September 2024 Issue

ON THE COVER

A Roadmap of Longevity

Shared values and a thoughtful succession plan have become the secrets to success at Clayton Wealth Partners.

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Photo by JOHN BURNS

Personalized Care

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Susan

David

Patrick

Catherine

Eric Knox defied expectations when he channeled his graphic design degree into a thriving sign business.

Whether it’s with a boost of self-confidence or a well-deserved indulgence, these local businesses deliver an extra special pampering experience.

Washburn University business professor Jim Martin, CPA, explains what voters should know about the 2024 presidential candidates’ tax plans.

Seven Topeka entrepreneurs sit down with TK Business Magazine tp talk about their victories, struggles and wisdom gained on the path to success.

Family Forward is a new initiative that explores how business owners can enhance Topeka’s workforce by providing better child care support for working families.

Meet four passionate small business owners who are keeping the “shop local” spirit alive in Topeka.

How three Topeka businesses redesigned their offices to entice employees back to the office and better engage remote workers.

Attorney John R. Dietrick of HR Partners addresses common concerns about AI and explains how businesses can use it wisely in the workplace.

Dr. Robert Perez, Topeka’s new city manager, sits down with Danielle Martin to talk about his plans for the city and how everyday Topekans can make their voices heard.

Photo by

DANE STEPHENSON

Photo by JOHN BURNS

Photo by BRIAN

CONTRIBUTORS

PUBLISHER Braden Dimick & SALES DIRECTOR

braden@tkmagazine.com 785-438-7773

CREATIVE DIRECTOR & DESIGNER

Janet Faust

EDITOR Lauren Jurgensen

COVER PHOTOGRAPHER John Burns

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Morgan Chilson

Kim Gronniger

Lauren Jurgensen

Lisa Loewen

Samantha Marshall

Danielle Martin

PHOTOGRAPHERS

CONTRIBUTING EXPERTS

John Burns

Brian Peters

Dane Stephenson

John Dietrick

Jim Martin

Alexandra Reilly

WEBSITE MANAGER Cordell Dimick

2024 TK Business Magazine is published by E2 Communications, Inc., 7537 SW 26th St., Topeka, KS 66614. 785-438-7773. Reproduction or use of this publication in any manner without written permission of the publisher is prohibited.

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BUILDING A BUSINESS FROM SCRATCH

Sign of the Times

By MORGAN CHILSON & LAUREN JURGENSEN

Eric Knox defied expectations when he channeled his graphic design degree into a thriving sign business, Knox Signs & Graphics.

Photos by JOHN BURNS

Photo by JOHN BURNS

Erik Knox always knew he’d work in graphic design. What he didn’t expect was to use his design degree to open his own sign business — something that’s not always considered to be as “glamorous” as the animation and video game jobs other student designers set their sights upon.

“The majority of students wanted to design for companies like John Deere, who at the time was a major employer in Eastern Iowa where I was going to school,” said Erik, who hails from St. Claire, Michigan and is the owner and founder of Knox Signs & Graphics in Topeka.

Designing and manufacturing signs is a profitable industry. However, design students are not always encouraged to pursue it as a career path, said Erik.

“Other students wanted to design for animation studios or video game companies,” he said. “While I did select a major that would typically lead to a career spent sitting at a desk, I knew at a young age that sitting at a desk wasn’t something I would be able to do.”

While his wife Laura completed her education in nuclear medicine, Erik took an internship at a sign shop. He had been working at Lowes when one of his coworkers expressed how much she enjoyed working as a printer for a local sign shop. That coworker’s positive experience inspired Erik to accept the internship.

“The internship allowed me to look at my college major and see how it could be applied to a real-world environment. I saw up close the daily workings of a small business,” he said. “After understanding what goes into operating a sign shop, I came to the realization that it fit the type of young adult I was becoming, allowing me to utilize my major, work with my hands and problem-solve daily issues.”

Laura graduated from the University of Iowa, where she and Erik originally met, and received a job offer from the VA in Topeka. The couple

decided that if they were going to relocate to Kansas for her career, then it was also time for Erik to open his own business.

Erik and Laura arrived in Topeka in March 2011. By October of that year, Erik was running his sign business out of their home garage.

“I worked as an assistant store manager at Lowes, saving funds and purchasing equipment necessary to start the business,” he said. “I started working out of my garage with a vinyl cutter, laminator and the first of many printers.”

FROM GARAGE TO GLORY

More than 10 years later, business is booming and Knox Signs & Graphics has expanded to a 9,800-square-foot space. Erik spent several years renting bays at a South Topeka industrial park before moving to the company’s current location at 4026 SW Topeka Blvd. in 2018.

For a sign business that does vehicle wraps, a type of large-scale vinyl decal that is often used to apply custom graphics or advertising to a car, having enough space is key.

Knox updated the garage doors and made sure they had room to install wraps on semis and cement trucks. Next, they added another 2,000 square feet to the building so they could store their 70-foot and 48-foot boom trucks.

“Our current building is the former Western Extralite building, and it was mighty rough when we got it,” Erik said. “The price was good for our budget, and it worked for the vision we had.”

For Erik, running a business that manufactures and installs vehicle wraps is more than a job. It’s also a fond reminder of his own childhood memories.

“In high school, my best friend’s dad owned a local boat repair shop on the Mississippi River,” he said. “He mentored me on how to restore boats

and vehicles, including how to add vinyl graphics to the finished products. This created one of my first interests in the graphic design industry.”

In addition to decals and wraps for vehicles, the menu of services at Knox Signs & Graphics includes graphic design, large-format printing and signage options like intricate, largescale LEDs.

Knowledge of graphic design is necessary to create and sell signs, but having the skill to operate high-tech printers and tools is vital, too.

Thankfully, moving to an industrial park provided the company with ample space to install all the high-tech equipment they could ever need. That includes a flatbed printer that allows them to print metal signs in house.

“That was a big game-changer that decreased production time substantially for us,” Erik said. “You have to invest in the equipment that makes sense. As time goes on, we keep investing in new manufacturing equipment. This allows us to do as much in-house signage manufacturing as possible.”

The company uses printers, laminators and cutters to complete most orders. Bigger, complex signs with detailed design elements may also require bending and welding to create the final product.

Every request the company receives is treated as a custom order. Erik’s team immediately begins work on the design and submits their proposal to the customer for their approval. Once approved, the design is printed. For vehicle wrap orders, the final step is to schedule an installation, which the company completes by hand.

DESIGNER TURNED DEVELOPER

As his sign business grows, Erik wants to keep investing in the community where he works as well as lives. He has enjoyed being part of the

Once Eric Knox moved his business into a bigger space, he was able to install a flatbed printer that allows in-house printing of metal signs.

renovation of South Topeka Boulevard and has bought several lots and buildings nearby to bring them up to date, improve their safety and enhance the appeal of the Southwest Topeka corridor.

“It’s great to see the changes,” Knox said. “A lot of work has been put into existing buildings along the Boulevard. Our business relationship with McElroy’s allowed us to see the progress and changes they’ve made on their own building, which has made a huge positive impact on the area. We’ve seen other businesses do the same. It seems like things are going in the right direction.”

Laura and Erik recently decided to buy and fix up the building next door to Knox Signs & Graphics, which used

to be a muffler shop and a used car lot. They now rent the property to one of their sign customers, CWC Electric LLC, who knew that having a location on the Boulevard would give them more customer visibility.

The couple plans to keep purchasing and repairing local properties.

“The best outcome so far has been the decrease in unwanted loitering,” Erik said. “As you clean up and take pride in your own space, people begin to respect the area in front of them and are less likely to linger.”

After the couple completed their first building renovation, Laura obtained her commercial contractor’s license. This made it possible for the couple to pull their own permits and

gain a better understanding of building codes.

“Knowing that we wanted to continue to have a positive impact on our community, it just seemed like a natural step to take,” Laura said.

MAKING IT WORK

As for Knox Signs & Graphics, Erik plans to grow and stay on top of the market. He said that the company’s success has been phenomenal, and he’s determined to maintain a high level of customer satisfaction.

“We hope to expand to an online wholesale presence, as well as continue offering the services our local customers request,” Erik said. “When we started, my wife and I thought that I would do wraps a couple of times a

Photo by JOHN BURNS

The success of Knox Signs & Graphics has made it possible for owner Eric Knox to invest money in neighborhood revitalization projects, such as improving the appeal of South

week and still be able to help with other stuff. We didn’t know how busy it was going to be. It really took off and it’s been that way ever since.”

He said that he’s since worked hard to bring some balance back into his life so that he can spend more time with family. During the early years of the business, it was not unusual for him to arrive at work at 5:30 a.m. and leave at 10 p.m.

Even today, Erik continues to take a hands-on approach to vehicle wrap work.

“I’m picky about how I want our finished product to look,” he said. “I’ve kept doing it over the years to make sure our customers get exactly what they want.”

He added that if there’s one thing he’s learned, it’s that there’s a bit of an art to the completion of a vehicle wrap — and installing one is not as easy as it might look.

“Everything that leaves our shop has my name on it and I really take pride in that,” Erik said.

He said that he’s glad to have a strong team of eight employees who are not only good at what they do, but are also willing to cross train and learn other skills.

“I’ve got a good team that has no problem jumping in and doing the work. They treat it like it’s their own and they care about the quality,” Erik said.

Expanding to be a larger company would require more employees, he said, and it’s been challenging at times to find people who can do the work.

“We now look for individuals who have a great work ethic, show up ready to go and care about the quality of work they’re producing,” Erik said. “Many of our current employees have received on-the-job training to work in the sign trade and have prior experience working with their hands in trades like welding, construction and autobody.”

Most of their clients are located in Northeastern Kansas. Several customers have been coming to them for years,

which Erik said is a testament to the quality of work they do.

He added that staying up to date with customer needs matters to him, which is one reason why the company recently expanded into the LED sign business.

“It’s gone really well, and it’s an exciting space to be in. We keep growing. When we do these signs, we’re able to tell the manufacturer the specific changes needed to make a custom sign,” Erik said.

He is happy with the company’s steady growth and success. He also believes his background working a variety of jobs in college, which included gigs in the construction and concrete industries, is what set him up for success.

“I’ve done graphic design for a long time, and I’ve been pretty good at it. But working in other fields beyond graphic design is what contributed to a lot of my success,” Erik said.

TK

Photo by JOHN BURNS

Topeka Boulevard.

Dare to Indulge

SELF-CARE SERVICES ARE THE SECRET TO SUCCESS FOR THESE TWO TOPEKA

ENTREPRENEURS

The age of “treat yourself” is alive and well in Topeka. Whether it’s with a boost of self-confidence or a well-deserved indulgence, these local businesses deliver an extra special pampering experience so that customers can leave feeling better than when they walked in.

The Refinery, a medical spa owned by Sarah Jepson, and The Royal Society, the latest in Adam VanDonge’s portfolio of luxury spots about town, aim to help clients feel their best. Because doesn’t everyone deserve a little pampering?

By SAMANTHA MARSHALL

by DANE STEPHENSON

Photos

Photo by DANE STEPHENSON

Sarah Jepson, owner and medical director of The Refinery Medical Aesthetics, with Aesthetic Injector Robyn Gorrell.

The Refinery

Owner and medical director of The Refinery Medical Aesthetics, Sarah Jepson MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, is on a mission to help the Topeka community ditch the stigma around cosmetic procedures and embrace the feeling of being confident in their own skin.

“One of my goals is to normalize aesthetics,” Jepson said. “If you think about it, people get their nails done, hair colored and have surgical reconstruction. This is just another way to feel better about yourself.”

The Refinery specializes in non-surgical and anti-aging cosmetic services, including neurotoxin injections, dermal fillers and skin rejuvenation treatments. Unsurprisingly, Botox is their most popular service. Jepson believes what sets The Refinery apart is the medical background and safety standards she and Aesthetic Injector Robyn Gorrell BSN, RN, bring to their craft.

Photo by DANE STEPHENSON

The Refinery may have the look of a traditional spa, but its safety standards and medically trained staff are what set it apart, said owner Sarah Jepson.

Photo by DANE STEPHENSON

FROM MEDICAL CARE TO SELF-CARE

Jepson started her career as a trauma nurse who handled medical procedures that would make most people wince, yet which she happened to enjoy.

“I love doing procedures and doing things with my hands,” Jepson said. “I like that it uses critical skills.”

Jepson shifted to pediatric nursing after she became a mom. Although the change gave her the normal daytime schedule she wanted, she missed doing procedures. To scratch the itch, she began doing cosmetic procedures on the side. It didn’t take long before she had enough clients to move her operations to a rented room in a downtown salon.

By the end of the year, she was making enough income to leave her nursing career behind. Jepson leased her own building in October 2023 to give

herself the square footage she needed to care for returning customers.

