The Peaslee Promise

Building an Endowment for Debt-Free Careers

Strengthening Douglas County — One Person, One Career at a Time

Our Story, Our Mission, Our Vision

Peaslee Tech is an integral part of the economic and workforce development engine for Douglas County.

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Our Story

Born from the vision of lifelong Lawrencian and 60-year pipefitter Dwayne Peaslee, Peaslee Tech opened in August 2015 in partnership with Flint Hills Technical College, Johnson County Community College, and Neosho County Community College.

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Our Mission

To provide accessible, affordable workforce training and help local companies close their skilled labor gap. Employers can train employees locally, saving time, money, and resources.

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Our Vision

We value empowerment, collaboration, and cultivating a technically skilled workforce that supports business retention, expansion, and attraction throughout Douglas County.

Campaign Committee

Shirley Martin-Smith, Co-chair Smitty Belcher, Co-chair Dr. Kevin Kelley, CEO Megan Hill, Exec. Dir. of Endowment Mark Buhler Rob Chestnut Dr. Bill DeWitt Beth Easter Bobbie Flory Brittany Hall Ann Frame Hertzog Steven Hertzog Dave Hill Christy Imel Bonnie Lowe Jean Milstead Brandon Petz Sarah Plinsky Mark Preut Wayne Ricks Beverly Victoriano Matt Wingert Katie Winter

Growth & Success

From 460 enrollments in 2017 to over 4,100 in 2024 — a nearly nine-fold increase in just seven years.

3,200+
Individual Students Served
4,100+
Course Enrollments
35
Career Training Programs
700+
Online Programs & Courses

Growth in Total Enrollments (2017–2024)

460
2017
634
2018
1,800
2019
COVID
2020
2,096
2021
2,650
2022
2,900
2023
4,100
2024

Programs Offered

Advanced Manufacturing
Automotive Technology
Commercial Driver's License
Construction & Building Trades
Electrical
Facilities Maintenance
HVAC
Healthcare
Manufacturing
Plumbing
Transportation & Aviation
Welding

2024 Enrollment Demographics

Gender

Male
79.4%
Female
20.6%

Race

White
68%
Black/African American
10%
Hispanic
8%
Native American
4%
Asian
2%
Other
8%

Age

16–19
24%
20–24
21%
25–35
27%
36–45
18%
46–55
7%
55 & Over
3%

Academic Attainment

Less Than High School
7.5%
HS Diploma/GED
52%
Some College
21.3%
Associate Degree
6.2%
Bachelor's Degree
10%
Master's Degree
3%

Increasing Diversity

Peaslee Tech's recruitment efforts significantly outperform county averages for ethnic diversity and socio-economic status.

45%
BIPOC Enrollment
More than double Douglas County's 20.84%
66%
From Low-Income Households
More than 4x the county rate of 15.2%
2%
Veteran Status
Serving those who served

Growth Beyond the Numbers

The Peaslee Tech campus has grown significantly, housing multiple organizations and programs.

1

Lawrence Public Schools (USD 497) Adult Education Center — including English as a Second Language and GED programs

2

Lawrence Workforce Center — connecting people with employment opportunities

3

Pearson VUE Testing Center — nationally recognized certification testing

4

THE CRUNCH — a business ignitor and prototyping center

5

Avium — a company that develops fuels from CO2, water, and renewable energy

6

Other Facilities — Lawrence College and Career Center (USD 497) and Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence Center for Great Futures

Our Bright Future

2025–2029 Aspirational Goals — Three bold initiatives to amplify Peaslee Tech's impact in Douglas County.

Peaslee Promise Endowment Fund

Build a $10 million endowment fund to ensure juniors and seniors from our 12 partner high schools and qualified Douglas County residents from low-income households can attend Peaslee Tech programs debt-free.

Expand High School Programming

Roughly 120 students from 12 partner high schools attend annually. Through five new high school pre-apprenticeship programs and ongoing expansion, we aspire to serve 400 high school students annually.

Energy Independence

Peaslee Tech aspires to be a net positive energy producer through solar, geothermal, and energy-saving initiatives, including our new Solar Energy Training Center. With the region's largest rooftop array — 756 panels — we already generate more energy than we consume.

The Peaslee Impact

Fueling Our Local Economy

Before Peaslee Tech opened, business and education leaders expressed serious concerns about the lack of technical training in Douglas County. A 2004 KU Policy Research Institute assessment of nearly 200 local firms found that one-third were negatively impacted by the gap between business needs and employee skills — limiting profitability and growth.

Peaslee Tech directly addresses these challenges by providing accessible, affordable workforce training and helping local companies close their skilled labor gap.

"Peaslee Tech is an important part of the economic and community health of Lawrence and Douglas County."

