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Amazon’s Steve Frazier Presents Harter Lecture to McPherson College and Community

Posted On: April 21, 2017
By: MC Admin

On Monday April 17th, McPherson College hosted Steve Frazier, Vice President of Amazon Business International at the Kansas Municipal Utilities Training Center. As a part of the Harter Lecture in Business series, this event included a lunch and a presentation “Creating a Culture that Drives Growth and Innovation.”

McPherson native Frazier started out by saying that each week Amazon sends out an email with announcements and activities. Despite the fact that he has been behind numerous major launches internationally, he has received the most responses and praise from colleagues who read he was coming to McPherson to speak to the community and to college classes.

Frazier grew up in the McPherson business scene. His dad managed the Safeway store and ran Frazier interiors, while his mother Pat worked at Farmers Alliance. “Five businesses, 58 years. Change is a part of business.” Frazier remarked.

His lecture outlined Amazon’s six major principles and how they can translate to any business, organization or the classroom. He discussed the importance of flexibility, roles the customers can take and the trials and tribulations of keeping a major business fresh as its first day.

He also touched on how Amazon handles growth. It has a “Two Pizza Policy”. This means never have more people than you can feed with two pizzas on a single programming team. It’s not a definite number, as pizza sizes differ and people eat different amounts, but it’s a simple way that’s understood across the world for keeping a team small. When a team is too big to feed two pizzas, then their task load is large enough to be split into another group. A single, small task keeps a team motivated.

Amazon has a “Disagree and Commit” policy, which means when discussing new ideas, people are encouraged to admit they disagree, however, when it’s decided to go forward, everyone must commit to the project. This encourages everyone to speak his or her mind early in discussions and constantly, quickly drives the project forward without resentment from the team to slow it down.

Frazier also touched a bit on Amazon’s hiring processes, a subject he covered earlier in the day when talking to McPherson College business students in their classes. A Q&A session then followed with questions from the audience regarding Amazon’s team management, importing and Amazon’s use of drones in delivery.

Around 120 members of the community attended, ranging from small business owners to larger local companies. Robert Wise, senior attorney from Wise and Reber, L.C., was one in attendance. “McPherson has a well-deserved reputation for producing bright, creative business people, so it was tremendous to hear a McPherson High School graduate who has gone on to have such a significant impact on world commerce,” Wise said. “Amazon is just exploding. Steve doesn’t claim to have made such an impact, but it’s well known. His description of Amazon’s business culture was awesome. He gave us his insider’s view of the company’s ground-breaking commercial and technological innovations.”

This was the first collaboration for McPherson College and the Kansas Municipal Utilities Training Center in McPherson. “KMU was very pleased to partner with McPherson College on the Harter Lecture.  It was great to welcome so many community members into the new KMU Training Center, many for the first time.” said Colin Hansen, Executive Director of Kansas Municipal Utilities. “Steve’s comments on leadership principles and having an organization “Think Big” on its programs and services resonated with me and the work that we do at KMU. We are constantly striving to improve utility service in our communities across Kansas and learning from the successes at Amazon is a great start.”

The Harter Lecture in Business is named for McPherson College alumni Jack and Eleanor Harter who met during their student days at McPherson. Jack served for many years as a member of the trustee board and both have given generously of their time, leadership skills, and resources.

McPherson College Presents Bill Warner: Racing Around the Rules

Posted On: April 19, 2017
By: MC Admin

McPherson College is pleased to welcome Bill Warner, founder and chairman of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance in Florida, as the speaker for the Evening with Auto Restoration Dinner on Friday, May 5 at 6:00 p.m.

Warner has spent his life around cars, engaged in just about every aspect of the automotive world – as a racer, writer, photographer and “all-around car guy.” He’s contributed to Road and Track, Car and Driver, Autoweek and Automobile magazines. Drawing on 40 years of racing experience and a lifelong passion for the automobile, Warner wants to impress upon the audience, particularly the students in attendance, “how important it is to have that passion in their career and lives as their guiding light.”

