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TK Business Magazine

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TK BUSINESS MAGAZINE | MAY/JUNE 2025

PAGE Business Owners Who

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Dared to Dream How three gutsy Topeka entrepreneurs conquered their fears to turn their passion projects into successful businesses.

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An ambitious construction company and a beloved smokehouse under new ownership are proving why the future of Topeka is promising.

Clearing a Place to Thrive Omni Circle Group’s new Topeka Startup Community program is setting the pace for personal and professional development in underserved communities.

Championing Kansas Entrepreneurs

Fashion Boutiques Elevating Topeka’s Wardrobe

46 Key Conversations to Have with Your CPA

Not sure how to feel about AI? Nex-Tech’s Paul Smart shares his personal insights into how businesses can benefit from the technology.

Something to Crow About!

Small businesses stand to gain from these incredible consulting services and resources available at Washburn University’s Kansas Small Business Development Center.

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Danielle J. Martin interviews Vaerus Aviation’s owner and founder Brooks Pettit about his journey from solopreneur to leader of a company employing more than 60 people.

Scene About Town

BT&Co.’s financial experts explain how to prepare and ask the right questions when meeting with your CPA.

Behind the Scenes with TK Business Magazine

Rooster Asset Tracking, an asset management system, is pioneering new ways to track construction equipment.

Helping Small Businesses at Any Stage

Meet the women who refused to settle for less and are now behind the city’s fashion boutique boom.

At the Kansas Entrepreneurship and Small Business Office, Taylor Overton and her team are connecting small business owners with much-needed resources.

Understanding AI

See the faces of leaders, friends and supporters celebrating this year’s Junior Achievement of Kansas’ Topeka Business Hall of Fame.

Business News The latest updates from the Topeka business community.

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Growing Business Success

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CONTENTS TK BUSINESS MAGAZINE | MAY/JUNE 2025

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2025 TK Business Magazine is published by E2 Communications, Inc., 7537 SW 26th St., Topeka, KS 66614. 785-438-7773. Reproduction or use of this publication in any manner without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Every effort was made to ensure accuracy of the information in this publication as of press time. The publisher assumes no responsibility of any part for the content of any advertisement in this publication, including any errors and omissions therein. E2 Communications, Inc. makes no endorsement, representation or warranty regarding any goods or services advertised or listed in this publication. Listings and advertisements are provided by the subject company. E2 Communications, Inc. shall not be responsible or liable for any inaccuracy, omission or infringement of any third party’s right therein, or for personal injury or any other damage or injury whatsoever. By placing an order for an advertisement, the advertiser agrees to indemnify the publisher against any claims relating to the advertisement.

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BUSINESS OWNERS WHO 12

DARED TO DREAM

By LAUREN JURGENSEN Photos by CARTER GASKINS

What do a car detailer, a baker and a window film specialist have in common? For Ashley Zupko, Sara Warnow and Zachary Wagers, the answer is their ability to overcome self-doubt and seize opportunities. These Topeka small business owners rely on innovative marketing, attention to detail and word-of-mouth referrals to fuel their success.

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THE BLUEPRINT FOR BRILLIANCE SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS

t Congratulations to the b incredible finalists of the 2025 Small Business Awards! Your passion, innovation, and commitment to our community trulyalreflect the Blueprint for Brilliance. We’re proud to celebrate your achievements and the lasting impact you make every day! Learn more about each business on https://bit.ly/SmallBizAwards2025.

Legacy in Business Finalist Cortez Transportation Company, Inc.

Legacy in Business Finalist HTK Architects

Legacy in Business Finalist MB Piland Advertising + Marketing

Micro Enterprise Finalist La Creperie Co.

Micro Enterprise Finalist Over the Top Sandwich

Micro Enterprise Finalist The Refinery Medical Aesthetics

Woman-Owned Finalist Merit Weight Loss

Woman-Owned Finalist The Beacon

Woman-Owned Finalist The Brownstone

Veteran-Owned Finalist Del-Metrius Herron & Associates

Veteran-Owned Finalist Joylight Coffee

Veteran-Owned Finalist Ricks Advanced Dermatology & Skin Surgery

Minority-Owned Finalist 151 Entertainment

Minority-Owned Finalist IPG Building Company

Minority-Owned Finalist Tender Loving Care Pet Nursing Hotel

Manufacturer Finalist Capital City Oil, Inc

Manufacturer Finalist PT’s Coffee Roasting Co.

Manufacturer Finalist Stevenson Company, Inc. MAY/JUNE 2025 TK Business Magazine

LUX AUTO DETAILING

DETAILS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

Ashley Zupko was working three jobs when she decided to reconnect with a teenage hobby: painstakingly cleaning and reconditioning cars. “In high school, I would sit there and clean my tiny little car,” Ashley said. “It would take me six hours and I’d do it with a Q-tip and toothpick. I’ve always been like that because my dad’s like that with his cars and trucks.” She was talking with a friend who ran a window cleaning business one day when he suggested she give auto detailing a try. At first, Ashley dismissed the idea. “I thought, ‘That’s not a thing. There’s no market for that,’” she said. “Turns out there is.”

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ASHLEY ZUPKO | Owner and Founder of Lux Auto Detailing Photo by CARTER GASKINS

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“I want to show other girls and women who want to work in the car industry that it can be done,” Ashley said. Photo by CARTER GASKINS

BEHIND THE BUFFER After researching the Topeka auto detailing market for about a month, Ashley officially launched Lux Auto Detailing in June 2022. She started with a modest client base of family and friends, but wordof-mouth referrals and Facebook advertisements helped expand her reach. Six months was all it took for Ashley to leave her three other jobs in the rearview mirror. “January 1, 2023 was the first day I was 100% self-employed,” she said. By the summer of 2023, just one year after starting her business, Ashley had secured her first shop and gone from “detailing in [her] front yard” to running a business from her own physical location. Last year, she

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doubled the size of her shop to 2,000 square feet. Ashley attended McPherson College on a softball scholarship to study auto restoration but felt discouraged at the time because of gender bias in the industry. “I fell into that whole ‘You’re a girl, so no one’s probably going to bring their cars to you,’ mindset, and I believed them,” she said. Following a challenging period in her personal life, Ashley said she needed something for herself. Auto detailing gave her a creative outlet, as well as other practical benefits. “I knew it would give me freedom and time for my kids and family,” she said, adding the financial uncertainty of starting a business did make her worry at first. “It always bothered me

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to be making the same amount of money as someone else at an hourly job, even though I’d be doing most of the work.” ROSIE APPROVED As a single mother of two children — a five-year-old girl and a six-year-old boy — Ashley knows she has a lot of responsibilities riding on her business venture. That’s why she sees her success as an example for other women, especially women leaving difficult situations. “I want to show other girls and women who want to work in the car industry that it can be done,” she said. “I’m driven by women who are getting out of abusive relationships. You can get out of that situation and still make a better life for you and your kids.”

Lux Auto Detailing’s services include everything from interior cleaning to polishing, waxing and ceramic coating. Photo by CARTER GASKINS

In a world full of car guys, Ashley makes no secret that her business is run by a woman. In fact, running a woman-owned auto detailing company is how she stands out. Her advertisements often feature images of Rosie the Riveter and the phrase “Rosie approved.” “I’m not just using it as a marketing gimmick,” she said. “It’s also me saying, ‘Hey, I’m a woman, I’m not gonna screw you over.’ As a customer, that’s how I would like to be approached.” Running a woman-owned business is something that resonates with Ashley’s male clients as much as it does her female clients. While her social media following is evenly split between men and women, many of her male clients tell her it was their wives

who found and recommended her services. “I do know women hold a lot of weight in a relationship as far as finances,” Ashley said. Experimenting with TikTok has helped her marketing efforts, too. She uses the platform to produce before-and-after cleaning videos that show off the satisfying results of her auto detailing work. Ashley says she gets a lot of business from people who watch her videos on social media. SMALL TOUCHES, BIG DIFFERENCE Ashley describes her service as “reconditioning” rather than mere detailing. She focuses on restoring vehicles to feel new again, regardless of their age.

“I can make it feel the same as when you buy a new car, even though the car’s not new,” she said. Lux Auto Detailing’s services range from interior cleaning to exterior polishing, waxing and ceramic coating. Ashley is thinking about adding vinyl car wraps someday, but says she’s only “dabbling” right now and wouldn’t yet call herself a vinyl wrap professional. What really sets her business apart, she says, are thoughtful touches — the extra attention and care that put the “detail” in detailing. She says she carefully stages each vehicle before returning it to the client, arranging everything from the position of vents and knobs to how the car is parked when the client picks it up.

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Photo by CARTER GASKINS

Ashley credits her success to not being afraid to ask for help, and says she believes in offering help to other aspiring entrepreneurs. “Everything’s positioned and staged,” she said. “If it’s cold outside, I make sure the car’s warmed up. I try to set myself apart by caring a little bit more about the client’s comfort.” It’s one reason why she chose the name “Lux.” For Ashley, auto reconditioning is a luxury service, similar to personal training, her previous profession. She wants every client to have a deluxe experience. Car dealerships kept Ashley busy early on. But as word of her services spread, she started taking on more everyday vehicle owners — something she finds more enjoyable and profitable. Today, about three out of four new customers become repeat clients, she said. “That one-out-of-four client is usually someone who doesn’t get auto detailing unless it’s an emergency,” Ashley said. “Someone spilled something or got carsick in their vehicle

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and they need someone to take care of it.” Connecting with other business owners has helped her get ahead. She speaks with other entrepreneurs to get practical advice on everything from payment systems to managing employees. “I’ve never really been afraid to ask for help,” she said, explaining it’s how she overcomes obstacles. Ashley loves to attend car shows and often sponsors community events like raffles and 5k races, but says she met most of her business network by chatting up other business owners who came to her as clients. “Some of them have been exactly where you are and they’ll know how to help you get out of it,” she said. While some business owners are protective of their knowledge, Ashley takes the opposite approach.

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“I’m the one who’s friendly to a fault and says yeah, you should do this,” she said. “It makes me feel better to help someone else.” POLISHED TO PERFECTION Ashley is always looking for ways to perfect her business, including upgrading her facilities. Her ultimate dream traces back to what she studied in college: vehicle restoration. “I want to restore a car from the ground up,” Ashley said. While restoration isn’t one of the services Lux Auto Detailing currently offers, she says one day she might add complementary services like leather and vinyl upholstery repair. At the end of the day, Ashley says she just wants to put quality — and people — first. “Whenever I feel stressed, I stop thinking about money and focus on quality. Then everything realigns,” she said.

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TK Business Magazine

OHMYGOODIES! BAKERY

NO TWO CAKES ALIKE

Sara Warnow, better known as the owner and founder of Topeka’s OhMyGoodies! bakery, welcomes couples into her home for wedding cake tastings. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience where they can enjoy a unique twist on an otherwise traditional wedding ritual, she said. “I wanted it to be something they can both do together,” Sara said. “Guys love wedding tastings. I mean, you get to go and eat cake for an hour. I feel like it’s the one part of wedding planning the men are actually invested in.” What began as Sara’s childhood hobby has grown into one of Topeka’s most sought-after custom bakeries. OhMyGoodies! by Sara Jean is already booked solid for 2025, less than five years after its founding. FROM HOBBY TO BOOKED SOLID Baking has been a lifelong passion for Sara. Her mother taught her the science behind it when she was young. “I’ve baked my entire life,” Sara said. “My mom’s a

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SARA WARNOW | Owner and Founder of OhMyGoodies! bakery Photo by CARTER GASKINS

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TK Business Magazine

Sara has always been a baker, but perfected her craft by watching hours of Food Network and YouTube baking shows.

