| story by |  |
| photos courtesy of | Junior Achievement |
| OPEN A PDF OF THE ARTICLE |
The Business Hall of Fame tribute dinner is normally held in the fall each year, the 2020 event is scheduled for June 10, 2021.
The mission of Junior Achievement (JA) of Kansas is clear: to have strong and successful business leaders in communities help mentor bright, young entrepreneurs with ambitions of being tomorrow’s business moguls.
Once a year, JA pauses for a moment and pivots attention away from the young business minds it strives to cultivate. The focus for one night falls upon the mentors, the pillars of the community who donate their time and wisdom in the name of molding the future generation. JA does this by hosting the Lawrence Business Hall of Fame tribute dinner. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s dinner actually will be held next year and the date has not yet been set.
For more information or to become a sponsor, contact Debbie Harman at 785-841-8245 or 785-331-7380, or email debbie@kansasja.org.
This year’s class of Lawrence Business Hall of Fame laureates, the 11th such class to be so honored, includes some of the most prominent and influential business leaders in the community the past several decades.
Dana Anderson, of The Macerich Company, has been a real estate developer and executive for five-plus decades and is perhaps best known as one of the major fund-raising forces for the University of Kansas (KU), helping raise more than $550 million during the Kansas First Capital Campaign. Doug Compton, owner/operator of First Management, Inc., and First Construction LLC, has been an essential developer of real estate in the Lawrence area and throughout the Midwest for nearly four decades. Roger Johnson owns Alcove Development, a developer of modern residential homes in northeast Kansas. Cindy Yulich has worked at Emprise Bank for nearly 30 years and has served on the bank’s board of directors and various management and loan committees.
All four honorees are the epitome of what hard work and an unrelenting entrepreneurial spirit can accomplish. Most pertinent to JA, they’re also shining examples for all young entrepreneurs to follow, and all four have volunteered time, knowledge and business acumen to the classrooms and in the field. Each was selected as a Lawrence Business Hall of Fame laureate based on sterling records of business achievement and demonstrated excellence, both in his or her respective business and volunteer endeavors. They join a list of notables, who include publisher Dolph Simons Sr. (inaugural class of 2010), real estate developer Bob Billings (2011), former Kansas Attorney General Bob Stephens (2012), real estate developer John McGrew (2018) and advertising executive and designer Cindy Maude, as prominent business leaders who have made extraordinary contributions to Lawrence.
NOTE: Because of COVID-19 and related governmen¬tal restrictions regarding gatherings, the 2020 Lawrence Business Hall of Fame event has been rescheduled to June 10, 2021. It will be determine by April 10, 2021 whether to stay with the rescheduled date of June 10, 2021 or if it needs to be moved to later in the year. Check the JA website for updates: www.kansasja.org
Junior Achievement Hall of Fame: Dana Anderson
Dana Anderson
Anderson was six hours short of earning a marketing degree from KU when he was drafted into the U.S. Army in the winter of 1956. Despite earning just $72 a month, he managed to send $5 for alumni association dues back to his university. That’s how important he’s always valued his relationship as a loyal Jayhawk.
Upon returning from military service, Anderson completed his degree and went to work for Kansas City Power and Light, working with builders on all-electric homes. After saving a modest amount, he went into business with a partner developing subdivisions. The withdrawal of an Air Force base in Topeka brought financial hardships, but Anderson reinvented his business model and joined some developers in creating a stand-alone discount store that has survived to this day, most recently as Gordmans.
Anderson helped found Macerich in 1966 and is its vice-chairman of the board emeritus, previously serving as executive vice-president and chief operating officer. Today, the company is a New York Stock Exchange real estate investment trust with 47 shopping centers in 15 states.
But it’s been his philanthropy with KU for which he’s perhaps best known. He’s served on Campaign Kansas, the James Naismith Society and the KU First fund-raising committee, and is a longtime member of the Williams Education Fund. He has twice served on the KU Athletic Board. In May of 2001, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the KU School of Business.
The KU Alumni Association honored Anderson with the Fred Ellsworth Medallion in 1998 for his lifelong contributions to the university. In all, he has made more than 150 gifts to various KU projects. Anderson and his wife, Sue, were 2018 recipients of the Elizabeth Watkins Community Caring Award for their positive influence and generosity to Lawrence Memorial Hospital (now LMH Health) and are heading a $3-million capital campaign for a second cardiac catheterization lab and the purchase of new robotics equipment.
“I respect Junior Achievement’s effort to educate our young people about the virtues and opportunities in the business world with our free-enterprise economy and am honored to receive this award,” Anderson says. “As a youngster, I always had a job, as my dad did not believe in allowances. My first job was selling magazines door-to-door in fourth grade, and I worked all through my high school days.”
