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PAGE Junior Achievement of Kansas Topeka Business Hall of Fame
Business veterans Chuck Lower, Karen Linn, Dr. Robert Kenagy and Doug Wolff are the 2025 inductees to the Topeka Business Hall of Fame.
Inspiring You to Fly
At Stephen Osborne’s TOP Aviation Services, a Part 61 flight school program offers flexible instruction schedules for Topeka’s next generation of pilots.
Photo by JOHN BURNS
Photo by JOHN BURNS
Guaranteed Protection: No health questions asked, health insurance not
Prioritize Prevention: $50 wellness benefit for cancer screenings.
bcbsks.com/cancer
Limestone company Higgins Stone spent 45 years building their foundation, but the company’s value has been millions of years in the making.
37 aspiring leaders selected to join this year’s Leadership Greater Topeka program.
With summer just around the corner, Dr. Matthew Ricks shares essential tips for maintaining healthy skin.
Lalo Muñoz, executive director of El Centro of Topeka, shares his secrets for better communication.
Topeka’s CAS Constructors has worked behind the scenes for decades to deliver clean
to communities across the Midwest.
Washburn University’s
Professor of
Norma Juma explores how artificial intelligence (AI) can aid critical
Danielle J. Martin interviews Mammoth Sports Construction’s CEO and founder Jake Farrant about the company’s challenges and wins on the
Photo by JOHN BURNS
Photo by JOHN BURNS
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
Kim Gronniger
Corinn Guemmer
Lauren Jurgensen
Lisa Loewen
Samantha Marshall
Danielle Martin
PHOTOGRAPHERS
CONTRIBUTING EXPERTS
John Burns
Brian Peters
Norma Juma
Lalo Muñoz
Matthew Ricks
WEBSITE MANAGER Cordell Dimick
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FROM THE GROUND UP
AFTER 45 YEARS IN BUSINESS, HIGGINS STONE’S VALUES ARE ROCK SOLID
By SAMANTHA MARSHALL
Photos by JOHN BURNS
In 1980, Mike Higgins was working in real estate when sky-high interest rates impacted the industry. So instead of simply buying or selling land, he chose to mine it instead.
He paid a landowner to let him use their land to quarry limestone, where Mike worked alone to produce a single limestone block each day. From there, he’d use his homemade stone splitter to turn the fruits of his labor into smaller, sellable units.
Mike’s first clients included a home builder in Denver and the grandson of the founder of Pepsi, who hired Higgins Stone to supply limestone for his personal residence in Cherry
Hills, Colorado. Still a team of one, Mike would haul the limestone in his pickup truck to a mason in Kansas City and the mason would deliver it to his clients.
Forty-five years later, Higgins Stone quarries, cuts, finishes and sells five different “types,” or facies, of Kansas limestones. Their customers range from commercial builders to do-it-yourselfers taking on home improvement projects. Visitors at their two retail locations (one in Wamego, the other in Topeka) can browse everything from veneer to cut stone.
“He started with absolutely nothing,” said Holly Higgins, the
company’s operations manager. “Since then, he has grown Higgins Stone into a tremendous small business.”
CARVED IN STONE
In 1991, Mike hired 17-year-old high school student Scott Wichman to help Higgins Stone with small jobs.
Scott knew nothing about stone at the time but despite his youth and inexperience, he found himself quarrying and selling rocks for small patios and flower gardens. Eventually, Mike started to hand more responsibilities to Scott.
“He dumped me in some situations where I thought, ‘You're }
Photo by JOHN BURNS
Topeka’s Higgins Stone moves million-year-old limestone to build new foundations.
going to take a 17-year-old kid and put him in charge of this?’” Scott said. “But he had all the faith in the world, and I just went.”
Scott began college but kept working for Mike. After he graduated, Mike offered Scott a full-time job, as well as a minor ownership stake in Higgins Stone. Scott is now the company’s lead production manager.
When Holly joined the team in 1998, Higgins Stone employed only seven full-time employees. Most were busy working in the plant, fabricating raw limestone into finished products.
During the housing boom of the early 2000s, stone brokerages bought limestone from Higgins Stone on behalf of architects and general contractors.
“All of a sudden, we started seeing our limestone shipped on railroad containers to Canada and boat trips to Hawaii,” Scott said. “I never would have believed the rock we quarry here in the middle of the United States would be shipped to other countries, but here we are.”
In 2008, the housing market slowed and many of the stone brokerages
folded, putting pressure on Higgins Stone to find commercial jobs. Scott did this by scouring public information for projects in the works, then tracking down blueprints to get the information he needed to make a bid.
“We had to get aggressive,” Scott said. “We couldn’t wait on someone else to sell a job.”
But landing bigger bids proved to be a bigger challenge. When Kansas State University started taking bids for the construction of the Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Higgins Stone did everything in their power to make a competitive offer.
“It was difficult to earn someone’s trust so they would have faith in us to perform on time and with good quality material,” Holly said. “Before the K-State job, it felt like being a young kid trying to prove their worth.”
STONE COLD SUCCESS
Once Higgins Stone won the bid for K-State’s new football stadium, the real work began. The team had only nine months — the time from one football season to the next — to complete the ambitious project.
“We were relentless,” Scott said. “There were some long days and long weekends. We just had to keep going.”
The stadium’s construction timeline was so tight that a minor equipment breakdown could delay the entire project, since the schedule had no room for even a one-day repair. But the company succeeded in the end.
“That job allowed us to show everybody, including bigger general contractors who build all over the country, that we could pull off a job of that magnitude in that tight of a timeframe,” Scott said.
Similar jobs soon followed, with Higgins Stone setting their sights on everything from major arenas to historical projects demanding they find a perfect match for 150-yearold limestone. Some of their most recognizable projects include the INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, the Oread Hotel in Lawrence and the Cyrus Hotel in downtown Topeka. They’re even responsible for the Farmers Mutual headquarters in Lincoln, Nebraska.
As of 2025, Higgins Stone employs 45 people. Seven work in sales or administrative roles, while the rest can be found in the fabrication plants and quarries scattered across the company’s 2,100 acres of land.
They’re able to produce as many as 50 blocks of limestone a day — a giant leap from the single block Mike produced daily when he was just a solopreneur.
“We do a lot of little interesting projects that may not be substantial dollar wise, but are always fun,” Holly said.
Scott added the company is always looking for ways to grow without biting off more work than they can chew.
“With any type of growth, you're going to create bottlenecks,” Scott said. “If we decide we need to saw more rock and buy another saw, we then need to quarry more rock so we can feed that saw. Then we need to increase production, which means more
Photo by JOHN BURNS
The company’s masonry work is found everywhere from K-State’s Bill Snyder Stadium to the Cyrus Hotel in downtown Topeka.
equipment and more people. A lot of our growth came from knowing full well we had to upgrade and get with the turn of the century.”
EMBRACING IMPERFECTION
For Higgins Stone, setting expectations can be a challenge with new customers who may be unfamiliar with limestone’s natural properties. Holly says this is typical when working with natural stone.
“There’s a big design factor in these projects. Customers might look at one piece of limestone and want every stone for their big house to look like that one piece,” Holly said. “Just like people, no two pieces are exactly alike.”
Limestone is dense but also porous. If it isn’t properly sealed, it acts like a sponge and becomes less weather resistant over time. But well-sealed limestone handles temperature changes well and provides good insulation.
The company believes in being upfront with customers about limestone’s characteristic imperfections and inconsistencies. When customers understand what makes each piece unique, they have a greater appreciation for the finished stonework, Holly said.
“It’s our responsibility to make sure our customers understand reality. That’s why honesty and communication are most important,” she added. “If you can’t be honest, there’s going to be a lot
of project delays, problems and missed expectations.”
Customers are often surprised to learn that limestone is the same price or cheaper than big-box stone.
“The Kansas limestone is a nobrainer because it is a very good limestone, both for aesthetics and longevity,” Scott said. “We set our prices to be fair, not to get rich quick or retire on one project.”
For those who are willing to forgo the uniformity of manufactured — in other words, synthetic — stone, limestone’s natural beauty and competitive pricing can be quite the reward.
“For people who appreciate the naturalness of the product, its natural beauty within it, it's a really great and beautiful material,” Holly said.
FUTURE FOUNDATIONS
Higgins Stone has ambitious plans for the future, but Holly said Mike’s leadership keeps them grounded.
“It all starts with hard work,” Holly said. “It’s always been important to Mike that we are educated and able to handle any business aspect ourselves.”
“We got to this point where we don’t pay too many people to solve our problems. We do it ourselves,” Scott said. “In working with Mike, I’ve developed into that guy who can do pretty much everything I need to do out here.”
For other entrepreneurs hoping to match Higgins Stone’s almost five decades of business, Holly says it comes down to confidence.
“You’ve got to believe in yourself, number one, because nobody else will if you don't believe in yourself first,” Holly said. “You have to have faith in yourself to get there.”
When asked what advice he’d give to businesses that are eager to grow, Scott said he’d warn them not to become so focused on growth that they become lax in other areas.
“When you start putting a lot of focus on things that are new, you take away from something else,” Scott said. “Then, all of a sudden, you’re not paying as close attention to customers because you’re most focused on growing.”
Scott said he and Mike worked through that challenge by having Mike focus on growth opportunities while Scott managed existing business.
“It works really well,” he said.
While the days of one employee extracting and fabricating limestone are now a thing of the past, the team at Higgins Stone knows other challenges await in the future. However, they also know they’ve built a solid foundation for overcoming them.
“Mike has always told me this, and I repeat it to my son now: ‘Just swim,’” Holly said. “All the negative things will fall off if you just keep swimming.” TK
Photo by JOHN BURNS
Higgins Stone’s main office at the intersection of Auburn Road and 10th Street showcases the natural beauty of limestone.
By LISA LOEWEN
The Topeka Business Hall of Fame welcomes four new laureates in 2025, each embodying the best of the local business community. From health care and financial services to accounting and skilled trades, these highly accomplished leaders have one thing in common: the can-do spirit and determination of Kansas’s capital city.
Photos by JOHN BURNS
Photo by JOHN BURNS
Michelle
Chuck LOWER
“I always knew that I wasn’t the smartest person in the room. I learned as I went along just like my employees were learning.”
— Chuck Lower Founder and Former Owner Lower Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning
Photo by JOHN BURNS
Having spent his entire life in Topeka, Chuck Lower, founder of Lower Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, has a wide circle of friends and business associates. Meeting for a cup of coffee at the Classic Bean in Fairlawn Plaza seemed more like a social gathering than a quiet interview. Numerous people greeted Chuck by name as they walked by, stopping to say hello and shake his hand. Chuck just took it all in stride with an easy smile and a greeting in return.
Chuck retired almost eight years ago from the business he spent 45 years growing and cultivating. As a 2024 Topeka Business Hall of Fame laureate, Chuck says it’s sometimes hard to recollect all those years of business.
“Looking back, I am not entirely sure how I really did it,” Chuck said. “I just put my head down and did the work.”
Doing the work often meant spending 60-plus hours per week working in and growing the business. At times, it was hard on his family life and he had to make some personal sacrifices, but as a true entrepreneur, Chuck did what was necessary to succeed.
“I knew I would not fail because I wouldn’t let it fail. I would let my mother, myself and everyone else in my life down if I failed. So, you work hard enough not to fail,” Chuck said.
Chuck attributes his success to a few simple principles: hard work, dedication, honesty and treating people right.
LEARNING THE VALUE OF HARD WORK
A Topeka native, Chuck grew up in the Highland Park neighborhood and lived in the same home where he was born until he got married at 20 years old. He attended Topeka Lutheran School for eight years and then attended Highland Park High School, where he excelled at football, basketball and track.
His parents divorced when he was 10. Suddenly, Chuck found himself in the role of man of the house. Even though his mother worked hard, Chuck always felt driven to contribute whatever he could.
Chuck started working at the Highland Park Drug store when he was eight years old and spent the next 10 years learning more than just good business practices, but also how to be a good man.
“Gerry Butel was almost like a father to me,” Chuck said. “He and his wife lived upstairs and served us free lunch every day and paid everybody in cash all those years. I’m not sure how they did that, but they took great care of their employees.”
Chuck says it was fun growing up in Highland Park in those days because it was still quite rural, with great neighborhoods where everyone knew each other by name. He lived half a block from the man who owned the grocery store, which was across the street from the drugstore.
“He would hire me to paint his house and garage and do other odd jobs. Back in those days, he would pay me two dollars per hour, which was a lot of money in the 50s,” Chuck said. “For me, working was just part of life. I would go to school, attend sports practice and then go to work every night from six to 10 o’clock. I never thought twice about it. That job at the drugstore molded my life probably as much as anything ever. I learned how
Chuck with Amy Lower, Dustin Bates, Risë Quinn, Amanda Bates, Tom Tom Quinn and Diana Ramirez in New Orleans for the 2022 Red Dress Run.
to deal with customers. I learned what respect meant. I learned how to handle money.”
He also learned that hard work paid off: he paid cash for his first car, then bought an even nicer car two years later.
“The kids at school would say, ‘Wow, Chuck must have money.’ Well, heck yeah, I did. I was working. Mom was working to put food on the table. If I wanted something, I worked for it,” Chuck said.
After graduating from high school, Chuck was offered a full ride to Washburn University on a football and track scholarship. But during his first semester, coaching issues led half the football team to quit before the first game.
“I had always wanted to go to Kansas University,” Chuck said, “So I decided to transfer and join the team as a walk-on.”
He still worked every night. He was in Lawrence all day and worked in Topeka every night, but eventually it became more than he could physically handle. Given the choice between college and work, Chuck chose work.
That’s when the next stage of his life started.
CRAFTING A BUSINESS
A high school friend’s dad, Bill Cobler, owned a small heating and air conditioning shop in North Topeka. Needing some extra help while recovering from an injury, Bill hired Chuck, who then joined the team at McElroy’s as an apprentice.
“I spent the next seven years learning the HVAC business from Homer McElroy, probably one of the greatest men that I have ever known,” Chuck said. “I learned a lot about life and business working for him, but most importantly, I learned how to treat employees.”
Then in 1971, at the age of 28 and with three young children, Chuck
decided it was time to strike out on his own. That’s when growing up in a tightknit community really paid off.
The person who used to deliver milk to the Highland Park Drugstore just happened to be one of the brothers who was planning to develop the Peck Addition out on Croco Road. He asked Chuck if he wanted to bid the heating and air work. At the time, Chuck only had $50 in the bank and an old pickup truck, but he didn’t let that stop him from going after his dream.
“Of course, I said yes. I worked out of my garage for a year and then rented a small space in North Topeka for $100 a month,” Chuck said. “I bought three little pieces of used equipment — enough to be able to make ductwork.”
Knowing he had to support his family, Chuck paid himself $175 per month, the same amount he made while working at McElroy’s. He hired his first employee and billed $50,000 in business in one year. At the end of that year, his $50 in the bank had grown to $5,000.
Little did he dream at the time that the business would eventually expand to 45 full-time employees and gross close to $10 million per year.
LEARNING ALONG THE WAY
Perhaps the most pivotal moment for the business occurred in 1985 when Chuck took on the largest job in the company’s history: the Allied Health
Center at Washburn University. As a non-union company, he found himself the target of three large unions, who accused him of not paying proper wages. Fighting them in court was costly, requiring him to refinance his building to cover the costs.
“I decided right then that I wasn’t going to let them break me,” Chuck said. “I survived that fight and came out stronger and ready to fight for my business.”
