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A Monthly Publication of theFEBRUARY 2018 Volume 58, Number 2AT A GLANCE.Business After Hours . . . . . . February 8Lamone’s 701 Bishop Street5-7pmLegislative IssuesMeeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . February 10Visit Salina Annex 120 W. Ash8:30-10pmSalina at the Statehouse . . February 15Topeka, Kansas8am-5:30pmBusiness After Hours . . . . . February 22SkyWest M.J. Kennedy Terminal5-7pm 3237 ArnoldCustomer ServiceSeminar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . February 27Visit Salina Annex 120 W. Ash8:30-10:30am OR 1:30-3:30pmDetails inside!ON OUR WEBSITE.When you see this icon,it indicates that moreinformation can be foundon our website. Watch forit in all our publications!PASS IT ON!CUSTOMER SERVICE SEMINARSee Page 4nnnnHuman ResourcesCommunicationsSalesStaff Break Area
SDI AND CHAMBERDowntown NewsBy Penny Bettles, Salina Downtown, Inc.pbettles@salinadowntown.com 825-0535I LOVE my downtownOFFICIAL PUBLICATIONThe Salina Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber Connection(USPS 478-100) is published monthly by the Salina AreaChamber of Commerce, 120 W. Ash, Salina, Kansas 67401.Periodical Postage paid at Salina, Kansas. Subscriptionrate to members is 1.25 per year. Sylvia A. Rice, Editor.Consolidated Printing, layout and design. Postmaster: Sendaddress changes to: Chamber Connection, PO Box 586,Salina, KS 67402-0586.BOARD OF DIRECTORSCHAIRMAN Mark RitterCrown Distributing, LLCVICE CHAIRMAN Dr. Matt ThompsonKansas Wesleyan UniversityCHAIR-ELECT Joyce VolkJoyce Volk Insurance AgencyTREASURER Dahx MarrsMarymount Properties,Techniqol Consulting,Kansas Bankers TechnologiesPAST CHAIRMAN Guy WalkerBlue Beacon InternationalPRESIDENT/CEO Don L. WeiserSalina Area Chamber of CommerceKristy BalthazorAssurance Partners, LLCJennifer BrantleySchwan’s Global SupplyBrandon EbertWaddell & Reed, Ebert-Stein GroupJulie GoetzSalina Regional Health CenterDave HiechelEagle TechnologiesBrandon HughesHarbin ConstructionPeter JohnstonClark, Mize & Linville, Chtd.James LambertKansas Gas ServiceDr. Scott Owings, MDKU School of MedicineBob ProtzmanRocking M MediaLuAnn PuvogelSalina Surgical HospitalAmber RenfroColdwell Banker Antrim-PiperWenger RealtorsFather Bobby SmithSaint Francis Community ServicesBarb YoungTriad ManufacturingMark ZimmermanSalina Supply Company2There are many reasons to love downtown from the places and experiences to thewonderful memories that are made while being downtown. Here are just a few reasons whyI LOVE my downtown:1. Events and Entertainment. We host the town›smost favorite events! From pub crawls, wine walksto Friday Night Live. Salina Downtown definitelycreates an event that you just can›t miss! Check outthe calendar of events at salinaae.com.2.The Shopping! We seriously have the best localboutiques around. You can’t beat the one of a kindselection of clothes, novelty gifts, furniture, antiquesand much, much more. We have so much here you have to see it to believe it!3. SculptureTour Salina. Downtown is a public art lover’s dream year-round. SculptureTourSalina is an outdoor walking exhibit that changes every spring. Each piece on displaydowntown is on loan from the artist. We encourage you to stroll through our thrivingdowntown, tour the sculptures, and vote for your favorite piece. Each year, votes are tallied,and the City of Salina purchases the “People’s Choice” winning sculpture to add to ourpermanent art collection!4. The food scene. We have a pretty diverse selection of good eats. You can enjoy amazingItalian, wood fired pizza, yummy BBQ, a Cajun cuisine and a good ol’ fashioned burger alldowntown, all within walking distance of any parking lot downtown!5. The Stiefel Theatre. The Stiefel Theatre has made a huge impact to the community since1931.The Stiefel has now become a major concert venue to the midwest hosting artists likePeter Frampton, Steve Martin, and Darius Rucker! The Salina Symphony also makes its homein the theatre.6. Nightlife. Tough day at the office? You can always laugh it off with the co-workers