Go! Augusta Community Businessman in the Spotlight
Love of Community
You will find Brett Kappelmann bright and early just where he wants to be, in the community he loves servicing, along with his team, and meeting the needs of others in novel and creative ways. He has lived in Augusta his entire life, before and after college, now here with his wife and growing family. Brett will tell anyone that this is a great place to live and do business, just far enough from Wichita to be their own. He enjoys a quiet lunch break at the city lake, where he might daydream about a month-long fun trip around Europe. But Brett does have fond childhood memories of Moyle and Garvin Parks, playing football with brothers and friends, as well as little league baseball. This might explain why his favorites revolve around sports movies like Hoosiers, Field of Dreams, Rudy, and most of all, The Natural starring Robert Redford. Brett continues to cheer on the University of Kansas Jayhawks and follows the Chiefs, Royals, and OKC Thunder. Some of his memories include 4th of July city celebrations ending at the lake with fireworks, White Eagle Festivals, and Homecoming Parades that brought the community all together. Now, Brett also enjoys staying open late and watching the annual Witches Night Out in October. He does emphasize the importance of civic leadership, strong schools, and community pride as the pillars of a thriving town.
Family and Community
Brett worked at Cooper Drug alongside his father, Cletus Kappelmann, when he returned with his pharmacy degree in 2003. Through perseverance, mentorship, and community support, they grew the confidence of a business owner and Brett bought the business from his father in 2005. As his dad taught, he will always keep working through the good times and bad. Cooper's Drug contributes to the growing Augusta Community where they see the need. To get past hardly any formal business training, Brett and his wife joined an accounting class at Butler County Community College to learn what he would need to understand before he had to apply the skills at the pharmacy. Brett decided on Augusta and “I knew there was no place I'd rather be professionally”.
“I never quit thinking about how our company is going to evolve next.”
Serving Community
Cooper’s Drug Store has long history in Augusta at over 100 years! Brett and his family celebrated in the 2022 Homecoming Parade with a car and banner. Looking back, we find that John Cooper opened the place in 1922. Cletus Kappelmann, joined him with his experience, and then bought the place in 1956. Cooper’s Drug has grown, expanded, and evolve over the years. Brett grew up visiting his Dad at work, then soon working there as well. Since buying the Store, Brett continues to build his experience, with research through visiting tradeshows and conferences about the changing face of pharmacies. Brett continues to be inspired by working with such a special group at Cooper Drug. His patients also inspire him, especially when they are able to provide feedback as to how we are helping them, or if they provide ways we can improve upon our services.
Brett began Golden Plains Pharmacy Services in 2009 as a long-term care division established to meet the growing needs of area patients, with the MED Management he continues helping patients manage complex regimens with customized packaging and monthly follow-ups. Encouraging the Long-Term Care and Independence, they have since expanded services now to include immunizations, medical equipment, and medical test consulting for individuals and also businesses. Brett’s entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to healthcare innovation have made Cooper Drug a cornerstone of Augusta’s downtown and a trusted resource for generations.
