Business Images Metro Wichita, KS 2010

BUSINESS

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METRO WICHITA, KANSAS

Patients, Pleased Health care improves with new technology, services

Rise of the Creative Class Venues, events support thriving local arts scene

What’ss Onlinee Researcher sheds light on burgeoning composites industry

Living in a Material World

Composites research broadens scope from aerospace to orthopedics

SPONSORED BY THE WICHITA METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | 2010

LET US HELP YOU WITH ALL YOUR RELOCATION NEEDS Make the SMART MOVE with Coldwell Banker Stucky & Associates, REALTORS

Wichita East 7309 E. 21st St., Ste. 200 Wichita West 10300 W. Maple El Dorado 127 W. Central Newton 400 S. Main (316) 681-9725 or (866) 696-7653 ext. 125 Each office is independently owned and operated

Whether you’re moving across town or across the country, our Relocation Department has the knowledge and expertise to make your relocation as stress-free as possible.

Coldwell Banker Stucky and Associates is a principal broker for the Cartus Broker Network. Cartus is the premier provider of global mobility management and workforce development solutions serving the corporate, military, government and affinity markets.

Stucky & Associates, Realtors

Visit us on the Web at www.cbstucky.com

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XX Workstyle Wings of Green

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The aviation industry has partnered with Wichita State University to help save the planet.

Learning Their (Air)Craft

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New aviation training center will prepare Wichita’s future workforce.

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Living in a Material World

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Composites researchers have broadened their scope from aerospace to orthopedics.

Rise of the Creative Class

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Wichita’s visual and performing arts scenes flourish with a variety of venues and events.

Patients, Pleased

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Health systems improve medical care with new technology and services.

Table of Contents continued on page 5

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ON THE COVER Keeper of the Plains by Blackbear Bosin PHOTO BY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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Insight Overview

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Business Almanac

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Business Climate

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Transportation

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Energy/Technology

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Economic Profile

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Livability Downtown Dwellings

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Health

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Education

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METRO WICHITA, K ANS AS 2010 EDITION , VOLUME 5 SENIOR EDITOR JESSY YANCEY COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES, SUSAN CHAPPELL STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN CONTRIBUTING WRITERS MICHAELA JACKSON, LEANNE LIBBY, JOE MORRIS, CINDY SANDERS DATA MANAGER CHANDRA BRADSHAW SENIOR INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER JOE THOMAS SALES SUPPORT MANAGER CINDY HALL SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN McCORD STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT, ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, J. KYLE KEENER PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT MANAGER ANNE WHITLOW CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS MELISSA BRACEWELL, KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER, KRIS SEXTON, CANDICE SWEET, VIKKI WILLIAMS LEAD DESIGNER ALISON HUNTER GRAPHIC DESIGN ERICA HINES, JESSICA MANNER, JANINE MARYLAND, AMY NELSON, MARCUS SNYDER WEB IMPLEMENTATION DIRECTOR ANDY HARTLEY WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR FRANCO SCARAMUZZA WEB CONTENT MANAGER JOHN HOOD WEB PROJECT MANAGER YAMEL RUIZ WEB DESIGN CARL SCHULZ WEB PRODUCTION JENNIFER GRAVES COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN TWILA ALLEN AD TRAFFIC MARCIA MILLAR, PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN

Banking Made Better

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN SR. V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER V.P./SALES HERB HARPER V.P./SALES TODD POTTER V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS V.P./CUSTOM PUBLISHING KIM NEWSOM MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS BILL McMEEKIN MANAGING EDITOR/COMMUNITY KIM MADLOM PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, DIANA GUZMAN, MARIA MCFARLAND, LISA OWENS RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY SIMPSON DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR YANCEY TURTURICE IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE SALES SUPPORT RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY

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In Business Since 1975

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Provides Electrical Service 24/7

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Provides Design/Build Services •

Commercial, Industrial and Residential Service (316) 267-7060 800 E. Third St. Wichita, KS 67202

Members of The Associated General Contractors and The Independent Electrical Contractors Association

SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL MATHEIS EXECUTIVE SECRETARY/SALES SUPPORT KRISTY DUNCAN OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP

CU S TO M M AG A Z INE M ED I A

Business Images Metro Wichita is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce.

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L I F E S T Y L E | W O R K S T Y L E | D I G G I N G D E E P E R | V I D EO | L I N K T O U S | A D V E R T I S E | C O N TA C T U S | S I T E M A P

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METRO WICHITA, KANSAS

Patients, Pleased Health care improves with new technology, services

Rise of the Creative Class Venues, events support thriving local arts scene

What’ss Onlinee Researcher sheds light on burgeoning composites industry

Lifestyle

Living in a Material World

Composites research broadens scope from aerospace to orthopedics

SPONSORED BY THE WICHITA METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | 2010

A showcase for what drives Metro Wichita’s high quality of life

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NEWS AND NOTES >> Get the Inside Scoop on the latest developments in Metro Wichita from our editors and business insiders

Workstyle A spotlight on innovative companies that call Metro Wichita home

SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS >> Meet the people setting the pace for Metro Wichita business DIG DEEPER >> Log into the community with links to local Web sites and resources to give you the big picture of Metro Wichita DATA CENTRAL >> A by-the-numbers look at doing business and living in Metro Wichita

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Overview

Top 10 Reasons to Do Business in Metro Wichita 1. Affordability Even with its many amenities, Wichita’s overall cost-ofliving index is 89.8 percent, more than 10 percent below the national urban area average, particularly in the housing market.

2. Intellectual Capital With the state’s largest public school district, 17 area colleges and universities, and the National Center for Aviation Training, Wichita boasts a diverse and highly skilled workforce.

3. Health Care Wichita, a hub for high-quality health care in southcentral Kansas, is continually ranked high nationally for its 17 acute care and freestanding specialty hospitals and numerous clinics offering the latest services and technology.

third among all U.S. universities in aerospace engineering R&D.

tax exemption for business machinery and equipment.

8. Downtown Revitalization

10. Livability Wichita recently topped Newsmax.com’s list of cities with the best American values, thanks to the metro area’s attractions, recreational activities, short commute times, business friendliness and quality education.

Wichita Downtown Development Corporation has helped bring millions of investment dollars to the heart of the city and continues to grow a strong economic center and develop community-building cultural experiences.

For more information contact:

9. Business Incentives

Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce 350 W. Douglas Ave. Wichita, KS 67202 Phone: (316) 265-7771 E-mail: info@wichitachamber.org www.wichitachamber.org

The Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition and the state of Kansas offer a variety of incentives that fit business owners’ needs, such as property

4. Entrepreneurial Spirit Wichita

Greater Wichita Area

provides a thriving environment for business innovation with a long list of successful ventures, from aviation pioneers to high-profile companies, as well as Wichita State University’s Center for Entrepreneurship.

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Hillsboro

MA RION 50 96

is home to a professional opera, symphony and ballet; dozens of cinematic and performance theaters; and countless enticing exhibits at art galleries, varied museums and breathtaking gardens.

