The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

MANHATTAN —Officers filed a report for theft by deception in the 2800 block of Willow Grove in Manhattan just after 11 a.m. Monday.

An 87-year-old Manhattan reported an unknown suspect scammed him out of money.

The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $2,800.00. Police ask that anyone with information contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00.

MANHATTAN — Officials say Kansas State University’s Hale Library suffered significant damage during a fire.

Hundreds of thousands of books, journals, maps and other items were exposed to soot in the Hale Library fire. They won’t be available for the foreseeable future.
And so … our friends at KU Libraries are extending borrowing privileges to the K-State Family-photo courtesy K-State Libraries

Library dean Lori Goetsch said the university has contracted with an international disaster recovery business to restore the library following the May 22 blaze.

Goetsch says the library has extensive water and smoke damage. The fire was contained to the building’s roof, but hundreds of thousands of gallons of water were used to control the blaze.

The library also contained the university’s data center, and work remains to get the system fully back online.

Goetsch says about 250 library staff and students will be moved to temporary offices until repair work is complete.

Insurance adjusters will need about a month to assess the damage. It’s unclear when the library will reopen.

In the interim, KU Libraries extended borrowing privileges to the K-State Family, according to the K-State Libraries Facebook page. Wildcats simply need to visit one of their Lawrence campus library locations and use a Wildcat ID to check out materials.

-The Associated Press contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON — Eagle Communications Inc. has been selected by The ESOP Association as the 2018 Intranet Annual Award for Communications Excellence.

From left: Gary Shorman, Andrea Clinkscales, Cole Grieves, Shannon Wiederholt and Kurt David.

The AACE Awards are sponsored each year by the Association to recognize the outstanding communications and educational programs of its members. The awards are presented each May at the Association’s Annual Conference in Washingtonto companies who have excelled in communicating the ESOP (employee stock ownership plan) and its meaning to the company’s employees.

This is the second year in a row Eagle has been recognized by the national ESOP Association in the intranet category. This award recognizes excellence in ESOP communication efforts through use of a company intranet. The awards are split into two Divisions. Division A: 250 or Fewer Employees and Division B: Over 250 Employees. Eagle falls under the Over 250 Employees division.

“We are pleased to have been selected as a 2018 AACE Award winner by The ESOP Association,” President and CEO Gary Shorman said. “We are proud to be an ESOP company and strongly believe in the power of employee ownership and share that belief with all our employees.”

AACE Award winners are chosen by a panel of five judges made up of both management and non-management employee owners, each of whom has demonstrated active experience and interest in the field of ESOPs and employee ownership communications. Awards are based on: overall quality and quantity of employee owner education, contributions of employee owners, integration of the ESOP into company culture, frequency of ownership communications, involvement and/or response of employee owners, encouragement of ownership attitudes, clear explanations, creative ideas, graphic design, and technical quality.

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Hill has a previous conviction for Violation of the Kansas Offender Registration Act 1st Conviction, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections

DIEDRE JANE HOGAN, 28, Manhattan, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT;USE DEADLY WEAPON; Bond $5000

SALINA — Alysia Starkey, associate dean of academics at Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus, will serve as interim CEO and dean of the campus while a national search for a new leader is conducted, according to a media release.

Alysia Starkey courtesy photo

Starkey was appointed by April Mason, Kansas State University provost and senior vice president, following an all-university search process. She will begin her new duties onJuly 1.

Starkey will replace Verna Fitzsimmons, who is retiring from the position at the end of June. Fitzsimmons has served as CEO and dean of Kansas State Polytechnic since July 2012.

“Dr. Starkey’s 10 years of progressive administrative experience at Kansas State Polytechnic make her highly qualified to serve as its interim leader,” Mason said. “She has in-depth experience in the leadership, management and support needs of all academic programs at Kansas State Polytechnic. She has worked with faculty closely on a variety of issues, including curriculum development, workload and budgetary matters. She also has been involved in developing an inclusive and diverse campus and helping ensure the recruitment of diverse, high-quality students.”

