Faces and places

Monte Mace, owner of Monte Mace Photography in Lawrence, completed a digital wedding photography workshop April 25-29 in Atlanta. The workshop was taught by Denis Reggie, a celebrity wedding photographer.

• Robin McNevin, a customer service representative at Emprise Bank in Lawrence, completed the 2004 School of Banking Fundamentals April 5-9 in Topeka. The school is designed to instruct students in core banking concepts as they relate to the overall functioning of a bank.
• Paul Davis Restoration, Lawrence, will help make improvements May 22-23 to the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence facility, 1520 Haskell Ave., through its Restore America program. The program is designed to help nonprofit groups and individuals who are unable to fix up their facilities or homes. Time, labor and materials will be donated by Paul Davis Restoration and its employees. Paint will be donated by Sherwin Williams, Lawrence. The facility will receive new carpet, an interior paint job, floor resurfacing and air duct cleaning. Other business or individuals are challenged to meet other needs through donations, such as new windows and trim, mulch, sports equipment and food. To make a donation or for more information, contact Janet Murphy, executive director, at 423-3782.
• John Wise, Linwood, was elected to the board of governors of the National Agriculture Center and Hall of Fame at its annual business meeting April 23 in Bonner Springs. The board oversees the administration and functions of the center. Wise is a longtime area farmer and senior partner in Wise and Son Farms, northeast of Lawrence.
• Dr. Mark Norris, Leavenworth, was installed as president for the Kansas Optometric Assn.’s 2004-2005 board of directors during a recent convention in Topeka.

During the convention, optometrists were able to attend 13 hours of continuing education on the latest developments in eye care for relicensure. Those who attended from Lawrence were Curtis Anderson, Brent Crandon, Elizabeth Crandon, Steven Flory, John Harvat, Terry Hilmes, Gary Joyce, Sharon Green, Arthur Queen, Daniel Smith and Arliss Stebbins.

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking nominations for qualified people to serve as members of the Agricultural Air Quality Task Force. The role of the task force is to strengthen and coordinate USDA air quality research efforts related to agricultural activities. Nomination information is available online at aaqtf.tamu.edu. For more information, call Elvis Graves, Natural Resources Conservation Service acting designated federal official, at (202) 720-3905.
• Aquila employee Rickey Romero, operations technician in Lawrence, recently was recognized by the company for 25 years of service. He joined Aquila in 1979 as a pipefitter. He currently is responsible for all natural gas construction and maintenance activities.
• Doug Gaumer, Lawrence, has joined Intrust Bank as vice president of commercial lending at the Vermont Street branch in Lawrence. Gaumer had spent the past 13 years in the energy business, mainly as an energy trader for Westar Energy.
• The Blind Valet, an ultrasonic window blind cleaning company, recently opened at 512 E. Ninth St. Owned and operated by Rich and Mechalina Helton, the business cleans all types of window blinds with sound wave technology.

In addition to cleaning, The Blind Valet is an authorized dealer for “Kathy Ireland Home by Alta,” which has a large array of window coverings.

• Realty Executives, Hedges Real Estate Inc. announces that Lisa Bullerman and Sherry Gill have formed an exclusive real estate partnership. They recently completed their accredited buyer representative training in Wichita. Gill has earned the Graduate of Realtor Institute designation.
• Mike Maddox, Lawrence, has been promoted to president of Intrust Bank’s northeast Kansas region. Maddox joined the bank in 2000 as president of Intrust’s Lawrence market.

Maddox, a former Kansas University basketball player, graduated from KU in 1991 with a business degree and received a law degree from KU in 1994.

He recently was named chairman of the Lawrence-Douglas County Economic Development Board.

• Shannon Ruedlinger has been named executive director at Brandon Woods Retirement Community, Lawrence. Ruedlinger, a Kansas University graduate, most recently was managing director for the Midwest Region for The Fountains Group, Tucson, Ariz. He had spent several years at Brandon Woods as the independent living manager.

Donna Bell has been promoted to director of public relations. She received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Wichita State University and a master’s degree in management from Baker University.

• Walt Frey, a certified residential specialist, offered his expertise May 11 at Lawrence Realty Associates. Frey is a recognized expert in the real estate field for training Realtors in providing service for clients. He has been visiting the company on a monthly basis.

Coming events

Silver Works And More, 715 Mass., will celebrate its 30th anniversary with an open house Saturday. Owners of the fine crafts gallery are Jim and Cara Connelly. Jim Connelly received a graduate degree in metalsmithing from Kansas University. He opened Silver Works in April 1974 as a studio and gallery.

• The Twilight Chapter of the American Business Women’s Assn. will meet Monday at the America Legion, 3408 W. Sixth St.

The networking night will feature members’ business services and products as well as a White Elephant sale.

Networking will begin at 6 p.m. with dinner starting at 6:30 p.m. To make reservations, e-mail Wanda Easterwood at wanda.easterwood@faa.gov.

• CornerBank is sponsoring a two-part presentation from 4:15 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday at the bank, 4621 W. Sixth St.

Molly Wood, an elder law attorney with Stevens & Brand, will give a presentation on the new Medicare Prescription Drug Card. She will point out some of the pitfalls in the plan and answer questions about the new card.

Barbara Braa, a trust officer with CornerBank, will give a presentation on basic estate planning tools and how trust services can factor into a plan. After the presentation, Braa will be joined by E. Dean Kennedy, senior trust officer and an executive vice president with CornerBank, and Diane W. Simpson, estate planning attorney with Stevens & Brand, to answer questions. To reserve a seat, e-mail Braa at barbarab@cornerbanks.com or call her at 838-9400.

• The Kansas Women’s Business Center is sponsoring a workshop, “Out Of Your Head and Into Business: Assessing Your Entrepreneurial Potential.” The workshop will be from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. June 8 at the center in Lenexa. The cost is $15.

The workshop is designed to introduce participants to the center. To register or for more information, call (913) 492-5922.