Celebrating the people who give to our community
Four local residents will be recognized by the community they serve during the Chamber’s Annual Meeting on Jan. 27, 2012. Each year, the Chamber asks its members and the public at large to identify the individuals who embrace the philosophy of giving back to the community.
Dwayne Peaslee is being honored as this year’s Citizen of the Years. This award is given not just for a single act, but for a history of community commitment and leadership. Dwayne was born and raised in Lawrence, was a pipefitter for 60 years and was the business manager for the Kansas Plumbers & Pipefitters in Lawrence from 1987 to 1993. He served on more committees and commissions than we can mention. He was a popular choice for this year’s Citizen of the Years honor.
The Buford M. Watson Jr., Public Service Award was established in 1990 to recognize someone whose work in the public sector serves as a role model for others, just as Buford did for Lawrence. He served as our city manager for 19 years between 1970 and 1989. This year’s Public Service Award recognizes Mary Loveland whose 20 years of service to the Lawrence Board of Education saw her serve with 28 different school board members.
Kevin Loos of ICL Performance Products was an overwhelming choice for this year’s Wally Galluzzi Volunteer of the Award. Personifying the spirit of Wally, who was a legendary volunteer for the Chamber for many years, Kevin volunteers his time freely serving on the Parks & Recreation Board and on the Advisory Board for Leadership Lawrence, our community leadership program.
The Athena Award honors an individual who assists women in reaching their full leadership potential, devotes time to the community and demonstrates passion in their own business. This year’s recipient, Ann Gardner, exemplies all these qualities. She actively mentored women in a variety of roles including at the University of Kansas and through her involvement in the American Association of University Women. She is active throughout the community and brings passion to every task she undertakes.
These are just four of the remarkable people who can be found in Lawrence. The Chamber of Commerce is proud to recognize them and their contributions.
It’s been a great year
The year is rapidly coming to an end and soon we will welcome 2012. Before we leave 2011 behind us, we want to acknowledge some of the good things that happened in Lawrence and Douglas County this year.
Lawrence businesses continued to expand, despite a challenging national economy. Plastikon, a relative newcomer to Lawrence, already is expanding its presence with an additional 10,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space. Berry Plastics broke ground on a 600,000 sq. ft. warehouse, investing $20 million in the community. McFarlane Aviation is building a 20,000 sq. ft. facility in Vinland, expanding its aviation products business. Grandstand Sportswear and Glassware is moving into a larger facility that will allow the company to grow its specialty manufacturing business.
One of the most historic businesses in Lawrence, Bowersock Mills and Power Company, is building a new powerhouse on the north shore of the Mighty Kaw. The original dam was completed in 1874. When the new powerhouse is complete, Bowersock will generate an additional 4.6 MW of hydroelectric power.
2011 saw three new companies move to the Bioscience & Technology Business Center – Assurant Employee Benefits, Gyrasol and Argenta. Lawrence continues to be an attractive location for high-technology businesses seeking an educated workforce and proximity to a world class university.
We’ll begin 2012 with the expansion of another local company, API Foils, when its headquarters operations move from New Jersey to Lawrence. We’re looking forward to welcoming them to our community.
It’s been a good year for Lawrence and Douglas County. We have a lot planned for 2012 and look forward to sharing news with you on a regular basis.
Leadership Lawrence: Thoughts on “Education Day”
October 20, 2011.
Fueled up on coffee, we started the day in breakout sessions led by members of the Lawrence Elementary Facility Vision Task Force. Aside from talking about the details of their work, we discussed the technical and adaptive challenges presented to the task force and how they worked through them during their nine months together. After these meetings we all had t a better understanding of the scope of work (and emotional roller coaster) the members of this task force faced.
