Human Resource Firm Changes Name
AlphaStar Human Resources, Inc., Overland Park, has changed its named to AlphaStar Payroll Plus, Inc. The change was made to identify the company more closely with its core business and to indicate the range of services the company offers.

AlphaStar Payroll Plus uses a consulting or contract arrangement to provide payroll-processing services, plus a range of employee benefits and administration services to small to medium-sized businesses.

Visit the company's Web site at www.alphastarhr.net or call (913) 498-8885 for more information.

Cowtown Signs Opens in Overland Park
Cowtown Signs, a new, full-service sign shop, has opened at 10570 Metcalf in Overland Park.

The company provides banners, monuments, electrical and vehicle signage as well as illuminated building signs and monument signs. The company also features a full-line vinyl shop and large-format digital printing. Owner Paul Byers is a life-long Kansas City resident. Call (913) 649-2900 for more information.

Local Company Leads in Software Sales
Handmark, Inc, a Kansas City, Mo.-based company, has become the number one publisher of PDA software, according to data from NPD Intelect for retail software sales in December 2002. The NPD ranking is based on actual retail sales revenue as reported by 80 percent of the nation's leading software retailers and includes online packaged software sales by those retailers.

The collection of Handmark entertainment and productivity software is compatible with Palm OS and Pocket PC based handheld devices from a variety of manufacturers.
Call (816) 304-7128 for more information.

CobraGuard Partners with Abberation! Ventures
    CobraGuard, Inc., a third-party COBRA administrator based in Lenexa, has secured financing and development services from Abberation! Ventures, LLC, a local private equity investment firm founded by Gabriel Murphy. CobraGuard offers Internet-based solutions to employers seeking to outsource their COBRA administration needs.

Call (8166) 442-6272 or on-line at www.cobraguard.net.

Phoenix Photography and Frame Expands Services
Phoenix Photography and Frame, a Merriam, Kan.-based business, has expanded its services to include custom wedding invitations and digital photography. Lisa Catera Designs, a division of the company, offers complete custom wedding packages that include custom invitation creation and printing, calligraphy ink jet printing of addresses, database creating, and stuffing sealing and stamping services.

Call (913) 269-5472 or visit www.phoenixphotoduo.com for more information.

Life Sciences Start-Up Moves to Kansas City
Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Cambridge, Mass.-based pharmaceutical start-up firm, is moving its operation to Lawrence, Kansas. The company is developing drugs intended to treat Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and cancer. Deciphera has worked with several of the region's entrepreneurial support organizations, including KCCatalyst.

LaGarde Rolls Out New Services
LaGarde, Inc., is rolling out a set of new services in support of its StoreFront e-business software. The Olathe, Kansas-based company announced new services called Web Store Set-up and Business Rules Set-up, both of which are aimed at facilitating the launch of an e-commerce Web site. LaGarde also is adding a Priority Support feature, providing StoreFront users increased access to LaGarde service support. Visit www.lagarde.com for more information.

SeniorCare Consulting Helps in Placement Process
A new company, SeniorCare Consulting, is available to help families in the nursing facility placement process. Families who need assistance in the placement of a loved one in an assisted living, Alzheimer's or nursing facility can retain SeniorCare Consulting to aid with the process. Services are available in Kansas City, Lawrence and Topeka. Steve Kuker is the founder. Call (816) 809-3266 or visit www.SeniorCareConsulting.com for more information.

PC Partners Celebrates Five Years
The new millennium has been good to a group of information technology workers who decided to break from the corporate world to found PC Partners. The company offers on-site computer repair, upgrades, network solutions and consultation to home-based and small-business owners. Ed O'Connor, owner, said the company was founded in response to a need for services by companies that are not large enough to staff an information technology professional. Call (913) 498-3999 for more information.

Northeast Chamber Presents Awards
Commercial Filter Services of Kansas City was named the Small Business of the Year by the Northeast Johnson County Chamber of Commerce & Visitor's Bureau at its annual awards banquet. The company is owned and operated by Will Miller, who sponsored the chamber's Monster Mash Auction and served on the Night at the Royals committee. Lanny Bachtle of GE Consumer Finance was named the 2002 Business Member of the Year. Barbara Vernon, Prairie Village City Administrator, was named 2002 Volunteer of the Year.

