DLR Group Recognized for Design Work
The Kansas City chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute recently presented DLR Group with the Outstanding Design Award. The honor is given to a company for superior design of a building or facility to recognize and promote innovative design.

Company Celebrates 50 Years
UPAC Insurance Finance is celebrating 50 years in business. Founded in 1954, the company is one of the country’s top 10 insurance premium finance companies that service independent insurance agents.

UPAC has also announced the recipients of its 2004 Scholarship Awards Program. The company recently developed a scholarship program for UPAC associates designed to assist with providing higher education for their families. This year, two $1,500 scholarships were awarded.

The company has made an industry name for itself with its propriety e-commerce tools and its aggressive approach to Web-based service and its introduction of a paperless insurance premium financing process.

UPAC was recognized as one of Kansas City’s Top 10 small businesses of 2004 by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.

HEMP Announces 2004 Mentoring Class
The Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program (HEMP) has announced its 2004 class. Fourteen entrepreneurs from 11 companies were selected for the three-year mentoring program.

To be eligible for the program, entrepreneurs must have been in business for at least three years, be the ultimate decision maker in the business, generate revenue of $1 million to $75 million annually and want to significantly expand the business.

The 2004 class includes Wendy Fergerson and Chris Kelly of Integrated Printing Solutions (IPS), Dale Hazlett and Neal Sharma of Digital Evolution Group, Katrina Henke of Milbank Manufacturing Co., Mike Hurt of Heartland Chick, Bob Jewell of Network Integration Services, Kris Johnson of Pitman Utility Products, Kay Julian of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society—Mid-America Chapter, Linda Peterson of LR Cloverleaf, Cynthia Savage of the Raphael Hotel Group, Michael Smith and Debbie Gold of 40 Sardines and Kurt Van Keppel of Xikar.

The HEMP program was founded in 1995 by Barnett Helzberg Jr., former owner and president of Helzberg Diamonds.

Developer Breaks Ground on New Facility
Dean Realty Co. has broken ground on a new flex facility in Cambridge Business Park.

Cambridge Crest I is a 40,000-square-foot building that will offer 25,000 square feet available for occupancy in early 2005. Located at I-35 and Cambridge Circle, Cambridge Crest I represents the first Missouri-side development in Cambridge Business Park.

For more information, call (816) 531-0800.

Local Architects Present at National Conference
Robert Junk and Tobias Gilk of Junk Architects were speakers at the National Symposium on Healthcare Design last month in Las Vegas.

The pair presented a seminar on MRI contamination in which they discussed the risks, costs and remediation of magnetic contamination that MRI scanners can cause.

Junk and Gilk attracted national attention through a specialty newsletter they have been writing on the planning, design and construction of MRI suites. In the newsletter’s July issue, Junk and Gilk published an article exposing how MRI’s can magnetize the portion of the building in which the unit is placed. The magnetization can lead to conflicts with other imaging modalities and computerized equipment. In extreme cases, the article noted, the building can become magnetized beyond the FDA’s exposure limits for unscreened individuals.

Junk Architects is a specialty architectural practice that emphasizes healthcare, multi-unit residential and national retail projects.

Layoff Leads to Franchising Business
After working as corporate vice president for more than 20 years, Gary Hanson of Liberty, Mo., was laid off. He used that as an opportunity to explore business ownership and purchased a franchise of THE MAIDS Home Services, a residential housecleaning service.

Hanson co-owns the franchise with his wife. Their son serves as the sales manager.

Graphic Designer Creates Open Studios
Bobby Kellogg is a freelance graphic designer who wanted a workspace that allowed him to work alongside and network with other creative people.

To fill that void, he recently launched Open Studio Partners, LLC, a company that provides office space for self-employed and freelance professionals in the creative service industry.

Located in the downtown Garment District, the 5,000-square-foot loft space features modern décor, picture windows, high ceilings, wood floors, high-speed Internet, phone system, networked printers, and a kitchen and conference room. Packages are available on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. For more information, visit www.openstudiokc.com.

Computer Company Hooks Up Downtown
Versent, a local company that specializes in computer support for small businesses, has moved its offices to 520 W. Pennway.

The three-year-old company is owned by Jon Schram, Jill Washington-Schram and Doug Washington.

In addition to networking, maintenance and repair, Versent provides Web site development, Web hosting and custom application development.

For more information visit www.purpleguys.com.

BusComm Opens Kansas City Office
BusComm, a value-added reseller of digital voice and data information management systems, is now offering full market coverage throughout Missouri and Kansas. Headquartered in St. Louis, the company focuses on the healthcare, public safety, financial, legal, call center and general business markets.

Restaurant Announces Recipe Contest
Pumpernick’s Restaurant is holding a recipe contest for winter comfort foods. Co-owners Peggy and Pete Peterson are looking for original and easy-to-read and prepare recipes in several categories. Contestants may submit their entries for appetizers, sandwiches, soups, salads, entrees, vegetables and desserts. The deadline is October 31. A panel of judges will select the winning recipes.

Winners will receive a $50 Pumpernick’s gift certificate and will be featured, along with their cuisine, in Pumpernick’s new winter menu.

Recipes may be submitted via fax at (913) 385-0148 or dropped by the restaurant at 3820 W. 95th St. in Leawood.
    
New Group Specializes in Benefits for Small Companies
The Shan Group LLC has opened its doors at 7644 Madison in Waldo and hopes to open doors to better benefit packages for companies with fewer than 100 employees.

Company president Tyler Marion said that The Shan Group focuses on educating the business owner and ensuring that human resources is recognized as an essential part of developing and executing organizational strategy.

The company offers a variety of services, including handbook creation, a benefits resource center, recruiting and interviewing, and federal and state legislative updates.

For more information, call (816) 215-0318.

Collective Good Catalog Offers Innovative Holiday Cards
Collective Good Catalog is working with Lexinet to beta test a site that offers innovative holiday cards.

Collective Good Catalog was launched in Kansas City last year by Scott Busch. The catalog publishes information about locally-based non-profit organizations and is distributed to 200,000 area residents and businesses. Busch said the catalog offers a way for donors to identify the local non-profits they would like to support.

Through the beta site, donors can select from a dozen online holiday cards. The launch of the custom holiday card offering is in conjunction with the Nov. 15 Collective Good issue date.

The catalog allows small to medium non-profit organizations to save on marketing expense.

For more information, visit www.collectivegoodcatalog.com.