in anyone of Salina downtown›s fun and eclectic bars! They even host live music most weekends!P.S. there›s also a hippy-happening coffee shop that has an amazing comfy feel.7. Hidden gems. Have you ever noticed the beautiful architecture on the buildingsdowntown? Next time you’re taking a stroll down Santa Fe, look up, it’s beauty in plain sight!8. The downtown residents. We can’t forget the people that call downtown their home! Loftresidents add to the everyday lifestyle and buzz that every downtown needs! They bring the“neighbor” to the hood.9. Top notch employers. Salina downtown is home to Salina Regional Health Center,City/County building, and many financial and legal offices, making downtown a great placeto work!10. Things keep getting better! While there are countless reasons (these ten are justthe beginning) to love Salina downtown, the underlying theme that unifies them all isprogress! Will it be easy? No. Will it be challenging? Absolutely. But look at how we are allcollectively changing it for the better already. The current projects (streetscape renovation,5-story hotel, KU Med Center, The Alley, and more!) will draw more Salinans and regionalvisitors to downtown. Creating the sorts of jobs and opportunities Salina craves and providingthe kind of new ideas and energy necessary to keep up the momentum. Our cultural life getsmore enriching and diverse by the day. Already great, our food scene continues to expand andimprove in mouth-watering ways. Citizens are getting more engaged and involved in improvingtheir neighborhoods. Without these advocates, Salina downtown just wouldn’t be the same.
CHAMBER NEWSRibbon CuttingFollow theSalina Chamberand Visit Salinaon Facebook.TK’s Smokehaus celebrated with a Chamber ribbon cutting, and is now open and ready for business!Officers elected forChamber Board 2018Mark Ritter, Crown Distributing LLC, has been elected 2018Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Salina Area Chamberof Commerce. Mark Ritter is a life-long Salinan! He graduatedfrom Sacred Heart High School, furthered his education at TheUniversity of Kansas and graduated from Kansas WesleyanUniversity with a B.A. in Business Administration. Markpreviously served on the Chamber Board of Directors in 1988-90.Mark RitterMark started working for his father Joe in 1984, and in 1996 alongwith his sister Karrie purchased Crown Distributors Inc outright from their father.Crown Distributors LLC was created through mergers across the state, becoming the2nd largest MillerCoors wholesaler in Kansas, employing 94 between their Salina andTopeka warehouses. Mark is very active in the community, serving Catholic Charities,Salina Regional Health Center Trustees and Foundation, Salina Family YMCA andSacred Heart boards. Mark’s pride and joy are his two children, daughter CourtneyMarie who attends Metro State University in Denver, and a son Tyler Joseph wholives in Lawrence. Mark and his significant other and the love of his life .RosieColeman Lammoglia both attended Sacred Heart High School together.Other officers elected for 2018 are: Dr. Matt Thompson, Kansas WesleyanUniversity, Vice Chairman; Joyce Volk, Joyce Volk Insurance Agency, Chair-elect;Dahx Marrs, Techniqol Consulting, Kansas Bankers Technologies, MarymountProperties, Treasurer; Guy Walker, Blue Beacon International, Immediate PastChairman; and Don Weiser, President/CEO.3
CHAMBER NEWSRegister for “The Total Experience”Customer Service Seminar with Mike HenkeOn Tuesday, February 27, the Salina Area Chamber ofCommerce will present “The Total Experience: Not your typicalCustomer Service Training”, a learning workshop with MikeHenke. This fast paced session will be great for all types ofbusiness.Along with Mike, participants will establish how customerexpectations have risen, how we should customize our servicebecause customers are not all the same, and, “what’s in it forMike Henkeme?” as an employee, so they are self-motivated when they areworking independently. This promises to be a very interactive and upbeat workshop.Participants will learn: How to coach