Peabody

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5. Cultural Life This artistic city

Hutchinson Newton

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RE N O

196 177 135

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254 296

Andover

for Aviation Research, a prestigious state-of-the-art aerospace laboratory with global reach, is located at Wichita State University, which ranks

SE DGWICK 14

El Dorado

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Augusta

235

6. Young Talent With membership

7. Research The National Institute

ll To

96

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KINGMAN

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H A R VE Y

Kingman

of 2,000 and growing, Young Professionals of Wichita is comprised of bright, energetic “YPs” who are actively engaged in the city’s future growth and success.

Marion

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Wichita

Beaumont

BUT L E R

2 15 49

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COWL E Y

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Harper

Wellington

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Anthony

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44 35

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Winfield

SUMN E R Arkansas City

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WIND-WIND SITUATION Alternative energy sources are picking up velocity and energizing the Wichita area economy.

The largest wind farm in the state, Elk River Wind Project in neighboring Butler County, came online in 2005 with 100 turbines that power approximately 42,000 homes. Portland, Ore.-based PPM Energy operates the wind farm located on nearly 8,000 acres near Beaumont, which is about 45 miles east of Wichita.

More than 600 turbines dot the landscape throughout the state, and around six additional wind farms have been proposed in the greater Wichita area.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! Two time zones and 1‚300 miles from the million-dollar movie sets of Hollywood‚ independent filmmakers gather in Wichita each autumn to celebrate the visionary art of filmmaking.

Sponsored by the Wichita Association of Motion Picture Arts (WAMPA)‚ the Tallgrass Film Festival showcases both feature-length and short films covering a variety of genres‚ including narrative fiction‚ documentary‚ animation and experimental‚ at venues located throughout the city.

The three-day festival is held in October, but WAMPA also hosts screenings of under-the-radar movies on the third Thursday of every month at one of the three Warren Theatres in Wichita.

THIS PLACE IS WILD Ever want to get up close and personal with a giraffe? Head to the Sedgwick County Zoo during feeding time, and you’re in luck – the Giraffe Feeding Station allows visitors to go right out on a deck to see eye to eye with the towering creatures.

Since opening in 1971‚ the zoo has been adding exhibits and exotic critters at a rapid pace‚ with newer additions including the Slawson Family Tiger Trek and the Cessna Penguin Cove. The attraction also has areas devoted to Amphibians & Reptiles, Africa, Asia, Australia, North America, South America and the Jungle.

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Almanac

ENTERPRISING CITY, USA From camping equipment to personal pan pizza, Wichita is a breeding ground of entrepreneurial innovation.

The city’s long list of successful ventures includes Coleman, a leader in outdoor products, and the original Pizza Hut, which was founded by Wichita State University students and relocated to the campus as a symbol of the city’s entrepreneurial spirit.

WHY CHOOSE THE WICHITA Y? Building strong bodies is just one of many facets of the Greater Wichita YMCA.

Given the city’s Air Capital of the World status, it’s no surprise that Hawker Beechcraft Corp., Cessna Aircraft Co. and Bombardier Aerospace Learjet Inc. were founded in Wichita.

Other high-profile companies that originated here include Koch Industries, Rent-A-Center, White Castle and Taco Tico.

The organization’s recreational centers‚ classes‚ child-care programs and day camps rank among the top 30 in the nation in terms of operating budget and size. Eight full-service family branches fall under the Greater Wichita YMCA umbrella, including facilities in Andover and El Dorado.

The YMCA is also the largest child-care provider in the Wichita area‚ providing award-winning child development centers in several local high schools. A variety of after-school offerings cater to working families, and the local YMCA also offers Job Prep, a training program aimed to prepare teens to enter the workforce.

BREAKING THE ICE Downtown Wichita is welcoming a new, state-of-the-art venue.

INTRUST Bank Arena, which opens in January 2010, will be the new home of the Wichita Thunder, a Central Hockey League team that currently plays at Kansas Coliseum.

The new arena, which will serve as a downtown hot spot for sports and entertainment, will seat 15,000 for hockey and basketball games and as many as 17,000 for concerts.

IMAGESWICHITA.COM

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SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT HT Wichita’s high concentration ent ntra rati tion on of of hi h higher gher education outlets makes ake k s it convenient con onve veni nien e t to pursue a degree in just ustt about any area of study. us Newman University, which turned 75 in 2008, is a coeducational Catholic olic liberal arts art rtss institution. in nst stit i ution. More than 2‚000 students from 31 countries attend tte t nd d the the school, sch choo ooll which whi hich ch iiss lo llocated ca ated in the southwest portion of town.

Friends University‚ a nondenominational Christian-based liberal arts college founded in 1889‚ has seen its enrollment double over the past decade. The school offers more than 40 degree options, including a special program for working adults.

Wichita boasts 15 other colleges and universities, including University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Baker University and Webster University.

WELCOME NEWS A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT Follow the flowing Arkansas River through downtown Wichita, and you’ll find plenty of places to play.

The Arkansas River Bicycle Path, the city’s longest bike and pedestrian trail, provides easy access to a myriad of parks, museums, shopping and recreational activities.

Overlooking the river is the Keeper of the Plains statue, the work of American Indian Blackbear Bosin. Interestingly‚ workers originally installed the statue in the wrong direction. Following a 2006 restoration, it now points directly to the east‚ facing the sunrise‚ which is what Bosin had in mind.

Where is the most affordable housing market in the nation located? Wichita, according to a study by MSN Real Estate in conjunction with Sperling’s BestPlaces.

The study says houses here are appreciating in value despite national trends. Other factors playing into the city’s top-seed ranking include short commute time and low cost of living. In a similar ranking, Bizjournals named Wichita the No. 2 Most Affordable Market To Own a Home, citing its low mortgage payments.

The average selling price of previously owned single-family homes in the Wichita metro area is $112,700, and newly built homes have a median sale price of $191,770.

IMAGESWICHITA.COM

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Business Climate

Where Innovation Soars Metro Wichita maintains solid economic conditions for entrepreneurs, mainstays Story by Michaela Jackson

Sustainability

Research & Development

Innovation

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METRO WICHITA

I

n many cities, the phrase economic development has fallen out of fashion in light of the current economy, banished to wishful thinking and conversations about the good old days. Not so in Wichita, which is faring better economically than many parts of the nation, according to the report entitled Wichita’s Economic Outlook 2009, released in October 2008 by Wichita State University’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research.

Employment levels between January 2008 and July 2008 grew 0.8 percent relative to 2007, nearly three times the national growth rate of 0.3 percent, and employment is expected to climb 2 percent higher in 2009.

Wichita’s real estate market also continues to enjoy home value appreciation, and although sales of homes were lower in 2008, they are expected to rise in 2009.

While the numbers certainly tell a story that paints Wichita in a positive light, the city’s real business success is based on an arsenal of assets, ranging from infrastructure to quality of life, that cultivate a winning economic climate.

“Entrepreneurism is a new concept of capital, and there’s a lot of entrepreneurial type of development going on within the city,” says Jeremy Hill, director of the CEDBR at Wichita State. “You have a lot of clear, innovative ideas that are being invested in the city, and that makes Wichita an exciting place and an opportunity for people to have that lifestyle and entertainment that they want, plus have a job.”

One of Wichita’s most innovative sectors, the aviation industry, employs thousands of people in the region and, despite the recession, still maintains an optimistic outlook.