Fighting for his business meant growing a strong company built around highly trained, skilled employees. Having credited his
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Chuck, pictured here with his spouse Amy, was 28 when he took a leap and opened his own HVAC company.
TOPEKA BUSINESS HALL OF FAME
Chuck, seen here with the Kanza Bear at a Lower Inc. Kanza Bowl (now Kansas Shrine Bowl) event, with Jim Parrish and Olivia Simmons. Topeka is “the best place to build a business and raise a family,” Chuck said.
work ethic to growing up in a rural community, Chuck sought out young employees from the surrounding communities of Mayetta, Holton and Osage City. He trained them in house, socialized with them and built relationships that continue to this day.
“They knew that I was the boss but that I also treated them equal to myself,” Chuck said. “I always knew that I wasn’t the smartest person in the room. I learned as I went along just like my employees were learning.”
PAYING IT FORWARD
The idea of working more than 60 hours a week might discourage some people from giving up their spare time, but not Chuck. Fond memories of how his community supported him throughout his life spurred him to find ways to pay it forward.
Chuck joined the Optimist Club at almost the same time he
started the business, appreciating the work they did to improve the lives of children and recognizing the value in networking and establishing connections. He went on to serve as president of the Highland Park Optimist Club. He also helped establish two new clubs in Topeka, one at Shawnee Heights and the other in the Washburn Rural area.
“That was a lot of work. It meant going door to door and telling people we wanted to form an Optimist Club in their neighborhood,” Chuck said. “But it was worth the hours knocking on doors because of the work the clubs did for children.”
Chuck’s involvement with the Optimist Club convinced other organizations to ask for his help.
“I was never very good at turning anyone down,” Chuck said.
Chuck served on the board of directors for the Metropolitan Topeka
Airport Authority (MTAA), where he was a liaison between the MTAA and the Kansas Air National Guard. Not only did he get to work with the people in the guard, but he also flew all over the country in their refueling airplanes.
Kansas Governor Mike Hayden appointed Chuck to the board of trustees for the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame as well as the Kansas Apprenticeship Counsel.
“I met so many people through my community service activities,” Chuck said. “People I would never otherwise have ever encountered.”
Some of those people included sportscasters Dev Nelson and Max Falkenstein, long distance runner Wes Santee and coach Willie Nicklin, among other notable sports figures.
Chuck also has affiliations with the Topeka Home Builders, Topeka Country Club, Topeka Chamber of Commerce, Presbyterian Manor and Community Bank.
HONORING THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
Chuck says he is incredibly honored to have been selected for the Topeka Business Hall of Fame, not only because it recognizes him for years of hard work, but also because of his love for Topeka.
“This is the best place to build a business and raise a family,” Chuck said.
“I’m proud of the friends I have made and the things I have accomplished in this community. That is success. It beats business, money, everything else.”
As he looks to the future, Chuck says all he needs is great live music, golf, black coffee and a good scotch.
KAREN LINN
“It is valuable to have a mindset that you always have something to learn. Be ready to absorb every bit of information that comes your way.”
— Karen Linn Former Managing Director
Photo by JOHN BURNS
Karen Linn belongs to the nearly extinct group of professionals who have spent their entire careers with one company. Over the past 40 years, Karen has helped Berberich Trahan & Co., P.A., better known as BT&Co., grow into one of the largest independent public accounting firms in Northeast Kansas through her work in various roles.
Karen attributes her loyalty to BT&Co. to working with people who not only treat each other with respect, but also reward hard work.
When Junior Achievement nominated Karen to be inducted to the Topeka Business Hall of Fame in recognition of her contributions to both BT&Co. and the community, Karen says it came as a bit of a surprise.
“At first, I was shocked. Then as I looked at the list of former laureates and the names of the other three honorees this year, I felt honored and humbled to receive this recognition,” Karen said.
PLAYING THE NUMBERS GAME
Karen spent the first 10 years of her life in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, until her father’s work with the Mennonite Church brought their family to Chicago. Her religious background naturally piqued her interest in attending a Mennonite college after high school. In 1979, after a process of elimination,
Karen found herself at the Mennoniteaffiliated Bethel College located in North Newton.
“I ended up choosing Bethel because it had a football program, and I’ve always loved football,” Karen said. “I moved to North Newton with the expectation that I would go to school for a year and then move back to Chicago. Apparently I loved it because the next thing I knew, I was graduating.”
While in school, she worked as the college’s football secretary.
“I loved the energy that came with being involved with the football program,” she said. “From recruiting, which allowed me to learn the name of every high school in Kansas, to recording live-action stats at the football games, I was right in my element.”
Whether it was because Bethel College was smaller than her high school graduating class or because she had happily spent four years serving as their football secretary, Karen walked out of Bethel’s doors with a business degree.
Karen had always loved working with numbers, but her interest in public accounting was sparked at age 14 by her sister’s boyfriend, who was studying accounting at the time.
“They would come home from college and he would sit at the table and study. I found myself fascinated with accounting and knew right then that I wanted to be a public accountant,” Karen said.
With her career dreams top of mind, Karen applied to every public accounting firm in the Wichita area but received no offers.
“I couldn’t get anybody to bite,” Karen said. “At that time, those larger CPA firms were recruiting from larger universities such as the University of Kansas, Kansas State University and Wichita State University, and graduates
Karen and her daughter Josie, right, celebrate the Fourth of July with their goldendoodle Luka.
from smaller colleges weren’t even being considered. Fortunately, that has since changed.”
Karen went to work for the Wichita State Endowment Association as a bookkeeper. She enjoyed the work but didn’t find it challenging enough, so she began studying for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam — a rigorous two-and-a-half-day professional certification test offered twice a year.
When they published the results of the exam, all of a sudden those firms that wouldn’t hire me began to call,” Karen said.
In turn, she has plenty of advice for young students preparing to take the CPA exam.
“Take the exam as soon as possible after graduation,” she said. “As you progress in your career and personal life, you will find you have less time for studying and there will be more distractions. Passing the CPA exam and getting your license will open doors in your career, and the opportunities are endless. Even in my 40th year in public accounting, I found that I continued to have opportunities every day to learn something new. Information is constantly changing in the accounting industry. It is valuable to have a mindset that you always have something to learn. Be ready to absorb every bit of information that comes your way.”
ACCOUNTING FOR SUCCESS
Karen landed a position with an accounting firm in Wichita, never dreaming that she would spend the next 40 years with the same firm. In 1986, she transferred to the firm’s Topeka office. The firm broke away from its parent company a few years later and formed BT&Co.
When one of her clients offered her an accounting job with a different firm on the East Coast, Karen grappled with indecision because she knew that taking the job could potentially advance
her career. So she turned to John Berberich, one of the firm’s partners, for advice.
“I walked into John’s office and told him I had this job offer and that I was considering taking it,” Karen said. “John just stared at me for a minute and then replied, ‘Do you want to be a manager here?’ That was all I needed to convince me to stay.”
Karen says Berberich mentored her during her time at BT&Co., serving as both a technical guide and a model of strong, professional leadership.
“I never really faced any roadblocks throughout my career at BT&Co.,” Karen said. “I always felt challenged, supported and rewarded for the work I did.”
In 1996, Karen became a BT&Co. partner. She was promoted to head of the audit department when Berberich retired in 1997, holding the position for 15 years before accepting her current role as managing director.
Karen and her husband Andrew Linn at Bikes, Blues and BBQ, the world's largest charity motorcycle rally, which benefits women, children and under-served residents of Northwest Arkansas.
After working at the firm for almost 30 years, Karen entered the role of managing director in 2013 with a clear vision for growth.
“As new leadership, sometimes you worry that people will balk at change. But everyone at BT&Co. was excited to help craft a vision for the future,” Karen said.
She launched a strategic planning and visioning process to establish priorities and make intentional changes within the firm.
“We evaluated eight aspects of our firm including our succession strategy,
our technological savvy and our engagement with clients and others,” she said. “Based on that evaluation, we prioritized the most critical areas to focus on. The biggest impact overall was the knowledge everyone gained from the analysis of our strengths and weaknesses in all eight areas. We were able to use that knowledge to focus on our clients and create an employeecentered culture.”
In 2019, she oversaw the firm’s merger with the Topeka CBIZ/ Mayer Hoffman McCann office and the subsequent purchase and renovation of the new BT&Co. office building on Huntoon Street.
PHOTO
Under Karen’s leadership, BT&Co. doubled its revenue and grew to 65 employees.
She retired from BT&Co. in December 2024.
“When I decided that it was time to retire, it was a culmination of things. The process of the merger was difficult. Renovating the building was a challenge. Navigating through COVID-19 was taxing. And I was nearing my 40th year with the company,” Karen said. “It was just time to let someone else take over the responsibilities.”
VALUE BEYOND NUMBERS
While she may not be a Kansas native, Karen has spent most of her life here and is proud to call Topeka home.
“For its size, Topeka offers a lot of great experiences. We have the symphony, the Performing Arts Center, the Topeka Civic Theatre, a great library, a fabulous university in Washburn and so much more,” Karen said. “We are all community here and should be helping each other in any way we can.”
Karen has done her part by volunteering in numerous capacities over the years. Because of her accounting background, she has been asked to serve as treasurer on several boards.
“I seem to have fallen into a pattern. Once I agree to serve as treasurer, I subsequently find myself taking on even more responsibility,” Karen said.
In the past, she has served as both treasurer and later president of Topeka Collegiate School, where her daughter
attended from pre-K through eighth grade; treasurer and president of the Kaw Valley Girl Scout Council; treasurer, vice president and president of Topeka South Rotary Club; treasurer and board member of Topeka Independent Business Association; and treasurer of I Care, Inc.
Karen is the current treasurer of Rotary International District 5710, a position she has held since 2012. She won the Experienced Leader Award from The Kansas Society of Certified Public Accountants’ Women to Watch Awards in 2013.
ADDING IT ALL UP
Karen isn’t worried about feeling bored in retirement. Through a consulting agreement with BT&Co., she’ll continue working with those numbers she loves while also checking off bucket list items after 40 rewarding but busy years.
“I want to start playing the piano again. I’ve already started lessons. I want to teach myself to play the guitar. I want to finally sit down and read some good books, I have already started learning and playing table Mah Jong, I want to travel with my husband and I want to continue to volunteer. There are so many things, I have a spreadsheet for that,” Karen said. “What I am not going to do is clean my house.”
But with her teenage daughter still at home, Karen may not have as much time for retirement activities now as she’d hoped.
“I haven’t had any downtime yet,” Karen said.
Once her daughter Josie heads off to college next year, Karen plans to curl up with her three cats — Thomas O’Malley, Sebastian and Heathcliff — and goldendoodle Luka, and finally pick up a book.
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Karen and Andrew are looking forward to traveling and new adventures during her retirement.
“Understand the fundamentals. Do the blocking and the tackling. Be committed to the basics and build relationships. When you do those things, as opportunities present themselves, you will be ready for them.”
— Dr. Robert Kenagy President and CEO
Stormont Vail Health
Photo by JOHN BURNS
Robert Kenagy, M.D., has spent most of his life working and living in Kansas. A Wichita native, he practiced family medicine for more than 22 years before transitioning into leadership roles that would eventually bring him to Stormont Vail Health in Topeka.
While Robert is honored to have been named one of this year’s Topeka Business Hall of Fame laureates, he refuses to take the credit for his success.
“Whatever the selection committee saw in me as being worthy of recognition is truly the result of being part of a great team,” Robert said.
COMMUNITY ROOTS
Robert didn’t set out to become a doctor. After graduating from Wichita State University in 1979 with a business administration degree, he started working for Boeing as part of a cost and scheduling team that supported engineers working on the KC-135 re-engine programs.
“I have a great respect for that company,” Robert said. “My dad was an engineer there for more than 40 years, and it was a great company to work for.”
Robert thought he would follow in his father’s footsteps and make a career at Boeing. However, fate had other plans. Almost two years into his job, tragedy struck when his sister-in-law was killed by a drunk driver. Watching
his brother struggle with the trauma of losing his wife made Robert rethink the trajectory of his own life.
“I had always idolized two of my maternal uncles who were internal medicine doctors in Kansas City but had never seriously considered pursuing that profession,” Robert said. “All of a sudden, I found myself undergoing an intense reexamination of what I wanted to do with my life.”
That introspective search set him on the path to becoming a doctor. He quit his job and moved back home so he could go back to school and complete the pre-requisites he needed to apply for medical school. Because business majors aren’t expected to take many science classes, it took Robert two more years of school to complete the required courses.
He attended the University of Kansas Medical School and then completed a family medicine residency at KU Wesley in Wichita. Robert practiced family medicine in Wichita for more than 20 years.
SMALL PRACTICE TO BIG PICTURE
He started out in an independent group of family medicine physicians that later became part of a large multispecialty group called Wichita Clinic.
“It was at that large clinic where I started to take on leadership roles and become involved in the administrative side of medicine,” Robert said.
As a culmination of various leadership positions, Robert became the chief medical officer for the physicianowned group comprised of 160 doctors and 40 advanced practice providers operating out of 13 locations, including a stand-alone surgery center. In his role as the lead executive, he helped guide the group into a merger with Via Christi Health.
At the same time that he was serving as chief medical officer for the clinic, Robert completed a master’s
Robert and his wife Tammy, a former teacher, received the 2020 Topeka Public Schools Foundation Patron Award for their contributions to education.
degree in medical management at Tulane University.
Once the merger was finalized, it was left to Randy Peterson, who was the acting CEO for the Via Christi Health System at the time, and Robert, who was the CEO of the newly formed Via Christi Clinic, to carry out the working aspects of the merger.
“The politics involved with bringing together two groups of doctors who had been competitors, proved difficult, so Randy and I both sought other options,” Robert said. “In a way, that was traumatic for me to put my heart and soul into the merger effort and then watch the politics play out in such a way that I could no longer be part of it.”
Randy moved to Topeka to become CEO of Stormont Vail Health and Robert became senior vice president of the St. John Health Network in Tulsa. Four years later, Randy asked Robert to interview for the chief medical officer position at Stormont Vail Health, to replace the retiring Dr. Kent Palmberg. Robert served in that role for the next three years until Randy retired in 2019 and Robert became president and CEO of Stormont Vail Health.
A HEALER AND A LEADER
For Robert, the biggest challenge in transitioning from patient care to administration was balancing his desire to stay connected through part-time, hands-on clinical work while taking on more leadership responsibilities.
“I was blessed with partners who were willing to cover for me and take care of my patients when I couldn’t be there because of my managerial duties,” Robert said.
The second challenge he faced was a little bit of a flip side of that coin. Going from a peer to a leadership role changed the dynamic of his relationship with those physicians with
whom he worked. He had to earn the respect of the doctors in Wichita who were once colleagues but now found themselves following his lead.
“I think it’s always been helpful in the leadership positions that I’ve held to be able to relate to the physicians from a position of having practiced medicine for 20 years,” Robert said. “Also, I’ve been grateful for the training that I had in my business degree at Wichita State. It allows me to shift back and forth from a business perspective to a clinical perspective in a way that has been beneficial.”
Under his leadership, Stormont Vail Health has cultivated a culture called “We Together,” which recognizes that while health care requires individual contributions, success depends on teamwork.
Robert, seen here at a KC Chiefs game with Tammy, started as a family medicine physician before ascending to the role of CEO at Stormont Vail Health.
themselves, you will be ready for them,” Robert said.