Tickets for the dinner are $40. Reservations may be made at www.mcpherson.edu/autorestoration. Proceeds benefit the restoration program.

On Saturday, May 6, during the 18th Annual McPherson College C.A.R.S. Club Car Show, Warner and long-time friend Tom Cotter will share about their recently released book, Cuba’s Car Culture. Cotter, has also built a life around cars, working with Indy, Nascar and Formula One, among others and is a noted author of books such as “50 Shades of Rust” and “Hemi in the Barn.” Cotter serves as a member of the college’s National Advisory Board for Automotive Restoration.

Warner and Cotter made multiple trips to Cuba, originally to study the Cuban Grand Prix for Sports Cars, but they ended up creating a reflection of what transpired before and after the revolution. Included in the book are many unseen photographs from the late Claude Haycraft, a photographer for the Tampa Tribune, who covered the Cuban races. Following the presentation, Cotter and Warner will sign copies of the book, which will be available for purchase, with proceeds supporting the C.A.R.S. Club.

“For anyone who has ever wanted to tour our restoration facility, you can’t ask for a better weekend,” said Amanda Gutierrez, vice president for auto restoration. In addition to Bill’s presentation on Friday night, the students put on a great car show on Saturday with tours, demonstrations and vehicles from around the country, many that have never been shown in Kansas.”

C.A.R.S. Club Car Show Schedule
Saturday, May 6, 2017:

7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Registration
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Templeton Tours (every 20 minutes with a lunch break from 12-1 p.m.)
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Presentation and Book Signing Cuba’s Car Culture: Celebrating the Island’s Automotive Love Affair with Tom Cotter & Bill Warner (Mingenback Theatre)
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Lunch
11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Pin-striping Demonstration by student Jacob san Martin
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Trim Demonstration with instructor Mike Dudley
12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Sheet Metal Demonstration with instructor Ed Barr
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. McPherson College Jazz Band
1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Benz Patent Motorwagen Demonstration
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Pin-striping Demonstration by student Jacob san Martin
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Model T Build
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Car Show Awards

 

‘Love and Information’ at McPherson College Shows Impact of Social Media-Style Interactions

Posted On: April 17, 2017
By: MC Admin

By Johanna Hoffman ’17, communication major

McPherson College Theatre Department will present Love and Information April 20-22 in Mingenback Theatre.

The play is a series of short scenes that focus on the way people communicate. According to Jd Bowman, associate professor of theater, this show is “a visual representation of Twitter,” where small parts of people’s everyday lives are shown. It was chosen for this season, which is centered on family, because technology creates a unique type of connection between people.

“I am fascinated by how people get to know each other 142 keystrokes at a time,” Bowman said. “It’s interesting to see the ways in which we build community online.”

Love and Information, the last show of the 2016-17 theater season, will be structured differently than previous productions. Few contextual clues are written into Caryl Churchill’s script. Because of this, much of the stage direction and portrayal is left up to the cast, which will be a mix of experienced actors and first-time performers.

Churchill, one of the most celebrated living playwrights in the theater community, intentionally made the script ambiguous, as she wanted each interpretation to be unique to the performers. Bowman is eager to help the cast make this show their own.

“I get really excited about plays like this because I’ve never done a show in this format before. It challenges me as an artist and an educator.”

More than half of the 28-person cast will be students in Bowman’s Performing for the Stage class. Bowman says he intentionally chose this show to coincide with the class because students with little theater experience, as well as those who have acted before, will all be able to relate to the concept. Because each performer has only a few lines, instead of concentrating on line memorization, his students are learning to focus on the emotion of the script.

This is the first production in which Kayla Burk, sophomore, Nickerson, Kan. will be involved. She is excited about the opportunity to try something new, especially in this format.

“I really like the short story structure because it’s different from plays I’m used to seeing. It displays several different structures and emotions throughout the whole play. I’m glad I get to be a part of it.”