“We are in a downturn. Everybody knows that’s not going to last and that the economy will come back, and after that, our business will come back, and we’re going to be ready when it does,” says Doug Oliver, spokesperson for Cessna, one of the general aviation manufacturers headquartered in Wichita. “Business aviation is poised to really boom, and this is the business aviation center, so Wichita’s going to be poised to really rebound.”

What will make Wichita’s aviation industry so quick on the uptake is the existing human and physical capital. The buildings, machinery and skilled laborers in the region will allow aircraft manufacturers to resume their bull market production schedules quickly

when demand begins to rise.

“When we have a global downturn or a national downturn, moving is not something that will appeal to the aviation industry,” Hill says. “They’re not going to want to move away. In fact, they’re going to want to stick closer to their roots, because when they are together with their physical capital, they have benefits, they have reduced costs in production. That will make Wichita’s economy, when there is an opportunity, rebound even faster.”

Aside from existing industrial infrastructure, Wichita offers a strong transportation network, with accessible interstate connections to the East and West coasts, abundant education and worker training options, a comprehensive health-care system and a high quality of life.

A changing economy will spur new small business development, Hill says, laying the groundwork for an emerging source of economic strength in Wichita.

7.05% NEW JOB PROJECTIONS BY INDUSTRY – 2009 TOTAL: 6,095

9.26%

Production Sector: 2,850 Service Sector: 2,250 Trade, Transportation

46.75% 36.9%

and Utilities: 565 Government: 430 Source: Wichita’s Economic Outlook 2009 by CEDBR

MORE AT IMAGESWICHITA.COM

IMAGESWICHITA.COM

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ANTONY BOSHIER

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METRO WICHITA

Wings of Green Aviation industry teams with WSU to help save the planet

Story by Michaela Jackson

I

f the sky over Wichita looks a little green, don’t blame the weather – it’s probably just all the sustainability floating around up there.

In the Aircraft Capital of the World, Bombardier Learjet, Cessna Aircraft, Hawker Beechcraft and Spirit AeroSystems have joined forces with Wichita State University to form a coalition promoting corporate sustainability for aircraft manufacturers.

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE Efforts are under way to establish new recycling programs for industrial waste, such as plastics and textiles, that have previously been relegated to landfills. Many conventional materials, including aluminum and simple plastics, are already being recycled on a large scale.

“These efforts have substantial environmental improvements, because we’re recycling instead of digging new materials out of the ground,” says Michael Overcash, Bloomfield Professor of Sustainability at WSU. “They’re also showing a commitment to reducing the dependence on landfills, and at the same time, they’re looking at the environmental benefits of having materials that they don’t have to throw away and instead are reusing.”

Researchers hope to identify more material streams in the future that are not currently being recycled, but have the potential to be.

Reevaluating the way fuel is used in aircraft is also among the giant tasks the coalition plans to take on. Hawker Beechcraft, for example, in partnership with Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) and Swift Enterprises, recently

IMAGESWICHITA.COM

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What’s Onlinee

P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F T H E B O E I N G C O M PA N Y

Read more articles about the Air Capital of the World by visiting imageswichita.com and searching “aviation.”

The energy-efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliner

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METRO WICHITA

achieved success in test flights of its certificated Beechcraft Bonanza G36 using unleaded aviation fuel and Swift Sustainable Fuel.

“This was really, I think, a big first step to finding an alternative to leaded fuel aviation,” says Jeff Waller, director of health and safety for Hawker Beechcraft, adding that the fuel is expected to extend the aircraft range efficiency and cost up to 50 cents less per gallon. “Hawker Beechcraft is committed to meeting the needs of the present, while not compromising the needs of the future.”

SUSTAINING COLLABORATIONS A partnership between WSU and Hawker Beechcraft, the first general aviation firm with a sustainability program, predates the coalition by about a year, and the additional airplane makers joined the collaboration in March 2009.

“The concept of sustainability applies to multiple companies, so it’s not unique to Hawker Beechcraft, and as a group, some aspects of sustainability like recycling can actually be a better business case than doing it individually,” Overcash says. “That’s the nature

of what university centers typically do: They allow companies to come together on noncompetitive issues to look for solutions that don’t arise from a single organization.”

In addition to the coalition, Boeing’s Wichita facility received environmental certification in March 2009 from the International Standardization Organization, and the company’s newest commercial airliners, the 787 Dreamliner and the 747-8, feature dramatically improved fuel efficiency and decreased carbon dioxide emissions.

Corporate sustainability experts are enthusiastic about the aircraft manufacturers’ progress not only for the direct environmental benefits, but also for the example they set both for other aviation companies as well as additional industries.

“The success that we have and that the aviation companies have already had is leading to an improvement in sustainability,” Overcash says. “That is a long-term goal, and people often refer to it as making it better for our children and grandchildren. So that’s a good thing to see, when we make steps in that direction.”

More Insight Wichita’s aviation giants are making eco-conscious efforts with sustainability initiatives: • Boeing (316) 526-2121 www.boeing.com • Bombardier Learjet (316) 946-3041 www.bombardier.com • Cessna Aircraft Co. (316) 517-6000 www.cessna.com • Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (316) 676-1328 www.hawkerbeech craft.com • Spirit AeroSystems Inc. (316) 526-3910 www.spiritaero.com

Learning Their (Air)Craft NEW NATIONAL AVIATION TRAINING CENTER WILL PREPARE FUTURE WORKFORCE

A

ir Capital of the World isn’t just a ceremonial title for Wichita. The aviation industry employs more than 40,000 people throughout Kansas, and more than 140,000 additional jobs are supported directly or indirectly by the aviation industry.

Of those workers, 27 percent became eligible for retirement in 2008, and 40 percent are eligible for retirement sometime between 2008 and 2013. To address the worker shortage that could result, government agencies and industry are partnering to establish the National Center for Aviation Training at Jabara Airport.

“The dynamics of the workforce are such that there’s always going to be a requirement for people with technical skills, and that means people who know how to build airplanes, work on airplanes,” says Doug Oliver, spokesperson for Cessna, who is a partner in the center’s development. “The intention of this facility really is to be a national center of excellence where people will come from all over the country to attend.”

The center will provide training in aviation disciplines such as manufacturing, avionics, robotics, interiors installation and others.

Wichita Area Technical College will coordinate the programs, which will accommodate 500 students in aviation and 800 students in manufacturing.

“All the experts know that business aviation comes in cycles, and we’re due for an up cycle, and normally when it comes back, it comes back very strong,” Oliver says.

“We are very lucky here in this region to have industry leaders and government leaders who see the value in maintaining world-class educational facilities for things like aerospace.”

– Michaela Jackson

IMAGESWICHITA.COM

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Living in a Material World Composites research broadens scope from aerospace to orthopedics

Story by Michaela Jackson • Photography by Antony Boshier

W

ichita is no stranger to composite materials, as aviation manufacturers have readily embraced the unique aluminum alternative in recent years to design increasingly advanced aircraft.

Now, an innovative new use for composites as internal orthopedic devices may land the burgeoning industry a place of respect in a formerly unrelated sector: medicine. The current materials of choice are metals and plastics, which are limited by their dissimilar properties to bone and can

cause unnecessary stress internally.

