News and Media

2022 Agri-Business of the Year

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

The Agri-Business of the Year Award is intended to honor the agri-businesses in Reno County and thank them for the important role they play in strengthening the local ag economy. This year’s Agri-Business of the Year Award went to Kauffman Seeds. Kauffman Seeds entered the seed business in 1965, when founder Edward Kauffman began an alfalfa seed cleaning business. It wasn’t long after that certified seed wheat was added to the business followed soon by soybeans. In the mid 90’s Midland Genetics was born through partnership with other seed companies. More changes, including cover crops, followed a...

2023 Farm Focus Family

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

The Farm Focus Family Award began in 1985 as part of National Farm City Week. There have now been over 100 families in Reno County that have been recognized for their contributions to Reno County Agriculture. This year’s Farm Focus Family Award goes to Matt and Becky Mullins. Matt, originally from Yoder, met his wife Becky while taking a year off after graduating from Pittsburg State to participate in the Mennonite Voluntary Service in Arizona. After getting married and returning home, Matt began his career in agriculture. Just a few short years later and he was farming around 150 acres...

Advanced Physical Therapy Receives Small Business Award

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Advanced Physical Therapy began in Hutchinson as Preferred Physical Therapy in 2007 with 3 staff. Shane Katz saw a need in the community for Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy services, he and staff began reaching out to referral sources in the area about the unique services they could provide for their patients. They have relocated twice to accommodate patient and staffing growth. In 2014, their name changed to Advanced Physical Therapy and today is located at 2803 N Lorraine and have 16 employees. What makes Advanced Physical Therapy unique is they offer OT and PT services...

Dental Center - Dr. Travis Gillespie, DDS Receives Small Business Award

Wednesday, December 14, 2022

The Dental Center began in Hutchinson at 200 E. 30th Ave in the late 1960’s. It was a well-established practice when Dr. Gillespie purchased in the Fall of 2016. During the past six years, Dr. Gillespie has expanded services provided, facility capacity, staff positions, and the patient base with steady, and often times tremendous growth. Though the bulk of their dentistry practice is routine – cleanings, fillings, and crowns, Dr. Gillespie has completed advanced training in many additional areas of dentistry. He believes their patients appreciate being able to get most of their dental needs taken...

Gambino's Pizza Receives Small Business Award

Thursday, June 23, 2022

Gambino’s Pizza in South Hutchinson has been around since 2004 and in 2014 Hank Yoder purchased the franchise with his wife Joan. There son left his full-time job to be a manager of the restaurant. In 2018, the Yoder’s purchased the Sterling Gambino’s franchise and Jarod became a co-owner with his parents of both locations. What started as a small family business has grown to 2 locations and 49 employees. Besides having delicious pizzas, sandwiches, and salad bar for the community to enjoy, the Yoder’s believe quality and service are the main attribute of the company. They...

Hutch Chamber Hiring Event

Friday, March 17, 2023

Hutch Chamber Hiring Event Hutchinson, Kansas (March 17, 2023) – Due to requests from members who are interested in reaching out to the recently laid off workers in our community, the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce a new hiring event opportunity. The Chamber has made two conference rooms available by reservation for on-site interviews from March 20th-31st. If your company is interested in holding on-site interviews at the Chamber or our adjacent Boys & Girls Club conference room, you may sign up by contacting the Chamber...

Hutchinson asking for your input on Downtown Hutch Master Plan

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Hutchinson asking for your input on the Downtown Hutch Master Plan Hutchinson, Kansas (January 31, 2023) - The planning process for the creation of a new Downtown Master Plan has launched! The first step in designing a successful forward-looking master plan for Downtown Hutchinson is to gather public input. Public input is being collected through a digital public survey to get a better understanding of what residents and stakeholders desire for the future of downtown Hutchinson. The survey asks the public to share their thoughts on the current state of downtown, as well as opportunities for its future....

Reflections Salon Receives Small Business Award

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Kelly Alger graduated Sidney’s Hairdressing College in 1996 and began her cosmetology journey working at a couple of different salons. In June of 2002, she opened her own shop – Reflections Salon on West 2nd Avenue after Kelly remodeled an empty business location. In 2010, Kelly and her husband purchased the former Salt City Land & Title Building and remodeled it to accommodate two businesses with separate entrances for Reflections Salon and her husband’s barber shop. Kelly prides her salon on pampering their clients with a complete list of services and keeping their prices affordable for everyone....