Love and Information will be in Mingenback theatre April 20, 21, and 22. Start time is 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $5 for adults and $3.50 for children ages high school and younger, as well as seniors. Reservations may be made over the phone through the theatre box office at 620-242-0444 or at [email protected].

Cast members:
Desmond Anderson
Tori Broers
Kayla Burke
Danielle Chapman
Amanda Connell
Deiah Curtis
Micaila Curtis
Jeromy Denton
Jonathan Feaster
Erin Fralick
Nick Greenway
Daija Isley
Johanna Hoffman
Aubrey Hollinger
Courtney Huff
Whitney Murray
Madison O’Brien
Jennifer Dale Pollard
Christopher Rakowski
Dan Reynolds
Logan Schrag
Bailey Short
Becky Snell
Brenda Tejero
Elizabeth Thornton
Tanner Trigg
Alex Tyler
Elisha Wilcock

McPherson College Presents VP of Amazon Business International Steve Frazier for Harter Lecture in Business

Posted On: April 4, 2017
By: MC Admin

Steve Frazier, Vice President of Amazon Business International, will present McPherson College’s Harter Lecture in Business on April 17, 2017, from 12p.m. to 1p.m., at the new Kansas Municipal Utilities Training Center.

Frazier, a McPherson native, will be presenting “Creating a Culture that Drives Growth and Innovation”. His talk includes insight on what makes Amazon work, what separates Amazon from other businesses, and how this information can translate to a smaller business model.

“You can tell Frazier really knows and understands McPherson, it’s clear he has a connection, which is why we’re so excited for him to come and speak with our students and the community,” Roger Brimmerman, Vice President for Advancement at McPherson College, said. “This is also a wonderful opportunity for us to collaborate with the new KMU facilities as a venue.”

Frazier is an integral part of Amazon’s business-to-business programs outside the U.S. He helps manage Amazon’s consumer business in Brazil. Since 1999, he has worked with Amazon as a country manager for Amazon United Kingdom and Amazon China. His work for Amazon in the U.S. helped expand Amazon from a media and book website to an online market place. He led teams in numerous departments and helped develop Amazon.com’s global Category Leader training program.

Previous to Amazon, Frazier served as Vice President for Payless Shoe Source, developing their online presence. He also worked for McKinsey & Co, a management consulting firm and as a reporter for the Wall Street Journal in Mexico City. Frazier holds an MBA from Northwestern University and a B.S. in Journalism from the University of Kansas. He sits on the Board of Trustees for the William Allen White Foundation and the KU honors program advisory board at the University of Kansas.

The Harter Business Lecture is in recognition of the service of Jack Harter, ’54. Harter graduated with a B.S. in mathematics and later served on the board of trustees for 31 years. Harter, a retired chairman, CEO and president of Pacific Greystone Corporation, and his wife Eleanor, class of ’56, have also made generous financial contributions to McPherson College, including the naming gift for Harter Hall.

Frazier will be speaking to several business classes across campus and then at the KMU Training Center, located at 2090 E. Avenue A in McPherson, KS. Lunch is provided, but seating is limited. Reservations are required by April 14. RSVP online at www.mcpherson.edu/harter.

Simon Estes showcases breadth of his brilliant career

Posted On: March 15, 2017
By: MC Admin

The inaugural year for the Fern Lingenfelter Concert Series closed with a breath-taking and uplifting recital featuring two master musicians, bass-baritone Simon Estes and pianist Mei-Hsuan Huang on Sunday, March 12th in the McPherson Church of the Brethren on the campus of McPherson College. The Fern Lingenfelter Artist Series is generously funded by Mr. Steve Clark in honor of his mother, Fern Lingenfelter, who was a graduate of and longtime piano teacher at McPherson College. The series funds two annual concerts which musically enrich McPherson College and central Kansas by bringing in some of the top musicians in the world.