“Composites represent materials that are light and strong and that are somewhat flexible, and that’s exactly what we see in bone,” says Dr. Paul Wooley, director of the Orthopaedic Research Institute (ORI), which is owned and operated by Via Christi Regional Medical Center. “Bone is a tissue that is light and strong and allows a little bit of flexibility, so your bones are not brittle. So we right away recognized that this would be a good material to develop as a substitute.”

To explore the scientific and commercial possibilities of this new application for composites, ORI and area universities, including the National Institute for Aviation Research at Wichita State University, have joined forces to establish the Center of Innovation in Biomaterials and Orthopaedic Research (CIBOR).

In May 2009, the Kansas Bioscience Authority awarded CIBOR a one-year, $4 million grant that is expected to extend into a five-year, $20 million grant, which will allow the research to

$4 million

$200 million

2,600

research grant awarded to CIBOR in 2009

projected annual economic impact of mature composites industry

anticipated new composites jobs within the next 10 years

IMAGESWICHITA.COM

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Fact Check Composite materials are substances that combine two or more elements in such a way that the individual elements are still distinguishable, not fully blended. Concrete, for example, is a composite material because ground-up gravel is held together by cement to make one substance, but both the cement and the gravel are still evident.

Source: www.wisegeek.com

A student prepares the autoclave to cure a composite panel at the National Institute for Aviation Research.

expand into more extensive device development and, ultimately, commercialization efforts.

Because of the lengthy approval process required before mainstream distribution, CIBOR leaders are looking at their invention as a long-term project. In the meantime, though, the center has begun research on medical uses for composite materials that do not demand the intense scrutiny, such as operating tables and surgical tools. Replacing the metal normally used to make these apparatuses with composites would allow physicians to take

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X-rays during an operation without having to alter the surgical site, for example.

Once the industry matures, Wichita will see 2,600 new jobs and an annual economic impact of $200 million.

“This adds a fourth leg to our economy,” says Michael Good, director of business research operations at ORI. “We put a lot of eggs in the aviation manufacturing basket, and this would allow us to diversify those assets and utilize them for some other form of manufacturing along the lines of composites.”

The marriage of the medical industry to the composites industry is a natural progression in Wichita, where a well-developed composites region is already in place. Composites manufacturers here are already accustomed to working with both highly detailed specifications and a minuscule margin of error in terms of human safety.

“If you think about it, both industries make parts that your life

depends on,” says John Tomblin, executive director of the NIAR at Wichita State. “The aerospace industry, they’re regulated by the FAA, and they make parts that are flight-critical to airplanes. People look at the medical industry, which is regulated by the FDA, and the situation is similar. If you look at the manufacturers that supply the aerospace industry, they are particularly suited to supply parts for the medical industry

as well because they already know the quality assurance that is important in the aerospace industry, and that can quality assurance be directly applied to the medical industry.”

What’s Onlinee Learn more about composites from NIAR’s executive director in a quick video at imageswichita.com.

IMAGESWICHITA.COM

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Rise of the Creative Class

What’s Onlinee See an artist at work or take a video tour of an art museum at imageswichita.com.

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METRO WICHITA

Visual, performing arts flourish with variety of venues, events Story by Michaela Jackson

W

ichita, known the world over for aviation, is witnessing the emergence of a new signature industry: arts.

The groundwork for a thriving artistic community has been in place for years, with museums, galleries and sculptures peppered throughout Wichita. Now, the city is seeing a surge of interest – and willingness to take action – in cultivating an enclave of creative expression.

The organization ROK ICT! dedicates itself to fostering a positive attitude toward, and activity within, the Wichita arts community.

Jared Brickman, a musician who relocated from New York, founded the Web site ROK ICT! to be driven by usergenerated content to make arts-related event information in Wichita easily accessible. Today, the volunteer-powered organization works to promote artistic awareness and facilitate community events throughout the area arts scene, with local government and educational systems, and beyond to the surrounding region.

“We’d like to see the arts and music industry really flourish in Wichita, to the point that artists, musicians and filmmakers could make a working wage, so there’s truly an industry here,” Brickman says.

ROCKING WICHITA The organization is modeling their efforts after the transformation of New York City’s SoHo neighborhood, Brickman says, which was an eclectic den of humble artists in the 1950s and has evolved today into one of the

nation’s trendiest – and most affluent – arts districts.

To that end, in spring 2009 ROK ICT! kicked off First Fridays, a free monthly live music crawl following in the footsteps of the city’s popular Final Fridays art crawl. Both events invite the public downtown to experience art in traditional and nontraditional settings, regularly drawing thousands of people to participating venues. Downtown watering holes such as The Anchor and Oeno Wine Bar host local bands for the First Friday event, while CityArts and other galleries draw art lovers on the last Friday of every month.

“We know that typically arts and music have been the first step in revitalizing downtowns,” Brickman says. “You look at any really successful city, and you’ll see a thriving arts community.”

ART AS STIMULUS While art for art’s sake is certainly a valuable cultural commodity in the city, the arts as an economic driver is not an idea unique to ROK ICT!. The theme is, in fact, a common refrain in

Wichita’s artistic renaissance.

“Art is really good business,” says David Murano, assistant director for CityArts, a program housed in Wichita’s Division of Arts and Cultural Services. “The different organizations and artistic outlets provide jobs for all sorts of people in the industry, and they also bring people who buy tickets, come to events, buy artwork and so forth.”

CityArts is on the front lines of the orchestrated government effort to promote artistic awareness and creation. The organization’s facility on North Mead Street showcases local artwork and also offers art classes for children and adults, as well as a nineweek arts camp for kids every summer.

Economic factors aside, the arts community doesn’t dispute that the expression of creativity is a cornerstone of any healthy city.

“It all adds to the quality of life of Wichita, with a whole bunch of different things for people to come and experience,” Murano says. “A lot of it is inexpensive or free, so if you live here, you have a lot of opportunities to come and experience or participate in the arts.”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT IN METRO WICHITA Check out these sites to learn about locals events ROK ICT!

www.rokict.com

CityArts

www.wichitaarts.com

Wichita Art Museum

www.wichitaartmuseum.org

Wichita Grand Opera

www.wichitagrandopera.org

Ballet Wichita

www.balletwichita.com

Wichita Theatre and Opera House

www.wichitatheatre.com

Wichita Children’s Theater and Dance Center Locals take in the creations at CityArts during the Final Friday gallery crawl.

www.wctdc.com

MORE AT IMAGESWICHITA.COM

IMAGESWICHITA.COM

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METRO WICHITA

Health

Patients, Pleased Health systems improve medical care with new technology, services

Story by Cindy Sanders

I

n recent months, Wichita’s health-care community has expanded physical capacity and enhanced care by debuting new services and technologies. While the additions are diverse in nature, the bottom line for each provider is the same: to positively impact outcomes by focusing on the needs of patients and their families.

VIA CHRISTI WICHITA HEALTH NETWORK For Via Christi, patient-centered care means a continual investment in technology such as da Vinci robotic surgery and state-of-the-art CyberKnife radiosurgery.

That commitment to care has resulted in the system receiving numerous awards, accolades and specialty accreditations. HealthGrades, a national hospital ratings company, recognized Via Christi Regional Medical Center for a third year in a row for overall quality that ranks in the top 5 percent in the nation.

