Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among women in the U.S. which is why Gordmans, as part of the Stage community of stores, is renewing its pledge to support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation® (BCRF).

We are asking everyone to take an active role to help advance the world’s most promising research again this year by donating to BCRF. Gordmans will donate $1 for the first 10,000 guests who use the hashtag #ipinkican on Gordmans’ Facebook or Instagram pages. Gordmans guests will also have the exclusive opportunity to purchase specially designed reusable shopping bags featuring supportive sayings such as strongHER and #ipinkican. Gordmans will donate $2 for the purchase of each of these bags to BCRF. Additionally, guests are encouraged to make a monetary pledge to the cause at checkout in their local Gordmans store or online at gordmans.com, and 100% of the donation will be made to BCRF.

With the help and generosity of our guests, the Stage community of stores has raised over $700,000 for BCRF since 2014 and over $1 million since 2004. These donations have fueled nearly 24,000 hours of breast cancer research and, during 2018, we raised enough money to fund a full year of research under a grant named The Stage Community Counts Award.

BCRF has selected Powel Brown, M.D., Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, to receive the 2019 Stage Community Counts Award. Dr. Brown’s area of focus is Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), a particularly aggressive type of breast cancer, which makes up 10-15% of all breast cancer diagnoses. The funding helps find better treatments for TNBC and prevent its spread.

“Stage is making a tangible impact in saving lives by partnering with BCRF, the highest-rated breast cancer organization in the country,” said Myra Biblowit, CEO and president of BCRF. “Their support allows us to propel research forward, faster.”

“We are proud to support BCRF and the critical research that it sponsors in the search for a cure.” said Michael Glazer, president and CEO of Stage. “Breast cancer is a disease that has touched all of us, our communities and our guests in some way. We invite Gordmans guests to join us in funding another Research HERo to help end breast cancer.”

“The Stage Community Counts Award has a significant role in advancing our efforts to find novel treatments to reduce the incidence of invasive breast cancer,” said Dr. Brown. “My colleagues at MD Anderson and I are incredibly grateful to Stage and BCRF for supporting innovative research aimed at making a difference for breast cancer patients and their families around the world.”

BCRF Needs Your Support Because:

• One in eight women in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime.

• Over 250,000 women will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year alone, and more than 40,000 women will die from the disease.
• There are more than 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. today, all of whom have benefited from the power of research.

Go to gordmans.com to find a store near you or to donate online.

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About Stage Stores

Stage Stores, Inc. is a leading retailer of trend-right, name-brand values on apparel, accessories, cosmetics, footwear and home goods. The Company operates in 42 states through 624 BEALLS, GOODY’S, PALAIS ROYAL, PEEBLES, and STAGE specialty department stores and 158 GORDMANS off-price stores, as well as an e-commerce website at www.stage.com.

About the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) is dedicated to being the end of breast cancer by advancing the world’s most promising research. Founded by Evelyn H. Lauder in 1993, BCRF-funded investigators have been deeply involved in every major breakthrough in breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship and metastasis. This year, BCRF has awarded $66 million in grants to support the work of nearly 275 scientists at leading medical and academic institutions across 14 countries, making BCRF the largest private funder of breast cancer research worldwide. BCRF is also the highest-rated breast cancer organization in the U.S. Visit www.bcrf.org to learn more.

Luke Halsey and Bryan Pitts are the new account executives for Key for Business, a newly created division of Key Industries, Inc.

The division was started this summer and has the ability to embroider or screen print clothing and other items.

“Key for Business is focused on working directly with businesses to provide quality workwear for the company and their employees,” Halsey said. ” We can provide work uniforms with the company logo on it, which, we do here in-house in our new embellishment center.”

The advantage of being produced locally is the turn-around-time, Halsey said.

“We can do a project in a few days and (for a business) to send it off it would take about two weeks,” he said.

The division employees have the ability to embellish almost all of Key Industry garment items with either direct-to-garment printing or embroidery services, he said.

