Around and about in local business

• Lori MacDonald, human resources manager and director of operations at Adecco, recently was was named the Human Resources Professional Community Volunteer of the Year by the Jayhawk chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management. In addition to her community volunteerism, MacDonald was recognized for her 17 years as a practicing human resources professional.

• Charles L. Derby has joined First State Bank & Trust, Lawrence, as senior vice president. Derby formerly was northeast Kansas regional director and Lawrence market president for Central National Bank, where he worked for 12 years. His banking career spans 20 years and includes nearly a decade serving as a bank examiner and field office supervisor for the Office of the State Bank Commissioner, Topeka.

• JayTalkers Toastmasters will hold an open house and demonstration meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vt. A Toastmasters meeting is a learn-by-doing workshop in which participants hone their speaking and leadership skills in a no-pressure atmosphere. For more information, visit lawrence.freetoasthost.org.

• This Friday, the Bioscience and Technology Business Center at Kansas University will launch a series of six Friday workshops for entrepreneurs and people considering starting their own companies.

Presentations, which will cover a range of topics relevant to starting and running a business, will take place at the BTBC Main Facility, 2029 Becker Drive on KU’s West Campus. Many sessions will be followed by an Entrepreneur Happy Hour for attendees to network with other entrepreneurs.

The sessions, which run from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., are free. Attendees need to register online at btbcku.com. For more information contact the BTBC at 832-2110 or info@btbcku.com.

Here are the topics:

— Jan. 20: Use of social media.

— March 9: Writing successful grant application writing.

— May 18: Raising early-stage capital.

— July 20: Marketing strategies.

— Sept. 21: How to legally protect your intellectual property.

— Nov. 16: Putting your business plan into action.