As the interim CEO and dean, Starkey will report to the provost and serve on the Deans Council. She will serve as the chief academic and administrative officer of the Kansas State Polytechnic Campus. She also will have full responsibility for providing leadership, management and support for all academic programs offered on the campus; all administrative units; high-quality undergraduate and graduate experiences; continued excellence and growth in research programs; recruitment and retention of high caliber, diverse students; effective fiscal stewardship and fundraising efforts on behalf of the campus; and more.

“I am humbled to serve as the interim CEO and dean for the Kansas State Polytechnic Campus,” Starkey said. “The campus has positive momentum in the areas of curricular enhancement, facilities improvements, research initiatives and industry training. The commitment from our faculty and staff to create quality learning experiences grounded in practical, real-world applications is inspiring. I am excited to continue the work with faculty, staff, students and alumni in leveraging the polytechnic approach to learning, growing enrollments in new and existing degree programs, and fostering an inclusive environment that supports the growth and development of students and employees.”

Joining Kansas State Polytechnic in June 2002 as a technical services/automation coordinator and assistant professor, Starkey was promoted to library director and associate professor in 2007, and to assistant dean of academics and distance education and director of libraries in 2010. She served as assistant dean of continuous improvement from 2012-2014 before being named associate dean of academics/undergraduate studies and promoted to full professor in 2014. She gained the additional duties of acting director for the School of Integrated Studies in June 2016. In October 2017, Starkey was named associate dean of academics and acting director of professional education and outreach.

Starkey earned a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Kansas State University, a master’s in library science from the University of North Texas; a bachelor’s in psychology from Fort Hays State University; and an associate degree in social work from Colby Community College.

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The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Busch has previous convictions for criminal threat, driving while suspended, Liquor; transportation of liquor/ceral malt beverage in open container, driving while habitual violator, according to the Kan. Dept. of Corrections

RHONDA LYNETTE RAND, 47, Manhattan, Failure to Appear; Bond $2000

JOHNSON COUNTY —The family of a Kansas woman, one of three who died in a Missouri boat crash, has started a foundation in her honor.

Ashley Lamb and Hailey Marie Hochanadel- photo courtesy GoFundMe

Hailey Hochanadel, 21, Olathe, died in the early hours of May 19 after the boat struck a rock bluff on the Lake of the Ozarks in central Missouri, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Twenty-three-year-old Joseph LeMark and 24-year-old Daniel Lewis both of Overland Park also died.  Ashley Lamb, 22, a senior at Kansas State University remains hospitalized from injuries in the crash.

The family says charitable fund will go towards causes that Hailey was passionate about including anti bullying and the mentally disabled, according to the GoFundMe page.

First responders working the fatal accident -photo courtesy Missouri State Highway Patrol

The crash happened before 2 a.m. May 19 throwing Hochanedel, LeMark and 22-year-old Hayden Frazier and  into the water, according to the MSHP. All five people involved were friends who graduated from high school in Olathe.

MANHATTAN — Charles Taber, the vice provost for graduate and professional education and dean of the Graduate School at Stony Brook University, New York, has been named the new provost and executive vice president of Kansas State University, according to a media release from the university.

Stony Brook University; Department of Political Science, Professor Charles Taber- courtesy photo

Taber’s appointment was announced by Richard Myers, university president. He will assume his new duties on Aug. 15.

“Charles Taber is ideally qualified to become the next provost and executive vice president of Kansas State University,” Myers said. “Along with his extensive academic leadership and teaching experience, Dr. Taber brings expertise on two major initiatives facing Kansas State University: strategic enrollment management and budget modernization.”

Taber will play an essential role in the implementation of both initiatives as the university works to stabilize and build enrollment and adopt a new budget model to better address the many funding challenges facing higher education. As the higher education landscape continues to evolve, he will address and identify opportunities to advance K-State’s land-grant mission.

“I am excited to be joining the K-State family, especially because of the strong commitment to community,” Taber said. “It’s easy to see why K-State has been on such a positive trajectory. I am looking forward to working with the leadership team, faculty, staff, and students to tackle our remaining challenges and opportunities. The future is bright at K-State and I am thrilled to be part of it!”

As the university’s chief academic officer, Taber will report directly to Myers, serving as a close advisor and strategic leader on all aspects of university governance and the academic enterprise. He also will serve as the university’s chief executive officer in the president’s absence.