Sunday’s concert opened with Mr. Estes singing a set of operatic arias that showcased the breadth of his professional career which began in 1965 with the Deutsche Opera in “Aida”. Since then, Estes has sung more than 100 operatic roles and performed with 115 orchestras and in 84 opera houses world-wide. From his opening note, the mature resonance of his rich, bass-baritone voice filled every inch of the performance hall. The musical mastery that has made him famous world-wide for over five decades was on full display as he captivated the large and enthusiastic audience with his ability to emote the music, flawlessly articulate the Italian and German librettos, and capture the drama of the operatic scenes.

Mr. Estes’ second set featured traditional African-American spirituals which provided the audience an experience of his deeply religious character. Once again his mature, engulfing, deep voice shook the rafters of the hall. And although he sang from a seated position, the audience was lifted out of their seats by the closing song of this set, “Every Time I Feel the Spirit”. As a part of his social mission, Estes supports the United Nations Mosquito Netting Project to save children’s lives from malaria in Africa. His performance for the Lingenfelter Artist Series will also support that mission in lieu of an honorarium. When Estes sang, “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hand” in this set, his personae was on full display as a brilliant musician, deeply religious man and champion for social causes.

Mr. Estes’ final set featured songs from American Musical Theatre and Movies. In this set, the audience was able to gain insight into the personal struggles of Simon Estes, who worked his way through school cleaning windows, sleeping on floors and struggling to buy meals. Considering that just two generations before him slaveholders forced his grandfather into servitude, Estes’ rise to the top of the musical profession is an inspiration to musicians and non-musicians alike. His final song, “Climb Every Mountain”, certainly could have been interpreted as a reflection of his life as well as his challenge to all the members of the audience.

Mr. Estes was accompanied by Mei-Hsuan Huang who is a phenomenal musician in her own right. Ms. Huang is Professor of Piano at Iowa State University and a member of the Amara Piano Quartet. In addition to accompanying Estes, she played three solo selections composed by Frederic Chopin. Her elegant, long fingers danced on the piano and made the technically imposing Chopin pieces sound effortless. And the mastery of her phrasing, choosing what notes to bring out of the thick romantic harmonies and which melodic lines to emphasize, showed great musical maturity which defied her youthful appearance.

Mac College goes ‘Barefoot’ – McPherson Sentinel

Posted On: March 8, 2017
By: MC Admin

Exhibition at McPherson College Explores Landscapes, Nature in Contemporary Artwork

Posted On: February 27, 2017
By: MC Admin

A new exhibition at McPherson College called “Finding Balance” explores the role of the natural world in artwork of all sizes, media, and topics. The show is up now through March 11.

The work of Leland Powers, associate professor of interior design at Fort Hays State University, marks the starting point for the exhibition’s concept. MC invited him to show his work in the college’s Friendship Hall and to also select other artists to join him in the show.

That initial concept evolved into a collaborative show among Powers and two of his colleagues in higher education – Joel Dugan, assistant professor of painting at Fort Hays; and Matthew Ballou, assistant teaching professor of painting and drawing at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo.

Wayne Conyers, professor of art at McPherson College, said most of the art is on the theme of landscapes, nature, and the outdoors.

“The works in this exhibition explore the spaces that we inhabit, and the experiences that forge our understanding for what is the human condition,” he said. “As we look forward and consider what the future holds, the landscape exhibits memories of the balance we have endured to survive.”

The result of Powers’s work in organizing the show is 46 works, which he delivered to McPherson College. These range in size from smaller than a postcard through taller than a man, and works employ media that include ink, graphic, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, lithograph and much more.

While the exhibit has a theme of the natural world, the techniques and approach vary widely – everything from abstract grids of color to the downright surreal… such as a pink rabbit standing upright on the surface of a lake.

Powers said he sees the foundation of his work as a sense of “place” – even when the natural world isn’t immediately apparent.

“I am a native of the Great Plains and have always been moved by the influence of its large sky and low horizon,” he said. “The linear definition and worked surfaces in my images celebrate the subtle nuances and fleeting visual memories of that world.”