Later we broke into groups and visited educational locations around Lawrence including Pinnacle, JCCC, Bishop Seabury, VERITAS, Haskell and Kennedy Elementary. Treated as VIPs, we were given tours of the facilities, give-a-ways, programming information–one group even got back massages! We reconvened at Allen Fieldhouse where we began our afternoon session with lunch and discussion about our experiences during the educational site visits. Even though these institutions all have different missions they are all working to strengthen our community by providing educational opportunities to Lawrence residents from all walks of life.
The afternoon presentations were great and we heard about USD 497 from multiple perspectives. Aside from learning about how unbelievably complicated school finance is, I think our class was most surprised by some of the statistics regarding the Community of Learners.
- There are over 11,000 students in our district.
- Of those, 81 are homeless;
- 560 are Native American representing 130 different tribes;
- 1,300 are registered as special needs (including 500 gifted;)
- 35% are enrolled in the free or reduced lunch program; and
- more than 80% felt they had opportunities to join activities.
Needless to say, our teachers and administrators are dealing with a lot of factors when it comes to educating our children. They’re doing a great job!
Finally, Paul Buskirk, the Associate Director of Athletics responsible for overseeing the academic life of KU’s athletes, talked about his philosophy on leadership and the challenges he faces in his role as the academic guru for a very diverse group of student athletes.
Overall, it was a great day filled with tons of information about the different educational opportunities available in our community. A big THANK YOU to all the presenters and those responsible for organizing education day!
Guest Blogger: Jessica Beeson, Leadership Lawrence Class of 2012 and Director of Community Engagement, University of Kansas College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
It’s nice to be appreciated
The photo came in the electronic mail today.
On Sept. 20 the International Economic Development Council awarded our economic development website first place for communities with populations of 25,000 to 200,000. We celebrated then, and with the arrival of the official winning photo today, we’re doing it again.
The website was designed to showcase the strong partnership between the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, Douglas County and the City of Lawrence and to cause people to think differently about living and working in Kansas. Almost always when people see our historic downtown, the rolling hills, our three universities and strong business community, they’ll say “gee, it’s not what we expected from Kansas.” We’re trying to change that perception and acquaint people with all that Lawrence and Douglas County have to offer.
Douglas County is a great place to live and work. Our economic development partnership with the City and County focuses on attracting businesses who fit in our community and whose presence benefits our quality of life and economic strength. We also work with our existing businesses to help them grow and remain part of Lawrence/Douglas County. That combination is important to our future. Businesses help fund our city’s infrastructure and critical social services. Businesses introduce new families into our community. Businesses are owned by our neighbors and friends. They are an important part of the fabric of life here in Lawrence and Douglas County.
Join us in celebrating this recogntion of our economic development efforts, and congratulating the two honorable mention winners: Frisco, Texas and Longview Texas.
In the photo are: Timothy Solomon, CEcD – Chair IEDC Awards Advisory Committee; Beth Johnson, Vice President Economic Development for the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce; and Dennis Coleman, CEcD, FM – Chairman of the Board, IEDC
I’ll Change5. Will You?
It’s a phrase you’ll hear throughout Lawrence today and as we move into the final week of the Take Charge Challenge. The entire community is pulling together to ensure that Lawrence leaves Manhattan in the dark as we win the Take Charge Challenge.
Right now, Lawrence is lagging behind Manhattan in one important category: light bulb switches. So, join us and Change5 today. Did you know that if you change the five most-used bulbs in your house, you’ll save $75 per year?
If everyone in Lawrence pitches in and changes light bulbs, we’ll bring home the bragging rights to the Take Charge Challenge and an energy efficiency or renewable community project worth up to $100,000. That’s good for our community and our future.
Here’s all you need to do:
- Are you a Lawrence resident? That means students, landlords, renters, homeowners and businesses.
- Log on to the Take Charge Kansas website and register ANY light bulb switches, from incandescent to CFL lights, that you’ve made this year.
- Challenge your friends to change bulbs and register their switches too. With your help, we will win this challenge!
If you’re feeling adventurous, search out the eight coffee shops where Take Charge Challenge team members will be handing out free CFLs to caffeinated members of the public. They’ll be out there Thursday from 7:30-9:30 a.m. with free lights. Get yourself a cup of coffee and some free light bulbs, and then register them on line.
