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Kansas State University Names Jay Stephens as Vice President for Human Capital Services

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kansas state universityMANHATTAN — Following a national search, Kansas State University names Jay Stephens as vice president for Human Capital Services. 

Since April 2015, Stephens has been the associate vice president of human resources at Boise State University in Idaho, where he leads and supervises human resources. Under his leadership, the unit reorganized and transformed, creating the foundation for a service-focused organization.

“I am delighted to welcome our new vice president for Human Capital Services, Jay Stephens, to our K-State Family,” President Richard Myers said. “His previous experiences and leadership in transforming human resources will help Kansas State University continue to put people first and grow our K-State family.”

Stephens will start as vice president on June 4, 2017. He is responsible for the management of the university’s Division of Human Capital Services, which was reorganized during the 2014-2015 academic year. Human Capital Services works to recruit, develop and retain a diverse and highly qualified workforce. Stephens will work to continue the division’s K-State 2025 progress toward becoming a Top 50 public research university.

“My family and I could not be more excited about joining the K-State family,” Stephens said. “I am such a strong believer in the land-grant mission of the university, and it is a privilege and an honor to serve in this role. I look forward to learning campus traditions, honoring the outstanding past and participating in the future success of K-State. When I walked around campus during the interview process, I saw so many amazing students and I am excited to serve K-Staters.”

In addition to Stephens’ leadership at Boise State University, he has served as the director of human resources and Title IX coordinator at Southern Oregon University, director of human resources at Utah State University-Eastern, and human resources analyst III at the State of Utah Department of Human Resource Management. He was an adjunct faculty member at the College of Eastern Utah from 2005 to 2010. He is a member of the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources Western Region Board of Directors.

Stephens has a Master of Public Administration degree in human resources and a Bachelor of Arts, both from Brigham Young University.

K-State News and Communications Services
Division of Communications and Marketing

Local Delegation Views Troops in Desert Training

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desertThe National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California was the weekend destination for a Junction City and Manhattan contingent.

Phyllis Fitzgerald, Junction City Mayor, said they received an in-briefing from the NTC commander, viewed the Second Brigade Combat Team Soldiers from Fort Riley in their training environment and there were briefings from other commanders on the different training activities.

On the briefings she noted the NTC commander told them, “when the Soldiers come out there they are learning how to do their job, whether they are an infantryman, an artillery man, an armor man, intelligence person or logistics. ” Fitzgerald they work in a cooperative fashion to perform their function.

Allen Dinkel, Junction City Manager, explained the Second Brigade Combat Team Soldiers were training in a battle exercise against a troop from Fort Irwin. ” Our Soldiers, we had talked to them that maybe had three hours of sleep in the last 48 to 72 hours so it was real conditions, they were preparing for them.” He added it let the Soldiers what to expect if they ever have to go abroad.

Junction City Area Chamber of CEO Dennis Beson and Manhattan Mayor Usha Reddi were among others on the trip with the delegation. They returned home Sunday evening.

Sheriff’s Department Reports Three Arrests on US 77

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geary county sheriff badge to useThe Geary County Sheriff’s Department has reported the arrest of Jessica L. Buick, Omaha, Tomas J. Bast, Omaha and Steven K. Huber, Carter Lake, Iowa at US 77 Highway, mile post 151 on suspicion of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

The arrests occurred on Friday.

 

Kansas Military Workforce Summit Registration Opens; opportunity to network transitioning service-members and employers

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chamber-logoThe Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce partnered with the Kansas Department of Commerce and Fort Riley to host a Kansas Military Workforce Summit on May 19th in Junction City.

The summit will address topics surrounding a service member’s transition to civilian life and will allow transitioning soldiers, business owners and community members the opportunity to network. Service members, military spouses and military support specialists will participate in the panel discussions as well.

Brigadier General Patrick Frank, 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley Deputy Commanding General, will address the summit along with Kansas Department of Commerce Secretary Antonio Soave.

The summit will take place at the Courtyard by Marriott in Junction City and begin at 9:00 am on May 19th with registration beginning at 8:30 am. A networking reception will follow the event at 6:30 pm.