In addition to the featured artists, works are also included from Jacob Crook of Syracuse, N.Y.; Michael Knutson of Garden City, Kan; Eric Norby of Minneapolis, Minn.; Gordon Sherman of Hays, Kan.; and Jared Tadlock of Evergreen, Colo.

Spring Performance in Lingenfelter Artist Series at McPherson College Features Internationally Recognized Opera Singer Simon Estes

Posted On: February 17, 2017
By: MC Admin

The upcoming performer for McPherson College’s Fern Lingenfelter Artist Series has performed for Presidents and Popes, and paved the way for performing artists of color.

But bass-baritone opera singer Simon Estes takes no credit for himself. His deep Christian faith draws him to give God the recognition.

“I believe that God has given everyone a talent or a gift,” he said, “And that he’s given it to serve him first, and then to serve each other. I’m not a star. The stars are in heaven and God put them there. I’m just a human being who’s been blessed.”

Estes, who has been a major figure in the world of opera for the past half century, will be the second-ever performer in the Lingenfelter Series at 4 p.m., Sunday, March 12 at the McPherson Church of the Brethren adjacent to the MC campus.

He is excited about performing at MC and considers it a deep honor, he said, largely because his wife, Ovida, grew up in the Church of the Brethren (McPherson College’s foundational Christian denomination). In addition, three of his sisters-in-law attended McPherson College, with two graduating from MC.

Estes graduated from the University of Iowa, where he worked hard to make his way through – cleaning windows, sleeping on floors, and struggling to buy meals. Considering that just two generations before him slaveholders forced his grandfather into servitude, Estes considered his own situation a great opportunity.

“I just thought, if I’m blessed someday, I want to help young people in colleges as well as children,” he said. “I’ve been tremendously blessed by the Lord. I just believe we are put on this earth to love one another and help one another.”

Making his operatic debut in 1965 with the Deutsche Opera in “Aida,” Estes has since gone on to add more than 100 operatic roles to his repertoire.

Among his performances have been many historic and landmark roles – particularly ones that broke down walls of racism. As an African-American opera singer, he paved the way for people of color who went into the performing arts. Many of them seek Estes out after performances to share how his example was motivating.

“They have certainly thanked me, and I have been humbled by that,” he said. “I have been grateful that I was able to be used and they were inspired by that and didn’t give up.”

In a prominent groundbreaking role, Estes appeared in the title role of Richard Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman” for six successive years at the Bayreuth Festival in Germany. That marked the first time a black male artist appeared in any role in the more than 140-year history of the festival, which was founded by Wagner himself.

Estes has performed with 115 orchestras and 84 opera houses worldwide. Among his audiences have been United States Presidents George H.W. Bush, Lyndon B. Johnson, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Richard Nixon and Barack Obama.

He’s the only vocalist to sing at both the 25th and 50th anniversaries of the United Nations. He helped to celebrate the opening of the Munich Olympic Games in 1972 and the centennial of the Statue of Liberty. He sang for the inauguration of the first black governor in the United States in 1990, performed for Nelson Mandela, and performed at the Conference of The Anatomy of Hate – which is funded by the Nobel Peace Prize Committee and The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity.

In addition, he’s been Grammy Nominated for Best Classical Album of the Year, inaugurated the role of Porgy in “Porgy & Bess” for the Metropolitan Opera, and worked with the likes of Leonard Bernstein, Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, Harry Belafonte, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, John Denver, Audrey Hepburn, Whitney Houston, Barry Manilow, Gregory Peck and Wynton Marsalis.

As a part of his social mission, Estes has held concerts to support the United Nations Mosquito Netting Project, which supplies and maintaining treated mosquito nets to save children’s lives from malaria in Africa. His performance for the Lingenfelter Series will also support the netting project in lieu of an honorarium.

“I think God laid in on my heart,” Estes said of his support for the netting project.

To learn more about Estes, visit www.simonestesfoundation.org.

The Fern Lingenfelter Artist Series was established in 2016 thanks to a generous commitment to McPherson College, in honor of MC alumna and piano teacher Fern Lingenfelter. Her son, Steve Clark – chairman of Clark Investment Group in Wichita, Kan. – generously established the supporting fund at MC.