SAFETY OVER SWIFTNESS

Jepson’s nursing background influences her standard of care. Each room of The Refinery is outfitted with a medical kit and EpiPen in case a patient has an allergic reaction. Fortunately, they’ve never been used.

Jepson and Gorrell ensure they educate every patient they see. They spend every first appointment walking the patient through what they can expect, what the results will be and how long it can take to see a difference.

“The first time I got Botox, I was put in a room, someone came in and

injected my face, then I went out and paid, and I didn’t know what happened,” Jepson said. “I want everyone to feel informed and comfortable.”

REFINED, NOT TRANSFORMED

The Refinery’s most prominent customer segment is women between the ages of 30 and 60 who want to ease the effects of aging without looking fake. With fillers, people can be timid, thinking they’re going to look like people they see on TV,” Jepson said. “I don’t want people to look frozen or plastic. Robyn and I have an eye for natural beauty.”

The idea of refining, rather than completely transforming one’s

Photo by DANE STEPHENSON

Photo by DANE STEPHENSON

Women who want to ease the effects of aging, without looking fake, are The Refinery’s main clientele.

appearance, influenced the name of the business.

“I was trying to think of a word that would represent, not a complete change, but something subtle,” Jepson said. “You’re not doing a complete remodel, just a refinement.”

For many of Jepson’s patients, their first visit to The Refinery is a step toward finally investing in themselves. She often sees women after their youngest child has left for college.

“A lot of times, women spend most of their money on their families,” Jepson said. “I’ve had women break down in tears when we show them their after photos.”

REDUCING STIGMA WHILE INCREASING BUSINESS

In the past two years, The Refinery has accumulated about 500 patients.

“I have people all of the time tell me their friend told her she had to call me,” Jepson said.

In a business that’s built on putting your face into someone else’s hands, that kind of personal endorsement is priceless. In fact, it is the connection she builds with her patients that Jepson said makes her new career even more rewarding than her last.

“When I saw patients as a trauma nurse, they didn’t feel good. They just wanted to go home,” Jepson said. “The whole environment at The Refinery is much more fulfilling. I feel like I’m doing something to make people feel better about themselves.”

Photo by DANE STEPHENSON

Photo by DANE STEPHENSON

CONOMIC OUTLOOK CONFERENCE

The Greater Topeka Partnership and Washburn University School of Business would like to invite you to our 2024 Economic Outlook Conference.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024

7:30 AM - 10:30 AM

UNIVERSITY Memorial Union Washburn A/B

LEARN MORE BY SCANNING THE QR

Adam VanDonge, owner and founder of The Royal Society, wanted an upscale space where men could enjoy wine and charcuterie while browsing high-quality cigar and personal care products.

The Royal Society

Newsflash: Men like self-care, too. At least according to Adam VanDonge.

“Men like to be pampered,” said VanDonge. “A lot of guys don’t admit it, but we do.”

VanDonge recently opened The Royal Society, his third business in downtown Topeka, coming after The White Linen and Knox Cocktail Lounge. Half men’s boutique, half wine bar, The Royal Society fits nicely with his brand that collectively offers Topekans (both men and women) the ultimate night out.

“I love giving others an experience, and I’m big on Topeka” said VanDonge. “The Royal Society is another way to give the city something they never had before.”

INSPIRED BY A HAIRCUT

The idea for The Royal Society has been brewing in VanDonge’s mind ever since he stumbled upon a men’s boutique and barber shop in Chicago ten years ago.

After indulging in an hourlong haircut and browsing its

Photo by DANE STEPHENSON

Do you enjoy playing your cards right at the blackjack table? Or doubling down on massage tables at the Cedar & Sage Spa? Maybe you prefer to go all in – into the pool, that is. Prairie Band has it all. So you can have all the fun.

Photo by DANE STEPHENSON

curated menswear, VanDonge knew he wanted to bring a piece of his indulgent visit back home.

“It was an experience I’ll never forget,” VanDonge said. “It is just one of those places where you want to keep going back.”

Since opening The White Linen seven years ago, VanDonge discovered Topekans love wine, but didn’t have a dedicated wine bar to frequent. The Royal Society fills that void with its offerings of wine, champagne and charcuterie. Their signature menu item, The Royal Treatment, offers guests champagne and caviar for a truly indulgent experience.

As for the boutique side of the business, customers will be able to peruse a variety of men’s accessories, perhaps with their glass of wine in hand. Offerings include high-end shampoos

Society’s

and conditioners, cigar accessories and candles. VanDonge said he might add ladies’ products in the future.

With its velvet seats, gold chandeliers and tufted coaches, VanDonge hopes to transport customers through the space’s retro-glam ambience.

“When you walk in, the place takes you back to the 1930s-40s,” said VanDonge. “It’s an awesome old school building.”

The space and the offerings may promote indulgence but VanDonge wants to keep things simple. No reservations are accepted, making a spontaneous visit easier to pull off. TVs in the outdoor patio area allow customers to truly relax. By the time they leave, VanDonge hopes customers will walk away having felt they experienced something unique.

“When they visit, I want customers to know there’s going to be excellent service,” VanDonge said. “The experience is top notch.”

The Royal Society’s emphasis on the customer experience certainly matches that of The White Linen and The Knox Cocktail Lounge. But each restaurant offers something distinct. Customers won’t be able to order a pour of bourbon at The Royal Society, just as they wouldn’t find an aged merlot in The Knox’s selection of craft cocktails. Customers with an appetite for a full meal after their charcuterie at The Royal Society will need to venture three blocks over to The White Linen.

ANOTHER TOAST TO THE TOWN

Now that he’s started his third business in downtown Topeka, }

Photo by DANE STEPHENSON

Photo by DANE STEPHENSON

The Royal

signature menu item, The Royal Treatment, offers guests champagne and caviar for a truly indulgent experience.

VanDonge has cemented his investment in the city.

“Topeka is a tough city for businesses,” VanDonge said. “I’m just trying to help Topeka appreciate some cool things and some awesome ideas.”

While he admits putting money into a third venture is scary, he is confident The Royal Society will be a success, in part because of the businesses that already make up the downtown Topeka landscape.

“In my eyes, downtown is becoming the spot to go to, thanks to people putting money into it,” VanDonge said. “I love walking or driving down Kansas Avenue on a Thursday or Friday evening and seeing every parking spot full. It’s an awesome thing.” TK

Photo by DANE STEPHENSON

Photo by DANE STEPHENSON

Photo by DANE STEPHENSON

Customers of The Royal Society come for the wine and cold cuts, but stay for the luxury men’s grooming products.

Nearly 6,000 open jobs are currently unfilled in Shawnee County.

Lack of quality child care is a major barrier.

Family Forward is addressing the child care shortage by bringing businesses, families and child care providers together:

• to create hundreds of new child care slots

• to build a business culture that is family-friendly

• to build a parent assistance fund You have a role. Let’s move forward together. Visit www.FamilyForwardNow.org

AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE FOR PARENTS AND WORKERS

Shawnee County is dealing with a child care crisis. Despite a high demand for quality child care, there aren’t enough providers and openings to respond to the demand. This has a negative impact on employers, families and the economy.

Historically, child care was considered a family issue, or more specifically, a women’s issue. But a lot has changed, according to Trina Goss, director of business and talent initiatives for GO Topeka.

“This is a workforce issue,” said Goss. “I hear from employers of all sizes across Shawnee County consistently: there are people they’d like to hire, but those candidates turn down job offers because they can’t find quality child care.”

June 2024 data from Child Care Aware of Kansas shows that there is no available licensed child care in Shawnee County for 47% of working parents’ children under the age of six. This aligns with research from the Bipartisan Policy Center, which reports that 48% of women of prime working age are not in the labor force because they are caring for children full time.

By ALEX REILLY

The talent pool is very tight and competitive right now, with unemployment hovering just under 3% as of May 2024 data from the Kansas Department of Labor. If businesses want to grow, they need workforce.

CREATING HOMEGROWN SOLUTIONS

Family Forward, a new initiative created jointly by the Greater Topeka Partnership and Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas, was born in response to the workforce and child care shortages in Shawnee County.

“Our mission is to bring the business communities, child care providers and families together to work on this issue,” said Sarah Elsen, executive director of Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas. “This is a complex problem. A grant helped us get started, but that alone won’t solve it.”

Family Forward has three strategies to support their mission. First, engage the business community in implementing family-friendly policies and benefits to attract and retain employees. Second, build support for the Family Forward Fund, a scholarship fund for parents

struggling with the high cost of child care in order to work. Third, help providers find high-quality candidates for child care positions, expanding the number of available child care slots in the county.

THE HIGH COST OF THE CRISIS

The number one trend shaping the workplace in 2024 is offering creative benefits, including benefits for caregivers and care, according to the Harvard Business Review.

“Employers have been focused on health and retirement benefits but they need to realize that supporting working families with child care is a health benefit,” said Elsen.

“Leading companies are realizing they need to focus on child care for their employees,” said Goss, “and it’s not just in Shawnee County. This is a national issue.”

The United States Chamber of Commerce Foundation has published a roadmap for businesses to address the high cost of the crisis. It manifests not just in high turnover and a shortage of workforce, but also in lost productivity and absenteeism.

“Businesses are feeling the pain, but there’s a lot they can do,” said Goss.

BUSINESS ACTION IS CRUCIAL

When businesses create a culture that supports and accommodates the needs of working parents, Family Forward calls them Champions for Child Care.

“High-quality child care improves a business’s ability to attract the kind of team they want and to retain them over time,” said Dr. Robert Kenagy, CEO of Stormont Vail Health. “For our team, having quality child care right across the street from our Topeka campus provides a peace of mind that makes us competitive.”

Washburn Tech has a facility that doubles as child care for children of staff, faculty and students as well as a learning lab for students in Washburn Tech’s Early Childhood Education program.

But not all employers are equipped or prepared to offer that level of support to employees.

“We encourage businesses to start by asking their employees what they need, getting their input,” said Goss. “Just giving them a chance to be heard is a great first step. Then assess what the company can do to meet those needs. We’re seeing many companies implement flexible hours and shifts, especially in the manufacturing and fulfillment sectors. This helps parents stay engaged while at work and gives them a start and end time that works better with school hours and child care center hours.”

Goss suggested that businesses take the steps outlined here, which will help their employees to better balance their responsibilities as working parents.

• Allow employees to bring their infants to work, which the State of Kansas has already done by adding an Infant at Work Program. This program permits parents to bring infants to work until age 6 months.

• Enhance your company benefits package to include the Dependent Care Assistance Program or Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account.

• Reserve spots at child care centers and offer vouchers to employees that reduce or cover their out-of-pocket cost for care.

• Offer financial support in the form of child care subsidies as an employee benefit.

• Have a plan and resources for backup care to help employees when things come up. Foster teamwork and supportiveness in your workplace culture.

• Take advantage of tax credits to finance the cost of child care. These are often underutilized.

BE A CHAMPION OF THE FAMILY FORWARD FUND

Kansas is currently among the 11 most expensive states for child care, where the cost is almost double the average rent. Child care can cost up to $10,000 per year for one child.

“It’s like running a private school,” said Tierra Patterson, director of Patterson Infant & Toddler Child Care Center, which is an expansion of Patterson Family Child Care Center. “It’s highly regulated and requires continuing education and accreditation to stay licensed.”

Family Forward has established a fund to help parents with the high cost of child care. Supporting this fund through the Topeka Community Foundation is the fastest and easiest way for a business to become a Champion for Child Care.

EXPAND THE CHILD CARE TALENT PIPELINE IN SHAWNEE COUNTY

Just as workforce is critical to the community, it’s also a tremendous challenge for child care providers.

Family Forward has eight centers currently working with the initiative on attracting people to join the profession. People can apply on the Family Forward website familyforwardnow.org. After passing an initial screening, applications are shared with all centers connected to Family Forward. This helps providers find the workforce they need, and it streamlines the process for the applicant.

Elsen is emphatic about quality.

“Licensed child care is not babysitting. It’s a highly regulated industry,” said Elsen. “But there currently aren’t enough people entering the field.” TK

Bartlett & West

Enticing Employees Back to the Office

By KIM GRONNIGER

From fire pits and fitness centers to foosball tournaments and craft activities, today’s employers are investing in ways to entice employees back to the office and better engage remote workers.

Here’s how three businesses have refreshed their spaces and policies to accommodate evolving work preferences while remaining focused on their colleagues and customers.

A few years ago, Bartlett & West renovated its headquarters by adding a fitness center, collaborative huddle rooms and a company kitchen with snacks, sodas and sandwiches that the company subsidizes 50-50. An expansive deck with tree-lined views complements an inviting office environment.

Following the pandemic, the employee-owned engineering firm hasn’t altered its physical space in Topeka. It continues to offer a variety of ways for people to work: enclaves (areas with couches and chairs gathered around a fireplace), cubicles and offices. The company is also turning its new lactation room into a multipurpose well-being room for those who may need to disconnect for a few minutes.

