Then In March 2020, the COVID-19 Pandemic hit.
Category Archives: Business
Chamber Networking Workshop: How to Build Professional Relationships by Tammy Wellbrock
Wednesday, January 26, 2022 @ 9am to Noon the
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce Presents the Chamber Networking Workshop: How to Build Professional Relationships by Tammy Wellbrock.
Join us at Empress Event Center located at 7 N. Main St., Fort Scott, KS on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 at 9 am until 12 pm. to take advantage of this workshop.
From her days of selling advertising for the newspaper industry, increasing alumni memberships at her alma mater, creating customer networks in the telecommunications industry, or teaching for FHSU, Tammy Wellbrock is passionate about connecting, enlightening, and empowering others. Tammy served 8 years as the President/CEO for the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce. Under her direction, the Chamber was a 2013 ACCE Finalist for Chamber of the Year.
In 2019, Tammy launched her professional training and coaching business, Girl Twin Solutions, LLC, which focuses on Women and Leadership. Another aspect of her business includes serving as Interim President/CEO’s for several different positions over the years, including Fort Hays State University Alumni Association, Colby/Thomas County Chamber of Commerce and Pratt Area Chamber of Commerce. She enjoys the challenge of leading organizations through transformational change.
This workshop begins with the philosophy that all people have unique value to offer others as well as a foundation of skills and successes. Being able to present yourself in an authentic, genuine, and engaging manner is the most effective tool for professional networking and building relationships.
The objectives of this workshop are Networking with Purpose and Intentionality, Develop Stronger Communication, and Strategically Build & Maintain a Personal Network.
This workshop is for anyone wanting to increase their social impact and reach.
Contact the Chamber for more information about this event at 620-223-3566
Rygmyr Retires From USB
A press release from Union State Bank
Residents and customers are asked to please join Union State Bank as they wish Sheila Rygmyr all the best as she retires from Union State Bank.
Sheila has worked at USB since October of 2003.
She has done nearly everything on the deposit operations side and served most recently as the New Accounts Representative in Fort Scott.
Union State Bank will hold a reception honoring Sheila on Wednesday, January 26, from 12:30 to 2:30 pm at the Fort Scott Union State Bank, 1009 S. Clark location.
Refreshments will be served.
Chamber Coffee hosted by Spyder, Inc. Jan. 20
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee this Thursday, January 20th at 8 a.m. hosted by new Chamber member Spyder, Inc., located at 102 W. 2nd Street.
Coffee and light refreshments will be served.
Spyder, Inc combines their experience of solutions, compliance, and technology together to launch an eCommerce portal and document storage solution purpose-built for insurance agents and financial service providers that makes their job of selling, growing, and managing their business easier.
Spyder is a female-founded business whose leaders offer deep fintech experience, both designing software and growing companies. They are passionate about their products and what they can do for the insurance and financial service industries. Their belief is to improve the lives of their clients, their employees, and their community by serving them in the highest level of regard. Transparency, honesty, and kindness are values that they hold dear.
Join the Chamber in welcoming this new company to Fort Scott. Visit their website spyderloop.com for more information. Any member business or organization wanting to host Chamber Coffee in 2022 is encouraged to contact the Chamber to save a date by calling 620-223-3566 or emailing [email protected].
Proofreading/Copy Editing Business Starts in Fort Scott
Fort Scott native Kim Carpenter, 56, is the owner of a new business called Writer’s Edge, LLC.
Carpenter’s business provides proofreading and copyediting services for a variety of written materials including ads, reports, books, articles, blog posts, and more.
Her Background
She has 14 years of experience as an elementary school teacher.
Carpenter earned her Associate of Science degree from Fort Scott Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Pittsburg State University, and a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction from William Woods University.
Her hometown is Fort Scott.
She is married to Jon Carpenter and has four children, two that live in Fort Scott: Jana Johnson, and Jon T. Carpenter.
She is a member of the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce and is an active member of Faith Church.
“In my free time, you might find me hiking the Gunn Park trails, kayaking the local waterways, or shopping at area flea markets,” she said.
A New Adventure
“Writer’s Edge was born out of a passion to read, write, and a desire to pursue a new career,” she said.
