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By MELINDA SCHNYDER Photos By FERNANDO SALAZAR The Junior Achievement of Kansas Wichita Business Hall of Fame recognizes esteemed business leaders in the Wichita area. Business Hall of Fame laureates are individuals who have not only forged successful careers but have also helped strengthen the community. MEET THIS YEAR’S LAUREATES: Ron Draper Jill Hattan Todd…
Founder and President of Leading Technology Composites, Inc. By MELINDA SCHNYDER Photo by FERNANDO SALAZAR Todd Lair had his career path mapped out by the time he was a sophomore at Wichita State University working toward a business degree. He would continue working in composites manufacturing, an industry he’d first gotten a taste of as…
President and CEO of Textron Aviation By MELINDA SCHNYDER Photo by FERNANDO SALAZAR Ron Draper never envisioned himself as the CEO of the world’s largest general aviation manufacturing company. Sometimes, a lifetime of experiences simply makes you the right person for the job. When you take the work ethic gained growing up on an Idaho…
CEO of Don Hatton Dealerships and Pink Saloon By MELINDA SCHNYDER Photo by FERNANDO SALAZAR It took Jill Hattan a few years to embrace the family business, but once she did, she has made her mark on the oldest car dealership in Wichita. Her grandfather Don Hattan was a Chevrolet Motor Division accounting manager when…
Owner and Chairman of The LDF Companies By MELINDA SCHNYDER Photo by FERNANDO SALAZAR Larry D. Fleming’s first time in Wichita was the day in 1975 when he moved here to open the city’s first Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers restaurant. Rock Road was just two lanes but already showing potential for its starring role in…
By AMY GEISZLER-JONES Photos by AARON PATTON The roots of George and Katharine Elders’ ever-expanding Elderslie Farm ventures may be on a 102-acre plot of land in Kechi, but they go deeper than the ground they are in, they are nourished by classic literature and opera and an entrepreneurial lineage. “I would never have pursued…
By ANGELA BREER FOUNDER & CHIEF DOT CONNECTOR DOT STRATEGIES If you were asked to think of the best story you heard recently, it wouldn’t be hard to think of one because people remember stories. Humans are hardwired for stories; we’re drawn to connections. Stories move us from just deciphering if the information is important…
By KEVIN HOWELLCOMMERCIAL ASSOCIATE & CERTIFIED AUCTIONEER J.P. WEIGAND & SONS When it comes to selling commercial or residential property, auctions can be a great way to move a property quickly and efficiently. An auction is an accelerated method of sale that draws many potential buyers, generates competition, and increases the likelihood of getting the…
Family businesses, Slide Out Shelf Solutions and Creative Closet Concepts, become Harmony Home Concepts to provide whole-house functionality. By KIM GRONNIGER Photos by AARON PATTON Have you ever felt defeated searching through cluttered kitchen cabinets for cumin, a colander or a cake pan? Does getting dressed in the morning invoke anxiety because you can’t easily…
By ERIC SMITHPhotos by TIM DAVIS That’s the exciting distinct name of the newly established, $1.5 billion national accounting firm resulting from the merger, effective June 1, 2022, between peer firms, BKD CPAs & Advisors and Dixon Hughes Goodman. With the legacy of serving clients firmwide for 100 years, FORVIS’ 72-employee office in Wichita, located…
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THE POWER OF STORYTELLING FOR YOUR BUSINESS
By ANGELA BREER FOUNDER & CHIEF DOT CONNECTOR DOT STRATEGIES If you were asked to think of the best story you heard recently, it wouldn’t be hard to think of one because people remember stories. Humans are hardwired for stories; we’re drawn to connections. Stories move us from just deciphering if the information is important…
THE AUCTION ADVANTAGE
By KEVIN HOWELLCOMMERCIAL ASSOCIATE & CERTIFIED AUCTIONEER J.P. WEIGAND & SONS When it comes to selling commercial or residential property, auctions can be a great way to move a property quickly and efficiently. An auction is an accelerated method of sale that draws many potential buyers, generates competition, and increases the likelihood of getting the…
PLANNING FOR FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE
MARTHA L. LINSNER, CTFAPresident & Chief Operating Officer The Trust Company of Kansas Like many areas in life, having a plan to meet a goal is critical. The same holds true when planning for retirement. There are many aspects to consider—age, health, location, hobbies, travel, inheritance, gifting, taxes, on and on. So, when and where…
KANSAS CHAMBER’S LEGISLATIVE & POLICY AGENDA
Alan Cobb | President and CEO Kansas ChamberEric Stafford | Vice-President of Government Affairs Kansas Chamber The Kansas Chamber is the leading statewide, member-driven organization that serves as the most credible legislative voice for the Kansas business community at the statehouse. Its president and CEO, Alan Cobb, said it is a reputation the Chamber doesn’t…
WICHITA REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE’S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
“The Chamber sets legislative priorities based on the needs of its members, while working in collaboration with similar business-oriented organizations,” said Toni Porter, the Chamber’s Vice President of Government Relations. “As one of the largest business organizations in Kansas, the Chamber amplifies the voice of the business community by advocating pro-business policies at the state…
Start Authorizing Yourself to Lead
Excerpted from When Everyone Leads by Ed O’Malley and Julia Fabris McBride, published by Bard Press. Copyright © 2023 Kansas Leadership Center. Whether you are a CEO, middle manager, mayor, governor, front-line employee, independent contributor, community member, or someone similar, authorizing yourself to exercise leadership means deciding to do something above and beyond what’s expected. This chapter explores…
Creating Community
BY: AUDRA DINELL, FOUNDER THE THREAD: A WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP COLLECTIVE I recently attended a gathering to celebrate a friend’s second baby and while I was there I spent time with someone from the community that I serve. This corporate professional (who is a killer conversationalist with an excellent wardrobe, I might add) was sharing with…
Getting Out: Estate Planning for the Closely Held Business
BY: MARGARET E. ROBERTSON, ATTORNEY HINKLE LAW FIRM LLC We often hear the phrase, “Begin with the end in mind,” but what happens when you don’t? The dream of starting your own business, having that dream take off, and growing that dream to something permanent and special took all of your time and energy. Now…
Tax Changes to Help Convince You There’s No Place Like Kansas
BY BRENDA BENNING & LAURA BARNES with FORVIS When it comes to taxes, the theme of the 2022 Kansas legislation can be summarized in one sentence: “We want your business in Kansas, we want your expertise in Kansas, and we want you to live in Kansas!” Kansas passed several taxpayer-friendly tax provisions in 2022 hoping…
When the Economic Weather Gets Stormy: LEADERSHIP STARTS WITH YOU
By Julia Fabris McBride & Damon YoungKansas Leadership Center Like thoughtful entrepreneurs and executives worldwide, Wichita business owners recognize that turbulent times call for creative approaches to leadership. Record-breaking inflation, social unrest, and a global pandemic that just won’t quit have forced even the most stable companies to reevaluate. Perhaps you find yourself wondering if…
Innovation Focused Quarterly Magazine in Wichita, Kansas
Wichita Business Magazine is a quarterly publication that sheds light on entrepreneurs and business professionals in Wichita, Kansas. Read through our quarterly business magazine focused on business growth, innovation, leadership, investment, technology, entrepreneurship, leadership, and lifestyle.
Inspiring Entrepreneurs
We are a local media company and with our business growth Magazine, we strive to inspire the hearts and minds of people who follow their dreams. While sharing the truths of the journey and the highs and the lows of successful businesspeople, we aim to help the aspirants.
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Wichita Business Magazine targets growth-minded business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals looking for strategies, resources, and inspiration to grow to the next level. We publish multiple types of articles to keep our readers interested and happy. Our articles range from practical "how to" strategies to full-length features spotlighting successful businesses, owners, and professionals in Wichita.