Follow us on Twitter and retweet #change5 to encourage your friends, coworkers and family to Change5 – or even 1 – today. The bulb you switch may be the difference between winning and losing.
This is a great opportunity for our community to come together and Change5 for our future. Energy efficiency matters to Lawrence. And not losing to Manhattan matters to our community.
Recognizing our Heroes
In the 1951 sci-fi classic “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” the highly-advanced ET tells the assembled Earthlings that “the universe grows smaller every day…and…there must be security for all, or no one is secure.” He goes on to say that the “test of any such higher authority is, of course, the police force that supports it.”
The Lawrence-Douglas County community expands that philosophy to include the full realm of public safety officials who ensure our safety and well-being. We then add importance of publicly recognizing the heroes who make our lives better and safer every day. The inaugural class of Valor Public Safety Awards honorees, named last week, recognizes acts of courage that saved lives and significantly enhanced the safety of local residents.
On Oct. 18, 13 men and one woman will be celebrated by the local community at a public awards ceremony. It is an opportunity to remind ourselves and the entire community of how keenly important their work is and how much we rely on their commitment and courage every day. This year’s honorees represent the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Lawrence-Douglas County Fire/Medical, Lawrence Police Department and the University of Kansas Public Safety Office. The honorees are:
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office: Detective Jay Armbrister, Silver Medal of Valor; Sergeant Clark Rials and Deputy Dale Flory, Bronze Medal of Valor.
Lawrence-Douglas County Fire/Medical: Engineer Leo Leiker and Engineer Mark Parker, Silver Medal of Valor; Engineer Troy Gourley, Bronze Medal of Valor; Sandra Herd (Capt., Ret.), Meritorious Service Medal of Valor; Lt. Scott Seratte, Firefighter Eric Miller and Firefighter Todd Dwyer, Lifesaving Medal of Valor.
Lawrence Police Department: Officer Peter “Tony” Garcia, Silver Medal of Honor; Officer Ronald John Ivener and Officer Harold Myrone Grady, Lifesaving Medal of Valor.
University of Kansas Public Safety: Officer Robert Blevins, Lifesaving Medal of Valor.
We encourage the public to join us on Oct. 18 when we publicly salute these inaugural Valor Awards honorees.
The Valor Public Safety Awards is a program of the Chamber of Commerce in partnership with NIC Inc. with all funds administered by the Lawrence Foundation, a 501(c)3 corporation. Funds raised for the Valor Public Safety Awards support the Valor Public Safety Awards scholarships for children of honorees. Learn more at www.lawrencekansasvalorawards.org.
A “Perfect Storm” of Opportunity
When most of us hear the phrase “a perfect storm” it conjures up images of negativity and risk. In fact, the dictionary definition of a perfect storm is “a confluence of events that drastically aggravates a situation.”
But what if that was not the case? What if it is, as Julie Goonewardene KU’s associate vice chancellor for innovation & entrepreneurship proposed, the coming together of cultural and economic changes to create unparalleled opportunity? Goonewardene shared her thoughts on this perfect storm of opportunity for our community during a conversation at KU’s Business & Technology Business Center.
This “perfect storm” finds its origins in the confluence of a national-level discussion on the tremendous innovation resident in universities across the nation, committed leadership at KU and a business community that understands the value these new companies bring to Lawrence.
The BTBC is finishing its first full year and already thinking about expansion as it serves the needs of entrepreneurial businesses who find value locating in Lawrence and Douglas County. It’s a value that comes from the combined capabilities of KU research and the support of our existing businesses who appreciate the contributions these innovative companies make to our shared future.
Among KU’s core values is the belief that service – to the community and the nation – is an important aspect of university life. According to Goonewardene, moving innovation from KU to the marketplace may well be the greatest service a university can perform. But it is not without its challenges.
