Business briefs

Faces and places

Janis Stewart, owner of Office Helpline, recently attended the American Business Women’s Spring Conference. While at the conference, she attended “Listening to Your Business” seminar. She also earned a credit in a mini MBA program sponsored by a partnership between American Business Women’s Assn. and Kansas University’s School of Business.

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Justin Stout, Linwood, recently completed his term on the KSU Student Board of Directors for Frontier Farm Credit. The mission of the student board program is to provide Kansas State University students with an educational agricultural finance experience as well as exposure to the function of a board of directors and the development of decision-making and critical-thinking skills. The board presented a report April 16 to the Frontier Credit Board of Directors on “Developing A Board Strategy for Growth: Evaluation of Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances.”

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John Schuster, president of Kansas Secured Title — Douglas County and Kansas Secured Title — Jefferson County, has been promoted to the position of regional vice president for Title Midwest Inc.

Schuster has managed the Lawrence operation since being named president in 1999 and the Oskaloosa office since its acquisition in 2001. He will continue to manage those offices in addition to Kansas Secured Title-Shawnee County in Topeka.

Topeka-based Title Midwest owns the Douglas, Jefferson and Shawnee county operations, in addition to several title offices in parts of Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri and Minnesota.

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The associates at the Lawrence Wal-Mart store have chosen West Junior High School to receive a $500 environmental grant to help complete West’s Outdoor Learning Center, which was started two years ago. The check was presented to the school on April 22, which was Earth Day.

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The AARP Andrus Foundation has chosen Bill Fair and Company of Lecompton to conduct real estate auctions nationwide on their behalf. The properties involved are charitable donations which require fair market prices obtained in a predictable time frame and a simultaneous three party closing as the assets transfer into Charitable Remainder Trusts. The foundation is the Washington, D.C.-based charitable gift arm of the American Association of Retired Persons.

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Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger announced that Bertram Oparaji has achieved the designation of certified financial examiner from the Society of Financial Examiners. Oparaji is a financial surveillance examiner for the Kansas Insurance Department. Oparaji lives in Lawrence and has been employed at the Kansas Insurance Department for four years.

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Lynn Quiring, owner of Lawrence Natural Healthcare and Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy, has been named CEO of the Academy of Integrative Medicine and CEO of Natural Creations Inc. The Academy of Integrative Medicine is a private institution of higher learning committed to the education of qualified health care professionals in the principles and practices of integrative metabolic medicine. Currently located in the Midwest, the Academy will relocate to the Phoenix area this summer. Natural Creations Inc. is a high quality natural product company with more than 500 products in its current line. Quiring will maintain a dual role overseeing both operations from the Phoenix area where he and his family also will relocate to this summer.

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Tim Pinnick has been selected to fill the position of building inspections supervisor in the City of Lawrence’s Neighborhood Resources Department. Moving from a project specialist in the department to overseeing the plan review, permit process, and inspection programs, Pinnick will draw on more than 20 years of experience.

Pinnick’s job duties include working with building inspection staff to conduct mechanical, plumbing, electrical and structural inspections of new and existing industrial, commercial and residential buildings. Pinnick has been with the City of Lawrence since 1978.

Coming events

Capitol Federal’s 11th and Vermont office will celebrate its 50th anniversary Tuesday. Capitol Federal is inviting the community to join vice president branch manager Deborah Johnston and her staff with a daylong celebration. Light refreshments will be served and customers may register for free gifts.

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The Kansas University Small Business Development Center will present a new startup seminar “The Right Start” from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the center, 734 Vt. The seminar is designed for the prospective or new business owner and is provided in an interactive group counseling session format. The seminar is free of charge, however, an optional small business resources notebook is recommended to accompany the seminar topics. Pre-registration is encouraged and may be done by calling (785) 843-8844.

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Kurt von Achen, president of the K-10 Assn., has invited nominations for the ninth annual K-10 Corridor Awards Program. The program was established in 1995. A Service Award and Development Award will be presented.

The K-10 Service Award is presented to the individual or organization that has made an outstanding contribution towards promoting the goals of the association.

The K-10 Development Award recognizes the individual, company or institution which has significantly contributed to the successful economic development of the corridor through establishing a new or expanded business, enhancing the design character of the corridor or otherwise contributing to the development of the corridor.

The awards will be announced at this year’s annual meeting on June 20 at the Shadow Glenn Golf Club in Olathe. The deadline for nominations is May 30. For more information, call (785) 841-7166 or (913) 649-9510.

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Consumer Credit Counseling Services will present “Discover More Dollars” from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. May 15 at the Topeka Public Library, 1515 SW 10th St. in Topeka. The workshop will cover goal setting, developing a budget, cutting costs, evaluating spending habits and starting a savings plan.

The workshop is free, but reservations are encouraged. To make reservations, call (785) 234-0217, extension 368 or statewide (800) 383-0217, extension 368. For more information, call (785) 234-0217 or click on www.hcciks.org.

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Kansas producers will be able to sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program at Farm Service Agency county offices and USDA Service Centers across the state from Monday until May 30.

Bill Fuller, executive director of the Kansas Farm Service Agency, said CRP is a cost-effective, voluntary program that helps producers improve land, water and wildlife resources.

For qualifications requirements and other CRP information, click on www.fsa.usda. gov/dafp/cepd/crp.htm or call (785) 539-3533.