What has changed at the company is an intensified effort to facilitate employee engagement and connection throughout the enterprise.

With multiple offices and remote workers in many states, Kellie Dougan, human resources leader, said the company values flexibility along with empowering their employee-owners.

“We believe in meeting people where they are, whether they’re working onsite or in a hybrid or remote capacity,” she said. “We empower them to work with their team leader to decide how many days they’ll be in the office depending on their role, their performance, their career level and client needs. People have done a great job of figuring this out and our results, project quality and client satisfaction have remained strong.”

The company’s well-being committee came up with several creative options to encourage coworkers to connect during the pandemic, from making blanket ladders and playing bingo to “cutting, sawing and staining a beer flight tasting tray,” Dougan said. “We put puzzles in break rooms and asked people to submit pictures of themselves completing a 5K, whether an organized race or on their own.”

During their coffee and after-hours cocktail chats, which encourage employees to come together to discuss a variety of topics, participants are assigned to breakout rooms where they can share their perspectives.

“People are number one for us and relationships are something we value, both our employees and our clients,” Dougan said. “These

Photos by BRIAN PETERS

online sessions give our employeeowners an opportunity to come together and learn more about their coworkers and what they’re doing so they get a better understanding of the company as a whole.”

Dougan said that throughout the pandemic, the company hosted a couple of employee-owner summits featuring well-known speakers on various topics, including mental health and technology, as well as client panels during which participants shared experiences and provided feedback on company projects.

This year, 120 employee-owners attended a summit at Washburn

University centered on resiliency, which was also made available to all employees virtually.

To inspire more interaction, the company introduced a Guru program several years ago. The onboarding program pairs a new hire with another employee to help the individual assimilate and connect within the company more quickly.

Citing Gallup research, Dougan said, “Workplace satisfaction is often tied to having a best friend at work, however you define that, so the more likely you are to connect with someone, the more likely you are to feel like you belong and are more apt to become

by

a confident contributor. The guru invites the new employee to lunch or events, answers questions and provides guidance on procedures or insight on who to nudge if assistance is needed.”

Dougan said efforts to gather and engage employee-owners throughout the organization, whether for fun activities or professional and personal enrichment, has been a priority since the pandemic.

“People want to feel included and heard,” she said. “As a company, we believe connection with our employees and our customers leads to a sense of belonging and stronger solutions to lead our communities to a better tomorrow.”

Photos

BRIAN PETERS

Bartlett & West's recently renovated spaces and collaborative areas encourage employees to socialize and forge deeper connections.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas

Nicki Flanagan, senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS), experienced an “aha!” moment while touring Wichita State University’s Innovation Campus in 2023.

Noticing architectural features and niceties similar to those other universities have implemented, Flanagan said, “Students are used to collaborative spaces, making modern space table stakes for employers. We strive to be an employer of choice and investing in campus infrastructure has been a key focus of our employee experience strategy. It’s a crucial investment for employers who want to recruit top talent, as well as retain and engage their existing workforce.”

President and CEO Matt All said, “Our employees are our greatest assets. It’s important that we invest not only in their personal development, but in their workspaces as well. By modernizing our workspaces, we’re not only encouraging collaboration amongst teams but

ensuring our employees have the best environment possible to do their work serving our fellow Kansans.”

Although BCBSKS offers multiple employee benefits, including access to a 24/7 onsite fitness center, Flanagan said its physical surroundings were dated. The outdoor patio’s picnic tables were rarely used, while the café was often overlooked as an ideal space to hold team meetings.

The company has since reimagined these spaces to have multiple uses and advantages for employees with onsite, hybrid or remote work schedules.

“We’ve kept work schedules flexible so employees can do what’s best for them, but we hope our environmental strategy will encourage employees to come to the office

occasionally, even if it’s just to enjoy lunch with coworkers or collaborate on a project,” she said.

Long known for the quality of its café fare and its accessibility to the public, BCBSKS repurposed a former lobby supply closet into a welcoming Dialogue Coffee branch operated by the Capper Foundation.

When Dialogue Coffee opened in April, employee attendance numbers skyrocketed.

Flanagan credited Rick Reaves, director of facilities, for the idea to bring in Dialogue Coffee. He said that it’s been a pleasure to watch employees interact while waiting for their coffee.

“We’ve had a long-standing relationship with Capper and having

Photo by BRIAN PETERS

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas employees enjoy fresh air while taking a break on the company’s patio.

this opportunity to partner with them onsite creates synergy and helps our employees lean into inclusivity,” she said. “It’s great to see the hustle and bustle in the lobby and the sweet notes on coffee cups.”

In addition to renovating the Dialogue Coffee space, HTK Architects enhanced the company’s café, adding gas fireplaces, moveable furnishings, comfortable booths and countertop seating for group meetings. The space opened in December 2023.

The outdoor patio designed by SDG Architecture + Interiors features several disability-accessible levels and steel pergolas. There is also a Zen garden, waterfall, fire pit and lounge area with tables and chairs, making it a perfect space to enjoy a quiet lunch or gather in groups.

“Instead of looking at work as somewhere you go, we look at it as something you do, so we want to have multiple modern spaces that our employees can access throughout the

day,” Flanagan said. “When they’re here, we want them to feel at home.”

That concept of home also extends to the company’s family-friendly focus. “You can bring your family here to eat lunch with you and enjoy the spaces, too,” she said.

Reaves said the new café and outdoor spaces have increased the number of employees who now prefer to have team meetings onsite, instead of going elsewhere in the community, because of the convenience and the ambience. Additionally, other employees downtown have discovered the appeal of the café and Dialogue Coffee, creating an additional uptick in traffic.

“When we have vendors here for meetings, they often take their calls and work here instead of going back to their hotel rooms because they feel so comfortable,” Flanagan said.

“When we first started this project, a lot of people said ‘why’ and then when they saw the transformation,

they said ‘wow’ and ‘oh, my gosh,’” Reaves said.

In addition to aesthetics, patio work had to include considerations for noise, maintenance and sustainability.

The Zen garden’s purpose is twofold — to add a place for contemplation with a Capitol backdrop and provide a pretty view from the indoor private dining room. The tiles on the patio have PVC pipes underneath so they can be easily popped out for maintenance needs. Lights, fans and fireplaces are automated. When real grass wasn’t feasible for the fire pit area, artificial turf became a viable substitute. Benches made from composite wood were bent to complement the curved elements throughout the space.

“Our environmental strategy is working,” Flanagan said. “When I visited with our CEO, Matt All, about how important it is to invest in our people and our infrastructure, he provided his full support. I told Rick to run with our ideas and it’s so gratifying to see everything come to fruition.”

Photos by BRIAN PETERS

An outdoor fire pit and Zen garden, designed by SDG Architecture + Interiors, provides a tranquil space for BCBSKS employees to socialize or relax during breaks.

FHLBank Topeka’s Senior Vice President Amanda Kiefer said that employees “provided input into the final design” of their new café and collaborative workspaces.

FHLBANK TOPEKA

When it opened in 2018, FHLBank Topeka’s state-ofthe-art building included a full-service café, fitness center, game room and collaborative workspaces with floor-to-ceiling windows — perks that continue to enjoy post-pandemic allure.

Designed by SDG Architecture + Interiors, the prairie-modern building is LEED Gold certified and each desk is within sight of a window.

Amanda Kiefer, senior vice president and chief people and inclusion officer, said business partners, as FHLBank Topeka employees are called, “provided input into the final design and feel real ownership in the space.”

During construction of the building, business partner committees focused on all aspects of the work environment,

including artwork, collaborative spaces, work areas, the café and fitness area.

“I love the posts our business partners make about capturing sunsets or some other aspect of our surroundings on social media,” she said.

While the company’s 17-member leadership team is onsite each day, business partners can work from home up to two days a week at the discretion of their department head.

Kiefer said employee engagement has always been a focal point of the bank’s culture but since the pandemic, additional efforts have been made to “provide opportunities for us to be in community together.”

A volunteer community affairs committee hosts fun fundraisers to help support a local housing nonprofit each year and “business partners can pitch in to paint, power wash, pour cement or do whatever

else is needed on designated workdays,” Kiefer said.

Other business partner committees include the IDEA Council, which focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging events and awareness and the CARE committee, which supports United Way and another charity selected by business partners.

Another onsite advantage for employees is the ability to have books and movies delivered to the bank through the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library’s TSCPL@Work program.

Ping pong and foosball tournaments put on hold during the pandemic are back along with a fundraising airplane toss toward prize targets and a mini-golf competition. For the latter, departments build mini-golf holes using nonperishable food items that business partners play through. Last year’s

Photo by BRIAN PETERS

challenge resulted in 10 barrels of food donated to Project Topeka.

The bank recently implemented a summer theme, “Around the World,” which has included origami and cricket demonstrations, a Stuff the Bus school supply collection for Boys & Girls Clubs of Topeka and “A Proper British Bash” that explored slang, cuisine and music from across the pond.

“We schedule activities on days when most of our employees are onsite to be good stewards of our culture,” Kiefer said. “Our business partners want to be together to volunteer and celebrate, whether it’s for a development or learning event or a milestone accomplishment.”

Kiefer said younger business partners and interns “especially felt a

gap in connection during the pandemic and they participate as much as they can.”

The numerous collaborative spaces in the building not only facilitate connection but also fast track communications during a crisis.

“If there is an urgent issue, we are able to use our collaborative spaces to set up war rooms so teams can respond quickly,” Kiefer said. “That’s the beauty of our building.”

Kiefer said after the pandemic, the bank invested in technology upgrades for meeting spaces that improve experiences for all participants, whether they’re working onsite or remotely.

From a recruiting and retention standpoint, Kiefer believes the hybrid model is an advantage. “We didn’t think a full-time remote or full-time onsite

approach was right for us,” she said. “Having three days in the office and two at home works.”

A recent business partner engagement survey supports Kiefer’s conclusion.

President and CEO Jeff Kuzbel believes the results support that conclusion as well.

“We have 260 business partners and we had a 98% engagement survey response rate,” Kuzbel said. “That in and of itself shows how much we all care about culture and our work environment and living our values to meet our mission. Our employee retention rate is really strong compared to market data, signifying our people are proud to work here. We will work together to continue that trajectory.” TK

Photos by BRIAN PETERS

A full-service café and modern fitness center are a few of the many employee perks inside FHLBank Topeka's spacious building, which opened in 2018.

CLAYTON WEALTH PARTNERS

A ROADMAP OF LONGEVITY

As Clayton Wealth Partners celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, the two founders and four partners who are navigating the company into the future reflect on what’s guided its success: a thoughtful succession plan and a culture of shared values.

By LISA LOEWEN

Photos by JOHN BURNS

The Clayton Wealth Partners team.

Front Row: Randy Clayton, Debra Clayton, Clint Patty. Back row: Barbara Duncan, James Walden, Elizabeth Young.

When Debra and Randy Clayton started Clayton Wealth Partners more than four decades ago, they chose to forge a new path in the financial planning industry rather than follow the same roadmap that had guided the profession for years.

At the time, most financial planning service firms operated on a commission-based fee structure. The Claytons envisioned a more holistic approach to helping customers reach their financial goals and instituted a feeonly payment structure. This made their client interactions less transactional and shifted their focus to building relationships and long-term planning.

“The entire purpose of financial planning is to help our clients with all of their financial needs, not just their investments,” Randy said. “That means advising them on tax management, retirement planning, saving for their kids’ college tuition and any other longterm goals they have.”

As partners in business as well as in life, Debra and Randy quickly learned that harmony could only come from maintaining a degree of separation. In other words, rational decisions on how to manage portfolio investments should be made without the influence of the emotional, client-focused financial planning side of their business.

“Clients often react to every piece of economic, political or global news they hear,” Debra said. “Investment decisions require a long-term, big picture approach that is not so reactionary.”

SEARCHING FOR TALENT

As Clayton Wealth Partners grew its base of loyal customers, one thing became clear: they needed to hire more people. They also needed to create a succession plan and decide who would someday take over the business.

In 2005 they recruited two newly minted Kansas State University graduates, Elizabeth Young and Barbara

Duncan, both of whom hold degrees in financial planning and have their CFP designations. The two financial planners started on the same day and have been working side by side ever since.

“We complement each other well,” Barbara said. “I am very detail oriented, and Elizabeth is more of a big picture thinker, so we bring the best of both worlds to the business.”

Next, it was time to find someone with the expertise and personality to take over the investment side of the company from Debra.

“Finding the right person was more of a hurdle than we expected,” Debra said. “We could find people with the experience that we wanted, but their values weren’t a good fit.”

They soon realized that someone with a Midwestern background would be the best fit for the company culture. When Jim Walden, a chartered financial analyst from Illinois, walked through the door eleven years ago, they knew

Photo by JOHN BURNS

Clayton Wealth Partners takes a holistic approach to financial planning, which has allowed the firm to focus on building client relationships and long-term planning.

he was a perfect match. Not only did he have the qualifications and values they desired, but he also gave them the push they needed to expand into the Lawrence area.

