Category: News

For Immediate Release: Monday, October 16, 2017 News from Greater Topeka Partnership 618 S. Kansas Ave. | 785.234.1030 Contact: Brett Oetting, President & CEO, Visit Topeka, 785.234.1030 TOPEKA, Kansas – The newly organized Greater Topeka Partnership, a 501c6 comprised of the city’s economic development organizations with the goal of advancing the communities strategic initiatives and making Topeka and Shawnee County a better place to live, work, and play has made its first hire. Amy McCarter joined the organization on Oct. 16, 2017, and is tasked with leading communications, public and media relations for the partnership. Amy comes to the organization from the Topeka Police Department where she was the Media/Public Relations… Read More

For Immediate Release Friday, May 19, 2017 Contact: Jared Hitchens, Communications Specialist, Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, 785.234.2644 Hometown Heroes banner program coming to the Capital City this fall, applications now accepted TOPEKA, Kansas – Applications are being accepted for the inaugural display of Military Hometown Heroes street banners, to be featured in Downtown Topeka from Sept. 11 to Nov. 11, 2017. Topeka’s Military Hometown Heroes banner program connects the Capital City with other communities in Kansas and across the nation in creating a vibrant tribute for our neighbors who are serving, or have served in the armed forces of the United States. “This is good for Topeka. It’s a… Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 5, 2017 Contact: Gabriel O’Shea Telephone: 785.221.9240 Email: goshea@greatertopeka.org Website: TopekaForge.org Topeka, KS, May 5, 2017– Forge is introducing a new initiative called “Forge Your Future” with the goal of bringing young professionals to the voting polls. Working in collaboration with the League of Women Voters and Shawnee County Elections Office, Forge aims to increase the number of registered voters in Topeka and Shawnee County for individuals aged 18 – 39. In 2016, the number of registered voters between the ages of 18 – 39 was 42,847 which accounts for 39% of the total registered voters for that year. The number of registered voters between the… Read More

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

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

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

  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

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

Brent Boles, chairman of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, and Scott Griffith, chairman of GO Topeka, announced today that Matthew (Matt) Pivarnik, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Tulsa Regional Chamber, will serve as president and chief executive officer of the Chamber and GO Topeka, effective Jan. 11, 2016. Boles said the search committee worked with Waverly Partners, LLC, a firm specializing in finding chamber executives across the country. “The extensive search process also included input and guidance from elected officials as well as business leaders in our community,” Boles said. “Chamber staff also had an opportunity to meet candidates and provide feedback. We interviewed several… Read More