WESLEY MEDICAL CENTER With a recent expenditure of $60 million in capital improvements, Wesley Medical Center is equally committed to excellence. “All the time new technologies are being made available, and we want to be able to provide cutting-edge

What’s Onlinee For more insight on Wichita’s health and wellness offerings, visit imageswichita.com.

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More Insight VIA CHRISTI WICHITA HEALTH NETWORK • Via Christi – St. Francis 929 N. St. Francis St. Wichita, KS 67214 (316) 268-5000 www.via-christi.org • Via Christi – St. Joseph 3600 E. Harry St. Wichita, KS 67218 (316) 685-1111 www.via-christi.org

WESLEY MEDICAL CENTER • Wesley Medical Center – Main Campus 550 N. Hillside St. Wichita, KS 67214 (316) 962-2000 www.wesleymc.com • Wesley West Emergency and Diagnostic Center 8714 W. 13th St. N. Wichita, KS 67212 (316) 962-9700 www.wesleymc.com

WICHITA CLINIC • 12 locations with more than 160 doctors practicing in more than 40 specialties • (316) 689-9708 www.wichitaclinic.com

treatments for our patients,” says hospital spokesperson Paul Petitte.

In April 2009, the hospital added the minimally invasive da Vinci robotic system for gynecologic and urological surgeries and the $3.2 million Trilogy stereotactic radiation therapy system, which is designed to kill tumors while sparing surrounding tissue.

The medical center has also invested $51 million in projects that expanded and renovated the facility’s operating rooms and created a new Cardiovascular Center. Wesley now has 27 ORs and five catheterization labs, including two outpatient cath labs and an electrophysiology lab.

Additionally, Wesley has implemented a Patient Action Line, a bedside hotline in every room that goes to an administrator or senior manager for any unmet need. In September 2008, the hospital also debuted redesigned private patient rooms outfitted based on the latest research in healing environments.

WICHITA CLINIC With 160 physicians, 40 specialties, and a dozen locations throughout the greater metro area, Wichita Clinic is focused on providing quality care with patient convenience in mind.

Taking a patient-centric approach, Dr. Patty Tenofsky and Terri Peters, RN, have collaborated to launch new services for those diagnosed with breast abnormalities. “The idea behind the Breast Center is to integrate the care,” Tenofsky says.

Peters has taken on a new role as Nurse Navigator, directing all aspects of patient care including the rapid coordination of appointments, which has significantly cut the gap between receiving a cancer diagnosis and beginning treatment. “It has been shown that a well-coordinated breast center does improve outcomes,” says Tenofsky.

The duo organizes tumor conferences where all the clinical providers – from nurses and surgeons to radiologists and oncologists – sit down and go over cases, and they have also created the My Breast Cancer Journal educational tool to answer many questions for patients.

“My goal is to make sure the patient has the best possible care available,” Tenofsky says.

“The second goal is to help them get through the process of having breast cancer in the least stressful way possible.”

Dr. Patty Tenofksy, left, and Terri Peters, RN, coordinate Wichita Clinic’s Breast Center.

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Health Care Expands Westward NEW COMMUNITY HOSPITAL ADDS TO MEDICAL OFFERINGS IN WEST WICHITA

R

esidents of west Wichita soon will have even more choice when it comes to close-to-home hospital care.

Construction of the new Via Christi hospital featuring 68 private rooms plus four labor and delivery rooms is expected to be complete by August 2010, bringing a complement of medical, surgical, obstetric and emergency care to the city’s west side.

“For generations, the community has counted on Via Christi to provide quality care in a safe and compassionate manner to those in need, and that’s a mission that doesn’t change with the ups and downs in the economy,” says Michalene Maringer, president and CEO of Via Christi Wichita Health Network. “Our new hospital in west Wichita – the first full-service facility to be built in the city in decades – is in keeping with that mission. Designed around the needs of patients and their families, it will bring care closer to home for the more than 136,000 residents living in the immediate area.”

The 144,000-square-foot, 72-bed hospital is located near 21st Street North and 151st Street West. Crafted around the needs of patients and their families, the facility’s biophilic design pulls from research on optimizing outcomes by incorporating nature throughout the physical environment.

“Our goal isn’t to just build another community hospital,” Maringer says. “It’s to create the ideal patient experience.”

Via Christi joins the state-of-the-art Wesley West Emergency and Diagnostic Center, which opened in 2006 as the only full-service emergency department on the west side of the city. The emergency rooms at Wesley West, located on West 13th Street North, and its main campus on North Hillside Street have recently implemented a Fast Track System to more efficiently handle the big emergencies – and life’s smaller ones.

– Cindy Sanders

Rendering of the new Via Christi hospital in west Wichita

IMAGESWICHITA.COM

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PHOTOS BY TODD BENNE T T

Oeno Wine Bar, above, and the Rumley Lofts, right, are both located in Old Town, a neighborhood driving downtown’s residential boom.

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Livability

Downtown Dwellings Residency increases in bustling city center Story by Kevin Litwin

D

ine, shop, work, play, live – you can do all that and more in downtown Wichita.

About 2,000 people currently reside in the district, which features a smorgasbord of restaurants, bars and nightlife in addition to retail shops, recreational activities, museums, galleries and theaters within walking distance of most downtown homes.

“Residential living is a huge key to our downtown success in the future, and we want to substantially increase that residential population in the months and years to come,” says Jeff Fluhr, president of the Wichita Downtown Development Corp. “If we increase our rooftop base, it will attract more restaurants, retail and cultural attractions.

Our ultimate goal is for downtown Wichita to be alive 24/7.”

The residential initiative is the key part of a 2009 planning development endeavor called Momentum, which is examining the future of downtown Wichita for the next 10-20 years.

“The Downtown Development Corporation, in partnership with the private sector and the city of Wichita, are

FAMILY FOCUS COMMUNITIES TO CALL HOME Downtown’s residential scene is thriving, but a number of other Wichita area communities feature quality schools, fun recreation and affordable homes. Andover, Derby, Goddard, Haysville, Kechi,

Maize, Park City and Valley Center are just a sampling of the suburban settings that combine a safe, small-town atmosphere with convenient access to all of Metro Wichita’s amenities.

IMAGESWICHITA.COM

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embarking upon this new Momentum plan,” Fluhr says.

“One key aspect is to further build upon all of the successes that the district already has in place, such as Old Town, WaterWalk shopping, the Broadview Hotel, museums, performing arts venues, the Riverfront area and the INTRUST Bank Arena [slated to open in January 2010].”

Fluhr adds that downtown is lucky to have the Arkansas River running through it, because it makes an ideal setting for future iconic projects.

“Our ultimate goal is for downtown Wichita to be alive 24/7.”

“Wichita is the largest city in the state, and our downtown is a regional draw for many visitors,” he says. “But still, our No. 1 emphasis is to get more residents to choose the downtown district.”

So what is currently happening to attract more occupants to downtown Wichita? For starters, a total of 268 apartment units have been under construction in 2009, and loft condominiums are now available at WaterWalk, a mixeduse project with retail, restaurants and entertainment.

