2009 Kansas MarketPlace Speakers
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| Presenter Don Landoll |
Don started his business as a 2-man welding repair shop in 1963. Still located in Marysville, a rural northeast Kansas town, the company has grown to employ more than 500 people.
Don will share key elements he learned about business in the past 45 years, including the most important business principles for surviving in tough economic times. You won't want to miss this inspiring presentation.
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| Presenter Andrew McCrea |
As a farmer and rancher from northwest Missouri, Andrew knows what it is like to move herds of cattle and work 18-hour days harvesting a crop. A 5-time Oscar winning radio broadcaster, Andrew brings insights from interviewing the likes of country music stars, hall of fame athletes, Iditarod sled dog mushers, and even a rooster crowing champion.
He hosts an award-winning daily radio program, The American Countryside, and produces broadcasts heard nationally on the Westwood One radio network. Andrew is chairman of the Heartland Foundation, a leadership foundation empowering youth and adults in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa. He also serves as a certified lay pastor and vice chairman of the Missouri Beef Council.
Educational Session Presenters
Jeff Adair is the passion and vision behind New Grass Bison Co. Jeff’s military upbringing instilled within him a work ethic and discipline to see and reach his goals, and his exploration of life has given him a love and respect for the earth, interwoven into his business principles. Jeff founded New Grass Bison Co. in 2001 to create a sustainable food production and distribution system that offers natural, healthy food to consumers. An entrepreneur at heart, Jeff previously founded MapNotes®, the leading site for mapping and navigational products used by military professionals, so he is no stranger to the challenges of creating a business from the ground up. When he’s not out on the range checking the herd, personally delivering an order to a customer who ran short during a busy weekend promotion, or hunkered down in his office developing the strategies that will plot the Company’s future, Jeff enjoys music, the outdoors, and spending time with his family.
Wayne Bell became the district director for the Wichita Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) October 27, 2008. He has more than 20 years of management experience in both the public and private sectors, combined with a thorough understanding of the small business environment in Kansas. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Bell attended Wichita State University (WSU) where he earned both an executive MBA and bachelor of science in industrial technology. While an undergraduate, he participated in “Shocker Athletics” as a member of the WSU football team. He is very involved in the community, including such organizations as Wichita Children’s Home, Youth Entrepreneurs of Kansas and Community Credit Counseling Services. Bell lives in Wichita with his wife, Jocelyn and family. They attend Saint Mark United Methodist Church.
Dave Buchholz is president of David & Associates, a marketing communications firm headquartered in Hastings, Nebraska that he founded in 1984. The company, which has 10 employees, serves regional, national and international clients in agribusiness, healthcare, telecommunications, financial, manufacturing, tourism and economic development, professional services and retail. The firm has won several regional and national awards for its strategic and creative work. He was the 2002 recipient of the National Agri-Marketing Association award for professional excellence in public relations. Raised on a farm near Ayr, Nebraska, he is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Instead of golfing, he plays keyboards in two bands on the weekends. He and his wife, Debra, are parents of a son, Djorn.
Simone Cahoj, a sophomore at University of Kansas was our first student HTC participant, two-time Ogallala Common's summer intern and a member of University of Kansas Freshmen Class Leadership Council. This summer, Simone will provide coordination, social networking and mentoring for the internship program.
Shannon Dechant joined Nex-Tech in February of this year and is currently the marketing communications representative for Nex-Tech Cable Television and Directory Services. Additionally, she is involved in event planning and helps coordinate marketing efforts to each of Nex-Tech/Rural Telephone's 14 offices. Shannon attended Fort Hays State University and received a degree in marketing with an emphasis in management. She will begin working on her masters of business administration in January. Shannon has been a resident of Hays for 24 years.
Jenny Dixon has been a member of the Nex-Tech Marketing Department since June 2004. She has been involved with the marketing of Nex-Tech's High-Speed Internet, cable television, directory services and event planning. She is currently the marketing analyst for Nex-Tech Wireless. She attended the University of Kansas and earned a degree in English with an emphasis in creative writing. Jenny has been a resident of Hays for seven years and is originally from Ulysses, Kansas.
