NEWS RELEASE

March 1 , 2007

Contact: Ryan Entz, 268-1152

CPA and advisory firm to be awarded April 17 at Honors Night 2007, presented by Artisan Surface Systems, a division of Wilson Building Maintenance Inc.

Wichita, KS- The Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce continues its long tradition of celebrating Wichita’s outstanding citizens, companies and achievements with Honors Night 2007. The 2007 honorees represent those who’ve championed efforts to improve the community.

BKD, LLP is one of this year’s OVER THE YEARS recipients. This award is given each year to businesses who have exhibited a long-standing performance as good business citizens and major contributors to our area's economic well-being.

BKD is a CPA and advisory firm, named for its founders Bill Baird, Wade Kurtz, and Claire Dobson.  Over the years, BKD has taken clients beyond their numbers by helping them understand their bottom lines, invest wisely and enhance the value of their company. They also take time to get to know a client’s business, industry or family. They become trusted friends as well as trusted advisors.  

With roots that can be traced back to Wichita and the first public accounting firm in Kansas, BKD has a commitment to providing unmatched client service to all clients and industries they serve including manufacturing, construction, health care, retail and oil and gas. 

BKD takes its corporate citizenship seriously and encourages all employees to be involved with the community.  As a firm, they have received numerous United Way awards for contributions and have supported, through financial or volunteer commitments, many organizations including WSU’s W. Frank Barton School of Business, Youth Entrepreneurs of Kansas, Botanica, Exploration Place, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, American Red Cross, The Wichita Symphony, Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas, Make-a-Wish Foundation as well as many others.

Honors Night 2007 will be held Thursday, April 17 at Beech Activity Center, 9710 E. Central. Tickets are now available and include dinner, award recognition and a reception. The cost is $75 per person or $600 for a table of eight. Doors open at 6 p.m., dinner begins at 6:30

To help honor BKD, LLP and other outstanding honorees contact Cindy Reves at 265-7771 or creves@wichitachamber.org.

Requirements for the Over the Years award include: a long-term existence (10 years or more) that has provided employment opportunities for area citizens; outstanding leadership within the business or industry of which they are part; creativity in expanding their base of operations; and consistent support of social, political or cultural activities conducive to Wichita's overall quality of life. 

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