Revive Chiropractic & Acupuncture Receives Small Business Award

Monday, July 25, 2022

Revive Chiropractic opened in August 2015 in the Mt. Vernon Building on East 30th. This location initially offered one adjustment room and one acupuncture room. One year later Revive expanded into two additional rooms to accommodate their fast-growing patient base. After three wonderful years, they moved to a larger location closer to Main Street. Their current space has two adjustment rooms, one Therapy room, and two acupuncture rooms. Alongside cupping, acupuncture, adjustments, therapeutic ultrasound electrical stimulation, and decompression therapy – they offer love, encouragement, and friendship. It's paramount that their patients leave feeling better not only...

State Farm Insurance - Deana Ackerman Agency Receives Small Business Award

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

Deana Ackerman was hired by John O’Day in January of 1990, and was set up in an 800 s.f. incubator space in the Larkland Shopping Center. She participated in a very extensive agent training program provided by State Farm, in addition to having meet the monthly quotas. Deana continued to meet the monthly quotas and eventually outgrew that space and moved the office in 2000 to her current location at 2721 N Main St. Her agency originally started out providing property, casualty, life and health insurance; approximately 20 years ago they added additional life insurance options, annuities, and other products...

Technique Manufacturing Receives Small Business Award

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Technique Manufacturing began in 1990 with 6 employees. In 1994, Ted Robinson came to Technique to take a position with the plan to become the future owner. Ted’s early responsibilities included helping bridge the gap between sales and production to help with efficiency of the business. By 1996, Ted was a 50% shareholder and in 2019 took over as 100% owner, just before the pandemic began. They specialize in building custom commercial grade cabinets. When Ted came on, their business model was 75% work for Dillons and 25% general contractors. Ted has successfully worked to switch this...

The Hickory Stik receives Small Business Award

Tuesday, November 01, 2022

Aaron Bruce and business partners chose to open a new barbeque restaurant in Hutchinson, as the partners were having success in McPherson with Woods BBQ. They found and renovated a building in downtown Hutchinson in 2017 and opened Hickory Stik with 9 employees. The shifts have grown in duration and has the number of employees to 15. Besides adding employees, they have added to their menu, a new smoker, and new fryers to keep up with their growth. According to Aaron, not all BBQ is the same. Hickory Stik creates their own seasonings for meats, and they...

The Phoenician Salon & Day Spa Receives Small Business Award

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Jaimie McComas bought The Phoenician in 2005. The 1,800 sq. ft. space was located just south of 13th Street on Main Street at the time. She began with hair and nails services and 6 employees/booth renters. In 2010, she purchased the new location at 1303 North Main Street. The new 5,500 sq. ft. location had to be completely reroofed and remodeled. The added space allowed Jaimie and her staff to add massage, facial, eyelash extension, wig & extension services, in addition to a boutique offering of clothing, purses, and jewelry. Over the past 17 years The Phoenician has doubled in...

The Traveling Bowl Receives Small Business Award

Thursday, June 02, 2022

Gina Emel grew up in Hutchinson, the daughter of Restaurateurs Jack and Mary Emel. Gina graduated from Trinity Catholic High School and earned her degree in Supply Chain Management from KU. She worked at American Eagle Distribution Center in the Lawrence area for 5 years. When her father, the late Jack Emel, got sick she moved back to Hutchinson. Gina never thought she would get into the restaurant business until she moved back to Hutchinson. She liked the idea of a food truck because she liked the idea of doing everything (preparing, cooking, and serving). A family friend had a...

Wray & Sons Roofing Receives Small Business Award

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Wray & Sons was originally established by Bernard & Lorena Wray in 1939. Their sons Greg, Cliff, and Jerry took over the business in 1994, and then five years ago Jerry retired, leaving the business to Greg and Cliff. Bernard and Lorena started the business with only a panel truck and a shed on “D” Street in South Hutchinson. In the early 1970’s, they purchased the property at 229 E. 3rd Street in Hutchinson, where their warehouse and offices are still located today. At Wray & Sons Roofing they offer all types of roofing for both residential and commercial....