Catherine Domsch was born, raised and still lives in Atwood in Rawlings County, Kansas. She graduated from Fort Hays State University in 1999 in Business Administration. Catherine moved back to Atwood after acquiring her degree, along with her husband Kirk, who is also an Atwood native. She began grant proposal writing and working with non-profits, and became interested in community foundations and the impact they have on rural development. Catherine began working for the Bird City Century II Development Foundation in August 2004. The current focus of the Foundation is community and economic development for Bird City. Catherine is a board member of the Kansas Association of Community Foundations and the Chair of the Kansas Commission on Rural Policy.
Laurie Gooding is a senior marketing professional. Laurie has held numerous positions in corporate and product marketing, business planning, market research and industry analysis. Her career began in 1988 at Brite Voice Systems, a Wichita-based telecom technology startup company. After spending 18 years working for several different technology companies in Boston, Chicago and Phoenix, Laurie returned to her native Kansas and joined NetWork Kansas in 2007 to spearhead its marketing efforts. She has been published and quoted extensively in leading business and trade publications, including Business Week, Electronic News and The Wall Street Journal. Laurie graduated summa cum laude from Friends University with a BA in international communications, a minor in Spanish and a second degree in language and literature.
Chuck Hassebrook is executive director of the Center for Rural Affairs of Lyons, Nebraska. Over a 30-year career with the Center, Hassebrook has become nationally recognized as an unflagging advocate for rural America. He has been instrumental in passage of new rural development programs in recent farm bills for value-added agriculture and microentrepreneurs. Hassebrook lives in Lyons, a town of 960, with his wife Kate and sons Anton and Peter. In his spare time, he serves as the elected representative of Northeast Nebraska on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.
Jeff Hofaker is the director of the Phillips County Economic Development office, located in Phillipsburg, Kansas. He has represented and encouraged development activities in Phillips County in his position for eight years. He has been instrumental in leading many projects, such as an ethanol plant, entrepreneurship center, Discover Phillips County Initiative, to name a few. Jeff graduated from Fort Hays State University in 1990 with a BA in computer information systems and business administration and marketing. He worked in Overland Park for a few years and in 1994, got the urge to move home to Logan, Kansas, to start a custom harvesting business. He remains a partner in a fourth-generation family Phillips County ranch/farm. He is committed to his family and PCED.
Matt Hoisington is the regional operations manager for KANSASWORKS (www.kansasworks.com) and is responsible for job placement service delivery at several offices in central and western Kansas. KANSASWORKS is the state's comprehensive workforce system and delivers a variety of employer services; most importantly workforce recruitment. In addition to simple job postings, the staff at KANSASWORKS provides screening services to help identify job candidate skills. Screening services assists employers in making sound hiring decisions. KANSASWORKS staff also serve job candidates by assisting in job search activities, resume development, training and job preparation activities.
Randall Hrabe is an executive director of Kansas Certified Development Companies covering the northwest quadrant. Randall has more than 20 years of experience in business finance, working with a multitude of federal and state programs, in addition to KCDC’s own business revolving loan funds.
Roger Hrabe is the economic development director for Rooks County, serving in that capacity since June of 2000. Hrabe was a teacher and coach in the Plainville school system for 17 years after graduating from Fort Hays State University in 1980 with a degree in political science, and was a co-manager and owner of family grocery stores in Stockton and Plainville for two years. He is a lifelong resident of Plainville. Roger has been instrumental in developing the economic development office, which had only been in existence since 1998. Since then he has made great strides. The implementation of the Neighborhood Revitalization Plan in 2001, created more than $4 million in new construction and renovation in Rooks County. Entrepreneurship and the development of small business startups is a priority.
Mike Irvin is the director of Kansas Farm Bureau’s Legal Foundation. Mike is a native of Goodland, Kansas, where he grew up on a farm and practiced law for more than twelve years before he began his work with Kansas Farm Bureau. He has an extensive background in commercial and civil litigation and public administration. Mike earned an undergraduate degree in business finance from Kansas State University, a master’s in public administration from the University of Kansas, and a juris doctorate from Washburn University School of Law in Topeka. Mike, his wife Robin, and their three children, reside in Manhattan, Kansas.
