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Flight Assisted
Research, training components feed aviation industry
Plenty of Brain Power
Resources foster area’s entrepreneurial spirit
Rediscovering Downtown
Residential, entertainment options give city center added luster
Sponsored by the Wichita Metro chamber of commerce | 2012
Ann Klein (316) 990-5566
Anna Owen (316) 305-4080
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Mary Laham (316) 204-6182
Mary Leistiko (316) 371-6764
Michelle Leeper (316) 209-6232
Monica Miller (316) 214-1920
Natalie Moyer (316) 250-1230
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Scott & Julie Stremel (316) 518-9083
Sherrie Bieberle (316) 619-2940
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Sue Wenger (316) 204-6648
Theo Hanson (316) 644-0194
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East (316) 686-7281 Commercial (316) 262-6400 Belle Plaine (800) 377-2785
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Newton (316) 283-1330
Relocation (800) 689-6683 El Dorado (316) 321-2481
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New Homes (316) 440-1310 Derby (316) 788-5581 Corporate (316) 262-6400
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20 Workstyle Plenty of Brain Power
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Resources foster area’s entrepreneurial spirit
Flight Assisted
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Research, training components feed aviation industry
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Rediscovering Downtown
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Residential, entertainment options give downtown new luster
Pearls of Culture
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Wichita’s attractions continue to dazzle Table of Contents Continued on Page 5
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On the Cover INTRUST Bank Arena in downtown Wichita Photo by Antony Boshier
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Flight Assisted
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Research, training components feed aviation industry
Chairman Greg Thurman
Plenty of Brain Power
President/Publisher Bob Schwartzman
Resources foster area’s entrepreneurial spirit
Executive Vice President Ray Langen
Rediscovering Downtown
Lifestyle
Residential, entertainment options give city center added luster
Find out what it’s like to live here and what makes Wichita such a special place to be.
sPonsoReD By the wichitA metRo chAmBeR oF commeRce | 2012
Senior V.P./Sales Todd Potter Senior V.P./Operations Casey Hester Senior V.P./Client Development Jeff Heefner Senior V.P./business Development Scott Templeton Senior V.P./Agribusiness Publishing kim holmberg
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V.P./business Development Charles Fitzgibbon V.P./external communications Teree Caruthers V.P./Visual Content Mark Forester V.P./Content Operations Natasha Lorens V.P./travel publishing susan chappell V.P./Sales Herb Harper, Jarek Swekosky Controller Chris Dudley Senior Accountant Lisa Owens
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Workstyle A spotlight on the region’s innovative companies
success breeds success >> Meet the people who set the pace for business innovation. Dig Deeper >> Plug into the community with links to local websites and resources to give you a big
Web project manager noy fongnaly Web Designer II richard stevens Web Developer I Yamel Hall, Nels noseworthy Web account manager lauren eubank Photography Director Jeffrey S. Otto Media Technology Director Christina Carden Media Technology Analysts Becca ary, Chandra Bradshaw, Lance conzett Audience Development Director Deanna Nelson Marketing Creative Director Keith Harris Distribution Director Gary Smith Executive Secretary Kristy Duncan Human Resources Manager Peggy Blake Receptionist Linda Bishop
picture of the region. Demographics >> A wealth of demographic and statistical information puts the community at your fingertips.
See the Video Our award-winning photographers give you a virtual tour of unique spaces, places and faces.
guide to services >> Links to a cross section of goods and services special to the community
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Business Images Metro Wichita is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by email at info@jnlcom.com.
For more information, contact: Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce 350 W. Douglas Ave. • Wichita, KS 67202 Phone: (316) 265-7771 • Fax: (316) 265-7502 www.wichitachamber.org
Visit Business Images Metro Wichita online at wichitaeconomicdevelopment.com ©Copyright 2011 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent. Member
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Valley Center Your Place to Grow!
K A NSA S The City of Valley Center is a growing northern suburb of the City of Wichita that offers “small-town amenities� in a vibrant metropolitan area. Valley Center is known for its excellent school system that features a new high school in 2011, its parks, new subdivisions having water features, and excellent access less than one mile from Interstate 135 to the east and Interstate 235 to the south. Commercial and industrial zoned sites with buildings for immediate occupancy or vacant lots for new construction are available. Email Warren Utecht, Community Development Director, at communitydevelopment@valleycenterks.org or call (316) 755-7310 for more information.
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Metro Wichita
Overview
10 Reasons To Live, Work in Metro Wichita business climate, resources, quality of life create a winning combination 1. Affordability. Even with its
many amenities, Wichita’s overall cost-of-living index is 93 percent, 7 percent below the national urban area average. The region enjoys particularly low housing costs.
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.
ranks third among all U.S. universities in aerospace engineering R&D.
8. Downtown Revitalization.
Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce 350 W. Douglas Ave. Wichita, KS 67202 Phone: (316) 265-7771 Email: info@wichitachamber.org www.wichitakansas.org
Greater Wichita Metro Area 15
Hillsboro
Marion
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Newton
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Andover
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6. Young Talent. With membership
For more information, contact:
The Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition and the
a professional opera, symphony and ballet, dozens of cinematic and performance theaters, and countless enticing exhibits at art galleries, varied museums and breathtaking gardens.
for Aviation Research, a prestigious state-of-the-art aerospace laboratory with global reach, is located at Wichita State University, which
named Wichita No. 6 on its BestBang-for-the-Buck cities in 2009, based on low housing costs, low taxes and reasonable commute times.
9. Business Incentives.
5. Cultural Life. The city has
7. Research. The National Institute
10. Livability. Forbes magazine
Wichita Downtown Development Corp. 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. The 15,000-seat INTRUST Bank Arena is drawing a variety of musical acts, shows and events.
4. Entrepreneurial Spirit. Wichita 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.
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.
state of Kansas offer incentives that fit business owners’ needs, such as property tax exemption for business machinery and equipment.
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Augusta
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Almanac
Quite a Place Exploration Place is a riverfront museum in Wichita that includes four hands-on exhibit areas for all ages: flight, Kansas, a medieval three-story castle and special traveling exhibits. In the state’s largest digital dome venue – the Boeing Dome Theater and Planetarium – visitors can experience faraway destinations. Recent exhibits at Exploration Place have included Creatures of the Abyss, NASA’s Driven to Explore, Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination and AgMagination: Farming in the Future. The museum also features the WaterWay Cafe and the Egret Dining Room. Go to www.exploration.org for more.
Air of Distinction One of Wichita’s major employers is McConnell Air Force Base, which has more than 1,000 civilian workers and nearly a $250 million annual payroll. And when the military personnel at McConnell finish their service, they’ll find Wichita is an inviting place to put down roots. Financial-services company USAA and Military.com commissioned a study in 2010 that found Wichita to be one of the best military towns for retirement. The study noted the presence of Wichita State University and other four-year colleges, and a VA hospital in the metro area.
This Place is Nifty A food fixture in Wichita for generations is Nifty Nut House, which has been producing quality nuts, candies and chocolates since 1937. Family owned and operated, the company is known for producing nuts that are freshly roasted daily and sold raw, roasted or covered in chocolate, yogurt or butter toffee. The company also has a wide selection of milk and dark chocolate treats, gummies, dried fruits, mints, gum balls, licorice and many sugar-free items. In addition to its Wichita retail location, the company sells its products online at www.niftynuthouse. com/home.php.
