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Meeting with the KPCA at Legislative Days in Topeka
Wednesday, February 11th, 2009
By J.R. Claeys
I had the pleasure of speaking to the Kansas Pest Control Association at their annual meeting in Topeka today. Mark Hassman, of Hassman Termite & Pest Control in Salina, invited me to their lunch meeting across from the Capitol. Many familiar faces were in the room from Wichita, Hutchinson, and Salina, along with some new faces from around the state.
Mark and I go back about 13 years or so. I was 18 when he hired me to be his trusty sidekick for the summer. I consider him a mentor and a friend. The lessons I learned working for a small business--the hours, the toughness, the energy that it takes to manage a business while being an expert in a profession--stuck with me and served me well in life.
But Mark was more than an example when it comes to running a small business. Many hours on the road chatting with him (oh, heck, debating with him) shaped my conservative views and developed my interest in public service. On those long drives I'll admit we also listened to our fair share of Rush on KSAL too. Mark gave me my first opportunity to be a part of a nonprofit organization with KPCA and the organization was generous enough to award me with a Heritage Builder Award in 1998 for my efforts.
If I am fortunate enough to be your next Secretary of State, I will work every day knowing the hard work that goes into running a small business. I will work to reduce the paperwork burden small businesses face and I will be an advocate for policies that grow small business in our state.
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