Print edition: 
WICHITA — Dawn Truman has been named president of J.P. Weigand & Sons, effective Monday.
Truman, the company's business development manager, has been with Weigand for 28 years, beginning her career there in 1983 as an administrative assistant in the commercial division.
It's that knowledge of the Weigand operation from the ground up that made her the obvious choice to succeed Roger Weast, who resigned in May, said company CEO Nestor Weigand.
"Dawn has a background that none of her predecessors had," Weigand said.
"Her depth of insight and knowledge, institutional knowledge of the company, is greater than anyone.
"Dawn has already been so immersed in all of our management. She's already there. The authority is the change of direction."
Truman, 53, was a mover behind Weigand's switch to a computerized business system in 1985, developing a sales support model for the commercial division that has been implemented by residential agents as well.
She has held various titles with Weigand, including director of operations for the commercial division and most recently, manager of the newly created business development division, a title she will continue to hold.
In that role, she helped grow the firm's client base, generated leads for potential sales and provided leadership and support to the auction, REO and relocation divisions.
Truman said she will serve as the face of the company, making public appearances and providing support to general managers Gary Walker and Jerry Gray.
"How I function will be very different," Truman said. "To me, the beauty and the part I've loved watching us grow is involvement.
"I will be a hands-on president. I will be involved in charity auctions. I will be involved with our auction division. We have a really strong education program... and I want to be involved in that program. I want to see what our agents are learning.
"I feel that by being hands on, that keeps me in front of where we need to be."
Truman is a graduate of Evangel College in Springfield, Mo. She has a real estate broker license and is a member of the Wichita Area Association of Realtors, the Kansas Association of Realtors, the National Association of Realtors, the Kansas Certified Commercial Investment Member chapter and Executive Women International.
She's involved in several community organizations, including the American Heart Association, Habitat for Humanity, the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation and the American Cancer Society.
