Sawab “SJ” Hazim – co-founder of Top Teer and Creative Pathways & Means
When Sawab “SJ” Hazim buys an outfit for a special occasion, he puts it together from the hat to the shoes. The total look is one people will not soon forget.
“I want to give people an experience when I show up,” he says. “How you dress is often an expression of how you feel.”
SJ was not always comfortable drawing attention to himself, but that changed over the years. “I've developed a lot of confidence throughout my life and realized life was about being outstanding and standing out in your field,” he says. “If you don't step out from behind the curtain, you'll never be recognized.”
In his red tuxedo jacket, black silk pants, red shoes with gold spikes, and feathered hat, stand out he does. “It’s all from a local shop called the Distingue' Gentleman because I like to support local,” says SJ. “As soon as I saw the jacket, I knew I was going to put the rest of it together for an outfit that had a shock factor. I'm all about being able to wear things that are unique that people are going to remember.”
He likes to dress casual too. “The other outfit I wore here is my retirement look. They always say you're supposed to dress to where you're going, although I'm not planning on retiring anytime soon. I love what I do.”
SJ and his business partner, Connor England, are the founders of Top Teer, which helps volunteers and organizations, and Creative Pathways & Means, that empowers people by equipping them with cutting-edge information, tools, and experiences.
He and his wife, Miranda Chavez-Hazim, just celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary and have two grown children, son TI and daughter Aliya, and a new grandchild. Not to be left out, they also have two bunnies – Claddius and Cinnabun.
Dr. Tim Borchers – Family Practitioner
Family practice doctor Tim Borchers wants his patients, whether adults or children, to feel comfortable approaching him with concerns or questions, so he prefers to dress lighthearted and fun in the office. At other times, you’ll likely find him in somewhat more rugged clothing that confirms his love of the outdoors.
“The clothes I wear often have a deeper meaning than just being a shirt or just being a pair of socks,” he says. “I have a lot of socks and most have a time and a place associated with them.” He and his family, wife Kim and three kids, Hannah, Sydney and Jude, go to Florida every year, and that’s where he acquired his manatee socks. When his kids sang at the local zoo, he picked up some animal socks at the gift shop there. He likes to be able to look down and be reminded of past experiences.
Dr. Borchers’ style is also reflected in the eyeglass frames he chooses. “That's probably the only part of me that I would consider fashionable,” he says, laughing. “I mean, I have my own style, but I would certainly never say I'm fashionable. I don't wear jewelry other than a wedding ring, so glasses are something I can accessorize with. They’re unique, fun, and stylish and I usually have a few pairs in rotation.”
In practice for 25 years, he and Kim, who have been married for 28 years, love spending time with family watching movies and playing table games. “It’s great to bond with family around the table,” he says. “Everyone isn’t on their cell phones or off doing their own things.” The couple is also excited to welcome their first grandchild this summer.
Richard Rounds - Pastor
As a pastor with Abiding Love Church of God in Christ in Topeka, Richard Rounds believes in dressing conservatively. But, that doesn’t mean he can’t infuse it with some style.
“I like to match my tie with my handkerchief, and have all different color suspenders,” he says. The suspenders are not just a style preference though.
“They’re a part of our teaching, our protocol,” says Richard. “As pastors, when we take a big guff of air, we don't want to lose our pants, which has happened to some pastors!”
A fellow clergyman recently commented on how Pastor Richards’ shoes are always shined. “I dress for the occasion, whatever the occasion is, and how we dress is how we present ourselves to others.”
He believes his classic style encourages others to listen to his message and receive what he has to say. “I enjoy putting smiles on people's faces, but I also like to give them something hard to think about so they can refocus on what makes life, life. I talk not to who they are, but instead to who they can be.”
Pastor Richard has been married to his wife, Marsha, for 48 years. “I call her my living doll and she’s the love of my life,” he says. “When we got married, I bought her a ring that had the word ‘sweet’ on it, and that was when I started
calling her ‘sweet.’ That's what she is.”
She was also a wonderful military wife, he says, which was not always easy. “I was in the United States Air Force for over 20 years, so we moved a lot. We just made our home wherever the military sent us.”
A man in uniform always makes a statement, and Pastor Richard continues to do so in civilian life.