Market Watch You can get the distinct flavor of Wichita every Saturday morning from May through October at the Old Town Farmers’ Market. The market, in Wichita’s trendy Old Town neighborhood, features locally grown food, baked goods, plants and unique artisans. Chefs from area restaurants incorporate market products each week in an educational cooking demonstration, and the market also includes music and other events. All food products originate from farms, ranches, dairies and nurseries that are within 150 miles of Wichita. Go to www.oldtownfarmersmarket.com for more information.
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Why is Derby the Place to Be? •
Family Circle magazine named Derby one of the “Top 10 Places to Raise a Family.”
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U.S. News and World Report ranked Derby high in its list of “Top Places to Retire.”
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Money Magazine recognized Derby, Kansas as “One of the Best Places for Affordable Homes.”
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Bloomberg Business Week picked ONE city in the entire state of Kansas for their “Best Affordable Suburbs in America,” and they chose Derby as well.
W
hether you are looking to “put down your roots” to retire, raise a family or build your business, Derby is the place to be.
With an emphasis on creating vibrant neighborhoods, nurturing a strong business community and preserving green spaces, Derby offers citizens of all ages a chance to have fun and reach their full potential in a place that meets their needs. Located just three miles south of McConnell Air Force Base and within close proximity to Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems, Derby provides quick access to large employers, yet all the amenities of a large town with a welcoming community atmosphere. With major retailers, entrepreneur businesses, a hotel and many restaurants, Derby makes it easy to plant your roots and grow. When you think of Derby, think of one word: COMMUNITY. Our community welcomes you to find out why Derby is the place to be … for you! See why Derby is the place to be at:
www.derbyks.com
Good Sports Kansas legends of the gridiron, hardwood, diamond and track are chronicled at the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in Wichita and the Kansas Sports Museum in Newton. The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame has a variety of exhibits for visitors to view, along with tributes to more than 200 inductees, including such Sunflower State legends as Wilt Chamberlain, Ralph Houk, Walter Johnson, Bill Russell, Eddie Sutton, Tom Watson and Lynette Woodard. The Kansas Sports Museum, a division of the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2010. The museum offers numerous exhibits on the luminaries of Kansas athletics and chronicles the history of sports in the state, including the athletic programs of the University of Kansas, Kansas State University and Wichita State University.
The Big Picture The Tallgrass Film Festival opens in Wichita each October to showcase feature-length and short films at venues throughout the city, such as the Orpheum Theatre, Garvey Center, Wichita Scottish Rite and Bank of America Financial Center. The films cover a variety of genres that include narrative fiction, documentary, animation and experimental, and the weekend-long festival is sponsored by the Wichita Association for the Motion Picture Arts. To date, nearly a dozen of the festival’s featured films have been nominated for or received Sundance or Independent Spirit awards. The Tallgrass event in October 2012 will be the 10th annual. For more, go to www. tallgrassfilmfest.com.
How Crude
Breezing Right Along
The Kansas Oil Museum in El Dorado in Butler County is the leading museum dedicated to the discovery and development of the oil industry in Kansas.
Kansas is becoming a center of wind-energy manufacturing, and major parts of that activity are taking place in Metro Wichita.
The museum includes indoor exhibits on farming, ranching and oil, a hands-on children’s area, Texaco Theater, and the Kansas Oil and Gas Legacy Gallery. Exhibits have names such as Boom Towns to Ghost Towns and Oil’s History & Mystery.
In Newton, Tindall Corp. is building a manufacturing facility to produce concrete bases for wind towers, and the plant is scheduled to open in early 2012. Tindall expects 200 employees on the payroll by the end of the first year of production, and 400 employees by the end of year three.
The state’s oil industry began in the 1860s and eventually a major strike in 1915 on the 34-square-mile El Dorado Field would change Kansas history forever. The museum in El Dorado offers general tours and is open Monday through Saturday. For more, go to www.kansasoilmuseum.org.
Almanac
And in Hutchinson, Siemens Energy has opened a 300,000-square-foot turbine nacelle (generator and gearbox covers) assembly facility that has brought 125 green-energy jobs to the community.
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Business Climate
Wichita on the Grow • • • • • • • • • •
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City population: 382,368 Growth 2000-2010: 11.1% Regional population: 750,435 Growth 2000-2010: 9.1% Per capita income: $24,764 Median household income: $44,202 Home ownership: 61.3% Gross Metro Product: $26.9 billion Average commute each way: 17.3 minutes Bachelor’s degree or higher: 27.8%
Metro Wichita
Value Added Businesses, Wichita strengthen one another Story by Bill Lewis
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Antony Boshier
hink of Wichita and aviation manufacturing comes to mind. So should food production, agriculture, advanced materials and composites, health care and education. Five of Metro Wichita’s 20 largest employers are active in aerospace manufacturing. The rest are in a variety of sectors including health care, public schools, government, higher education and the manufacturing of farm equipment or residential heating and cooling systems. It’s no surprise that the region has such a highly diversified economy. Metro Wichita has an extremely attractive business environment, says Missy Cohlmia, director of communication for Koch Industries. With revenues of about $100 billion, Koch is one of the largest privately held companies in the nation. The company has 2,500 employees at its Wichita headquarters.
A Quality Workforce in Wichita “There are lots of reasons why we choose to continue to make Wichita our home. We appreciate the quality of the workforce here, the shared Midwestern values and strong work ethic, as well as the overall quality of life. Wichita is a good place to do business and a natural home for our global headquarters,” Cohlmia says. A widely diversified company, Koch is active Koch Industries employs 2,500 people at its headquarters in Wichita. w i c h i t a e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t. c o m
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Cargill opened its newest Innovation Center, one of eight worldwide, in downtown Wichita.
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Metro Wichita
grow their businesses and be more successful. The center features a test kitchen where on-staff chefs develop recipes, a pathogen lab to study food safety, refrigerated areas to test packaging and shelf life, a simulated quick-serve restaurant, a patio to simulate at-home grilling and a retail store to study the shopping experience. Sometimes being innovative means taking a step into the past. The Innovation Center has meeting rooms designed to prevent distraction by modern communications technologies. “We have rooms with no phones, no Wi-Fi, no fax, for brainstorming sessions without interruptions of technologies that might interrupt these thought processes,” Martin says. Invested in Wichita Cargill, which employs 1,100 people in its Wichita meat operations, never doubted the
city would be the home of the Innovation Center. Not only does the company have substantial operations in the city, but many of its customers are located in Wichita as well. Those customers do $15 billion worth of business with Cargill, Martin says. Cargill also invested $1 million in a new Sensory Center located in its main downtown office building. Test participants will sample new or enhanced meat products and provide feedback. Successful businesses add value to Metro Wichita through the economic impact of compensation paid to their employees, suppliers and consultants. They also support local philanthropies that add to the quality of life. “If we’re going to attract and retain good people, we want to help ensure that Wichita is a great place to live and work,” says Koch’s Cohlmia.
J e ff A d k i n s
in refining and chemicals, processand pollution-control equipment and technologies, fertilizers, polymers, fibers, commodity trading and services, forest products and consumer products. Metro Wichita’s favorable business climate is paying off in new investments and jobs. Cargill, the meat-products company, opened its newest Innovation Center in downtown Wichita in July 2011. The $15 million center, which replaces an older facility, is one of eight Innovation Centers worldwide, says Mike Martin, the company’s director of communications. “It’s a crown jewel, one of the most advanced meat innovation centers in the United States,” he says. Cargill’s new 75,000-squarefoot center has facilities to develop new products and enhance existing ones, all with an eye on how Cargill’s customers can
Even George Bush Knows Us wichita metro Chamber, Economic Development Coalition work for their constituents The Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition are at your service, with a number of resources and tools to promote business expansion and growth. Plus, they schedule must-attend business-related events, including having President George W. Bush appear as guest speaker in November 2011 at the chamber’s annual meeting. Colin Powell and Rudy Giuliani have also appeared at past chamber business functions. Wichita Metro chamber officials say their main mission as an
organization is to be a business advocate to their 1,500 members. Among the myriad ways the chamber accomplishes that is through supporting pro-business candidates during elections, strengthening the community’s quality-of-life profile and helping new businesses invest in the region. The chamber also looks for ways to help small businesses prosper, especially since some 97 percent of the approximately 15,000 business establishments in the Wichita metro area fall into the small business category, with fewer than 100 employees.
The Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition (GWEDC) supports the region’s commercial and industrial base through aggressive business retention, expansion and recruitment activities. The GWEDC markets a nine-county region of South Central Kansas as a fierce competitor in the global environment, pointing out that the area has a strong aerospace history, as well as a young and energetic culture that is catching the attention of business professionals across the nation. – Kevin Litwin
Offering everything from a full food and beverage menu to dance floor, chocolate fountain and margarita machine – the Meridian Center is the destination for your next event.
1420 E. Broadway Ct. • Newton, KS 67114 • (316) 284-3100 www.meridianeventcenter.com
Dr. Tim Pett, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at Wichita State University
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Metro Wichita
Plenty of Brain Power Resources give lift to Wichita’s entrepreneurial spirit Story by Bill Lewis Photography by Antony Boshier
W
ichita has always been a place where innovative businesses can grow and prosper, and today a new generation of entrepreneurs is following in the footsteps of William Coleman, Clyde Cessna, Bill Lear, brothers Dan and Frank Carney and many others. Their companies – Coleman lanterns and outdoor gear, Cessna aircraft, Lear Jets and the Pizza Hut restaurant chain – helped create modern America. Today, Wichita’s vibrant and diverse economy and attractive quality of life are creating new opportunities for emerging businesses. “Wichita is just a great community overall. The quality of life in this town is attractive to others across the nation, and as a result, people want to live here, work here and create their futures here,” says Troy E. Lott, president of Intake Studios, a company he founded with partners Todd Schwartz and Heath Balderston in 2004. As do many startup businesses in the region, Intake Studios took advantage of the many resources
Wichita has to offer entrepreneurial businesses, including assistance from the Kansas Small Business Development Center at Wichita State University. The university’s Center for Entrepreneurship offers academic programs that prepare students for the challenge of starting a business. The center’s BizInc incubator provides space and technical services to early-stage companies. Inventing the Future “It’s about innovation. It’s creative thinking. Everything’s entrepreneurship,” says Dr. Tim Pett, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship. Wichita provides fertile ground where small startups can grow into big businesses. Just ask Laura McMurray, president and CEO of Complete Landscaping Systems, which designs, installs and maintains landscaping for residential and commercial clients. The company’s 934 percent growth from 2007 to 2010 earned a spot on the Inc. 500, Inc. magazine’s list of the 500 fastest-growing
companies in the country. “Wichita has consistently maintained itself as a growing metropolitan area with small-town appeal. Wichita’s pro-business environment contributes to low startup cost that appeals to young businesses,” McMurray says. A wealth of hands-on help and advice is available, she says. “The Center for Entrepreneurship, the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce and other local business associations provide access to essential business tools, resources and networking opportunities that promote an enabling environment for small enterprises that aid in Wichita’s wider scope of economic development,” McMurray says. Wichita’s Global Presence From small beginnings, Wichita businesses attract investors from around the world. That happened when Pulse, a provider of electronic health records and medical practice management software, was acquired in 2010 by Paris-based Cegedim, a leading w i c h i t a e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t. c o m
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European provider of medical, paramedical and pharmacy management software. Now Pulse is a key part of a company with 8,500 employees and revenues of more than $1.2 billion. “We’re no longer a small startup. Being here in Wichita allowed this to happen. We are part of a larger organization with greater opportunities,” says Basil Hourani, Pulse’s president and CEO. Wichita’s mid-continent location, quality of life, cultural attractions and educational institutions make the city an ideal place, he says. “This is the best-kept secret for a place to live. The environment of investing is good. Being right in the middle of the country makes it easy to service clients on the East Coast and the West Coast. And then there’s the entrepreneurial environment,” Hourani says. At the Center for Entrepreneurship, Pett is working directly with the next generation of entrepreneurs. They have much in common with the men and women who came before, he says. “I often think of the long history of entrepreneurship in Wichita. First was agriculture, and oil, with a mindset of risk-taking. Aviation created an entire industry. That was a technology bubble.” Today’s entrepreneurs are keeping alive the spirit of their forebears, says Pett. “A handshake means something,” he says. “There’s a spirit of ‘I win, you win.’”
From top: Troy E. Lott (seated), president, and Heath Balderston, vice president/ creative director, of Intake Studios; Wichita State University’s Devlin Hall houses the Center for Entrepreneurship.
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Growth is On the Menu Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers is a Wichita success story Proving that hard work really can pay off, it’s safe to say that Scott Redler has had a good year. Redler, who serves as the chief operating officer of Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers, was a 2011 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist for the Southwest region, and the only entrepreneur in Kansas to be nominated. The annual businessaward program for entrepreneurs includes nominations from more than 140 cities and 50 countries worldwide, including 26 regional programs in the United States. As one of the founders of Freddy’s, Redler has helped the company grow from one restaurant to more than 50 locations across the country – and there’s no sign of slowing down. “We opened it up never planning to expand,” he says. “We just wanted to make great burgers, fries and frozen custard.” Now, Freddy’s restaurants stretch from Victorville, Calif., to Branson, Mo., and plans are in the works to continue expanding to the east. The company’s success may be due to its fresh, made-to-order food, but also to the hospitality each customer receives. “Everyone is focused on taking care of the guests in the restaurants,” Redler says. “We don’t
do anything to ever change that.” Wichita’s entrepreneurial spirit may also have something to do with Freddy’s success and expansion. Home to one of the top entrepreneurship schools in the United States, Wichita State University continues to encourage innovative thinking and business growth in the community. “People here are not afraid to take
risks and try things,” Redler says. “No one is afraid to work hard.” And although Redler certainly doesn’t shy away from hard work, he still finds time to sit back and enjoy Wichita, a place he is proud to call home. “We [Redler and his wife] absolutely love it,” he says. “It’s a wonderful place to do business.” – Jessica Walker
your Business luncH specialist HARVEST’s cuisine and decor are designed to reflect the artistic and agricultural majesty of Kansas. The service and professionalism are designed to make you look good. Call ahead and ask about our private dining room and the Chef’s Table for that special occasion. Complimentary valet parking is always included when dining at Harvest KitcHen & Bar. Let HARVEST and HYATT work together with you to do business in Kansas.
For reservations, call (316) 613-6300 or visit www.harvestkitchenandbar.com.
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Antony Boshier
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J e ff A d k i n s
Flight Assisted Research, training components feed Wichita’s aviation industry Story by Bill Lewis
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J e ff A d k i n s
f all the airplanes flown by the airlines, the military, businesses and individuals had a sticker saying where they were built, it probably would say, “Made in Wichita.” Wichita companies directly manufacture or provide components for more than half of all general-aviation, commercial and military aircraft. In 2010, Wichita companies delivered 58 percent of all general-aviation aircraft built in the United States. With so many aerospace companies operating in the region – including Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, Bombardier Learjet, Cessna Aircraft, Hawker Beechcraft, Spirit AeroSystems and Airbus North America – it’s no surprise that Wichita is known as the Air Capital of the World. Wichita’s aviation cluster is an economic powerhouse. Nearly 30,000 workers – equal to 57 percent of the Wichita metro area’s total manufacturing employment base – are employed by companies making aerospace products
History of Flight Wichita’s history as the world’s aviation capital is chronicled at the Kansas Aviation Museum. The museum’s world-class collection of historic artifacts includes one-of-akind aircraft and aircraft engines, including a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, a 1934 Model 73 Stearman trainer, a KC 135E tanker and a Beech Starship. Researchers will find an extensive archive including thousands of records, schematics, books, photos and other documents, and a range of additional aviation memorabilia. The museum also is home to the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame, which includes a roster of aviation heavyweights whose names and deeds are known far beyond Kansas. For more, go to www.kansas aviationmuseum.org.
