“We welcome ELM Services to Overland Park as our national and local economy continues moving forward and demand for property increases,” said Overland Park Mayor Carl Gerlach. “Overland Park set a record of over $115 million in construction value in April, the highest in our nearly 53 years. I believe the nation’s economy is moving in that direction, and ELM Services, LLC, will be a part of the expanding demand.”

ELM Services, LLC, recently moved from space on College Boulevard to Corporate Woods where the company has made nearly $850,000 in capital investment. 

“As president and CEO of ELM Services, LLC, I am excited we have made the decision to keep our business operations in Overland Park,” said Erika Larson. “Overland Park is the perfect centralized location to expand and grow our business.  Even though our physical location is in Kansas, our market is nationwide.  Having ELM Services, LLC, in the central part of the country allows us to reach clients on both coasts and all the states between.”

“I’m excited that ELM Services, LLC, has decided that Kansas is the place it will continue to grow,” Kansas Commerce Secretary Pat George said. “It’s a great sign that we’re building a strong business environment when Kansas companies are able to create many new jobs right here in the state.”

About ELM Services, LLC

ELM Services, LLC, began in October 2009 in Overland Park, Kansas. As one of the mortgage servicing industry’s leading consulting and outsourced process management firms, it provides single-source risk management solutions for the mortgage industry, including mortgage servicers, investors, government agencies, and originators. The company has five main business units including foreclosure claims processing, consulting and training, credit risk management, due diligence, and technology solutions. The extensive expertise and knowledge base in both mortgage servicing and originations translates to a flexible menu of options designed to match the diverse needs of mortgage industry firms. As a minority women-owned entity, ELM Services, LLC, takes great pride in being a certified member of the Women’s Business Enterprise and Women-Owned Small Business through the U.S. Small Business Administration.   For more information, visit www.elmservices.com. 

For a copy of the press release, click here.  

“We are pleased that Staples, a leading Fortune 500 company, will continue to grow its promotional products division headquarters here in Overland Park,” stated Beth Johnson, senior vice president of economic development for the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Council. “Staples Promotional Products recognizes Overland Park as being the address for business and we look forward to their continued success in the community.”

Overland Park will remain the location for the primary administrative offices for Staples Promotional Products, the largest promotional product distributor in North America and a business division of Staples Advantage. Between its Staples Promotional Products and Staples Advantage offices, the company employs hundreds in Kansas and anticipates several million in capital investment in Overland Park over the next five years.

“I’m excited that Staples is taking advantage of the strong business environment that we are building in the state,” said Kansas Commerce Secretary Pat George. “They are going to employ Kansans and make a significant capital investment here, which is a great thing for the state’s economy.”

About Staples Promotional Products

Staples Promotional Products partners with companies for brand development. The company offers products customized to match a company’s brand, manages programs and total brand development, offers special order solutions, and has incentives and recognition programs. Leading the industry with over 65 years of experience, Staples Promotional Products has financial strength and global partnerships that ensure delivery of your order on time and at the best possible price. For more information, visit www.staplespromotionalproducts.com.

Click here for a copy of the press release.

“We are very excited about our new location in Overland Park,” said Mike McKenny, president of Assured Vehicle Protection. “Kansas has the business environment that will allow us to continue to be a successful company. The assistance the Kansas Department of Commerce offered our company was a major factor in our decision.”

Assured Vehicle Protection will relocate to 6300 Glenwood, Suite 200. In addition to the jobs created, the company anticipates a capital investment of $656,000 associated with the move.

“AVP and its owners are true entrepreneurs within the automotive reinsurance industry,” said Beth Johnson, senior vice president of economic development at the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce. “We are pleased they have chosen Overland Park to continue growing their business.”

“It’s great that Assured Vehicle Protection has decided to move to the state,” said Kansas Commerce Secretary Pat George. “When companies invest in Kansas and contribute to our job growth, it benefits our economy and all Kansans.”

About Assured Vehicle Protection, Inc.

