The effectiveness of the Greater Wichita Partnership is in each member, each investor, each community and business leader serving this region. We invite you to connect with any of the area professionals serving on boards, committees, and within the many alliances and task forces. Our strength is in our diversity and united efforts for success.
Exists to ensure the work of the organization aligns with the mission to fast-forward economic growth in the Greater Wichita region.
Learn more about becoming an investor of the Partnership by contacting Becca Newman at becca@greaterwichitapartnership.org.
Aaron Bastian, Fidelity Bank, Executive Board Co-chair
Charlie Chandler, INTRUST Bank, Executive Board Co-chair
Derrick Nielsen, High Touch Technologies, Inc., Executive Board Secretary
Jeff Fluhr, Greater Wichita Partnership, President
Jon Rolph, Thrive Restaurant Group, Executive Board Vice-chair
Matt Michaelis, Emprise Bank, Executive Board Treasure
Matt All, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas
Paul Allen, Allen, Gibbs & Houlik
Chuck Caisley, Evergy
Ramin Cherafat, McCownGordon
Marty Cornejo, Cornejo Holdings
Ron Draper, Textron Aviation
Joy Eakins, Conerstone Data, Inc.
Tom Gentile, Spirit Aerosystems
Stephanie Harder, Textron Aviation
Ben Hutton, Hutton
Hans Kabat, Cargill Protein
Joel Kelley, CableCom
Commissioner Pete Meitzner, Sedgwick County
Dr. Rick Muma, Sedgwick County
Pete Najera, United Way of the Plains
James Nastars, Meritrust Credit Union
Mark Nichols, Koch Industries
Gary Oborny, Occidental Management
Ed O'Malley, Kansas Health Foundation
John Rolfe, Chamber of Commerce
Gary Schmitt, INTRUST Bank
Scott Schwindaman, Emeritus Director, Economic Devleopment
Tonya Sudduth, Bombardier
Dr. Sheree Utash, WSU Tech
Mayor Dr. Brandon Whipple, City of Wichita
Shelly Prichard, Wichita Community Foundation
Comprised of private-sector leaders and public-sector officials, this team assists in guiding economic development strategies, goals, and opportunities within the Partnership’s jobs priority. In addition, the team provides critical leadership to propel the initiatives identified within the Regional Growth Plan.
Gary Schmitt, INTRUST Bank
Jeff Fluhr, Greater Wichita Partnership
Paul Allen, AGH CPAs & Advisors, LLC
Scott Schwindaman, Greater Wichita Partnership
Andrew Schlapp, Wichita State University
Bob Layton, City of Wichita
Mayor Dr. Brandon Whipple, City of Wichita
Brent Shelton, Sedgwick County
John Rolfe, Wichita Regional Chamber
Joy Eakins, Wichita Regional Chamber, Chair
Kelly Bielefeld, Wichita Public Schools
Commissioner Pete Meitzner, Sedgwick County
Tom Stolz, Sedgwick County
Troy Anderson, City of Wichita
Beth Shelton, Harvey County EDC
David Alfaro, Butler County
Debra Teufel, Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber
Ebony Clemons-Ajibolade, Evergy
Keith Lawing, Workforce Alliance / REAP
Paul Hughes, Kansas Department of Commerce
Sarah Hoefgen, El Dorado, Inc.
Brice Turner, Hornet Cutting Systems
Butch Nuss, Slawson Companies
Charlie King, Occidental Management
Clint Cornejo, Cornejo Holdings/ All-Metals Recycling
Colin Marsh, Murfin, Inc.
Dan Reisig, UV&S
Grant Glasgow, NAI Martens Companies
Jamie Harrison, Meritrust Credit Union
Joel Leftwich, Kansas Farm Bureau
Harvey Sorensen, Foulston
Kasey Jolly, Spirit AeroSystems
Mark Eaton, Envision, Inc.
Melissa Liby, Bombardier
Mike King, Hutton
Todd Knight, McCown Gordon
Tracy Dible, Professional Engineering Consultants
To support the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, the Partnership provides support to Accelerate Wichita (formerly the Entrepreneurship Task Force), which focuses on identifying, activating and mentoring an entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Accelerate Wichita has a vision to build and support an inclusive, globally competitive, and impactful entrepreneurial ecosystem creating sustainable long-term growth for the Wichita region through job and wealth creation.
A key accomplishment of the Entrepreneurship Task Force (ETF) was the launch of the first entrepreneurial accelerator in Kansas – e2e, now named NXTUS. In 2015, ETF launched a planning committee that took the necessary steps to open the independent entity. The Partnership now partners with NXTUS to cultivate the entrepreneurial ecosystem by activating, accelerating, and mentoring entrepreneurs in the heartland.
For specific questions related to entrepreneurial development, please contact Evan Rosell at evan@greaterwichitapartnership.org.
Comprised of Human Resource Executives and community leaders, this committee is regularly convened to provide strategic direction for current and future talent recruitment and retention efforts. In addition, this committee works to propel the initiatives identified within the Talent Marketing Blueprint.
Members:
Blake Logan, Spirit AeroSystems
Evan Wilson, Meritrust Bank
Jessica Kilpatric, Fidelity Bank
Kara Franks, Allen, Gibbs & Houlik, LC
Laura Breese, Spirit AeroSystems
Laura Fischer, Hutton
Marilou Mewborn, Ascension Via Christi
Nici Duncan, High Touch Technologies
Phet Namphengsone, Textron Aviation
René White, INTRUST Bank
Stacey Parker, McCownGordon
For specific questions related to the Talent Advisory Committee, or to get on the mailing list, please contact Meghan Carver, Director of Communications at meghan@greaterwichitapartnership.org.
Focused on promoting a seamless partnership between private business and education leaders to inspire, develop, and produce the productive workforce needed for sustained economic growth for our region. The BEA is guided by the Student Success Task Force Plan, which identifies three priority areas based on the initiatives outlined in the Lifelong Learning Action Plan of the Project Wichita Community Report. The BEA is currently led by Co-chairs Stephanie Harder, Director of Communications and Public Affairs at Textron Aviation, and Dr. Sheree Utash, President of WSU Tech.
Organizations Involved:
For specific questions related to BEA, or to get on the mailing list, please contact Evan Rosell at evan@greaterwichitapartnership.org.