Top left: The National Center for Aviation Training provides training in general aviation manufacturing, and aircraft and power-plant mechanics. Top right and bottom: Bombardier Learjet’s manufacturing facility in Wichita w i c h i t a e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t. c o m
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air capital of the world • Aircraft and aircraft components have been built with Wichita expertise and craftsmanship for 95 years. • Major Wichita aerospace companies include Boeing Defense, Space & Security; Bombardier Learjet; Cessna Aircraft; Hawker Beechcraft; Spirit AeroSystems; and an Airbus Engineering Design Center. • In 2010, Wichita companies delivered 58 percent of all general-aviation aircraft built in the United States, and accounted for 39 percent of global general-aviation deliveries. • Wichita firms either directly manufacture or provide components for more than 50 percent of all general-aviation, commercial and military aircraft. • Wichita offers one of the largest aerospace labor pools and supplier networks in the world. According to a Milken Institute study, Wichita has the highest concentration of aerospacemanufacturing employment and skills in the United States.
and components. Driven by the aircraft industry, manufacturing accounts for more than 18 percent of the region’s employment, more than double the national average. Across Kansas, the industry has a $7 billion impact. Wichita’s Aviation Cluster Business Facilities magazine named Wichita the top metro area for aerospace and defense manufacturing in its 2010 Rankings Report, noting the region’s history with its large aviation cluster and “one of the largest aerospace labor pools and supplier networks in the world.” When it created the National Center for Aviation Training, the Sedgwick County Technical Education and Training Authority took a major step toward making sure Wichita’s skilled labor pool would continue to meet the industry’s needs at a time when increasing numbers of long-time workers are retiring. The industry estimates that it will need 15,000 workers over the next decade. With 230,000 square feet of space and the capacity to provide technical training for at least 1,500 students in both day and night classes, the state-of-the-art facility provides hands-on, real-world training in general aviation manufacturing, and aircraft and power-plant mechanics. NCAT provides the industry with an opportunity to be directly involved in the training of the workers who will build the aircraft of the future. Industry advocate teams made up of aviation industry leaders are invited to examine details of each course and offer their real-world advice.
Research, Testing In addition, NCAT incorporates new facilities for Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research. NIAR has facilities dedicated to CATIA (Computer Aided Three-Dimensional Interactive Application) training, composites research, nondestructive inspection and advanced-joining technology. Today, 70 percent of the Federal Aviation Administration’s composites research is conducted at NIAR, which was named an FAA Center for Advanced Materials Performance and a NASA Center of Excellence for Aging Aircraft. The aviation industry works closely with NIAR, says Dr. John Tomblin, executive director. The city of Wichita, Sedgwick County and the state of Kansas use NIAR as a selling tool in discussions with new businesses or companies that are looking to relocate, notes Tomblin. “Not very many cities can offer an aviation manufacturing cluster, a stateof-the-art training facility and a test lab,” Tomblin says. “Because NIAR exists to meet the research and testing needs of the Wichita aviation industry, our clients, especially those in Wichita, trust us to deliver reliable and accurate test results in a timely matter. When it comes down to it, the aviation industry is a close-knit community. When our customers are satisfied by their experience with NIAR, they tell subcontractors and partners. The ‘word-of-mouth’ endorsement is the best that we can get.”
Antony Boshier
• 57 percent of Wichita metro-area manufacturing employment – or nearly 30,000 workers – is in aerospace products and parts.
A student learns to rivet at the The National Center for Aviation Training.
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Todd Bennet t Todd Bennet t
From top: Crash-test dummies in the crash dynamics lab at Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research; Workers receive on-the-job training in the advanced-joining technology lab at NIAR.
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Rolling On the River New residential, entertainment options give downtown Wichita added luster Story by Betsy Williams Photography by Antony Boshier
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owntown Wichita has jumped from the drawing board into a crackling reality, spurred by more than $800 million in development in the last decade – and a gusher of new projects continues. Major companies including Cargill and Airbus are bringing toplevel research and engineering jobs to the city core. The $205 million INTRUST Bank Arena is drawing crowds of 15,000 for concerts, shows and events, while the YMCA is building a new $23 million facility downtown. Hotels, Residential projects Building on efforts launched 20 years ago with Old Town Wichita, a spate of new projects is shaping
the downtown area. New hotels include the $29 million Drury Plaza Broadview and the possibility of a new boutique hotel located in the heart of downtown. Residential developments such as Finn Lofts and Flats are giving downtown more living options, and the mixed-use WaterWalk project – featuring the new Fairfield Inn, commercial and residential space, plazas and gardens, and destination retail/ restaurant locations along the Arkansas River – is adding to downtown’s vibe. “It’s an exciting time,” says major downtown Wichita developer Dave Burk, owner of Marketplace Properties and a primary developer behind Old
Town, the city’s first modern foray into rediscovering its urban roots. “Downtown is a specialty area where people live, work and play,” he says. “The convention business just gets better and better, and we have millions of dollars invested in recently completed and new projects. We have great momentum, like a giant ball rolling down a hill. Downtown is the heart of the community; it’s where the community was actually created.” up on Downtown Underpinning this momentum is Project Downtown, a comprehensive master plan created through a public/private partnership of the city, Wichita Downtown Development Corp.
The $205 million INTRUST Bank Arena in downtown Wichita draws crowds of 15,000 for concerts, shows and events.
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Ron C. Brown, MD Chris N. Brunner, MD Doris C. Butler, MD Connie A. Davis, MD
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Airbus completed a $2.5 million expansion of its downtown facility, which houses a workforce with an annual payroll of $40 million.
(WDDC) and the private sector. “We specified that we wanted a master plan built upon economics,” says Jeff Fluhr, president of the WDDC. “When we executed the market analysis, we found there is growth potential in hospitality, retail, commercial and residential development. The master plan brings predictability to downtown’s development. With everything we do, we continue to solidify the economic environment of our downtown to be vibrant and build upon those economic strategies.” It isn’t just retail and hospitality that’s driving downtown: Cargill is downtown’s largest privatesector employer and opened its $15 million Innovation Center research facility in summer 2011. Airbus, with its 10-year downtown Wichita aircraft-wing design center,
recently completed a $2.5 million expansion for in-service repair across the street from its current operations in the former Kansas Sports Hall of Fame (now relocated to the Wichita Boathouse) working through Marketplace Properties developer Burk. “They wanted something unusual for an office environment, and this worked well for them,” Burk explains. Now Airbus occupies 70,000 square feet of space on two sides of North Mead Street and houses a workforce with an annual payroll of $40 million. “When we originally moved into the area, it was into four dilapidated buildings that we’ve completely renovated,” says John O’Leary, vice president of engineering for Airbus Americas. “When the hall of fame space
became available, it was the perfect solution for us to get the extra space we needed. Today, 300 people work in our downtown offices. The Old Town environment has helped us tremendously. It has been a good environment and a good place to work.” For a true 24/7 urban environment, residential development is crucial, and demand has driven development of more than 4,600 units within a 1-mile radius of the city center. For seven-year resident Charlie Claycomb, living downtown is almost like being on vacation. “I like being able to walk everywhere – to dinner, church, entertainment,” Claycomb, who also serves as Old Town Association president, says. “We just think it’s fun.” w i c h i t a e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t. c o m
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S ta ff P h o t o
P h o t o C o u r t e s y o f N e ta p p z Cr e at i v e S o l u t i o n s
Pearls of Culture Wichita’s attractions continue to dazzle
Story by Kevin Litwin
Antony Boshier
T
he Walt Disney Co. recently staged The Little Mermaid on Broadway, but company officials didn’t like how the production turned out. So the Disney execs contacted three top theatrical troupes from across the country to redesign the show and present it to their audiences locally, and one of the troupes chosen was Music Theatre of Wichita.