FASTSIGNS Owner Receives National Recognition
Diane and Gregg Kruse, owners of FASTSIGNS sign and graphic store in Gladstone, were recently honored with the National FASTSIGNS Franchise Sales Recognition for their dedication to assist in the growth and development of the FASTSIGNS network. The honor symbolizes the time and energy that it takes to mentor, talk and work with potential franchisee prospects during the introductory research phase that all FASTSIGNS owners go through. For more information, call (816) 459-7999.

Gregg and Associates Marks 20th Year in Business
On April 1, Gregg and Associates celebrated its 20th year in business creating marketing solutions for Kansas City businesses. Located at 425 Washington, the company serves clients such as the Kauffman Foundation, Sprint, and Commerce Bank. Call (816) 421-4473 for more information.

Etelligent Choses sturgesword to Build Image
Etelligent Consulting, an Overland Park-based technical firm, has chosen sturgesword to focus on branding, positioning, media relations and image and Web development. Another client, St. Louis-based Enterprise Financial Services Corp., has selected sturgesword to direct corporate marketing, including media relations, shareholder relations, advertising and community relations. Call (816) 235-7731 for more information.

AGENDA Employee Honored
Bobby Riggins, the group operations manager for AGENDA: Kansas City, a 14-year-old full-service destination management company, was named the Heartland Chapter of the Professional Convention Management Association's Member of the Year.

The award recognizes an individual who exemplifies outstanding professionalism and service to the industry.

Atronic Alarms is Award Finalist
Atronic Alarms, Inc., teamed with Robben Development, was selected as a Sammy award finalist for the category of Residential Integrated Installation of the Year. The Sammy's are a nationally recognized industry program honoring security dealers for their marketing and installation efforts.

Robben Development and Atronic Alarms collaborated in 2001 to develop one of the first technologically savvy town home communities in the Kansas City area. The year-long project involved installation of security, fire and home management systems in The Retreat at the Foxfield Townhomes in Olathe and The Tallgrove at the Wilderness Townhomes in Overland Park.

Call (913) 362-0000 for more information.

Torre's Pizzeria Launches Delivery Service
Torre's Pizzeria, College Boulevard and Pflumm, in Lenexa, is now offering delivery service during lunch and dinner. In April 2002, Complex Carbs, LLC, purchased the restaurant.

Lunch delivery will focus on businesses in the College Boulevard corridor, as well as areas surrounding College and Pflumm. Call (913) 345-8300 for more information.

Sweet Nothings Opens in Brookside
“Sweet Nothings” The Sugar Free Shoppe has opened at 112 W. 63rd St. in Brookside. The store offers candies, snacks, flavorings, baking and breakfast products, pastas, syrups, jams beverages, sweeteners that are 100 percent sugar free. Owned by Gary and Vickie Sperling, the store is designed for diabetics as well as customers interested in low-carb products and eating healthy.

Call (816) 822-1008 for more information.

Audio Visual Company Opens in Grandview
How Does This Sound? Professional Audio & Home Theater Design has opened in Grandview, Mo. The company, owned by William and Kimberly Jackson, specializes in creating professional sound and video systems for homes, places of worship, auditoriums, conference rooms, retail spaces and community centers. The company uses acoustical design and drafting software to pre-design systems and provides computer network prewiring and setup.

Call (816) 763-9352 for more information.

Overland Park Day Spa Receives Award
Serenity The Rejuvenating Day Spa was awarded the Gold Symbol of Excellence designation after utilizing a secret shopper program offered by SpaWish.com, a national on-line spa certificate service. The spa received a score of 95.96 out of 100 points.

Located at 7211 W. 95th Street in Overland Park, the company is the only accredited day spa in the Kansas City area. Call (913) 341-0025 for more information.

Family Businesses Honored
Family businesses throughout Kansas City were honored on March 4 with Heart of America Family Business of the Year awards.

The overall winner was The Sportsman Cap Network, a Lenexa-based headwear company. The company also was the winner for businesses with up to 20 employees.
Meyer Music received the honors in Category 2 for companies with 21 to 49 employees; PROSOCO, Inc. for companies with 50 to 250 employees; and Peterson Manufacturing Company for companies with over 250 employees.

A panel of economists and business leaders chose the award winners. Visit www.kcfamilybusiness.com for a complete list of runners up and honorable mentions.
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