, quality, and profit. Excellent managers continue to be students throughout their careers.
As technology continues to enable global opportunities for businesses, terminology management systems and careers are in demand, reaching revenue estimates of 30 million U.S. dollars annually according to Nimdzi. com. These systems enable consistency and boost effectiveness by eliminating misunderstandings internally between
departments as well as externally with clients and prospects across countries and cultures.
Defining tactical objectives with clear and precise language, such as establishing a business glossary, fortifies organizational structure which otherwise is at risk of public damage by personal interpretation.
Practical management supports workers by defining and developing technical and industry skills, is concerned about staff and environments, solves problems, delegates, celebrates, and develops people.
“I’ll tell you what leadership is. It’s persuasion and conciliation, and education, and patience.”
President Dwight D. Eisenhower Native Kansan and Five Star General
Leadership is the natural progression of an individual contributor who has grown beyond the skillset required to do job tasks and later rises above the role of a manager who accomplishes organizational goals through the staff they supervise. The manager is not yet by definition a leader because their effort remains focused on goal setting, administration, and achievement.
However, when a leadership position is attained, the leader does not forgo or relinquish management knowledge, they recognize that leadership is not management and strive to gain additional attributes, perspectives, and means of strategic thinking and design. Leaders prioritize, envision and create possibilities, carry themselves with integrity, and inspire others to do the same. Leadership is contingent upon
influence and strategy, harnessing and applying the power of time and energy, creating an atmosphere of expectation.
Prioritization enables time and space for inspiration. Gone are the days when leadership theory focused upon being born with ideal makeup of personality traits, charisma, and intuition. Intention, study, and desire are the building blocks for today’s leaders.
The Washburn University Leadership Institute is a development program for students who desire leadership experiences and skills. Whether seeking a minor or a certificate, students study ethics, responsibility, and conceptual leadership, and gain an opportunity to mentor with active leaders during internships based upon their major or area of interest.
Extended study is available through the Washburn Transformational Experience (WTE) and Master of Arts in Communication and Leadership. WTE students serve while they learn about themselves and inspired servant leaders in the region and beyond.
Transformational leaders persuade followers to look past their own interests to band together in excellence for
the betterment of the organization and society as a whole. As the WTE website states, “…they graduate from the University as citizens who recognize the abundance of leadership opportunities and are ready to accept the mantle of responsibility that comes with these opportunities.”
The strength and resilience that determined leaders and managers display as they prioritize, inspire, define, and develop, enable them to draw upon their mettle and spirit to effectively usher in change. New ideas become inventions, workspaces break from the confines of location and language, creative energy is fed by freedom to think and discuss, and impediments to change are removed for work groups.
The real work of management and leadership is what matters: integrity, understanding, and developing qualities in people that produce respect, enlightenment, improved standards of living and learning. The caliber of leaders today determines the opportunities our children will have tomorrow. And that is what the buzz is truly about.
With over 26 years of experience in beauty and wellness, Owner Trisha Williams, along with her professional team, provide an experienced and personalized approach to all of your beauty needs.
So many great clients, friends and employees have supported the growth of this business which led to the 2022 purchase of an existing day spa, and the expanded name of Customskin Medspa @ his and her salon and day spa.
Customskin Medspa @ his and her salon and day spa is the perfect solution for individual, corporate, and group events or services.
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Kansas Best Mudjacking is a premier foundation repair, waterproofing, and mudjacking contractor dedicated to providing friendly and affordable services in Kansas. They strive to deliver unparalleled workmanship on every project in and around Topeka, Lawrence and surrounding communities.
Kansas Best Mudjacking offers more than mudjacking (which is lifting slab concrete). They also offer a wide range of repairs to concrete such as waterproofing, bulging walls, settling foundations and drain tiles.
Marty and Debbie Keating opened Kansas Best Mudjacking in 2013 and now have over 25 years experience in the field.
Being a family-owned and operated business has advantages. Kansas Best Mudjacking is always available to address your needs and concerns. Feel free to reach out any time of the day.
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The Topeka Habitat ReStore accepts donated new and used building materials, home improvement items and furniture from local businesses and residents.
Donated items are sold to the public at a fraction of the retail price and all proceeds support Topeka Habitat for Humanity.
Sales of donated items help Topeka Habitat for Humanity partner with local families to build and repair safe, decent and affordable homes in our community—a good deal for you, the community, and the environment.
Together, we can help families achieve the strength, stability, and self-reliance they need to build a better future while creating stronger neighborhoods.
For more information visit Habitat for Humanity's ReStore website or call the number below.
www.topekahabitat.org 785-783-7670
Coolest Thing Made in Kansas— People’s Choice Winner Announced After six weeks of competition, the Kansas Manufacturing Council announced the Terramac Crawler built by Ernest-Spencer is the winner of the 2022 Coolest Thing Made In Kansas—People’s Choice.
Nadia Arbelo Promoted as the New Assistant Director for the Kansas SBDC at Washburn University Nadia Arbelo, adviser for the Manhattan Outreach Center, has been promoted to assistant director for the Kansas SBDC at Washburn University. Nadia will join Karl Klein in the Topeka office to drive entrepreneurial impact for Topeka and the 12-county region they serve.
The Radio Ink Radio Wayne Awards were named for Wayne Cornils, a man whose passion and devotion to the radio industry was legendary. Tim Kolling with Alpha Media Topeka was awarded the Radio Wayne 2022 National Marketing Consultant Streetfighter of the Year Award.
Downtown Topeka Inc. and the Greater Topeka Partnership Announce New DTI President, Director of River Strategies
Advisors Excel (AE) announces plans for a multi-milliondollar renovation of the Gage Center campus mall and a new satellite office in Lenexa. The expansion addresses the 17-year-old Topeka company’s evolving business needs.
The Topeka metropolitan area’s* employment grew by 1,317 employees in 2021, an expansion of 1.2%. The global pandemic’s impact on the economy decreased jobs by just under 9,900 in April 2020. Since then, the region has added back just under 9,100 workers. In 2022, yearover-year growth was over -0.2% for each of the first two quarters, which was counter to the broader macro trends.
Blackbird Espresso Bar and Bistro has been a local staple in Topeka since 2010 when owners Jayson and Lauren North took over the former Lola’s Café. The couple has brought in two new partners, Danny and Valerie Williams, and look to shake things up a little over the next several months.
Ashley Gilfillan, who has served as GO Topeka redevelopment project manager since late July, is the new President of Downtown Topeka Inc. & Director of River Strategies.
The strategy development began with an assessment of the state’s economic reality and identifies future trends that will impact Kansas in the coming years. The Kansas Chamber partnered with Economic Leadership to research, review national best practices, and interview Kansas business, workforce development, and community leaders to learn about the challenges and successes happening across the state.