“The Disney people flew to Wichita in 2011 to view our adaptation and they loved it. This was the fifth time we’ve partnered with Disney on such a project,” says Wayne Bryan, producing artistic director for Music Theatre of Wichita. Music Theatre has been in Wichita since 1972 and each summer presents five large Broadway-scale musicals that
Clockwise from far left: Wichita Center for the Arts; Cats performed by Music Theatre of Wichita; Museum of World Treasures w i c h i t a e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t. c o m
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Antony Boshier
Antony Boshier
are staged at the Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center. “Our organization creates 300 jobs every summer and we attract 65,000 spectators to the shows to see our singers, dancers and actors perform,” Bryan says. “More than 30 performers who have been on the Wichita stage in recent years are in productions on Broadway right now.” Air of Sophistication Music Theatre of Wichita is one of several reasons why the region has built a reputation for cultural sophistication, from live theater and music options to some 30 galleries and museums. The city is home to attractions such as the Wichita Grand Opera, Wichita Symphony Orchestra, Wichita Center for the Arts and the Wichita Art Museum – the largest art museum in Kansas. “We have to be sophisticated because we are in competition with other large cities,” says John D’Angelo, City of Wichita director of art and cultural services. “When large businesses think about relocating to a big city, most look for communities that are strong in the arts. For example, Koch Industries in Wichita often uses our cultural amenities to attract top people to relocate here.”
museum system in place,” D’Angelo says. “The Kansas African American Museum, the Museum of World Treasures, Coutts Memorial Museum of Art – all are amazing.” Is That a Miro? One attraction that stands out even before visitors enter the building is the Ulrich Museum of Art on the campus of Wichita State University. It has a dynamic outdoor sculpture collection as well as a 28-foot-by-52-foot mural
of Venetian glass and marble on the museum’s outdoor facade. The masterpiece was created in 1977 by Spanish artist Joan Miro, who was a contemporary of Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall. “The mural is the jewel in our crown,” says Patricia McDonnell, Ulrich Museum of Art director. “We have nearly 7,000 art pieces and showcase new exhibits all the time. We offer a great product and service to the open-minded, curious and creative people who live in Wichita, and who visit here.”
History’s Mysteries Wichita’s roots are in the Old West and the city gives several nods to its Western heritage, including the Mid-America All-Indian Center and the Old Cowtown Museum. But Wichita also showcases its forward thinking and modern flair at sites like the Kansas Aviation Museum and the Exploration Place science center. “Wichita certainly has a strong
From top: Museum of World Treasures; Exploration Place science center
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Gallery
Bartlett Arboretum in Belle Plaine Photo by Todd Bennett
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A woman and her dog enjoy the view of Exploration Place on the Arkansas River. Photo by Antony Boshier
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Energy/Technology
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Helping Hands Wichita programs nurture emerging tech sector
Story by John Fuller Photography by Antony Boshier
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ith the help of two strong mentoring organizations, Wichita has engineered a name for itself in the technology sector. Wichita Technology Corp. (WTC) and Mid-America Manufacturing Technology Center (MAMTC) have a lengthy list of success stories in helping small startups grow and flourish. WTC provides a broad range of services, from consulting with business owners, to research assistance, to capital and investment help. WTC provides early-stage seed financing to companies, particularly those in the first steps of developing a promising technology. “WTC is in the business of helping build technology-based companies,” says Trish Brasted, president of WTC. “We are not
Trish Brasted, Wichita Technology Corp. president, helps startup companies such as JCB Laboratories grow and flourish.
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Jorge Montoya-Blas, president of Wichita-based aircraft parts maching operation JMT Industries
only looking for new technologies, but also looking for entrepreneurs with the necessary commitment for success.” By building a comprehensive “ecosystem” of public and private mentors, WTC helps these fledgling companies craft business plans, conduct market research and, importantly, find early ways to gain investors. ‘Ecosystem’ Breeds Success One of WTC’s most recent success stories is Wichita-based Nitride Solutions, a manufacturer of semiconductor materials. Jeremy Jones, chief executive officer and founder of Nitride Solutions, says he’s seen success in raising capital over the past two years in working with WTC and participating in the Pipeline program, a technology-entrepreneur fellowship program founded by the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corp. Jones was named the program’s 2010 innovator of the year.
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“My experience in the Pipeline program, as well as our relationship with Wichita Technology Corp., really gave us the guidance, support and contacts we needed to get through this phase of the company’s process,” Jones says. “Trish Brasted and WTC helped us tune our business up so it was an investable enterprise.” The WTC’s help was one of the major reasons Jones chose to keep his business in Kansas. Both WTC and MAMTC were sponsored in part by the Kansas Technology Enterprise Program. In 2011, those programs came under the direct guidance of the Kansas Department of Commerce. Brian Williamson, president of JCB Laboratories, says the WTC was invaluable to his Wichitabased company in helping to develop a process for reviewing a new line of business. JCB Laboratories is a sterile-products compounding company founded
in 2003. Its customers include ambulatory surgery centers and hospital and renal facilities across the world. Williamson is a 2011 member of the Pipeline, and Trish Brasted is one of his mentors. “It’s a great program and WTC and the Pipeline are extremely helpful to me,” he says. MAMTC Leans on Process MAMTC is based in Overland Park and has an office in Wichita where it provides resources to help small to mid-size companies. It has been particularly successful helping companies with their manufacturing or business processes, including LEAN manufacturing and ISO 9001 or AS 9001 certification. Tom Smith, chief executive officer of Alltite Inc., says MAMTC helped his firm through the ISO accreditation process and also took his team through a process to gain more efficiencies and eliminate redundancies in
some of their internal manufacturing processes. Wichita-based Alltite sells industrial bolting equipment and services to heavy industrial users. MobileCal, a sister company, is a mobile calibration lab that Smith developed to service customers on-site. Alltite recently purchased a 14,000-square-foot building to accommodate its growth. Jorge Montoya-Blas, president of JMT Industries, says MAMTC helped his firm with LEAN manufacturing processes and in meeting AS 9100 standards, which are required for working with the aviation industry. JMT operates a machine shop that works with aviation makers including Cessna Aircraft. “We help companies when their processes aren’t working,” says Elaine Hanna, project manager for MAMTC in Wichita.
A van serves as a mobile calibration lab for Alltite, one of many companies that has received assistance from Mid-America Manufacturing Technology Center.
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p h o t o s b y J e ff A d k i n s
Transportation Transportation
A FedEx cargo plane at Wichita’s Mid-Continent Airport
Where Business Moves Location, airport, rail, highway keep region well-connected
Story by John Fuller Photography by Antony Boshier
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rom its position in the middle of the United States, it’s little wonder that transportation is such an important asset to the Wichita economy. Mid-Continent Airport is home base to more than 60 aviationrelated companies. The region’s major highway – Interstate 35 – is the prime route for transport of goods between the United States, Mexico and Canada. Three of the nation’s major rail carriers move goods in and out of Wichita daily.