Taber will provide strategic oversight for academic planning, resource allocation and innovation in all academic programs while ensuring excellence and relevance in the design of the curriculum. He will focus on the quality of teaching and learning; providing global perspective and strategic direction to successfully manage operating budgets; and enhance the quality of the student experience at all levels.

Taber has served in his current position since 2013. He joined Stony Brook in 1989 as an instructor of political science, earning a promotion to full professor in 2008. He has served in many administrative positions at the university, including associate dean for postdoctoral affairs, dean of the School of Professional Development and interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. At Stony Brook, he has been involved with graduate enrollment management and addressing budget challenges in higher education.

A leading scholar in the fields of political psychology and computational modeling, Taber has more than 50 scholarly publications. His work has earned millions of dollars in grant funding from the National Science Foundation. His research has contributed to the growing literature on the psychological mechanisms that drive public opinion. In 2000, he received the Paul Lazersfeld outstanding paper award from the American Political Science Association for a paper on the causes of bias in political reasoning, published in the American Journal of Political Science. Along with Milton Lodge, Taber developed an influential theory of unconscious thinking in political behavior. Their 2013 book, “The Rationalizing Voter,” from Cambridge University Press, won the Robert E. Lane Book Award and the Book of the Year Awards from the Experimental Politics and Migration and Citizenship Sections of the American Political Science Association.

His teaching and research interests include diversity in higher education, budgeting in higher education, political psychology, public opinion and international relations. Taber earned his doctorate and master’s degree in political science from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and a bachelor’s degree in political science from East Tennessee State University.

Taber replaces April Mason, who is leaving the university at the end of June after serving as provost and senior vice president since 2010.

RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a an alleged scam.

Just after 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, police filed a report for theft by deception in the 3700 block of Peach Tree Cir. in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Activity report. A 44-year-old Manhattan told police an unknown suspect was scammed her out of money by impersonating the IRS.

The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $32,000.00.

Police ask that anyone with information contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00.

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

FORT RILEY —Major General Joseph Martin turned over command of the 1st Infantry Division to Major General John Kolasheski Friday morning at the Fort Riley Cavalry Parade Field.

Change of command ceremony Friday at Fort Riley

According to a media release. Major General Martin assumed command of the 1st Inf. Div. in October 2016 and shortly thereafter deployed with the Big Red One headquarters toIraq, where the division took command of the Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command – Operation Inherent Resolve in November 2016. While deployed, the division headquarters provided command and control of
Coalition troops training, advising and assisting Iraqi Security Forces.

During that time, 1.8 million people were liberated in Mosul, Iraq, which had been under ISIS control since June 2014. While the headquarters wasdeployed, more than 350,000 children returned to school in Mosul, 320 schools reopened and 195,000 internally displaced persons returned to their homes in Iraq’s second-largest city. Under the 1st Inf. Div.’s leadership, 30,000 Iraqi Security Forces Soldiers were trained.

Maj. Gen. John S. Kolasheski most recently served as deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7, for the U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He previously served with the 1st Inf. Div. as the division’s deputy commanding general for maneuver from June 2015 to May 2016, and in various positions with the division from July 2001 to May 2005.

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Pete Hughes, a proven program builder who has accumulated more than 650 victories in 21 seasons as a head coach, was named the 21st head baseball coach at Kansas State, Director of Athletics Gene Taylor announced Friday.

Hughes, who will be formally introduced at a press conference at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 12 in the Vanier Complex’s Steel & Pipe Team Theater, agreed to a five-year contract approved by the K-State Athletics, Inc., Board of Directors and President Richard B. Myers. Hughes was selected after a national search headed by K-State’s Taylor, Executive Associate Athletics Director Casey Scott and Ventura Partners and will be paid $375,000 in the first year of the deal with $10,000 annual increases each year remaining on the contract.

“My wife Debby and I could not be more elated to be bringing our family to one of the nation’s finest college communities,” said Hughes. “I am honored that President Myers and Director of Athletics Gene Taylor have given us this opportunity to become a member of a university and department that are integrity-driven, deeply rooted in core values and that represent all that is good in college athletics.

“I am beyond excited to continue the winning tradition of Kansas State baseball that Coach Hill tirelessly created over the past 15 years. It will be a privilege to wear the Purple and White.”