“We already had a number of clients that we were serving in Lawrence,” said Jim, whose wife is from Lawrence and wanted to move back there. “It just seemed practical to have an office there as well.”

With two new financial planners and a financial analyst in place, the next generation of the Clayton Wealth Partners dream team was almost complete. The only thing missing was someone to oversee the day-to-day operations.

The Claytons turned to someone close to home that they knew they could trust: their attorney, Clint Patty.

“Clint is very personable and outgoing,” Debra said. “He knows 90% of the attorneys in this town and has connections to a wide variety of resources, and could bring numbers-oriented people to the table.”

The Claytons offered Clint the position of CEO, but he refused. He asked them to restructure the position under the title of managing partner because he wanted all four of the new principals to operate as equals.

“I wanted the partners of this firm to be equals who experience the highs and lows together,” Clint said. “That includes Debra and Randy as well. We wanted to keep them on as equity partners as long as possible.”

CULTIVATING EXPERTISE

The dream team and succession plan were finally in place, but Clayton Wealth Partners knew they’d need to be patient as they transitioned 500 clients to a new leadership team in a way that would instill confidence and trust.

“The key to succession is to pass it off in little chunks. You bring the young planners into the meeting with you and gradually let them take on more responsibility, until you let them take over the meeting,” Debra said.

The Claytons continued to mentor their succession team, pushing them to step up to the challenges they’d face once they were making the decisions.

“Once the succession plan really started, we spent about seven years learning the ins and outs of the business and putting in the work,” Elizabeth said. “Then came the buy-in part of the puzzle. We all had to put some skin in the game.”

“The key to succession is to pass it off in little chunks.”

— Debra Clayton Co-Founder Clayton Wealth Partners

The official transition of ownership took place in 2020 with the four new partners taking over majority shares of the business and the founders serving as equity partners.

STRONGER TOGETHER

Over the past four years under new management, Clayton Wealth Partners has continued to grow and thrive, with little conflict on company culture or mission.

“The succession has been successful because of the existing culture that Randy and Debra created,” Clint said. “To carry that culture forward is relatively easy.”

They have maintained the team approach to advising clients, instituted by the founders, which ensures that customers are able to speak with someone knowledgeable about their investments at any time.

Their leadership philosophy embraces the team spirit, too. Although each of the four partners focus on a separate area of expertise, they aren’t afraid to offer suggestions based on each other’s strengths and weaknesses. All of them agree that constant communication is the key to their successful partnership.

“The structure of equal partnership works because we all have equal voices

in decisions. That structure forces consensus,” Clint said.

Afterward, they communicate their consensus to staff and clients.

“Jim lets us know what is happening with the portfolio and investments,” Barbara said. “We then communicate with our clients to let them know what that means for them and their money.”

The company also holds quarterly seminars to educate clients about market drivers that may affect their investment portfolios.

“Our clients get to hear directly from Jim, the person responsible for making the rational decisions in the investment portfolio, so they have

transparency about what is happening with their money,” Elizabeth said.

The company works with several nonprofit organizations, and Jim attends their board meetings and offers educational seminars on fiduciary responsibilities.

Clint ensures those lines of communication between the clientfacing side and the investment side of the business stay open and active so that the company can maintain its commitment to clients and community.

Clayton Wealth Partners may be celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, but with a new leadership team in place, its journey is just getting started. TK

Photo by JOHN BURNS

DESIGNED + BUILT BY

Comparing Tax Plans Ahead of the 2024 Presidential Election

As the 2024 presidential race developed, the two lead candidates, Presidents Biden and Trump, presented radically different views for the future of the federal income tax. With President Biden’s July 21 decision to withdraw as a candidate, the Democratic candidate, Vice President Harris, had not (as of the time this article was written) proffered a tax plan radically different from President Biden’s proposal.

In the past, Harris has proposed tax increases for higher earners, similar to other Democratic platforms and the Biden tax plan. Given that Harris has not put forth a platform different from the Biden plan, and factoring in that she was not the actual Democratic presidential candidate at the time of writing, this article will refer to the Biden tax plan as the Democratic plan (and likely largely the Harris plan) with the understanding that some details will change, but not the overall recommended direction.

Presidential campaigns are fertile ground for candidates to plant seeds of hope for taxpayers expecting the next president will

grant them that special tax break. In reality, tax laws enacted after a presidential election must travel the same legislative gauntlet that any tax law change would travel.

Campaign tax promises often go unfulfilled, as in the case of many of President Biden’s 2020 campaign tax promises, when a president lacks sufficient congressional support.

Tax historians point to the 1980 campaign and presidency of Ronald Reagan as one of the more recent times in which postelection tax law changes included considerable campaign promises.

The following is a summary, for comparative purposes, of the Democratic and Trump tax plans.

Information for this article was collected from sources such as campaign speeches and published platforms, news sources, proposed federal budgets and research completed by the international research think tank the Tax Foundation. Space will not allow inclusion of all candidate tax proposals and candidate proposals often change during and after the campaign. As such, this is a summary of the plans at this point in time for comparison purposes.

Jim Martin, CPA

Henrietta and G.W. Snyder Jr. Professor of Business Washburn University School of Business

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INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX

Democratic Plan

Under the Democratic plan, individual income tax rates would be increased from a maximum rate of 37% today to 39.6% for single filers with taxable income over $400,000 and joint filers with income over $450,000. The Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) would be increased from 3.8% to 5% and the tax base increased to include nonpassive business income for taxpayers with income above $400,000. There are a number of tax breaks/ limitations associated with the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) that are currently in effect, but which will soon expire or phase out. TCJA changes scheduled to be phased out include prior tax bracket rate reductions, prior increases to the standard deduction and prior increases in the Child Tax Credit.

Trump Plan

Compared to the Democratic proposed changes, the Trump changes are narrower in scope and fewer in number. That is because the tax components most commonly changed after a change of party in the White House had largely been put into place during the previous Trump administration following the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).

In a nutshell, the Biden administration has been living with much of Trump’s tax policies for four years and if Trump wins again, his tax wish list will likely be short.

Despite not being a fan of much of the TCJA, Biden has been unable

The TCJA also temporarily eliminated personal exemptions and capped the itemized deduction for state and local taxes at $10,000. On a temporary basis, miscellaneous itemized deductions were essentially eliminated by the TCJA, while the casualty loss deduction was significantly tightened and the amount of debt for which taxpayers could deduct home mortgage interest was reduced. The Democratic plan would continue these TCJA tax breaks/limitations and not phase them out for taxpayers earning $400,000 or less.

The Democratic plan would install a minimum tax of 25% for individuals with wealth of over $100 billion. Although not fully defined, the taxable minimum base for this new tax in

some Democratic proposals includes unrealized capital gains. Long-term capital gains and qualified dividends would be taxed at the top ordinary income rates (39.6%) for taxpayers with income above $1 million instead of the current 20% rate for those taxpayers. Unrealized capital gains at death would be subject to income tax if they exceed a $5 million exemption for single filers and $10 million for joint filers.

The Democratic plan would also increase and make fully refundable the Child Tax Credit. The Earned Income Tax Credit would be expanded, and the Health Insurance Premium Tax Credit set to expire would be made permanent. Finally, the Democratic plan includes a pledge to increase Internal Revenue Service funding.

to make significant tax law changes during his years as president because Democrats controlled only one house of Congress. As such, the Democratic tax wish list is longer today and contains many tax law changes proposed by candidate Biden four years ago, but which have not been enacted.

As mentioned above, significant provisions of the TCJA — which was put in place during the Trump administration — are set to expire. Under the Trump plan, these tax breaks and limitations would be made permanent.

The Trump plan also gives consideration to replacing the current

individual income tax system with a tariff on imports system. This tariff plan would place at least a 60% tariff on Chinese imported goods and at least a 10% tariff on all other imports.

The Trump plan would also exempt employee tips earned, which are currently taxable, from taxation.

Finally, the increase in the estate tax exemption that was put in place during the first Trump presidency, which is set to expire (and which currently allows an estate of $14.61 million to go untaxed at the federal level) would be made permanent.

BUSINESS INCOME TAX

Democratic Plan

Under the Democratic plan, the corporate income tax would increase from 21% to 28%. For companies operating internationally, the Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income tax rate would be increased from 10.5% to 21%.

International companies would also lose the Foreign-Derived Intangible Income deduction. Global companies would be taxed on undertaxed profits consistent with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development global minimum tax model rules.

The Democratic plan would increase the stock buyback tax from 1% to 4%. The fossil fuel industry would be affected as current tax code provisions, which allow for the rapid deduction of costs related to exploration and drilling, would be replaced with rules requiring deduction of these expenses over longer amortization periods.

The real estate industry would also be affected as Section 1031 like-kind exchange deferrals would be limited to $500,000 annually for single filers and $1 million for those filing jointly.

CONCLUSION

Trump Plan

President Trump’s plan would be to further lower the corporate income tax from 21% to 20%. Until the corporate tax rate was lowered in 2017, it had been 35%.

Trump also favors the taxation of large university endowments, although details are not yet available.

As mentioned previously, Trump was president when the TCJA was passed. The TCJA included provisions such as 100% bonus depreciation, a $250,000 single/$500,000 joint limitation on business losses, rules which limit deductions of research and development amortization and limitations on deducting business interest.

As of today, all of these TCJA tax provisions will be phased out or eliminated in 2025 or thereafter unless Congress and the president take actions to extend them. The Trump plan would stop the phase out or elimination of these tax components and make them permanent.

The two candidates (parties) are proposing drastically different visions for the tax policy of the United States going forward. Neither will likely get everything proposed on the campaign trail and clearly no tax law changes will occur without first going through Congress.

This article does not cover all tax proposals made by the candidates and certainly there are many nontax proposals one must consider when choosing who to vote for in the presidential election (and congressional elections).

Regardless of one’s party affiliation, becoming a well-informed electorate (be it on the matter of taxes or any other relevant matter) is a goal we can all embrace. TK

Expert Tips From Local Leaders for ACHIEVING SUCCESS

Seven local entrepreneurs share their journeys from humble beginnings to thriving businesses. Discover the challenges they faced, the breakthroughs that fueled their growth and the insights that drove their success.

What was your first job and how did it impact you?

Probably not surprisingly, my first job was entrepreneurial and I think it was in fifth grade. I had a business teaching ballet to the neighborhood girls. It taught me a lot of things: marketing, managing multiple details, keeping track of payments in my ledger and patience! It was very rewarding to earn my own money by doing something I loved.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to run their own business?

I believe everyone should be an entrepreneur at some time in their life, even if it’s just for a short time. While it’s not for everyone, the skills you gain are irreplaceable. The advice I’d give is to expect the unexpected. Be mentally tough, but be kind. Be generous. Surround yourself with smart people and listen to what they have to say. Ultimately, the buck stops with you, so trust your gut.

What qualities do you believe are most important in a business leader?

First, integrity and honesty. Your team, your clients and your family are all depending on you. Never risk your reputation, or theirs, by cheating or failing to live up to your word. Second, always be curious. Ask why and dig deeper, it will bring insights that others overlook. That’s a key to big “aha!” moments. Third, be creative. Seek ways to solve problems in different and better ways that bring huge value to clients and great satisfaction to yourself.

What strategies have been most effective for growing your business?

Always be willing to go the extra mile. Never, ever quit.

What impact do you hope your business will have on the community?

Our purpose at MB Piland is to improve the health and well-being of people and communities. We do that by working with clients in sectors like health, education, advocacy, economic development and finance. When we help these clients succeed in their efforts, collectively, we make a lasting impact on people and the planet.

MARTHA BARTLETT PILAND MB PILAND ADVERTISING + MARKETING

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What was your first job and how did it impact you?

Your first job doesn’t have to be your favorite job. Instead, I’ll tell you about the best job I ever had. My father installed floor coverings and had his own business. I’d work summers and weekends as he needed me and I loved it. Not the work so much, although I did learn a lot about that trade. I mean, I got to work with my dad! We’d go early to meet the crew for coffee and line out the day. We’d discuss logistics and scheduling, problem solving and job profitability. We’d discuss human resources and all the joys that entails. Most importantly, we’d discuss business reputation and providing a quality product that kept clients happy. Later, when I bought the tax practice with him, we got to address all those topics together again with a different context,

and most of the time, over coffee. It always gave me the best nostalgia fix and I hope he saw the symmetry and beauty of it as well.

What inspired you to run your own business?

My dad inspired me to buy into the practice. He saw my unhappiness with big corporate culture and knew I wanted to make a change. His hope was that I’d want to save a struggling business and the opportunity that came with that challenge. I liked the idea of making a bigger impact on a smaller scale. It was better than making seemingly no impact on a massive scale. Also, I didn’t want to wear a suit anymore.