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Mid-Continent Takes Flight Business and leisure travelers from across Wichita, South Central and Western Kansas, and North Central Oklahoma enjoy the excellent amenities of Mid-Continent Airport, where a major expansion is right around the corner. Mid-Continent is the largest commercial airport in Kansas and was recognized as one of the fastest-growing airports in the nation in 2007. Eleven passenger-air carriers
operate out of Mid-Continent, offering nonstop service to nine major destinations. The airport served more than 1.5 million passengers in 2010. In August 2011, Frontier Airlines began using larger planes on its flights between Wichita and Denver, which is Frontier’s hub location. To meet the needs of passengers, Mid-Continent has announced plans for a new passenger terminal. Construction is expected to start in 2012 on the 12-gate, 265,000-square-foot
Planned Terminal Wins Design Award The planned Wichita MidContinent Airport terminal has won an international award for excellence in design. The new terminal, scheduled to open in 2015, won the gold award in the “unbuilt” category from the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), a professional networking and educational association. The new 12-gate, 265,000-square-foot terminal was designed by HNTB Architecture in association with GLMV Architecture. Various sustainable-design elements were incorporated into the project with a goal of achieving a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified rating when construction is complete. Architects were charged with creating a facility that highlighted Wichita’s status as the Air Capital of the World. The new airport will feature an exhibit highlighting Wichita’s rich heritage in aviation. All spaces will be naturally lit, supplemented by electric lighting, with generous glazing and skylights to maintain a link with the outside and its changing sky.
Wichita’s Mid-Continent Airport is the largest commercial airport in Kansas.
terminal, with completion in 2015. The proposed energyefficient terminal, which has already been recognized as an award-winning design concept, will have expanded security and baggage-handling facilities, and will feature shorter distances to the concourses. A new parking garage is also planned. Mid-Continent is also a general-aviation airport with two fixed-base operators. The airport’s aerospace industrial complex has more than 60 aviation-related
enterprises, such as Cessna, Bombardier Learjet, Garmin, Rockwell Collins and Honeywell, and has more than 800 acres of land available for development. Air-cargo carriers serving Wichita include UPS, UPS Supply Chain Solutions, DHL and FedEx. “We look forward to improved services for our customers when the new terminal and parking garage are completed,” says Valerie Wise, air service and business development manager for the Wichita Airport Authority. “We believe these
new facilities will attract more conventions to the area.” The airport provides convenient and affordable air service to a majority of Kansans and is a major economic driver for the state, Wise says. “With more than 400 one-stop destinations, you can see the world from Wichita,” she says. Supplementing the needs of Mid-Continent is Col. James Jabara Airport, a general-aviation reliever airport located northeast of Wichita’s central business w i c h i t a e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t. c o m
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Banking Made Better
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Antony Boshier
district. Jabara has more than 200 acres available for development. Wichita is home to the Sedgwick County Foreign Trade Zone, an area where foreign goods bound for international destinations can be temporarily stored without incurring an import duty. Wichita lies on Interstate 35, the only interstate highway that connects the United States with both Canada and Mexico. I-35 runs through the center of Wichita, connecting with major east-west interstates I-70 and I-40. The city is served by 16 national and regional interstate common carriers. Three major railroads – Union Pacific, Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad – link the city to most major continental markets. Wichita has access to the U.S. Inland Waterway System from two ports located within 200 miles: The Port of Kansas City and the Tulsa Port of Catoosa provide access to the Missouri and Arkansas rivers, respectively.
Three major railroads, including Burlington Northern Santa Fe, serve the Wichita area.
(316) 945-5272 Driving Distance From Wichita to Major Destinations Chicago: 730 miles Dallas: 370 miles Denver: 520 miles Houston: 620 miles Kansas City: 200 miles Oklahoma City: 160 miles St. Louis: 460 miles
2098 Airport Rd. located across from Mid-Continent Airport A Local Favorite
Wichita Mid-Continent Airport Facts & Figures • Number of carriers: 11 • Total passengers in 2010:
1.55 million
• Daily arrivals
and departures: 46
• Square footage of new
airport terminal opening in 2015: 265,000 • Aviation-related businesses at or surrounding airport: 60
www.wichitaairport.hilton.com w i c h i t a e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t. c o m
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S ta ff P h o t o
Health
Strong Medicine World-class health care is at home in Wichita Story by Melanie Hill Photography by Antony Boshier
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ome to 17 acute-care and specialty hospitals, Wichita is a comprehensive health care destination for families in South Central Kansas and Northern Oklahoma. As the largest health care service provider in Kansas, Via Christi Health operates five Wichita hospitals and employs 5,000 people in Metro Wichita alone. In 2010, Via Christi provided a regional community benefit of $68 million. U.S. News & World Report recently recognized Via Christi as a top
hospital for overall care and for excellence in ear, nose and throat; gastroenterology; gynecology; nephrology; and pulmonology. In 2010, the system welcomed Via Christi Hospital on St. Teresa. The west Wichita hospital includes 68 private patient suites, a NewLife Center with hightech labor and delivery suites, emergency services, diagnostics and surgery. In 2011, the 400-bed Via Christi Hospital on St. Francis celebrated the opening of the Via Christi Cancer Institute. The 40,000-
square-foot center includes 40 private patient rooms, an ambulatory infusion center, radiation therapy, bone-marrow transplant and integrated therapies like yoga and massage. The hospital also houses and manages grant funding for the Wichita Clinical Community Oncology Program. The Wichita CCOP is one of 53 programs sponsored and funded by the National Cancer Institute. “Through relationships with programs such as the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and the w i c h i t a e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t. c o m
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Wesley Medical Center • Founded in 1912 • More than 25 specialty services offered • Licensed for 760 beds and 102 bassinets • 3,000 employees • 25,000 patient visits each year
Via Christi Health • 12 fully/partially owned or managed hospitals • 16 owned or managed senior villages and programs • Wichita’s Via Christi hospitals licensed for 800-plus beds total • 10,000 employees statewide and 5,000plus in Wichita • 48,000 annual inpatient admissions (systemwide)
Mayo Clinic, the Wichita CCOP offers patients the most current cancer research,” says Claudio
Ferraro, executive leader of oncology services for Via Christi Health Wichita hospitals. Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center For 75 years, veterans from 59 Kansas counties have turned to the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita. The 41-bed center offers programs for mental
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health, primary care, women’s health and spinal-cord injuries. As veterans age, Dole’s Transitional Living Center and Medical Foster Home provide alternatives to senior care. Dole’s 1,000 employees help treat more than 30,000 veterans each year. Wesley Medical Center In 2012, Wichita’s Wesley Medical Center celebrates 100 years of service. A Hospital Corporation of America facility,
WMC is licensed for 760 beds and 102 bassinets, and employs 3,000. In 2011, WMC announced acquisition of Wichita’s Galichia Heart Hospital, a regional leader in cardiac care. Still, it’s Wesley’s obstetrics department that garners the hospital’s nationwide recognition. “We’re known as the baby hospital,” says Paul Petitte, vice president of marketing and public relations at Wesley Medical Center. “We came into being
Just What the Doctor Ordered KU School of Medicine-Wichita expands enrollment The prognosis is positive at the Kansas University School of Medicine-Wichita. In 2011, the Wichita campus expanded from a two-year to a fouryear university for the purpose of attracting more medical students. For the past 35 years, the Wichita branch served only students in their third and fourth years of medical education. The first group of fouryear, Wichita-based medical students began their studies on the campus in fall 2011. Classrooms and offices to accommodate the expansion are being utilized in existing buildings and there are no immediate plans for construction of additional buildings.