Jan Jantzen is director for Rural Tourism Development with the Flint Hills Resources Conservation and Development (RC & D) in Emporia, Kan., doing outreach to help Kansas cash in on agritourism. Jan also owns and operates a successful agritourism business called Kansas Flint Hills Adventures, LLC, featuring trail rides and range burning events.
J.J. Jones serves as a marketing specialist for the Kansas Department of Commerce in the Rural Development and Trade Divisions. J.J.’s primary foci are bulk commodities and livestock. Prior to joining Commerce in December 2008, J.J. worked for the Kansas Grain and Feed Association as director of member services, the Kansas Beef Council as director of industry relations and for Cargill, Inc. as an associate business manager in the animal nutrition division. He holds a bachelor’s degree in animal science and industry economics and international agriculture from Kansas State University. J.J. has also completed graduate courses in industrial and organizational psychology. J.J. grew up on a diversified farm/ranch in rural Rawlins County, Kansas.
Lenny Meier has farmed all his life – before going to the Army and after going to Washburn University and earning a degree in business management. He took over full-time operation of the farm 14 years ago, after his dad and uncles decided to retire. The farm was 95 years old at that time. He has made numerous changes in the farm and has guided and helped it survive to its current 109 years. Lenny thoroughly enjoys the farm and thinks, at the rate he’s going, he will be at least 115 years old before he decides to retire!!
Rick Meyer uses human perspective and real-life experiences to share the true foundation of athletics and human performance. During his uplifting presentations, Rick connects these examples to ways to create success in our daily lives, sending listeners away with the ability to "imagine greatness." Rick became the 2008 Toastmasters District 24 International Speech Champion in June 2008, top 60 in the world. Having grown up on a farm near Gaylord, Kan., Rick moved to the "Little Apple," Manhattan, Kan., after his sophomore year at Smith Center High School. At Manhattan High School, Rick was co-captain of the 1984 cross-country team that was alphabetized among the best in America by The Harrier. Rick placed 49th internationally and 10th American in the 1995 Boston Marathon, along with 86th internationally and 12th American in the 1996 New York City Marathon. Additionally, he has two top-30 finishes in the Twin Cities Marathon in Minnesota. He is a graduate of Kansas State University with a bachelor of science in agronomy. Rick is a self-employed speaker and author in Albion, NE, and is a licensed success consultant with Bob Proctor Life Success Consulting, Inc.
Carol Meyer, Office of Rural Opportunity representative for the Kansas Department of Commerce, has more than 30 years of experience working in southwest Kansas, specializing in people and relationship building, connecting expertise and resources for overall community development. She is also a faculty member of the Kansas Leadership Center.
Janet Miller serves as Enterprise Facilitator for five counties in Northeast Kansas providing free, confidential, one-on-one business coaching. In her six years on the job, she has worked to help entrepreneurs recognize that they can't do it all alone and finds them the help they need to succeed. This work has resulted in more than 60 new, retained and expanded businesses representing nearly 200 jobs. Janet has a bachelor's degree in agribusiness from K-State and a master's degree in agricultural economics from Penn State.
Jamie Morphew is in her fifth year with Western Kansas Business Consulting and spends her days helping entrepreneurs. With a B.S. in accounting from DeVry and more than 10 years of experience with small business accounting and business startups, Jamie knows first hand how useful Microsoft Excel can be for business owners.
Bob Muirhead is the director of economic and community development for Midwest Energy, Inc., an electric and natural gas cooperative serving customers in 41 counties of western Kansas. He is also the chairman of the board for the Heartland Community Foundation, serving several counties in western and central Kansas.
Ronald Newman is the regional center director for the Kansas Small Business Development Center in Hays. Previously he was a consultant and interim state director for the North Dakota Small Business Development Center. He has independent, franchise and corporate business management and ownership experience and has provided management consultation and training assistance to more than 3,000 prospective and existing business owners in five states.