“Here at Stormont, we have an incredible team of people who are willing to have hard conversations, collaborate and then roll up our sleeves and get the work done. It’s amazing to see that process occur day in and day out across this health system,” Robert said.
Robert says the secret to good leadership is that there really is no secret. There is no such thing as perfection, he adds, so learn from your mistakes and be consistent.
“Understand the fundamentals. Do the blocking and the tackling. Be committed to the basics and build relationships. When you do those things, as opportunities present
Stormont Vail Health has thrived under this leadership philosophy, having grown to an operating revenue of $1 billion, net assets totaling $1 billion and more than 5,700 team members receiving $600 million in salary and benefits. Each year, the hospital provides $50 million in community benefits, primarily through uncompensated care.
“We take care of anyone who comes to us for help,” Robert said.
Stormont Vail Health also has facilities in Manhattan and Junction City. They’re in the process of planning a new building to bring state-of-the-art ambulatory care to Emporia, as well as planning new clinics in six other Kansas communities.
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THE DOCTOR NEXT DOOR
Robert understands the importance of being involved with the local community and tries to give back wherever he can. He serves on the GO Topeka Board of Directors, Stormont Vail Health Board, Stormont-Vail, Inc. Board, Topeka Community Foundation Board, Christ’s Hospital Corporation Board and the Kansas Hospital Association Board. He is also a member of the Wichita State University College of Health Professions Dean’s Advisory Council.
Robert and his wife of 37 years, Tammy, are champions of education, particularly elementary and primary education. As a former teacher, Tammy saw firsthand the role that education plays in setting kids on the path to future success. The Robertses have actively advocated for education in
every community where they’ve lived, and together they received the 2020 Topeka Public Schools Foundation Patron Award for their contributions.
“Education is a fundamental piece that determines a person’s ability to succeed in life,” Robert said. “Tammy and I believe in the importance of supporting public education in our society.”
The couple’s two daughters seem to agree. One teaches kindergarten in Washington, D.C., and the other is an active-duty army major who teaches applied mathematics at West Point.
FINAL PRESCRIPTION
Once Robert retires in May, he doesn’t plan to slow down. Between the months of March and September, you’ll find him on his farm two hours south of Topeka, where he and Tammy plan to be
gentle farmers. That means farming as a hobby rather than farming for profit: gardening, raising 30 spring chickens and caring for laying hens, goats, sheep, a few steers and a whole lot of cats.
“This year we’re going to try raising a couple of pigs as well,” Robert said.
“And I plan to get a couple of dogs. Every farmer needs a dog or two.”
September to March will be the Robertses’ travel time, when you’ll likely find them all over the world. Last year they did a safari in Africa, and this year they plan to spend a few weeks in the Amazon Rainforest and Galapagos Islands.
“We would like to spend enough time in the places we visit to really learn more about the culture and appreciate the history,” Robert said. “But of course, we are always glad to come back home to Kansas.”
Tammy and Robert (center) with (from L to R) Jon Duntze, Hannah Kenagy, Gina Johnson, Tori Johnson, John Johnson and Rachel Kenagy in the Dominican Republic during Christmas 2024.
DOUG WOLFF
“Raise
your hand, get involved and in the right ways, don’t be afraid to toot your own horn because no one else is going to do it for you.”
— Doug Wolff CEO Security Benefit
Photo by JOHN BURNS
smiles for over 40 years.
The team at Gage Dental offer comprehensive dental care for adults and children. We use state-of-the-art dental technology to ensure that you always receive the highest quality of care in the most comfortable environment possible.
Doug Wolff, CEO of Security Benefit, may not be a Kansas native but he is proud to call it home. Doug has spent the last 24 years working to help Security Benefit evolve into a financial powerhouse that is recognized as one of the top-performing life-health companies in the United States.
As with any company that has surpassed the century mark, Security Benefit has had its share of great leaders who have left their stamp on the company. Two years after moving into the role of CEO, Doug has rolled out a fresh set of company core values, which he hopes will leave a lasting impression on Security Benefit’s work culture: progress over perfection, learning over excuses, action over indecision, community over self and engagement over silence.
“If these core values become truly embedded into our culture, where we don’t just talk about it, but we actually hold each other accountable, that would be a fantastic legacy for me to leave behind,” Doug said.
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
A Connecticut native, Doug spent most of his childhood in a small town just outside of Hartford, Connecticut. Then, at the end of his eighth-grade
year, his father changed jobs and moved the family to the Chicago area.
“My world was rocked,” Doug said. “As a teenager, having to move away from my school and my friends was the worst thing in the world. But as it turned out, it was the best thing that could ever have happened to me.”
A naturally introverted person, Doug found that moving to a new place forced him to come out of his shell, meet new people and try new experiences. He graduated with a degree in finance from the University of Illinois and set out to establish his career as an actuary helping companies manage risk.
Doug spent the next eight years as an actuarial consultant with Ernst & Young, studying the intricacies of how various companies operate and manage risk.
I wanted to get my hands dirty and be part of a corporate team with a single goal,” Doug said. “So, I switched gears.”
He spent the next six years getting answers to his questions as an actuary at Allstate Insurance Company, where he also worked with the business development and sales teams. After a massive corporate reorganization limited Doug’s role to actuarial work, he sought a new position with more growth potential.
CLIMBING HIGHER
“One day, I got a call from a recruiter about a small company in Topeka, Kansas, called Security Benefit,” Doug said. “I didn’t know anything about Kansas, but I was intrigued.”
Doug was scheduled to fly to Topeka for a face-to-face interview on September 12, 2001. Needless to say, the interview didn’t happen.
Doug assumed that with the stock market closed and financial institutions in a state of flux, this small, midwestern financial company would probably just postpone his interview for six months to give them time to step back and reevaluate their financial position.
Doug high fives his golf partner, former NBA player Blake Griffin, at the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe.
“Instead of calling to cancel or postpone, the human resources director called me every single day to say, ‘Doug, we still want you to come down as soon as the airports reopen. We want you here at Security Benefit.’ That spoke volumes to me about the company, and to this day, I feel that is a great representation of what Security Benefit is all about,” Doug said.
Doug moved with his wife and three small children to Kansas with the expectation that he would stay five years. That was 24 years ago.
“Two years after I moved to Topeka, a guy by the name of Bill Self left the University of Illinois to come to the University of Kansas. The year after that, Illinois made the NCAA finals. So, as a proud Illini, I walked around the building asking everyone why Bill Self would leave a fabulous college basketball school like Illinois for a mediocre one like Kansas,” Doug said. “I have been eating those words now for almost 20 years.”
Doug joined Security Benefit to run the actuarial and product development portion of the business, but he remained fascinated by sales and business development. He yearned for the opportunity to broaden the scope of his role to include more aspects of the company.
When a member of senior management walked into Doug’s office one afternoon and asked him to help them find someone to fill the position vacated by Doug’s former supervisor, inspiration struck.
“I went home and thought about it, and then came in the next day and told them I had come up with the perfect person for the job — me,” Doug said.
They thought about it and decided to let him give it a try. Doug had finally found the opportunity he’d been looking for to sink his teeth into business development and sales management.
GROWTH THROUGH CRISIS
When Doug took over his former manager’s role, Security Benefit was a relatively small mutual midwestern annuity company focused on helping people build wealth for their retirement. With $12 billion in assets under management, comprised mostly of 403(b) supplemental retirement plans from the education sector, the company was well capitalized and looking for ways to grow.
Then the perfect storm hit.
First, the company hoped to facilitate growth by purchasing a mutual fund company, but they bought it at the worst time possible: right before the 2008 financial crisis.
Second, because variable products made up the majority of the company offerings, most of the revenues were tied to individual account balances in the stock market. When the financial crisis hit, those balances plummeted.
Finally, to be more competitive and earn a greater return, the company had invested $200 million in vehicles tied to subprime mortgages, which lost almost all their value overnight.
“Those three things all hit us at the same time, and we went from being very well capitalized to searching for a life preserver,” Doug said.
That life preserver appeared in the form of an investor group led by
Guggenheim Partners, who purchased Security Benefit in 2010 and took the company private. With that purchase came an influx of capital and a mandate for growth. Security Benefit Chairman Todd Boehly brought in Mike Kiley to oversee operations.
While Kiley had an incredible background in sales and distribution, he recognized the need to bring in some partners with a more technical background — as well as reward employees who had been with the company for several years.
Kiley named Doug president of Security Benefit Life, a position Doug held for 11 years while helping the company exceed
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Doug poses with Amy Lee at a holiday event.
its growth goals for both the top and bottom line. When Kiley retired two years ago, Doug stepped into the CEO position and led the company to record earnings in 2023.
“With some great tailwinds and good decisions, that $12 billion in assets under management has grown to $55 billion,” Doug said.
Doug says he credits the company’s nearly 600 dedicated employees for much of that growth. Most of their employees work out of the Topeka location, but Security Benefit also has offices in Overland Park, Kansas, Des Moines, Iowa and New York City.
While Doug enjoys working with the sales and product development side of the business, his actuarial background has helped round out his management style. That logic-based skillset has helped him see both sides of the equation and enabled him to judge a
situation by the facts and the data, so bias becomes less of a factor. His tendency to always evaluate risk and return, rather than jump into something too quickly, has served him well over the years.
“Actuaries will always look for more data. That is where the core value Action over Indecision becomes vital. Particularly when you are in this chair. If you’re not decisive, it can really clog things up for everyone below you,” Doug said. “Like everyone else, I am trying to learn and live our core values.”
Now that Doug sits in the CEO chair, he finds people asking for advice on leadership and career growth. At his annual lunch with the interns at Security Benefit, he shares with those young, eager future leaders what he calls “Advice from an old guy.”
“Raise your hand, get involved and in the right ways, don’t be afraid to toot your own horn because no one else is
going to do it for you,” he said. “You can learn as much from bad managers, bad supervisors, bad co-workers as you can from the good ones. When you find yourself in that supervisory position, think about what you didn’t like and make a conscious choice to be better.”
AMBITION AND ADVENTURE
For Doug, career isn’t everything. He’s also active in the community, volunteering and serving on a variety of boards.
Doug served two terms as a governor-appointed trustee for the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System and was previously chair of the GO Topeka Board. He is currently a trustee on the Kansas University Center for Research Board and a director of the Greater Topeka Partnership Chairs Council.
When he isn’t working or volunteering, Doug is either on the tennis court, the golf course, running or on the ski slopes.
“If there’s one place that can always turn me around and make me feel good, it’s that first step off the chairlift at the top of the mountain,” Doug said.
Doug also enjoys reading, but he wishes he was a faster reader.
“One of the negatives of my actuarial training is that people would say I read every book like it’s a math book. It takes me a long time to get through a book.”
Oh, and he’s a huge Grateful Dead fan, too. TK
Doug with his children Spencer Yost-Wolff, left, Marlee Yost-Wolff and Calvin Yost-Wolff
Running a business is tough, but you don’t have to do it alone. The Kansas Chamber is your voice in Topeka, fighting for policies that create a stronger business environment.
As a member, you gain access to vital information, influential connections, and resources to help your business thrive. Join us and be part of a powerful network working for a better Kansas.
HAVE YOU HAD YOUR SKIN CHECKED LATELY?
MATTHEW RICKS, MD, FAAD, FACMS Owner/Medical Director
Ricks
Advanced Dermatology & Skin Surgery
Medical Spa
With skin being the largest organ of the body, it is no surprise that skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it is estimated that approximately 9,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with skin cancer every day.
At Ricks Advanced Dermatology, we recommend anyone who has one or more of the following risk factors get an annual skin cancer screening from a dermatology professional:
• A personal or family history of skin cancer.
• A high number and/or density of moles/ freckles.
• A history of significant sun exposure, including tanning beds.
• The appearance of new spots or changes to older spots, such as itching, bleeding or spots that look different from others.
• You have fair skin, light eyes and red or blonde hair.
SKIN CHECKS
Skin cancer screenings, or “skin checks” as we call them, are quick and easy. No need to be nervous. Our nurse practitioners and physician associates are highly skilled in identifying skin cancers.
At the skin check, we will bring you back to an exam room, ask you a few personal and family history questions, and have you change into a gown. With your consent, our providers will look you over from scalp to toes and use a small, handheld device called a dermatoscope, which has a light and magnifying lens, to help us see the skin or an area of concern more clearly than we can with the naked eye.
If we find an area of concern, you will know right away and our providers will discuss the next steps. If a biopsy is needed, we can often do it during the same visit.
BEST PREVENTION
The best way to protect your skin year round is — you guessed it — sunscreen! I know it’s a boring answer, but sunscreen is the number-one thing you can do to prevent skin damage, including fine lines, wrinkles and skin cancers.
every two hours to maintain the effectiveness of the sunscreen.
You should wear a broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher that is water resistant, every day.
The other key is reapplication. If you are outdoors, you need to reapply approximately
The kind of sunscreen you use is a matter of personal preference, as long as it is broad spectrum with an SPF of 30 or greater. However, be careful with spray sunscreens. It is hard to know if you used enough and covered the entire area. I prefer creams for the body and face, but a stick around the eyes is also good. I don’t recommend sunscreens with insect repellent. Sunscreen should be used frequently and insect repellent should be applied sparingly.
You can also wear sunprotective clothing such as lightweight, long-sleeved shirts and pants with a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor), which is like SPF for clothing. Solumbra and Coolibar are some of my favorite brands. These garments have a UPF rating of 15, 30 or 50.
Don’t forget your wide brimmed hat. You need something that will protect your face, ears and neck from the sun.
People often complain about getting sunscreen in their eyes and tend to skip the area around their eyes, but this can be protected with a good pair of sunglasses.
Finally, don’t forget to protect your lips with SPF! TK
CAS CONSTRUCTORS BUILDING THE HIDDEN BACKBONE
OF MIDWEST COMMUNITIES
With a focus on sustainability, safety and trust, CAS Constructors delivers long-term water infrastructure solutions across the Midwest.
By CORINN GUEMMER
CAS Constructors built the City of Bonner Springs’ reverse osmosis water treatment system, which purifies water for safe human use.
When Travis Stryker walks through a water treatment facility, he sees more than just pipes, concrete and machinery. He sees a family legacy that spans four decades of building water and wastewater infrastructure across the state of Kansas.
“It’s a humbling experience to carry on the legacy my father built,” said Travis, now president of CAS Constructors, a Kansas-based water infrastructure company.
His father, Charlie A. Stryker, was a professional engineer who founded CAS to offer customers technical expertise with a professional touch.
“He focused on building partnerships with local engineering firms where trust and transparency were key,” Travis said. “This allowed us to sit at the table with Kansas communities and their engineering partners during the early planning stages of their water projects, where
we provided input on constructability, cost and scheduling.”
Water and wastewater infrastructure can seem invisible, existing largely underground and behind fence lines. Because most of the work CAS does occurs behind the scenes, it can be easy to forget the value of these complex but necessary systems that deliver clean water and safely process waste. Their impact on a community’s quality of life, Travis said, should not be overlooked.
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“Our work is not in the public view, but it’s for the public,” he added. “Every community needs drinking water and wastewater services to thrive.”
Travis said the company builds sustainable infrastructure that aims to reduce energy consumption and harmful discharge while also supporting water conservation.