Another residential hot spot is the Garvey Center, a 26-story tower that was constructed in 1971 as a Holiday Inn. The hotel closed in 1993 and sat vacant for seven years before its conversion into an office space, meeting facility and apartments for occupancy.

“We really started the residential craze because our apartments that originally leased in 2000 were the first ones available downtown,” says Larry Weber, vice president of Builders Inc., which owns the Garvey Center. “Our towering apartment complex is in the heart of everything and overlooks everything, and we are booked up.”

Weber adds that downtown Wichita is an ideal place to live because it is safe, and the entertainment scene is becoming increasingly vibrant.

“Everything is within walking distance in the heart of downtown, and there is an excitement in the district,” he says. “It gets more and more interesting all the time.”

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ANTONY BOSHIER

Great Plains Nature Center

Kudos for Kid-Friendliness ATTRACTIONS, AMIABLE ATMOSPHERE ADD TO CITY’S FAMILY APPEAL

B

orn and raised in California, Angela Dudley was unsure about moving to Kansas with her parents, brother and sister in 1996.

“Coming from a big city like Sacramento, I was apprehensive because I didn’t know if there would be anything to do in Wichita,” says Dudley, a development director with the W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University. “But I continue to be impressed with this city. Wichita is large enough with lots to do, yet small enough to remain friendly.”

Dudley now lives in nearby Andover with her husband, Chris, their 5-year-old son, Clay, and infant daughter, Alaina.

“For family fun, we enjoy the Wichita Art Museum, the Discovery Center at Wichita Public Library, several free events at Wichita State, Riverside Park and the Great Plains

Nature Center,” she says. “An important aspect of family life in Wichita is that we feel really safe here, and the people are nice and welcoming.”

Lynette Murphy agrees that Wichita is a safe and friendly city. Murphy, also a development director at the Barton School of Business, lives in the city with her husband, Dan, and their children, 12-year-old Mattie and 6-year-old Gabe.

“There are so many extracurricular opportunities here if you simply search them out,” Murphy says. “Once you develop networks or get on newsletter lists for zoos, parks, museums and so forth, you really become aware of the numerous activities that are occurring all the time in Wichita.

Honestly, this is a great place to live and raise a family.”

– Kevin Litwin

More Insight • Exploration Place www.exploration.org • Great Plains Nature Center www.gpnc.org • Kansas Cosmosphere & Space Center www.cosmo.org • Riverside Park System (316) 268-4361 • Sedgwick County Zoo www.scz.org • Wichita Ice Center www.wichitaice center.com • Wichita Public Library www.wichita.lib.ks.us

IMAGESWICHITA.COM

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What’s Onlinee

ANTONY BOSHIER

Read more articles about Wichita’s diverse learning environments by going online to imageswichita.com.

Wichita State University’s Ablah Library

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Education

Forces in Workforce Development Wichita State program pairs classwork with career experience Story by Leanne Libby

S

tudents attending Wichita State University don’t have to wait until after graduation to road-test their new careers.

Thanks to the school’s cooperative education and work-based learning program, each semester finds hundreds of students working part-time jobs in their major field of study.

“Our students are provided the opportunity to connect their academic learning with professional, on-the-job experience,” says Connie Dietz, the program’s coordinator.

The program helps hone job skills, starting with résumé writing and interviewing.

Internships may be paid or unpaid and usually last a semester or a summer. Cooperative education jobs are paid positions related to a student’s major, and may last longer than a semester. Both programs offer academic credit and are available to all of the school’s majors except health care, which has its own clinical training component.

“For our business partners, it’s an opportunity to grow their own, a great recruitment tool,” Dietz says. “Employers can really get to see a student’s work ethic, skills and academic knowledge. It’s also a great way for them to fill short-term work needs.”

Spring semester, for example, is prime time for accounting majors to learn about the field during tax season. Nonprofit organizations, Dietz says, may tap the program to find a student who can build a new Web site.

To participate, employers send a job description for the program’s review. If it meets the standard of providing academic advancement, they receive résumés of qualified students. “We encourage employers to use the same interview techniques they would for regular, full-time employees,” Dietz says.

The career-training program, which has been in place since 1979, has grown dramatically in the last eight years, placing 467

More Insight Wichita’s 17 area colleges and universities include: • Baker University • Bethel College • Cowley College • Friends University • Hesston College • Newman University • Vatterott College • Webster University • Wichita Area Technical College • Wichita Technical Institute

“Our students are provided the opportunity to connect their academic learning with professional, on-the-job experience.”

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TODD BENNET T

Student workers receive on-the-job training in the advanced joining technology lab at the National Institute for Aviation Research.

79%

GRADUATE RETENTION RATE Wichita State graduates remaining in the area after participating in the cooperative education and work-based learning program

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METRO WICHITA

students in spring 2009. Historically, 79 percent of those who participated in the work-based learning program stay in Wichita after graduation.

Some graduates of the program now call Dietz to participate as employers.

“This is meaningful work connected to their degree,” Dietz says. “Our students are eager to learn and bring in new ideas, and this is a great way for employers to help build a strong workforce.”

The area’s urban setting makes it ideal for the program, says Dr. Ravi Pendse, professor of engineering and computer science as well as an associate provost and vice president for academic affairs and research.

“We are the only urban-serving, research university in the state,” Pendse says, adding that news of the program’s success is spreading. “We showcase our program to visitors who come from out of town or who have heard from word-of-mouth about how fabulous it is.”

He describes the university and business community as intertwined, noting the genuine care each entity has for the other.

“We’re able to work with our industrial partners, with places like CISCO and Boeing and NASA,” says Pendse. “We look at each other as partners working together as our community grows.”

Accessible, Affordable Academia LOW COST, HIGH QUALITY FOSTERS BUTLER COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S GROWTH

E

nrollment is up, up, up at Butler Community College, helping more students get a leg up in today’s competitive job market.

Jackie Vietti, the college’s president, attributes the increase to the school’s accessibility, affordability and strong ties with the local business community.

The college is based in El Dorado, but with five additional campuses throughout the greater Wichita area, classes are within easy reach.

Additionally, the college’s virtual campus, an extensive online program, boasts the system’s third-largest enrollment.

The college also strives to minimize costs. Students attending classes in summer 2009, for example, paid just $79 for

each semester hour.

Butler takes care to look beyond the classroom. “We have a number of great partnerships in the business community,” Vietti says. “We also are active members in area chambers and economic development boards.

We want to be part of the workforce development solution.”

The college’s nursing program, which can graduate up to 128 associate-degree nurses annually, has clinical training partnerships with area hospitals. The Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas also helps students apply skills learned in the classroom to real-world environments.

As Butler Community College analyzes industry trends, it customizes programs to prepare

students for a solid future. Recent adjustments include a heightened focus on high-tech programs.

Butler’s economic impact is clear. For every credit hour a student completes, Vietti says, earning power rises $192. Those completing a certificate program may see their earning potential increase $6,000 per year; those who complete an associate degree generally earn $10,000 a year more than their counterparts without such training.

By preparing students to succeed in the local job market, Vietti says, Butler achieves lasting results inside and outside the classroom.

“Our mission is to focus on the individual and also to contribute to the communities we serve,” she says.