Photo by CARTER GASKINS

great baker and I loved learning from her.” As an adult, she baked birthday cakes for her four children — but admits that cake decoration wasn’t always her strong suit. “My earliest cakes always tasted great, but didn’t really look that great,” she said. Sara found herself with more free time once her children reached adulthood. Her husband traveled frequently for work and she often had the evenings to herself. She needed a hobby to fill those quiet hours, and television provided her with some unexpected inspiration. “I started watching YouTube videos and all the baking competition shows that are popular on the Food Network,” Sara said. “I loved watching people decorate cakes. I loved all the different things you can do with cakes, including how you smooth out the frosting.”

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The shows made cake decorating look effortless, she said, so she decided to give cake decoration another try. “It wasn’t as easy as I thought it was going to be, but I realized I was actually pretty good at it because I’m a very creative person,” Sara said, talking about how she experimented with different techniques as she learned. “There are so many different mediums. You can work with fondant, you can work with buttercream, you can work with isomalt, you can work with wafer paper.” The possibilities seemed endless, and her family was soon up to their necks with desserts. “My family eventually said, ‘Okay, you either need to start a business or slow down because we’re going to weigh 500 pounds because you keep giving us all this cake,’” she said. In September 2021, OhMyGoodies! LLC officially launched.

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FLOUR, FONDANT AND A FULL CALENDAR Sara’s business differs from more traditional bakeries in one way: instead of recreating existing designs, she bakes something new and original every time. “My big thing is that none of my cakes are ever the same,” she said. “Every cake I do, I design from scratch, so nobody really has any idea what they’re picking up. They know the theme, but I don’t go off inspiration photos. I ask them what idea they’re going for and then I design it.” The freedom to create something new every time has led to some remarkable creations. Some of her favorites include a fully functional boxed-wine cake that could not only dispense wine, but also be refilled. She even designed a Jeep Wrangler cake with working headlights.

“After six months, my calendar started getting really full and I was doing about 10 orders a week,” Sara said.

Photo by CARTER GASKINS

“The Jeep Wrangler cake was probably the most time-consuming cake I’ve ever made,” Sara said. “If you think about Jeeps, they have so many bits and pieces, from the lights to the door handles. It took me about 16 hours.” Even brides who show up with Pinterest boards full of cake inspiration photos understand Sara will transform their ideas into something different and fresh. “They know I’ll take those different inspiration photos and create something completely unique,” she said. Sara said her business has grown rapidly. Within six months of launching, she found herself working at a demanding pace while maintaining her full-time job in education. “After six months, my calendar started getting really full and I was doing about 10 orders a week. I was working every single night and all day on Sundays,” Sara said.

By 2024, her orders had increased to 12-15 cakes weekly. “It was definitely another full-time job on top of my full-time job,” she said. Sara has since reduced her workload to preserve her personal time, but demand remains high. Last year alone, she completed around 545 cake orders, including 55 weddings. The fall wedding season was her busiest so far. “In September and October, I think I did 27 weddings. It was a little crazy. There were a couple days where I had five weddings,” she said. A SLICE OF SUCCESS From baking, decorating and marketing to invoicing, scheduling and delivering, Sara handles almost every aspect of the OhMyGoodies! operation. She credits her success as a solopreneur to her family and support system. Her husband Kenny promotes her business everywhere.

“He actually has a shirt that says, ‘Ask me for my wife’s business card,’” she said. “I would not be as successful as I am if it weren’t for my family.” While Kenny helps with deliveries whenever he’s available, and her daughter and daughter-in-law occasionally assist with set-up, Sara remains the sole creative force behind the bakery. Despite suggestions that she should quit her day job to focus exclusively on baking, she said she enjoys balancing her two careers. She works full time with school administrators, providing continuing education for principals and superintendents. “I love my day job. I really, really do,” she said. “I feel like working with educators and kids is just as important as the cake business.” When it comes to marketing, Sara built her

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business by relying on social media and word of mouth. “I didn’t realize I was good at marketing until I started the business,” she said. “Honestly, it’s so easy to market cakes because I bake 10 to 15 every week and they’re all different. So, the marketing content is naturally there.” She likes to throw contests to keep her customers curious and engaged. For her recent children’s decorating contest, she asked kids to submit designs and then recreated the winning entry as an actual cake. “I had between 250-275 entries,” she said. “These kids were amazing and came up with some of the greatest ideas.” The winner was an 11-year-old girl named Blakely, whose design featured a teapot that poured liquid into cups. Sara turned it into a reality. “We added a pump to the cake that pumped water from the teapot into the cups, and kept recirculating,” she said. Sara’s marketing efforts are just as creative as her cakes. One time when a client’s child fell ill and they had to cancel their order, Sara offered the Yoshi-themed cake to anyone who invited friends to follow her Facebook page. “I went from 13,000 followers to 14,200 in three days,” she said. “My followers include people from all over the world. Right now, my biggest goal is to grow my online presence and keep increasing my reach through social media.”

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Photo by CARTER GASKINS

On social media, OhMyGoodies! throws cake design and other contests to encourage engagement.

SWEET COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS From sponsoring children’s sports teams to donating desserts for fundraisers, Sara enjoys helping the Topeka community. “When I started the business, I said that if I ever got big enough, I wanted to be able to give back because I knew my success would be thanks to my customers,” she said. This past year, she ran a holiday cinnamon roll fundraiser to benefit local organizations like Woolly Farms and Kansas Honor Flights. “I made almost 2,000 cinnamon rolls right before Christmas and was able to donate over $6,000,” she said. Sara said she does it to inspire others.

TK Business Magazine

“I share the things I do because I want it to encourage others to do the same,” she said. “People often message me and say, ‘I’ve never even heard of these organizations, but because you shared that you donated to them, we’re going to volunteer and donate, too.’” For her, it’s all about making positive connections and supporting the local business community. “I want people to know that buying from me locally is so different than buying from a big corporation,” she said. “When you spend your money with me, you’re going to get a good product because it’s made from scratch, it’s made with love and it’s completely custom.”

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COOLVU OF TOPEKA

CLEAR BENEFITS

When Zachary Wagers found himself at a crossroads in his career, he received an unexpected phone call that would change his life. That call came from Bob Bruder, a representative from CoolVu, the window film company of which Zach is now a franchise owner and operator. “He said, ‘Hey, we want to start another franchise. Would you be interested?’” Zach said. At first, Zach wasn’t convinced. The financial investment seemed daunting and the timing wasn’t ideal. But Bob — who Zach first met when he was working for an automotive upfitting company — didn’t give up. He kept calling Zach until he was ready. “It was kind of an emotional day for me,” Zach said, talking about the day he decided to start CoolVu of

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ZACHARY WAGERS | Owner and Founder of CoolVu of Topeka PHOTO SUBMITTED

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“Having a team is important to me,” Zach said. “I come from a military background, where your core group becomes a family you can rely on.” PHOTO SUBMITTED

Topeka. “I talked with my wife and said, ‘I need to figure out what to do and take care of our family.’” After thinking it through, Zach took the plunge. Bob’s persistence was one of the reasons why. “Bob is a great guy,” Zach said. “He could sell a leaf to a tree, but he’s not just a salesperson. He wants the best for everybody.” COOL VIEWS, HOT BUSINESS Once Zach decided to open a CoolVu franchise in Topeka, things moved fast. He attended training in Marietta, Georgia, to learn everything he needed to know about solar film, security film, decorative film and polycarbonate — also known as bullet-resistant — glass. But once he returned home, he realized it could be challenging to open the business in the middle of winter.

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“I was excited but nervous. We worried about how we would start the company when it’s cold outside,” Zach said, explaining how most people associate window film with heat reduction. In the end, he figured it out. Zach saw that by highlighting everything else that makes window film great, he could market the product during any season. “During the winter time, the sun is down lower and you’re going to have glare on your computer or TV screens,” he said. “That helped us the following winter because people started to realize our product reduces glare, which is uncomfortable.” Zach says he appreciates how CoolVu’s corporate office collaborates with franchise owners. The franchises are less like an independent business and more like a network of teams that support each other.

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That means Zach occasionally travels out of state to lend a helping hand to other franchises on large-scale jobs. Just weeks after he completed his training, the company sent him to California. “I got shipped there for 28 days to do a big skyscraper job,” he said. He was home for two weeks before the company dispatched him once again, this time to work on a Johns Hopkins facility in New Hampshire. One of the best parts of collaborating with other CoolVu franchise owners, Zach says, is that it feels like a family. “Having a team is important to me,” he said. “I come from a military and firefighting background, where your core group becomes a family you can rely on.” It also makes business ownership feel less isolating, Wager adds. “I feel like a lot of people don’t realize how lonely and exhausting it can be for one person to go into business,” Zach

CoolVu’s window film products are marketed to help with everything from regulating temperature to reducing damage from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. PHOTO SUBMITTED

said. “Knowing that we have support from corporate and other franchise owners helps a lot, because I know I’ve got the team behind me.” Another benefit? He feels confident tackling projects of any scale. “We can do it,” he said. “We’ve got the skills and we have the equipment to make it happen.” WHEN PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF Zach has had his fair share of business challenges, from seasonal demand shifts to educating customers about his products. But one hurdle has been a little more personal. Zach served in the Navy as a corpsman stationed with the Marines, and his military service left him struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “I was a social butterfly in college,” Zach said. “I now struggle with PTSD

from being overseas with the military, so there are days when I don’t want to go out and I’m overwhelmed by running the business,” he said. On difficult days, Zach reminds himself of his responsibilities and the quality of his services. “There are good days and there are bad days,” he said. “It’s really about reminding myself this is a great business. I tell myself ‘People need the product. You’re doing awesome. Just go out there and talk to them.’” Having the support of his family makes a difference. Zach and his wife Lindsey have six children — five boys and a girl — ranging in age from four to 15. The children often accompany their father on job sites. “They love taking off the window film,” Zach said. “You have to trust that if you teach them how to do it, they’ll do it right. They get locked in and end up

taking off more film than some adults can.” Zach sees the business as a family legacy, but doesn’t want to pressure his kids to take it over. “It’s always been me and my wife’s dream to include our kids,” Zach said. “If you look at bigger companies, it’s because the families stayed together and kept their kids involved. If my kids want to be a part of it, great. If they don’t, that’s fine, too. I’m hoping out of the six kids, somebody will want to take over when I get too old to do this anymore.” PROTECTING WHAT MATTERS MOST CoolVu of Topeka’s products fall into three categories: solar film, which reduces heat and glare while providing privacy; security film, which delays entry into buildings

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during emergencies; and decorative film, which is best for privacy and interior design elements. Zach spends a lot of time educating customers about the differences — something many people don’t understand until they experience it. For residential customers, temperature control and energy savings are the main benefits. “When we put solar film on a home, we’re seeing a seven to 12 degree difference in heat reduction,” Zach said, adding that it’s even more noticeable in homes with multiple treated windows. “If they treat 10 or more windows, people really see the difference in their electrical bill.” Window film also offers protection from ultraviolet (UV) rays, which many homeowners don’t consider until it’s too late.

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“They love taking off the window film,” said Zach about his six children with wife Lindsey, describing how they enjoy accompanying him on job sites.

“My sister-in-law has this really big L-shaped sectional couch and giant windows,” Zach said. “All the sunlight and UV rays were hitting the couch and fading the color of the fabric. It’s like, ‘Man, I wish we would’ve started this two or three years ago and my couch would’ve been saved.’” THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS Within five to ten years, Zach hopes to expand the CoolVu team. He also wants to develop the commercial graphics side of the business. “We definitely see a need there,” he said. Zach has learned a lot during his first three years in business and has thoughtful advice for anyone who wants to be an entrepreneur. “Be patient and really look at the business you want to get into from

TK Business Magazine

every angle,” he said, explaining that it’s important to focus on research and planning before sharing your business ideas with too many people. “The one thing I’ve learned is that you, as a person, have been given a dream, but other people may not see it that way,” Zach said. “Sometimes it’s better to keep that closer to your heart.” He believes in encouraging, not crushing other people’s business dreams. This became clear to him during a recent conversation with his son, who wants to start his own brand. Instead of discouraging him, Zach was constructive. “Find those people who will challenge you and ask you questions, but not in a way that stifles your dreams,” he said. “Because your crazy, wild idea may not work for somebody else, but it can work for you.” TK

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GROWING BUSINESS SUCCESS By INDIA YARBOROUGH Photos by JENNIFER GOETZ When opportunity knocked, these entrepreneurs answered. From a handcrafted pergola that sparked a construction company to new owners breathing fresh life into a beloved smokehouse, here’s how two local businesses are growing tomorrow’s Topeka.