“When it comes to wastewater treatment facilities, many Kansas communities now realize these are really nutrient recovery facilities,” he said. “By using biological treatment systems, the nutrients can be recovered for future use while keeping them from re-entering our local water ways. Cities are
also finding ways to reuse the effluent from their wastewater plants for things like irrigation on golf courses, which reduces the need to use drinking water. Our goal is to create a healthier environment for future generations through the use of energy efficient technology and biological, rather than chemical, treatment systems.”
“As we mark a [40-year] milestone, we thank our clients, employees and partners for their trust and support. We look forward to continuing our legacy of excellence, integrity and community impact.”
— Travis Stryker President CAS Constructors
A bird’s-eye view of a water
Travis was influenced by his father’s strong work ethic, as well as his dedication to the engineering profession, the company’s employees and their communities served.
When he decided to join CAS full time in 2006, he took what he called a “thoughtful approach to doing business,” learning every
aspect of the company’s operations before stepping into a leadership role as president.
“My dad made sure that everyone in the company knew how their work made a positive impact on the community,” he said.
While the company has modernized over its 40-year history, their core principles haven’t changed.
“Investments in digital technology, construction equipment and tools have made us more efficient,” Travis said. “However, our approach to building relationships over the years has gone unchanged. The only way to truly build a relationship is by doing so in person.
Technology has made it easier to bring people together from various locations all at once, but we pride ourselves in taking the time to be present with our engineering partners and clients. That’s how we ensure their projects are successful.”
Their people-first business approach has proven valuable during challenging projects, such as the City of Wichita’s first aquifer storage and recovery project. With only 180 days to meet their deadline, the stakes were high.
“Partnering closely with the design team, we simultaneously procured process equipment and performed constructability reviews as the design evolved,” Travis said. “Our integrated approach ensured that we could deliver a project of this magnitude successfully. It’s a testament to our people’s hard work and our commitment to delivering excellence.”
The company’s growth has included significant changes in safety practices, often driven by employee input. One of the most notable changes was their adoption of concrete grinders with vacuum attachments to collect silica dust — a mineral that can damage the lungs if inhaled — during cutting and grinding operations.
The idea, which came from a CAS team member more than 15
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treatment clarifier that CAS Constructors built for Wichita Water Works.
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The
and CAS
years ago, was implemented long before OSHA’s silica standards went into effect.
“Recognizing the immense value of this idea to create a safer work environment for our employees, we quickly invested in the equipment and made it a standard practice across all our projects,” he said. “The safety culture at our company is one of care. Frequent project visits and open communication allow me to get honest input from our employees when it comes to safety.”
Today, CAS offers several safety and technical training classes. Their “#3 program,” which Travis said is among their most successful, asks employees to think about three personal reasons why working safely is important to them.
Next, they’re asked to identify three risks they might encounter during their workday and create a plan for mitigating those risks.
Finally, employees are asked to stop working three times a day to reassess safety conditions. If anything has changed, they revisit their safety plan.
“I’ve enjoyed hearing from multiple employees that tell me how they have
used our #3 program in their personal lives when doing projects around their homes,” Travis said.
In 2012, CAS partnered with Alberici, a national leader in water and wastewater infrastructure. Leveraging the resources and capabilities of one of the largest contractors in North America has helped them tackle largescale projects while still delivering exceptional results, Travis said.
“Alberici brings unparalleled resources, technical expertise and a century-long legacy of delivering critical infrastructure,” he said. “Together, we’re able to meet client needs with excellence and provide solutions that build trust and strengthen communities.”
Travis remains devoted to the values that built his father’s company.
“I hope that when people hear the name CAS Constructors, they think of our expertise in water and wastewater treatment, our commitment to giving back to the communities we serve and our focus on being an employeecentered company that values work-life balance,” he said.
Success, he added, comes down to working closely with local leaders to ensure each project aligns with the needs of the community.
“We look at several key indicators when evaluating the community impact of our projects,” Travis explains. “This includes water quality, environmental impact, economic stability and longterm benefits.”
Of course, every city is different and has unique needs, which Travis said is why CAS starts collaborating with stakeholders as early in the process as possible.
“We want to make sure the projects we complete not only meet the immediate needs but also provide longterm value for the community,” he said.
While much has changed since Charlie founded the company, his business philosophy still anchors the company.
“My father believed that our employees are more than individuals,” Travis said. “They represent families and loved ones who rely on the company’s success.” TK
Stryker family honors Charlie A. Stryker’s legacy
Constructors’ impact. While only Travis and Duane work in the business, the entire family remains proud of its four-decade success. From L to R: Tori Stryker, Justin Stryker, Karen Stryker, Travis Stryker, Annie Stryker, Amy Cox, Duane Cox.
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HARNESSING AI IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND SOCIETY A NEW ERA OF CRITICAL THINKING
“AI won’t replace educators, but educators who use AI will transform the future.”
NORMA JUMA Brenneman Professor of Business Strategy Washburn University
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming every aspect of our lives, from the way we shop to how we communicate. Now, it’s making its way into the classroom — and far from replacing educators, it’s providing us with new ways to engage students and help them think critically in a rapidly evolving world.
In a community like ours, these advancements can bridge gaps in access and open new doors for learners, while preserving the core of what education is truly about: critical thinking and problem-solving.
CRITICAL THINKING
As educators, our mission has always been to inspire students to engage deeply with the material we teach, equipping them with critical-thinking skills they’ll need in a world that changes by the minute. The rise of generative AI — a technology that can create text, images, videos and more — has amplified the importance of that mission. But rather than seeing AI as a challenge to education, we can use it as a powerful tool to accomplish our goals. The future belongs to those who can think critically alongside AI, not those who fear it.
Take, for example, a history assignment. Imagine asking students to use a generative AI tool like ChatGPT to craft a persuasive essay arguing both sides of a historical debate. Students could then analyze the AI-generated responses to identify biases, evaluate evidence and build their own wellinformed arguments. This not only teaches them how to interact thoughtfully with AI but also strengthens their critical thinking and reasoning skills. Education isn’t about memorizing facts, it’s about learning how to question, analyze and create. AI can help us do that better than ever.
CLASSROOM INNOVATION
One innovative way to integrate AI into education is through platforms like HeyGen, a video creation tool powered by generative AI. HeyGen allows educators to create animated lectures using digital avatars. Think of it as having a virtual “you” that can deliver lectures in an engaging, visual format — perfect for revisiting challenging topics. Students can watch these lectures multiple times, at their own pace, which is especially valuable for complex subjects like math, science or even literature.
For instance, I recently used HeyGen to create an animated explanation of the concept of “inventory forecasting and capacity planning” in strategic management. The digital avatar walked students through a couple of illustrations, helping them grasp the topic more effectively than a single in-person lecture ever could. In a specialized area, where resources and expert instructors may be limited, tools like HeyGen can provide a consistent, high-quality learning experience for everyone.
SOCIETAL IMPACT
Beyond education, AI is reshaping society in profound ways. It enhances healthcare by assisting in diagnosing diseases, personalizing treatments and streamlining administrative tasks, allowing doctors to focus more on patient care. In agriculture, AI-powered sensors and drones help farmers monitor crops, predict yields and optimize irrigation, increasing efficiency and reducing waste — critical benefits for rural communities.
AI is also revolutionizing the workforce. Automation and AI-driven systems are transforming industries like manufacturing, logistics and customer service. While this shift presents challenges, such as job displacement, it also creates opportunities by generating demand for new skills and roles. By integrating AI education early, we prepare students for an evolving job market where human creativity, adaptability and strategic thinking are invaluable.
Moreover, AI is improving accessibility and communication. Tools like voice recognition software, real-time translation apps and assistive technologies empower people with disabilities and bridge language barriers, making information and services more inclusive for diverse populations.
intimate space for performance
Washburn University’s new Hurd Recital Hall will offer students personalized performance advantages. McElroy Electric is pleased to be the electrical contractor for this welcoming space – partners with Crossland Construction and SDG Architecture + Interiors
DIGITAL LITERACY
Another way AI can enhance education is by teaching students how to interact responsibly with technology. Generative AI can produce incredible content, but it’s not always accurate. By exposing students to AI tools in a controlled educational environment, we can teach them to question and verify information rather than accept it at face value.
For example, in a media studies class, students might use AI to generate a news article on a trending topic. Their task could then involve fact-checking the content against credible sources, discussing where the AI got it right and where it went wrong. This exercise not only builds critical thinking but also fosters digital literacy — a skill that is increasingly vital in today’s information-saturated world.
ACCESSIBILITY
In rural areas, where access to resources can be limited, AI offers transformative possibilities. Virtual tutoring powered by AI can provide personalized support for students who struggle in specific subjects. Tools like Khan Academy’s AI-powered assistant can help students with math problems, explaining each step in detail until they fully understand the concept. Additionally, AI can make education more inclusive. Text-to-speech and speechto-text technologies can assist students with disabilities, while translation tools can break language barriers for non-native speakers. These applications ensure that every student has the opportunity to learn and succeed, regardless of their circumstances.
WORKPLACE SKILLS
The integration of AI in education isn’t just about improving the learning experience, it’s about preparing students for a future where AI will play an integral role in almost every industry. By exposing students to AI tools and teaching them how to use these responsibly, we’re equipping them with skills that will be invaluable in the workplace.
For instance, students learning graphic design could use AI tools like DALL-E to create visual concepts, while engineering students might use AI-powered simulation software to test their designs. By understanding how to collaborate with AI, students can become innovators and leaders in their respective fields.
ENHANCED EDUCATION
While the possibilities of AI are exciting, it’s important to approach its integration thoughtfully. AI should enhance education, not replace the human connections that make learning meaningful. Teachers are more than information deliverers; they are mentors, motivators and role models. AI can support these roles by handling repetitive tasks, such as grading or providing instant feedback on assignments, freeing up educators to focus on what they do best: inspiring and guiding students. AI won’t replace educators, but educators who use AI will transform the future.
Moreover, we must address ethical considerations, such as data privacy and the potential for over-reliance on technology. By establishing clear guidelines and fostering open discussions about AI’s role in education, we can ensure that it is used responsibly and effectively. AI is a tool, not a teacher — it’s up to us to guide students in using it wisely.
A BRIGHTER FUTURE
AI has the potential to revolutionize education and society in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago. For our community, it represents an opportunity to overcome barriers, enhance learning experiences and prepare our students for a globalized, AI-driven world. By leveraging tools like HeyGen and encouraging critical engagement with generative AI, we can empower our students to think deeply, adapt to change and succeed in the future.
The heart of education will always be about fostering curiosity, critical thinking and a love for learning. AI is not here to replace that mission — it’s here to help us achieve it in new and innovative ways. TK
INSPIRING YOU TO FLY
By CORINN GUEMMER
by
Photo
JOHN BURNS
Photos by JOHN BURNS
Stephen Osborne (center), the owner and founder of TOP Aviation Services, with pilot Kory Bollinger (left) and flight instructor Daniel Rewerts (right).
For Stephen Osborne, a seasoned entrepreneur whose family has worked in the construction industry for generations, the sky is his second home.
He founded TOP Aviation Services after realizing he wanted to make his passion project — flying planes — into a business. Today, the flight services company runs out of Topeka’s Billard Airport.
“My love of aviation began when I was maybe six years old,” Osborne said. “My father, also a general contractor, would load me up in his Piper Saratoga and we would fly around the Midwest to see different construction projects. By the time I received my pilot certificate, I probably had 500 hours of flying right seat with my dad.”
Those unforgettable father-son experiences shaped Stephen’s life in unexpected ways. After joining Billard Airport’s Aviation Explorer Squadron when he was just 14 years old, he started to spend his weekends learning everything he could about aviation, washing planes and raising funds for flight-related activities.
“I was fortunate to have the opportunity to receive my private pilot certificate shortly after my 18th birthday,” Stephen said.
TAKING FLIGHT
Years later, Stephen’s sky-high hobby intersected with something more
grounded: his construction career.
His full-time job is running the national general contracting firm Osborne Construction. The Topekabased firm, founded nearly half a century ago, is best known for its work in commercial construction, building maintenance services and, more recently, the installation of electric airplane charging stations.
Osborne Construction’s portfolio features more than 2,400 projects and their client base spans all 48 contiguous states. In 40 of those states, they’ve installed a total of 1,500 DC fast chargers, with more being added.
Yet it was Stephen’s decision to buy two planes — a personal aircraft, which he uses to teach his kids to fly, and a second aircraft serving as Osborne Construction’s company plane — that sparked his next business venture.
“We purchased a small 1979 Cessna 152 with the intention of giving my children and their friends the opportunity to learn to fly just for fun,” Stephen said. “Of course, word spread, and we were quickly overwhelmed with requests for aircraft rentals and flight training opportunities from hundreds of people in the community.”
Stephen founded TOP Aviation Services in 2023. The transition from construction to aviation may seem unexpected, but for him, it made perfect sense.
“I personally traveled nearly 100,000 miles by commercial airline in 2018 and 2019 before we made the decision to purchase a small company plane,” Stephen said. “Shortly after acquiring our own company aircraft, our construction team was given five hours’ notice to attend a project meeting in Nashville, which is a 10hour drive from Topeka but only a two-hour direct flight. Not only were we able to arrive on time, but we were awarded the project, which ended up being very successful.”
Being able to quickly travel to project sites within an 800 to 1,000mile range from Topeka has greatly improved Osborne Construction’s operations. The flexibility of private flying allows Stephen and his team to bypass the time-consuming hassles of commercial air travel, such as connections and TSA lines.
It also lets them connect with clients on a personal level by flying them to different airports for lunch, turning a meal into a memorable experience.
“Some people golf, some people ski, I fly,” he said. “It’s my ultimate joy and escape.”
NAVIGATING NEW HEIGHTS
As demand for aircraft rentals and flight training grew, the business expanded steadily. But the company’s
focus has always been on building personal relationships with students and renters.
Stephen said they are dedicated to offering personalized, high-quality training, which has helped them foster a loyal following.
“We’ve worked really hard at taking good care of our students, and that’s helped build a loyal student base,” he said. “We’re not just training pilots. We are raising up aviators who love the science and mystery of powered flight.”
Stephen added that he’s committed to keeping the operations personal, ensuring each student
receives the attention and training they need to succeed.
“It’s not about growing for the sake of growing,” Stephen said. “It’s about ensuring that we’re offering the best possible experience for our students. If we get too big too quickly, we might lose that personal touch, and that’s something we want to avoid.”
GRADUATING WITH FLYING COLORS
When it comes to choosing a flight school, aspiring pilots have plenty of options. However, TOP
From L to R: Kory and Daniel inspecting the wing of a plane; checking the plane’s instrument panel; Stephen flashing a smile before liftoff.
Aviation Services offers an approach that sets it apart from other flight schools in the region.
As a Part 61 flight school, the company’s training programs offer more flexibility than what students would find at Part 141 schools, which are typically more structured and designed for fulltime students.
Part 61 regulations allow students to balance their training with other
TOP Aviation Services offers a flexible flight training program to accommodate students with families and busy schedules.
commitments. This can be a major benefit for students pursuing aviation while managing careers or family life, as well as anyone else who wants to complete their certifications as quickly as possible.
“We understand that our students are as unique as their dreams of flying,” he said. “Many of our students are busy professionals with demanding schedules, balancing careers and personal responsibilities. Our Part 61 program provides the flexibility to tailor lessons to fit each student’s availability, whether it’s evenings, weekends or other limited windows of time.”