This cultural series consists of two annual music performance events, with a special emphasis on piano. Lingenfelter taught piano in McPherson for years – both to traditional college students on the MC campus and younger students at a studio downtown. Lingenfelter passed away in 1962, but her son, Steve Clark, said he has seen a long and lasting influence from her lifetime of work. Establishing the fund is his way to say, “Thank you,” and to support the music and the instrument she loved.

Wheat State League Honor Band Brings More Than 120 Students to McPherson College

Posted On: January 31, 2017
By: MC Admin

More than 120 top high school band musicians from around the area came to the McPherson College campus on Monday, Jan. 30, to learn under the direction of MC’s own Kyle Hopkins.

Hopkins, associate professor of music and director of bands, had the honor of being the clinician and conductor of the 2017 Wheat State League Honor Band.

Students from the high schools of Canton-Galva, Centre, Goessel, Herington, Little River, Peabody, Solomon, and Wakefield were all nominated by their school’s director to become part of the band.

The students rehearsed (for the first time together) during the afternoon, then presented a full concert that evening with the selections: “Sparks” by Brian Balmages, “A Hymn for Band” by Hugh Stuart, “Prairie Dances” by David R. Holsinger, and “Zia, Zia!” by Claude T. Smith.

The program also featured professor Hopkins on horn as a part of the professional “Heartland Brass Quintet,” which also includes Isaac Hopkins and Kyle Unruh on trumpet, Rob Tierney on Trombone, and Adam Keller on tuba.

“It was great for the honor band students to hear a professional level group,” Hopkins said, “And was a real inspiration for them to continue their music.”

‘For Colored Girls’ at McPherson College Gives Attention to Frequently Unheard American Voices

Posted On: January 23, 2017
By: MC Admin

With a title like “for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf,” the upcoming play at McPherson College will clearly be anything but “easy.”

Jd. Bowman, associate professor of theatre, said challenging audiences was one of his most important reasons for selecting the landmark play by Tony Award-winning playwright Ntozake Shange.

“My hope is that members of our campus community and our audience discover the beauty of this piece,” he said.

The 1975 play will be showing at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2-4 in the college’s Mingenback Theatre. Reservations are required by contacting the theatre box office at 620-242-0444 or at [email protected].

Bowman said that the play consists of a series of inter-connected storytelling poems told by women who are identified only by the color of the rainbow they are dressed in.

It provides a glimpse into what it meant to be an African-American in the United States in the 1970s, but has grown to reflect many voices in America that are silent or unspoken.

Even though most of the local audience is Caucasian, Bowman said that just makes this play’s message even more important.

“That is all the more reason why this piece should be produced here – because we need to hear voices and stories that are different than our own,” he said. “When we look into a social mirror, we do best if that reflection is not what we expect.”

However, Bowman expects people in minority and majority populations alike to find connection to the play.

“One of my favorite poems starts with, ‘Somebody almost walked off with all of my stuff,’” Bowman said. “In the poem, a woman is realizing that gave so much of herself to a relationship that she almost let them run away with her identity. I can relate to that story and many more in this piece.”

Tickets to all shows cost $5 for adults and $3.50 for children ages high school and younger as well as seniors.

Cast for the show is: Whitney Murray, junior, Kansas City, Kan.; Nora Grosbach, junior, Evergreen, Colo.; Aysia Pryor, sophomore, Wichita, Kan.; Miaya Sample, freshman, Baytown, Texas; and guest alumna artists – Tracey Hughes ’91, Kansas City, Mo.; Colleen Gustafson ’06, McPherson, Kan.; and Kenyatta Harden ’13, McPherson, Kan.

Crew for the show includes: Elizabeth Thornton, freshman, Karval, Colo. (stage manager); Erin Fralick, junior, New Palestine, Ind. (lights); and Nancy Dorrell, freshman, Newton, Kan. (sound).