— Patrick Kelly, Douglas County Commissioner

Developing Our Local Workforce

Peaslee Tech strengthens Douglas County's workforce by offering career-focused training for both high school students and adult learners.

High School Students

With 37.2% of recent high school graduates not pursuing college, many need alternative career paths. Since 2022, the youth apprenticeship program — now serving students from 12 school districts — has expanded to 15 pathways, including Automotive Technology, Welding, Aviation, Building Trades, and Diesel Truck Maintenance Technology.

Adult Learners

Adult-focused classes are offered online or on-site from 5–9 p.m. to accommodate working professionals. Major employers such as Hallmark, Amcor, and Amarr rely on Peaslee Tech for advanced training in Robotics and Automation, led by instructor Ed Keating, a former Principal Process Control Engineer with 27 years at Hill's Pet Nutrition.

Registered Apprenticeships

Peaslee Tech is the largest provider of registered apprenticeship programs in Kansas, with 32 unique programs offering paid work experience and nationally recognized credentials.

01

Business Involvement

Employers are the foundation of every Registered Apprenticeship program.

02

On-the-Job Training

Apprentices receive training from an experienced mentor for typically not less than one year.

03

Related Instruction

Apprenticeships combine on-the-job learning with technical education at community colleges and training schools.

04

Rewards for Skill Gains

Apprentices receive wage increases as they gain higher-level skills.

05

National Credential

Programs result in a nationally recognized credential — a 100% guarantee to employers.

$1.48
Business ROI for every $1 invested
$28
Public ROI in economic benefits for every $1
92%
Employment retention after completion
$72K
Average starting salary after apprenticeship

Public Entity Partnership

Peaslee Tech collaborates in the Public Entity Partnership (PEP), a group of over twenty representatives from Douglas County and its cities, school districts, townships, and higher education institutions. The PEP identifies public employee training needs, organizes joint training events, shares best practices, and commits to public workforce recruitment.

Applied Research

Peaslee Tech supports product development for entrepreneurs seeking to manufacture products in Advanced Refrigerants, Construction, Energy, and Transportation.

Applied research projects create unique opportunities for students to be involved with science leaders in the commercialization of products.

Fostering Economic Resilience

A critical component of any economic development strategy is the ability to provide skilled workforce training quickly and efficiently. Peaslee Tech's goal is to train a new generation of workers while simultaneously enhancing and strengthening the current workforce by quickly responding to employers' needs and addressing the skills gap.

Focusing on workers gaining new skills addresses the skills gap and also fosters regional economic resilience and competitiveness.

Transforming Lives, One Person, One Career at a Time

When our people do well, our economy does well, and when our economy does well, we all benefit. Peaslee Tech helps individuals and the greater community thrive by providing essential career and technical training.

Individuals benefit from gaining new skills that help them attain livable wage jobs, increase earnings, and advance their careers. When individuals and families are thriving economically, it improves the overall quality of life within the greater community. Research shows that economic stability directly contributes to better health outcomes, reduced stress, and improved overall well-being.

Higher household incomes are also linked to greater life satisfaction, lower crime rates, and stronger social connections, all of which foster safer and more cohesive neighborhoods. When families have more disposable income, their spending supports local businesses and generates economic multipliers that benefit the wider community.

Student Success Spotlights

At Peaslee Tech, every success story begins with opportunity. Each story is a reminder of the powerful impact education has — not just on one person, but on entire families and our community.

Robert's Story

Commercial Driver's License Program

Robert came to Peaslee Tech determined to build a career that would provide both stability and opportunity. He enrolled in the CDL program, where he found not only top-notch training, but also a supportive environment that gave him the confidence to succeed.

After completing the program, Robert launched his career with Roehl Transport, a respected national trucking and logistics company.

Today, he is proud to be on the road, delivering goods across the country and providing for his family with a career he loves.

Andreia's Story

Pharmacy Technician Program

When Andreia was referred to Peaslee Tech by the Kansas Department for Children and Families, she was a young, single mother with an infant and a toddler. She knew she needed a path to a stable career that would also allow her to care for her children.

With hard work and determination, she completed her training and quickly secured a position with a pharmaceutical company that allowed her to work from home.

Within her first year, Andreia was promoted to supervisor — building a career that not only supports her family but also inspires her children.

Natalie's Story

Facilities Maintenance Program

When Natalie enrolled in Peaslee Tech's Facilities Maintenance Program, she was ready to create a better future for herself. With hands-on training and encouragement from her instructors, she gained the skills and confidence to launch her career.

Soon after graduation, Natalie joined Equity Management's maintenance team. Her dedication and people skills quickly opened new doors — first to leasing operations, and then to earning her real estate license with Keller Williams in 2025.

