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Back row: Mary Jo Anemaat, Elliot Pees, Steve Maceli, Angie Pickman and Stan Sheldon
Front row: Willem Anemaat, Amber Rowland, and Galina Conrad
Photo by Steven Hertzog
When we launched Lawrence Business Magazine in 2011, we honestly didn’t know where the journey would take us. We simply believed our community had a story worth telling.
At the time, there wasn’t a publication dedicated solely to celebrating the people, businesses, and organizations driving our local economy. Too often, good news about businesses creating jobs, investing in their employees, expanding their operations, or giving back to the community went untold. We believed those stories mattered. Fifteen years later, we believe that even more.
With this issue, we are proud to publish our 61st edition and begin our 16th year of Lawrence Business Magazine. That milestone is humbling. More than anything, it reminds us that this magazine has never really belonged to us—it belongs to this community.
And before we go any further, yes, the extra “s” in Douglass is intentional. We’ve chosen to spell it with two s’s as a nod to abolitionist Frederick Douglass and the values he represented rather than Stephen Douglas, the pro-slavery Illinois senator for whom the county was originally named. Along with many citizens, including Academy Award-winning director and KU Professor Emertitus Kevin Willmott, we believe and support changing the name to better represent our community’s values. Going forward, when referring to the county where we live, we will use Douglass County.
As publishers, we’ve had a front-row seat to the remarkable evolution of this community. We’ve watched entrepreneurs open their doors with little more than a dream and determination. We’ve celebrated ribbon cuttings, expansions, anniversaries, and new generations taking over family businesses. We’ve seen companies weather recessions, navigate a global pandemic, adapt to changing markets, and emerge stronger than before.
LOCAL MATTERS
Our Local Advertisers – Making a Positive Impact
This issue’s theme, Made in Douglass County, couldn’t be more fitting.
Yes, it celebrates the things we make, grow, design, develop, create, and build here. But it is about more than what we produce. It’s also about the people, ideas, talent, and ingenuity behind it all.
One of the greatest lessons we’ve learned over the past 15 years is that our local economy isn’t built by businesses operating alone. It’s built through relationships. Businesses mentor one another. Owners serve on nonprofit boards. Companies support local schools, arts organizations, youth sports, and charitable causes. They invest not only in their own success but in the success of the entire community.
We’ve been fortunate to tell thousands of those stories over the years, both in the pages of this magazine and through our annual Foundation Awards, where we’ve recognized businesses that are creating jobs, investing locally, and making a lasting impact on our community. Whether we’re highlighting an established employer or a new entrepreneur with a bold vision, the qualities remain the same—hard work, resilience, innovation, generosity, and an unwavering belief in this community.
Publishing this magazine has also allowed us to build friendships we never expected. Behind every company logo is someone who took a risk, worked long hours, solved problems, and created opportunities for others. Those are the stories worth telling.
As we begin our 16th year, we want to thank our readers, advertisers, sponsors, writers, photographers, partners, and, most importantly, the people who have trusted us to share their stories. Your support has allowed us to continue doing what we love: celebrating the people who make this a remarkable place to live, work, and build a business.
Please note that all our advertisers have a stake in the local economy. Try to shop locally and resist the temptation to order online. If you find something online, see if one of our local businesses has it.
When we Shop Local – Shop Baldwin, Eudora, Lecompton, and Lawrence (and use Local Services) – we are supporting those businesses, giving back to our community, and building a future together.
Ann Frame Hertzog – Editor-in-Chief/Publisher
Steven Hertzog – Chief Photographer/Publisher