Assured Vehicle Protection, Inc. (AVP) is a consultant and third party administrator primarily to automobile dealers.  AVP coordinates the formation of affiliated owned reinsurance companies with automobile dealers and insurance companies throughout the United States. Upon formation of the companies, AVP then provides third party administration of premium billing, claims settlement and payments, general accounting and administrative services for the reinsurance company.  AVP has been in operation since 2002. For more information, visit www.avpadmin.com.

Click here for a copy of the press release.

“LockPath is an ideal example of a local company that is truly succeeding and growing,” said Carl Gerlach, mayor of Overland Park. “I want to extend my congratulations to the Overland Park-based company for its impact on the technology world and our nationally recognized community.”

LockPath was founded by Chris Caldwell, CEO, and Chris Goodwin, CTO, to help companies and government agencies manage regulations and security risk. Its flagship product, Keylight, correlates security information from multiple data sources with current regulations and policies to gauge risk. The company’s rapid growth is being fueled by collaboration with its customers and partners to address several lingering industry problems.

“Even though it’s been tempting to move LockPath’s operations near or in Silicon Valley, the greater Kansas City area actually has a healthy technology and security scene, which fits us nicely. Plus, being centrally located has its advantages when working with customers on both coasts,” said Caldwell.

Based on its recent success, LockPath has received a handful of awards including finalist for the MIT 2012 Innovation Showcase, Corporate Integrity’s 2012 GRC Technology Innovation Award, and 2012 CRN Emerging Vendor List.

“I’m excited that LockPath will add more high-paying jobs to its ranks as it continues to grow in Overland Park,” said Kansas Commerce Secretary Pat George. “LockPath offers products and services across a wide variety of industries – from education and entertainment to financial services and retail. I wish them continued success.”

About LockPath

LockPath helps companies of all sizes address the increasingly complex issues of regulatory compliance and risk management. Its innovative software provides keen insight by correlating security information from multiple data sources with current regulations and policies to gauge risk. Easy to install and manage, the Keylight platform empowers people at every level in an organization to take control and make better business decisions. Founded and led by governance, risk, and compliance industry veterans, LockPath is backed by a strong mix of venture capital and technology executives with deep operational expertise across the enterprise, cloud, and security industries. For more information about LockPath, visit www.lockpath.com.

- Click Here for a copy of the press release.

“We are pleased to become corporate citizens of Overland Park considering the quality of life available for our staff and economic opportunity for our company,” stated Bernard Huff, President of Hantover.

The company has moved to a 25,000-square-foot facility at 5200 W. 110th Street where it will make a $3.3 million capital investment. Hantover has 10 distribution centers across North America, works with 2,000 vendors and has more than 40,000 customers. Exceptional service and growth in sales of its current and new products has led to the company’s expansion.

“I want to welcome Hantover, Inc., and its subsidiary operation, ARY, Inc., to Overland Park,” expressed Carl Gerlach, mayor of Overland Park. “From safety products to food preparation equipment, Hantover projects continued success and growth of its business over the next five years, including adding more employees. Part of Overland Park’s quality of life is its appealing economy, and Hantover further strengthens our community’s appeal.”

“Hantover is an international distributor with more than 70 years of serving customers in the food industry,” said Kansas Commerce Secretary Pat George. “I’m glad that the company will become a part of the Overland Park business community and bring 130 high-paying jobs to the state.”

About Hantover, Inc.

Hantover, Inc., was founded in 1939 as a distributor of production supplies to the food industry. The company has more than seven decades of progressive distribution knowledge. Hantover is both a national and international distributor and offers total supply program flexibility to its customers. In recent years, Hantover has received Supplier of the Year awards from several major food processors. For more information about Hantover, visit www.hantover.com.

- Click Here for a copy of the press release.

“We are excited about our expansion into Overland Park as the community has been receptive and welcoming to our current plans,” said Kristi Waite, President of Rasmussen College. “Our College has such a strong history in providing practical, career-focused degree programs that meet market demand, and we look forward to the educational opportunities that we can bring to local residents.”

“Top-notch education is a primary focus for Overland Park in order to cultivate an educated workforce for our local businesses,” stated Beth Johnson, Senior Vice President of Economic Development. “Rasmussen College and its dedication to higher education will add to the highly-rated educational institutions we have in our city.”