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned as a business owner?

I have two mantras: Roll with the punches and take everything apace. I have way more than that, but these seem to be the ones I most often come back to. You have to be flexible in order to be what your clients and employees need in the moment. And you have to have confidence that things you put into motion will pay off, even if it’s not quite on the schedule you want. Build the process, put good brains on it and it will pay off.

What strategies have been most effective for growing your business?

I didn’t come to this industry with an extensive background in professional client service on an individual level. I offered what I would want in a professional that I hired, be they an accountant, attorney or financial planner. I looked for areas where clients complained about unmet needs, even in my own business when I first bought in, and tried to provide a solution rather than just a tax return copy and an invoice. Pretty oldfashioned and not very sexy, I know.

What impact do you hope your business will have on the community or industry?

If people that have dealt with my company have a better understanding of their own tax returns, financial books and finances in general, I’d be happy.

KURT GUTH AMERICAN TAX SERVICE

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MATT VINCENT GOLDEN RULE DESIGN & BUILD

at times. That’s the reality of small business, especially many new small businesses. Work/life balance just isn’t a realistic concept, especially in those early years. Greg Brennaman, in his book “Right Away and All at Once” describes a work-life integration that I wish I had done a better job with at the time. I didn’t have the wisdom to compartmentalize a bit more. I don’t think I could have changed the grind that those years were, but I think I could have been more fully present wherever I was, especially in the home.

What is your proudest business achievement?

What was your first job and how did it impact you?

My first job was a small lawnmowing business that I started in my parents’ neighborhood. I’m guessing that I learned more from that job than I could comprehend at the time. I learned about the sales process, about production and about customer satisfaction. Additionally, I learned how much work it took to bring in revenue. Aside from the lawnmowing business, my first “official” job for an employer was at Hillmer’s Luggage & Leather. It was at this job that I was able to continue to learn how to interact with customers and how to lean into the sales process. Walt Hillmer taught me quite a bit about staying productive even when the sales floor was empty.

What do you wish you had known before running your own business?

This is an interesting question, because I think many business people are relatively naïve when they jump into their respective callings. I truly believe that without that innocence, many successful small businesses wouldn’t get off the ground, so not knowing could be viewed as a blessing. But, to answer the

question directly, I wish I had known the impact that the first few years would have on my wife and family and how to better shield them from that “collateral damage,” for lack of a better term.

What qualities do you believe are most important in a business leader?

A business leader is first and foremost just that: a leader. They should have integrity and a passion that drives them to do what is right, even when it’s not comfortable. A leader will give others credit and take the blame. They should be able to motivate and empower their fellow associates towards personal and business growth by identifying “pull mechanisms” rather than “push mechanisms” (be out in front of the pack growing, instead of pushing others towards growth).

What has been your biggest failure, and what did you learn from it?

I alluded to this earlier, but my biggest failure isn’t necessarily directly related to business. More than 22 years ago, I jumped into our new business with a lot of energy and drive. This was partially driven by the need to survive

As a team, we’ve accomplished a lot of things that we can be proud of. We’ve served roughly 4,500 clients in the Topeka area and we’ve got an incredible customer service record. We’ve built long-term relationships with many of our clients. Personally, especially in the last few years, the thing I’m proudest of is being a small part of watching our team grow personally and professionally. There is something that is incredibly rewarding about letting go and letting others thrive — doing the things that I used to do, but in many cases doing it better than I did.

What impact do you hope your business will have on the community or industry?

Our mission statement is “Together, we pursue excellent work and meaningful relationships, to positively impact lives.” Ultimately, if we can fulfill this mission, we have the opportunity to leave a legacy in the Topeka area. Yes, through thoughtful design, worldclass communication and consistently well-executed projects, we will positively impact our clients’ homes and therefore lives. But, we also have the opportunity to leave a positive impact on the lives of those we work with that extends past construction. I hope that when people think about Golden Rule Design & Build they will think about a team that cares for them personally, treats people the way we would want to be treated, does what we say we will do and does all of this with a smile on our face. }

CARLOS

CORTEZ CORTEZ TRANSPORTATION COMPANY

What was your first job and how did it impact you?

My first job was a summer janitorial position at the age of 14. The position gave me an understanding of responsibility and taught me how the actions of one impact others.

What inspired you to run your own business?

Working part time for another transportation company, I saw firsthand there was a market within my community and the surrounding region for limousine services. I had fallen in love with the industry and was inspired by the opportunity I saw, even while working on a part-time basis.

How do you stay motivated and passionate about your business?

My passion for the industry remains the same today as it was 20 years ago when I started my company. Always striving to provide professional, reliable first-class service to our clients. Whether it is a business executive or a family being transported to the airport, being a part of making a special day even more memorable for a bride and groom or students attending prom, I’m driven every day to make that positive impact on whomever we serve.

What strategies have been most effective for growing your business?

Our strategy of diversifying our fleet and making choices to keep us relevant in the industry has provided us the opportunity to grow our business by providing a wide range of vehicles within our fleet. We’ve grown our business by increasing the type of client needs we can service.

What is your proudest business achievement?

When my business was recognized as the Service Industry Firm, Kansas Minority-Owned Business of the Year 2023 by the Office of Minority & Women Business Development within the Kansas Department of Commerce. We have also been nominated again this year.

What impact do you hope your business will have on the community?

I hope my business will continue contributing to our community through economic impact with over 60% of our business coming from outside Shawnee County, as well as outside the state of Kansas. I hope to continue our efforts to make first-class first impressions of our community by providing discreet, professional and reliable ground transportation.

AMANDA CHAVEZ THOMSON

What was your first job and how did it impact you?

After graduating from college, my first job was with the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA. I was there during the era of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, and I witnessed their incredible team chemistry that led to championship seasons. I was responsible for managing 300 accounts of season ticket holders who were dedicated to the success of the Spurs. This experience taught me valuable lessons that I could apply to the small business world. Similar to the sports world, small businesses have their share of ups and downs, successes and failures. As business owners, we function as the general manager and look for managers who can effectively coach employees. We constantly seek employees who contribute to the team’s chemistry and distance ourselves from those who hinder the team’s goals. This is the essence of a small business.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to run their own business?

Be prepared for the not-soglamorous side of owning and running a business. I think it’s easy to look at a business owner and believe that “they have it made,” they can make their own hours, rules, etc. To some extent, that can be true. But what often does not get talked about is the weight of responsibility you carry as a business owner. You have employees who are counting on a paycheck, customers who are counting on a job well done, bills that need to be paid, etc. You are not able to leave your worries at the door once you leave work. Business owners carry their worries with them. But, if you go home more days than not feeling fulfilled and hopeful with the satisfaction of knowing you are providing a valued service, it can be more rewarding than you ever imagined.

What qualities do you believe are most important in a business leader?

In my opinion, compassion and vision are two qualities that a good business leader must possess. A compassionate leader combines awareness and empathy with action. We are all humans with work and personal worries. Understanding what your employees need to function at their best should be a priority. They should feel genuinely valued as individuals. It can be easy to get lost in the day-to-day work, but a true leader must develop a trustworthy team that can tackle a good portion of the daily grind, allowing leadership to focus on foresight and build on the opportunities of the future.

What strategies have been most effective for growing your business?

Two things stick out to me when thinking about how our business has

CHAVEZ

successfully grown over the years. The first would be evolving as our customers’ needs have changed. My grandfather started this company as a carpet cleaning business. Over the years my dad and uncle spearheaded adding several services, including fire and water restoration, mold remediation and environmental cleaning. Now, 57 years later, we are still adding new services, asbestos abatement being the newest. The other strategy would be hiring genuine, good people to work for you. We can train anyone to do what we do, but we cannot train someone to care about our work and our customers. That must come from the top and be embraced by the employees. I am lucky to work with every single employee that we have here every day. They keep our business running, me laughing and our reputation solid.

What is your proudest business achievement?

Our proudest achievement has to be our longevity. This business was my grandfather’s “American Dream.” His parents brought them to Kansas from Mexico. He and his 13 siblings lived in a railcar while his father worked for the railroad. He quit school at 14 to help provide for his family. As the business evolved, he worked alongside his children and wife, doing what he loved every day. I remember visiting “the shop” as a child and seeing my family members and their smiling faces. My dad often worked long hours and every weekend as my siblings and I were growing up. This is the only job my younger brother, now here for almost 20 years, has ever had. It’s a unique experience to work with family every day. I never thought I would be part of the family business, but here we are into our third generation. I’m working alongside my dad, my brother and my aunt every day and I’ve never been more fulfilled.

What was your first job and how did it impact you?

I sold popcorn at Municipal Auditorium. I earned 70 cents per basket (30 boxes at 15 cents per box). It taught me how to make change and take care of my money.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to run their own business?

I have a quote on my computer monitor that says: “People are the most important thing. Business model and product will follow if you have the right people.”

What qualities do you believe are most important in a business leader?

A solid set of values. Decisions are easier when you have values and ethics that you won’t compromise.

What strategies have been most effective for growing your business?

Take care of the customer. If they’re not successful, we won’t be successful. In our case, the price of fuel becomes secondary if we let them run out and they have to send their crew home for the day.

What is your proudest business achievement?

Over the course of 40 years, taking a company that was doing a million gallons of product to a company that does over 100 million gallons of product. We now support about 150 families with good wages and benefits between two companies.

MARVIN SPEES

CAPITAL CITY OIL, INC.

NEAL SPENCER

ERNEST-SPENCER

What was your first job and how did it impact you?

My first job was at Ernest-Spencer. Being a family business, I had opportunities at a young age to learn the business from the ground up. I was able to learn hard work, dedication to job and pride in workmanship. Considering I took the business over after a tragic loss of my father at the age of 30, the things I learned from my first job ended up being invaluable to my long-term success.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to run their own business?

While my primary business has been in our family for generations, I have had the opportunity to start a number of new companies. My advice is to have a solid plan on how to grow the company past its initial startup. It is critical to understand how important it is to develop a solid brand with top-notch marketing, and to fully document your internal business procedures so that the business can scale up. Too often I see companies fail because they didn’t have a scalable business strategy.

What qualities do you believe are most important in a business leader?

Successful business leaders have a number of characteristics that will allow a business to flourish. First and most important is the ability to communicate a plan and direction for the business. Solid leaders communicate to their team and then allow for healthy communication internally. Second is the concept of helping others to be their best. The idea of going to work as a leader and doing what you can to help others around you succeed will drive a healthy work culture. This concept directly contradicts the stereotypical boss that barks orders at his or her employee. Treat people with respect and help them be their best!

What has been your biggest failure, and what did you learn from it?

A number of years ago I started a new company that was not anywhere near our core business of making manufactured goods for OEMs. The new business required a ton of working capital on startup, and even more so, a tremendous amount of my time. I utilized critical resources in this new business and quickly found that it distracted from the primary business. It was a double-edged sword in that both the new business and the primary business suffered as a result of being spread too thin. The lesson learned: don’t lose track of the successes that got you there or they may suffer.

What is your proudest business achievement?

My proudest business achievement would simply be that we are here and finding success. I took over Ernest-Spencer at the age of 30 after the loss of my father. I remember being scared to death! Not knowing which direction to go at times, grieving the loss of my best friend and feeling tremendous pressure to not let others down. By the grace of God, a supportive wife and pure determination, we have been able to quadruple the size of the company in the last 17 years. My proudest achievement is simple … to be in business!

What impact do you hope your business will have on the community?

Impact on community has always been one of the core values of our business. As a 102-yearold Kansas-based company, we directly relate our success to the community and the people within it. Giving back to our communities by helping to make them comfortable, safe and desirable places to live is important to the identity of our companies. My hope is that Ernest-Spencer will continue to make a lasting impact on our community for many years to come. TK

Meet the passionate local business owners who are breathing life into Topeka’s economy. This month’s feature is an in-depth look at the personal stories behind a wild bird supply store that sells everything from pet food to gifts, a barbecue supply haven for home chefs and pitmasters, a chic clothing boutique known for its eclectic taste and a leathercraft shop that teams up with local artisans.

By LAUREN JURGENSEN

by BRIAN PETERS

Photos

WILD BIRD HOUSE

WILD ABOUT LOCAL

The value of local businesses often shines brightest in small, tight-knit communities. For Topeka natives Melody and Todd Weller, owners of the Wild Bird House bird and pet supply store, their commitment to local business is more than just a livelihood — it’s a way to support their community.

“We have people come in with bird feed they bought from a big box store, and they want our advice,” said Melody, who has a background in wildlife rehabilitation. “Mom-and-pop shops know what they’re selling and can go the extra mile to help their customers, which is not something you’re going to get online or from a big box store.”

Melody and Todd bought the store from its previous owner in 2007. More than 15 years after they took over, Wild Bird House — a Topeka fixture since the early 1990s — is celebrating its 30th year in business.