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Photo by JENNIFER GOETZ

TERRY AND STACEY BURGESS | Co-owners of Burgess Construction

HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEARTS TO BUSINESS PARTNERS:

BURGESS CONSTRUCTION

For Terry and Stacey Burgess, the couple behind Topeka’s Burgess Construction, their business venture started with a pergola. More than a decade ago, Stacey wanted a pergola built for their backyard. However, the quote they received from a builder was higher than they could justify — so as a selfdescribed handyman with a creative edge, Terry took on the challenge himself. “He built the pergola, and it was so beautiful,” Stacey said. “It was one winter, we were so broke — apparently, we hadn’t saved enough money back — but we get a knock on our door. Someone driving by our house says, ‘Who built that pergola back there? I want them to build me one.’” At the time, they saw it as an “answered prayer.” “God just brought this person,” Stacey said. “[Terry] built him a pergola. It fed us through the winter. Next thing we know, we get another knock. It’s my old gym teacher from sixth grade. She says, ‘Who built that pergola? I would like one.’”

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Burgess Construction LLC has grown from co-owners Terry and Stacey’s side gig to a fully realized construction company that builds driveways, sidewalks and beyond.

The momentum rolled on. Even though Terry’s core skill is concrete — something he’s been doing for more than 20 years, starting with Goldstar Concrete in 2002 — branching into carpentry led to his lucky break. “I’ve always had a passion for building things and thinking projects through,” Terry said. “Even to the point of dreaming things and working out potential issues with the projects before I’ve even started them.” In fact, he’s done all the renovations on their home, from the wainscoting to the windows to the trim. FROM SIDE GIGS TO BUSINESS SUCCESS Terry is no stranger to working odd jobs. Turning side gigs into a full-time venture was more than a decade in the making. “We’ve always had some kind of side thing,” Stacey said. “When you go way back to when we had kids, I was a stay-at-home mom and he was the sole breadwinner. We were just kind of poor. He did finished concrete. Of course, concrete lays off in the winter, so then you’re pretty broke in the winter. Being

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on unemployment with a couple kids is kind of difficult.” In addition to concrete finishing, Terry would take on projects like custom fencing and decking. In the late 2010s, he continued picking up those types of jobs while working as a railroad machinist for BNSF Railway. Things started to ramp up for the Burgesses about four years ago, when they formalized the side jobs by officially becoming Burgess Construction LLC. The couple had talked for a while about creating a full-time construction business. Terry leaving BNSF in 2021 opened that door. Still, he had doubts about whether they could make it work. “I didn’t know if I could be a success,” Terry said. “I know I can do small stuff like build a fence for somebody, but running a business when you’re just starting out [and getting] to where we are now, seemed completely unachievable.” But once they finally decided to take the leap, business took off. “It’s just grown exponentially,” Stacey said. “We’ve started to advertise and if you look at his reviews, he’s got 60

have to be a part of it now. I still am, just because it’s hard to let go, but basically, I’m running around fixing machines and stuff like that.” He points out that Kansas isn’t an easy place to be a concrete contractor because of the state’s weather spectrum, from extreme cold in the winter to 100-degree days in the summer. As for custom carpentry, Terry himself will occasionally take on those projects, with help from his son and soon-to-be sonin-law.

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“The road less traveled is hard, but the view can be breathtaking if you take the time to look.” —Terry Burgess Co-owner Burgess Construction five-star reviews. His customers do love him. Honestly, if there’s ever a problem with any workmanship or anything, he’s going to make it right. He always has.” The Burgess Construction slogan, “Building More Than Trust,” speaks to that mindset. THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PATIOS While Terry manages the crew and visits job sites, Stacey handles behindthe-scenes tasks like bookkeeping, advertising and payroll. “She takes care of a lot,” Terry said. There have even been times over the years — before the company

became an LLC — when she joined him in the field to help finish the occasional concrete patio. The husband-and-wife duo met in middle school and became high-school sweethearts. Even with that history, they admit there are challenges to being in business together, but they say the outcome has been both humbling and rewarding. Burgess Construction employees specialize in concrete work, including driveways, sidewalks, patios and retaining walls. “That’s pretty much what we focus on,” Terry said. “They’ve been doing concrete for a long time. We have really good employees and I don’t even really

UNEXPECTED GROWTH Looking back, the Burgesses never imagined how far they would come — going from “pretty broke,” to owning a successful business. While Terry may not have seen himself as a business owner years ago, he always envisioned himself creating happiness for others. “It’s the growth I’ve never been able to imagine, still in shock really,” Terry said. Their entrepreneurship journey has had its challenges, especially when it comes to handling the stress of business ownership while maintaining a strong marriage. “It can drive a wedge in your marriage if you don’t know how to shut it off,” Terry said. That’s why the couple is intentional about spending time together away from the business, ensuring they consistently pour into their relationship. In the end, they say Burgess Construction has been worth the uphill climb. “The road less traveled is hard,” Terry said, “but the view can be breathtaking if you take the time to look.”

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TK Business Magazine

New owners Chad Bontrager and Matt Deutsch want to keep growing what's already great about local favorite Herman's Meat and Smokehouse. Photo by JENNIFER GOETZ

OLD RECIPES, NEW LEADERSHIP:

HERMAN’S MEAT AND SMOKEHOUSE Brothers-in-law Chad Bontrager and Matt Deutsch, the owners of Bowser Meat Processing and Yoder Meats, have been long-time admirers of Herman’s Meat and Smokehouse. Matt thought if it ever went up for sale, they should consider buying it. After three generations of ownership by the Herman family, the local smokehouse finally went on the market in 2022. Chad and Matt seized the opportunity. “When it did come up for sale, the idea of another retail meat store wasn’t crazy to think about,” Chad

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said, adding the dine-in side of things was a different story. They didn’t have experience running a restaurant, so the smokehouse and barbecue offerings at Herman’s were new territory. And while it wasn’t their first business in Kansas, it was their first business in the capital city. Three years in, things are going well, Chad says. Most of Herman’s products and menu offerings haven’t changed, but they have made a few additions, most of which draw on the new owners’ access to other Kansassourced products.

TK Business Magazine

“We’re still a small, local business,” Chad said. “Herman’s is a stand-alone business. The owners are local people. Our employees are local people, and we really rely on the Topeka community to come in and shop with us.” A NEW BUSINESS MODEL Chad said he and Matt have been figuring out the restaurant business as they go, and rely on their management team more than Herman’s might have in the past. The business employs about 15 people — 12 full-time and three part-time employees. “We are managing Herman’s with a different management model than in the past. That’s taken some getting used to for everybody,” Chad said. “Prior to us owning it, there was a Herman family member in the store every day interacting with customers, cutting meat, doing all the things you do as an owner and manager.”

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Photo by JENNIFER GOETZ

“We didn’t kick anything out,” said co-owner Chad Bontrager. “We added [new] products to what Herman’s was offering before, so we’re just giving people more options.”

Kitchen manager Jesika Mitchell, who has been with Herman’s for about four years, sees the new model as an opportunity for her to step up and grow as a management professional. “It’s definitely different, but things have been running pretty smoothly,” Jesika said. She now makes all kitchen-related decisions, like how many briskets or pork butts to smoke on a given day. She also helps curate the restaurant’s Friday lunch specials — a new feature under the updated business model. “It’s actually new menu items, not just different specials of the day that we already have on the menu,” Jesika said.

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While she sees a lot of the same customers, she says they’re attracting plenty of new ones, too. CARVING OUT SUCCESS Chad is focused on growing the restaurant side of the business, which hasn’t been around as long as the meat counter and store. “That’s where we see a lot of growth potential, with the restaurant business, catering and dine-in,” he said. In addition to Friday specials, they’ve introduced online ordering. Rather than taking the restaurant in a different direction, Chad hopes to build on the well-oiled systems that were already in place.

TK Business Magazine

“The menu’s really solid. The food is good. There’s some good synergy with the meat shop that we understand now,” he said. “The brisket, pulled pork, turkey and chicken that you get in the restaurant are the same products we’re selling in the meat shop. We have an inventory of those items all the time. If customers are saying, ‘Man, that brisket I had in the restaurant was really good. I’d like to try to make that at home,’ you can get the brisket right here.” As head of operations, Chad handles most of the day-to-day business, while Matt and his wife, Melissa, handle accounting,

bookkeeping and other behind-thescenes needs. “I try to be here every day we’re open, just to check in, make sure things are going okay and take care of anything that’s my responsibility,” Chad said. He collaborates with Jesika to plan specials or prepare for spikes in demand around the holidays, and he’s available to talk through incoming deliveries or answer questions about new products going on the shelves. “I’m also the fill-in if somebody needs a day off or they’re sick,” he added. “I’ll come in and cut meat.” THE PERFECT CUT In total, the ownership group runs six retail stores and two processing plants. Herman’s is their only Topekabased business, and the only store with a dine-in service. Yoder Meats has a store in Lawrence, three retail stores in Wichita and a store and processing plant in Yoder. Bowser Meat Processing consists of a plant in Meriden. “Herman’s is a nice fit with our whole package of businesses,” Chad said. “We brought in a lot of Yoder Meats products to Herman’s and they’re doing well. We brought in a few Bowser Meat Processing products, as well.” Among the more popular additions are homemade cinnamon rolls from Yoder, arriving fresh on Thursday afternoons. “By the time we close on Saturday, the cinnamon rolls are gone,” Chad said. “So those are really popular. We also bring in a lot of fully cooked bratwurst and links and summer sausage. Right now, the brats and links are selling really well. At Christmastime and New Year’s

— Chad Bontrager Co-Owner and Director of Operations Herman’s Meat and Smokehouse

and so forth, we can hardly keep the summer sausage in stock.” Customer response has been positive, he adds, pointing to Yoder snack sticks as another popular addition. After taking over, they gradually brought in new items over time to see how they would sell, and to ensure they had room. “We didn’t kick anything out,” Chad said. “We added these products to what Herman’s was offering before, so we’re just giving people more options.” A MEATY OPPORTUNITY While Matt and his wife live in Topeka, Chad and his family live in Holton, where he was born. Growing up on a farm nearby fed his interest in agriculture production, and in turning raw materials into usable products. His career didn’t start in the meat industry, though. “I went to college at K-State and got a bachelor’s degree in milling science and management,” Chad said. “Basically, I was trained to run flour mills. That’s what I did after college for about 10 years. I lived and worked in different parts of the country and then had the opportunity to come home to Kansas.” When he returned to Kansas, he went to work for the Kansas Department of Agriculture. During his time there, he oversaw meat and poultry inspection. “On occasion, I would go out with the inspectors, just to spend some time and see what their day-to-day looked like and interact with the customers of the agency, which were the meat

Photo by JENNIFER GOETZ

“We see a lot of growth potential, with the restaurant business, catering and dine-in.”

plant owners and managers,” he said. “I learned there were a lot of folks reaching retirement age, and there weren’t people interested in buying the business or a next generation to hand it off to.” He appreciated the business, saw its potential and thought the industry just needed someone willing to get into it. In 2016, his family made their first investment in the meat business with Bowser Meat Processing. “Like so many things, once you’re in the business, you start interacting with other people in the business and going to industry meetings and trade shows. Pretty soon, we’re finding out that Yoder Meats is available for sale,” Chad said. “We ended up buying into that, too.” Along the way, Chad and his business partner continued to look for ways to grow, and they were intentional with the opportunities they pursued. “But I would say the opportunities happened organically,” he said. They’ve carefully developed a greater meat retail presence across Kansas, and Herman’s happens to be the latest link in the chain. “I’ve learned over the years that I enjoy building things,” Chad said. “Building organizations and building businesses — I enjoy that part of what I do.” TK

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CREATING A PLACE TO THRIVE How Omni’s Topeka Startup Community Meets Entrepreneurs’ Needs

By INDIA YARBOROUGH

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When CEO Michael Odupitan founded Omni Circle Group in 2019, he always knew there was more to come. The Topeka-based nonprofit was started as a “one-stop community hub” and co-working space where members can work on personal and professional development. Omni secured a grant from the Kansas Citybased Kauffman Foundation in 2022. By 2023, they had put the funding toward their new headquarters at 1301 S.W. Topeka Blvd. On February 28 of this year, the organization marked yet another milestone. Surrounded by local entrepreneurs and partners like K-State 105, Network Kansas, AltCap, Cyphr, GO Topeka, the Kansas Department of Commerce, Kansas Health Foundation and Washburn Small Business Development Center, Omni celebrated the launch of Topeka Startup Community — a networking hub where local entrepreneurs can seek support for early and mid-stage business growth. “One of the things we recognized in the communities we were serving was that there was not a lot of economic development,” Odupitan said. “When we’re talking about sustaining and growing communities, you need a way to cycle the dollar in the community. That’s how you generate wealth.”