Founded in 1900 in St. Paul, Minnesota, Rasmussen College is a private college that offers more than 80 market-relevant and career-focused programs at the certificate, diploma, associate’s, and bachelor’s degree level both online and across its 22 campuses in the Midwest and Florida. With a mission dedicated to serving communities by recognizing the diverse needs of individuals, Rasmussen College is committed to preparing students to be active, productive and successful contributors to the global community. Currently, Rasmussen College enrolls more than 14,000 students nationwide.

Waite concluded, “Our College invests a lot of time and consideration into expanding into new communities, and we look for cities that have demonstrated a commitment to growing higher education opportunities for their residents. From all of our initial meetings with local leaders in Overland Park, we are excited to become a local and long-lasting education partner.”

The Rasmussen College Overland Park campus will be located at 11600 College Boulevard.

About Rasmussen College

Rasmussen College is a regionally accredited, private college that specializes in offering the most in-demand degree programs in a highly supportive, student-centered, educational environment. It offers market-relevant programs from the certificate and diploma level through the associate’s and bachelor’s level online and across its 22 campuses in the Midwest and Florida to more than 14,000 students. Since 1900, the primary focus at Rasmussen College has remained constant: student achievement is of the upmost importance, the employer who hires its students continues to be a valued partner, and Rasmussen College is dedicated to being a primary contributor to the growth and development of the communities it serves. For more information about Rasmussen College, please visit www.rasmussen.edu.

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Carmel, Indiana tops this year’s list at number one. Twenty minutes away from downtown Indianapolis, Carmel has a strong economy, affordable homes, low taxes, great schools, bike paths everywhere and a new performing arts center. MONEY editors write, “Carmel’s business district has the second-largest concentration of office workers in Indiana and an unemployment rate that’s a little more than half the national average…. Carmel also has excellent schools, a big sports and recreation center, roundabouts to keep traffic flowing, wide bike lanes, and an off-street bike path with a direct route through the center of town. All that, plus a variety of housing options ranging from older homes to new subdivisions, and you have an irresistible draw for families.” Carmel, which has a population of 79,200, ranked at #14 on the Best Places to Live list in 2010, when MONEY last ranked small cities.

MONEY’s 2012 Top Ten List:

1. Carmel, IN
2. McKinney, TX
3. Eden Prairie, MN
4. Newton, MA
5. Redmond, WA
6. Irvine, CA
7. Reston, VA
8. Columbia/Ellicott City, MD
9. Overland Park, KS
10. Chapel Hill, NC

See MONEY’s Top 100 Best Places to Live in America here: http://cnnmon.ie/OsuCnN

“It is exciting to have RED Development locate in Overland Park,” said Beth Johnson, Senior Vice President of Economic Development. “Their real estate services, specifically retail development, will be an asset to our community as we continue to focus on redevelopment and growth for our city.”

Founded in 1995, RED has a long history of developing successful retail properties across the country. Since 2008, RED has broadened its corporate strategy to include not only development, but also asset management and acquisitions to become a full-service real estate company. RED’s properties in the Kansas City area include Adams Dairy Landing in Blue Springs, Summit Fair and Summit Woods Crossing in Lee’s Summit, and Ward Parkway Center in Kansas City. Over 40 percent of the company’s real estate is located in Midwestern states including Missouri, Nebraska, Arkansas, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

“RED Development’s relocation of its Kansas City corporate office including its accounting and management functions to Overland Park is great news for the Kansas business community,” said Kansas Commerce Secretary Pat George. “RED is active in several states and has a long history of working with some of the biggest retailers in the nation.”

About RED Development

A wholly integrated commercial real estate company, RED maximizes asset value and performance for its high-quality retail and mixed-use portfolio that comprises 37 properties totaling more than 17 million square feet in 12 states. RED is a preferred partner for national retailers and investors, as well as for third-party property owners who turn to RED for its expertise in remerchandising and repositioning properties to improve profitability and appeal. A privately held company headquartered in Phoenix, RED builds on its development capabilities as an active acquirer of existing properties. For more information visit www.reddevelopment.com.