“We are excited to welcome Pete, Debby and the Hughes family to K-State,” Taylor said. “When we set out to hire our next baseball coach, we concentrated on finding someone with a proven track record of building and developing a successful program at the Power Five level. That is our need at this time – rebuilding a competitive program. Everyone that we talked to throughout this process emphasized the gritty determination of Pete’s teams, his emphasis on preparation and fielding fundamentally sound teams, his relentless approach to recruiting, his focus on identifying and developing the hard-working, blue collar-type of player that will bleed purple, his commitment to community service and his devotion to his family. His record of success is impressive, and he operates his program the right way. Combine all these factors and we felt we had the right man to help lead our program back to the level of success we want to achieve at K-State. Pete and his family will fit right in at K-State, and we look forward to them joining the Wildcat family.”

Hughes, who has a proven track record of setting new standards of excellence, has compiled a career record of 652-492-3 (.570) in 21 seasons as a head coach, serving as head coach at Trinity University (1997-98), Boston College (1999-2006), Virginia Tech (2007-13) and Oklahoma (2014-17).

Twice named both the New England Coach of the Year and BIG EAST Coach of the Year, as well as the 2000 American Baseball Coaches Association Northeast Region Coach of the Year, Hughes owns a well-deserved reputation as a relentless worker, tireless recruiter and charismatic leader.

Hughes has made a name for himself within the community throughout his career, starting with his 19 Ways Foundation. During his time in Norman, his teams raised over $80,000 to fight childhood cancer through the Vs. Cancer Foundation and the OU Children’s hospital. The Sooners also put on an annual ALS Awareness Halloween Game to benefit the ALS Foundation at the conclusion of each fall season.

Hughes comes to Manhattan after spending the 2018 season at the volunteer assistant coach at Georgia, where he helped the Bulldogs earn a national seed in the NCAA Tournament. Primarily working with the team’s infielders, Hughes elevated UGA’s defense from the bottom of the SEC in 2017 to 10th-best in the nation in his one season in Athens.

In 2017, the Sooners registered a 35-24 mark and advanced to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 2 seed in the Louisville Regional. Hughes collected a 128-107-1 (.544) record in four seasons at the helm of the Sooners.

In his final season as the OU skipper, Hughes tutored 10 players that were honored with Big 12 annual awards – the most in program history – including Brylie Ware who was named the Big 12 Co-Newcomer of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Big 12 First Team along with outfielder Steele Walker.

Inheriting a Virginia Tech club in 2007 that had not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2000, Hughes went on to lead the Hokies to five straight 30-win seasons, including a pair of 40-win seasons that culminated with berths in the NCAA Tournament in 2010 and 2013, the latter marking the school’s first-ever selection as a regional host site. Hughes compiled a 222-174 (.561) record in seven seasons at Virginia Tech.

Hughes produced an even more remarkable turnaround at Boston College, as he took over a program that had averaged just 13 wins a year over the previous 35 seasons. The Golden Eagles finished 17-23-1 the year prior to his arrival in 1998 and, two seasons later, the team registered an 18-game improvement as it finished 35-20 and qualified for the program’s second-ever appearance in the BIG EAST Tournament. In 2005, he guided BC to a school-record 37 victories.

Averaging 31 wins a season while at Boston College, Hughes owned a career mark of 250-181-2 (.580) as the Eagles’ skipper. He coached 37 all-conference selections while at Boston College, including Jared McGuire who was named 2005 BIG EAST Player of the Year.

In 21 seasons as a head coach, Hughes’ teams have finished .500 or better 19 times while he has overseen 74 former student-athletes selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, including 15 taken in the first 10 rounds.
Hughes is a 1990 graduate of Davidson College where he played third base on the baseball team and quarterback for the Wildcats’ football team. He was captain of the baseball team as a senior and graduated that year with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology/anthropology.

Hughes began his coaching career at Hamilton College in New York in 1990-91, serving as an assistant in football and was the top assistant and recruiting coordinator for baseball. He continued in that dual role at Northeastern University in Boston from the fall of 1991 until the spring of 1996 when he landed the head baseball coaching position at Trinity.

A native of Brockton, Massachusetts, Hughes and his wife Debby have five children: Thomas, Hal, Dominic, Grace and P.J. Thomas is a rising senior infielder at Oklahoma while Hal, also an infielder, just completed his freshman season at LSU.