TOP Aviation actively supports the Aviation Explorer Squadron to inspire the region’s next generation of pilots. They have even played a role in preserving aviation history by gifting a 1949 North American T-28 Trojan, a retired Air Force plane, to Topeka’s American Flight Museum.
TOP Aviation Services prides itself on providing a fleet of wellmaintained aircraft that are ideal for both beginners and experienced pilots. The fleet currently includes two Cessna 172s and a Cessna 152, with a focus on the Cessna platform due to its widespread use and ease of entry.
“We chose the Cessna platform because it is familiar across the industry and offers a great
experience for pilots of all ages and skill levels,” Stephen said. “Unlike competitor platforms, the Cessna 172 is great for a 15-year-old or an 85-year-old student. We’ve worked with both!”
Stephen said he wants the business to include more training aircraft and facilities in the future.
“In the next five to 10 years, we hope to have more than 10 training aircraft to support dozens of students at any given time,” he said. “We also plan to complete our new office and training facility in late 2025 and add a large hangar to house our aircraft in 2026.”
In 2024, TOP Aviation Services introduced a Basic Aircraft Training Device (BATD), an FAA-certified flight simulator that allows students to log hours toward their training.
“Our simulator is a fraction of the cost of a real airplane, and it provides a huge advantage in our program,” Stephen said. “We can place our students in complex training scenarios from the comfort of a classroom, enhancing safety later on in the aircraft.”
The BATD makes it possible for their students to train in a variety of weather conditions and flight scenarios that might otherwise be unavailable. Using flight simulators can significantly reduce the overall cost of flight training while still providing valuable, real-world experiences for student pilots.
BLUE SKIES AHEAD
For Stephen, the greatest reward of running TOP Aviation Services is watching his students reach new milestones in their training.
“My favorite part is seeing the smile on their face after their first solo flight,” he said. “This is typically the most memorable event in any pilot’s career, and it’s amazing to be a part of that experience.”
One of his favorite success stories involves a student who left his full-time career and moved to Topeka to pursue his dream of becoming a commercial pilot.
“Within one year, he completed all his ratings and is preparing for a career with regional airlines,” Stephen said. “It’s incredible to witness someone make such a big life change. Knowing that we played a part in helping him achieve his dream is incredibly fulfilling.”
For anyone considering learning to fly, Stephen’s advice is simple: “The best way to start and learn about aviation is to go on a discovery flight.”
Discovery flights are short introductory flights where prospective students can learn the basics of flying by taking the controls of an aircraft under the supervision of a certified flight instructor. TOP Aviation offers discovery flights for those who want to learn.
Stephen added that airlines are expected to ramp up hiring within the next year or two, making now the perfect time to start training. TK
LEADERSHIP GREATER TOPEKA
Class of2025
Compiled by LAUREN JURGENSEN
Photos by BRIAN PETERS
Leadership Greater Topeka (LGT) is a civic leadership program run by the Greater Topeka Partnership that cultivates local talent and strengthens community engagement. Through this program, emerging and current leaders gain valuable insights into Topeka and Shawnee County’s challenges and possibilities while learning adaptive leadership concepts.
Community members and organizations nominate potential candidates for LGT. These nominees must submit an application and participate in a short interview with LGT’s selection committee. The committee selects individuals with the goal of building a class that reflects the community's diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
AMANDA ABBOTT BCBSKS Manager, EDI Operations and System Support
What was your first job as an adult and what did you learn from it?
I was a hostess/waitress at Topeka Steak House. Working there taught me a great deal about perspective and how important the “customer experience” truly is. It also taught me the value of diversity and flexing my communication to various audiences, allowing me to connect and build relationships with people that I may not have been able to otherwise. These skills have served me well throughout my life so far. Being approachable and being able to connect with people is something I value.
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
The first thing that comes to mind is my work on the Family Service & Guidance Center Foundation Board of Trustees. I am so proud and humbled to have been a small part of the work that was done to support the creation of the new Youth Crisis and Recovery Center that opened its doors at the end of 2023. There is a huge need for these services among Topeka and the surrounding area’s youth.
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
More access to mental health resources for children and adults across our community. While the stigma around mental health issues is improving, the need for services has grown exponentially and impacts so many other issues in our community.
If tomorrow was your last day, how would you spend the next 24 hours?
Spending time with my family and friends in almost any capacity. More specifically, the loves of my life: my boys Brady and Corban and my husband Scott.
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
The Topekan who has lived here the longest. I’d love to ask what changes (good or bad) they’ve witnessed over their lifetime, and maybe what they miss about the Topeka of their childhood.
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
I’d like to think that my board service with NOTO and the American Red Cross help make Topeka a stronger community. In my personal life, me and my family are making Topeka home and strive to be good neighbors, good friends and contribute to the city’s overall community success.
What is your favorite locally owned business?
Joylight Coffee. I am not exaggerating when I say that Jack roasts the best coffee I’ve ever had. They don’t have a brick-and-mortar store, but you can find this Topeka business online and order from their website. You won’t regret it.
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
I’d love to see a rare book shop that specializes in old texts, manuscripts, books and even antiques from 15th to 20th century literature and fiction. That’s probably not the most practical or realistic business for a city of our size, but a guy can dream!
What is your walk-up song?
“O Fortuna,” a movement from Carl Orff’s cantata Carmina Burana. It’s dramatic and sets the stage for a big impression.
ZAC POHLENZ
Clayton Wealth Partners Wealth Advisor
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
Past leaders in DEI spaces. I’d ask them, “What has changed for the better? What hasn’t changed or gotten worse? How can we leverage history to not continue to repeat the same challenges?”
What is your favorite locally owned business?
I am a foodie, so I love to support our local restaurants and food trucks. In addition to Flavor Wagon’s great food, I love the community service they do. Some other favorites are Soul Fire BBQ, Prize Package, Wheel Barrel and Tuptim Thai. I’ll always have a soft spot for Tortilla Jacks, where I worked my first job.
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
Dr. Walt Menninger. As a community psychologist myself, I would love to pick his brain. I’d ask him, “Seeing how psychological research can evolve and change, would you do anything differently?”
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
Finding ways to teach and expose more Topekans to true financial literacy. With issues of homelessness, crime and the amount of people living at or below poverty, having a way to help them build their understanding and break generational curses would be a great thing for Topeka.
What is your walk-up song?
“Walking” by Mary Mary. It is based around faith, which is important to me, but also talks about taking things a step at a time and learning from your mistakes to continue to move forward.
ADRIANNE RALSTON Prevention and Resiliency Services (PARS) Community Prevention Specialist
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
I emphasize belonging and education. A lot of my work is tailored to the LGBTQIA+ community, but much of the work I do is encouraging a sense of belonging so that all individuals can equally thrive in Topeka and across Kansas. We can’t be a strong community unless all individuals within that community are taken care of.
What is your favorite locally owned business?
Jong’s Thai Kitchen. I want to say thank you to them for their incredible, family-like customer service and incredible food! You make every gathering with friends and family a truly special moment. I always look forward to our quarterly dinners!
What is your walk-up song?
“Sissy That Walk” by RuPaul. It’s the ultimate hype song and attending drag shows and supporting drag performers is a huge interest of mine! Secretly, I’d love to be a drag performer in my spare time.
ALEXANDRIA (ALEX) SAVOY Evergy
Manager of Property Accounting Operations
ABIGAIL SIEMERS
Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library Community Services Librarian
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
I would love to meet with the people involved in Brown v. Board of Education, the 1954 Supreme Court case. I am fascinated by history, so I would ask them what they feel is the most important thing they want people to know about the case and its impact on society, both past and present.
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
In my job at the library, I am one of the staff who operates the bookmobiles, which take library materials throughout Shawnee County. This allows me to meet people where they are and bring resources to parts of the community that might not have access to those resources otherwise. This access can give people the chance to learn and grow their imagination from reading books, improve their physical health from checking out exercise DVDs and develop their professional skills from the books and databases we offer.
What is your favorite locally owned business?
I love The Pennant! They are one of my favorite restaurants in Topeka. Give me their Robert California sandwich, a side of fries and one of their shakes and I am a happy camper!
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
I’d love for Topeka to expand their public transportation system. Reliable access to transportation influences many decisions for people, including their education, their employment and their access to community resources. The staff I’ve met at Topeka Metro work hard to provide that access, and I would love for them to be able to expand their services.
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
Pat Yancey, associate pastor here at First Presbyterian, who also serves as executive director for Let’s Help. He not only roasts his own coffee beans but makes the best scones in Topeka. I would ask, “How are you?” and just listen, because I always learn something new from our conversations.
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
Our historic congregation, sitting in the shadow of the Statehouse, adds light and beauty to our community through ministries like our Noon Noels, sharing food with hungry neighbors, exceptional music and worship, and welcoming countless visitors who come to see our Tiffany windows. The messages we preach and the warm hospitality of the people make it clear that every human being, no matter who they are or what they’ve done or not done, is a beloved child of God with gifts to share.
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
In addition to more mental health resources and “third spaces,” repairing and replacing
our crumbling roads would go a long way toward improving the overall impression Topeka makes on visitors and newcomers. It would be a huge morale boost for longtime residents.
If tomorrow was your last day, how would you spend the next 24 hours?
Snuggled up next to my husband Dusty, eating ultraprocessed snacks and calling my family and friends to make sure they know how much I love them.
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
Dean Smith, the legendary North Carolina basketball coach and proud Topeka High alum. As an avid sports fan, I’ve always admired his coaching legacy and his commitment to doing the right thing, both on and off the court. The first question I’d ask him would be about his role in dismantling segregation — not just in Topeka but also in North Carolina later in his career. I’d love to hear how he approached those challenges, what inspired him to take a stand and how he balanced activism with his responsibilities as a coach.
What is your favorite locally owned business?
Luxe Wellness Studio. As someone with a packed schedule, finding a space to truly relax, recharge and focus on selfcare is invaluable. Luxe offers the perfect environment for unwinding, with treatments like infrared sauna and contrast therapy that do wonders for my well-being. It’s the ideal spot to decompress and give my body and mind the attention they deserve.
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
Topeka urgently needs more affordable housing. With limited affordable options in the city center, residents are struggling to find housing that fits their budget. Access to safe and affordable housing is essential. Ensuring families have options can improve quality of life, reduce homelessness and help revitalize the downtown area.
CHAD JEPSON Hayden Tower Service Director of HR & Safety
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
Dr. Tiffany Anderson, the first Black female superintendent of Topeka Public Schools. I’d ask her “What is one way the Topeka community could better support Topeka’s schools to help students prepare for future opportunities, and potentially give them a reason to stay in Topeka as an adult?”
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
I have been a high school girls basketball coach going on eight years now. I help these high school girls become better people not only as athletes on the court, but overall. There are so many ways you can help teach them life lessons while developing their skills. I feel like by doing that, it’s helping them become the young adults we need to grow up and stay in our community to push Topeka forward.
What is your favorite locally owned business?
There are so many amazing local businesses to choose from, but one of my favorites is Inspire & Company Candles. Her candles smell amazing, she chooses her ingredients with care, keeping health in mind, and she’s an amazing person!
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
Topeka needs to believe in itself. There are so many negative things being said about Topeka by its own residents and while there are some bad things that have happened or are happening, there are also a lot of great things that people and organizations are doing to try to make this a place that people will love to call home. Sometimes you have to look for the good instead of focusing on the bad.
What was your first job as an adult and what did you learn from it?
I worked in the maintenance division at Shawnee County Parks and Recreation, which exposed me to several great people who taught me skills I still use to this day. I learned a valuable lesson by watching how my coworkers demonstrated patience in teaching. They often needed to work with new employees to teach them skills they did not previously possess.
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
Governor Kelly. Politics aside, it was a challenge to lead during the pandemic. Every day brought a new challenge that no one was fully prepared for. I would ask her what she learned about herself during conflict that made her a better leader and how she grew personally and professionally from the experience.
What is your favorite locally owned business?
Milk & Honey Coffee Co. The owners and staff have always provided excellent customer
JERRED HAMMOND
Topeka Fire Department Training Officer
service and twice supported the training of recruit firefighters. I appreciate how the owners took a vacated building and turned it into a quality business in Southeast Topeka.
What is your walk-up song?
“Thunderstruck” by AC/DC. It’s a timeless classic. Even my boys enjoy turning up the volume when it comes on the speaker!
What was your first job as an adult and what did you learn from it?
I started as a teller at Envista Credit Union, where I worked my way up to assistant branch manager. This experience taught me invaluable lessons in customer service, communication and how to work effectively as part of a team. This role helped me shape my work ethic and drive for continuous growth, reinforcing key lessons I carry with me today.
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
I’d ask WIBW’s Melissa Brunner, “As you’ve met and interviewed so many people within our community, what do you believe is the most important challenge our community faces?” I would love to hear her insights on making a positive difference in Topeka.
What is your favorite locally owned business?
Pizagel’s. I love visiting for breakfast, lunch or even a quick pick-me-up snack and drink in the afternoon. No matter the reason for the visit, the staff that work there are extremely friendly, the service is always great and the food they serve is delicious.
Advisors Excel Contract & Licensing Manager
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
Greater investment in mental health resources to better support the well-being of its residents.
What is your walk-up song?
“Lovely Day” by Bill Withers, because it’s an immediate serotonin boost whenever I listen to it.
MACKENZIE O’BRIEN
Kansas
Hospital Association
Director of Workforce & Health Care Policy
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
Dr. JuliAnn Mazachek, the president of Washburn University. I’d ask, “What motivates you and inspires you to lead with such purpose, and how do you maintain your focus on long-term vision while addressing the immediate needs of the university?”
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
I’m committed to giving back to Topeka by investing in others, just as so many have invested in me. Through my involvement with the Aleshire Center for Leadership and Community Engagement, I strive to support and empower emerging leaders to grow and make a positive impact in their own spheres.
What is your favorite locally owned business?
Circle Coffee. They have great coffee, incredible pastries and a one-of-a-kind sense of community and kindness that can’t be beat. Between the awesome team members and espresso, it’s a true gem.
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
Greater community buy-in to support our local businesses and entrepreneurs. When we choose to shop, dine and invest locally, it creates a ripple effect that builds more opportunities and attractions that enhance the quality of life for everyone.
If tomorrow was your last day, how would you spend the next 24 hours?
I’d spend it with the people who matter most: my fiancé, my family and my closest friends. I’d want to fill the day with laughter, great conversations and all the little moments that remind me of how lucky I am to have them in my life. Maybe we’d share a coffee at Circle, a meal at one of our favorite local spots, reminisce about good times and just enjoy being together.
JARON CAFFREY
NATASHA
GUNN
Midwest Tax & Financial, Inc.
Director of Strategic Communications
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
I would ring up Kansas Jayhawks’ basketball coach Bill Self and invite him for coffee and a chat at Blackbird. I would ask, “Bill, what exactly is said to the team in the locker room during the halftime break of an intense game? More specifically, when the team is playing awful in the first half and then reemerges completely transformed and recharged, how are you accomplishing this? If I’m a fly on that locker room wall, what am I seeing and what am I hearing?”
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
My acts of service and my ability to engage with others and build relationships. I believe in the power of positive connection through shared experiences and enjoy bringing people together. As an active volunteer in the community, I serve on multiple committees that plan fundraising events for local nonprofits. I also provide board leadership, support and advocacy for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Topeka and Forge Young Talent.
What is your favorite locally owned business?