a new generation on great service How to deftly handle upset customers How to build your brand and your reputationThe workshops will be held at the Visit Salina Annex, 120 W. Ash. Two sessionswill be presented, from 8:30-10:30am OR 1:30-3:30pm. Registration is 40 forChamber Members and 50 for non-members, for either session. Do you work for aSalina hotel? Contact Sylvia Rice, Visit Salina Direct at srice@salinakansas.org abouta special opportunity!The Chamber received great feedback about Mike after his “New Keys to RetainingEmployees” workshop in January. (see right) Please RSVP by February 23 tolbrightbill@salinakansas.org or call 785-827-9310, ext. 124.“I recently attended Mike Henke’sworkshop “The New Keys toRetaining Employees” at theChamber. I was a bit skeptical thata two-hour workshop could offermuch in the way of new solutions,but I was surprised how much I tookaway from his presentation.Mike offered many practical ideasthat we will be implementing atRolling Hills Zoo. I look forward toattending more of his workshops inthe future and encouraging otherstaff to join me.”Kathy TolbertAssistant DirectorRolling Hills ZooParks is 2017 Mace Braxton, MDVolunteer of the Year Award RecipientThe Mace Braxton, MD Volunteer of the Year Award is given in memory of Dr. Braxton, who served thiscommunity and the Chamber Board in particular as a dedicated volunteer, prior to his untimely death in 2008.Lyle Parks of Waddell & Reed was announced as the 2017 recipient at the Chamber Annual Banquet andMembership Meeting on January 30 at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center.Lyle is a tremendous asset to the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce, and in particular the Visit Salinadivision. His friendly, positive, and warm personality makes him the perfect hospitality ambassador to visitorsof Salina. Lyle has worn many volunteer hats at the Chamber, always willing to pitch in wherever needed. HeLyle Parkshas served as a team host for the NJCAA National BasketballChampionships and at KSHSAA State High School Tournaments. For more than adecade, he’s welcomed and hosted officials, worked at pass gates, and sold numerouscommemorative t-shirts and programs at various sporting events. He’s often foundgiving referrals for Salina restaurants and attractions to those visitors he meets. Heis not only a committed, energetic volunteer himself, but he has recruited his wifeKay to join the ranks as well. Lyle is a mayoral appointment to the Convention andTourism Advisory Committee, which he currently chairs. He is a strong advocate ofthe Chamber’s Visit Salina staff and program, and proudly does whatever he can tofurther promote Salina as a visitor destination. Thank you for everything Lyle!4
VISIT SALINAMarqueeWelcomesThe Kansas Board of Regents will hold a Perkins Update and State Planning workshop February27 & 28 at Kansas State Polytechnic. The event should involve 40-50 participants. For secondaryand post-secondary registration please contact Kansas Board of Regents at 785-430-4240.Good Sports!Salina Goes to the Mat this Month!!Salina is proud to host the Kansas State High School Activities Association(KSHSAA) Class 4A State Wrestling Championships, February 23 & 24 at theTony’s Pizza Events Center. Salina will celebrate its 12th anniversary as host tothe 4A State Championships. The event createsan estimated 784,000 spending in the Salinacommunity. More than 224 wrestlers from 54schools, PLUS coaches, media, officials, staff,volunteers and some very enthusiastic wrestlingfans attend. In each of the 14 weight classes, thetop 16 wrestlers will be bracketed. Mark Lentz,KSHSAA Asst. Executive Director stated, “The people of Salina and the city continueto welcome the KSHSAA MEMBER SCHOOLS, athletes and fans each and everyyear. We look forward to great hospitality from a welcoming community.”Tickets for 4A State Wrestling will be available at the Tony’s Pizza Events CenterBox Office throughout the event. A one-day ticket for Friday or Saturday, all dayadmission will be 9.00 for students and 11.00 for adults. Updates