Topeka, KS, March 21, 2017– Backed by GO Topeka and the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, Included aims to be the authority on diversity and inclusion within businesses and organizations throughout the region. Each of the participating organizations has made the commitment to improve and grow their diversity and inclusion initiatives to increase awareness in their own organizations as well as the overall community. The Included committee is currently made up of representatives from Advisors Excel, Alorica, Bartlett & West, Big Heart Pet Brands, Express Employment Professionals, FHLBank Topeka, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Mar’s Chocolate, OneGas, Payless ShoeSource, SE2, Security Benefit, Topeka Public Schools, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, Washburn… Read More
Continue ReadingBenefits of Chamber Membership
To be honest, there are tens to hundreds of reasons to join the Chamber and each business has its own personal ones that are important. This blog post focuses on 3 reasons; one is the top reason, based on our member’s feedback, and the other two are less well-known reasons to join. Networking By far, networking is the number one reason that businesses join the Chamber. We all understand the value of communicating with one another, learning about what is going on in our community and working together. Another benefit of networking is partnerships. By participating in Chamber activities, you meet businesses that you may not normally run into, as… Read More
Continue ReadingEast Topeka Learning Center
Why an East Topeka Learning Center? The idea of a learning center on the east side of our community has been bubbling up for some time. At the Joint Economic Development Organization meeting on Feb. 8 community members shared how over the years there has been brainstorming, sharing, hoping and now finally the next step in developing the center. East Topeka Learning Center is envisioned as an impactful, education space for citizens to benefit from expanded educational opportunities in their own neighborhood. Where will the East Topeka Learning Center be located? The location is at 2014 SE Washington Street, situated on SE 21st Street, between SE Washington Street and SE… Read More
Continue ReadingMy Float Experience
Midwest Float is a new member of the Chamber, and as with most new members the Chamber gets the occasional question about what they do or who they are. Businesses their names make them fairly self-explanatory. However, with Midwest Float questions came flooding into our office the moment they joined. So what is Midwest Float? The simplest way I can describe it is a company that specializes in stress and anxiety release. What is it really? Imagine going into an enclosed hot tub, and the water is warm and very salty (like Dead Sea salty). For 90 minutes you “float” in this salty water and, if like most, you relax enough… Read More
Continue ReadingDTI Annual Meeting Highlight Business Growth, Future Developments
Sitting in the lobby of a former bank, over 200 local business leaders met to celebrate the successes in downtown Topeka at the DTI Annual Meeting last week. The Topeka Chamber, GO Topeka, Forge, Heartland Visioning and EMBD joined together in celebration of business growth in 2016, and further learning about what is to come in 2017 and beyond. The two future developments announced that night highlighted what is to come for our community. First, the Menninger Foundation announced it will fund a sculpture for Kansas Avenue. Monies has been raised to fund a sculpture that is in the design stage, this sculpture will represent the Brown v Board decision. The sculpture… Read More
Continue ReadingGreater Topeka Chamber of Commerce’s Military Relations Council Announces First Luncheon of 2017
Topeka, KS, January 27, 2017– After hosting a sold-out inaugural luncheon in October of 2016, the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce’s Military Relations Council is privileged to announce its first quarterly luncheon of 2017. The MRC’s mission is to raise awareness and appreciation between our military and civilian sectors so that Topeka will truly be a Community which values its military installations and servicemen and women, active and veteran, as integral parts of our local economy and culture. The public is invited to join the Chamber and the MRC on February 8 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Capitol Plaza Hotel, Sunflower Ballroom. The council will recognize the… Read More
Continue Reading2017 Annual Meeting Recap
The 2017 Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting was a time for us to reflect on what we did in 2016 and where we are going this year. We kicked the meeting off by showing a great video showcasing the community’s accomplishments from 2016. Check it out: Michel’ Cole, Westar Energy, emceed the program and did a great job keeping the audience engaged and listening, as well as transitioning between the speakers. We recognized four remarkable people before our speakers started. These four individuals were key to the organization’s success in 2016. Kyle Mead, Lawyers Title of Topeka, was awarded an Award of Excellence for diligent work to help… Read More
Continue ReadingForge Selects New Chair-Elect
Contact: Gabriel O’Shea, 785.221.9240 Topeka, Kan., Jan. 5, 2o17: Forge, Topeka’s young professional’s organization, voted Ty Hysten as the 2017 chair-elect during their December Leadership Team Meeting. Hysten works as employee benefit consultant at Hysten Financial L.L.C. and holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Finance from Washburn University. He is a licensed insurance agent in the states of Kansas and Missouri for accident, health and life, as well as certified in long-term care insurance. Hysten is a United States Army veteran having served in both the Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom conflicts. He has been involved in the young professional’s organization since 2013. “Forge, to me means… Read More
Continue Reading2017 Leadership Greater Topeka Class Announced
CONTACT: Kristen Brunkow, co-facilitator, Leadership Greater Topeka, 785.231.6006 TOPEKA, Kan., Dec. 14, 2016: Thirty-six individuals from the Greater Topeka area have been selected to participate in the 2017 Leadership Greater Topeka program. Leadership Greater Topeka, a program of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce since 1984, identifies outstanding potential leaders from various components of the community and teaches participants how to lead in a community setting. There are over 1,000 alumni of the program, 70% of who still live and contribute to the Shawnee County community. Class members will attend a retreat and eight-day-long sessions between January 12 and May 5 to learn about challenges facing the City of… Read More
Continue ReadingMedia Release: Gabriel O’Shea Joins Fast Forward as Executive Director
Gabriel O’Shea, a participant in the trio intern program at Advisors Excel, has been named executive director of Fast Forward, the community’s young professionals organization. Fast Forward’s primary mission is to attract and retain young talent and to develop Topeka’s next generation of leaders. Matt Pivarnik, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce and GO Topeka, said Fast Forward, formed in 1999, is one of the oldest organizations for young professionals in the country and will be a key driver in helping grow the community. “The Fast Forward executive director position will be pivotal in the community’s efforts to attract and retain young talent,” he… Read More
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