Erik Pedersen is the associate director for the Kansas Center for Entrepreneurship and assisted with the establishment of the center in May 2005. Erik's initial task was the development and growth of NetWork Kansas, a free statewide service that enables entrepreneurs and small business owners to be connected with the resources they need. Erik's responsibilities have grown to also oversee the StartUp Kansas fund program, as well as the Entrepreneurship (E-Community) partnership. This partnership, which has grown to 12 E-Communities, includes an injection of capital raised locally through the NetWork Kansas Entrepreneurship Tax Credit Program to help start and grow businesses in rural Kansas.
Deborah Persinger is the customer service manager for Rural Telephone Service Co., Inc. headquartered in Lenora, Kan. She has 31 years of service with Rural; the past 17 years being in a supervisor/manager position. Deborah was one of two Rural Telephone customer service employees when she began her career. Today, she oversees a team of 57 employees in 14 business office locations. Deborah is a Kansas native and holds an associates degree in fashion merchandising from Dodge City Community College. Deborah enjoys gardening, raising quarter horses and assisting her husband with his farming/ranching operation in northwest Kansas.
Joe Polo has 25 years of experience in the food and retail business. His product and food development career began while working for TGI Fridays developing their menu back in the 1980’s. Upon the request of a long time friend, he left Fridays for a managing partner opportunity with Dos Hombres Restaurants in Kansas City. Through customer relations, he and his partner later realized an astonishing number of their patrons had a fascination with hot and spicy foods. In 1992, they opened a retail outlet specializing in hot products, which they appropriately named Lotta Hotta. The outlet quickly turned into a franchised concept (renamed Calido Chile Traders) with a manufacturing and distributing division. Several years after selling his interest to investors he became a consultant to a friend who wanted to start a company of his own. When his non-compete was extinguished, he joined forces with his friend and former colleagues to form Original Juan Specialty Foods, Inc. He oversees the daily operations of the rapidly growing business and utilizes his one remaining retail outlet to provide a vital test market for new and existing Original Juan products. Close contact with partners, employees, financial advisor, banker and accountant has provided him with the knowledge that makes him a well-rounded and exceptional entrepreneur.
Steve Radley is the founding director of the NetWork Kansas, which was created as part of the Kansas Economic Growth Act to further establish entrepreneurship and small business as a priority for economic and community development. A resident of Wichita, Steve began his career in the private sector as the 28th employee of business startup technology company Brite Voice Systems, which grew from $6 million to more than $176 million during the nine years Steve worked for entrepreneur Stan Brannan. Since then, Steve has co-owned two businesses, including a manufactured housing dealership that was sold to the largestmanufacturer in the county, Champion Enterprises. Steve has an MBA from W. Fran Barton School of Business at Wichita State University and a BA in journalism from the University of Oklahoma.
Steve Riat has more than a decade of business technology experience. Steve leads three statewide Technology Peer Groups and one national Technology Peer Group. Staying on top of technology trends impacting small and medium size businesses is a full-time job. With contacts ranging from Microsoft, IBM and other top-tier technology companies, Steve works directly with vendors who produce the technology of the future.
Patty Richardson is an executive director of Kansas Certified Development Companies covering the southwest quadrant of Kansas. She has more than 20 years of experience in business finance, working with a multitude of federal and state programs, in addition to KCDC’s own business revolving loan funds.
Lea Ann Seiler is the economic development director for Hodgeman County. She has a background in marketing and loves to find new ways to wow people with fun, creative ideas!
Jeanette Siemens has an entrepreneurial background and is currently a partner of ThinkOut Strategic Solutions, providing leadership training and community and economic development planning. She recently completed a two year contract in Kiowa County/Greensburg working with the business community following the May 7, 2007 tornado. Jeanette is certified in Trustee Development.