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Omni team members and partners attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the launch of Topeka Startup Community last February.

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From Top to Bottom: Jannae Gammage, co-founder of Cyphr; Taylor Overton, director of the Kansas Department of Commerce’s Entrepreneurship and Small Business Office; Christian Hopkins, deputy director of the Kansas Department of Commerce’s READYKS program. He adds that the organization is open to anyone who wants to invest in their personal and professional futures. Omni’s goal is to bring social and economic prosperity to underserved communities by giving residents a place where they can connect, collaborate and access business and career resources. “As we’ve been building Omni and trying to find where the gaps resided for individuals to be able to grow and build to their full potential, that next level of leadership was to start a business,” Odupitan said. ENCOURAGING STARTUP GROWTH Omni’s Topeka Startup Community fills a gap in the Shawnee County business ecosystem by encouraging startup growth through connection, education and access to capital. Officially, the group includes almost 50 business owners — from hair stylists and jewelry sellers to professional branding and e-commerce service providers. With more than 80 entrepreneurs having graduated from Omni’s business development programs over the past two years, Topeka Startup Community hopes to welcome more members as resources grow and word spreads. “I thought it was important to be part of a group that invests in developing people and small businesses,” said Jaime McKinley, cofounder of Sparrow Coffee Co. and a member of Topeka Startup Community. McKinley graduated in November from the third cohort of Omni’s Emerge Community Business Academy, a 12-week course that helps new and growing for-profit businesses gain the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed. Another Topeka Startup Community affiliate is FastTrac, an educational program that teaches budding entrepreneurs how to enhance their business ideas as they prepare to launch. “The startup community is full of diverse people who want to see each other succeed, and who show up to support each other,” McKinley said. “We all bring unique ideas and experiences to the table. We know we’re stronger together, and when one of us wins, we all win.” Seeing Omni grow, she says, shows that people are catching on to a bigger vision of what Topeka’s small business community could be — and she’s excited to be a part of that evolution.

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BREAKING DOWN WALLS A desire to invest in themselves and a larger, collective vision is what Odupitan hopes for all startup community members, many of whom have not taken traditional routes to business ownership. “Starting a business traditionally looks like going to college, taking a business course,” Odupitan said. “But there’s not a lot of resources that show someone [who is less familiar with business management] how to navigate from the ideation phase to developing a concept, then turning the concept into a launch. We wanted to position ourselves in that space to give individuals a clear path of how to start a business.” He sees Topeka Startup Community as a networking group and learning community where entrepreneurs can find help, start smart and grow sustainably. By supporting Topeka’s entrepreneurs during the early stages of business growth, he hopes this will lead

to fewer small-business failures and more intentional wealth creation in the city’s historically marginalized sectors. “There is strategy to becoming an entrepreneur,” Odupitan said. “You have to be strategic about it. If you’re not, typically your business doesn’t sustain because you’re not knowing how to target the individual clientele that you’re trying to provide your service or product to. We try to provide more of that education and awareness around how to do it the most effective way.” SEEDS OF CHANGE According to Odupitan, entrepreneurs are like seeds. For a seed to sprout, it needs nourishment from its surroundings. “The entrepreneur is putting their seed in the ground, but that seed needs to be in good soil. To create good soil, you have to have all the things — you have to have the water, you have to

have the sunlight, you have to have the nutrients,” Odupitan said. Omni’s resource partners represent the water, sunlight and nutrients needed to nourish entrepreneurs, so they can become part of a larger business ecosystem. Network Kansas is one such partner. Another partner that will soon have a larger presence at Omni is Cyphr, a Kansas City-based startup that pioneers new models for capital access. Omni’s next focus is ensuring Topeka Startup Community members have more and better opportunities to access the capital they need. “All of these different players add something dynamic to the ecosystem, and we want to teach our entrepreneurs how to take advantage of those resources so they can grow and scale to become everything they want to become,” Odupitan said. “The more resources we have in this ecosystem, the greater

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chances these entrepreneurs and their seeds will grow into something sustainable and strong in our community.” Sustaining a greater number of business owners from diverse backgrounds, Odupitan says, will help to close existing wealth gaps. That’s part of the vision he sees the Topeka Startup Community fulfilling. For Omni, community is at the heart of everything it does. The organization’s emphasis on community draws from Odupitan’s background in social service. Referring to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the psychological theory of what people need to feel satisfied, Odupitan says that everyone, including entrepreneurs, deserves to have their needs met. “Entrepreneurship is a hard journey to take,” he said. “You need good people in your corner who are going to support you, believe in you and make sure you build your self-esteem as you develop yourself to become the person you need to become to see your business grow and scale. Community in all aspects of our lives … is such an important piece, because we are not designed to be in this world by ourselves.” TK

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TK Business Magazine

TAYLOR OVERTON | Director of the Entrepreneurship and Small Business Office

CHAMPIONING Kansas

ENTREPRENEURS By KIM GRONNIGER Photos by JOHN BURNS

Photo by JOHN BURNS

Taylor Overton serves as the director of the Entrepreneurship and Small Business Office at the Kansas Department of Commerce, where she leads the state’s coordinated strategy to support small businesses, reduce barriers and scale inclusive growth. “I believe entrepreneurship is a human right,” she said. “The right to dream, build, own and create lasting legacies for future generations.”

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Photo by JOHN BURNS

“I believe entrepreneurship is a human right. The right to dream, build, own and create lasting legacies for future generations.” — Taylor Overton Director Entrepreneurship and Small Business Office

The Entrepreneurship and Small Business Office oversees two key statewide programs. The READYKS program focuses on small business readiness in areas such as capital access, procurement preparedness and supply chain participation. The E3 program (entrepreneurship, ecosystem and engagement) also addresses capital access, along with gaps in infrastructure and workforce development by applying ecosystem-building principles and engaging partners across different sectors. DEEP ENTREPRENEURIAL ROOTS Born and raised in Lawrence, Kansas, Overton comes from deep entrepreneurial roots. A fifth-generation entrepreneur, Taylor’s family has owned and operated small businesses for decades. Yet despite being raised in a family of entrepreneurs, Taylor initially resisted that path. As a child, she saw the demanding hours, physical labor and financial uncertainty that came with her parents’ work as small contractors. “I didn’t recognize the value in what my parents were building as small

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business owners,” she said. “All I saw were the long days, the physical toll and the stress of keeping projects moving. I didn’t yet understand that what they had was ownership — and that ownership is freedom.” Her perspective shifted in high school after enrolling in a Youth Entrepreneurs of Kansas (now Empowered) course. As a neurodivergent student who hadn’t thrived in traditional classrooms, the experience helped her recognize and make the most of her strengths. She launched her first venture Fresh Globe, an eco-friendly air freshener company, from her kitchen table. “The course gave me the space to solve problems differently,” she said. “It taught me that multiple answers can be right and that creativity is a strength in business.” She won a state-level pitch competition at Koch Industries, choosing to invest her prize money in her college education. Taylor began her undergraduate studies at Morgan State University in Baltimore before transferring to Ottawa University in Kansas, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration

TK Business Magazine

and pursued a master’s degree in human resources. While in school, she continued working for her parents’ businesses and gaining practical, handson experience. Following graduation, she returned to Youth Entrepreneurs as an intern, committed to helping students see their potential. “I wanted students to understand that even if they didn’t make straight A’s or fit the typical mold, they could still succeed in business,” she said. Taylor’s career evolved into recruitment, first building Ottawa University’s cheer program, then hiring talent at Performance Construction Group in Lenexa. “I loved recruiting,” she said. “It allowed me to connect people with opportunities — something I’ve always valued — and I had the unique advantage of knowing the business from the inside while still operating within a structured environment.” In 2020, Taylor moved to San Diego to prioritize her mental health and gain new experiences. She started walking dogs through an app. “I was an entrepreneur again with no boss and no salary and the opportunity to make my own choices,” she said. “No matter how hard I tried, I always ended up back in the space of entrepreneurship.” That mindset carried into her role at Tesla, where she began in recruitment and later transitioned to become the global supplier diversity partner for the company’s energy division. That’s where she discovered a professional calling, she says — building opportunities for small and diverse businesses to access corporate supply chains. During that time, she also became a mother, a shift that reinforced

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her desire to raise her son around entrepreneurial values. She was later recruited to serve as director of corporate and MBE development at the Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council, covering Northern California, Nevada and Hawaii. She developed supplier diversity programs, advised corporations like United Airlines, Salesforce and Adobe and helped minority-owned businesses compete at scale. Although Taylor found her work fulfilling, one theme stayed with her. “People in the Bay Area were proud to say they were Bay Area born and raised,” she said. “It made me wonder what if I took what I learned and brought it back to the state that built me?” LEADING WITH PURPOSE She returned to Kansas with a renewed focus on impact. After connecting with local leaders like

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Michael Odupitan of Omni Circle and Christina Long of Create Campaign Inc., she was encouraged to apply for a position that would allow her to lead systemic change in small business development. The Department of Commerce recently created the Entrepreneurship and Small Business Office and Overton was selected to lead that office. She stresses the importance of collaboration and credits longstanding partners such as Network Kansas and the Kansas Small Business Development Center and new partners like AltCap, a community development financial institution, with bringing much-needed flexible capital to Kansas-based small businesses. “There are incredible people and organizations supporting small businesses in Kansas, but they often don’t work together, or even know about each other,” Taylor said. “Kansas is a big state, which can make collaboration

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From L to R: Christian Hopkins, deputy director of READYKS; Taylor Overton, director of the Entrepreneurship and Small Business Office; Katrina Gray, certification project manager for the Kansas Department of Commerce.

difficult, but we have to do it. There are opportunities we can work on together that none of us can do alone.” Kansas is home to more than 266,816 small businesses, representing 99.1% of all businesses and employing more than 583,000 Kansans, nearly half the state’s population. “These companies are the health and economic lifeblood of our communities,” Taylor said. “We must create environments where they can succeed, where access to capital, housing, health care and basic services supports entrepreneurship and quality of life.” She credits her momentum to mentors, collaborators and the entrepreneurs she serves. “If our Kansas entrepreneurs are working, I am too,” she said. “Kansas is full of stories waiting to be told. We are here to make sure the people behind those businesses are seen, heard and supported.” TK

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DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

UNDERSTANDING AI By PAUL SMART Is Skynet coming for you? This question has been a running joke for my generation ever since Arnold promised “I’ll be back.” However, a lot of people don’t really understand AI and how it can be used to help businesses boost productivity and enhance the customer experience. I will freely admit that I had a general lack of understanding of AI until recently. What I learned was both surprising and scary.

