Lawrence Business Hall of Fame
| 2018 Q3 | story by Bob Luder | photos by Steven Hertzog
Junior Achievement (JA) of Kansas is dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future and make smart academic and economic choices. What better way to accomplish that mission than to provide real, living examples of some of the highest achievers and most successful entrepreneurs in Lawrence.
Bob Moore was such an example. Before his death in 2016, Moore was involved in the development and construction of thousands of single-family homes and apartment units throughout the city. Cindy Maude, with more than 40 years’ experience in marketing, most recently as owner and CEO of Callahan Creek, a Lawrence-based brand strategy and digital marketing firm, was such an example. So was John McGrew, who partnered with friend Bob Billings in developing Alvamar back in the 1960s and led one of the preeminent real estate companies in the Midwest for more than 40 years. And Michael Treanor, who over the last 37 years has grown Treanor Architects into a nationwide powerhouse in structure design.
All of these individuals volunteered their time, knowledge and business acumen to the classrooms and in the field with JA, imparting their wisdom and know-how in the name of building future business leaders. For that, they have been selected as the 2018 Lawrence Business Hall of Fame Laureates. They will be honored at a black-tie tribute dinner Tuesday, October 2 at the DoubleTree by Hilton (Regency Ballroom).
This ninth class of honorees was selected based on a record of business achievement and demonstrating excellence in many different categories. Hall of Fame laureates, which in the past have included such notables as Dolph Simons, Sr. (inaugural class of 2010), Billings (2011), Bob Stephens (2012) and Chuck Magerl, are prominent business leaders who have made extraordinary contributions to Lawrence, earned the respect of the local community and work to lead the community to a better, higher level.
Each Lawrence Business Hall of Fame laureate has a very different and interesting background, but one thing in common. Each has devoted hours of volunteer time and financial resources in addition to building strong businesses of his/her own. Here is a little more about each honoree.
Cindy Maude
Cindy Maude
Cindy Maude began her career working for design and advertising agencies in Kansas City and Topeka. She began working for Admark in Topeka in 1988. In 1996, she purchased the company, changed the name to Callahan Creek and, in 1999, moved the company to Lawrence.
Callahan Creek has a long history of generosity, one of the company’s core values. Each year, the company contributes 10 percent of profits to public service, involving volunteering and pro bono work. It also has contributed to scholarships to the William Allen White School of Journalism and the School of Design and Architecture.
Maude has shown her passion for building Lawrence by working on many community organization boards, including those at Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, Lawrence Arts Center, Friends of the Lied Center and the William Allen White Foundation as well as serving on the city’s Cultural District Task Force.
Maude serves as interim CEO for the Lawrence Arts Center and is a proud graduate of the University of Kansas School of Journalism.
“I think Junior Achievement is a really great program,” Maude says. “It helps prepare young people for the workplace. It teaches them great skills, from financial skills to working as a team, to negotiating … just the courage to go out there and try something they believe in.”
Maude says it’s a great honor to be included as a 2018 Lawrence Business Hall of Fame Laureate.
“The people in this Hall of Fame have been tremendous role models to me in helping show me the kind of business person I want to be,” she says. “Not only are they great business people, but they’re people who give back to the community.”
John McGrew
John McGrew
John McGrew is a lifelong Lawrence resident. He graduated from Lawrence High School in 1956, obtained his business degree from KU in ’60 and immediately went to work in the family business, becoming President and CEO of McGrew Real Estate, a company started nine years prior by his father, Conrad. Today, McGrew Real Estate has three offices serving the greater Douglas County area and is home to nearly 100 agents and support personnel.
In 1965, McGrew partnered with Billings to develop a 400-acre golf course project in west Lawrence that became Alvamar. Today, Alvamar and its related developments encompass more than 3,000 acres.
In retirement, McGrew turned to advocacy and community involvement. He founded Outside for a Better Inside, an organization that spreads awareness of outdoor activity and encourages children and adults alike to spend more time in nature. He also has overseen the developments of the Conrad & Viola McGrew Nature Preserve, the Pat Dawson Billings Nature Area and the Kanza Southwind Nature Preserve.
McGrew has served on many boards of directors, including the KU Biodiversity Institute, Douglas County Bank, Faith Promise, the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, Lawrence Villages, Lawrence Board of Realtors, Lawrence Insurance and Lawrence Humane Society. He received the Citizen of the Year Award in 2011.
“I feel we all need to be participants, not just spectators,” McGrew says. “(JA) has done a lot of good with that program over the years. I know people who have gone through the program and have gone on to become business leaders.
“My dad died when I was 14. Some of his friends continued to mentor me, showing me the benefits of hard work and being neighborly. That reverberates throughout the community.
“Be kind, be generous and participate.”
Michael Treanor
Michael Treanor
Michael Treanor established Treanor Architects as a small local architecture firm in 1981. That firm has grown to more than 150 professionals offering architecture and engineering services from eight offices across the country, in San Francisco, Denver, Colorado Springs, Topeka, Kansas City, St. Louis, Dallas and Atlanta.
Treanor decided 21 years ago to focus solely and specifically on certain types of projects, a decision he attributes to the company’s success. Today, Treanor is known nationally as a leader of design in justice facilities, mixed-use housing, student life projects, K-12 education, historic preservation and life sciences laboratory and research centers.
Throughout his career, Treanor has made a commitment to environmentally responsible design and has designed green facilities to achieve U.S. Green Building Council standards. He has led multiple projects which have attained the highest levels of LEED certification. Recently, Treanor Architects joined the American Institute of Architects’ 2030 commitment to drastically reduce carbon emissions in building design and construction.
Treanor holds architecture and environmental design degrees from the University of Kansas. A registered architect in 24 states, he also is a member of the American Institute of Architecture and Urban Land Institute and the Congress of New Urbanism.
Robert Moore
Robert “Bob” Moore
Bob Moore lived most of his life in Lawrence, having moved here with his family when he was in the third grade. Upon graduating from Liberty Memorial High School in 1949, he then attended the University of Kansas.
In his 20s, he founded Moore Associates, and using a franchised construction system with pre-constructed components, he quickly became one of the biggest national home franchisees in the U.S.
An economic downturn prompted the closing of Moore Associates as the 1950s turned to the ‘60s, but he formed Continental Construction in the early ‘60s and began building apartment projects in the northeast Kansas area. In 1976, he formed Advanco, Inc. and has completed numerous industrial and commercial projects, land development for industrial, commercial and residential uses and property redevelopment.
During Moore’s career, he worked with an extensive list of companies, including the State of Kansas, Boeing and Blue Cross BlueShield.
Moore has served on the boards of the Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Lawrence Chamber of Commerce and the Lawrence National Bank. He was a founding member of “The Bobs,” a group of donors who annually fund a $10,000 Lawrence Schools Foundation award that honors a Lawrence educator. Moore was married to his wife, Marna, from 1952 until her passing in 2015. He passed away in February 2016. The couple had three children – Matt, Melonie and Martin, and five grandchildren.
“Dad was very low-profile and probably wouldn’t want his name to be publicized,” says Martin Moore. “But he would be very honored to be recognized with the people he’s being recognized with. It’s really great he’d be recognized with this group.”
JA of Kansas serves more than 28,000 young people annually, inspiring kids to dream big and reach their full potential. To learn more about JA Kansas and its programs and events, visit the website at www.kansasja.org.
