Natural Breeze Remodeling, Lawrence, has added John Watson and Joe Robinson as lead carpenters to its remodeling team. Together they bring more than 55 years of experience in home construction, home remodeling, interior trim and cabinetry.

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Yvonne Smith has joined Whitney Financial Group, a Raymond James Financial Services affiliate in Lawrence, as client services representative. Smith has experience in the areas of advertising, marketing and client services in the Chicago area and will be responsible for client services and marketing programs.

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Angela Lowe, Lawrence Memorial Hospital’s chaplain, has become a board certified chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains. Qualifications to receive this certification include completion of master’s degree, residency program, ordination, a denominational endorsement and 2,000 hours working as a chaplain. Lowe received her Master’s of Divinity from Central Baptist Seminary, Kansas City, Kan. Lowe joined Lawrence Memorial Hospital as chaplain in August 2002. Her duties include providing pastoral care for patients, their families and LMH staff. She also serves as a link between LMH and the clergy in the community.

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Coni Foulke has been promoted to assistant vice president at Emprise Bank. She oversees the deposit operations of both Emprise Bank locations in Lawrence, including teller and customer service supervision. She also is a member of the bank’s marketing committee. She has been with the bank since 1996.

Paul Frakes has become a member of the bank’s Asset Liability Committee in addition to retaining his duties as a commercial lender in Lawrence. He also is a member of the bank’s marketing committee. Frakes has been with the bank since 1999.

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Emily Hutchins has joined Jones Seel Huyett, Topeka, as an account manager. She graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in advertising and from Kansas University with a master’s degree in strategic communications. She previously worked as a communications specialist for Kansas University and the University of Florida.

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Michelle McGavran recently attended a course called “Myokinematic Restoration: An Integrated Approach to Treatment of Patterned Lumbo-Pelvic-Femoral Pathomechanics.” The course focused on treatment of low back, hip and knee syndromes through proper positioning of the pelvis. McGavran is a licensed physical therapist at TherapyWorks, P.A. She received a master’s degree in physical therapy from Kansas University Medical Center in May 2003.

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Steve Richards has joined the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, Lawrence, as finance director. He will be responsible for the center’s financial reporting, budget and fiscal policies. Richards most recently served as Kansas secretary of revenue. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Kansas University.

Honors and awards

John Kirby, a Lawrence agent with American National Property and Casualty Co., received the 2003 quality master award along with premier agent status. The award represents exceptional achievement in maintaining high standards of persistency and production of life insurance and investments.

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Grubb & Ellis Co. announced that Grubb & Ellis/The Winbury Group, which has a Lawrence office, was named the company’s Affiliate of the Year. The award is presented annually. Kansas City, Mo.-based The Winbury Group won top honors from the company’s 42 affiliates which covers 60 markets. The firm has been an affiliate since 1997.

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Drs. Charles Pohl and Kent Dobbins achieved platinum status with Ciba Vision Corp., Atlanta. Ciba Vision is a world leader in the development, manufacture and supply of contact lenses and ophthalmic products. Platinum status is an award that is granted to eye care practitioners who are leaders in the contact lens industry. Pohl and Dobbins rank in the top 1 percent of eye care practitioners in North America in the use of Ciba Focus Dailies and Ciba Focus Night and Day contact lenses.

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For the fifth-consecutive year, Fortune magazine has selected SBC Communications as America’s Most Admired Telecommunications Company. The company’s recent success includes strong growth in DSL and long distance. In the fourth quarter of 2003, SBC Long Distance added a record 2.9 million consumer and business long distance lines, ending the year with 14.4 million — 136 percent increase from a year ago.

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Peoples Bank had its second annual Peoples Promise Awards on Jan. 17 in Ottawa. The awards recognize and celebrate 2003 performance and service excellence within Peoples Bank. Peoples Bank has locations in northeast Kansas as well as Taos, N.M., and Albuquerque, N.M. Tanya Wilson, Stanley, was the recipient of the “Personal Banker of the Year” award.

Employees from area banks who received honors were:

• Michelle Fales, Lawrence, Consumer Lender of the Year.
• Greg Thyr, Ottawa, External Support Banker of the Year.
• Sharon Haney, Ottawa, Most Improved Mortgage Originator.
• Robbin Kerth, Ottawa, Professional Services Producer/Banker of the Year.
• Todd Harris, Lawrence, Community President of the Year.
• Maley Wilkins, Lawrence, Commercial Lender of the Year.

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The National Association for Campus Activities recently honored Dawn Shew, student union activities program adviser at the Kansas University Memorial Unions, with the C. Shaw Smith New Professional Award. Shew primarily works with the programs and students involved in the Student Union Activities program at KU. She was nominated by her students, peers and supervisor. She received the award at the NACA annual national convention Feb. 14-18 in Cincinnati. She received a plaque and a $400 voucher for future professional development within the organization.

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CornerBank has announced that Bob Lewis is the Community Cornerstone Award recipient for the month of February. In recognition of Lewis’ service, CornerBank will contribute $100 to Douglas County Senior Services.

Lewis serves as an audio-reader and volunteers to shelve library books at New York School. He works with Hospice in Douglas County. He is a member of the River City Weekly Board and serves on the Jayhawk AAA Advisory Council.

He delivers meals for Douglas County Senior Services and is a board member for the Unity Church of Lawrence. He also is a volunteer usher for the Lied Center.

Coming events

Consumer Credit Counseling Services will present “Discover More Dollars” from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. March 8 at the United Way Building, 2518 Ridge Court in Lawrence. The workshop will cover goal setting, developing a budget, cutting costs, evaluating spending habits and starting a savings plan.

To make reservations to attend the free workshop, call (800) 383-0217, ext. 369.

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Kansas Women’s Business Center is having a workshop to introduce participants to the center and help them learn about the characteristics of an entrepreneur.

The workshop, “Out Of Your Head & Into Business: Assessing Your Entrepreneurial Potential” will be from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. March 9 at the center, 8527 Bluejacket, Lenexa. The cost is $15. For more information, call the center at (913) 492-5922 or click on www.KansasWBC.com.

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Lawrence Professionals in Aging will meet from 11:30 a.m. to noon Thursday at the Eldridge Hotel in downtown Lawrence. Sandy Kelly-Allen, of Project Lively, will be the guest speaker. The cost is $10. To register, e-mail Lawrenceprofessionalsinaging@hotmail.com or call 842-0656.

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Tenants to Homeowners Inc. has finished an affordable housing project in North Lawrence. The agency is having an open house from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at the three-bedroom home, 805 Locust, which is made of insulated concrete forms.

For more information, call Rebecca Buford at 842-5494.

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The National Cattlemen’s Beef Assn. is accepting applications for the 14th annual Environmental Stewardship Award program. The deadline for applications is March 12.

The program recognizes cattle producers who use innovative practices to protect and enhance natural resources while maintaining or increasing the profitability of their businesses.

Applications are available online at hill.beef.org/esap. For more information, call Megan Tipton at (202) 347-0228 or e-mail mtipton@beef.org.