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DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

WHAT IS AI?

If you Google this question, the response you get is this: “Artificial intelligence (AI) is the ability of computers to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. AI uses math and logic to simulate human reasoning.” This, however, doesn’t really explain to most people what it is or how it affects them. For most of us, it invokes thoughts of a giant metal robot with half its face gone and glowing red eyes staring back at you. With that being said, let’s see if we can shed a little light on this subject and have some plain talk about what AI can do for your business.

AI IN PLAIN LANGUAGE

So, what is AI? Basically, it’s a machine that can “think” and adapt like a person does. To clarify, Alexa would be considered a form of AI. If you are a social media user, then AI has been directly influencing what you see when you open your app through a sophisticated series of beeps and boops. Just kidding, but it does analyze what you like and tries to tailor what you see to your preferences. AI is everywhere around us, and I doubt it’s leaving anytime soon. For stubborn old guys like me, it has been an adjustment, but now I understand how useful it can be.

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CHATGPT VS. COPILOT

IS AI YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND OR YOUR FRENEMY?

There you have it! AI isn’t just about killer robots and world domination (phew!). It’s about making our lives easier, our businesses more efficient and maybe even helping us remember our grandma’s birthday. Whether it’s ChatGPT crafting the perfect email or Copilot keeping your business data safe, AI is here to stay. Embrace it, have fun with it and who knows? Maybe one day, you’ll be telling your grandkids about the time you read an article that made AI sound like your new best friend (or frenemy!). Stay curious, stay safe and may the force — err, I mean AI assistant — always be with you! TK

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There are many AI assistants out there, but two that are widespread are Copilot and ChatGPT. So, what’s the difference between these two powerhouse programs? Let’s start with ChatGPT. This program is great for creative projects and simple text creation. You can ask it to create responses to emails and even write entire papers (no, AI did not write this paper — my boss caught me and made me start over), but it does have its limitations. When you make an inquiry, it stores that information for later use so it can give better responses to others down the road. This means your information isn’t safely held away from prying eyes. As TechTarget explains, “the publicly available version of ChatGPT uses [information entered in prompts] to learn and respond to future requests.” In other words, you should assume you have no privacy whatsoever when you type a prompt into ChatGPT. There is nothing wrong with this setup if you know that going in. Creating an image to use on social media or making a birthday card for grandma are good things to share with others. However, analyzing a spreadsheet with projections for market trends or an employee’s HR file may not be something you want everyone to know about. Enter Copilot. Microsoft has designed this AI assistant to work within Microsoft Office 365 while making sure your business information stays yours. When the software is set up correctly, the information can be segregated to keep it safe and allow only the appropriate people within your company to see it. Prompts, responses and data accessed through Microsoft 365 and other Microsoft services aren’t used to train Copilot capabilities in Dynamics 365 and Power Platform for use by other customers. In other words, Microsoft gets it. They respect your organization’s privacy, and your data isn’t going to leak into Copilot’s responses to other customers. Go ahead, analyze that spreadsheet and send that email with confidence.

PAUL SMART Account Representative Nex-Tech

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INNOVATION

ROOSTER ASSET TRACKING By LISA LOEWEN Imagine running a major construction company where millions of dollars in equipment are scattered across dozens of job sites. Every idle forklift and lost tool impacts the bottom line. This was Dustin Gary’s reality. As the founder of DM Gary Holding Company, a private investment firm with interests in construction, he knew he needed a better way to track and manage his arsenal of heavy machinery. “I needed to know three things,” Dustin said. “What do I own? Where exactly is it? And is it actually being used?” These may sound like simple questions, but answering them is rarely a straightforward process. Dustin looked for an asset management system that could monitor his construction equipment in real time, but the results were disappointing. Nothing he found was capable of giving him the data he needed. That’s when he decided it was time to develop the perfect asset management system he couldn’t find: Rooster Asset Tracking.

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Running a business is tough, but you don’t have to do it alone. The Kansas Chamber is your voice in Topeka, fighting for policies that create a stronger business environment. As a member, you gain access to vital information, influential connections, and resources to help your business thrive. Join us and be part of a powerful network working for a better Kansas.

kansaschamber.org

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INNOVATION

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HOW ROOSTER ASSET TRACKING WORKS

Hubs (rooster icons) communicate with trackers (small orange dots) on construction equipment via LoRa technology, which works at long ranges. The system connects to cellular networks (green lines) and satellites (orange dashed lines) to provide real-time location and usage data across defined geozones.

“Think of a rooster in a hen house,” Dustin said, explaining the story behind the company’s name. “The rooster is the hub. The trackers are the hens. The rooster monitors the activity of the hens running around the yard, taking inventory of where each one is located and protecting them.” Just like the rooster in the henhouse, Rooster Asset Tracking helped Dustin keep an eye on his construction equipment. DATA-DRIVEN RESULTS Once he’d designed Rooster from the ground up, Dustin realized other companies could benefit from his product. That’s when he hired Tom Garcia, an engineer with a background in operations, to be the new company’s president.

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“When Dustin told me what he was trying to do, it all clicked,” Tom said. With the help of Cindy Trotto, Rooster’s marketing manager, the company debuted at the World of Concrete Conference and Exhibition in Las Vegas in January 2023. “We participated in 19 trade shows in the first two years to create awareness and prove we’re a viable player in this market,” Cindy said. “We had something no one else could offer, and people took notice.” As Rooster gained customers, they also gathered feedback to help them improve the system’s features and functionalities. “We knew going in that we didn’t know everything,” Tom said. “We asked those early adopters to tell us what worked, what didn’t work, what they

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According to Tom Garcia, president of Rooster Asset Tracking, customers can purchase individual Rooster hubs and tracker packs or pre-bundled kits.

would like to see and what features they didn’t use.” That feedback helped them launch Rooster 2.0 in 2024, offering customers faster load times, better functionality and improved performance. Unlike other telematic asset tracking systems that use Bluetooth technology and have limited functionality and reporting, Rooster Asset Tracking uses a different communication protocol. LoRa, a low-power, low-data consumption communications protocol, allows for real-time tracking across long distances, with signals that transmit through concrete, metal and other dense materials. “It’s basically a cell phone without a receiver,” Tom said. Dustin also wanted to create an easy-to-use, easy-to-install tool that put

power in the hands of users, from field employees to fleet managers. Rooster found its niche in providing real-time, minute-by-minute activity data that can be configured into a variety of custom reports. “In the construction business, if a job is billed on a time-and-materials basis, accurate tracking for each piece of equipment is critical,” Tom said. “That often means you’re asking highly skilled equipment operators, at the end of a long day, to try to remember how many hours they spent on the equipment while filling out forms. Skilled tradespeople in the field need to be focused on their skills, not administrative tasks.” Tracking assets and usage helps businesses manage their equipment inventory more efficiently. For example,

a project manager might want to buy an excavator because they don’t have one available for their next construction job. With Rooster, the equipment manager can see exactly how many excavators they already own, where they’re currently located and how often they’re being used. “When you’re talking about equipment that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, that really impacts your business,” Tom said. “It’s all about doing the most with what you have.” A CUSTOMER-FIRST APPROACH Rooster wants to simplify the shopping experience for customers while giving them more choices. To do this, they’ve added various buying options to their website.

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INNOVATION

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Installing a Rooster tracker, typically used for smaller equipment, on machinery. Trackers communicate with Rooster hubs to supply real-time location and usage data.

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Rooster Asset Tracking hub mounted on construction equipment. The hub collects data from multiple trackers across a job site. Customers can purchase individual Rooster hubs and tracker packs or pre-bundled kits. The Rooster Starter Kit includes a hub and four trackers, but customers can purchase kits with up to 12 hubs and 200 trackers. The company also sells accessories like power adapters, mounting magnets, deflector mounts, tape and lanyards to secure trackers on smaller equipment. “Our customers aren’t asked to sign any contracts. They buy the hardware they need, then activate a monthly subscription to the software for each piece they want to deploy. Customers can activate and deactivate the service whenever they want,” Tom said. When potential customers contact the company to learn more about their products, the first thing Rooster does is ask them what problem they’re trying to solve.

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“Once we understand their needs, we make sure Rooster can solve those problems and provide value. The last thing we want to do is push Rooster into an application where it doesn’t fit,” Tom said. The next step is to identify which assets the client wants to track and propose an appropriate hardware configuration. For example, if a client has 15 trucks, two bulldozers and several pieces of smaller equipment, Rooster might suggest placing hubs at the job site and on every truck and bulldozer, while adding trackers to the smaller equipment. Next, customers download the free Rooster Asset Tracking app and for a monthly price of $1 per tracker and $10 per hub, they can access detailed activity reports. These reports allow them to track equipment by geozones and determine usage, ownership and operating costs. Customers can view a list of equipment at each location or even request a map or satellite view of an area so they can see how their assets are dispersed. While the original plan was to create a tracking app for the construction industry, Rooster is now thinking about pitching the tool to related markets. Even though their primary sales focus is in the United States, the company has many customers in Canada and is working on certification in Mexico and Europe. “Our goal is not to launch Rooster around the world at this time,” Tom said, “but to support those North American companies that do business internationally.” TK

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FROM THE PROFESSOR

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“We like to consider ourselves the front door that connects Kansas small businesses and entrepreneurs with local, regional and statewide resources.”

JESSICA HORTON Kansas SBDC Regional Director Washburn University

HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES AT ANY STAGE The Washburn University Small Business Development Center is Topeka’s local resource for free small business consulting services across a 12-county region. In partnership with the United States Small Business Administration and higher learning institutions throughout Kansas, the Kansas SBDC was incorporated in 1983. It has been the SBDC’s goal for more than 40 years to provide entrepreneurs with free and confidential business advice that supports their goals. Whether we’re helping a start-up client write a business plan or an established business prepare to sell after years of family ownership, we support small businesses at any stage of operation. Experienced advisors have expertise in areas such as marketing, agritourism, continuity planning, market research, government contracts and valuation. We like to consider ourselves the front door that connects Kansas small businesses and entrepreneurs with local, regional and statewide resources that equip them for a stronger future. Business needs have changed over the last 40 years, and the SBDC

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FROM THE PROFESSOR

Washburn University’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides consulting and resources for small businesses across a 12-county region, from Shawnee to Washington.

has adapted training, technical assistance and network connections to align with the current business climate. In 2024, the statewide team launched an AI intersection group to develop training policies and guidelines to safely incorporate AI software into our network as advisors, as well as identify subject thought leaders and train small businesses on potential efficiencies with new programs. As marketing design and content development software have become more accessible for untrained graphic designers, we have educated our clients on the value of leveraging technology to create brand identities and strategies for themselves. As boomers retire and begin selling small businesses across the nation, we’re prepared to support a new crop of entrepreneurs who enter ownership through acquisition.

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There is no expiration date on the relationship between clients and the SBDC. You can come to see us as a pre-venture client, come back when you are ready to hire your first full-time employee and then follow up years later when you prepare to sell your business. As challenges and business requirements shift, we see patterns that help us advise entrepreneurs in every phase of business. We work closely with economic development partners, entrepreneurial service organizations (ESOs), state and local government agencies and private sector partners like banks, attorneys and insurance companies to assist clients in building teams of appropriate service providers. We aspire to guide clients through complicated issues by providing context and focused connections for streamlined support of business needs.