Need Doctors, STAT!
as a maternity hospital and have never let go of that.” WMC delivers 6,000-plus babies a year – more than any other hospital in a 13-state region. An off-site birthing center provides a private, home-like environment away from a hospital setting. Wesley also is home to the state’s only pediatric emergency room, along with pediatric intensive care and neonatal intensive care units, a Ronald McDonald House and maternal-fetal medicine
specialists. The center also has partnered with the University of Kansas School of Medicine and KU-Wichita Pediatrics to open the Pediatric Center of Kansas, the region’s only subspecialty clinic for kids. Wichita’s medical community also includes the KU School of Medicine-Wichita and specialty facilities Kansas Heart Hospital, Kansas Spine Hospital and Kansas Surgery & Recovery Center, among others.
KU-Wichita officials say a key reason for the expansion is to help alleviate the shortage of physicians that the state of Kansas currently faces. Statistics show that of the 105 counties in Kansas, 90 need more doctors, with the numbers expected to grow as Kansas physicians, about a third of whom are 56 or older, begin to retire. “We will be producing more doctors who will practice in Kansas, and hopefully many of them will consider practicing in small-town Kansas where the need is most desperate,” says H. David Wilson, KU School of Medicine-Wichita dean. The KU School of MedicineWichita also announced in 2011 that a new pharmacy program is being added to the campus curriculum. The medical-school expansion and the addition of the pharmacy program in Wichita are expected to generate an annual regional economic impact estimated at more than $50 million. – Kevin Litwin w i c h i t a e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t. c o m
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Education
An accounting class at the W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University
They Mean Business Barton School of Business is a global calling card for Wichita Story by Kevin Litwin Photography by Antony Boshier
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backbone for economic development in Wichita and in Kansas is Wichita State University. With an enrollment of nearly 15,000 students who come from all 50 states as well as 110 foreign countries, WSU is the only urban-serving state research university in Kansas. WSU offers more than 60 undergraduate degree programs in 200 areas of study, plus 44 master’s
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degree programs and 10 doctorates. The university has six colleges: the College of Education, College of Engineering, College of Fine Arts, College of Health Professions, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the W. Frank Barton School of Business. The highly decorated Barton School has gained a reputation that extends far beyond the campus. Among its recent
recognitions was being ranked as one of the Best Business Schools in America for 2011 by the Princeton Review. Business Not as Usual The Barton School of Business includes six centers of research: the Center for Economic Development and Business Research, Center for Economic Education, Center for Entrepreneurship, Center for
WSU Facts and Figures • Founded in 1895 • Enrollment: 14,806 (fall 2010) • Motto is: Thinkers, Doers, Movers and Shockers • Academics: More than 60 undergraduate degree programs in 200 areas of study, plus 44 master’s degree programs and 10 doctorates • Colleges: College of Education, College of Engineering, College of Fine Arts, College of Health Professions, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and W. Frank Barton School of Business • Had the former names of Fairmount College (1895-1926) and The Municipal University of Wichita (1926-1964) • The 330-acre campus has one of the largest outdoor sculpture collections of any U.S. university
photos by Antony Boshier
Source: www.wichita.edu
Jabara Hall on the campus of Wichita State University
International Business Advancement, Center for Management Development and the Center for Real Estate. The Barton School is one of only 165 schools globally to hold both business and accounting accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, and that places it in the top 12 percent of all business schools throughout the United States.
And the college has deep roots in Wichita’s business community, with a long history of connections from its faculty and students to area businesses. Those connections have occurred through efforts such as executive and management training, economic forecasting, international trade, economic education and consulting. “Employer surveys indicate
a preference for Barton School graduates given their technical expertise, business experience and work ethic,” says Douglas Hensler, dean of the Barton School of Business. “Many of our alumni are entrepreneurs. Professor Fran Jabara started our Center for Entrepreneurship in 1977 and it is still going strong. In fact, our namesake, W. Frank Barton, was an entrepreneur who started Rentw i c h i t a e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t. c o m
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A-Center with alumnus Tom Devlin, an entrepreneur and golf enthusiast.” What’s the B.I.G. Idea? Another successful facet of the business school is its Barton International Group, or B.I.G., comprised of an elite group of students who intern with global companies. The students often travel abroad and complete projects aimed at helping companies become more successful in the global marketplace. “These students bring a contagious enthusiasm and creative insight unique to their generation, providing honest and straightforward information to companies based on the students’ research,” Hensler says. “These Barton School students get valuable work experience working alongside companies’ top executives, who often turn out to be their future employers. The B.I.G. program is developing our students into entrepreneurial leaders with a global perspective.
Hubbard Welcome Center at Butler Community College
A Reputation for Education Wichita offers multiple college, university options Wichita’s reputation for quality higher education is built on a wide selection of colleges and universities that allows students to choose a school tailored to their educational pursuits, whether it be a four-year university, technical college or specialized program. In addition to being the home of Wichita State University, the region includes several private universities such as Newman University, a fouryear liberal arts school offering 27 bachelor’s degree programs. Southwestern College offers a twoyear MBA program in addition to its traditional degree programs. The region is also home to Friends University, a more than 100-year-old institution that has more than 1,000
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students enrolled in its undergraduate programs. Friends also offers a number of undergrad and graduate programs for nontraditional students – many of them working adults – and was one of the first educational institutions to offer these types of programs in Kansas. Baker University, established in 1858 and known as Kansas’ oldest university, offers accelerated degreecompletion programs designed for working adults, along with an MBA program and a master’s program in education. Those looking for the community or technical college route will have options in Wichita as well. Cowley County Community College and Hutchinson Community College and
Area Vocational School are both public two-year institutions offering an array of programs. Hands-on training opportunities are available at Wichita Area Technical College and Wichita Technical Institute. Butler Community College offers programs in industrial technology, business, nursing and liberal arts. Students with particular career paths in mind can choose from institutions including WSU College of Engineering, geared towards anyone with an interest in engineering and ongoing research, or University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, which recently expanded from a twoyear to a four-year university. – Karen Schwartzman
P h o t o C o u r t e s y o f B u t l e r C o m m u n i t y C o l l eg e
Metro Wichita Colleges and Universities Baker University Bethel College Butler Community College Cowley College Friends University Hesston College Hutchinson Community College ITT Technical Institute Newman University Southwestern College Tabor College University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita University of Phoenix-Wichita Vatterott College Wichita Area Technical College Wichita State University Wichita Technical Institute Webster University
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s ta ff p h o t o
Antony Boshier
Antony Boshier
Livability
What a Way to Live Neighborhoods, culture, entertainment give Wichita plenty of the good life
Story by Kevin Litwin
I
t’s nice to live in a region of more than 750,000 people where the average commute time is only 18 minutes. That’s one of the many positive aspects of Metro Wichita, which also include a range of distinct neighborhoods and affordable housing options to choose from. The median price for a newly built singlefamily home in 2011 was $190,000. Money magazine has ranked Wichita among the top 10 best cities in America in which to live, and MSN Real Estate ranked Wichita first on its list of most affordable large cities. Those livability factors are among the many reasons why Wichita attracts everyone from young professionals to families to retirees. Residents have easy access to a variety of diverse cultural and recreation options. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy nearly three dozen golf courses, 123 parks and greenways, 127 miles of walking trails, 26 miles of bike paths, 52 athletic fields, 11 swimming pools and 10 recreation centers. For kids (and adults), there are fun destinations such as Exploration
Place, Great Plains Nature Center, Kansas Cosmosphere & Space Center, the Riverside Park System, Wichita Ice Center, Wichita Public Library and the Sedgwick County Zoo, which is home to 2,500 animals and ranks among the nation’s best zoos. That’s Y The Greater Wichita YMCA is among the largest in size and budget in the United States. The Y, which has eight fullservice locations and serves more than 100,000 youngsters alone in the area, is in the midst of a campaign to build a new $23 million Central Branch, which will include a community and nutritional coaching center. That effort is part of a $40 million capital campaign the Greater Wichita YMCA has undertaken for new facilities and expansions. Wichita’s vibrant downtown offers the ideal place to dine, shop, work, play and live. About 2,000 people currently reside in the district that features a smorgasbord of restaurants, bars, nightlife, retail shops, museums, galleries and theaters.
