New Governor Following the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of Governor Brownback as ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, he resigned as Governor of Kansas at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 31. Lieutenant-Governor Jeff Colyer succeeded him in a swearing-in ceremony in the Capitol rotunda. Observers are curious to learn how their new Governor will compare in his policies and outlooks to his predecessor. Coyler has suggested for months that he will bring a new tone to the Governor’s office but it is tough to gauge what that means in terms of his approach to school finance or Medicaid Expansion, for example. He has been more involved in certain issues than is typically… Read More
Continue ReadingJanuary 22, 2018 Legislative Update
School Finance The legislature continues to study possible ways to address the supreme court’s school finance ruling. Lawmakers are loath to raise taxes, especially in light of last year’s tax overhaul and this year’s elections. Last week, the House Appropriations Committee was told that one way to find the $600 million over five years which the court seems to be demanding would be to implement an 18% across the board budget cut in overall state funding. This is scarcely more palatable than raising revenues; one legislator flatly received the report as “insightful.” The legislature has engaged a professor from Texas A&M to study the cost of providing constitutionally adequate school funding… Read More
Continue ReadingSelf-care & Wellness: Oshnik Yoga
For many of us, a very specific image comes to mind when thinking about yoga: a person stretching his or her fabulous body into a seemingly impossible pose, their face as calm as a Hindu cow. Moreover, some people find the superficial traits reflected in this image (that of being poised, flexible and strong) to be the ultimate attainment for practicing yoga. However, while it is true that this practice can reinforce these physical attributes, yoga can also help develop mindfulness- an exercise that can help improve physical and mental health as well as overall well-being. In this edition of our Self-Care & Wellness blog series, the Chamber would like… Read More
Continue ReadingGlenda DuBoise Named Community Engagement Coordinator for Heartland Visioning
Contact: Amy McCarter Title: Vice President of Communications Telephone: 785.234.1030 Email: amy.mccarter@topekapartnership.com Glenda DuBoise Named Community Engagement Coordinator for Heartland Visioning Topeka, KS, December 8, 2017– The Greater Topeka Partnership has hired Glenda DuBoise as the Community Engagement Coordinator for Heartland Visioning. “We’re excited to have Glenda on our team,” Kayla Bitler, Strategic Coordinator for Momentum 2022 said. “She brings a level of experience and grace that will take this organization and our community as a whole to new heights.” Ms. DuBoise joins Heartland Visioning with a wealth of experience in community engagement, serving most recently as the Regional Community Organizer for Communities Creating Opportunity and as the President and Interim Executive… Read More
Continue ReadingLeadership Greater Topeka Class of 2018 Announced
Contact: Michelle Stubblefield Title: Executive Director of LGT Telephone: 785.234.1030 Email: michelle@downtowntopekainc.com Leadership Greater Topeka Class of 2018 Announced Topeka, KS, December 8, 2017– Leadership Greater Topeka, a Greater Topeka Partnership program identifies outstanding leaders from the community and teaches the participants aspects of leadership. Class members attend a retreat and eight day-long sessions that begin in January and continue through May. During these classes they will learn about challenges facing Topeka and Shawnee County and how they can work to influence important community issues.Topeka, KS, December 8, 2017– Leadership Greater Topeka, a Greater Topeka Partnership program identifies outstanding leaders from the community and teaches the participants aspects of leadership.… Read More
Continue ReadingEast Topeka Learning Center – Focus Groups
In an effort to advance the process of the East Topeka Learning Center project, GO Topeka has partnered with Ketchum Global Research & Analytics to glean information directly from the Topeka community. The project started by reaching out via a telephone survey asking for volunteers to be a part of a focus group. Many who were called were receptive to being a part of a 90-minute focus group. The objectives of the focus groups are to further understand the needs of East Topeka community residents in their own words in regards to the East Topeka Learning Center project and validate the findings and market segments from the survey. Some of… Read More
Continue ReadingSelf-Care and Wellness: Midwest Float
Self-Care and Wellness: Midwest Float In the hopes of making it a truly happy holiday, we often undertake a myriad of responsibilities on the behalf of others: we schlep relatives from the airport at odd hours, fight the crowds at the super market to get that special ingredient that was conveniently forgotten during the last trip, and – on top of maintaining your personal and professional schedules – somehow find time to clean and decorate the house for company. So, is it any wonder that to many of us the season “to be jolly” ‘tis also the season for stress and anxiety? In many cases, holiday stress can be attributed… Read More
Continue ReadingEconomic Outlook Conference
The inaugural Economic Outlook Conference presented by U.S. Bank is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m at Washburn University’s Bradbury Thompson Alumni Center. Join us to learn about the state of the economy on a national, regional and local level. Bill Northey, Chief Financial Officer of U.S. Bank Private Client Group, will be the keynote speaker, addressing the economy on the national level. We have partnered with the Washburn University School of Business to offer a student discount for Washburn students. Breakfast will be provided to attendees. Thank you to our partners, GO Topeka and Washburn University School of Business, for making this event possible.… Read More
Continue ReadingCustom Tree Care: A Growing Business
The Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce would like to recognize and congratulate its member, Custom Tree Care, for ranking No. 98 on Ingram’s Top 100 of 2017 and No. 3724 on Inc. Magazine’s 5000. These lists measure the overall revenue growth experienced in the previous three years. Custom Tree Care yielded an annual average growth rate of 26.74% and had experienced an overall growth rate of 80.22% since 2013; the company’s yearly revenue for 2016 was $4.4 M. Custom Tree Care was established in Topeka in 1999. It provides services both in residential upkeep and disaster recovery. In fact, at the time of publication, Custom Tree Care President Greg Gathers and… Read More
Continue ReadingMeet the Candidates
Topeka, KS, October 27, 2017– The public is invited to meet and speak with the candidates running for the Topeka City Council in Marvin Auditorium at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library Saturday, October 28th from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The format holds no formal agenda to encourage citizens to engage with the candidates about issues more important to them. This 2017 local elections campaign event is made possible by a collaboration between the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Topeka, Inc., Visit Topeka, the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, League of Women Voters of Topeka, Shawnee County and the Community Resources Council. # # # If… Read More
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