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SBDC’s relationship with Washburn University allows for unique collaboration opportunities with students at the Brenneman School of Business. Each semester, students support local businesses with extensive research and development projects across multiple disciplines. This year we have a class of businesses students working to transform a novel idea into a consulting business that could help other organizations replicate services in an efficient way. There are opportunities to involve the business school, law school and nursing program on campus for integrated thought leadership with various perspectives. Washburn’s partnership and commitment to small businesses in the region extends way beyond Shawnee County, serving a 12-county region across the state. TK

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casconstructors.com 40 YEARS OF

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on i h s a F iques t ou B ELEVATING TOPEKA’S WARDROBE By CORINN GUEMMER Photos by MELVINA TAYLOR

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The local fashion scene is abuzz with new energy. These four woman-owned clothing boutiques may be tucked into different corners of the city, but each one is making an imprint on Topeka’s style.

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MADISON SCHMIDTLEIN

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When Madison Schmidtlein sensed a gap in Topeka’s women’s clothing market, she did what entrepreneurs do best: she filled it. Now approaching its fourth anniversary, Madison Avenue Boutique is Brookwood Shopping Center’s destination for trendy but timeless clothes. The boutique is located across the corridor from Linen Tree & Co., a home décor and gift shop owned by Madison’s mother Kelly Schuster. Kelly’s business success was one of several reasons why Madison was excited to enter the retail trade. Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, including not just her mom but also her brother Kyle, a self-employed real estate

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agent, she saw firsthand the dedication and hard work it takes to run a small business. “I would have never known where to begin the process of opening my own business if it wasn’t for my mom’s help,” said Madison, who launched the store in June of 2021. “I have always had a passion for clothing and fashion in general, and I noticed a gap in the women’s clothing world in Topeka. I wanted to bring something fresh and authentic to the community. Having a shop where people can find unique, highquality pieces brings me so much joy.” She’s already learned a lot from the experience of running her own business, she adds.

Photo by MELVINA TAYLOR

"I only carry pieces I would want in my own closet," said Madison Schmidtlein, owner and founder of Madison Avenue Boutique.

“A big piece of advice is to build relationships with customers,” Madison said. “Another I remind myself of often is to keep showing up. It doesn’t have to be flawless. Whether it’s your branding, Instagram or in-store displays, what matters is that you keep showing up and improving little by little.” What really makes Madison Avenue Boutique special, she says, is her attention to detail. She and

her mother handpick each clothing item to create the shop’s signature aesthetic: chic, versatile and effortlessly stylish. “I only carry pieces I would want in my own closet,” Madison said. “That’s always my guiding principle when selecting inventory. I grew up wanting to be a fashion model. Fashion in general has always interested me. I enjoy seeing how the trends change so often and how stuff

comes back into style. There will be things I order and I’ll have customers say, ‘That looks like something I wore when I was younger.’ I think that’s really cool how style comes back around.” Her inventory includes more than just clothing: fashion accessories, candles and other gift items are also part of the boutique’s offerings, making it a one-stop shop for customers seeking stylish outfits and thoughtful gifts.

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At Madison Avenue Boutique, customers can browse the latest women’s fashion trends as well as candles and gifts.

“We love to help customers find pieces that reflect their unique tastes, and we’re always happy to offer styling advice if they ask,” Madison said. “Our goal is for everyone to leave feeling confident and excited about their purchase.” For Madison, it’s also about offering her customers fashionable, high-quality pieces at accessible price points. She tries to give customers the best value for their money by sourcing from trusted companies that offer wellmade products at reasonable wholesale prices, and says balancing the latest trends with affordability has been the key to her boutique’s success. “I was right out of college when I decided to open my boutique,” Madison said. “One of my biggest concerns was, ‘Are people going to want to pay boutique prices?’ I keep that in mind with every item I bring into the store.” She recently launched an e-commerce site where customers can browse and purchase items from home. “We offer both shipping and pickup options to make shopping as easy as possible,” Madison said. “It’s been great to see more customers take advantage of it.” Of course, keeping up with evershifting fashion trends remains an ongoing task.

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“One of the biggest challenges we’ve faced is making sure we stay ahead of the changing fashion trends while still keeping our boutique’s uniqueness intact,” Madison said. “But that’s also part of what makes this industry exciting.” The workload involved in running a store definitely surprised her at first, she says. “There is more to it than just picking out cute clothes for my shop,” Madison said. “There’s a lot of dealing with random little issues,

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such as problems with deliveries or inventory mix-ups. A huge one is the unpredictability of foot traffic. Some days the shop can be packed with customers, but other days we may just have one or two.” Despite the challenges, her business has already expanded into a team of four part-time employees. It has also doubled in size, providing a larger inventory and a more spacious shopping experience. Beyond selling clothing, Madison Avenue Boutique is committed to being an active part of the Topeka community.

Photo by MELVINA TAYLOR

“Being involved in the community is incredibly important to us,” said Madison, when asked about giving back. “We’ve partnered with the Topeka Country Club for ladies’ night out events, worked with Couture for Cancer and collaborated with many other local nonprofits.” To keep Topeka trendy, Madison has a close eye on the latest fashion trends, drawing inspiration from influencers, fashion weeks and customer feedback. “We’re especially excited about the return of bold colors, statement pieces and versatile styles that blend comfort with fashion,” she said. “Spring and summer are my favorite seasons to shop for.”

To ensure the boutique stays on top of what’s trending, Madison attends a market in Dallas at least twice a year, where she carefully curates the latest styles she feels will resonate with her customers. She frequently shops online wholesale sites to find more unique pieces. Looking ahead, Madison Avenue Boutique hopes to expand its customer base while enhancing its in-store and online experiences. “We want to keep bringing new customers into our location at the Brookwood Shopping Center and expand our online presence,” Madison said. “We’re excited about our newly developed website and hope it provides an easy and enjoyable shopping experience for our customers.”

“We’re especially excited about the return of bold colors, statement pieces and versatile styles that blend comfort with fashion,” Madison said.

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e u q i t ou B e an l pricot

MICHELLE GORMLEY

Apricot Lane Boutique’s owner and founder Michelle Gormley didn’t start off in fashion. After 20 years in corporate finance, she was ready to take her love of style and create a space in Topeka where women could shop in a relaxed, enjoyable setting and build a wardrobe that makes them feel more confident. “I wanted to create a space where women could walk in and feel comfortable, no matter their style or background,” Michelle said. In October 2024, she took a leap of faith and opened Apricot Lane Boutique at 2727 S.W. Wanamaker Road. The boutique is independently owned but operates as part of a larger franchise,

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which Michelle says gives her the structure and support of a national brand while letting her bring her own vision to life. This balance of franchise structure and independent ownership is something she’s embraced, using the brand’s resources to support her operations and marketing while shaping the store’s identity to appeal to local customers. Michelle says hospitality is what makes Apricot Lane a special place to shop. She and her team focus on customer service, ensuring every person who walks through the door feels welcome. As an example, Michelle shared a story about how one time after the

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Apricot Lane carries a mix of trendy and timeless pieces, carefully chosen to suit a variety of body types, ages and personal styles.

store had closed for the day, they heard someone trying to open the door. “Instead of turning the customer away, we invited them inside and let them take their time shopping,” Michelle said, adding that making people feel appreciated and valued is the kind of experience she wants every customer to have. Apricot Lane carries a mix of trendy and timeless pieces, carefully chosen to suit a variety of body types, ages and personal styles. Michelle says she and her team stay on top of trends by attending fashion markets and listening to customer feedback about what they love. Since every store in the Apricot Lane franchise can choose its own inventory, Michelle hand-selects each item rather than stocking mass-produced fashion. Limited quantities also ensure shoppers won’t see everyone else in town wearing the same outfit, she says.

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The store is designed to be easy to browse, with displays that make it simple to put together outfits or find the perfect accessory. Michelle says that she and her employees are always available to offer styling tips, help pick out pieces for special occasions or chat about the latest trends. For her, it’s about feeling good in what you wear and enjoying the experience of finding something new. She and her team work hard to make sure everyone who shops at Apricot Lane walks away with a newfound sense of confidence. “At the end of the day, great clothes will bring them into the store, but an unforgettable experience will keep them coming back,” Michelle said. Michelle says the Topeka community’s support has been overwhelming. Being locally owned has helped her boutique build strong ties with the city’s residents. Many

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customers have become regulars, she adds, returning not just for the clothing but for the friendly atmosphere and relationships they’ve built with the Apricot Lane team. She’s seen new friendships sprout from the interactions between her staff and customers, as well as from their collaborations with other local businesses. “The Apricot Lane motto, and what made me fall in love with the franchise, is ‘An Eye for Fashion and a Heart for Community,’” Michelle said. “We love making a difference whether that be through giving women confidence in what they wear or by giving back to charitable causes.” She and her team actively participate in local events and partnerships, including their membership with the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce. One of their most meaningful initiatives was a “shop and donate” event with the

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“At the end of the day, great clothes will bring [customers] into the store, but an unforgettable experience will keep them coming back,” said Michelle Gormley, owner of Topeka’s Apricot Lane Boutique.

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YWCA, with the proceeds going to women escaping domestic violence and human trafficking. They also sell handmade bracelets made by survivors of human trafficking on behalf of the company Noble Venture, a woman-owned wholesale brand that works with nonprofits to spread awareness and provide jobs and other forms of support to survivors around the world. “The survivors are the ones making the bracelets and it’s very fulfilling to be able to support causes like that,” Michelle said. “It might sound cheesy, but it’s true. When you choose to take the risk of starting a business, I really believe there has to be some heart behind it. Giving back and helping others is my ‘why.’”

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Her boutique has an active social media presence, posting about upcoming events, styling ideas and the latest arrivals on Instagram and Facebook. They even offer live shopping sessions where people can claim items in real time, which Michelle says has been a great way to connect with customers while giving them a way to browse Apricot Lane’s inventory from the comfort of their homes. She adds that the store’s seasonal collections will continue to offer trendy, wearable pieces, but she’s exploring opportunities to offer exclusive items that aren’t available anywhere else. She also plans to host more events, from styling workshops to collaborations with local brands.

Photo by MELVINA TAYLOR

Michelle says that ultimately, her goal is to keep evolving her business while staying true to what makes Apricot Lane special: a focus on community, quality and a shopping experience that goes beyond just picking out clothes. “My favorite thing I’ve experienced so far is having customers try something on and say ‘Oh yeah, this is coming home with me!’” Michelle said. “Knowing that I’m sourcing the right pieces for my customers is so rewarding and it puts a smile on my face to see them happy.”

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JO DAVIS MEITNER LANELLE DINKEL DANIELLE BYERS

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Located in the Westboro Mart shopping center, JLD.esigns Boutique is bringing high-end women’s fashion and home décor to Topeka. The venture, named after owners Jo Davis Meitner, Lanelle Dinkel and Danielle Byers, became a reality after a whirlwind threeweek setup in October 2024. All three women were born and raised in Topeka and have backgrounds in sales and marketing. After noticing a lack of local retail options for a more elevated clothes-shopping experience, they saw an opportunity and got to work — fast. “We talked about what was missing in the local retail scene and once we had the idea, it took off quickly,” Jo said. “We

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knew what we wanted it to look and feel like, and we just went for it.” Having known each other for years, Jo, Lanelle and Danielle were confident that opening a fashion boutique was a dream worth pursuing together. It felt like a natural extension of their friendship, as well as their collective talents and strengths. “We all knew each other in one regard or another before the store opened. I have known Lanelle and Danielle separately for many years,” Jo said. “Topeka is a smaller town, and it is common to know many people. You don’t know how you know them, you just do! If you are a local, you understand what I mean.”

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INTRODUCING THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY FUNDS PROGRAM GO Topeka’s Economic Mobility Funds Program is designed to create sustainable, inclusive economic impact by providing grant incentives to underserved entrepreneurs and economically disadvantaged businesses in Topeka and Shawnee County. Scan the QR code to learn more about eligibility and how to apply!

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“We talked about what was missing in the local retail scene and once we had the idea, it took off quickly,” said Jo Davis Meitner, who cofounded JLD.esigns with Lanelle Dinkel and Danielle Byers.

