Economic development

Panel to review candidates seeking chamber position

Lawrence Chamber of Commerce officials have moved into the next phase in their search for a new vice president of economic development by naming an eight-member committee to begin interviewing candidates.

The committee will have its first meeting today to begin reviewing rmfrom more than 100 people who are interested in the position.

Members of the committee are: Lawrence Mayor Sue Hack; Mark Buhler, co-vice chair of the chamber’s economic development division; Shirley Martin-Smith, co-vice chair of the chamber’s economic development division; Jim Martin, co-chair of the Lawrence-Douglas County Economic Development Board; Bob Johnson, Douglas County commissioner; Kelvin Heck, chamber chair; and Bill Sepic, president of the chamber.

The chamber board hopes to have the new executive in place by Aug. 1.

Ottawa

Intrust to sell seven banks

Wichita-based Intrust Bank announced Wednesday that it was selling several of its locations across the state, including facilities in Ottawa and Gardner.

The bank’s two locations in Lawrence are not part of the sale. Intrust officials said they were selling branches in seven of its smaller markets to better focus its growth on banks in larger communities.

Intrust expects to complete the sales by September but did not disclose any potential buyers. Other banks included in the announcement are located in Clay Center, Emporia, Eureka, Gardner, Holton and Iola.

Intrust currently is rebuilding a Lawrence branch at Ninth and Vermont streets.

Utilities

Aquila to reorganize offices

Energy wholesaler Aquila Inc. said it will reorganize its U.S. utility operations so that each state where it provides natural gas or electricity will have an office.

Aquila, formerly known as UtiliCorp United Inc., serves 1.3 million natural gas and electricity customers. It is the parent company of Kansas Gas Service, the natural gas provider in Lawrence.

The reorganization will affect an unknown number of employees at the company’s Kansas City headquarters, where 188 people currently help manage and support the utilities.

Aviation

Boeing announces loss

Boeing Co. reported a $1.25 billion first-quarter loss Wednesday and fell well short of Wall Street’s expectations amid the slowdown in aviation since Sept. 11.

The net loss amounted to $1.54 a share, compared with earnings of $1.45 a share a year earlier.