We must be able to maximize the strengths of academia and integrate them within an innovative business culture. To be successful here will require the commitment of the entire business community. “The potential is tremendous,” Goonewardene said. “We have the assets (for Lawrence) to take a national leadership role in transforming ideas into commerce.”
What we need is the resolve to make the difficult choices, to do the hard work and to use the available tools and incentives that attract and reward leading-edge entrepreneurial businesses to Lawrence. We must come together as a single community to seize this moment.
Chamber’s Interim President/CEO Named
As Tom Kern prepares for his new career in Steamboat Springs, CO, the work of the Lawrence Chamber continues. Today, the Board of Directors named life-long resident Hank Booth as the interim president/CEO of the chamber as a search begins for a permanent CEO.
Hank will be the public face of the Chamber, maintaining relationships throughout our community and with state and local elected officials. His experience serving as the Chamber’s director of government and community affairs, as well as his long history of involvement in the community, will be an asset during this transition period.
Tom departs at the end of August and leaves behind a staff Booth described as “incredibly talented” and devoted to the Chamber’s mission to be an advocate for the business community. The Board of Directors’ executive committee will soon meet to identify the process it will use to find the Chamber’s next leader.
In the meantime, our work on behalf of our community will continue uninterrupted. Make sure you join the Chamber for the following events: The Taste of Lawrence Fall Mixer on Sept. 14, the Valor Honor Awards golf tournament on Oct. 7, Valor Awards Presentation Ceremony on Oct. 18 and our brand new Economic Forecast Breakfast and Business Expo 2011 on Nov. 1 Check out the Chamber’s website for more information.
Students Return to Lawrence
Time often is marked by the passage of significant events. In San Juan Capistrano it’s the return of the swallows to the ancient mission. In Hinkley Ohio, the buzzards faithfully return every spring. It seems every place has its ritual or tradition to mark the seasons and it is no different here in Lawrence.
Here in Lawrence it’s “move week.” Landlords scurry to ready their properties as current tenants leave and new ones arrive. The detritus of the past year is placed on the curb awaiting trash pickup. The signs are unmistakeable. The students are returning to Lawrence.
It’s as if August 1 marks some invisible boundary in our community. The relaxed pace of summer is giving way to recognition that vacations are almost over and the new school year begins in a matter of weeks. The downtown swimming pool is filled with children determined to enjoy every last minute of summer and to enjoy some respite from the heat. Students at KU, Baker and Haskell will learn the traditions of their new schools and an influx of young adults from other cities, counties and states will change the face of downtown Lawrence.
It’s a time of change and growth and excitement for the students returning to school or embarking on their college journey. Lawrence and Douglas County will be their home base during some very important years in their lives. Welcome home everyone. Welcome home.
Sure signs of summer in Lawrence
One of the great things about life in Lawrence is the opportunity to enjoy the seasonal changes througout the year. In the fall we watch the leaves turn brilliant reds and golds. In the winter, the snow makes for a winter wonderland, and some exercise as we shovel driveways and sidewalks.
But now it’s summer. Officially and undeniably summer in Lawrence. There are no mistaking the definitive signs:
- Dog bowls full of water are placed in front of businesses along Mass Street so your faithful canine companion can stop for a drink.
- And while we’re on that topic, dogs rest alongside their owners who are dining al fresco at the many sidewalk cafes.
- The first batch of students and parents are on campus for KU’s student orientation sessions.
- The public swimming pools are bustling all day long.
- Golf is mentioned in nearly every conversation.
- Bicyclists, joggers and walkers are enjoying the green space, walking trails and riverfront parks.
- The pace of life is slowing just a bit as residents enjoy the sunshine.
And with the Fourth of July just around the corner, residents are ready for the big celebration. The Lawrence Originals Restaurants are hosting the event featuring lots of food, music, activities for the kids and fireworks. Watson Park will be alive with activity as we celebrate our nation’s birth and revel in the fun of summer in Lawrence.