Around and about in local business

• Victoria Bogner, a partner with McDaniel Knutson Financial Partners of Lawrence has attained chartered financial analyst professional status. To earn a CFA charter, a candidate must have four years of qualified work experience, pass three levels of exams and adhere to the CFA Institute’s code of ethics and standards of professional conduct. The designation was created in 1963 and has become the most respected and recognized investment credential in the world, according to McDaniel Knutson. Bogner, a certified financial planner, is the chief investment analyst for McDaniel Knutson, which is located at 2500 W. 31st St., Suite B.

• Douglas County Sheriff Ken McGovern announces the selection of Michael Brouwer as the new re-entry program director at the Douglas County Correctional Facility. Brouwer has an extensive background in mental health and criminal justice services. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Mid-American Nazarene University, and a master’s in education — transition and career development at Kansas University. Mike has worked in the mental health field for 15 years. He was a management team member with Community Living Opportunities Inc. in Overland Park and a case manager/vocational counselor with the Miami County Mental Health Center. Mike also worked as Senior Mental Health Counselor and Forensic Services Case Manager at the Johnson County Mental Health Center. He has worked in re-entry programs for five years.

• Jeanne Mott, director of financial aid at Baker University, recently was inducted into the Rocky Mountain Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Hall of Fame. The award recognizes individuals who have made a significant difference for the profession of financial aid, students and colleagues. The award was presented last week at the association’s conference in Omaha, Neb. Mott also received a regional leadership award — one of six presented nationally — from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. The Rocky Mountain Conference consists of Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah.

• Danny Freeman with Stephens Real Estate has been awarded the accredited buyer’s representation designation by the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council of the National Association of Realtors. Freeman joins more than 30,000 real estate professionals in North America who have earned the ABR designation. All were required to successfully complete a comprehensive course in buyer representation and an elective course focusing on a buyer representation specialty, both in addition to submitting documentation verifying professional experience.

• “An Evening with Becky McCray: Small Business Survival and the State of Now,” will be presented from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont. The event is sponsored by the library, the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce and the Social Media Club of Lawrence.

McCray is a small town entrepreneur, with a cattle ranch, a retail liquor store and other businesses in Woods County, Okla. She is a small business and social media expert and has spoken internationally to more than 100 conferences on small business, rural issues and social media. She has been featured in The New York Times, BusinessWeek, and Entrepreneur Magazine. Her blog, Small Biz Survival, ranks in the top 20 small business blogs worldwide.

• The Kansas University Small Business Development Center will host a free seminar for startup entrepreneurs. “The Yin and Yang of Entrepreneurship” will be presented from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Center office, 646 Vermont, Suite 200. Preregister by calling 843-8844 or sign up for the event at facebook.com/kuksbdc. The seminar will focus on a number of topics of interest to startup and early-stage entrepreneurs, including entity selection and formation, marketing, and general advice.

• Susan Kang, Lawrence, recently joined the board of directors for the Kansas Leadership Center in Wichita. Kang is development director for the Dole Institute of Politics. She served at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment from 2003 to 2010, first as policy director then as assistant secretary, providing leadership and strategic guidance on legislative and external policy. She was a 2009 Kansas Health Foundation Fellow and a member of the 2009 Leadership Kansas class. She is also a Kansas Public Health Leadership Institute Fellow. Kang received her law degree from Northeastern University in Boston and practiced law primarily in Boston in various capacities, including as an assistant attorney general for Massachusetts.