The Andersons celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary Dec. 29 and have four children and eight grandchildren.
Junior Achievement Hall of Fame: Doug Compton
Doug Compton
For nearly 30 years, Compton has been owner/operator of First Management Inc. (FMI), a property management/commercial real estate firm based in Lawrence; and for 15 years, he’s owned and operated First Construction LLC (FC), a general contractor. FMI and FC build, invest, rent and own commercial real estate, residential student housing and apartments throughout the Midwest and 12 other states. During that time, FMI and FC have become major players in the northeast Kansas real estate market.
Before that, however, Compton began pursuing farming interests in the Lawrence area and acquired land to be used for future development. Compton is an active developer in projects that include medical buildings, retail, hotels, restaurants and, most recently, the purchase of the Lawrence airport.
He also has expanded into the banking industry. He is the principal organizer of First Financial Bancshares Inc., where he serves as CEO and director, and Great American Bank, where he’s chairman of the board and directors. It has locations in Lawrence, DeSoto and Kansas City.
Compton is a lifetime member of the KU Alumni Association. He is married to Lesley Elliott Compton, and they have a combined family of six children: Douglas Jr., Chase, Lili, Brooke, Beau and Banks.
“It’s a great honor, especially with this class of fellow inductees,” Compton says of the Jr. Achievement honor. “Dana Anderson has been my mentor and is like a second father to me. Roger Johnson’s company has been doing construction work for me for more than 20 years. And Cindy Yulich has been my banker forever.
“Not only do I have respect for these people, but my friendship and involvement with them over the years just makes it a special group to be included in.”
Junior Achievement Hall of Fame: Roger Johnson
Roger Johnson
Born and raised in Lawrence, Johnson attended India Grade School, Lawrence High and Washburn University. He was drafted into the U.S. Navy while a senior at Lawrence High and served two years.
Upon returning home, he entered school at Washburn and began investing in rental properties and managing real estate for third parties. He started RD Johnson Excavating in 1981 and ran that business for 35 years, selling it in 2016.
Following the sale of RD Johnson Excavating, Johnson started Alcove Development with two partners: Dustin Baker and Jeremiah Johnson.
Johnson and his wife, Debby, have a son, Jeremiah, and two stepchildren, Grant Catloth and Olivia Gilbert. The Johnsons live on a ranch in southwest Douglas County.
Johnson says he believes the work being done by Jr. Achievement is essential for the future productivity of Lawrence, the area and the country.
“If we don’t do things like (mentor young entrepreneurs), we’re going to eventually run out of workers,” he says. “This is a great opportunity for kids to learn.”
Johnson also says he’s honored to be included in such an esteemed class of laureates.
“It’s a great class,” he says. “Doug and I have been good friends, and worked together on projects for years. I’ve done work for Dana but don’t know him well. When I started out in construction, Cindy Yulich was one of the few who would loan me money. I’m probably forever indebted to that lady.”
Junior Achievement Hall of Fame: Cindy Yulich
Cindy Yulich
Yulich joined Emprise Bank in 1991 to help open its Lawrence location.
She grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, graduating from Turner High School in 1977. She earned an associate’s degree from Kansas City Kansas Community College in 1979 and a bachelor’s degree in business administration (minor in social science) from Emporia State University in 1981. She graduated from the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Colorado in 1998.
Yulich began her 29-year career at Emprise Bank as an assistant vice president, becoming market president in 2008. She has served on the bank’s board of directors and its asset/liability management committee in addition to loan committees.
She is serving or has served on a wide variety of boards and committees, including Lawrence Memorial Hospital (now LMH Health) Board of Trustees, Peaslee Technical Training Center, Economic Development Corp., Lawrence Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, USD 497 Board of Education, United Way of Douglas County, American Cancer Society and the Rotary Club.
Yulich received the Lawrence Public Schools Outstanding Citizen and Service Award in 2002 and the Wally Galluzzi Chamber Volunteer of the Year award in 2013. She received the Athena Leadership Award from the Chamber of Commerce in 2016.
“(Junior Achievement’s) commitment to strong business principles, honesty and integrity, the power of partnership and collaboration, and conviction to hands-on learning are all things that have served me well my entire life,” she says. “I’ve been fortunate to have wonderful mentors in my career, some of whom preceded me in receiving this honor. To be considered to follow them is humbling, and I look forward to continuing their legacy by mentoring those that will follow me.”
Yulich is married to Mitch. They have two grown sons, Brett and Jordan, and daughter-in-law, Kristi.