L to R: Todd Weller and Melody Weller, co-owners of Wild Bird House, who run the store with their son and General Manager Ryan Weller.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER SHOP TOGETHER

Melody had originally planned to open her own bird supply store. But Wild Bird House’s former owner, who knew Melody and had hired her to work at the store, had something different in mind.

“I went to the previous owner and told her that I wanted to open my own shop,” Melody said. “She immediately said, ‘No, buy this one.’”

with customers. “Our son used to bring in his Boston Terrier and everybody would come in just to see her. At one point, we had an older dog that we’d adopted from a customer. Now we have a cat at the store, Oscar, who’s been there for about a year and gets lots of attention.”

A BUSINESS WITH A BIRD’SEYE VIEW

“People come in all the time and say they’ve been to our store before, but hadn’t realized we’d moved,” Melody said, describing how the store has changed locations a few times before settling into its current space at 2901 SW 29th St. “The last time we moved was about 10 years ago, but we’re amazed by how many people are excited to find out we’re still in Topeka but at a different location.”

Upon becoming the new owners, Melody and Todd were quick to add their own personal touches to the shop.

Todd, a programmer, went so far as to design a new point-of-sale software system. He has also become Wild Bird House’s resident pet food expert.

“People bring in their dogs while they shop and we get to know a lot of our customers’ pets,” Melody said, adding that she and her family love to bring their pets to the store to socialize

Despite the store’s name, wild bird supplies like seeds, suet, feeders and bird baths are only a fraction of the items available for purchase.

Cat and dog owners — as well as people who don’t own pets — are often delighted to discover that Wild Bird House sells everything from pet food and outdoor furniture to greeting cards and gifts.

In recent years, the store’s customers have grown younger and younger.

Photo by BRIAN PETERS

Wild Bird House sells wild bird supplies, as well as general pet supplies, outdoor furniture, books, greeting cards and gifts.

“When the pandemic happened, there were a lot of young people who started working from home,” Melody said. “They came into the store because they wanted to have a bird feeder outside their window, so they could sit at their computer and watch the birds.”

Even younger are the children whose parents bring them in to browse the store’s diverse selection of books.

“We’re kind of known for our kids’ books,” Melody said.

She added that many people visit Wild Bird House for their greeting cards alone. Greeting cards remain one of the store’s most in-demand items, which is why she and Todd began to stock more of them after moving into a larger, 5,000-squarefoot space.

Gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts are fond of the shop’s

colorful collection of kinetic yard art, statues and windchimes, including hand-tuned Corinthian Bells and the popular Woodstock brand.

“Our business philosophy is that we’re not just selling items, we’re providing solutions for our customers’ needs,” Todd said. “We know that if we help the person succeed at what they want to do, they’ll come back.”

Providing expert advice not only fosters customer loyalty, it also protects customers by helping them avoid costly mistakes.

“There was a hummingbird house that went viral on social media,” Melody said. “Well, hummingbirds don’t use houses. They build their own little nest. We could sell hummingbird houses, but we choose not to because that’s not the way it works.”

The Wellers’ commitment to quality extends beyond the products they sell. It can also be seen in their customer interactions.

“Our son, who works with us, has an incredible memory. He’ll see a customer pull up and have their seed ready at the counter before they walk in the door,” Melody said.

TAKING THE COMMUNITY UNDER THEIR WING

The Wellers are keenly aware of how Wild Bird House and other local stores can have a positive, long-term impact on the community and local economy.

“We shop local and keep our money local,” Todd said. “The economics of it are better for the community. If you’re buying local, you’re keeping the money.”

He added that when big box stores come to Topeka, they create jobs and employ people, but their profits go back to corporate.

“In our case, the profits we make go right back to the community,” he said.

Photo by BRIAN PETERS

Photo by BRIAN PETERS

TOPEKA BBQ SHOP

Photo

Terrance Jefferson, owner and founder of Topeka BBQ Shop, went into the business to share his pitmaster skills.

GET YOUR GRILL ON

Terrance Jefferson, the owner of Topeka BBQ Shop, was noticing a trend in the barbecue community. When people become serious about grilling and smoking, they like to enter barbecue competitions.

But before long, they become so good at what they do that they’re eager for a new challenge, he added. That means trying side ventures like catering, teaching classes or developing a personal line of rubs and sauces.

“Once you feel like you’re an expert, you want to do something more,” Terrance said. “For me, that was opening a barbecue supply shop.”

Topeka BBQ Shop, which relocated to Fairlawn Plaza Mall three years ago after Terrance and his wife Tina decided they wanted a space with more foot traffic, is primarily a place where locals go to purchase barbecue supplies. It’s

also where they go to hire catering and sign up for educational classes.

The store sells everything from grills, smokers and fuel to sauces, seasonings and marinades. They even have their own line of preserves –everything from candied jalapeños to spicy garlic pickles – which Terrance named after his mother, Mama Gladys.

Their sales are divided between their brick-and-mortar location and an online store. While the convenience of online shopping is undeniable, Terrance said that the value of in-store customer interactions can’t be replaced.

“I think my wife and I have some of the best customer service around,” he said. “People might go somewhere and buy a cheap smoker, but then they come to me for the knowledge of how to use it. A lot of beginners want one-on-one advice. I love answering questions, but

I’m not a salesman. I’m going to give you the knowledge and then I’m going to back off and let you shop.”

Terrance, who mostly manages the shop on weekends because he also works a nine-to-five job, has a packed schedule. Thankfully, Tina is there on the weekdays to hold down the fort.

“She works in there more than I do,” Terrance said about his wife, adding that he’s grateful to have another full-time job that provides them with insurance benefits. “I have a great supportive wife who supports all of my crazy adventures. She has been my rock.”

THE RISE OF A PITMASTER

For Terrance, buying local means supporting other local businesses because it keeps money in the community.

Many of Topeka BBQ Shop’s customers shop at the store not only because they want their specialized products, but also because they recognize the value of supporting a small local business, he said.

Photo by BRIAN PETERS

Topeka BBQ Shop stocks sauces, seasonings and marinades, as well as grills, smokers and many other items that appeal to everyday barbecue enthusiasts.

The relationships he has with the store’s customers have been a two-way street, showing him new ways to keep the store competitive while improving its bottom line.

“When I went into the business, I thought that I’d need to focus on providing products for barbecue competition teams,” Terrance said, explaining that competitive pitmasters usually buy in bulk. “But it’s not the competition teams that make up most of my revenue. It’s the everyday cooks. Once I learned that, I started to stock more items in smaller sizes instead of focusing on bulk.”

Another lesson he learned? The realities associated with owning a business.

“Sometimes I’m driving two hours to pick up pallets of charcoal and pellets, then driving two hours back,” he said. “Not everyone sees that part, but you have to go through that. I’m just proud of myself for keeping my head up and surviving, and I’m really happy that our store has made it to the five year mark. Everyone says that when your business makes it to the five-year mark, you’re on your way.”

In the future, Terrance hopes to create his own line of barbecue rubs. He’d also like to add a kitchen to the store — a feature he believes could simplify how Topeka BBQ Shop operates their classes and catering business.

RAISING THE HEAT

Terrance said that if he could give advice to future business owners, it would be to prepare themselves for the time investment.

“Be ready for isolation. Be ready to miss that important party or that important birthday,” he said. “Be ready to be uncomfortable. You really have to have both feet in the business.”

He encourages new entrepreneurs to build connections with others in their field.

“Find somebody who can be a mentor, and spend time following them around to learn how they run a business,” Terrance said. “There’s going to be some things you didn’t know, and learning them now will cut your struggles in half.”

Continuing education is just as important, he added.

“Go to a class. Even if it costs $500, it’s going to save you that much money 10 times over,” Terrance said. “Learn as much as you can about your business and go in there wanting to be the best. There’s going to be someone every day who tries to knock you down. I don’t want to say it’s cutthroat, but it’s hard out there.”

Ultimately, he believes in sharing his success with other local businesses, and that helping them can be one of the best ways to give back.

“For me, ‘local’ means that small guy who’s trying to live the American dream of being a business owner,” he said. “I try to get some of my barbecue friends involved in helping with the classes we teach. I can’t do it all by myself, which is another thing I had to learn.”

Photo by BRIAN PETERS

In addition to barbecue condiments, Topeka BBQ Shop sells grills and smokers from top brands like Weber and Green Mountain Grill.

SAGNOM FASHION

Natasha Tibbs, owner and founder of Sagnom Fashion, opened the store after noticing that Topeka had few retail options for women’s clothing.

A NEW BOUTIQUE THAT’S TURNING HEADS

Topeka native Natasha Tibbs brought her entrepreneurial dreams to life in 2019 when she launched Sagnom Fashion, an eclectic clothing boutique born from the ashes of the popular fashion stores that once graced the region.

“Sagnom can’t be boxed into one style of clothing because that’s not who our ideal customer is,” Natasha said, emphasizing that her clientele is as diverse as the garments in her boutique.

Her goal is to cater to different fashion tastes, as well as to overcome common “pain points” and issues that can often complicate the customer’s experience when shopping for clothes.

Natasha launched the store’s online shop on the same day as her birthday, transforming an already special day into a deeply personal milestone.

Photo by BRIAN PETERS

UNLEASH TOPEKA’S ENTREPRENEURIAL POWER!

Join us this November for Topeka’s Entrepreneurship Week – a dynamic celebration of local brilliance and boundless entrepreneurship.

IGNITE DREAMS, FUEL SUCCESS!

Explore a vibrant week filled with inspiring events, workshops, and connections. Meet the Dream Chasers, Opportunity Makers, and Success Creators who drive our city’s prosperity.

Scan the QR code to discover the full schedule and be part of the entrepreneurial force shaping Topeka’s future.

EMPOWER TOPEKA. EMBRACE INNOVATION. ENGAGE IN THE JOURNEY TODAY!

SHOP LOCAL

A WIN-WIN PROPOSITION

Topeka offers some very unique and distinct shopping experiences. No matter your tastes, chances are a local business has what you are looking for. Plus, shopping in Topeka puts dollars back into the local market and promotes a healthy economy. Scan the QR code to see a list of Greater Topeka Partnership members to visit during this shopping season.

“The inspiration behind the store’s name, Sagnom, is a reference to a song by Toni Romero,” she said. “Most people don’t know that Sagnom is an acronym. It stands for ‘She ain’t got nothing on me,’ which are song lyrics. I put those letters together to create Sagnom. My store is unique and special, from the clothes to the name.”

RETHINKING TOPEKA’S FASHION SCENE

Although the store began as an online venture, it has since expanded to a brick-and-mortar location at the West Ridge Mall. She sees the new location as an opportunity to revitalize one of Topeka’s historic retail centers, and a place that she remembers fondly.

“No doubt about it, I have hope and faith that the West Ridge Mall will

become the mall I once knew,” Natasha said. “I want to be a part of that change.”

Ultimately, she was driven by a desire to support local shopping. She wanted to create a business that could fill the fashion void left by the closure of several women’s clothing stores in Topeka like Debs, Charlotte Russe, Wet Seal and Forever 21.

“I was laying in bed with my husband one night and I said to him that I’m going to start a boutique, because there’s not many options for clothing here in Topeka anymore,” Natasha said. “The next day, I started doing research and made the business an LLC. I started selling online from my home, delivering local orders and shipping out-of-town orders.”

One of Natasha’s other goals has been to make shopping as convenient

as possible for Topeka consumers. On its website, Sagnom Fashion has pledged that customers will not have to “travel for hours on end to keep their wardrobes updated with the latest apparel,” offering fast, hassle-free shipping and delivery to the customer’s doorstep.

The fashion-forward boutique is known for its smart selection of modern and classic styles for women, blending vibrant dresses, chic tops, contemporary bottoms and stylish outerwear with an artful array of jewelry and bags.

“Your business is only as unique as your customer thinks it is,” Natasha said. “I’ve heard customers call our clothing colorful or say that it reminds them of Miami.”

She added that some customers have described their inventory as

Photo by BRIAN PETERS

Sagnom Fashion stocks an eclectic array of women's clothing for every fashion sense and demographic.

Customers can shop at Sagnom Fashion for everything from basics to cocktail dresses in sizes small to 3X.

“younger-style clothes,” but the store also stocks plenty of staples and basics that appeal to every generation.

“Our typical customer is someone who isn’t afraid to wear color, prints and different textures and silhouettes,” Natasha said. “If you’re trying to tap into your feminine self, you need to stop by and just look around. We carry sizes small to 3X.”

LOCAL SOLUTIONS, TIMELESS STYLE

Finding a balance between online retail and a physical storefront has been key to Sagnom’s success. The website allows shoppers to explore a wide selection from the comfort of home, while the physical store makes it easy for customers to feel fabrics and try on clothes — as well as seek style advice from the boutique’s knowledgeable employees.