- Click Here for a copy of the press release.

Located in Southcreek Office Park, AOS will move into a larger 32,000-square- feet space within Southcreek. The company is retrofitting the space and will add a 4,200-square-foot fitness center for employees. Currently, AOS has 122 employees in their Overland Park office and plans to add 35 employees over the next five years.

“We have been blessed with great people in the company and have been fortunate to grow to 376 employees nationwide,” said Gary Alexander, president & CEO of AOS. “We are a proud Kansas company and look forward to being in Overland Park for many years to come.”

Established in 1992, AOS has expanded into nine states across the Midwest. The company provides technology solutions across the government, education, legal, healthcare, professional services, engineering, manufacturing, energy, and finance sectors. It has strong partnerships with Cisco, EMC, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, VMware, and many others in the technology industry.

“Technology is a vital part of today’s commerce and business operations,” stated Carl Gerlach, mayor of Overland Park. “I am happy to say that one of the premier companies in Overland Park is staying and building upon its success. Gary Alexander has done an outstanding job of serving public and private companies in the Midwest. From staffing to technical and emergency support, AOS helps sustain critical business functions.”

“The expansion of Alexander Open Systems is great news for Overland Park,” said Kansas Commerce Secretary Pat George. “As AOS continues its growth, it will benefit from an improving business climate that we are working hard to create across Kansas. I wish AOS continued success moving forward.”

About Alexander Open Systems

Alexander Open Systems (AOS) is the leading consultative technology partner in the Midwest. It specializes in consulting, designing, implementing and supporting local, wide area and wireless networking, communication and collaboration, data center, physical and data security. From the beginning, AOS has partnered with customers to align business objectives with the right technologies to meet the desired results such as maximizing effectiveness, improving customer satisfaction, and increasing profitability. AOS is the number one reseller of Cisco products in the Midwest, number one seller of Vmware in the Midwest, and a Microsoft Gold Partner. The company also has been named a “Champion of Business” by The Kansas City Business Journal three years in a row. For more information, visit www.aos5.com.

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Founded in 2007, Data Locker currently has 15 employees, seven in the Overland Park office and eight outside the region. When the company began, its main clients were military and governmental agencies. The company has expanded its client base to banks, hospitals, law firms, Fortune 500 companies and educational institutions.

“When we launched Data Locker, my colleagues told me the company needed to be in Silicon Valley, Boston or DC,” explained Jay Kim, co-founder and president of Data Locker. “After evaluating our options, I could not find an area that offered the tremendous resources, talent pool and low operational costs that Johnson County had to offer.”

“Several years ago Overland Park received national attention as one of the top five places in the nation to start a business,” said Carl Gerlach, mayor of Overland Park. “Today, Data Locker, an international company, is a perfect example of the entrepreneurial spirit that thrives in Overland Park. I want to say congratulations to Jay Kim on his success and the latest announcement to triple the size of the company over the next five years.”

Jay Kim was accepted into the PIPELINE entrepreneurship fellowship program in 2010. This regional program provides high-growth entrepreneurs training, resources, networks, and mentors to help with their start-up. Data Locker was also a client of the Enterprise Center of Johnson County, where it received invaluable assistance in its early stages.

“I’m excited about Data Locker’s expansion and job growth in Overland Park,” said Kansas Commerce Secretary Pat George. “With the company’s international client base, intellectual property and quality line-up of products and applications, the future looks very promising for Data Locker.”

About Data Locker Inc.

Data Locker Inc. was founded in 2007 with its headquarters in Overland Park, Kansas. It also has branch offices in the United Kingdom and Korea. The company is an innovative provider of hardware encrypted storage devices to protect personal and customer data. In 2008, DataLocker was recognized by MSNBC as one of the top business products at the Consumer Electric Show (CES) and in 2009 the company’s DataLocker Pro AES product was recognized as a CES Innovations Award honoree. The international firm has clients across all industries including banks, hospitals, governmental agencies, military, law firms, Fortune 500 companies, and educational institutions. For more information, visit www.datalocker.com.

- Click Here for a copy of the press release.