Acendas Travel expands in the Twin Cities

Acendas Travel acquisition

Acendas Travel, in Mission, has acquired a travel agency in the Minneapolis suburb of Edina, Minn. The purchase price was not disclosed.

The purchase of Edina Travel continues Acendas’ expansion in the Twin Cities, which began with the acquisition of Vanguard Travel in 2010. It then acquired Gateway Express in 2012 and Interlachen Travel a year later.

Edina Travel was started 33 years ago, and is owned by Bryce Baker. It is primarily focused on leisure and vacation travel, Acendas said, with some corporate accounts.

Baker will become an independent consultant with Acendas.

Acendas was founded here in 1982. It is led by co-presidents Brent Blake and Gary Davis. The company is headquartered at 5331 Johnson Drive, and maintains a second headquarters in Eden Prairie, Minn.

Alterra Bank changes

Alterra Bank has announced plans to close its Overland Park branch at 11120 W. 135th St. and consolidate those operations at its Leawood office at 11300 Tomahawk Creek Parkway. The bank said a branchless model is consistent with its business plan.

The company said it expects to complete the branch consolidation by the end of this year.

First Business Financial Services Inc., the parent company of Alterra, also announced that Pam Berneking is no longer the president and chief executive of the bank’s Kansas City area operations. The announcement said Berneking had worked to help complete the combination of Alterra Bank with First Business Financial Services in 2014, and that her departure was by “mutual agreement.”

David Seiler, chief operating officer at First Business Financial, is serving as interim president and chief executive, and a search is underway for a permanent replacement, the announcement said.

First Business Financial is based in Madison, Wisc.

KU Alzheimer’s center reauthorized

The University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Center said its national designation has been renewed for five years by the National Institute on Aging. The facility is one of only 31 national designated centers.

The institute also said it received $8.5 million in funding through 2021 to help researchers continue to study the disease, which is the country’s sixth-leading cause of death.

The Star

This story was originally published October 12, 2016 at 9:34 AM with the headline "Acendas Travel expands in the Twin Cities."