Meredithe McCormick has accepted a position with KLWN, KLZR and KKYD radio stations in Lawrence as an account representative. She previously served as membership sales executive for the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, where she worked for 20 years. She received the Chamber’s first Wally Galluzzi Award in 1984 and has been a Lawrence resident for 40 years.

¢ Katie O’Connor-Gonzales, Lawrence, has joined Petefish, Immel & Heeb LLP as an associate attorney. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, where she was a published member of the Law Review. She is admitted to practice law in Kansas and Missouri. Petefish, Immel & Heeb is a general practice law firm.

¢ Julia Rombough, financial aid officer at Baker University’s School of Professional and Graduate Studies, attended the College Goal Sunday Summit on Oct. 7 in Washington, D.C.

Among the topics covered: outreach strategies, media tips and hiring public relations counsel. College Goal Sunday is sponsored by the Kansas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. Rombough is the organization’s 2006 co-chair.

College Goal Sunday will be in 20 locations across Kansas on Feb. 12. Families of low-income, minority, and first-generation high school seniors will be able to receive assistance that day in filling out the paperwork required to qualify for financial aid for college.

¢ Matthew Murphy and Linda Hoover have joined Lawrence-based Landplan Engineering.

Murphy brings six years of engineering and project management experience to his project engineer position. He previously was a project manager in Austin, Texas. Murphy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering in 1999 from Texas A&M University. His responsibilities at Landplan include technical oversight and project management of the firm’s municipal, commercial and residential projects. Murphy is based in the firm’s office in Kansas City, Mo.

Hoover, as receptionist and administrative assistant, provides administrative support for civil engineering, landscape architecture and park planning projects in addition to her receptionist duties.

¢ Lecompton resident Chris Lesser has joined Prosoco Inc., Lawrence, as safety coordinator.

Lesser previously served as a safety technician at Astaris LLC in Lawrence. He received bachelor’s degrees in history and secondary education from Kansas State University.

As safety coordinator, Lesser oversees all aspects of the Prosoco’s safety program, which includes training Prosoco employees in safety procedures and ensuring company compliance with federal, state and local safety regulations.

¢ The Kansas Board of Accountancy announced that Angela Motsinger, Baldwin, passed the certified public accountant computerized examination. Passing the examination is the first step to becoming a CPA. To be eligible to receive a permit to practice, an experience requirement must be met.

¢ Lawrence Realty Associates’ Pat Flavin, John Bush, Wanda Hughes, Lisa Mann and Carl Cline attended a one-day management retreat Oct. 7 with Larry Kindall, chairman of The Group Inc. real estate firm in Fort Collins, Colo.

Fifteen Lawrence Realty sales agents attended a seminar and heard presentations Oct. 6-7 from various Realtors with The Group Inc. The presentations covered how to deliver maximum customer service.

¢ Sheboygan, Wis.-based Acuity has appointed Lawrence-based Charlton Manley Inc. as an agent in Kansas.

Acuity will begin providing premium quotations Dec. 1, and will begin writing business in Kansas effective Jan. 1.

Acuity has been named by Ward Financial Group for six consecutive years as one of the top 50 best-run insurers nationwide. One of the top 100 property-casualty insurers in the nation based on size, Acuity also has earned national recognition from independent agents, such as the National Professional Insurance Agents Company of the Year Award.

¢ Kirsten Flory has joined KU Credit Union as business development representative. She works closely with credit union employer groups to elevate the level of service provided to these groups. Additionally, Kirsten will cultivate relationships with area businesses and civic organizations.

Flory received a degree in communications from Kansas University. She has seven years of marketing and business development experience in the Lawrence community.

¢ Metabolic Research Center, a weight loss and weight management center that is based on nutritional programs and educational classes, has opened at 1420 Wakarusa Drive, No. 102.

Metabolic Research Center has been in business for more than 20 years and has at least 40 centers nationwide.

For more information, call the center at 843-5600.

¢ Jim Evers has been named general manager of KTKA-TV, Topeka, and also will serve as director of video media for Free State Communications LLC, the Kansas-based communications company and owner of the station.

Evers, a native of Topeka, attended Highland Park High School and Washburn University. He has spent more than 35 years in television, working in Kansas, Texas, Indiana and Michigan, most recently serving as president/general manager of KICU-TV in San Jose, Calif.

Honors and awards

Ron King, Lawrence American Family agent, has been named Kansas District Agent of the Month for August and September. King is a four-time winner of American Family’s Kansas Agent of the Year Award.

¢ Dengel & Son Mortuary of Ottawa is a recipient of the 2005 National Funeral Directors Association Pursuit of Excellence Emeritus Award. The award honors funeral homes for outstanding service to families, community involvement, technical abilities and professional integrity.

Among criteria for the award: education, compassionate service, technical skills, community and professional service, library or media resources, professional development, in-house staff training and public and community relations.

Coming events

The Twilight Chapter of American Business Women’s Assn. will meet at 6 p.m. Monday for dinner and its monthly meeting at the American Legion, 3408 W. Sixth St. To make reservations contact Connie Torneden by telephone at (913) 723-3576 or by e-mail at connie@firststateks.com.

¢ Results Technology Inc. and Alcatel will be host to a free technology seminar Oct. 27 at the Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza.

The seminar, “Extending the Enterprise: Breaking Through Communication Barriers,” will look at how to create an office communications environment that is designed to enable greater access, provide better service, increase competitive advantage and reduce costs.

Breakfast and registration will begin at 7:30 a.m., followed by presentations and demonstrations from 8 a.m. to noon. Lunch and networking will be from noon to 1 p.m.

IT professionals may register for the event by calling (913) 928-8394 or by e-mailing jpeterson@ResultsTechnology.com. Registration also is available online at www.ResultsTechnology.com/alcatelKC.asp.

¢ The Kansas City Area Development Council announced that its annual meeting luncheon, The Spirit of OneKC, will begin at 11 a.m. Nov. 9 at the Marriott Muehlebach Hotel in downtown Kansas City, Mo.

Keynote speaker will be Geoffrey Colvin, senior editor-at-large Voice of Fortune. He will talk about global competitiveness, future business trends and corporate leadership. Colvin has conducted the Fortune Best Cities for Business rankings, served as host for television programs, and moderated CEO and global forums for Fortune.

The meeting will highlight the contributions of transportation and logistics-based businesses to the Greater Kansas City area.

The Kansas City Area Development Council works to attract business and industry to the two-state, 18-county region, which includes Douglas County. More than 250 corporate and 50 community investor partners support the council.

For more information about the meeting, click on www.kcadcannualmeeting.com, or contact Jennifer Lyon at lyon@thinkkc.com.