Faces and places

Kevin Doyle has joined Landplan Engineering, Lawrence, as a project engineer. His responsibilities include technical oversight, project management and marketing. Doyle received a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering from Kansas University in 1990.

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The SBC Foundation announced the opening of its 2003 SBC Excelerator competitive technology grants program. SBC Excelerator will provide $9 million in competitive grants to help nonprofits integrate technology into their operations and community outreach. Interested organizations can apply for the grant by downloading a copy of the 2003 request for proposals from www.sbc.com/foundation or by calling (800) 591-9663. The applications are due April 22.

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Tom Swearngin, Lawrence, has been elected to serve on the board of director for the Kansas Angus Assn. He was chosen during the association’s annual meeting and banquet jan. 25 in Hutchinson.

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Renee Rodgers, Lawrence, has joined Heritage Mental Health Clinic,Topeka, as a clinical social worker. She will be responsible for individual and group psychotherapy. She previously worked for Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center as a therapist for the Intensive Outpatient program. She is a member of the Social Service League Board, Lawrence.

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The Lawrence Memorial Hospital Endowment Assn. announced election of new leadership and additions to the board of directors at its annual meeting. New officers are: Scot Buxton, president, vice president at Charlton Manley Insurance; John Nitcher, vice president, attorney; Bob Georgeson, treasurer, retired president of Douglas County Bank; and Patricia Denning, secretary, physician at Watkins Student Health Center.

The association also welcomed the following new board members: Connie Sollars, community volunteer; Bill Lienhard, retired vice president at US Bank; and Scott Thellman, president of Lawrence Plastic Surgery.

Outgoing board members Chris Fevurly, Marlene Penny and Bill Salome were honored for their years of service.

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David Longhurst, Lawrence, recently took a position at Linquist & Craig Hotels, Lawrence, as manager of Brand Services. Longhurst will oversee renovations and property management as well as guest service and satisfaction for the company’s Doubletree, Radisson, Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza hotels.

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The Lawrence Chamber of Commerce announces the promotion of Cathy Lewis to vice president membership. Lewis joined the chamber in 1989 and has worked with membership service throughout her tenure. Lewis has been serving as the director of programs of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce since 1998 and was responsible for the majority of all nondues revenue through chamber programs and events. Lewis will continue to be responsible for overseeing chamber programs and events, as well as all membership services. Lewis is in Leadership Lawrence and is a member of the Lawrence Network Express.

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Kari Nace has been promoted to marketing manager for the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce. Throughout her senior year at Kansas University, Nace interned at the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce under Cathy Lewis, vice president membership. Nace has been with the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce for eight months as assistant to the president. She will oversee all marketing and advertising initiatives for the chamber, as well as Web site production and design. Nace received a bachelor’s degree in journalism and business communications from Kansas University.

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Karen Harman-McGowan, a registered nurse, has joined Drs. Scott Thellman and John Keller of Lawrence Plastic Surgery. Harman-McGowan successfully fulfilled the education, practice, and written examination requirements of the Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board to merit the designation of Certified Plastic Surgical Nurse. She is one of only 10 nurses in Kansas to achieve the certification.

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Tenants to Homeowners Inc., Lawrence, announces that it has been awarded a $500 match grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank in Topeka. The bank partially matched contributions already given to Tenants to Homeowners Inc. by it member banks. Local lenders Capitol Federal Savings and Douglas County Bank donated $500 and University National Bank contributed $250 in 2002.

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Danette Umholtz was named assistant vice president of retail services for Douglas County Bank by the board of directors. Umholtz began working for the bank in 1982 and has held several positions including teller supervisor, branch manager and retail banking officer. She has served retail customers at the downtown Lawrence bank since 1991. Her new responsibilities include supervision and training for the retail department at the downtown Lawrence bank.

Umholtz is a native of Lawrence and is active in the community by serving on the board for Habitat for Humanity, Lawrence Express Network and Project Graduation.

Honors and awards

The city of Lawrence has received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. The certificate is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.

Ed Mullins, director of finance, received an award of Financial Reporting Achievement. He was designated by the city as being primarily responsible for preparing the award-winning comprehensive annual financial report.

The city’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting can be viewed online at www.lawrencefinance.org/accounting.html.

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Gregory Noonan, a Kansas University graduate, received the Isaac M. Cline Award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service. Noonan is product delivery and dissemination meteorologist at the weather service’s central region headquarters in Kansas City, Mo. Noonan received the award as part of a four-person team in the program management and administration category for pioneering efforts in establishing effective and efficient teleconferencing system used by weather service offices throughout the United States.

Coming events

Lawrence Express Network, an affiliate of American Business Women’s Assn., will meet at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the Hereford House. Lunch will be served at noon. Cost is $15. The speaker will be Melissa Mayers of Upside Down Speaking. For more information, visit www.geocities.com/lawexpnet, or contact Rhonda Scherff at 749-5011, ext. 106.

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The Lawrence Apple User’s Group 2.0 will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vt. User groups are a unique way to meet other Macintosh users and share tips and tricks. The meeting’s theme is “Networking A to Z.” Local Mac consultant Dave Greenbaum will explain how to connect Macintosh computers with other devices. For more information or to be notified of upcoming meetings, e-mail a request to dsg@mac.com.