The following topics will be addressed:

  • military skill set capability
  • employment and social media
  • employing the military spouse
  • setting realistic employment expectations
  • transition concerns facing service members and employers
  • benefits of hiring a veteran
  • USO transition, Fort Riley

To register for the Kansas Military Workforce Summit, visit kansascommerce.gov/militarysummit or contact Nicole Randall with the Kansas Department of Commerce at nicole.randall@ks.gov.

Sponsors for this event include the Kansas Department of Commerce, the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce, Geary County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Junction City First, Kaw Valley Engineering, Bayer Construction, Central National Bank, DEL Motors and Briggs Auto Plaza, Weary Law Firm and Coryell Insurance.

Sen. Moran Introduces Bill to Create Jobs, Increase Access to Local Credit

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moranWASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) introduced bipartisan legislation this week to provide regulatory relief to hometown lenders so they can better serve their communities. Sen. Moran’s legislation – the Community Lending Enhancement and Regulatory (CLEAR) Relief Act (S. 1002) – was introduced with U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.).

“Local lenders are the lifeblood of cities in Kansas and across the country,” said Sen. Moran. “I often hear from lenders who tell me that overregulation has reduced their ability to provide members of their communities with access to the capital they need to start and grow a small business or buy a home. This legislation would help us create an environment where more small businesses can succeed and more Americans can buy and sell homes with the help of their hometown lender.”

The CLEAR Relief Act would eliminate outdated or unnecessary government regulations that interfere with the lending process between Americans and their community banks, slowing down or stopping altogether the banks’ process in extending loans to those who want to buy homes or start small businesses.

“The CLEAR Relief Act would help community banks meet the needs of their customers and promote local economic growth by providing common-sense relief from many crushing regulatory burdens,” said Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) President and CEO Camden R. Fine. “ICBA thanks Sen. Moran and strongly urges Congress to advance this bipartisan legislation to enhance economic and job growth in local communities.”

  1. 1002 would:
  • Exempt community banks with assets of less than $1 billion from the Sarbanes-Oxley 404(b) internal-controls assessment mandate. Because community banks’ internal control systems are monitored continually by bank examiners, they should not have to sustain the unnecessary annual expense of paying an outside audit firm for attestation work;
  • Support the housing recovery by exempting from any escrow requirements any first lien mortgage held by a lender with less than $10 billion in assets;
  • Provide “qualified mortgage” status under the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) ability-to-repay rules for any mortgage originated and held in portfolio for at least three years by a lender with less than $10 billion in assets;
  • Establish regulatory certainty by exempting small banks from having to comply with the “Volcker Rule,” which was intended for complex financial institutions; and
  • Allow a creditor to extend a second offer of credit without the current three-day waiting period provided the second offer is at a lower rate for the borrower.

Click here to read the full bill text of the CLEAR Relief Act.

Marlin Fitzwater: From Wheat Fields to White House exhibit comes to the Eisenhower Presidential Library

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ABILENE, Kan. – A new temporary exhibit titled “Marlin Fitzwater: From Wheat Fields to White House” opens at the Eisenhower Presidential Library on Friday, May 12. The opening reception will be held that evening in the Library Courtyard from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and includes a meet and greet with Marlin Fitzwater. RSVP by May 9 to the Eisenhower Foundation at info@eisenhowerfoundation.net or 785-263-6771.

Fitzwater grew up in Abilene and graduated from K-State in 1965. He rose through the ranks of civil service in Washington, D.C., serving as spokesperson and speechwriter for several agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Transportation, and Department of Treasury.

In 1983, Fitzwater joined the White House staff, where he remained for ten years including six years as press secretary. He is the only press secretary in history to be appointed by two Presidents. He is a best selling author and consulted for the award-winning television show, West Wing.