Shoutout to Jeremiah Bullfrogs Bar & Grille! They are my favorite locally owned business and the best sports bar in the Midwest. The staff is personable, the owners give back to the community and the regulars treat you like family. It is a welcoming place to gather, celebrate and watch a game. The atmosphere is infectious when any Kansas team plays. If you’ve never been before then your senses are in for a shock. There is so much to see, too many TVs to count and a lot of fun to be had.
What was your first job as an adult and what did you learn from it?
Loan officer at Envista Credit Union. I learned I have the ability and responsibility to help hardworking people in Topeka. It made me realize at a young age that I shouldn’t take anything for granted and to be thankful for everything I’ve been given.
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
My wife of 31 years. “What are you doing for the rest of your life?”
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
I was recently able to volunteer with others at FHLBank Topeka to help paint and put new flooring in the Hope Center. I’m looking forward to the opportunities that are in front of me by participating in LGT. I hope the connections I make will allow me to pour into the community and make a difference in people’s lives.
FHLBank Topeka
VP, Director of Product Administration & Lending
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
We need road construction to be completed. It’s difficult to go anywhere in town and not have a detour.
What is your walk-up song?
“I Will Rise” by Chris Tomlin. It’s my favorite song and reminds me of my grandparents.
What was your first job as an adult and what did you learn from it?
Although I haven’t had my first adult job yet, my high school job as a restaurant hostess has taught me how a simple smile can impact someone’s entire day. As a hostess, I am usually one of the first people guests see. Putting on a smile and striking up a conversation during a dinner rush has allowed me to meet some wonderful people with some interesting stories.
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
I noticed a reoccurring issue among students who felt they aren’t represented in our school’s performing arts department. I decided to take action and bring the concerns to our theater department’s directors. We decided to form a committee that advocates for underrepresented groups in our school and give a voice to our student body. Students have expressed their gratitude for the positive impact made on their high school experience.
What is your favorite locally owned business?
Round Table Bookstore. Browsing books and adding to my collection is one of my favorite
hobbies and it gives the community an opportunity to donate and provide affordable books for Topeka youth.
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
A sense of security. With recent events, I feel as if certain groups feel a lack of safety and belonging. In troubling times, it’s very important for us to put aside any conflicts and just unite as a community. We all deserve love, support and basic human decency.
HAPPI RODRIGUEZ
Topeka High School Student
JAIDEN SOUPENE
Tailwind Partners
Special Projects Manager
What was your first job as an adult and what did you learn from it?
Caucus director and later legislative director for the Kansas Senate Minority Leader. I gained first-hand insight into the intricacies of the legislative process and a better understanding of how state government functions. Most importantly, I learned the importance of building relationships with a broad and diverse group of people to collaborate and sometimes work toward a shared goal. I gained more confidence in myself and became a more open-minded person.
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
An older Topekan, perhaps a retired public servant or longtime community leader. I’d ask them how Topeka has changed in their lifetime. Learning a community’s history is essential for understanding its present and impacting its future.
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
In my role at Tailwind Partners, a Kansas-based political consulting firm, I work on projects that impact politics, public policy and civic engagement in our state. I’m proud to serve as the campaign manager for State Representative Tobias Schlingensiepen, focusing on efforts to increase civic engagement and voter turnout. We’ve established innovative ways to ensure constituents are informed and their voices are heard.
What is your favorite locally owned business?
Jong’s Thai Kitchen. The owners are some of the kindest and hardest-working people who are part of what makes Topeka such a great place to live. They also serve the best Thai food I’ve ever had!
What is your walk-up song?
“Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen. The Boss always perfectly encapsulates both the promises and complications of America.
What was your first job as an adult and what did you learn from it?
Casino host. The most valuable lesson I took away from that experience was how to effectively build relationships with our guests, peers and leadership team. This position helped me gain a new perspective on being adaptable and open-minded that has been essential as an HR professional.
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
My family and I believe in supporting local businesses, fostering open communication and building relationships with neighbors to create a sense of belonging, mutual support and shared responsibility within the community.
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
Topeka needs to continue to empower individuals to take on leadership roles that will drive positive change and improve the overall well-being of the community.
If tomorrow was your last day, how would you spend the next 24 hours?
Spend the entire day with my family and community of friends and loved ones. Donate
money to people and animals in need, have an amazing meal or two and watch a favorite movie. Drink champagne and celebrate the beautiful life I have lived and shared with others.
What is your walk-up song?
“Can’t Stop the Feeling” by Justin Timberlake. This is such a cheerful and energetic song. You can’t help but dance when you hear it!
What was your first job as an adult and what did you learn from it?
I was a floor worker at Potawatomi Bingo, which put me in contact with people from all walks of life. It taught me to appreciate different perspectives, encouraged me to continue in the gaming arena and made me more confident and capable in my endeavors.
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
I’d ask Governor Laura Kelly, “What do you believe is the single most important initiative that could empower local surrounding Tribes that would be a commitment to honoring sovereignty, promoting self-determination and supporting sustainable growth?”
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
Mentoring younger people, women and minority women. Sharing my knowledge, fostering a network of support and helping others unlock opportunities and grow their careers. This is particularly important for nurturing the next generation of leaders.
JONA RUPNICKI Prairie Band LLC & PBPEC Vice President
What is your favorite locally owned business?
Matryoshka Tattoo & Boutique. The artists there are talented and really take the time to understand your vision and turn it into something special. The boutique adds an extra layer of culture and artistry, showcasing local talent and giving the space a welcoming, vibrant atmosphere. It’s a must-see in the NOTO Arts & Entertainment District for anyone visiting Topeka.
JULIE LINN-STEVENS Capitol Federal Human Resources Manager
DAN GARRETT City of Topeka Director of Communications
What was your first job as an adult and what did you learn from it?
I was a reporter for KSNT News. This job made me grow as a professional and as an individual. I learned the importance of community, accountability and how to be confident in who you are professionally and personally. Learning the ins and outs of my job while being on my own in a new city was a challenge that I am proud of myself for achieving.
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
I will always advocate for our city. Whether in public or private conversations, I think it is valuable to be supportive of the changes and improvements happening. If someone doesn’t like something, I challenge them to get involved to make that happen. The different jobs I’ve had in this community have helped me understand the inner workings of the city.
What is your favorite locally owned business?
Gamers HQ! I have always loved playing video games and having a locally owned store filled with people who are passionate and willing to share advice on tech questions. Having a store like this in Topeka takes me back to my childhood of going to Blockbuster or other game stores and the excitement of seeing the shelves full of memorabilia and merchandise.
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
I would love to see more shopping options for men’s clothing. I love shopping for new business attire and feel like our options are limited. There are new women’s boutiques opening downtown, which is awesome. I would love to see the addition of stores with a wider range of options.
LEANNA JAMES
SSC CPAs + Advisors, Inc.
Human Resources Manager
What was your first job as an adult and what did you learn from it?
I was a child development manager in Germany, where I oversaw workers and ensured effective childcare operations. This role taught me the importance of adaptability and resilience, especially in managing diverse teams and navigating workplace challenges in a new cultural environment.
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
City Manager Dr. Robert Perez. I’d first ask him how he’s doing, because I believe in starting conversations with genuine care and connection. Then I’d ask him what his priorities are for our city in 2025. I’d love to understand his vision for Topeka and how we as a community can contribute to achieving those goals.
What is your favorite locally owned business?
Omni Circle and The Wheel Barrel, each for very different but equally amazing reasons! Omni Circle is a standout because of its welcoming environment. It’s a space where individuals and organizations come together to innovate, support each other and work toward a brighter future for the community. The Wheel Barrel is a favorite for its inviting atmosphere and incredible food.
What is your walk-up song?
My walk-up song would be “Just Fine” by Mary J. Blige because it’s an anthem of confidence, self-assurance and positivity. The upbeat rhythm and empowering lyrics remind me to embrace life, focus on the good and keep moving forward no matter what challenges come my way. It’s a perfect reminder to step into every moment with energy and optimism.
What was your first job as an adult and what did you learn from it?
I’ve been working with my family since I was 15 at our machine shop, and then with our Millwright crews later on. This is where I learned to work with a team and become selfmotivated enough to complete tasks on my own. It also helped me understand different roles and gain experience to allow me to find success in my current role with the business.
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
Dr. Walt Menninger, because I haven’t had the opportunity to meet him yet. He’s a lifelong Topekan and I would ask him how, as a leader in a field where innovation is key, he overcame barriers to change and how Topeka can use that to take us into the future.
What is your favorite locally owned business?
The Celtic Fox. They have great food, great drinks and a great team. They support the Topeka community and serve as a space for entertainment and gathering.
R&S Maintenance Services, Inc.
Business Development Director
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
More collaboration. There are people and organizations working on issues like affordable housing, healthcare, homelessness and even nightlife and entertainment, but not enough are working together or bringing everyone to the table. Topeka won’t find success if we go it alone or don’t include more voices in the process.
What was your first job as an adult and what did you learn from it?
I started in the housekeeping department at Prairie Band Casino & Resort. It was hard work and taught me teamwork, punctuality and the importance of attention to detail. I’ve held a lot of different job titles at the casino since then and the biggest lesson I learned was not to be afraid to take risks, you never know what doors open when you put yourself out there.
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
WIBW’s Melissa Brunner. I feel like she would have a lot of insight into what Topeka is all about. I’d ask about the juicy news that doesn’t always make it on air.
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
If tomorrow was your last day, how would you spend the next 24 hours?
Normalizing mental health. It is extremely important to take care of one another and the community. Spreading awareness can help bring people together and break the stigma surrounding mental health.
I would be on a beach in the Maldives having the best last day with family and friends. Soaking up the sun, listening to good music and being with the people who are most important to me.
LAN DANIELSON
ZAC SURRITT
University of Kansas Health Systems St. Francis Campus Director of Nursing Excellence & Magnet Programs
What was your first job as an adult and what did you learn from it?
Student admin at USDA Rural Development in Topeka. I learned how to function in a much larger system under direction from my supervisor, and the importance of clear and concise communication when understanding complex issues or tasks.
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
Working with the incredible team at UKHS St. Francis is an honor and very rewarding. We recently had a Pop Tab collection competition for the Ronald McDonald House and collected over 48 pounds! I also donate blood and platelets, volunteer at Harvesters and grow my hair to donate it to Wigs for Kids. Helping people is my passion in life, making the world a better place one day at a time.
What is your favorite locally owned business?
Matryoshka Tattoo in NOTO. My tattoos tell the story of my life in ways words never could. Each of the artists are insanely talented and I love talking to them during my sessions. Topnotch people and art!
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
Empathy. We need to understand each other’s thoughts and feelings, particularly around difficult topics so we can find the common ground to compromise and make the world a better place.
What was your first job as an adult and what did you learn from it?
I worked as a host and waiter, which taught me how to adjust to the needs of others. I have always been an “energy” reader. It taught me how to hone into certain skill sets and read the room well. I show up better for others now.
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
Having worked in customer service for years, I have met a variety of people with different needs. I believe I’ve helped build up a stronger community by providing people with care, listening to their concerns and meeting them where they are, as well as helping them find a solution or pointing them in the right direction to meet their needs.
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
To find a solution to our homelessness issue. I see way too many people walking the streets seeking shelter, especially in our downtown area.
What is your favorite locally owned business? Tuptim Thai. I love their fried wonton “money bags”!
If tomorrow was your last day, how would you spend the next 24 hours?
With family and close friends. I probably would do something completely out of my norm, like skydive.
What was your first job as an adult and what did you learn from it? Education team coordinator for the UMKC School of Medicine. I built wonderful relationships with the students I worked with and learned to focus on people first.
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
I am very proud to be on the board of the Greater C.W. Potwin Foundation and work on the holiday sets that are displayed in the Potwin Place neighborhood throughout the year. Driving through Potwin Place is a holiday tradition for many Topekans, and I love knowing our efforts are creating core memories for local children.
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
Property tax relief. The continued increases to property values and taxes the last few years are impacting many.
Assistant Dean of Curriculum, Programs & Grants
What is your walk-up song?
“Good To Be Alive” by Andy Grammer. Reminds me to enjoy every day because it’s the only one we have.
What is your favorite locally owned business?
The Yoga Space. I have been practicing yoga there for eight-plus years and their teachers are the absolute best.
MARIE HALL Washburn University
CHEVAS DRAKE SNCO Human Resources Specialist II
MANDY DAVIS
What was your first job as an adult and what did you learn from it?
During college, I started working as a full-time machinist for a machine shop specializing in agricultural hydraulic valves. It involved precise programming and measurements and required me to meet strict deadlines. It also taught me how to multitask and be more thorough. Working with a team, the most important lesson is to have clear and open communication.
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
I am an active member of Topeka 20/30 Club, an organization that helps the needs of Shawnee County including coats and Christmas gifts for kids.
What is your favorite locally owned business? Being a coffee lover, I love morning outings at Dialogue Coffee. The coffee, food and people represent a family-oriented atmosphere.
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
Topeka needs to work on its lack of housing. Although housing is affordable, the lack of selection and inventory has hindered growth.
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
As an individual that is a novice in politics, I would love to have coffee with Governor Laura Kelly. A simple but complex question I’d ask her is, “What makes Kansas such a great state?”
PAUL WASINGER
Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home President & Co-Owner
Kansas Organization of State Employees (KOSE) President
What is your favorite locally owned business?
Margarita’s Jalisco. The food is amazing, the margaritas are my absolute favorite and it’s very much a neighborhood hangout. It feels like home to me whenever I visit.
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
There’s a lot of concern about the U.S. economy right now, and rightfully so. But what we often don’t consider is that when the economy has severe downturns, it’s not just our business community that suffers. The workers do as well. If there is a recession, there are a host of people that simply will not have the things they need for basic survival, such as affordable housing, affordable healthcare and the ability to purchase food for their families. Making plans now to strengthen the network of organizations and entities that address these issues for people affected, as well as investing in and building accessible affordable housing before there is a shortage, would be a couple of needs we could work to address more completely.
If tomorrow was your last day, how would you spend the next 24 hours?
I’d have a large number of caramel macchiatos, go on a long ride with my horse and spend as much time with my family as possible. I have teenagers, so all that family time will definitely annoy them, which is an added bonus!
What is your walk-up song?
“Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes. This song is all about resilience, being yourself and not putting up with nonsense. Sums me up pretty well.
What was your first job as an adult and what did you learn from it?
I started out as a self-employed entrepreneur. It was a valuable experience that taught me about marketing, sales, management, finance and taxes.
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
My pastor Conner Kraus. I’d ask him what his favorite book is besides the Bible.
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
Active fellowship and brainstorming conversations regarding community resolutions. Educating and leading youth through coaching. Church involvement.
What is your favorite locally owned business?
Circle Coffee, because I love their coffee and how it’s a place of community and fellowship.
What is your walk-up song?
“Shake Your Rump” by the Beastie Boys.
What was your first job as an adult and what did you learn from it?
I started as a teller at CoreFirst, the business I still work at today. I was 19 and it was a college job that turned into a career. I’ve had the opportunity to work with some of the kindest and best mentors I could have asked for who really taught me how to think and act like a professional.
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
I’m lucky that CoreFirst lets us take paid time off to volunteer in the community, which has allowed me to volunteer at places like Harvesters, the Humane Society and TARC. For the last couple of years, I’ve signed up to work at the elections for Shawnee County.
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
More nice, affordable housing. It feels like all the housing either needs a lot of work done or the price point is just out of reach.
What is your favorite locally owned business?
The Toy Store. I have fond memories of going there as a child and I still shop there for gifts for my nephews.