– Leanne Libby

IMAGESWICHITA.COM

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What’s Onlinee Get a bird’s-eye view of what the airport has to offer in a quick video at imageswichita.com.

Wichita Mid-Continent Airport

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METRO WICHITA

Transportation

Change Is in the Air Airport expansion positions Wichita for further air-traffic growth Story by Joe Morris • Photography by Antony Boshier

A

irplanes and Wichita go handin-hand, and after more than a decade of planning, the city will soon have an airport terminal that’s a suitable backdrop for its cutting-edge aviation industry.

The new facility, set to come online in 2012, can’t happen fast enough for Wichita Mid-Continent Airport’s administrators, who are making do in their current 50-year-old facility.

Preliminary work, including the pouring of new concrete aprons and other preconstruction efforts, is under way at the site next door, and officials are not only planning the new facility’s configuration but also how to keep elements of the current one operational.

“Where we are now will cease to exist the day the new one opens up, and we’re looking forward to that,” says Victor White, executive director of airports for the Wichita Airport Authority. “We’ll be tearing down most of this facility, but we’ll keep part of the existing baggage claim area and convert it to an international arrival hall for customs and inspections, and also create office space for the Department of Homeland Security.”

At completion, the 240,000-square-

foot terminal and associated construction on it and the existing site will total around $160 million. Funding comes through Federal Aviation Administration grants, the Transportation Security Administration and other agencies for everything from engineering and design to new explosive-detection security equipment. Throughout the process, the goal has been to give Wichita the best and most advanced terminal possible, but also to create one that, like its predecessor, can see a halfcentury or more of use.

“We didn’t design the new one to be bigger, but to be more efficient,” explains White, noting that the new building will add the breathing room that the current facility lacks. “But it also is designed to be expanded if our traffic demands grow to the point where we need more space.”

The new terminal will have 12 gates with loading bridges, with each gate expandable to two bridges. The facility will feature three baggage claim areas at opening, with a fourth already built and ready to come online when needed.

More than twice the current space will be available for lines at the ticket counters, as well as room

for kiosks that allow Internet check-in and more.

Even before its arrival, the terminal is already exceeding expectations, White says, reinforcing just how much it’s been needed. And because the project is self-funded, taxpayers get the benefit of an updated amenity without taking a financial hit.

“The airport is 100 percent self sufficient, and we are a separate agency,” White says. “This is why we’ve been doing the project through FAA grants and money that comes from the federal Aviation Trust Fund. That lets us go forward even in a down economy, so we’re taking advantage of getting lower bids because there’s a lot of competition between contractors.

We are really in a sweet spot to do this right now.”

The Wichita Airport Authority also operates Col. James Jabara Airport, a general aviation reliever airport primarily serving single-engine and multi-engine small aircraft and has a full-service fixed base operator providing fuel, oil, hangars and parking. Jabara Airport is the future home of the National Center for Aviation Training.

194,881

240,000

1954

2012

current square footage of Wichita Mid-Continent Airport

square footage of the new airport terminal

year the current terminal opened

year the new terminal is expected to come online

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For an unforgettable event, ask about the newly opened Riverview Ballroom, featuring a view, up, down and across the Arkansas River.

For reservations, call (316) 293-1234 or visit our Web site at www.wichita.hyatt.com

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Highway to Happiness INTERSTATE PROJECT GETS GREEN LIGHT WITH FEDERAL FUNDS

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ichita residents don’t complain much about traffic. After all, the average commute time is just 18 minutes. Still, the city does have one major traffic headache – but it’s about to be remedied, thanks to $23 million in federal stimulus funds.

The Interstate 135/47th Street interchange has long been a thorn in Wichita drivers’ collective side, and local planners have worked on various ways to solve the problem for years. As is often the case with public works projects, even muchneeded ones, the holdup was money.

So when the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provided the funding, city and county officials wasted no time finding another $1 million to begin acquiring right of way and getting started.

“We selected this project several years ago to be design-ready, and we had that almost done when the stimulus money came through,” says Benny Tarverdi, Wichita metro engineer. “The south side of the community has wanted this for a long time, because the traffic flow on 47th Street is more than 40,000 vehicles a day, and the system we have now is not adequate to handle that kind of traffic.”

The project, which calls for reconfiguring traffic flow and replacing the bridge over I-135, will take between a year and a half to two years to complete from its summer 2009 start date. The finished project is expected to generate significant economic development in the area because it will provide better access to underdeveloped property, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation.

In the meantime, the project will provide 690 jobs during its life and pump an estimated $57 million into the local economy, according to KDOT. “This is absolutely one of those wish-list projects,” Tarverdi says.

“It’s going to take care of many things.”

– Joe Morris

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Energy/Technology

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METRO WICHITA

Hello, High-Tech Business leaders, educators develop an information age environment Story by Michaela Jackson Photography by Antony Boshier

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hatever the technological future may hold, Wichita is ready for it, thanks to a number of forwardlooking individuals.

“Our purpose is to prepare Kansas for the information age,” says Col. Randy Roebuck, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and current director of technology at the Wichita Area Technical College. “Information technology changes keep coming at us faster and faster, and we’d not only like to survive it but succeed in it.”

Roebuck spearheaded Wichita’s Cyber Alliance, a unified front of businesses organized during the 2004 implementation of Visioneering Wichita, a local long-range strategic plan. Information technology is already a $2 billion a year industry in Kansas, employing nearly 60,000 workers, and the alliance works to promote the further development and proliferation of that technology.

“There was a high interest to have a dialogue about ‘What are the jobs of the future?’ and ‘Are we technology-savvy in south-central Kansas?’ and ‘Are we perceived to have highquality, high-tech jobs?’” says Suzie Ahlstrand, vice president

Kansas Air National Guard’s 184th Intelligence Wing at McConnell Air Force Base is the first of its kind in the Air National Guard.

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Dr. Ravi Pendse oversees the Advanced Networking Research Center at WIchita State University.

of community advancement for the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce. “It’s all about high-paying jobs, and technology is an integral part of jobs today.”

Since 2008, the Cyber Alliance has tackled three major initiatives: the founding of the Software and Information Technology Association of Kansas, support of the Kansas Career Pipeline and the creation of the CityArts Tech Studio. At the tech studio, one of the alliance’s most outreach-driven projects, high school and college students serve as teachers in what Roebuck describes as “an Apple Genius Bar-like ambiance” to help people learn to use technology such as basic computer software and social media applications.

“Everybody benefits,” Roebuck says.

“Our community gets better and smarter about information technology, and we hope that the experience these smart, IT-savvy students learn by giving back to the community will make them much more employable.”

The Cyber Alliance also partners with McConnell Air Force Base, where Roebuck

Greater Wichita Area

McConnell Air Force Base

commanded the 184th Intelligence Wing.

The guard continually recruits from the local community, and they need IT-trained people to fill valuable roles.

Dr. Ravi Pendse, a founding member of the alliance, heads Wichita State University’s CISCO Technical Research Center, funded through a research grant by the networking giant. The center currently employs 100 graduate and undergraduate students during the school year and is expected to double in size by the end of 2010.

“It has such an incredible value to their portfolio,” says Pendse, professor of engineering and computer science. “It enhances their people skills, because they talk to people all over the world. The research experience makes them a complete engineer.”