“Educating our customers on how to incorporate more color into their

wardrobes, and how to understand color theory, really sets us apart,” she said.

Natasha sees herself as a natural go-getter but credits her mother for inspiring her work ethic.

“When I set my mind to something, I follow through and don’t let anything stop me,” Natasha said. “I got that drive from my mom.”

She added that her partnerships with local photographers and models, and a support system made up of friends and family, have brought Sagnom Fashion where it is today.

“My approach for finding models is more organic,” she said. “Friends and family help me out, but sometimes I see something in someone and I just ask them if they want to model. Nine times out of 10 they say yes. I’ve been blessed with some amazing help to build the Sagnom image.”

Looking ahead, Natasha is eager to grow and expand her business.

by

BRIAN PETERS

She already has a vision for a larger space that she hopes can include a dedicated men’s section, something her customers frequently request.

“Every day is an opportunity for growth and awareness,” she said. “We want to be the go-to boutique for high-quality pieces and fun, colorful styles.”

She’s also thinking about taking her business in a design direction.

“I’ve been working on creating a Sagnom fashion line,” Natasha said, “but it’s a process and I’m very particular about my vision.”

At the end of the day, she’s happy to know that Sagnom Fashion is a local shopping solution for Topeka’s fashionistas.

“Buying local strengthens the local economy,” Natasha said. “It keeps money within the community and supports local business and jobs. It also promotes sustainability by reducing the environmental footprint associated with long-distance shopping, and fosters community.”

Photo

MINGUS LEATHER

“I think you feel more connected to your city when you’re buying from people who are trying to make the city better and make their dreams come true.”

— Doug Mingus Owner Mingus

Leather

Photo by BRIAN PETERS

Owner Doug Mingus decided to open Mingus Leather after falling in love with the art of leathercraft.

MEET THE LEATHER ARTISAN

Doug Mingus was reflecting on his career path during the pandemic when, after 21 years in the ministry, he found himself thinking about pursuing leathercrafting more seriously.

“There were a lot of changes happening, and I had to decide to make a different choice,” said Doug, the owner and founder of Mingus Leather Studio & Gifts, located in downtown Topeka. “It really started because I needed something to take my mind off of work and find a little more enjoyment.”

Encouraged by friends and seeking relief from the stresses of work, he revisited a memory from childhood: the beauty of leather.

“I remembered my little league glove from way back when, wondering what it takes for leather,” Doug said. “That started the journey.”

He reached out to other artisans and used resources he found online to develop and hone his leathercraft skills.

Soon, he was selling his handmade wares at farmer’s markets. Doug’s friend Kevin Conard, the owner of Topeka’s Blue Jazz Coffee, urged him to think about opening his own leathercraft store.

“He said, it’s not going to be easy,” Doug said, “but you sound like you love it, so maybe it’s possible.”

A few days after that conversation, Kevin called Doug to tell him that he’d found the perfect spot for his future business. Mingus Leather settled into its storefront at 929 South Kansas Ave. one month later.

BEHIND THE SEAMS

Nearly two years after its grand opening, the store has become a hub for local artisans. Doug’s studio specializes in small leather goods, which he creates either by himself or in partnership with fellow artisans from the community.

“I have lots of leather products, and then I have products by other artisans,” Doug said. “I have products by woodworkers, pen makers, candle makers and jewelry makers, which are sold on a consignment basis. The store gives them a place to share their beauty and art.”

He values crafting quality products by using only full and top grain leather, which he believes to be far superior to the materials often marketed as “genuine leather.”

“There’s a lot of misleading advertising out there,” Doug said. “Just sticking the word genuine in front makes people think, ‘Oh, this is the best leather.’”

He is particularly passionate about the quality and longevity of leather items, many of which can last a lifetime and be passed down as family heirlooms. He hopes that his high-quality leather products will inspire more people to turn away from the disposability mindset that’s been baked into consumer culture.

“You can take care of leather and you can hand it down for generations,” Doug said. “I worked on a bag here that was on its fourth generation in the family. I want to

get people to realize that this is better for our families, better for our economy and better for the environment, too.”

His passion for creating long-lasting products can be seen in the range of leather repair and restoration work he offers. He was surprised to discover how much of his business has become dedicated to repairing leather goods, as many customers bring in items that hold sentimental value.

Most of his buyers are women over the age of 35, but his customer base spans all ages and demographics.

“That’s what leather can do,” Doug said. “It can cross generations and people can love it at any stage of life.”

He noted that it can be hard for people to find gifts for men, which is why Mingus Leather’s inventory has many leather products with masculine appeal.

“If there’s a way to bring beauty to more people, then maybe that will fall into other areas of their life,” Doug said.

CRAFTING COMMUNITY

One of the best things about the leatherworking world, he said, is how communal it is. He’s found that leather artisans are more collaborative than competitive. They’re willing to share knowledge and uplift one another, rather than viewing each other as rivals.

“They’ll teach you, they’ll share secrets. It’s a pretty amazing community of people,” he said. “That’s the only reason I’m here. I never had the funds to go and get trained at a school or study under someone for years.”

Collaboration and championing the success of others, Doug said, can lead to mutual success.

Although most of his sales occur in-store, he has also established a small online presence, primarily serving previous customers who return for new purchases. For now, he prefers to focus on his storefront and isn’t looking to open more locations at this time.

“That’s not really who I am,” Doug said. “If it happens,

Photo by BRIAN PETERS

that would be great. But I like the personal touch of things.”

His short-term goals for Mingus Leather are already within reach: create a sanctuary where artisans can put their work on display, and where customers can “breathe deep, smell some beautiful leather and enjoy what they see,” he said.

Doug’s time in the ministry has shown him how to slow down and not only create better leather products, but also forge deeper connections with customers from all walks of life.

“In the world of ministry, you get the chance to talk to a lot of different people in a lot of different situations,” he said. “I think that gives me a leg up when people walk in the door, to be able to read people a little bit, see how they’re doing and

Walk into Mingus Leather and you’ll discover handcrafted leather bags and hats, as well as other one-of-a-kind crafts by local artisans.

be open to having conversations they may not have anywhere else.”

Doug added that building connections with others is about slowing down, breathing and paying attention to what’s around you.

“You cannot work in leather if you don’t slow down and pay attention to the details,” he said. “If you get in a hurry, you’re going to either ruin the leather or hurt your own hands. That’s an advantage that ministry has taught me.”

He believes that buying local can help people pursue their dreams, similar to how the customers at Mingus Leather have helped him pursue his own.

“Buying local helps the community,” Doug said. “I really believe that if we support one another’s dreams, all of us would be more happy. What would our community be like if this was our goal?”

Doug also believes that locally made products are higher quality than what you’ll find in a corporate store, where items are less likely to be manufactured with longevity in mind.

“We have enough garbage in landfills, we don’t need more,” he said. “People that make local or regional products tend to care more about the product than the sale of the product. I think you feel more connected to your city when you’re buying from people who are trying to make the city better and make their dreams come true. That connection is beautiful, and I think you can get that from buying local in a way that you can’t get otherwise.” TK

SPOTLIGHT PARTNERS

THE #1 TRUSTED BAIL BOND COMPANY IN THIS AREA

Rest assured that 785 Bail Bonds is here if you ever need bail fast to release a loved one from jail.

785 Bail Bonds serves all of northeast Kansas and surrounding areas with exceptional reliability and is always available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

It doesn't matter what type of bail bond you need, 785 Bail Bonds will deliver fast, affordable and convenient services by utilizing their experience and familiarity of the courts and how their systems work to secure an expeditiously release.

Contact 785 Bail Bonds for a FREE consultation on the services it provides.

www.785bailbonds.com 785-845-8154

SERVING TOPEKA AND THE SURROUNDING AREA FOR 20 YEARS

Carmona Air, Inc. is a licensed HVAC residential and small commercial company. Mike Carmona and his staff have a combined total of 85 years in the HVAC industry. They are a Daikin Comfort Pro provider backed by the best manufacturer warranty out of all the HVAC brands available.

Carmona Air, Inc. prides itself on quality work, friendly staff and exceptional HVAC knowledge. Besides providing furnaces and air conditioners, they also provide WiFi thermostats, humidifiers, air purification product, and high efficiency air filtration.

They also service most makes and models.

Carmona Air, Inc. is conveniently located at 2110 N. Kansas Ave. in Topeka.

www.CarmonaComfortAir.com 785-234-3331

ORGANIZATION BRINGS PEACE OF MIND

Pulito Closets wants to help you live your best stress-free life.

With a Pulito custom-made closet, you will be able to utilize every space in your home to its fullest potential. Pulito designs closets that provide purposeful storage and workspace solutions with organization according to your very specific needs.

From decluttering closets and garages, to providing added workspaces and organizing pantry supplies, Pulito can help you tidy it up!

Pulito Closets is a locally owned and operated business.

Call Pulito or visit their website to learn more.

www.pulitoclosets.com 785-256-4084

AI in the Workplace: What to Know

DO’S, DON’TS AND BEST PRACTICES

By JOHN R. DIETRICK

John R. Dietrick Attorney at Law HR Partners

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is generally defined as causing computing devices to perform human-like thinking1. Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) means an artificial system that is trained on data; interacts with a person using text, audio or visual communications; and generates non-scripted outputs similar to outputs created by a human in a fraction of the time, with limited or no human oversight2. AI and GAI are rapidly evolving and constantly changing technologies with significant potential to transform individuals, workplaces, communities and society, which pose both risks and rewards.

As Warren Buffett, chairman and chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway, opined at the company’s annual meting in early May 2024, “We let the genie out of the bottle when we developed nuclear weapons. AI is somewhat similar — it’s part way out of the

bottle.” He added that both could have devastating consequences on society if used improperly, and summarized his thoughts on AI by saying, “It has enormous potential for good and enormous potential for harm. And I just don’t know how that plays out.”

To help you navigate the potential “harm” and “good” of AI, the purpose of this article — written by humans, not AI — is to provide business owners and nonprofit leaders with a high-level overview of some of the do’s and don’ts of AI, as well as best practices for utilizing AI in the workplace.

AI, and especially GAI, offer companies and organizations the opportunity to make their operations more efficient and productive. But AI and GAI carry a lot of risks. As a result, some companies and municipalities have established policies for the use of AI/GAI in the workplace3. Some of those rules are listed on the following page.

This is particularly important in terms of recruitment, hiring, retention, promotion, transfer, performance monitoring, demotion, dismissal and referral. Title VII, as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), apply to all employment practices of covered employees, and prohibit intentional discrimination or disparate treatment regarding race, color, religion, sex, national origin, as well as age and disability. Demographic biases in an AI tool can impact employment practices in a discriminatory manner, resulting in potential liability to an employer.

To avoid liability, employers should use only approved AI tools; make certain all employees utilizing AI are trained in the associated benefits and risks; and be certain employees ensure the accuracy and reliability of information generated by AI tools.

DON’T SHARE SENSITIVE BUSINESS INFORMATION WITH PUBLIC VERSIONS OF AI PROGRAMS.

Examples of information that could be exposed this way include computer codes, customer information, transcripts of company meetings or email exchanges, and company financial or sales data.

To protect your business from a breach, use only approved AI tools; use AI tools other than public versions; and make certain your AI tools and data are secured according to your IT policies to protect against unauthorized access and cyber threats.

DON’T USE AI-GENERATED CONTENT WITHOUT DISCLOSURE.

As stated at the outset, this article was written and prepared by humans. However, had portions been generated by AI, disclosing that fact would have been crucial to maintaining transparency and credibility with you, the reader. Similarly, your clients deserve the same duty of care, and should know up front that the materials they are receiving and/or using were partially (or fully) generated by AI. A best business practice, for sure.

DO BE PICKY ABOUT WHICH AI PROGRAM YOU USE.

As a best practice, companies should avoid public AI programs as there are safer and more trustworthy alternatives, such as “enterprisegrade” models, which are typically paid subscriptions that offer more security for business data.

A January 2023 report from the United States Department of Labor, entitled “Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0)” found the characteristics of trustworthy AI systems include: valid and reliable; safe, secure and resilient; accountable and transparent; explainable and interpretable; privacy enhanced; and fair with harmful bias managed.

Finally, when using GAI programs, companies should fully understand how data inputted into the system will be stored and who will have access to the data.

DON’T FULLY TRUST AI RESULTS TO BE ACCURATE.

Be wary of GAI “hallucinations,” as they are called, which are responses generated by AI that include false or inaccurate information, which could mislead anyone who sees it, including, for example, judges who receive legal briefs with false or inaccurate legal citations. And remember, these hallucinations can oftentimes look legitimate enough to go undetected.

As a best practice, checking the source of the data before using it can reduce inaccuracies. Further, companies can negotiate their own contracts with AI/GAI vendors to train the AI on a database provided by the company so that no outside, potentially inaccurate information is included.