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
The mayor. I’d ask him what he believes are the best ways for the average Topekan to get involved in their community.
ROGER HAUBOLD
Bartlett & West
Construction Specialist & Team Leader
RANDY SOMMER
SARAH LAFRENZ
SHERRI HARTTER
SDG Architecture + Interiors
Director of Business Development & Communications
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
I would be eager to interview a local neurosurgeon. That profession carries the immense responsibility of holding someone’s life in your hands. Given the job’s intense demands and time commitment, I want to uncover how these remarkable individuals achieve a fulfilling work-life balance despite the challenges they face. Understanding their strategies could inspire others in high-pressure careers.
What is your favorite locally organization?
Helping Hands Humane Society. The organization tackles very challenging and complex issues and has been operating at or above capacity for quite some time. The employees are incredibly passionate and caring individuals. Although they are not earning the salaries they should be, they are engaged in demanding work, both mentally and physically. The decisions they face daily can take a toll on anyone. Additionally, securing funding is often quite difficult. I encourage the community to educate themselves about these challenges and to get involved in any way possible, whether through time or financial contributions, both of which are greatly needed.
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
Often, when people disagree with decisions being made, it is because they do not have a full understanding of the issues involved. My advice is for everyone to find their voice, but it is crucial to be informed about the topics at hand. Simply complaining and being negative does not help, it only exacerbates the issues. Instead, work together to be part of the solution, not the problem.
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
I am involved in my church, Faith Lutheran, and serve as the vice president on our Lay Leadership Council. I also serve on the Sunflower State Games Board of Directors and as a precinct committeeperson. These activities allow me to better connect with Topeka residents and get a better understanding of the needs of this community.
What is your favorite locally owned business?
The Tee Box. As an avid golfer, their golf simulator is a great way to continue playing even when it’s cold. The food and drinks are great and the staff is always hospitable.
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
While we have great options for children currently available, I believe we need to have expanded spaces for children to improve literacy and engage in STEM activities and athletics. As a father of two young boys, it’s important to me that they have, and use, every resource available to them to learn and develop.
If tomorrow was your last day, how would you spend the next 24 hours?
I would spend the day doing activities with my family, playing golf and having a ribeye for dinner.
What is your walk-up song?
“Sirius” by The Allen Parsons Project. As a kid growing up in the 90s, this song was played often when the Chicago Bulls played.
What was your first job as an adult and what did you learn from it?
I worked at Walgreens in the cosmetics department before moving on to inventory management and managing shifts. It taught me how to be adaptable, how to provide good customer experiences — even if the situation is difficult — and how much of a difference the people you work with in any job can make.
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
Anyone who I could help with a problem or just lend an ear to let them work through something they’re going through.
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
I have served as a board member and officer for the Ronald McDonald House of Northeast Kansas in Topeka going on my fifth year now. I’m coming up on my seventh year of serving on the planning committee for the annual Couture for Cancer event supporting the American Cancer Society.
What is your favorite locally owned business?
Wings Etc. I love their green bean fries.
If tomorrow was your last day, how would you spend the next 24 hours?
I’d want to spend a warm day in the sun with my two pups and my family.
STEPHANIE
BLAKE RAMSEY Reser’s Fine Foods Commercialization Specialist
What was your first job as an adult and what did you learn from it?
Marketing and recruitment for a foster care agency, which shaped me in so many ways. It opened my eyes to the struggles that vulnerable kids and families face, which really deepened my sense of empathy and purpose.
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
Marsha Sheahan, the former vice president of public relations for the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce. I’d ask “What was the most important lesson you learned from your work in Topeka, and how did it influence the way you approached challenges in the community?”
What is your favorite locally owned business?
Luis’ Place. The cozy, intimate atmosphere makes every visit feel special, and the friendly,
welcoming owners make it even better. The changing menu always keeps things fresh and exciting, making it a true hidden gem in the community.
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
Topeka could really use more entertainment options for young professionals and adults. Adding spaces for socializing, live music, unique events and more local, non-chain restaurants would give people a chance to relax, connect and explore what makes Topeka unique. It would also help retain young adults in the community, preventing them from becoming commuters while boosting the local economy.
What is your walk-up song?
“Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper, because it’s all about embracing life’s joys and not taking things too seriously. It reminds me to enjoy the ride, find happiness in the little moments and celebrate the fun in every day.
SARAH ELSEN Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas Executive Director
RYAN MCMICHAEL
Walmart Fulfillment Center Senior Director
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
I would appreciate the opportunity to have coffee with Governor Laura Kelly. It would be great to get her perspective on the biggest challenges facing Topeka and Kansas over the next several years.
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
I believe strong communities are often a result of a diverse group of people committed to ongoing individual and community progress. To that point, I am passionate about the growth of others and I genuinely enjoy playing a role in that journey, whether directly or indirectly, including individual mentorship, community service and involvement in a variety of organizations.
What is your favorite locally owned business?
The Knox Cocktail Bar and The White Linen, where the perfect evening includes delicious craft cocktails and an exquisite dining experience. Absolutely next level. I’ve had some of my favorite personal memories there.
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
A willingness to take bigger yet calculated risks is critical for capitalizing on the current momentum the city has right now. But also, a rooftop bar. I think we can all agree downtown needs one ASAP!
If tomorrow was your last day, how would you spend the next 24 hours?
I’d spend it with loved ones and preferably at a Chiefs game or doing something outdoors. I try to live life like this already. Time is finite and I believe you should spend as much of it with the people and things you love the most.
Shawnee County Health Department
Health Promotion Specialist
What was your first job as an adult and what did you learn from it?
My first job as an adult was working in the registrar’s office at Ottawa University, where I attended college. Working there, I learned the importance of being positive no matter what’s happening. When there are students who are frustrated and concerned they won’t graduate and need to know why, being positive and friendly is a must for de-escalation and reassurance. The experience made me more empathetic to people because I saw students at their most vulnerable and there’s a constant reminder that could easily be me in their situation.
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
I do community outreach through my job. I share a lot of information about where individuals can go to get services, whether it’s at the Health Department or through a community partner. An informed community is a strong community and when people are informed, they can make healthy and mindful decisions that will help them.
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
I believe Topeka needs to pay more attention to Black maternal health. Black women are more likely to die in childbirth as opposed to other races and that is something that should not be happening.
What is your favorite locally owned business?
I enjoy going to SHopper’s Kitchen. They have an amazing burger and homemade fries.
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
Glenda Washington. I’d ask her what drew her to Topeka and what inspired her to create change in Topeka.
ADIA VAUGHN-HUNTER
CHAMPAGNE HTK Architects, Inc. Interior Designer
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
As a leader within Forge Young Talent, Topeka and Shawnee County’s Young Professionals Organization, I guide initiatives that not only promote and strengthen local businesses but also encourage and inspire our community’s next generation of professionals. I’m passionate about fostering connections that contribute to the long-term growth and vibrancy of Topeka.
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now?
An increased focus on supporting local businesses, especially in our downtown area, where there is so much untapped potential. Local businesses are at the heart of our community because they create jobs and contribute to the economic development.
What is your walk-up song?
Taylor Swift’s “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart.” For one, it’s incredibly catchy, but beyond that, it resonates with me deeply. The song speaks to the power of persevering through tough times and heartbreak while still pushing forward toward your goals. It’s a reminder to stay positive and resilient, no matter what life throws your way.
What was your first job as an adult and what did you learn from it?
My first adult job was at an architecture firm in Topeka, where I started as an interior designer and grew into a project manager specializing in furniture procurement and interior remodels. This job taught me invaluable lessons about myself, my leadership style and my community. It shaped me into a more effective and curious networker, a more detailed and creative designer and a patient, encouraging leader. This experience laid the foundation for my current success and ignited a deep sense of hope and excitement for the future of our community.
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
Dr. Beryl New, my former high school principal. She has achieved so much throughout her career, and I deeply admire her for her talent and accomplishments. The first question I would ask her is, “How did you do it?” She is someone I’ve looked up to for years and I’m inspired by her dedication and leadership.
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
I am the owner of I AM Passionette, an arts organization designed to inspire children, young adults and the young at heart through the arts. We focus on dance, voice and literature, offering community classes that emphasize individual growth and engagement while helping participants nurture their mind, body and spirit.
If tomorrow was your last day, how would you spend the next 24 hours? With my family, close friends and most importantly, with God. He has been all I’ve needed in this lifetime, and I would want to be surrounded by love in a nurturing
environment that feels like a celebration. I’d want to reflect on the fact that I’ve lived the best life I could, filled with purpose and gratitude.
What is your walk-up song?
“I’m Coming Out” by Diana Ross because it perfectly represents who I am: full of glam, energy and life. It always makes me feel happy and instantly gets me in the mood to dance! It’s the perfect anthem for embracing who I am and stepping into every moment with confidence.
What was your first job as an adult and what did you learn from it?
My first serious job as an adult was at a vet clinic in town. I learned how to work well under stress and with a diverse group of people. Both of those things I’ve carried with me ever since.
If you could have coffee with anyone in Topeka, who would it be and what would you ask them?
Any historian from Topeka would be interesting to talk to.
What are you doing to make Topeka a stronger community?
I am very driven and work well in stressful situations. I am passionate about my profession and feel that, alone, will make a difference for the community in the future.
In your opinion, what does Topeka need the most right now? More affordable housing and mental health resources.
JESSICA BOWERS
What is your favorite locally owned business?
I always try to support local businesses, but I would say Milk & Honey Coffee Co. They are always very positive and write cute little affirmations on their cups. TK
ASIANAH MCCRACKEN
I AM Passionette Owner & Founder
City of Topeka Police Department Animal Control Supervisor
KAYLEE
The Importance of
Listening and Collaboration During Difficult Times
LALO MUÑOZ Executive Director El Centro of Topeka
In times of uncertainty, communities, businesses and organizations face complex challenges that require everyone to work together. These challenges — like rising inequality, challenging economic times or social unrest — don’t have easy answers. They demand creativity, open-mindedness and a willingness to listen to different perspectives. In many cases, the first step toward solving these problems is taking the time to hear and understand each other before deciding how to move forward.
THINK IN A FRESH WAY
Difficult situations often require a fresh way of thinking. For example, during a neighborhood redevelopment project, residents might worry about losing their homes or the unique character of their community. Listening to these concerns and including local voices in decision-making can lead to solutions that are fairer and more sustainable. Similarly, when tackling issues like public safety or business mergers, input from community members, experts and employees are critical for ensuring that decisions address the real needs of those affected.
Listening to a range of perspectives creates a sense of shared purpose. When people feel heard, they are more likely to
support the changes needed to improve their communities and places of employment. This approach builds trust, fosters collaboration and strengthens morale, especially during tough times when fear and frustration can easily take over. Open conversations can also bring hidden problems to light, making it easier to find meaningful solutions.
LEARN AND GROW TOGETHER
However, listening doesn’t mean agreeing with every idea or avoiding tough choices. It means hearing different viewpoints to understand the full picture.
This process requires patience, humility and a willingness to change direction when old approaches no longer work. Solutions should come from a shared understanding, allowing the business or community to learn and grow together before making decisions as a group. History shows how powerful this kind of collaboration can be. During the Civil Rights Movement, leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. worked closely with community members to understand local struggles and craft strategies that united people around common goals. More recently, during the COVID-19 pandemic, cities that brought together healthcare workers, local
businesses and residents were often better able to navigate the crisis. These examples highlight how listening and working together can turn challenges into opportunities for progress.
share ideas openly
At the heart of all this is the idea that no one person or group has all the answers. By listening to each other and learning as a community or business, we can find innovative and fair solutions to even the most difficult problems. Open dialogue and collaboration lay the foundation for
stronger and more inclusive neighborhoods, prosperous businesses and cities that can thrive in the face of future challenges. It is this type of necessary work that can help build trust within our community, and is sorely needed.
HEAR EACH OTHER
In the end, the way forward begins with listening — truly hearing each other and understanding different experiences. Together, communities and businesses can face uncertainty with resilience, creativity and unity, building a better future for everyone. TK
GRAY & COMPANY
THE FIRST CALL AND THE FINAL TOUCH
By KIM GRONNIGER
When Phil Gray, owner of Gray & Company, graduated from Washburn University with an art degree in the early 1970s, he thought he’d spend his career painting canvases. Instead, his brother Paul enlisted him to help paint houses for a friend.
What the Gray brothers lacked in experience they made up for with their sharp attention to detail and eagerness to learn. As their expertise grew and word spread, more friends hired them to paint houses
Photos by JOHN BURNS
and apartment complexes across Topeka.
In 1973, the brothers decided they wanted the security of a steady income and founded the company Gray Skies, which later became the full-service commercial and industrial painting business Gray & Company
According to Walker Gray, current president of Gray & Company, the way his father Phil Gray and uncle Paul Gray nurtured
their early business relationships created a company tradition of quality and customer service that has lasted 52 years.
“Relationships are the bedrock of everything we do,” Walker said. “For example, Bruce and Mike McPherson, the former owners of McPherson Construction, were among my dad and uncle’s first painting clients. McPherson Construction is now the MCP Group and they continue to work
with us. Someone once told me that you can start a business quickly, but building a reputation takes a long time. Our founders understood the importance of cultivating trusting relationships from the beginning.”
Walker said about 95% of the company’s business comes from repeat customers seeking painting expertise for everything from painting small corporate offices to large, multi-million-dollar complexes. They oversee projects
Photo by JOHN BURNS
Walker Gray | President | Gray & Company
Snyder Family Stadium at Kansas State University and the David Booth Memorial Stadium at the University of Kansas.
“It’s really gratifying to spend several weeks on a bid, then get the job and take it from start to finish with the general contractors, architects, engineers and other trades,” Walker said.
across the state, including Dodge City, Liberal, Wichita, Salina, Junction City and Manhattan.
The company’s business is 60% commercial and 40% industrial, Walker said, and their project timelines range anywhere from a few hours to a couple of years. Among their most visible and noteworthy projects are a water treatment plant in Wichita, the Irwin Army Hospital at Fort Riley, the Immaculata Church in St. Marys, the Townsite Tower in Topeka, the Bill
Just like his father, Walker changed his original career plans to embrace business ownership. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a graduate degree in information technology, then worked for Cerner Corporation before joining Gray & Company in 2004.
“I loved riding along on painting jobs and interacting with our employees when I was in high school and college,” said Walker, who admits he wasn’t interested in construction
until he realized the grind of corporate life wasn’t a good fit for a person with a young family. “One summer day when I was still in high school, my job was to sit on top of a water tower and move the rigging around while the other guys sprayed the final coat of paint. They took me up there with my lunch box in the morning and I didn’t come down until the end of the day, absolutely covered in paint. I loved it.”
Walker added that he joined the family business at the perfect time, since his father and uncle were already planning their retirement and looking for someone to take over.
“I still love all the things I liked about the business as a teenager — talking to clients and working with the team to accomplish something we can be proud of,” Walker said.
Gray & Company, which recently relocated to 3401 S. Kansas Ave., was founded by Washburn University art school graduate Phil Gray and his enterprising brother Paul Gray.
Photo by JOHN BURNS
“One summer day when I was still in high school, my job was to sit on top of a water tower and move the rigging around while the other guys sprayed the final coat of paint. They took me up there with my lunch box in the morning and I didn’t come down until the end of the day, absolutely covered in paint. I loved it.”
— Walker Gray President Gray & Company
He also enjoys the pleasantly surprising discoveries that come with owning a business.