THE PETE HUGHES FILE
Born: January 11, 1968 in Brockton, Mass.
High School: Boston College High School, Boston, Mass.
College: Davidson College, B.A. in Sociology/Anthropology, 1990
Family: Wife: Debby; Children: Thomas, Hal, Dominic, Grace, P.J.
Playing Career
Davidson College, 1986-90, Baseball and Football

Coaching Career
Asst. Baseball Coach/Asst. Football Coach, Hamilton College (Clinton, N.Y.) 1990-91
Asst. Baseball Coach/Asst. Football Coach, Northeastern Univ. (Boston, Mass.) 1991-96
Head Baseball Coach, Trinity University (San Antonio, Texas) 1997-98
Head Baseball Coach, Boston College, 1999-2006
Head Baseball Coach, Virginia Tech, 2007-13
Head Baseball Coach, Oklahoma, 2013-17
Volunteer Coach, Georgia, 2017-2018
Head Baseball Coach, K-State, 2018-pres.

COACHING HIGHLIGHTS:
2017 NCAA Regional (Oklahoma)
2013 NCAA Regional, Host (Virginia Tech)
2010 NCAA Regional (Virginia Tech)
2005 New England Coach of the Year
2002 BIG EAST Coach of the Year
2000 New England Coach of the Year
2000 BIG EAST Coach of the Year
2000 ABCA Northeast Coach of the Year

PETE HUGHES BY THE NUMBERS:
74 MLB Draft picks
15 Top-10 round picks
76 All-Conference selections
20 All-District selections
6 All-Americans
6 Freshman All-Americans
3 NCAA Regional berths
32 Academic All-Big 12 selections
19 seasons .500 or better
1 BIG EAST Player of the Year (Jared McGuire, 2005)
1 Big 12 Freshman of the Year (Sheldon Neuse, 2014)
1 Brooks Wallace Award Winner (nation’s top shortstop – Sheldon Neuse, 2016)
1 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year (Brylie Ware, 2017)

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT PETE HUGHES:
“I couldn’t be happier for Pete Hughes and his family. He sacrificed a lot to join our program and made a huge impact here at Georgia. Kansas State is getting one heck of a baseball coach and a better person. They are getting a coach that will work tirelessly with their players on and off the field and will help bring the Wildcat baseball program back to prominence.”
-Scott Stricklin, Georgia head baseball coach

“I have known Pete Hughes since he was the coach at Boston College and I was at Notre Dame. During that time, I grew to respect Pete as an outstanding coach, competitor, and molder of young men. His teams have always played with great passion and energy. The players at Kansas State will be taught to play the game the right way and will represent the university with great class – because Pete will demand nothing less. He is a tireless worker in recruiting as well as working with the players on the field. He will not stop until the job is done.”
-Paul Mainieri, LSU head baseball coach

“Pete Hughes is an outstanding coach, recruiter and leader. His teams are always fundamentally sound and relentless competitors. I am so happy for him and his family.”

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

KEENA LAPRICE MCCANE, 21, Fort Riley, DUI; 1ST CONV; COMPETENT EVIDENCE OF BLOOD/; Bond $750

Braden has ten previous convictions for theft, burglary, aggravated battery, DUI, criminal use of explosives, drugs and more, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections

BENJAMIN WILLIAM BRADEN, 43, Topeka, Probation Violation, held without Bond

JONATHAN THOMAS COLE, 33, Manhattan,IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE;OPERATE W/O DRIVING WHILE SUSPENDED; 1ST CONVICTION; Bond $1000

KATRINA ANNE SANDEEN, 47, Manhattan, DOMESTIC BATTERY;RUDE PHYSICAL CONTACT; Bond $1000

GINA MARIA JONES, 24, Probation Violation; Exceptionally Clearned

DAVID MALDONADO JR, 43, Manhattan, Probation Violation; Bond $5000

DAVID ALLEN OVERBY, 26, Manhattan, CRIMINAL DAMAGE PROPERTY; <$1000; Bond $1000

JEREMY ALAN WILLIAMS, 36, Junction City, Failure to Appear; JC Police

 

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Fort Riley is warning residents near the fort in Manhattan to be ready for a lot of noise on certain days up to June 19.