“We are offering company discount programs with no contract necessary, as we believe enough in our quality and services we won’t need to lock customers in,” Halsey said.

The company believes this feature will keep customers coming back, he said.

Although Halsey has been working at Key Industries for only a short time, Key has been in business for over 110 years and is known for making “The Nations Finest” workwear for the American worker. Halsey said.

The following is a list of what Key produces:

Regular workwear: work shorts, jeans/dungarees, work pants, T-shirts, polo shirts, and button-down work shirts.

Outerwear: premium work coats/jackets, vests, sweatshirts, overalls/coveralls.

Specialty: High visibility items and fire-resistant apparel

Not many businesses can claim to be still providing services in their community after 70 years.

But Diehl, Banwart, Bolton CPA’s PA has been serving southeast Kansas since 1949.

Through the years the certified public accountant firm has seen many changes in business, Jim Banwart Jr. said.

Banwart is a partner in the business.

When Jim, Sr. applied to work for John Diehl in 1963, “John was excited to show him their new copier—a dry paper copier, a great improvement over what had been available previously,” Banwart said.

“In 1966, the firm became the first accounting firm in Southeast Kansas to install what was in those days a room-sized, punch card computer to be able to offer computing services,” Banwart said.

“Larry Dixon was the first programmer at the firm, and in 1971, James Regan arrived to become the IT officer at the firm. He was joined by Don Casida, Allen Ward and numerous other programmers over the years,” he said.

“In 2000, the firm became one of the first accounting firms to post compilations to the web for client viewing. In 2017, we converted from our own inhouse general ledger software to a cloud-based software. The firm continues to stay on the cutting edge of technology,” Banwart said.

John Diehl Starts Is All

“In 1948, following his service as a United States Marine pilot in World War II, John E. Diehl came to Fort Scott to work for the Winchell Manufacturing Company, bringing with him his young wife, Ina Mae,” he said.

Diehl then opened an accounting office for Senderson, Little and LaChelle, a Kansas City firm.

In 1949, Diehl purchased the business and renamed it John E. Diehl and Company.

Maurice Fletcher joined the firm and it became Diehl and Fletcher.

“The company was located in several buildings in what is now the downtown historic district,” Banwart said. “In 1974, the shareholders purchased the Milrose Block at Wall and National where they continue today.”

In the fall of 1963, James L. Banwart joined Diehl and Fletcher. followed by Mark Bolton joining the firm in 1973. Jim Banwart Jr. joined in 1991, according to the firm’s website.

In 1976, the firm became Diehl, Banwart, Bolton, CPA’s.

“Mr. Diehl died in 2017 at age 99, having retired some years earlier,” Banwart said. “He was a much-involved member of the community and a much loved and respected employer and partner.”

Currently, there are nine Certified Public Accountants at the firm- Jim Banwart Sr, Mark Bolton, Randall Phillips, Daryl Eagon, Donna Banwart, Jim Banwart Jr, Terry Sercer, Carol Hill and Amanda Lancaster.

There are two IT people, Jim Regan and Tawny Pool.

“James Regan, the long-time information technology officer, joined the firm in 1971,” Banwart said.

In addition, there are ten more experienced accountants and a number of support staff, he said.

The business started in Fort Scott, then branched out to Pittsburg and Girard.

Services offered at the business:

-Business design and development

– Municipal and commercial auditing

– Preparation of monthly compilation reports

– Payroll processing

– Estate planning and estate tax services

– Income tax planning and income tax services

-Retirement and succession planning

– Software training and support

Future

“The future is bright,” Banwart said. “As talented young people stay and return to Southeast Kansas, Diehl Banwart Bolton will continue to support entrepreneurs in their business endeavors.”

The firm currently has business clients in virtually every state in the country, he said.

“Technology has made it possible to communicate and advise people regardless of where they are located and our expertise continues to help them succeed in their businesses,” he said.