will be postedon-line. For more information about KSHSAA State wrestling, including volunteeropportunities, contact Tiffany at Visit Salina, 827-9310 x130, tbenien@salinakansas.org or Kyle at 827-9310 x136, kylew@salinakansas.orgVisit Salina is delighted to welcome back the USA KS Kids Wrestling 6U &Under Tournament and Elementary State event to the Tony’s Pizza Events Center,Sunday, February 25. This event is expected to bring approximately 700 youthwrestlers, many of which will check-in at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center on Saturdaynight. According to James Cook, Event Founder and Organizer, “Salina providesus a great central location and the Tony’s Pizza Events Center Staff do a great jobto accommodate us and make this event happen. We expect approximately 2,500 spectators through the door.”The event began as a 6 & under event only, with about 300 wrestlers in the2013-2014 season. Recently, the event added an elementary qualifier tournamentwhere the top wrestlers will be able to participate in a larger event in April 2018in Council Bluff, IA. This change has increased the number of wrestlers to about700 competitors. Weigh-ins will begin Saturday evening during the KSHSAA StateChampionship, both at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center. Wrestling will begin earlySunday morning and end by approximately 4pm. Admission is 5.00 per person.Measuring Visitor ImpactWichita State University has conducted a study to determine what the appropriate multiplier fortourism spending is for the Salina area. That immediate multiplier rate was determined to be 1.6,meaning that for every 1.00 spent directly by a tourist/visitor for lodging, meals, entertainment, retail,and so on, our economy is actually impacted 1.60. We believe this to still be a conservative estimate,and we will be using this in calculating our estimated visitor spending. If you have any questions,please contact Sylvia Rice at Visit Salina – srice@salinakansas.org or 785-827-9310, ext. 138.February 2-3Smoky Valley Hoops ClassicFebruary 2WWE Wrestlemania FansFebruary 3Sharp Performance YouthCombine & Speed ClinicFebruary 14KS Redi MixFebruary 17Monster Truck fansSharp Performance CombinePrep ClinicFebruary 23-24 KSHSAA 4A State WrestlersFebruary 25USA KS Kids ElementaryWrestlersFebruary 27-28 KS Board of RegentsDollarsSenseRecent groups Visit Salina worked with andthe estimated visitors’ spending they createdin the community:Salina InvitationalBasketballTournament (SIT) 179,720MAYB Tournament 207,496X-treme WinterWonderlandGymnastics 111,200KS Kids WrestlingTournament ofChampionships 645,000Soil Health U 133,6405
MEMBERSHIP NEWSIn The NewsLINDSEY MILLER-ESCARFULLER is thenew director of Salina Public Library. A Salinanative, Miller-Escarfuller returns to Salina with25 years of library experience from around theUnited States. She holds a Bachelor of Artsin political science from the University of NewMexico and a Master of Science in Libraryand Information Science from the CatholicUniversity of America in Washington, D.C.GOT NEWS? Do you have news to shareabout your business or organization? Emailsrice@salinakansas.org and we’ll publish it inan upcoming issue of Chamber Connection.By now, everyone should have received the2018 edition of the NEX-TECH Directory. Yourdirectory should have arrived via the USPSmail. If you did not receive a directory, or wantadditional copies, stop by your local Nex-Techoffice or call 877-625-7872 to have one sentin the mail.BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF SALINAwill host their premier annual FUN-raisingevent - Bowl for Kids’ Sake – Saturday, March3 from 10am-11pm at All Star Lanes. Gettogether with friends, family and co-workersand have a great time bowling in support ofthe Big Brother Big Sister of Salina mentoringprograms. This event is a fun and easy way topositively impact a child’s life! To register pleasevisit bbbssalina.org.LegislativeIssue MeetingUPDATESDATE CHANGE! Due to schedulingconflicts, the first Chamber LegislativeIssues Meeting, sponsored by AT&T,has been