• Find out about candidates for races on every level
• Olathe Chamber member election survey
• Register today for Blazing New Trails!
• Save the date...
  Chamber to offer “It’s a Win-Win: Hiring the Disabled and Veterans”
• High praise for Kansas; a half dozen plaudits
• Eight alumni from Olathe schools earn recognition
• Business briefs

Find out about candidates for races on every level

Candidates on the local, state, and national level have been asked to respond to a questionnaire created by the Olathe Chamber through its Business-to-Government Advocacy Council. Responses will be posted on the Chamber’s Web site in early September with ample time for public viewing before the general election.

The goal is to familiarize our members and others in the community with candidates and to give candidates an opportunity to explain their positions on a variety of issues. By policy and by practice, the Chamber does not endorse candidates, but it does promote voting through its VoteOlathe program. Be watching, too, for the Chamber’s platform for the 2011session legislative session in Topeka.

Please respond to the following four questions:

1. Do you intend to vote in the November 2 general election?
2. Which issue will be the biggest factor in determining how you vote?
3. Are you interested in educating your employees about pro-business candidates?  
4. Would you like to alert employees about the upcoming election and encourage them to participate in the voting process? If you respond positively to this question, consider becoming an Olathe Chamber VoteOlathe employer. Contact Susan Wallace, swallace@olathe.org or (913) 764-1050, for details.

Today is your last chance to register to join almost 250 other Chamber members and friends of the Chamber for an evening of fun, food, lively bidding, and entertainment! It’s Saturday, Aug. 28, at 6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn-Olathe, 101 W. 151st St.

• Find out more about the event.
• Check out the amazing auction items.
• Discover who’s spent months planning this event.

Frank and Angela Carter are the honorary chairs of this event, which is presented by the Chamber and Garmin International. It’s a highlight of the Chamber year. Don’t miss it. Register today!

Sample auction item: Exotic Tropical Villa Vacation
Donor: Els Thermote and Laurent Vannest
Seven nights in a unique, modern four-bedroom villa in Cabarete, Dominican Republic. You’ll be surrounded by paradise and palm trees in the gated community of Villas Agua Dulce. Villa is surrounded with ocean views, exotic gardens, tranquil waterfalls, relaxing decks and luxurious style swimming pools. Valid when available from 5/01/11 through 10/31/11.
http://www.villasaguadulce.com/

The Olathe Chamber will host a workplace development program, “It’s a Win-Win: Hiring the Disabled and Veterans,” on Friday, Oct. 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at MidAmerica Nazarene College’s Hager Lecture Hall. The workshop is designed for supervisors, HR professionals, business owners, and service organizations and will feature a panel of experts, a question-and-answer format, exhibitor booths, and time for networking and exchanging ideas. HRCI continuing education credit is pending.

Sponsored by Bank of Blue Valley, Farmers Insurance, Kansas EmployAbility, MidAmerica Nazarene University, Paydayz and SHRM.

Kansas has earned top ratings in some recent polls and on magazine lists that indicate Kansas is good for business. Here are some recent honors and recognitions:

• A “Top Ten” state in eight of 20 categories in Business Facilities magazine’s 2010 Rankings Report, which is based on economic development efforts. Kansas was in the top ten in Economic Growth Potential (tenth), Biotechnology Strength (fifth), Biofuels Manufacturing Research (tenth), Alternative Energy Industry (tenth), Wind Energy Manufacturing (third), Quality of Life (third), Employment Leaders (fifth) and Best Education Climate (third).
• No. 3 in “Top Deals and Hot Markets” report by Southern Business & Development magazine.
• No. 7 in “Top 10 Pro-Business States” by Pollina.
• No. 11 in CNBC’s annual “America’s Top States for
  Business” report.
• Winner of the Silver Shovel award for excellence in job creation and capital investment by Area Development magazine.
• Among nation’s top 10 most competitive states for capital investment and facility development by Site Selection magazine.

The Olathe District Schools Alumni Association will honor eight alumni at a Wall of Honor banquet Oct. 6 at the Ball Conference Center. To be recognized for their outstanding lifetime achievements are Clifford Ball, Mary Davidson Cochran, Greg Kincaid, Harma Peterson McKenzie, Robert Manning, James Pellett, Joseph Pierron, and Richard Pratt. The banquet will begin at 6 p.m. For ticket information, contact Diane Gossage, (913) 780-8182.

• The Midwest Region Business Center - Kansas City office of the Principal Financial Group has named Dawn Wolfgram as managing director. In this role, she is responsible for management of the leadership team, revenue growth, and oversight of financial representatives across the Kansas and the western Missouri area.
• Brad Johnson with FranchiseMart/Biz1 Brokers was interviewed by Lindsay Shivley of NBC 41 Action News for a segment on franchising that ran earlier this week.