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It’s Your Business has Bill Persinger, Pamela Johnson Betts, Jennifer Goetz, Vince Frye

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6 months ago

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It’s Your Business has Bill Persinger, Pamela Johnson Betts, Jennifer Goetz, Vince Frye

Hires

The University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus is pioneering teleneurology outpatient services in northeast Kansas to enhance health care access with the addition of Pornpimol Anprasertporn, MD. Anprasertporn is a board-certified neurologist, specializing in neurodegenerative diseases, movement disorders (such as Parkinson’s disease, tremor, dystonia, myoclonus, and chorea), ataxia, gait and balance disorders, as well as general neurology including headaches, vertigo, and cognitive health. She earned her doctor of medicine from Mahidol University, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. She completed her neurology residency at St. Louis University and her fellowship in movement disorder at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Retirement

The Board of Governors for Valeo Behavioral Health Care Inc. announced Bill D. Persinger Jr., who has served as the organization’s CEO since November 2015, will retire in August. Persinger has dedicated his life’s work to helping people. For most of his 50-year career, he has held leadership roles in four of the Kansas Community Mental Health Centers, which are charged with providing the public mental health safety net services, including comprehensive mental health rehabilitation. “It wasn’t easy to reach this decision because I believe so fully in Valeo’s unique mission,” said Persinger. “It has been my honor to be part of the meaningful work we do for the people we serve and for our community. At the same time though, after 50 years in the field, I’m ready to prioritize pursuits outside of work.” Under Persinger’s leadership, Valeo recently received Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic status, which allows for better access, enhanced programs and new services. “Bill has a deep respect for Valeo’s strong reputation as an exceptional provider for those seeking recovery from mental illness and/or addiction,” said Tyler Levier, Chair, Valeo’s Behavioral Health Care Board. An interim CEO will soon be appointed to work alongside Persinger, the executive management team and the board during the transition. “Valeo’s vision for a future where everybody has access to stigma-free behavioral health care drew me to this role in the first place,” said Persinger. “Today, we are the provider of choice for complete and compassionate care. That’s credit to our entire team, which I have no doubt will continue thriving in the service of others well after my retirement.” Persinger also volunteers for several community and business initiatives, including the city of Topeka’s homelessness project, which he will continue contributing his personal time to post-retirement.

Honors

Leadership Greater Topeka, a program of the Greater Topeka Partnership, celebrated its 2024 LGT graduating class, composed of 36 aspiring and established leaders who have been together for the past five months to gain fresh perspective on the community, learn adaptive leadership concepts and build a lifetime network they can lean on to activate and support their personal and professional goals. “For a community to grow and progress, it must have strong leaders willing to tackle tough challenges head on. Our alumni award recipients this year are individuals with a passion for doing just that,” said Michelle Cuevas-Stubblefield, The Partnership’s senior vice president of strategy and LGT program director. “These honorees are also committed to helping Topeka’s next generation of leaders succeed.” The ceremony also marks 40 years of the LGT program. The 2024 leadership honorees included the following:

  • Rising Star Awards: Rene Cabrera, Washburn University student and owner of Sueno’s Shop, LGT Class of 2020; and Jennifer Goetz, creative and strategy director for Compass Marketing & Advertising Partners, LGT Class of 2020.
  • Activator Award: Pamela Johnson Betts, executive director of the Topeka Public Schools Foundation, LGT Class of 1990; and Greg Schwerdt, president of Schwerdt Design Group Inc., LGT Class of 1990.
  • Marsha Sheahan Legacy Award: Vince Frye, retired DTI President, LGT Class of 1984.
  • Business Partnership Award: Barlett & West.

The Kansas Bar Association and Kansas Bar Foundation announced the recipients of their 2024 awards. The organizations will recognize award recipients at the 2024 KBA Annual Meeting in June. Following are those with Topeka ties:

  • Judge Rebecca A. Sanders, chair of the Workers Compensation Appeals Board of the Kansas Department of Labor, Topeka, is the recipient of the Distinguished Government Service Award. The award recognizes a Kansas judge or attorney who has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to government service.
  • Judge Rachel L. Pickering, Kansas Court of Appeals, is the recipient of the Diversity Award. The Diversity Award recognizes an individual who has shown a continued commitment to diversity or a law firm, corporation, governmental group, law-related organization or other organization that has significantly advanced diversity by its conduct as well as by the development and implementation of diversity policies and strategic plans. Pickering is the first Hispanic to serve on the court and previously served as a district court judge for the 3rd Judicial District, which is composed of Shawnee County.
  • Receiving Outstanding Service Awards are Heather R. Cessna, executive director at Kansas State Board of Indigents Defense Services, Topeka; and Carly M. Grit, Kansas Secured Title, Topeka. The awards recognize service that significantly advances the administration of justice or the goals of the legal profession and the KBA.
  • The Kansas Bar Foundation Board of Trustees will honor Richard F. Hayse with its highest honor, the Robert K. Weary Award, at its annual dinner in June. The award recognizes lawyers or law firms for their exemplary service and commitment to the mission and goals of the Kansas Bar Foundation. “At its core, the KBF mission is ‘funding charitable and educational projects that foster the welfare, honor, and integrity of the legal system,’” said KBF President Terri Pemberton. “I can think of no one more deserving of this award than Rich Hayes. His dedication and passion for protecting and growing the financial health of the Foundation has been and remains inspiring.” Hayse was president of the Kansas Bar Association in 2005-2006 and received the KBA’s Distinguished Service Award in 2019. He is also the recipient of professionalism awards from the KBA and Topeka Bar Association. He is a Fellow diamond of the Kansas Bar Foundation and served two terms as a trustee of the KBF and chair of its Investment Committee. Hayse retired from Morris Laing Evans Brock & Kennedy in 2017.

Eric Kjorlie, of Topeka, was selected for America’s Top 100 Medical Malpractice Litigators for 2024. Selection is by invitation only and reserved to identify the nation’s most exceptional litigators for high-value personal medical malpractice matters. To be considered, an attorney must focus more than 15% of their active legal practice on medical malpractice matters. Less than 0.5% of active attorneys in the United States will receive this honor.

Topeka-area hirings, promotions, retirements and other announcements can be emailed to iyb@cjonline.com. 

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