The trio found a perfect location for their boutique at Westboro Shopping Center, then immediately started working toward an opening date so they would be up and running before the holiday season. Preparing their new retail space meant long days, late nights and a lot of elbow grease. Before they knew it, they were curating clothes and furniture pieces that matched their vision and felt right for the residents of Topeka. The end result of that hard work was worth it, they say, as they now run a clothing and home décor boutique that feels as polished as it does welcoming. JLD offers a selection of highquality, handpicked pieces in what the owners describe as a calm, inviting

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atmosphere where customers are encouraged to take their time, try new things and hopefully discover something they didn’t even know they were looking for. They carry women’s clothing in a range of sizes and styles, from business wear and casual staples to the occasional formal gown. JLD also offers a rotating selection of home décor, accessories and giftable finds. “The home décor we offer includes candles, towels, coffee table books and more. We want them to be more upscale,” Jo said. “The candles we offer are a luxurious experience. They burn evenly, last a very long time and have amazing fragrance. All of our options are high end and you are not going to

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find them anywhere else in Topeka. We want our selection to feel special and premium for our customers. We want every purchase in our store to feel special, not just something you could grab anywhere else.” For Jo, Lanelle and Danielle, running a boutique is about more than what’s on the racks. They’re intentional about their inventory, selling many pieces that are either rare or limited run. “We really love the buying process,” Jo said. “Finding those pieces that feel special, the ones you know your customers will be excited about, is such a fun part of the job. But the best part is connecting with people and helping them find something that makes them feel good. That never gets old.”

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JLD.esign's co-founders carefully hand-select every item for sale in their boutique, from high-end fashion pieces to candles, coffee table books and home décor. Thankfully, the owners share a similar taste in clothing and home wares. Each of them brings their individual style to the mix, creating an intriguing but wellrounded collection. “We all have a good eye for clothing. We talk each other through the picks when we are at market. We each bring our own perspective and are in different age ranges, so we can shop well for different age groups,” Jo said. “Danielle is very good at social media. She knows how to create inviting content. I do all the finances. Lanelle already has relationship-building skills from her previous job, so she handles all the buying and relationship management with our vendors.” In the future, the JLD team plans to host private shopping events and offer

personal styling. Their goal is to find new ways to connect with customers beyond the typical retail experience. “There’s something really special about offering a more personal approach,” Danielle said. “We want this to be a place where people feel comfortable asking for help, trying things on and just enjoying the experience.” Jo, Lanelle and Danielle are already involved in a number of local events and causes, including the local charity event Couture for Cancer. Each year, local boutiques, designers and supporters come together for a night of fashion, fundraising and celebration, all to benefit cancer-related causes. Models, often cancer survivors themselves, walk the runway in looks from Topeka retailers.

“The whole spirit of Couture for Cancer aligns with what we believe in,” Lanelle said. “It’s about helping people feel beautiful, strong and supported. That is exactly what we hope to do here every day.” All three of JLD’s owners have families who live in the region, and they share a genuine investment in the people they serve. They say they want their boutique to reflect their personalities, values and connection to Topeka. “It’s exciting to build something in the town you love,” Danielle said. “We’re so thankful for the people who have supported us from day one and we’re looking forward to growing with the community.”

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s om st u C p o T y Curl

WENDY MONEY

Wendy Money never thought the foam vacation hats she made “just for fun” would spark a new career path, but that’s exactly how Curly Top Customs came to life. “I had so much fun making them and felt a huge rush from all the compliments and satisfaction of seeing something I created come to life,” she said. “I felt a sense of pride from seeing something I did bring so many smiles to peoples’ faces.” After spending more than 27 years in the financial services industry, she leapt into the world of custom apparel and personalized gifts, officially launching her business in July 2024. Less than a year later, Curly

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Top Customs is becoming a local favorite for unique, made-to-order designs. “I’ve always loved fan gear,” Wendy said. “When my kids were in school and playing sports, I was always excited to buy their team apparel. So, when I started creating my own designs, it just made sense to expand my services.” A Topeka native, Wendy briefly lived in Oklahoma before returning in 1996. Her decision to open a business here was influenced by her love for the local community. Over the years, she’s witnessed the strength of local businesses supporting one another and wanted to be a part of it by sharing her passion for design.

Photo by MELVINA TAYLOR Photo by MELVINA TAYLOR

“I’ve always loved fan gear ... when I started creating my own designs, it just made sense to expand my services,” said Wendy Money, owner and founder of Curly Top Designs.

“I designed our cheerleading posters, hair bows and water jugs in high school,” she said. “It was always so much fun, which then turned into designing shirts for a company I worked for back in the mid-1990s. I’ve always had a bit of a creative bug. I research the current trends to see what is the new ‘it’ thing, too.” Curly Top Customs specializes in custom apparel, hats, aprons and laser-engraved stainless-steel

cups and leather items. Wendy’s approach to custom design focuses on understanding her customers’ needs and preferences. Whether it’s a new team logo or a custom family design, she says she listens carefully to their ideas so that each product reflects their vision. As far as how Wendy chose the name “Curly Top,” it was a spontaneous realization. “I spent one whole weekend thinking of a great business name,” she

said. “Nothing fit, until I looked in the mirror and saw my curly hair. That was it!” Wendy says her personalized service is part of what sets Curly Top Customs apart. She’s committed to dreaming up designs that exceed expectations. “I get an idea of what the customer has in mind. If it’s a sports team, I ask them to send me some ideas they’ve seen to help me get a good

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Photo by MELVINA TAYLOR

Curly Top Designs’ pick-a-print service lets customers choose one of the shop’s featured designs and have their shirt printed while they wait.

base,” she said. “I then get to work, designing what I think is their goal. If it’s not what they want, I tweak images, shapes and colors until it’s perfect.” Her creative process doesn’t end at the designs. Wendy enjoys exploring different materials and techniques, from embroidery to laser engraving. Customizing leather goods and stainless-steel cups adds a special, madejust-for-you touch to her products, she says. She even offers a service where customers can create their own team stores online, selecting from a range of customizable products. One of the projects she’s proudest of is a memorial order she handled for a customer who lost her father. “She brought in his flannel shirts and wanted to incorporate them into a crewneck for herself and her daughter,” she said. “We used his shirt fabric as an inlay and added a small heart on the cuff. It was emotional. We shared a few tears over that one.” For Wendy, these special projects are a reminder of the personal impact her work can have on people’s lives.

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Although Curly Top Customs started with foam vacation hats, the store’s catalogue now bursts with all kinds of products and designs. Wendy says she never stops looking for new ways to grow her business and give her customers what they need. “The journey from foam hats to leather patches was a natural progression,” Wendy said. “I’ve always wanted to learn how to embroider and now I’m up to two machines!” Wendy has big plans for the future. She hopes to someday partner with Washburn University and other local universities, colleges and Greek organizations. She also wants to work with more small businesses that need branded swag. “I recently moved to a storefront, which has given me the space to let several other small businesses sell their products in my shop,” Wendy said. “Right now, I have five vendors in my new space. It’s great because we’re all supporting each other.” Wendy likes giving back to the community that supports her. A portion

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of all sales from team and school merchandise goes back to the team or school, helping them raise funds while providing high-quality, custom apparel. “Small businesses are the lifeline of our community. It’s important to support each other,” said Wendy, who often attends local craft fairs and school events to network and spread her love of custom design. She also tries to stay ahead of fashion trends. Right now, she sees a shift toward casual, relaxed styles. Comfort is king, she says, and more people are gravitating toward laid-back, personalized apparel. The newest addition to Wendy’s line reflects that: flannel pants customized with school logos. It’s an endearing twist on traditional school gear, offering something cozy and fun. “They’re perfect for game days or lounging around the house,” she said. “I spend a lot of time online seeing what’s new and different. It’s a fun part of the business, staying on top of what’s trending and adapting it to our community.”

Photo by MELVINA TAYLOR

Wendy’s new pick-a-print service lets customers choose from four featured designs each month and have their shirt printed while they wait. Offering on-the-spot customization not only gives her customers a nearly instant product, but also allows her to showcase a rotating collection of designs. She says she values getting to know her customers better and sees Curly Top Customs as a way to connect with people. Wendy wants her commitment to customer satisfaction and personalized service to be evident in every aspect of her business. As her business grows, she’s excited about what the future holds. “I’m always looking for ways to offer something new and different,” she said. “The goal is to keep growing and continue offering great products to the people who support me.” TK

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FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

KEY CONVERSATIONS TO HAVE WITH YOUR CPA

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Scheduling a meeting with a CPA is a smart step toward better financial management. To maximize the value of your time, it helps to come prepared. Addressing the following key topics will better equip you to make informed financial decisions. Whether you’re optimizing your personal finances or managing a business, having these conversations can guide you in the right direction. ALISA SNAVELY Tax Director BT&Co.

PERSONAL FINANCES Tax Planning and Optimization

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Questions to ask: • What tax deductions or credits can I take advantage of? • How can I lower my tax liability? • Are there recent tax law changes that could impact me? • Am I making tax-efficient investments? • Should I focus on paying off debt or building savings?

MATT DEUTSCH Managing Director BT&Co.

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Maximizing tax savings requires proactive effort throughout the year. Many miss out on available credits and deductions, so it’s important to check with your CPA. Also, tax laws change frequently and these shifts can affect your strategy. Be sure to ask about recent updates.

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Major Life Events Questions to ask: • How will this event impact my tax situation? • Are there tax benefits for my new situation? • Should I adjust my financial or estate plan? Life changes like marriage, having children or buying a home bring both new opportunities and challenges. These milestones may affect your tax situation, deductions and credits. Ensure your CPA is updated and discuss adjustments to your estate plan to safeguard your loved ones.

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Retirement Planning Questions to ask: • Which retirement accounts suit me best (IRA, 401(k), etc.)? • How can I minimize taxes on my retirement savings? • Should I be maxing out my retirement contributions? Retirement planning is about more than just saving — it’s also about doing so in the most taxefficient way. Maxing out retirement accounts can reduce taxable income and boost savings, but discuss with your CPA to ensure you’re balancing contributions with liquidity needs.

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FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

BUSINESS FINANCES Financial Planning and Projections

Financing Growth

Questions to ask: • Can you help forecast my cash flow for the next year? • How do I decide whether to finance or pay cash for equipment? • What financial reports should I review regularly? • How can I improve profitability and cash flow?

Questions to ask: • Can my business accommodate growth, based on my financials? • What financing options are available for expansion? • What are the tax implications of growing my business?

Business owners need clear financial forecasts. Your CPA can help you understand financial data and make decisions that improve profitability and cash flow. Ask about leveraging debt to support growth and positioning your business for future success.

If you plan to expand, your CPA can assess whether your financials can support growth and help identify financing options. Discuss how expansion impacts your tax situation and adjust your financial projections accordingly.

Tax Strategies for Business

Succession Planning and Exit Strategy

Questions to ask: • Is my business structure still the best for minimizing taxes? • How can I reduce tax liability this year? • Am I using all available tax credits and deductions?

Questions to ask: • What’s the best option for exiting my business — selling, transferring or passing it down? • What should I have ready if I plan to sell? • How can I minimize taxes during the transition?

Your business structure (LLC, S-Corp, etc.) affects taxes significantly. Regularly assess if your setup is still the most tax efficient. Your CPA can help optimize tax strategies and identify tax-advantaged investments, like those that qualify for Section 179 or bonus depreciation.

Employee Compensation and Benefits Questions to ask: • As a business owner, how should I compensate myself? • Are there tax incentives for providing certain benefits? • Should I give raises or bonuses to high performers? Compensation packages must balance employee satisfaction with cost. Discuss with your CPA how to structure pay to take advantage of available tax incentives and whether to offer raises or bonuses, based on your financial situation.