Weldon Sleight is the Dean of the University of Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture. He received his degrees from Utah State University and Iowa State University prior to pursuing a career in higher education that included various administrative positions within agriculture and outreach education. Early in his career he developed a passion for revitalizing rural communities through the delivery of degree programs to time and place bound adult students. At NCTA, he has been the catalyst behind the development of several new ownership programs designed to return NCTA's graduates to their rural communities.
Scott Sproul has been employed by Rural Telephone Service Company, Inc, since 1999. As the community development representative, he actively participates in community, civic, and social events on behalf of Rural Telephone/Nex-Tech in more than 50 northwest Kansas communities. Scott is currently serving as a board member on the Norton Area Chamber of Commerce and the Entrepreneurial Center of Phillipsburg, Kansas. He is a member of the Frontier Community Foundation, Rotary Foundation, Lenora Jubilee Association, Norton County Horse Council and Graham County Toys for Tots.
Chris Sramek is a meteorologist by profession and business coach for aspiring rural entrepreneurs with 14 years of experience managing a private weather business and co-managing a family farm. He served as Rawlins County Economic Development director from 2004 to 2008, where countless programs and new initiatives were implemented to create a more entrepreneurial environment for his hometown of Atwood, Kan. Chris is confident that a happening as great as the "gold rush" of the 1800's is about to occur in rural America having a greater economic growth effect than the railroads or the Homestead Act. This will be the development of renewable energies and the millennial generation's return to their home towns to start their own businesses.
Andy Stanton is someone who strives to learn and understand the benefits of the Web 2.0 revolution. He says he’s a “digital immigrant working hard on his naturalization paperwork to become a digital native.” Andy has 15 years experience in the world of advertising, public relations and marketing and integrates Web 2.0 technologies into his courses at Fort Hays State University where he is an assistant professor of communication studies. He also speaks at conventions and workshops on how organizations can utilize the newest technologies to promote their attractions. A Kansas native who stood on the Great Wall of China twice, he and his wife, Dana, have two sons, Jackson and Gabe, and one daughter, Grace.
Diane Stiles is the director of Norton City/County Economic Development. She has served in this capacity for two years.
Linda Sutton is employed by WSU and in 2003 started the first Kansas Small Business Development Center outreach center to help small businesses in 11 counties in North Central Kansas. The NCK SBDC assists start-up and existing businesses by providing quality, confidential, management counseling at no cost and affordable training seminars. Linda holds an MBA, has international and corporate controller experience, and has owned her own business. She was named the 2009 State Star for the KSBDC. Since June 2003, Linda has worked with more than 800 businesses and was key in helping more than 130 businesses start, and creating more than 400 new jobs for north central Kansas.
Patricia Veesart (Pat) is the regional director of the Garden City Community College Kansas Small Business Development Center and a member of the business department faculty at Friends University as an adjunct instructor in their outreach programs. She has an associate of arts degree from Cloud County Community College at Concordia, Kansas. Her BS degree is in human resources management and she holds a master of science in management, both from Friends University at Wichita, Kansas. Pat comes from a background in the retail clothing business and has office experience that ranges from clerical to management. She came to the GCCC KSBDC as the assistant director in 1994 and assumed the duties of regional director in 1999. The GCCC KSBDC offers free counseling and low cost training to 22 counties in Southwest Kansas.
Becky Walters is a city gal who married the farmer. It wasn't long before she realized that she and livestock or big green equipment didn't really go together very well, but she loved to play in the dirt. Through a series of events, Becky began growing pumpkins, and had a simple U-pick pumpkin patch as a hobby for about 10 years. Becky and Carroll (her husband) had attended their first NAFDMA (North American Farmers Direct Marketing Association) conference, just before the Kansas Department of Commerce developed the Agritourism Initiative, and Becky decided it was time for her to leave her career in management for medical offices and try turning a portion of the family farm into the agritourism entity that she believed it could be. Becky was asked to sit in on the Agritourism Advisory Council and was the first chair of the council. Presently she is working on the membership committee for the NAFDMA organization.
Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University. He has been a speaker at the state and national levels on rural development topics. He is also co-owner of Lazy T Ranch, LLC, a new agritourismenterprise near Manhattan, Kan.