In closing, AI/GAI is rewriting norms and changing the way we interact in the workplace and with the world. And while there are not, as yet, specific AI laws or regulations currently enacted in the U.S. by Congress, various federal agencies such as the EEOC, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Federal Trade Commission, as well as several states and many municipalities, are promulgating rules and guidance to assist employers with the revolutionary impact of AI on consumer goods and retail, manufacturing, commerce, media and entertainment, health care and financial services, among other industries and businesses.

Be aware of these rules, regulations and possible legislation, and utilize that information to more safely navigate the changing world of AI/GAI in your workplace. TK

Disclaimer: This article, written by humans for humans, is a high-level summary of AI and GAI “do’s and don’ts” and “best practices” in the workplace. The information contained here should not replace sound counsel from your attorney or technical advice from your IT professional.

1 “Patent Protection for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning”, Kirk A. Sigmon, Lexis+AI (February 26, 2024).

2 “What is Generative AI?”, Kim Martineau, IBM (April 20, 2023); see also, “2024 Generative AI in Professional Services, Thompson Reuters (June 2024).

3 See, generally, “The Do’s and Don’ts of Using Generative AI in the Workplace”, Lindsey Choo, Wall Street Journal (November 27, 2023); “Artificial Intelligence Driven Tools in the Workplace Policy”, Lexis+AI (May 31, 2024); “Assessing Adverse Impact in Software, Algorithms, and Artificial Intelligence Used in Employment Selection Procedures Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964”, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (May 18, 2023).

AT THE CORE

WITH

DANIELLE J. MARTIN

SPOTLIGHT ON

DR. ROBERT PEREZ

CITY MANAGER OF TOPEKA

SUBMITTED

PHOTO

ABOUT DR. ROBERT PEREZ

In May of this year, the City of Topeka named Dr. Robert Perez the new city manager of Topeka. With more than 20 years of municipal government experience, Dr. Perez holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Education with a concentration in organizational leadership, a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in political science.

Dr. Perez previously served as the assistant city manager for the City of Dallas, Texas. He has an extensive background in public works and has published numerous academic articles on topics ranging from the nexus of data and infrastructure to innovations in local government. In his most recent role, Dr. Perez provided executive leadership to the City of Dallas’ Departments of Public Works, Transportation, Bond and Construction Management, Equipment and Fleet Services and Building Services, as well as provided oversight to the Departments of Sanitation, Code Compliance, Animal Care Services, Homeless Solution and 311 Customer Service.

The City of Topeka selected Dr. Perez from a group of forty applicants following interview panels with the city’s Governing Body and community stakeholders. Dr. Perez arrived in Topeka this summer with his wife, Harim Perez, and their miniature schnauzer, Sebastian.

Scan the QR code to see the full interview with Dr. Robert Perez, the city manager of Topeka.

“At the Core with Danielle J. Martin” features leaders across Kansas and is dedicated to showcasing the stories and voices of local leaders who have substantially impacted their communities and industries.

Martin: Joining me today is Dr. Robert Perez, the new city manager of Topeka.

Something we have in common is that we’re both from Texas. You’re from Dallas, I’m from Houston. It’s interesting how we both landed here in Topeka. How are you feeling after coming here from a bigger city?

Perez: Thank you for having me. The first few weeks on the job were a bit of a challenge, but the City of Topeka team is an amazing and very talented group of folks. They made the transition to Kansas pretty easy, and everyone in Topeka has been super welcoming.

Martin: You’ve been an assistant city manager in Dallas for many years. Did you ever see yourself in Topeka, let alone working as a city manager?

Perez: I moved to Texas when I was a sophomore in high school. My family’s from there and I definitely came to love it, so I would be lying if I told you I ever saw my career bringing me to Kansas. But it’s been such a welcoming experience. As far as becoming a city manager, I thought I was going to become a lawyer because that’s what I was studying for in college. In my senior year of college, I took an Introduction to public administration course taught by a professor who was an assistant to the mayor of San Antonio. One day he asked me if I needed a job, and I ended up working as a temporary social worker with the City of San Antonio. While serving in that position, I learned about the

Master of Public Administration program at the University of Texas at San Antonio and met the San Antonio city manager, who told me about the cool things she got to work on. That was the day I decided I wanted to be a city manager.

Martin: Mayor Padilla said he has confidence in your ability to lead Topeka. What are your strategic goals for Topeka and how do you plan to achieve them?

Perez: Public safety, first and foremost. Next, our affordable housing needs and helping to shelter our homeless population. Then our infrastructure investments. Hopefully all of that leads to greater economic development across the city. City council just approved the police union contract because in order to stay competitive and have competitive pay for officers, that contract increase was definitely needed. When you have a well-paid police force, it helps with public safety. Obviously there are support services that are needed as well, but in order to attract and retain good officers, I think competitive pay is important. We’ve been hovering around 40 vacant police officer positions. Money’s not everything, but I think it will be a good tool to keep us competitive.

As far as other investments like infrastructure, we’ve been going through the budget process. We’re balanced for the 2025 budget but that’s using a lot of one-time reserves, so we’re maintaining our current level of service. Beginning in 2026 or 2027, we’re either going to have to redirect money from existing services or explore alternative funding sources.

Martin: What should the public be concerned about or do to help?

Perez: I don’t think there’s anything to be concerned about. We have

a team of very smart people. As we move forward in the budget process, we’re going to have to make some decisions. We have a number of vacancies that we’ve been carrying for a while. There are opportunities for us to look at how we’re funding positions, and we need to decide whether those vacant positions are still needed. We’ll also be looking at some of our existing fees.

As far as how the public can help, get involved when we hold budget listening sessions. We hosted five budget listening sessions before we developed the proposed budget and heard from the public about what the priorities are for the community. We also have an open email for people to write in.

Martin: You have an extensive background in public works. What are some of your ideas for the future of Topeka?

Perez: We have a robust system for maintaining our infrastructure, whether it be our streets or utilities. Everything is very similar to Dallas. For each of our streets, there’s a pavement condition index rating from zero to one hundred. Basically, we know the condition of all of our utilities and infrastructure. The way that we select our projects is very scientific, and I appreciate that.

Infrastructure can help public safety. I was talking to some folks from the Topeka Police Department today about how if you have a high-crime area, you don’t necessarily need to saturate it with officers. Sometimes all you need to do is put in better lighting. At one of our budget listening sessions, someone said that you don’t have to bring in a hundred officers to address speeding. You can design a street that makes people slow down.

Martin: What lessons have you learned from Dallas that you’ve carried to Topeka?

Perez: I think the biggest one is probably listening. Before you try to implement something, you need to listen. You need to understand what some of the challenges or barriers have been. Along those same lines, don’t try to pretend. I tell people all the time, “You know what? You guys are the experts. I’ll lean upon your expertise and we’ll make collaborative decisions.”

Martin: One thing I’ve learned about this community is that it can be intimidating to have a person come in from out of state. Why should the community trust you?

Perez: I’ll give you this insight. My previous boss T.C. Broadnax, the city manager in Dallas who’s now the city manager in Austin, was born and raised in Topeka. Went to Topeka High, played basketball at Washburn. He had a lot of great things to say about the community. He told me there’s so many things to work on and so much opportunity. Between that insight, all the times we visited Topeka, the interview process, the folks I’ve met, it’s basically made me committed to the city. I want us all to thrive. That’s why I hope that the public trusts in that, because that’s my goal for everybody who lives and visits here. More than anything, I want us to be a model organization that everybody points to and says, “Oh my God, look what they’re doing in Topeka.”

Martin: What is it about a challenge that excites you, and why?

Perez: No matter what I touch, I want to make it better than it was when I first found it. I know that by addressing challenges, people’s lives get better.

DR. ROBERT PEREZ

Martin: Do you see yourself going higher in the political realm?

Perez: No, this is it. I found my niche in city management, and my hat’s off to all the folks who can go out and campaign. I’ll let you set the policy and I’ll go make it the best I can.

Martin: What made you want to get your doctorate?

Perez: The honest truth is that I got to a place in my career where I had some free time. I could do the whole Netflix and chill thing, or I could actually go to school and further my education. When I got into the program, I fell in love with it. It’s a doctorate in education with a concentration in organizational leadership. Knowing that I wanted to be a city manager, I really felt like I would actually learn leadership theory and how to apply it. The

program also had statistics and organizational development. It all just kind of tied into my career goal for being a city manager.

Martin: What do you do in your free time?

Perez: Now I have time to watch Netflix. One of my guilty pleasures with my wife at the end of a long day is watching Bridgerton. We’re in season three. I love it.

Martin: Honey, yes. That’s my show.

Perez: My wife and I also like to travel. One of the other things we love about Topeka is the restaurant scene.

And the coffee. We found a lot of great coffee shops here. Saturday mornings for us are about getting

up and taking the laptops to the coffee shop to work for a little bit.

Martin: Where do you see yourself in the next few years?

Perez: I don’t know what God’s plan is for me. I mean, I definitely don’t want to be one of those flyby-night guys who comes in, gets some experience and takes off. I told the mayor and council that if Topeka is loving my family and me, and I’m loving Topeka, who knows how long I could be here?

Martin: If you could say anything to the community right now, what would you want to share?

Perez: Thank you for being so welcoming. The public’s done a really good job as far as electing a very insightful governing body. I’m going to do my best for y’all. TK

City Manager Topeka

New North Topeka Apartment Complex

Dan & Paula Beal

Get expert business advice and up-to-date information on business in Topeka at

TKmagazine.com

Send your news releases to news@tkmagazine.com.

BUSINESS NEWS

2024 Downtown Topeka Restaurant Week Coming Up September 21-28

Downtown eatery favorites like Brew Bank, The Celtic Fox, Cosmos Court, Hazel Hill Chocolate, The Pennant, TaCo., The Tee Box and The Weather Room have already signed on to participate, as Downtown Topeka Inc. (DTI) continues to recruit. More information about participating businesses and their Restaurant Week specials may be found online at downtowntopekainc.com under the “Restaurant Week” tab.

Shawnee County CDDO Resource Fair and Family Fun Day to Be Held Saturday, October 5 at Crestview Park Shelter House

An opportunity for families to meet with providers, ask questions and gather information about available services and supports, as well as enjoy a fun family day. There will be games, activities, food trucks, a raffle drawing for prizes and much more. Entry is free to the public.

VenuWorks Announces

Chris Janson at the Topeka Performing Arts Center on Friday, November 1

Chris Janson is part of country’s new breed. The multi-Platinum songwriter and artist is in touch with the lighter side of life, as shown in his self-penned number one hits “Fix A Drink” and “Good Vibes,” and CMA Song of the Year nominee and ACM Video of the Year award winner “Drunk Girl.”

Alltech to Offer RingCentral for Enhanced Communication Solutions

This strategic move aims to improve how businesses connect, collaborate and thrive. RingCentral’s features include voice, video, messaging and conferencing capabilities that provide productivity, mobility, reliability, compliance and security, return on investment and the power to scale. Alltech seeks to empower organizations with communication experiences tailored to their needs.

Stormont Vail Health Welcomes George Evans, M.D., to the Family Medicine Team

Stormont Vail Health welcomes Dr. George Evans, a board-certified family medicine physician with over 25 years of experience, to the family medicine team. Dr. Evan’s extensive family medicine background and expertise in treating chronic diabetes, coronary artery disease and chronic high blood pressure will greatly enhance the services provided at the Cotton O’Neil North Clinic.

Advisors Excel Announces Tony Compton as President of Annuity Marketing

Tony Compton will lead efforts to drive growth and profitability for Advisors Excel’s annuity division. With extensive leadership experience spanning multiple decades, Compton most recently served as senior vice president at MassMutual Ascend, where he oversaw the broker dealer and Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) business and third-party Registered Index-Linked Annuity (RILA) distribution.

Kansas Women in Business Conference Announces 2024 Speakers Go Topeka will present the 2024 Kansas Women in Business Conference on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at the Maner Conference Center. The keynote speakers are Britt Frank, LCSW, a licensed psychotherapist and human behavior expert; Monica Massey, a seasoned executive with extensive experience in manager operations; and Shanna Adamic, who overcame a brain tumor diagnosis and other personal challenges to lead healthcare initiatives that impact thousands worldwide.

5TH ANNUAL

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH, 2024 - 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

TOWNSITE TOPEKA BALLROOM

534 S. KANSAS AVENUE

Featuring Keynote Speaker David Granirer

• Stand-Up comedian

• Founder of Stand-Up for Mental Health

• Public speaker and author Tickets

Special Guests Award Recipients

CELEBRATING OVER 55 YEARS OF RECOVERY SERVICES

This fundraising event supports The Valeo Foundation. Individual tickets are $100. Corporate sponsorships are still available. Tickets can be purchased at givebutter.com/unmaskingstigma, by scanning the QR code with your smartphone camera, by contacting Aimee Copp-Hasty at acopphasty@valeotopeka.org, or by calling 785-342-7232.