Molly Wood, a partner at Stevens & Brand, recently was a presenter in a Kansas Bar Assn. continuing legal education seminar. She presented “Medicaid Eligibility for Nursing Home Care: The Basics and a Legislative Update.”

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Jim Moore, Lawrence, has joined Charlton Manley Insurance as account executive. Moore has five years of experience as an insurance agent in personal and commercial insurance.

Moore came to Lawrence in 1992 to attend Kansas University on a football scholarship. He also was a member of the NFL’s Houston Oilers and the Kansas City Chiefs. Moore is a member of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce and is chairman of the Chamber Young Professionals Group. He also is a board member for Kansas University Friends of the Theatre.

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Jacki Ibbetson, physical therapist with Baldwin Therapy Services and Lawrence Therapy Services, participated in the course “Stroke Rehabilitation: Guidelines For Exercise and Training to Optimize Motor Skills” in November.

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Richard Brack, managing editor of the Lawrence Journal-World since 1999, has resigned to pursue other opportunities.

Brack’s resignation was announced to the staff earlier this month.

“We wish Ric well in his future endeavors. The Journal-World achieved an unprecedented numbers of awards during his tenure and we intend to pursue a top quality news executive to replace him,” said Ralph Gage, chief operating officer of The World Company, which owns the Journal-World.

Bill Snead, senior editor of the Journal-World, and Rob Curley, director of new media/convergence for The World Company, are directing news operations for the paper during the search process, Gage said.

The company has a news staff of about 50 employees for its print product. Those staffers work in a converged environment with another 16 employees of 6News and eight who are dedicated to World Online. The company has an additional 37 news people involved in its weekly newspaper operations.

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Teresa Sikes and Dorothy Kurtz, both members of Lawrence Memorial Hospital’s palliative care consult team, passed an examination proctored in September by the National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses.

Both Sikes and Kurtz are founding members of the palliative care consult team at LMH.

The goal of palliative care is to provide relief of suffering and to improve quality end-of-life care for patients and their families. The palliative care team at LMH has consulted with 219 patients and their families since its creation in January 2003.

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Vonda Kaup, a registered nurse with Lawrence Plastic Surgery, recently fulfilled the education, practice and written examination requirements to merit the designation of certified plastic surgical nurse. Kaup is one of only five certified plastic surgical nurses in Kansas.

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Bradley Smith has joined UMB Financial Corp. as executive vice president of consumer services.

Smith has 28 years of experience in retail banking, most recently as executive vice president of retail banking and corporate services for St. Francis Bank in Milwaukee.

Smith will work from UMB’s headquarters in downtown Kansas City, Mo., beginning Jan. 31.

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Isabelle Tait has been named a senior adult outpatient therapist for Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center. She is responsible for therapy of adult populations. Tait previously worked as a clinician at the Johnson County Mental Health Department. She has a master’s degree from Kansas University.

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The Management Network Group Inc., Overland Park, recently announced the appointment of Paul Petersky to vice president of market research at TMNG Marketing, a company subsidiary. Petersky has more than 20 years of experience in primary and secondary research project management. He was a vice president at market research firm ConStat Inc., where he was responsible for the development of client relationships among Fortune 500 technology and financial services clients.

Coming events

K-State Research and Extension — Douglas County is offering a workshop for sprayer operators. The workshop, “Shoot Straight — Sprayer Adjustments and Calibrations to Save You Money, Protect Your Crops and Keep Peace with the Neighbors,” is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds.

Topics for the workshop include: “Spray Equipment,” “Nozzle Technology,” “Calibrations,” “Spray Drift and How to Control It” and “Project Good Neighbor.” There will be spray equipment and demonstrations as part of the hands-on learning.

Instructors and speakers include: Bob Wolf, extension agriculture engineer; Rodger Benson, range and pasture specialist with Dow AgroSciences; and Bill Wood, Douglas County extension agriculture agent.

The workshop also is sponsored by Westheffer Co. Douglas County and Dow AgroSciences.

The deadline to register is Feb. 17. To register, call the extension office at 843-7058 or e-mail bdwood@oznet.ksu.edu.

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American Business Women’s Assn. Lawrence Express Network will meet from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Hereford House, 4931 W. Sixth St. Judy Mathews, of the Kansas Women’s Business Center, will discuss women business owners and their effects on the economy. The business spotlight of the month will be presented by Kendra Hatfield of the Eldridge Hotel.

Cost of the luncheon is $15 per person. Guests are welcome. For more information, call Autumn Weiss at 749-0316 or by e-mail at autumn@sunflower.com.

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The Kansas University Small Business Development Center and Lawrence Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring a workshop, “WOW! Service.” The seminar will be from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday at the chamber, 734 Vt.

The program is developed for business owners and employees. It aims to show participants how to increase their service level, a move intended to help boost profits. For more information or to register, call 843-8844 or e-mail maggie@kusbdc.net.

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The inaugural North American Grain Congress will be Feb. 19-22 in Reno, Nev. The Grain Congress is the first joint conference of the National Grain Sorghum Producers and the National Association of Wheat Growers.

The conference will focus on ethanol, global trade and ag policy. Speakers will include Mike Johanns, agriculture secretary nominee, and Rep. Jim Nussle, R-Iowa and chairman of the House Budget Committee.

Bob Dinneen, of the Renewable Fuels Assn., will speak about ethanol. Gary Blumenthal, of World Perspectives, will focus on trade policy, and Ed Barlow, of Creating the Future Inc., will discuss future trends.

To register, click online at www.graincongress.org or call (800) 658-9808.