“I have been an elementary educator for 14 years,” Carpenter said. “I loved the opportunity to be a constructive influence in children’s lives. Yet, I felt the pull to pursue a different path in which I can also have a positive impact. As I am a strong advocate of reading and writing, this adventure felt like a perfect fit for me”.
After extensive research, Carpenter learned what was needed to transition from full-time teacher to full-time proofreader, copyeditor.
First, she graduated from an educational course with certification in professional proofreading and editing and confirmed her grasp of advanced grammar as well as strong oral and written communication skills, she said.
Next, Carpenter converted a spare room into an office space, and with the help of her friend and fellow entrepreneur, Lori Sherrell Cable, built her LinkedIn profile, resume, and her website.
In addition, she attended meetings with the Healthy Bourbon County Action Team (HBCAT) and the Kansas Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to make the dream a reality. The team of Jody Hoener, Dacia Clark, and Rachel Carpenter worked with her to formalize her business and develop a business plan.
“The whole process was very easy, and the team was so great to work with. They explained everything and answered all of my questions. They truly have a heart to see people succeed and are very knowledgeable in the process,” Carpenter said.
She also looks forward to working with students, researchers, and business owners to improve written communications from social marketing to printed materials and no project is too big or too small, she said.
Carpenter’s website www.writersedge.page will be up soon, but for now, she can be reached at [email protected]
Downtown Business Expands: The Beauty Lounge Girls
Diann Tucker Featured in Top Agent Magazine
Diann Tucker was Featured in the January, 2022, edition of Top Agent Magazine
Fort Scott, KS: Diann Tucker of Stewart Realty Co. was featured in the January 2022 edition of Top Agent Magazine. Top Agent Magazine is the premier real estate magazine featuring the foremost real estate agents, mortgage professionals, and affiliates in the USA, Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Top Agent Magazine features the top producing and most accomplished professionals in the real estate industry, offering an in-depth look at their careers and providing a blueprint for their success.
To be considered for a feature in Top Agent Magazine all professionals must go through a nomination and interview process. ALL Candidates are then evaluated based upon production, professionalism, as well as industry and community involvement. It is considered a privilege to be nominated as it speaks to a certain success level all real estate agents strive for. Top Agent has set itself apart as a trusted source of real estate information and inspiration. Diann Tucker is a stellar example of the kind of prominent leaders of real estate we are proud to feature in Top Agent Magazine.
The online magazine can be viewed at https://topagentmagazine.com/top-agent-magazine-nationwide-and-international-edition/
“It is an honor to have been nominated and featured as a “Top Agent” in the real estate industry. I am humbled that my clients have reached out in such a way to have me recognized. I hope to continue to make real estate dreams come true.” For more information about Diann Tucker, please call 620-223-6700 or 620-224-7054, email [email protected], or visit www.stewartrealty.org.
Randy Holt Retires From USB After 42 Years
Country Cupboard Building Purchased by Ed Townly
Ed Townly has purchased the County Cupboard Store, 12 N. Main from the Renard family on Dec. 28, 2021.
Last month, Townly, from Olathe, had purchased the Books and Grannie’s Book Store, just across the street at 11 N. Main.
Barb Albright, a realtor with H & H Agency, handled both the acquisitions.
Townly said that he doesn’t have definite plans for that store, nor the newly purchased one as yet.
The Townly’s have two businesses in the K.C. area and a daughter still in school, but they are looking forward to moving to Fort Scott, when their youngest daughter graduates, and she is currently in the eighth grade, he said in a prior interview.
The County Cupboard store was owned by Judy and John Renard for decades and was an anchor business in the historic downtown area, selling home decor, jewelry, clothing, cards, old fashion candy, and other accessories.
John died in 2019 and Judy in 2021.
History of the Building
The building at 12-14 North Main was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, U.S. Dept. of Interior, National Park Service, in 2009. The building is approximately 5,000 square feet on the first floor and 2,000 square feet on the second, according to Barb Albright, the realtor.
It is part of the Fort Scott Downtown Historic District comprised of 9.5 blocks with irregular boundaries, according to the application for registration.