Image courtesy 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley Facebook

The fort said in news release it will be conducting a training exercise involving small arm fire, artillery and demolitions.

The exercise is known as Gauntlet and is part of the 1st Infantry Division commander’s Combat Training Center certification program.

Fort Riley says to expect significant noise June 11 through June 13, and on June 17.

More than 18,000 soldiers from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade and numerous National Guard and Army Reserve units will be part of the exercise. The fort says the Gauntlet is designed to test command and control at all levels in field conditions.

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Tucker has previous convictions for Sexual Battery and Aggravated Assault, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections

KURTIS JAMES MEIER, 30, Garden City, AGG BATTERY;DUI CAUSING BODILY HARM, DUI; INCAPABLE OF SAFELY DRIVING – 1ST CONV; Bond $11,500

SAL MINELO TUCKER, 53, Ogden, Failure to Appear; Bond $5000

MANDY LOU HORAN, 36, Manhattan, Failure to Appear; Bond $285

NICHOLAS CHRISTOPHER LONG, 32, Manhattan, Failure to Appear; Bond $500

RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities have investigated reports of an attempted abduction.

Riley County Police reported they were aware of a post on Facebook being shared about an attempted abduction at the Walmart in Manhattan.

RCPD was never notified of the incident but was sent the Facebook post by several concerned citizens. The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to the post by Walmart.

They investigated the claims and found the reports to be unsubstantiated.

Police reported, “we understand the fear that can be caused by reports of unknown people trying to snatch children.

We wanted to let the public know that the claims were unfounded. If you ever do experience a situation like what was described, please call law enforcement immediately. Child abduction is not a joking matter and should be reported directly to police and deputies.

Also, remember that in our social media driven world, that sharing stories on social media that are not verified can cause undue hardship for the people labeled as suspects who may have done nothing wrong.”

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Commerce Office of Minority and Women Business Development is accepting nominations for Kansas minority and/or women-owned businesses, advocates, young entrepreneurs, and corporations. These nominations celebrate National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week, October 14-20, 2018. Nominees and winners will be recognized at the annual Kansas Minority and Women Business Awards Luncheon to be held on October 11, 2018, at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Topeka.

“Minority and women-owned businesses are essential drivers of our Kansas economy, and this special awards ceremony will honor the tremendous accomplishments of these amazing entrepreneurs in our state,” said Robert North, Interim Secretary for the Kansas Department of Commerce.

The deadline to nominate a business or individual is June 15, 2018. Online nomination forms can be accessed at KansasCommerce.gov/MEDweek.

The 2017 award winners included:

Kansas Women-Owned Businesses

• MySmartPlans – Kansas City (Construction Firm)
• Advanced Welding Technologies, LLC – Wichita (Manufacturing Firm)
• FSC, Inc.- Overland Park (Professional Service Firm)
• Toronto Lumber Company – Toronto (Retail Firm)
• Sage Restoration LLC – Overland Park (Service Industry Firm)
• International Express Trucking, Inc. – Kansas City (Supplier/Distributor Firm)

Kansas Minority-Owned Businesses

• Recyclable Materials Relocating, LLC – Kansas City (Construction Firm)
• Quik Tek Machining, LLC – Wichita (Manufacturing Firm)
• LaborMax Staffing KC Metro – Kansas City (Professional Service Firm)
• Paleterias Tropicanas – Kansas City (Retail Firm)
• Project Fitness LLC DBA Project Fitness CrossFit – Garden City (Service Industry Firm)
• Sarin Energy Solutions – Overland Park (Supplier/Distributor Firm)

Minority Business Advocate

• Sandra Olivas, Bank of Labor – Kansas City

Women Business Advocate

• Debra Kunz, Center for Deliberate Growth – Mission

Young Entrepreneur

• Paul Kaster, Crooked Branch Studio – Leawood

Corporation of the Year

• Textron Aviation – Wichita

About the Kansas Department of Commerce Office of Minority and Women Business Development

The Office of Minority and Women Business Development provides assistance in business management, identifying resources for financing and establishing contacts in the public and private sectors. The office is responsible for certifying minority- and women-owned businesses as small disadvantaged businesses for procurement and subcontracting opportunities.