Faces and places

Dr. Mary Vernon, Lawrence, has been elected to the board of trustees of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians. The society, with headquarters in Denver, is a national medical society of physicians and allied health personnel who offer comprehensive medical weight loss programs in the treatment of overweight and obesity as well as their associated conditions. She works at Lawrence Family Practice Center, 3510 Clinton Parkway. Vernon is a clinical assistant professor of medicine in the department of family practice at KU’s School of Medicine. Vernon is the founder and director of the obstetrics and gynecology clinical rotation for KU family medicine residents in Lawrence.

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Shelley Mater has been promoted to assistant vice president at Lawrence Bank. Her main responsibility will be in the area of consumer lending. Mater has more than nine years of banking experience. She is a 2001 graduate of Kansas University.

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The Kansas Board of Accountancy announced several area residents passed the two-day CPA examination given in November. They are Kari Coultis, Michael Gentry, Drew Rice and Abigail Rosdahl, Lawrence; and Justin Hawkins, Baldwin.

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Westar Energy donated $800 to Lawrence’s Habitat for Humanity on behalf of Madge Compton, Lawrence. Compton spent at least 250 hours doing volunteer work in 2002. The donation was part of the company’s Community Partners program, which recognizes and rewards active and retired Westar Energy employees and their spouses who volunteer in their communities. The program donated $50,000 to 65 nonprofit organizations on behalf of employees, retirees and their spouses who volunteered at least 100 hours in 2002.

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Scott Bloch has been named deputy director and counsel for the Task Force for Faith-based and Community Initiatives. He previously was associate director in that office since joining the Bush administration in 2001. Before joining the Bush administration, Bloch practiced law in Lawrence for 15 years with the law firm of Stevens & Brand, LLP.

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Tracy Green has been elected to serve a three-year term on the board of directors of the Associated General Contractors of Kansas Inc. He was chosen during the association’s annual convention Jan. 30-31 in Kansas City, Mo. Green is president of B.A. Green Construction Co. Inc., a Lawrence-based commercial general contractor.

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U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., was one of 35 lawmakers named “a Real Free Trader” by the Cato Institute for consistently voting against trade barriers and subsidies.

According to the Cato Institute Report, “Who Are the Real Free Traders in Congress?,” Roberts was one of a few lawmakers that “consistently voted against both trade barriers and international economic subsidies. The end result of their votes is to enhance the free market and the ability of Americans to decide for themselves how to spend their money in the global marketplace.”

A strong advocate for free trade, Roberts supported trade promotion authority for the president, which was passed into law last year. Roberts also played a significant role in opening up Cuba to sales of U.S. agricultural products.

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Kansas residents and visitors to Kansas have two new resources to help them travel the state: the 2003 Kansas Getaway Guide and the 2003-2004 State Driving Map.

The Getaway Guide is published by Kansas Travel and Tourism, a division of the Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing. The State Driving Map is a joint project of Kansas Travel and Tourism and the Kansas Department of Transportation.

Guides and maps can be requested by calling (800) 252-6727 or visiting www.travelks.com.

Honors and awards

John Kirby, general agent for American National Insurance Co., was awarded the 2002 Quality Master Award which represents exceptional achievement in maintaining high standards of persistence and production of life insurance. He also was named to the President’s Club and 20/20 Club and given premier agent status. Kirby works in the company’s Lawrence office, 1031 Vt., Suite 7.

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Linda Lester, owner of The Etc. Shop in Lawrence, was among a select group of retailers invited to attend a six-day retailing conference in Maui. Brighton Accessories sponsored the trip, which was designed to reward store owners for their success in 2002 and provide them with new business strategies.

The Etc. Shop is a Brighton Heart store, a designation given to less than 5 percent of retailers nationwide that carry Brighton Accessories. Heart stores achieve their status through outstanding sales and customer service.

Coming events

The Center for Business and Technology at Johnson County Community College will offer a free supervisory skills assessment showcase from 8 a.m. to noon Feb. 26 in room 211 of the Carlsen Center at Johnson County Community College.

The showcase will allow businesses to learn about the targeted development offered by the Supervisory Skills Assessment Center in the Center for Business and Technology.

The center uses a one-day assessment to identify strengths and development needs. At the showcase, attendees can experience sample assessment activities, a sample feedback report and create a personal development plan.

For more information, call E.J. Scott-Palmer, program director, at (913) 469-3845. To register for the showcase, call (913) 469-2323 and give the class registration number 22029.

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The Lawrence Memorial Hospital Endowment Assn. is presenting a series of three community seminars about investment opportunities. The first, “Role Reversal: Son, Can I Borrow the Keys?” will be from 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. Feb. 18 at Pioneer Ridge Retirement Community, 4851 Harvard Road.

Molly Wood, an attorney specializing in elder law with Stevens & Brand, and Ruth Ritthaler, an attorney with the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office, will present the program. Refreshments will be available at 4:45 p.m. There is no charge for the program.

For more information or to register, call the LMH Endowment Assn. at 840-2830. Future programs include Women and Estate Planning on March 25 and Long-Term Care Insurance on April 22.

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The Fort Leavenworth Directorate of Contracting, in cooperation with the Heartland Procurement Technical Assistance Center, will sponsor a small business procurement exposition. The exposition is an opportunity for small businesses to learn about doing business with state and federal government agencies. It will feature state and federal participants who will provide information about the products and services they purchase.

The event will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 28 at the Fort Leavenworth Frontier Conference Center.

The exposition is free, but attendees must register by calling (816) 235-6075 or (816) 235-2891. A box lunch will be offered for $10 and a keynote speaker will be featured during lunch.