“I almost never know what I’m going to do on a particular day because an opportunity or issue could come up that requires me to quickly shift gears,” he said. “Every day is different and I like the variety.”
As the company’s president, Walker said he benefits from the lessons he learned while working for his dad, uncle and previous managers Dave Miller and Jamie Wright.
“They learned from all their rookie mistakes so I didn’t have to,” he said. “When they retired, it was challenging to replace
by
their experience, knowledge and connections but we have a great team in place to continue their legacy.”
Phil isn’t painting canvases now that he’s retired, but he is dedicating his time to something equally artistic: restoring antique motorcycles. He also still shows up at the company’s offices from time to time.
“My dad still keeps an office here and we love it,” Walker said. “When he’s here, sometimes it’s nice to talk to him about how he would bid a project or approach an opportunity in a certain way.”
The company’s 35-member workforce expands to 50 employees during its busy season, which typically runs — depending on the weather — from April to December.
Walker said finding talented tradespeople for painting jobs is always a challenge because there are no apprenticeships for this type of work.
“You really need to learn on the job when it comes to painting,” he said. “You need to see the ebb and flow of how painting works and understand it, especially if you’re coating steel. Our management team has 150 years
of combined industrial coating experience. Not a lot of companies have that level of experience and knowledge to bring to projects.”
One of Walker’s top priorities is to build the company into something bigger. Two years ago, he moved Gray & Company to their current location at 3401 S. Kansas Ave. to make room for more employees as the company grows.
While house painting doesn’t always leave much room for creativity, Gray & Company fills its office walls with original
Photo
JOHN BURNS
Gray & Company’s office walls feature work by local artists and photographers, such as Pat Tryon’s photograph of Kansas sunflowers (top) and two original paintings by Zak Barnes (middle and bottom).
artwork and photographs that showcase the company’s love of color — and their belief that a fresh coat of paint can make any space more beautiful for everyone who sees it.
Their striking art collection includes a landscape painting and a large collage created by Walker’s friend, the Kansasbased artist Zak Barnes. It also features photographs of Kansas taken by Pat Tryon, the in-house architect for Westar, the local energy company that has since rebranded as Evergy.
“As Pat traveled the state to work on Westar’s buildings, it was his hobby to take pictures of anything he found interesting,” Walker said. “At some point, Westar started transferring his photos to canvases and our company stretched them onto wooden frames. Westar used them to decorate their offices and buildings all over the state. There were hundreds of them, and we ended up with a few.”
Walker is optimistic that more men and women will consider the benefits of careers in construction just as he, his dad and his uncle did.
“During the past 21 years, I’ve gotten to know a lot of business owners in construction and we’re all focused on attracting future tradespeople,” he said. “We’re proud that we can offer goodpaying jobs for men and women right out of high school with the potential to make six-figure salaries like many of our employees do. Construction is a great way to have a very rewarding career without the requirement of a college degree.” TK
Photo by JOHN BURNS
Photo by JOHN BURNS
Photo by JOHN BURNS
your news releases to news@tkmagazine.com.
Advisors Excel Unveils New Design for West Ridge Mall Transformation Advisors Excel recently revealed plans for its new headquarters at West Ridge Mall, after the company’s purchase of the JC Penney building. Real estate firm Russell Glen and architectural firms RDC and Hufft will guide the project. Advisors Excel will occupy the building’s second floor, with retail and restaurants planned for the first floor and redesigned entrances and outdoor spaces planned for the exterior. More than 1,000 Advisors Excel employees are expected to use the new space.
Dialogue Coffee House Set to Open New Location at Stormont Vail Admin Center
Dialogue Coffee House will open its fifth Topeka location at the Stormont Vail Administrative Center, located at 400 SW 8th St., in April 2025. Founded in 2019, the company’s partnership with Stormont Vail Health and Capper Foundation is part of their shared commitment to inclusion and career development for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The new location will only be open to Stormont Vail staff.
Family Service & Guidance Center and Valeo Behavioral Health Care Announce Merger Family Service & Guidance Center and Valeo Behavioral Health Care have announced plans to merge by January 2026, creating a single Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC). The merger’s goal is to provide critical mental health services and substance use treatment to more than 11,600 patients annually. “By coming together, we will make our mental health safety net stronger and more sustainable over time,” said Kathy Mosher, CEO of Family Service & Guidance Center.
Forbes Names Casebeer McCollum a 2025 BestIn-State Wealth Management Team
Forbes magazine has recognized Casebeer McCollum
Wealth Management as a Best-In-State Wealth Management Team for 2025, selected from 11,674 management teams nationwide based on industry experience, compliance records, revenue and other criteria. The team is led by Managing Directors Brian Casebeer and Amy R. McCollum, with support from Operations Manager Mercedes Garcia Reyes. “Being included on this prestigious list makes us grateful for the trust our clients place in us every day,” Brian Casebeer said.
Washburn University Receives Historic $50 Million Gift
In February, alumni Greg and Ronda Brenneman announced a $50 million gift to Washburn University in honor of the institution’s 160th birthday. The donation will fund a new health care education facility. Washburn’s business school will be renamed the Gregory D. and Ronda K. Brenneman School of Business and the nursing school will be renamed the Harmony J. Hines School of Nursing. The gift is part of the university’s “Forever Washburn” fundraising campaign, which has already reached 80% of its $250 million goal.
Local Lens PR Becomes Topeka’s First PR Firm
Local Lens PR (LLPR), founded by India Yarborough, has become Topeka’s first public relations and communications consulting firm. The company specializes in press release writing, media pitching, copywriting, copyediting and communications strategy for small businesses, nonprofits and community-focused organizations. “Our mission is all about driving connection, growth and sustainability in small businesses and nonprofits by helping them connect with their audiences,” founder India Yarborough said.
Deb North Named Enterprising Women of the Year Champion for 2025
Enterprising Women magazine has chosen Yes! Athletics founder Deb North a 2025 Enterprising Women of the Year Champion. North and her fellow honorees will be recognized at the 23rd Annual Enterprising Women of the Year Awards Celebration and Conference in Nashville from March 27-29, which will also mark the magazine’s 25th anniversary. The prestigious award recognizes women who own fast-growth businesses, mentor other women entrepreneurs and stand out as community leaders. The conference will feature workshops, networking opportunities and special anniversary recognitions.
Compass Marketing & Advertising Partners is pleased to announce Miranda Lorenz as its new designer and client partner. The Kansas State University graduate’s expertise includes apparel product development, project management, entrepreneurship and design. Lorenz previously launched a sustainable clothing line and was a technical designer at Champion Teamwear. At Compass, she will collaborate with clients and create innovative design solutions for impactful marketing strategies.
Miranda Lorenz Joins
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BEHIND THE SCENES
with TK Business Magazine
Hosted
by
DANIELLE J. MARTIN
SPOTLIGHTING
JAKE FARRANT FOUNDER, OWNER AND CEO MAMMOTH SPORTS CONSTRUCTION
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Behind the Scenes with
TK Business Magazine is a new podcast series hosted by Danielle J. Martin, delving into the innovation that fuels the growth of the Topeka community: local businesses. The beauty of this new podcast is that we travel to our subjects and interview them at their office or workspace.
This month, we go behind the scenes with Jake Farrant, the founder, owner and CEO of Mammoth Sports Construction. He represents a classic American entrepreneurial story, growing the company from its humble roots in his mother’s garage to a sports construction behemoth ranking #692 on the Inc. 5000 list of fastestgrowing, privately held companies. Jake leads the company with a competitive mindset he learned from his days on the athletic field as a collegiate player and high school coach. His leadership skills have earned Mammoth the trust of both NFL and collegiate teams for their facility construction needs.
Scan the QR code to see the full interview with Jake Farrant, the founder, owner and CEO of Mammoth Sports Construction.
Martin: Take me back to 2009 when you started the business.
Farrant: Most entrepreneurs know the phrase, “Take the leap.” Kysa, who’s now my wife, was still in college at K-State and we had $10 to our name when we were starting the business. We leaned on my parents and moved back into my mom’s house. I was pretty sure Kysa was going to leave me and I’d have to win her back. But to her credit, she never winced. People who know her know that she’s the backbone of everything we do. If you’re taking that leap and you’re just thinking about failure, don’t leap. Stay wherever you’re at because you won’t have the right mindset to navigate the waters.
Martin: Mammoth has this slogan, “Do something big.” Did you see Mammoth getting this big?
Farrant: I didn’t sketch out on a napkin Mammoth Sports Construction being a world leader, but I had big dreams and goals and aspirations that had to stay at the forefront of every decision we made.
Martin: What challenges did you encounter when trying to break through the market?
Farrant: What made the difference is the talent around us, including people exposed to different sectors. I think about Dr. Steve Noble, the
(former) superintendent of Seamen school district, who knows every superintendent in the state of Kansas. Dave Devore is our architect and head of design. I didn’t know a single architect, but Dave knows them all and he’s designed collegiate stadiums like the Bill Snyder Family Stadium. When those people come to Mammoth, it enters Mammoth into that space. We’ll continue to be good recruiters. We need the best people at Mammoth. When we have the best, it doesn’t surprise me where the business goes.
Martin: How do you feel about the power of collaboration?
Farrant: Cody Foster [of Advisors Excel] said something a few years ago that still resonates with me: “People will be blown away when they just ask the questions.” He was talking about mentorship. At the time, I really looked up to the business leaders of Topeka. I was a sponge. Anything they said, I took it in. If Cody told me about a book, I read that book. If I ran into Ernest-Spencer’s owner Neal Spencer at the gas station and he said he was trying to meditate more, I got up 15 minutes earlier in the morning to meditate. Don’t be afraid to copy the people who’ve been successful — use them as inspiration.
Martin: Mammoth made the Inc. 5,000 list. How did you do it?
Farrant: When it comes to growth, you’re constantly juggling, gauging and taking calculated risks. We’ve never sat around a table and strategized for growth. Instead, we listen to our customers and the customer takes us where we need to go. We don’t tolerate second place. We don’t miss deadlines and we don’t miss budgets. There’s nothing better than when a team comes together and works hard for something and achieves it together.
Martin: What’s your favorite personal development book?
Farrant: It’s hard to narrow it down to just one. We have a David Goggins’ “Stay Hard” way about us when it comes to getting a competitive edge. I also think about Brené Brown because we believe in the power of vulnerability. Pick up any books by David Goggins and Brené Brown, and you’re off to the right start.
Martin: Talk about the significance of value proposition in your business. How do you stand out from the competition?
Farrant: There’s quite a bit of competition, but we’re just running our own race and don’t compare ourselves to the competition. I think that’s a dangerous thing to do. We’re constantly looking at ourselves in the mirror to figure out what we should improve and what we can do next. I would say keep your nose to the grindstone. Keep your blinders on and work hard, treat people well and run your own race.
Martin: You’ve spoken about eliminating dysfunction to foster growth. What does that mean to you?
Farrant: When you think about how a tree grows, you have to trim the branches of the tree to spur healthy growth, otherwise it can get too wide and heavy. When the tree feels too heavy, it stunts its own growth. Arborists trim trees so they can keep growing into what they’re supposed to become. Businesses are really, really similar to that. You’re going to have disruption or turnover. Sometimes a business needs to make difficult decisions about personnel for the company’s health. Bryce and I — and our amazing HR person, Melissa Smith — try to ask ourselves if we’re asking somebody to do something we wouldn’t do ourselves. We’re not. We’ve never asked anyone to do something we haven’t done ourselves or wouldn’t be willing to do. If I’m not willing to stay in a hotel room in Illinois for three nights, then I don’t want to ask one of our employees to do the same thing. Firing someone or seeing them quit always hurts, but then you turn around and reflect on it six days, six weeks or six months later, and you’re like, “Wow, that was the best thing for us. We really grew from that.” Sometimes you have to trust your gut and do it, and it hurts. But those people will appreciate the conversation. They might not be happy about it, but they will appreciate it. If you’re listening to this and are someone who runs a business with any amount of employees, you can already relate to me because the boss-employee relationship is a tough relationship to uphold.
Martin: Talk to me about the sacrifices you’ve had to make.
Farrant: The sacrifices I make today are different than the ones I made in years one and two, but it’s worth it. If I go back to those first couple years when my first daughter was born, I remember I came home for a couple days, and then I was gone for another six months. But in a strange way, I miss those days.
Martin: Why is that?
Farrant: Because at the end of the day I would shut off the dozer loader, turn around as the sun’s going down and think, “This is what I built today.” You get to touch it and feel it and see this progress. I would drive home and think, “I’m building something for my kids. I’m working hard.” Well, now I might spend my day in 13 meetings, so it’s harder for me to have that same feeling. My roots are in being hands on. As your business grows, you become less involved in the details, which can be difficult. What I miss is the journey, what it was all about, the process. I would do anything to go back to those days when we were in the boardroom fighting until midnight. That was passion.
Martin: Tell me about one of your more unforgettable construction projects.
Farrant: We interviewed for a division two project up in South Dakota. They called and said, “Hey, great news. We want to select you.” They had interviewed about 17 companies with two or three rounds of interviews, so this was a pretty big job. When I got the call,
I pulled over immediately and had goosebumps, a rush of adrenaline. Then they said “But” — and there was a big but there — “we’re not familiar with your team or your products, but we trust you. So we need you to be on the job site every day.” This project was eight hours away in Aberdeen, South Dakota. I said “Got it” without hesitating. My wife had just had our third kid a few weeks earlier.
Martin: Oh my gosh. What did she say when you told her?
Farrant: I said, “Honey, you’re never going to believe it, but I bought an RV for us. It’s going to be great. We’re going to have the best summer ever.” She said, “I went camping as a kid. It’s going to be awesome.” Then I told her, “Yeah, we’re kind of going to camp, but we’re kind of going to live in it for the next four or five months, too.” We ended up taking the kids with us and lived in a camping park in Aberdeen while working every day. My family pulls up pictures of that summer all the time.
Martin: If you could give advice to your younger self, what would you say?
Farrant: Being able to talk to my younger self would have been very beneficial. I did a lot of dumb things and could have saved us a lot of money. The cloud of doubt and failure can be such a heavy weight on your chest. I remember that feeling like it was yesterday. I wish I could send a message in a bottle back to myself and say “You’re going to make it.” That’s all you care
about. You just want to know that you’re going to make payroll next Friday. You want to know you’re not going to put your family out on the streets. And for entrepreneurs, they’re not just trying to make money for themselves but for their employees. That always weighed heavily on me. I hope that young entrepreneurs can believe in themselves enough and not let the doubt take over. You really need to believe that you can make it.
Martin: What’s next for Mammoth? What does your legacy look like?
Farrant: I never think about legacy. That’s not something I sit around and talk about or plan for naturally. I only have one job, and that’s to make sure that my wife and kids love Christ and go to Heaven. If I focus on that, everything else becomes clear and takes care of
itself. Your priorities really start to make sense for you. That’s where I’m at on legacy. I highly doubt they’re going to make any statues of me.
Martin: Hey, you never know.
Farrant: But I think Mammoth’s projects change communities forever. Our talented design team and creative team help visions come to life. The part we’re most proud of is our foundation with Woolly Farms. We have a lot of people in Topeka who support and promote Woolly Farms, which is based around lifting up and providing a place of belonging for adults with special needs. That includes my brother, who has Down syndrome. When I think more about legacy, my heart goes to my kids, my wife and Woolly Farms. TK