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Whether you plan to sell your business, pass it down or transfer ownership, your CPA can guide you through the process. From preparing financial records for buyers to minimizing taxes, ensure your exit strategy is well planned.

FINANCIAL GOALS The Importance of Ongoing Communication Your relationship with your CPA should align with your unique financial goals. While this list provides essential topics, it’s not exhaustive. Regular communication with your CPA ensures you’re making informed decisions throughout the year. It also helps you avoid potential issues and adapt to changes in your financial situation. TK

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JUNE 5, 2025 • EXPO

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BEHIND THE SCENES with TK Business Magazine Hosted by

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DANIELLE J. MARTIN

SPOTLIGHTING

BROOKS PETTIT PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER VAERUS AVIATION

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Behind the Scenes with TK Business Magazine is a new podcast series hosted by Danielle J. Martin, delving into the innovation that fuels the growth of the Topeka community: local businesses. The beauty of this new podcast is that we travel to our subjects and interview them at their office or workspace. Brooks Pettit is the president and founder of Vaerus Aviation, a private aviation management company based in Topeka, Kansas, with additional offices in Scottsdale, Arizona. Vaerus Aviation has been providing comprehensive services to private aircraft owners, including operations, maintenance, pilot staffing, taxation, accounting and aircraft transactions since 2007. A Kansas native, Pettit has grown Vaerus Aviation from a modest startup into a company employing more than 60 people. His leadership approach emphasizes customer care, safety culture and a genuine passion for the client.

Scan the QR code to see the full interview with Brooks Pettit, the president and founder of Vaerus Aviation.

Martin: Take me back to 2007 when you founded Vaerus Aviation. What was that like? Pettit: Our business was not one that was purposely built, it was more happenstance. There was a lot of economic turmoil happening at the time. 2007 was still a pretty good year, but the private aviation business in our community was very limited. When I started, I was a one-man band. I had one little customer I got because he had a pilot flying for him that was a friend of mine, and the guy needed to leave for a job interview and he asked me to fill in. The guy got the job and he moved to Dallas. All of a sudden, I’ve got one little airplane to fly and one little customer, Greg Schwerdt. Eighteen years later, we’re still doing business together. He was a big catalyst. He helped put me in front of other members of our community that need aviation services. Greg and our other earliest customers helped us grow. We had a lot of people help us get to the next step. In 2007, it was just me, myself and I. I washed the airplanes, flew the airplanes, did the accounting and managed the maintenance. Now we have north of 60 employees here in Topeka.

Martin: Where did your passion for airplanes come from? Pettit: It’s all nostalgia for me. I’m a third-generation pilot. My grandfather flew P-38s in World War II, but I never met him. He died when my dad was young. Then my dad was a pilot and kind of worked his way through college flying professionally. He owned a manufacturing company, but he always owned corporate or business airplanes that he would buy and sell. So, I grew up flying with my dad and he was a very active member of the Combat Air Museum here in Topeka. Until about 1996, the Combat Air Museum actually flew airplanes. As a kid, I grew up riding around in those old airplanes with my dad. The history is neat for me. Martin: You mentioned being in business for 18 years. When was the turning point when you saw the business take off? Pettit: There was a point when I realized that, when I was the only one flying, I was kind of getting run thin. But I also realized there was an absolute cap on my ability to create revenue, and all I had to sell was my time. The limiting factor was how much value can I

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derive from my time? How much can I charge per day to fly? The reality is that you reach a point where you just can’t, the market doesn’t support a continuous growth of daily-rate pilot services. So, the business model changed and the demand outgrew my ability to take care of our clients. But then I realized that to provide a good caliber of service, I can’t do it all. You have to start specializing in diluting the work you do and focusing on growing the business. Martin: Talk to me about the people you serve.

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Pettit: All of our clients are companies and businesses here in our community. We have an office in Scottsdale, Arizona, as well. They’re all wellknown businesses in our community that have big employee bases. Martin: What advice do you wish you’d known when you were building the business? Pettit: Can I flip the narrative and talk about what I’m glad I didn’t know? I’m glad I didn’t know how hard it would be because I don’t

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know that I would have done this if I’d known what a grueling pace it would be to get to where we’re at, or even where we were five years ago. I wouldn’t go back and do anything different. When people ask me how we made it through, the answer is that we didn’t have any debt. We didn’t have any debt because we didn’t have the ability to have any debt. We didn’t have the revenue to support debt, and we didn’t lead off by buying a bunch of expensive equipment and that sort of thing. It was all organic growth and we didn’t take on burdens that we couldn’t have supported. So, we maybe could have grown faster, but we would’ve done so in an unhealthy way. Eighteen years is a long time, so we had a lot of time to get to where we’re at now. Martin: Talk to me about the challenges you’ve had to work through. What was your “why” that kept you going? Pettit: This is all I’ve ever known and all I’ve ever wanted to do. I literally didn’t know that I could envision or think about anything else. I’m always interested in the art of the deal and growth. I get bored when we’re not growing. So I think that’s a part of the “why,” but it’s also the interaction with our customers. I love people, and getting to know some of our customers really well has opened up the world for me. They’ve contributed to my personal growth.

Pettit: Thoroughbreds don’t like to run with donkeys. If you build an organization full of thoroughbreds and don’t let donkeys remain in your company, I think that’s probably the biggest thing. We fight for culture, we focus on culture, we communicate, we spend. We just had an all-employee meeting this morning. We do every couple of weeks or every other week, and we spend the first half of the meeting talking about our “why.” We have a set of core values we call the “Vaerus Way.” It’s the guiding principle behind every decision we make, every human interaction we have. We focus on communication. Communication is inherently a big deal in aviation from a safety standpoint, so it’s easy to combine that into what we do. When you focus on a really strong safety culture, it helps you focus on the

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Martin: Talk to me about your company culture and how you grew a team of 60 people.

people culture. We also do a lot of studying and reading. We have a leadership book club that we do every couple of weeks. Martin: What’s your favorite business book you’ve read so far? Pettit: Right now we’re reading “Unreasonable Hospitality” by Will Guidara, which is a great book. I’m

also reading “Parenting With Love and Logic,” a parenting book. “The Coddling of the American Mind” is a great book. Probably my favorite book is “Shoe Dog” by Phil Knight, the founder of Nike. I love that book because when you listen to one of the founders of one of the most successful brands, you see everything they went through to get where they are.

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Martin: You talked about how surrounding yourself with great people has been key. How would you say those relationships helped you get to the next level? Pettit: People that are great people radiate goodness and positive energy. If they keep good company, they attract good company. It’s tough to create a good company culture, and you always have to fight to maintain it. But once you have that culture, you can proactively maintain it. If somebody doesn’t fit or feel comfortable here, they solve their own problems and tend to exit themselves from the business before we have to do it for them. It’s not that we’re not willing to exit somebody that doesn’t fit in our culture, and it doesn’t mean they’re a bad person. Sometimes it just means they don’t fit in our culture. Martin: What’s something many people may not see or understand about what goes on with your company behind the scenes? Pettit: Oh, there’s so much complexity to doing aviation. Our mantra is we make aviation safe and simple. Think of the analogy of the duck gracefully swimming in the pond, but it’s paddling hard underneath. That analogy works here. The regulatory environment is probably the biggest element from a financial, tax and risk mitigation standpoint. Lots of complexity, but also a lot of subjectivity. Even airplane maintenance is not as black and white as you might think.

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BROOKS PETTIT Vaerus Aviation Martin: What’s next for Vaerus Aviation? Pettit: Right now we’re focusing on growing the aircraft sales side and maintenance side of the business. We’ve publicly announced that we’re going to be building another facility similar to this one, just right across the way, which will effectively double the size of our footprint and give us the capacity to keep growing. Right now, our growth is limited by our footprint. Finding and hiring competent, talented people is another limiting factor.

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Martin: What advice would you give to people who are new or aspiring entrepreneurs? Pettit: Those who know me well know that I am never shy of having an opinion, and I’m trying to learn to be the last one in the room to speak, which is naturally very difficult for me to do. What I’ve learned is that I’m surrounded by so many brilliant people in our organization. If I can focus on having less of an opinion, it can be pretty amazing to see other people flourish and do things better than I ever did when I was doing their job. TK

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23rd Annual Junior Achievement of Kansas Topeka Business Hall of Fame March 13, 2025 Townsite Avenue Ballroom

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1 2 3 4 5

Nicki Flanagan and Marlou Wegener Eugene and Debra Williams Jerry and Susan Farley Gary and Martha Bartlett Piland David Sollars, Tammy Casteen, Sarah Dunekack and Colleen Bisel 6 Marvin and Debbie Spees 7 Randy and Debra Clayton 8 Erin and Brandon Aldridge 9 Wendy and Matt Pivarnik 10 Gary and Widge Yager 11 Jim and Joleen Klausman 12 Robert Kenegy, Chuck Lower, Sarah Dunekack, Karen Linn and Doug Wolff

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Kansas Children’s Discovery Center Welcomes Six New Board Members The Kansas Children’s Discovery Center has appointed six new trustees to its board: Mary Kate Dobski (business owner), Sherry Hunsicker (community volunteer), Brian Ismert (wealth management advisor), Sarah Jacobson (community volunteer), Mariella Kennedy (community volunteer) and Annie Stryker (educator). They join twelve current board members. Stormont Vail Health Launches Summer Scrubs Program for High School Students Stormont Vail Health is launching its first Summer Scrubs program for rising high school seniors who want to work in health care. The program, which runs from June 9-13, 2025, introduces students to clinical and non-clinical jobs in emergency rooms, pharmacies, surgeries, laboratory services and other hospital departments. Mize CPAs Earns National Top Workplace Honor for Second Consecutive Year Mize CPAs Inc. has been recognized by Energage as one of the Top Workplaces in the USA for the second year in a row, ranking among the top Kansas-headquartered businesses and winning the Great Plains regional award. The firm received an 83% workplace experience satisfaction rate, exceeding the national average of 75-78%. The Top Workplaces program helps companies assess how they measure up while inspiring them to focus on creating better workplaces.

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Jaime Elgas Joins Foley Equipment as Chief People Officer Foley Equipment named Jaime Elgas as its new chief people officer. Elgas’ role is to oversee HR, recruitment, training and organizational development across the company’s 17 locations. She previously served as senior director and VP of talent at JE Dunn Construction and held executive HR positions at several major companies.

Matt Pivarnik to Depart Greater Topeka Partnership Matt Pivarnik, CEO of the Greater Topeka Partnership (GTP), has announced his departure to become president and CEO of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce in South Carolina. His final day will be May 18, 2025. Since joining the GTP in 2016, Pivarnik has encouraged collaboration among community organizations and driven several major business and community development projects. Incoming 2026 GTP Chair Dr. JuliAnn Mazachek will lead the search for his successor.

Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen Coming to TPAC October 9 VenuWorks Presents will bring KILLER QUEEN: A Tribute to Queen to the Topeka Performing Arts Center on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets on sale now. The tribute band, formed at London University, has been recognized as a “Worldwide Best Tribute Band” and performed at prestigious venues including London’s West End and Colorado’s Red Rocks. Recent tours have included sold-out shows across Europe, the UK and the US.

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May is Mental Mental Health Health Awareness Month Month

330 SW Oakley 330Kansas, SW Oakley Topeka, 66606 Topeka, Kansas, 66606 Phone: 785.233.1730 Phone: 24-Hour Crisis 785.233.1730 Line: 785.234.3300 24-Hour Crisis Line: 785.234.3300 24-Hour Detox Number: 785.234.3448 24-Hour Detox Number: 785.234.3448

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You deserve the

Cancer Care! Early detection. Personalized treatment. Expert care. 1 in 18 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer.* Early detection saves lives. Stormont Vail Health offers advanced, minimally invasive technology to detect lung cancer sooner – with less stress, less travel, and care tailored just for you.

Learn more at:

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American Cancer Society, 2024.