The CISCO center falls under the umbrella of WSU’s Advanced Networking Research Center, which also includes the Center for Information Security, where students learn how to fight viruses, and the Center for Storage Networking Research, funded by San Jose, Calif.-based LSI. Dave Cunningham heads the Wichita operation of LSI, a data enterprise storage system architect that also works with the Cyber Alliance to promote technology education for younger students.

“Our biggest hope is tapping into the youth and starting at probably the fourth-, fifth-, sixth-grade range and upward, getting them excited about science technology and math, and showing them that there’s a purpose to those classes,” Cunningham says.

Tops in Tech In May 2009, Bizjournals named Wichita one of the top 10 high-tech U.S. cities and the only Midwestern city of its caliber.

Wichita came in at No. 9 and ranked highest overall in the area of number of jobs per tech company, which average 66.1 jobs each. The city has 112.1 high-tech jobs for every 1,000 private-sector jobs.

The national study looked at the number of high-tech jobs in each city, the ratio of jobs per company and the percentage of adults with master’s and/or doctoral degrees. San Jose, Washington, D.C., and Boston topped the list. As far as regional competition goes, Kansas City ranked No. 44 on the list, followed

by Omaha at No. 66 and Oklahoma City at No. 71.

Source: American City Business Journals Inc.

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Your single source solution for custom electronics – home or office

Home Technology Systems, Inc. 6OICE $ATA 6IDEO !UDIO 3ECURITYSM Design, prewire, installation, setup, sales and service since 1997. More than 60 years of combined experience. s .EW #ONSTRUCTION OR 2EMODEL s (OME 4HEATER #USTOM Design and Installation s 3YSTEMS )NTEGRATION s -ULTI 2OOM !UDIO s ($ 6IDEO 3YSTEMS s ,IGHTING #ONTROL s 3URVEILLANCE #AMERAS s 3ECURITY 3YSTEMS s 3TRUCTURED #ABLING

Ask about GREEN technology solutions.

8955 W. Monroe Cir., Ste. 400 Wichita, KS 67209 (316) 722-HOME (4663) www.hometechnologysys.com

50

METRO WICHITA

ECONOMIC PROFILE BUSINESS SNAPSHOT

POPULATION (2008) Region, 726,672 Butler County, 63,562 Cowley County, 34,065 Harper County, 5,857 Harvey County, 33,643 Kingman County, 7,719 Marion County, 12,100 Reno County, 63,247 Sedgwick County, 482,863 Sumner County, 23,616 Kansas, 2,802,134

MAJOR MSA POPULATION CENTERS (2007) Wichita, 357,698 Hutchinson, 41,085 Derby, 21,101 Newton, 18,093 El Dorado, 12,718 Winfield, 11,471 Arkansas City, 11,416

MAJOR EMPLOYERS Cessna Aircraft Co., 11,300 Spirit AeroSystems, 10,900

Wichita, the largest city in Kansas, is the economic hub of the region.

The city has a strong manufacturing base, much of which is related to the aircraft industry. Wichita offers business tax incentives of particular benefit to capital-intensive manufacturing operations. Health care and agriculture are also major players in the city’s business climate.

Hawker Beechcraft, 6,767 Unified School District 259, 5,391 Via Christi Health System, 4,809 State of Kansas, 4,094 City of Wichita, 3,103 Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, 3,005 Sedgwick County, 2,763 Federal Government, 2,524 Bombardier Learjet, 2,250 Koch Industries, 2,000

MAJOR INDUSTRY SECTORS Manufacturing, 22% Trade Transportation & Utilities, 17% Education and Health, 14% Government, 14% Professional and Business Services, 10% Leisure & Hospitality, 8.8% Financial Activities, 3.8% Information, 2%

What’s Onlinee For more in-depth demographic, statistical and community information on Wichita, go to imageswichita.com and click on Economic Profile.

LABOR FORCE STATISTICS (2007) Civilian Labor Force, 382,944 Unemployment Rate (2007), 3.8%

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME Region, $43,039 Butler County, $49,091 Cowley County, $37,524 Harper County, $32,424 Harvey County, $44,032 Kingman County, $41,511 Marion County, $38,153 Reno County, $39,790 Sedgwick County, $43,340 Sumner County, $42,584

HOUSING MARKET (2008) Median Selling Price $112,700 Median sale price, newly built single-family home $191,770 Apartment rental (2 bedroom) $657

THIS SECTION IS SPONSORED BY

What’s Onlinee For more in-depth demographic, statistical and community information on Wichita, go to imageswichita.com and click on Economic Profile.

IMAGESWICHITA.COM

51

visit our

advertisers Belford Electric Inc. BlueCross BlueShield of Kansas www.bcbsks.com Botanica, The Wichita Gardens www.botanica.org Butler Community College www.butlercc.edu City of Derby www.derbyweb.com Coldwell Banker Stucky & Associates www.stuckyandassociates.com Friends University www.friends.edu Go Wichita Convention & Visitors Bureau www.gowichita.com

52

METRO WICHITA

J.P. Weigand & Sons www.weigand.com Kansas Cosmosphere & Space Center www.cosmo.org Medical Community Credit Union www.medicalcomcu.org Newman University www.newmanu.edu Preferred Health Systems www.phsystems.com Southwestern College www.southwesterncollege.org The Coleman Company www.colemancareers.com Tran, Majher & Shaw Optometry www.tmseyecare.com

Hawthorn Suites www.hawthorn.com

Via Christi Wichita Health Network www.via-christi.org/wichita

Hilton Wichita Airport www.wichitaairport.hilton.com

Wesley Medical Center www.wesleymc.com

Home Technology Systems www.hometechnologysys.com

Wichita Collegiate School www.wcsks.com

Hyatt Regency Wichita www.hyattregencywichita.com

Wichita Family Medicine Specialist www.wichitafms.com

Intrust Bank www.intrustbank.com

Wichita Public Schools www.usd259.com

Ad Index 6 BELFORD ELECTRIC INC.

48 HILTON WICHITA AIRPORT

4 BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD OF KANSAS

50 HOME TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS 44 HYATT REGENCY WICHITA

7 BOTANICA, THE WICHITA GARDENS 45 BUTLER COMMUNITY COLLEGE 8 CITY OF DERBY 1 COLDWELL BANKER STUCKY & ASSOCIATES

C4 INTRUST BANK C3 J.P. WEIGAND & SONS 41 KANSAS COSMOSPHERE & SPACE CENTER 6 MEDICAL COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION

44 FRIENDS UNIVERSITY 52 NEWMAN UNIVERSITY 51 GO WICHITA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU 32 HAWTHORN SUITES

2 PREFERRED HEALTH SYSTEMS 48 SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE

Ad Index (cont.)

12 THE COLEMAN COMPANY 32 TRAN, MAJHER & SHAW OPTOMETRY C2 VIA CHRISTI WICHITA HEALTH NETWORK 27 WESLEY MEDICAL CENTER 50 WICHITA COLLEGIATE SCHOOL 48 WICHITA FAMILY MEDICINE SPECIALIST 52 WICHITA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

questions answers

©2002 American Cancer Society, Inc.

8 0 0 . A C S . 2 3 4 5 / c a n c e r. o r g

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