To view the property’s National Register Application:
Bourbon_FortScottDowntownHistoricDistrictNR.pdf (kshs.org)
12-14 N. Main Street building was Liepman’s Clothing House, from 1895 until 1930, according to the application.
“Reportedly, this was not the Liepman family’s first business location in Fort Scott and this was not their first building on this property,” according to the national registration application. “In 1895, the family decided to build a more substantial building. In 1909 the property was recorded as the Liepman Block with M. Leipman & Brother (brothers Morres and Joseph Leipman), clothing occupying the storefront. Liepman’s Clothing Store operated until circa 1930.
By 1938, the A & P Grocery was located at this address.”
Following the A & P Grocery store, it was a western clothing shop then the Renards purchased it in the 1980s.
“This is a rectangular two-story brick commercial building with a flat roof and parapet,” according to the national registration application. “It has a recessed central entrance flanked by display windows. The three-bay second-floor facade is well preserved with a smooth-cut stone belt course under the windows, ornamented pilasters between the window bays, and an ornamented belt course above the window bays. Central paired windows are flanked by a bank of three windows. The windows have 111 double-hung sashes with transoms. There is a brick panel at the eave with the name, “Liepman’s Clothing House,” spelled out in raised letters. A corbelled and molded brick cornice ornaments the parapet. Reportedly, the original display windows and entrance were altered about 1938. There is a shed-roofed shingled awning supported on posts. Aluminum storm windows have been installed on the second-floor windows.”
To view prior features on the buildings:
New Owners of Historic Downtown Fort Scott Building
Country Cupboard To Close For Good, Until Then Saturdays Only
Upper Cut Salon: New Shop That Gives Back to Community
Positive Events in Fort Scott: Mayor Jones
Fort Scott Mayor Josh Jones said many positive events happened in the community this past year, and the city is poised for some promising events in the new year.
“A lot of things done in 2021 laid the groundwork for 2022 and we expect a lot of 2021 things to be executed in 2022,” Jones said.
The following is what Jones provided fortscott.biz as accomplishments.
In 2021, the Fort Scott City Commission:
1. Refinanced city bonds saving $15,500 per year over the next five years.
2. Passed a half-cent sales tax with 90% of revenue going towards streets and 10% going towards parks. This money will start coming in, in 2022.
3. Started an in-house safety training program saving the city $15,000 per year.
4. Utilized the Firstsource Building for Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department’s giving mass vaccines during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
5. Put out Requests for Qualifications for a new city attorney leading to the city commission hiring a city attorney saving the city approximately $200,000 a year.
6. Approved to enter into a cost-sharing venture with the Bourbon County Commission for joint purchase of materials and equipment.
7. Approved a conditional use permit for an area south of town to allow a micro-meat processing plant to build a facility, which will create about 30 jobs.
8. Implemented the SeeClickFix app, which allows citizens to report road problems and code nuisances.
9. Started semi-monthly roller skating sessions at Buck Run Community Center for an added amenity for the community.
10. Moved city-county emergency dispatch to the Bourbon County Courthouse.
11. Improved the beach area at Lake Fort Scott.
12. Sold the Firstsource Building for $315,000.
13. Sold four Lake Fort Scott lots for approximately $500,000.
14. Entered into a shared services agreement with Bourbon County for information technology services, saving approximately $30,000 per year.
15. Used $200,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for a feasibility study for re-use of the former Mercy Hospital Building as a hospital.
16. Reworked and finalized setting up the Fort Scott Land Bank which focuses on the conversion of vacant, abandoned, tax-delinquent, or otherwise underused properties into productive use.
17. Approved $2,000 bonuses for all emergency services workers that work for the city.
18. Entered into an agreement with Bourbon County REDI (Regional Economic Development, Inc.) to provide economic development services for the City of Fort Scott, saving approximately $100,000 a year.
19. Repaired over one mile of city sewer lines.
20. Entered into an agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation for traffic signal upgrades in 2022 on Highway 69.
21. Was awarded a $50,000 grant from T-Mobile Internet for upgrades to the Skubitz Plaza area on the north end of historic downtown Fort Scott.
Chamber Selling Table Tent Ads
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