Today, Natalie is thriving in her new career, having recently closed her first home sale.

Thanks to donor generosity, students like Robert, Andreia, and Natalie can gain the skills, confidence, and careers they need to transform their lives and, in turn, strengthen our community.

Keeping the Promise

Peaslee Tech is an integral part of the economic and workforce development engine for Douglas County. The Board of Directors recognizes that the organization's ongoing growth and success play a crucial role in making Douglas County one of the best places in the country to live, learn, and work. This is why it is imperative to fulfill the Peaslee Promise.

The Peaslee Promise ensures that high school juniors and seniors and qualified Douglas County residents from low-income households can attend Peaslee Tech without incurring debt.

Peaslee Tech is not a traditional college or vocational-technical school. It is a technical training center that does not participate in financial aid or loan programs typically associated with postsecondary education, such as FAFSA. Instead, Peaslee Promise Scholarships serve as Peaslee Tech's version of student financial aid.

$10 Million
Endowment Fund Goal — ensuring ongoing access to high-quality career and technical training for Douglas County residents and long-term financial stability for Peaslee Tech.

Endowment funds will provide scholarships to juniors and seniors from our 12 partner high schools and qualified Douglas County residents from low-income households to attend Peaslee Tech programs debt-free.

Peaslee Tech has outgrown existing funding methods and must seek a more sustainable, long-term funding source to sustain continued growth and serve more Douglas County residents. In just over one decade, Peaslee Tech has grown at a fast pace marked by a nearly nine-fold increase in total enrollments.

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In February 2025, Robert (Bob) and Lois Hanzlik made a leadership gift of $100,000 as a catalyst to build the endowment for Peaslee Tech. The Bob and Lois Hanzlik Scholarship Fund aims to enable more young people to pursue high-skilled, high-income technical careers and inspire other members of the community to invest in Peaslee Tech.

Over the past decade, public funding support from the City of Lawrence and Douglas County has been reduced from 94% to just 22%. For the first time in our history, Peaslee Tech carries no debt — meaning every dollar you give directly fuels a flourishing organization poised for continued growth and impact.

Ways to Give

Your gift to the Peaslee Promise Campaign will create career opportunities and fuel economic growth in Douglas County for generations to come.

🎁 Donate Now Online

Securely through the Douglas County Community Foundation

Annual Gifts

Annual gifts to the Peaslee Promise Endowment Fund can be made online at peasleetech.org/peasleepromise or by check.

Peaslee Tech
2920 Haskell Ave., Suite 100
Lawrence, KS 66046

Checks may also be made payable to Douglas County Community Foundation, Attn: Peaslee Promise, and mailed to 900 Massachusetts, Suite 406, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Pledges

Pledge your gift over several years. Pledge payments may be made monthly, quarterly, annually, or any other payment schedule that suits your needs.

Sample Pledge:
Total Pledge Amount $10,000 = $2,000 per year for five years

Planned Gifts

Make a planned gift today that will make a big impact for generations to come. Include Peaslee Tech in your estate plan, make us the beneficiary on your bank account, life insurance policy, IRA, or other retirement account, or consider other gift vehicles such as appreciated stocks and bonds.

Special Gifts

Peaslee Tech also accepts special gifts, such as real and personal property gifts. Contact us for more information about special gifts.

Naming Opportunities

Customized naming opportunities are available. Contact us for more information about naming options.

The Power of Peaslee Partnerships

Working Together to Create Solutions for Our Community

Peaslee Tech partners with more than 200 community and business partners throughout Douglas County to create innovative solutions to challenges facing our communities.

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Building Affordable Housing

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Making Clean Energy

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More Career Options for High School Students

Dwayne's Dream

Peaslee Tech was born from the vision of lifelong Lawrencian and 60-year pipefitter Dwayne Peaslee. Seeing both the critical need for skilled trades and the absence of local technical training, Dwayne championed the idea of a community training center.

That need became urgent in 2013 when a German manufacturer — despite favoring Lawrence for its strengths — chose another location due to the lack of such a facility. In response to this economic loss, leaders from the Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Corporation, Douglas County, the City of Lawrence, USD 497, and local businesses united to create the Dwayne Peaslee Technical Training Center.

"Dwayne Peaslee was an inspiration to so many people in Lawrence and Douglas County. His vision and pursuit of a training center to ensure that people had access to good-paying technical jobs never wavered."

Shirley Martin-Smith — President, Peaslee Tech Board of Directors

"Dwayne Peaslee had a great idea, which our community has embraced — to help provide meaningful employment. Peaslee Tech has now helped trainees receive thousands of certificates in dozens of technical areas. We should be shouting about this from the rooftops!"

Marvin Hunt — Former Executive Director, Peaslee Tech