Chamber of Commerce honors Lawrence leadership

From left, Faye Watson, the widow of former city manager Buford Watson, John Nalbandian, his wife, Carol, both recipients of the 2008 Buford M. Watson Award, City Manager David Corliss, and Sue Hack, city commissioner and executive director of the Leadership Lawrence program, chat at the conclusion of the 2008 Leadership Lawrence Graduation Breakfast on Friday at the Kansas Union. About 200 people attended the event.

Leadership Lawrence, PIECE graduates

Graduates of the 2008 class of Leadership Lawrence:

Jennifer Alderdice, KU Alumni Association; Cheryl Beatty, city of Eudora; Judith Bellome, Douglas County Visiting Nurses Association; Becca Booth, Lawrence Chamber of Commerce; Joe Caldwell, Bartlett and West Inc.; Bryan Culver, Peoples Bank; Kelly Evans, Trinity In-Home Health Care Inc.; Paula Gilchrist, Douglas County treasurer; Matthew Harms, Lawrence Memorial Hospital; and Brian Iverson, US Bank.

Also, Thomas Karasek, CEK Insurance; Mini Kaur, self-employed; Scott Kimzey, Harris Construction Co. Inc.; Kevin Lashley, Sunflower Broadband; Michael Machell, Prescriptions Solutions; Patrick Manning, Dobski & Associates; Trent McKinley, Lawrence Police Department; Emily Morehouse, K-State Research & Extension; Amber Nickel, Pawsh Wash and Pet Health Market; and Shannon Oury, Stevens & Brand LLP.

Also, Daniel Pennington, St. Paul’s Episcopal School; Derek Rogers, Kansas Air National Guard; Carol Seager, Watkins Health Center; Jamie Shew, Douglas County clerk; Selma Southard, Douglas County; Mercedes Taylor-Puckett, Lawrence Farmers’ Market; Cathy Theisen, Barber Emerson LC; Michael VanZuiden, Aquila; Barry Walthall, city of Lawrence; and Toni Wheeler, city of Lawrence.

Eighth-graders accepted to participate in the 2008-2009 class for the Peer Involvement Encouraging Community Efforts (PIECE) Project, listed by school:

¢ Bishop Seabury Academy: Austin Barone, Reese Grabill, Kale Joyce and Megan Smith.

¢ Central Junior High School: Mariam Ali, Hannah Fowler, Skyler McCawley, Taylor Schmid and Maria Watson.

¢ South Junior High School: Taylor Eubanks, Reid Hildenbrand, Nicki Snodgrass, Megan Tunget and Natalie Wilkins.

¢ Southwest Junior High School: Taylor Augustine, Payton Covert, Lauren Fleming, Regan Keasling, Adelle Loney and Jessica Mielke.

¢ West Junior High School: Jacob Craft, Ruben Ghysen, Sebastian Helms, Nicole Humphrey and Brock Morrison.

John and Carol Nalbandian have been training leaders for decades now – John as a professor of public administration at Kansas University, and Carol as a consultant and supporter of community organizations.

Their past accomplishments and ongoing work in leadership education earned the Nalbandians the Buford M. Watson Jr. Public Service Award from the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce. The honor was presented Friday during a breakfast ceremony that also honored 30 graduates of the chamber’s Leadership Lawrence program, plus another 25 eighth-graders enrolled in an upcoming leadership program.

The focus on leadership is a welcome one for the Nalbandians.

“One of the challenges of public service is understanding that we can’t just be satisfied with where we are,” said John Nalbandian, who served as a Lawrence city commissioner from 1991 to 1999, including two terms as mayor. “We can’t just speak to who we are. We have to speak to our aspirations. :

“Once we’re able to express those aspirations, we can achieve them because of the capacity of people like those who are involved in Leadership Lawrence and all other walks of life in this community.”

About 200 people gathered Friday in the ballroom at the Kansas Union to offer congratulations to the Nalbandians, other award winners, program graduates and students.

The room buzzed with talk of Lawrence’s ongoing strengths as a community, and the need for leaders to keep the momentum going.

“These people really understand their responsibilities,” said Sue Hack, executive director for Leadership Lawrence and a Lawrence city commissioner. “They will be on boards and do volunteer work at agencies. They will be sustaining this community.”

Other award recipients:

¢ Shirley Martin-Smith, a former city commissioner and former mayor who owns Martin-Smith Personnel Services and the area’s Adecco franchise, who accepted the Don Volker Leadership Award.

¢ Jana Dobbs, of CornerBank, who accepted the Wally Galluzzi Chamber Volunteer Award.

Also honored were graduates of Leadership Lawrence, the eight-month class that provides leadership training and insights into community resources and institutions.

The breakfast also included an introduction of members for the next class of Peer Involvement Encouraging Community Efforts (PIECE) Project, a program that introduces eighth-graders to community issues, needs and opportunities.