It is Your Enterprise — employed, retired, appointed, promoted in Topeka

Retirement & Hiring

Stormont Vail Health recently announced Ross Miller, MD, joins his team to practice as an ambulance in the Stormont Vail Emergency Room at 1500 SW 10th Avenue. Miller became interested in medicine as a child, hanging out with a relative who had a chronic illness and attending doctor’s appointments. He began working as a medical assistant in an emergency room when his love for emergency medicine came alive. Miller completed his medical degree in 2018 and this year completed his residency training in emergency medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City, Kansas. Miller enjoys spending time with his wife, friends, and family. They are big foodies and enjoy finding new restaurants. They also enjoy hiking, gardening and playing racquetball.

Tom Treacy was appointed as the new public relations officer for the Kansas Insurance Departments. Treacy joins the department after serving in the Kansas State Treasurer’s office for the past seven years in a variety of roles including director of the Kansas ABLE and the 529 Education Savings Program.

Shawn Knight, Cumulus Media

Cumulus media recently announced that it has named a seasoned on-air personality Shawn Knight as co-host of the Majic Morning Show on the Topeka-based modern radio station Majic 107.7 / KMAJ-FM. Knight accompanies co-host Angie Stevens on the Majic Morning Show, which airs Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. A native of Chicago, Knight has been a staple on television for more than two decades. Most recently, he was Assistant Brand Manager and Afternoon Presenter at Urban AC KISX – 107.3 KISS FM in Tyler, Texas. Knight was also heard on Urban AC WKZJ / K92.7 in Columbus, Georgia; on the Urban station WPWX-FM / Power 92 in Chicago; on WTLC / 106.7FM and 1310AM in Indianapolis; and on the urban / gospel stations WGCI / 107.5FM and 1390AM in Chicago. He was also a weekly televised report for Good Day Chicago on WFLD Fox 32nd. Knight currently hosts “The Shawn Knight Show Podcast”.

Karen Estrada, Kansas Children's Discovery Center

Karen Estrada has joined that Kansas Children’s Discovery Center Team as engagement coordinator. She joins the museum after 12 years as an administrative assistant with Kansas Legal Services. At the Discovery Center, Estrada is the main front desk team member and welcomes families from all over the world to visit the museum.

Dates & promotions

Katie Scott, Heritage Bank

Legacy bank recently announced the promotion of Katie Scott to AVP / Marketing Director and Retail Banking. Scott began her career at Heritage Bank in 2015 as a personal banker, which made her stand out for customer service and support with the deposit business. Scott is excited to take on a new role as Heritage Bank’s Marketing Director and will continue to support the limited capacity deposit business. Heritage Bank believes the change will help fulfill its mission of being the leading community bank for individuals and businesses in Shawnee County.

Joan Duwve, Kansas Department of Health and Environment

That Kansas Department of Health and Environment recently announced Joan Duwve was appointed deputy state health officer. Duwve has been a public health advisor for KDHE since November 2020, leading the state COVID-19 testing program and helping with health equity initiatives. Prior to her consultancy, Duwve was director of public health for the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Associate Dean of Practice at Indiana University’s Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indianapolis, and Chief Medical Officer of the Indiana Department of Health. Prior to joining the health service, she practiced as a family doctor in Indiana. Duwve holds a PhD from Johns Hopkins University and a Masters of Public Health from the University of Michigan. Duwve started her new role on July 19th.

Mary Martell, Stormont Vail Health

Stormont Vail Health recently announced Maria Martell has assumed the role of Vice President and Regional Administrator. Her new role is based in Manhattan and will focus on the Cotton O’Neil Manhattan Clinic and health system operations, including building the new medical campus. Martell will also work to develop Stormont’s relationships with its local and regional partners, including Manhattan Surgical Hospital and Kansas State University. Martell began her work in the clinical research industry in 2004 after contacting Stormont Vail with a proposal to develop a clinical research center. As a result, the Cotton O’Neil Clinical Research Center was conceived and, over the past 17 years, has grown into a department that currently supports nearly a hundred clinical trials with approximately 700 research participants. Martell holds a BS in Journalism and Mass Communication from Kansas State University and a Masters in Business Administration from Baker University. She was a TEDx Topeka representative in 2017 and was involved with the Greater Topeka Partnership Innovation Advisory Board and other community organizations. Martell has also participated in Leadership Greater Topeka and United Way, receiving the Ingram’s Heroes in Health Care Award, the YMCA Woman of Excellence Award, and the Mulvane Mountain Plains Art Fair People’s Choice Award.

Sam Williams, Kansas Public Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees

Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson has appointed Sam Williams, from Wichita, to Kansas Public Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees. He was sworn in at the board meeting in July 2021. Williams has over 25 years of experience as the retired chief financial officer and managing partner of Sullivan, Higdon and Sink (now Signal Theory). He was previously Treasury Secretary for the State of Kansas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in accounting from the University of Utah. Williams is a long-time Wichita based and CPA and has served on the board of directors and chairman of the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce. Williams was previously a member of the Kansas State Consensus Revenue Estimating Workgroup. The KPERS board has nine curators. Four are appointed by the governor, two are appointed by the legislative leaders, two are elected by the members of the pension system, and one is the elected state treasurer. All serve four-year terms.

At its official annual meeting on Thursday Board of United Way of Greater Topeka approved a list of new officers and members. Matt All, CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, will serve as Chairman of the Board for the next two years. Susan Duffy, of the Kansas Corporation Commission, is changing to the position of former chairman. Judy Corzine, of Stormont Vail Health, was sustained as elected chairman and new board member Stephanie flood, of Capitol Federal, will become the treasurer and chair the finance committee. Other new board members are: Peyton Wilson, Washburn University Leadership Student (one-year tenure); Shayden Hanes, Washburn University Leadership Student (2-year tenure); Megan Burgess, the Hill’s pet food; Freddy Mawyin, the Greater Topeka Partnership; Johnathan sublet, from Fellowship Hi-Crest Church; and Amy Stutzmann, from Hill’s Pet Nutrition. Board members returning for another term include: Tonya Barta, Farmers State Bank (Jackson County); Marlou Wegener, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas; Matt spelled, the security deposit; Morgan Franklin, from Laird Noller Ford; John Fager, from CoreFirst Bank and Trust; and Adrian Revels, from Goodyear / Union Local 304.

Awards, honors and recognitions

That Kansas Department of Transportation honors the following employees in the Topeka area who celebrate their service anniversary in August. Doria Watson, a public sector executive in Topeka, celebrates 20th anniversary at KDOT. Ethan Pugh, an engineer technician at Midpoint in Mayetta, is celebrating 10 years in the department.

The Wall Street Journal and Realtor.com recently found a spot Topeka on The 20 best cities to live in live. Topeka was ranked 11th in the Emerging Housing Markets Index from WSJ / Realtor.com, which, according to David Ewalt of the WSJ, ranks real estate markets that should offer both strong returns and a beautiful place to live.

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