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A Legacy of Inclusion

Founded by Alex and Marie Dinverno in 1976 as a small janitorial enterprise, Prestige Maintenance USA now offers tailored and reliable janitorial services for various commercial facilities, while still holding true to the core tenets upon which it was founded.

“Our dedication to reliability and professionalism sets us apart in an industry where our work often goes unnoticed but is critical for creating a positive experience for employees, shoppers, and guests,” said Sanchez. “The story of Prest

Brundage redefines strength with Empowering Differences Inc.

Ashley Brundage built a business on being a survivor. A transgender woman, she was subjected to harassment, discrimination and homelessness after making the choice to live authentically.

Currently, she runs Empowering Differences Inc., helping others empower themselves to reach goals by embracing and celebrating their differences.

"A lot of people who haven’t had my lived experience as a proud, out transgender woman, believe it’s a choice to live our lives authentically, but actually, the only

Women Presidents Organization advocates for women in powerful high-level positions

In a world where women continue to strive for equal representation and opportunities in leadership roles, the Women Presidents Organization (WPO) stands as a beacon of support, empowerment and advocacy.

Founded in 1997 by Dr. Marsha Firestone, the organization has been instrumental in providing a safe space for women entrepreneurs and executives to connect, learn and grow in their respective industries. And the organization’s commitment to fostering a thriving community of women in powerful hig
Emporia Gazette •

Stormont Vail Health criticizes Lyon County Commission's moratorium on medical building permits

Stormont Vail Health expressed strong disapproval over the Lyon County Commission’s decision this week to impose a six-month moratorium on reviewing building permits for medical-related buildings.

On Thursday, the Lyon County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution establishing a six-month moratorium on certain types of zoning, land use, and building permits related to medical facilities within the unincorporated areas of Lyon County.

The resolution, presented by County Counselor Molly Prie
Emporia Gazette •

Superload carrying 'pressure vessel' passes through Emporia

A massive “superload” carrying a pressure vessel passed through Emporia Tuesday morning, drawing more than a few curious residents to watch from Commercial Street.

The pressure vessel, nearly 22 feet tall, 22 feet wide, and approximately 210 feet long, is being transported from Oklahoma to California. The exact origin and destination are managed by the private moving company, which regularly moves large loads through Emporia.

According to City Engineer Jim Ubert, the K-99 portion of the trip w
Emporia Gazette •

Local family seeks accessible housing after father paralyzed in tragic accident

A local father of two and his family are in need of accessible housing after an accident left him paralyzed.

Johnny Tapp, 23, was on a ladder repairing a leak on the roof of a camper when his roller came into contact with a live powerline on June 11. The electricity shot through him, throwing him from the top of the RV. Tapp broke every rib on the left side of his body, and fractured multiple parts of his spine and suffered severe burns to his abdomen, as well as gashes to his forehead.

Tapp w
Emporia Gazette •

'We are survivors': Emporians remember devastation 50 years after 1974 tornado

On June 8, 2024, Emporia will mark the 50th anniversary of the catastrophic tornado that killed six people and injured 200 more as it tore through the city and surrounding areas in 1974.

According to The Gazette archives, the F4 tornado struck around 6 p.m., ripping through populated sections on the northwest side of Emporia, killing six people and injuring 200. It caused massive damage and destruction at the Flinthills Mall shopping center, the Lincoln Village mobile home park, a nursing home,
TexCorp Communications •

WE Texas WE Texas v1 2023: Advocating for WBEs

Kathleen Hunt is passionate about supporting women in business

With more than 30 years of experience in the human resources industry, Kathleen Hunt is well-versed in the needs of business owners when it comes to payroll. In 2011, she founded Personalized Payroll Services, which provides payroll services for clients in all industries across the country with the goal to help women-owned businesses thrive and prosper.

More than a decade later, the company competes with payroll services like Gusto
Business Equality Magazine •

Out Leadership

Todd Sears has seen more than a decade of progress when it comes to businesses recognizing the return on equality.

Sears founded Out Leadership, the world’s first — and only — LGBTQIA corporation focused on equality in 2010. Prior to that, he spent more than 20 years in finance, where he positioned himself as a leader in diversity. At Merrill Lynch, Sears created the first team of financial advisors on Wall Street focused on the LGBTQ community, and there pioneered diversity initiatives as the
Business Equality Magazine •

Everywhere is Queer

Everywhere Is Queer: Mapping LGBTQ-Owned Businesses Around the World

Three years ago, Charlie Sprinkman (he/they) was traveling the United States for a job with a large organic beverage company, searching for queer hangouts in the 42 states he visited. The results were often nonexistent. In January, Sprinkman took matters into his own hands with the launch of “Everywhere is Queer” — an online directory of LGBTQ+-owned businesses around the world.

“Last summer, in July ‘21, I went and volunteer