The exhibit in collaboration with K-State Libraries will remain on display until Aug. 20. Fitzwater, who received an honorary doctorate from Kansas State University in 2015, recently donated his personal papers to the Richard L. D. & Marjorie J. Morse Department of Special Collections at K-State Libraries. The items in the exhibit represent a small sample of the donation. Visitors will be able to examine correspondence, publications, photos, memorabilia and official government documents. The collection is available to researchers at K-State Libraries.

Military Spouse Appreciation Activities at Fort Riley

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fort riley plain Fort Riley will be the site of Military Spouse Appreciation Day Activities during the coming week, Monday through Friday.
The Military Spouse Appreciation Day event is Friday, May 12th at Riley Conference Center from 10 a.m. until noon. There will be a vendor expo, games and giveaways.
The rest of the week includes guided tours and information on the history of the Big Red One from 9 until 11:30 a.m. Monday, FRG Trivia Night at Army Community Service Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., a USO Sip n Chat at Army Community Service from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, and Spouses Night at the Bowling Alley from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday. Bowling will be available for one dollar.
For more information call ACS at 785-239-9435.

Dogs and Their Owners Have a Big Time at the Pet Fair

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And the winner of the Friends of Animals Kentucky Derby is....
And the winner of the Friends of Animals Kentucky Derby is….

The Kentucky Derby Friends of Animals style, the Pooch Pie Eating contest and booths with all sorts of animal supplies were just some of the activities during the annual Pet Fair & Walk of Life at the Geary County 4-H / Senior Center on Saturday.

Pet owners entered dogs of all sizes and shapes in the Kentucky Derby races where the race starter Rick Dykstra noted some of the dogs were quick, while others took their time on the race track. “There are some very quick dogs, and some dogs that are just so old that they are just going to sit around and watch the races.”  During the event tennis balls were thrown onto the course with the dogs then giving pursuit.

Linnea Alt with Friends of Animals said all the funds raised from the event go to help the Junction City / Geary County Animal Shelter. “We vet them and get them on to rescues.” She estimated approximately 150 dogs were brought to the pet fair. Alt was hopeful approximately $20,000 would be raised by the event. “This is our biggest fundraiser and what we need to go through the rest of the year.”

The Pet Fair & Walk of Life are held every year.

 

Fitness for Seniors; ICARE embarks on Exercise Equipment Project

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fullsizerender-2I.C.A.R.E. – Intergenerational Clearinghouse and Resource Educational Center – is a group that works to build positive relationships between youth and older adults in the community; whether it’s through tea parties, reading with the elderly, encouraging high school to interview war Veterans or simply experiencing some of the many quirks of getting older through hands-on education.

The group is now focused on bringing fitness and family together at the Fifth Street park in Junction City through their Exercise Equipment Project.

Harold Macumber, ICARE Board President, said that studies show more grandparents, rather than parents are now taking kids to the park.

“Well instead of sitting on a bench, they can be on [the] exercise equipment while the grandkids are playing at the park,” said Macumber.

Board Secretary Penny Macumber said that this effort is not in conjunction with the Quality Play for All group, but there interests parallel one another.elder

“If they’re going to make Fifth Street Playground Park look so beautiful, we want our addition that we’re putting in to coordinate and look nice as well; so we’ve been working with the Quality Play for All group, but we are not sharing funds or anything else, we’re just trying to work them and promote each other,” said P. Macumber.

The Exercise Equipment Project will consist of five to six pieces of exercise equipment, for basic muscular building, and will cost approximately $40,000. The base of the exercise area will be concrete as to make it wheelchair and handicap accessible.

A Marco’s Pizza fundraiser event is the first of many planned fundraisers to bring the project to life. The fundraiser begins at 11:00 am on Friday, May 19th – the night before high school graduation – a perfect time to grab some pizzas, according to H. Macumber.

“We’re hoping people will go out and order your pizzas for graduation, since it’s the night before graduation…and we want everybody to order their pizzas from Marco’s and help us fundraise.”

Fifteen percent of all sales between 11:00 am and midnight on Friday, May 20th benefit the ICARE Exercise Equipment Project in Fifth Street Park. Modern Woodmen of America have agreed to match all proceeds from Marco’s up to $2500.

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