changed to Saturday, February10th. The subsequent dates ofSaturday, March 17 and Saturday, April21 are still on the books! They will beheld from 8:30-10am at the Chamber’sVisit Salina Annex, 120 W. Ash.Senator Randall Hardy, andRepresentatives Steven Johnson,Diana Dierks, and J. R. Claeys, havebeen invited to attend. The format ofthe meetings will consist of openingremarks from the legislators, writtenquestions from the audience, andclosing remarks from the legislators.The meetings are open to the publicfree of charge.Meet Chamber Members Rod Meierand Grant Wagner, Owners of Relish asyou read excerpts from our 5-minute/5question interview.What is it about your business thatis unique or special? What separatesyou from your competitors?Relish is as yin/yang as its proprietors. Atraveling gourmet kitchen that can functionas well for a 7 course catered dinner as itcan for your daily lunch pick up.Certainly the kitchen is the biggestdifference. It’s so much more than a “foodtruck”. As for the food, we hope it speaksfor itself. We are able to cater plateddinners and that’s not an option offered bymany in our area.See the entire interview, and others, posted atwww.salinakansas.org/chamber/take 5.aspx.Want to be interviewedabout your business? Contactinfo@salinakansas.org!New MembersLIFE ASSIST USA1009 E. Minneapolis Rhona Annon(785) 527-1472 rannon@lifeassistusa.comFAMILY HERITAGE217 W. Second Minneapolis, KSBrenda Forte (785) 392-0892brendaforte16@gmail.comIBT2231 B Centennial Road Jeromy Benien(785) 825-6234 jbenien@ibtinc.comBLUESTEM PACE113 S. Ash McPherson, KSShan Copeland(620) 504-5919 shan@bluestemks.org62018 “BusinessAfter Hours”Fast Pass ison sale now!For 40, the passwill gain youadmittance to allChamber AfterHour eventsthroughout the year.To order your 2018 Fast Pass, contact Delta at the Chamber office,827-9301 or email dbryant@salinakansas.org
MEMBERSHIP NEWSSalina at the StatehouseOur 2018 Salina at the Statehouse event will be Thursday, February 15. Thoseattending will travel by Motorcoach to Topeka, leaving the Chamber office at promptly8:15am. The group will arrive at Westar Energy HQ where the day will begin with StateDepartment updates, including: Kansas Department of Commerce Update – Sec’y Nick Jordan Kansas Department of Trans and Aviation Update – Sec’y Richard Carlson, InterimAviation director Bob Brock Kansas Department of Education Update – Deputy Sec’y Dale DennisThe updates will be followed by a working lunch with local state legislators, and thenprivate appointments at the Statehouse. The day will end with a tentatively scheduledmeeting with the Governor’s office. The Motorcoach will depart Topeka at 3:30pm. If youare interested in more information, contact Don Weiser at the Chamber, 785-827-9310,ext. 127.The event is sponsored by Westar Energy, Salina Airport Authority and Salina AreaChamber of Commerce.Junior Leadership 2018Class AnnouncedThe Chamber and the 2018 Jr. Leadership Class wish to thank these sponsors of theprogram: Bamford Fire Sprinkler; Barton Bycroft, DMD; Bennington State Bank; BlueBeacon International; Central States Enterprises; Clark, Mize & Linville, Chtd.; Courtyard byMarriott; Crossroads Collision, Inc.; Frisbie Construction; Great Plains Manufacturing Co.;Hampton & Royce; Kansas Wesleyan University; KCoe Isom, LLP; LTC John D. RiddellVFW Post 1432; McKenna Law Office, P.A.; Mowery Clinic, L.L.C.; Murrison Group;Occupational Performance Corporation; Philips Lighting; Mike Ramage; Alan V. Reed, DDS,MSD, PA; Rose Hill Bank; Salina Massage Therapy; Salina Optimist Club; Salina SurgicalHospital; Salina Vision Care; Salina Vortex Corporation; Sam’s Club; Smoky Hill EducationService Center; Smoky Hill, L.L.C.; Solomon State Bank; Summers, Spence
Joyce Volk Insurance Agency TREASURER Dahx Marrs Marymount Properties, Techniqol Consulting, permanent art collection! Kansas Bankers Technologies PAST CHAIRMAN Guy Walker . Parks is 2017 Mace Braxton, MD Volunteer of the Year Award Recipient The Mace Braxton, MD Volunteer of the Year Award is given in memory of Dr. Braxton, who served this .
