Author: Jared Hitchens

  Opening in the summer of 2018, the Hilton Garden Inn has quickly emerged as one of Topeka’s premier hotels. Conveniently located off Highway 470, Highway 70 and Highway 635, the hotel is a short drive from the Wanamaker shopping district. The Hilton Garden Inn hosts a spacious fitness center, large indoor pool, hot tub and outdoor game area that includes a putting green. Of its 123 rooms, each has a microwave, a mini-refrigerator, Kernig, complimentary Wi-Fi and a 50” TV. The hotel also features a 24-hour “Shop” and coin operate laundry for your convenience. Enjoy breakfast and dinner in the hotel’s Garden Grille Restaurant and 34th Star Bar off… Read More

Center right: Jim Henry and Andrew Foreman, cricket ranchers (read more below), were awarded first place at the finals round of the 2018 Washburn University Pitch Competition. The final round of Washburn University’s Build Your Future – Pitch Competition, presented by Washburn University School of Business and GO Topeka, took place on November 15. The final five student teams pitched their ideas for new products and services to a full house in the Bradbury Thompson Alumni Center. A panel of judges was also in attendance to deliberated on the unique pitches, which included everything from a business card app using geofencing, a mobile glass blowing unit, to cricket ranching. The… Read More

As we all gear up to slow down and take some time with friends and family for the Thanksgiving holiday, many of us will be asked what we are grateful for. Typically, we will rattle off things like our health, our loved ones, a myriad of things we tend to take for granted throughout the year but pause as it comes to a close to reflect and give gratitude. Often, relationships may be cited, but how often do we stop to consider those we have formed through our places of work? As we find ourselves near the end of the first official year of the Greater Topeka Partnership, it is… Read More

Keep your money close, so your community can go further Fun fact: small businesses contribute to local economies by bringing growth and innovation to the community in which the business is established. Also, small businesses add to a city’s identity and overall charm. All the more reason to celebrate Small Business Saturday, a holiday completely dedicated to the entrepreneurial spirit and the economic importance of small business! In Topeka, the shop small season officially begins November 20 at 10:30 a.m. in front of Prairie Glass Studio. Eugene Williams, chair of the Small Business Council and executive director of KTWU, will read a proclamation on behalf of Mayor De La Isla declaring… Read More

Women’s Forum – Quiet Conversations is a community conversation on topics rarely discussed openly. On November 15, attendees will hear from a panel of community and business leaders on a variety of important issues, including: gender discrimination, assault and abuse, sexual harassment, race relations, women and depression, unhealthy relationships and diversity and inclusion. We sat down with panelist Dr. Sharon Sullivan with Washburn University to discuss her specific topic, unhealthy relationships.  To many, certain images come to mind when talking about unhealthy relationships: that of the violent scene between an overly controlling spouse or significant other and their victim, for example. But it is important to understand that unhealthy relationships are not exclusively… Read More

Women’s Forum – Quiet Conversations is a community conversation on topics rarely discussed openly. On November 15, attendees will hear from a panel of community and business leaders on a variety of important issues, including: gender discrimination, assault and abuse, sexual harassment, race relations, women and depression, unhealthy relationships and diversity and inclusion. We sat down with panelist Phelica Glass, a Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker, to discuss her specific topic, depression in women. According to the World Health Organization, depression affects 1 in 3 people. Furthermore, depression is twice as common in women. “Not only is it more common in women but it is also more persistent in women,” says Phelica. “Factors… Read More

Women’s Forum – Quiet Conversations is a community conversation on topics rarely discussed openly. On November 15, attendees will hear from a panel of community and business leaders on a variety of important issues, including: gender discrimination, assault and abuse, sexual harassment, race relations, women and depression, unhealthy relationships and diversity and inclusion. We sat down with panelist Kathleen Marker with the YWCA of Northeast Kansas to discuss her specific topic, diversity and inclusion (and equity). Having diversity in our workforce means being inclusive and should encompass everything from race to gender and beyond; e.g. age, experience, education, background, upbringing, marital status, country of origin, religious views, political affiliation, learning styles, conflict styles… Read More

Women’s Forum – Quiet Conversations is a community conversation on topics rarely discussed openly. On November 15, attendees will hear from a panel of community and business leaders on a variety of important issues, including: gender discrimination, assault and abuse, sexual harassment, race relations, women and depression, unhealthy relationships and diversity and inclusion. We sat down with panelist Amanda Kiefer, FHLBank Topeka, to discuss her specific topic, sexual harassment. Sexual harassment has become an ever-growing discussion point at present. Historically, it has gone overlooked in the workplace, and in many offices today harassment still goes unreported. This kind of misconduct is not only unwarranted and demeaning, it impedes upon women’s ability to… Read More

Women’s Forum – Quiet Conversations is a community conversation on topics rarely discussed openly. On November 15, attendees will hear from a panel of community and business leaders on a variety of important issues, including: gender discrimination, assault and abuse, sexual harassment, race relations, women and depression, unhealthy relationships and diversity and inclusion. We sat down with panelist Amber Oetting, Kansas Gas Service, to discuss her specific topic, gender discrimination in the workplace. An age-old issue, gender discrimination is every bit as prevalent now as it was when women entered the workforce. And, unfortunately, it is an issue many victims, bystanders and managerial staff remain silent on. But why do so… Read More