Wichita Parks & Rec Figures • The department was first established in the 1920s • Wichita today has 123 parks • The department also oversees Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, which provides the community with 9.5 acres of landscaped gardens • Wichita Wild Habitat Areas make up nearly 30 percent of the total 4,400 park acres, offering citizens an opportunity to experience wildlife and plants in a natural setting
Clockwise from top left: Upscale wine bar Oeno in Old Town; Rock climbing at the YMCA; Exploration Place helps anchor the riverfront.
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Wichita Cost of Living Comparison
Clockwise from top left: Bradley Fair Shopping Center; Greater Wichita YMCA; The Warren Theatre in Old Town; Wichita’s Old Town district mixes historic buildings and new developments full of restaurants and shops.
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J e ff A d k i n s
Wichita: 93 Topeka: 94 Dallas: 96 Kansas City MO-KS: 99 Denver: 106 Seattle: 120 San Francisco: 164 New York: 218 Source: Kiplinger’s Personal Finance 2011 (National = 100)
Antony Boshier
Todd Bennet t
“Our ultimate goal is for downtown Wichita to be alive 24/7,” says Jeff Fluhr, Wichita Downtown Development Corp. president. The city has quality schools in place, with the Wichita Public Schools system overseeing more than 90 teaching sites. There are also more than 35 private and parochial schools within the city limits, and several colleges and universities have campuses there – including Wichita State University and its nearly 15,000 students. For shoppers, the city is home to a variety of unique retail destinations such as Old Town, Bradley Fair and NewMarket Square. Bradley Fair boasts an open-air plaza and lakeside view, while NewMarket Square bills itself as Wichita’s largest outdoor shopping center. One more positive aspect of Wichita is its abundance of sports teams, including collegiate athletics featuring the Wichita State Shockers, Friends University Falcons and Newman University Jets. Other sports teams to root for are the Wichita Wingnuts in baseball, Wichita Thunder in ice hockey, Wichita Wings in indoor soccer and Wichita Wild in indoor football.
S ta ff P h o t o
CALL or LoG oN to rESErVE your tEE timE! (316) 613-2750 • www.igwichita.com
Living green starts from the ground up. Living green is making sure the air in your home is healthy for your family to breathe. Test your home for radon and build radon-resistant. It's easy. That's living healthy and green.
Just call 866-730-green or visit www.epa.gov/radon
• New state-of-the-art USD 259 K-8 facility and 5A high school opening fall 2012 • Exceptionally low commute times provide easy access to major employers and entertainment • Low crime rates reinforce safety and security 7651 E. Central Park Ave. Bel Aire, KS 67226 (316) 744-2451 T (316) 744-3739 F www.belaireks.gov
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Metro Wichita
Can you imagine … a world without children?
We Can’t.
Call 1-800-996-4100 to help. www.stjude.org
• Big-city amenities, small-town values • High quality of life, affordable cost of living
economic profile Business snapshot
Population (2010) Region
750,435
Butler County
65,880
Cowley County
36,311
Harper County
6,034
Harvey County
34,684
Kingman County
7,858
Marion County
12,660
Reno County
64,511
Sedgwick County Sumner County Kansas
498,365 24,132 2,853,118
Major MSA Population Centers (2010) Wichita
382,368
Hutchinson
42,080
Derby
22,158
Newton
19,132
El Dorado
13,021
Winfield
12,301
Arkansas City
12,415
Major Employers Spirit AeroSystems Cessna
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
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
Koch Industries
2,500
Bombardier Learjet
2,250
9,000
median home cost Wichita, KS
$112,700
St. Louis, MO-IL
$121,400
Oklahoma City, OK
$124,900
Kansas City, MO-KS
$139,500
National
$196,300
Colorado Springs, CO
$208,900
Denver, CO
$223,500
Seattle, WA
$372,300
Los Angeles Area, CA
$459,400
average rent
educational attainment
Wichita, KS
$676
Oklahoma City, OK
$691
Colorado Springs, CO
$738
Some College (No Degree) 26.9%
Kansas City, MO-KS
$766
Associate Degree
National
$797
St. Louis, MO
$809
Denver, CO
$814
High School Graduate (Inc. Equivalency)
Bachelor’s Degree
10,900
6,767
27.1% 7.2% 19.0%
Graduate or Professional Degree
8.8%
Bachelor’s degree or higher 27.8%
What’s Online For more in-depth demographic, statistical and community information on Metro Wichita, go to Facts & Stats at wichitaeconomicdevelopment.com.
Indianapolis, IN
$849
Seattle, WA
$1,464
Orange County, CA
$1,639
Sources: census.gov, wichitaeconomicdevelopment.com, wichitakansas.org
This section is sponsored by
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Ad Index
C2 BlueCross BlueShield of Kansas 6 Butler Community College
2 JP Weigand 40 Medical Community Credit Union
54 City of Bel Aire
15 Meridian Center
10 City of Derby
26 Music Theatre of Wichita
37 Old Town Barber College
31 Reflection Ridge Resort Lifestyle Communities
6 City of Valley Center 40 Cocoa Dolce 8 Coleman
40 First Wireless Inc.
54 Sedgwick County Zoo
26 Friends University
53 The Orpheum Theatre
55 Go Wichita Convention & Visitors Bureau
C4 Via Christi
49 Wesley Medical Center
41 Hilton Wichita Airport
49 Wichita Collegiate School 26 Wichita Family Medicine Specialist 23 Wichita Public Schools
1 Hotel at Waterwalk
19 Hyatt Regency Wichita
54 Innovative Golf
visit our
advertisers BlueCross BlueShield of Kansas www.bcbsks.com Butler Community College www.butlercc.edu City of Bel Aire www.belaireks.gov City of Derby www.derbyweb.com City of Valley Center www.valleycenter-ks.gov Cocoa Dolce www.cocoadolce.com Coleman www.coleman.com First Wireless Inc. www.firstwirelessinc.com Friends University www.friends.edu Go Wichita Convention & Visitors Bureau www.gowichita.com Hilton Wichita Airport www.wichitaairport.hilton.com Hotel at Waterwalk www.hotelatwaterwalk.com Hyatt Regency Wichita www.hyattregencywichita.com Innovative Golf www.igwichita.com JP Weigand www.weigand.com Medical Community Credit Union www.medicalcomcu.org Meridian Center www.meridianeventcenter.com Music Theatre of Wichita www.musictheatreofwichita.org Old Town Barber College www.oldtownbarbercollege.com Reflection Ridge Resort Lifestyle Communities www.rlcommunities.com Sedgwick County Zoo www.scz.org The Orpheum Theatre www.wichitaorpheum.com Via Christi www.viachristi.org Wesley Medical Center www.wesleymc.com Wichita Collegiate School www.wcsks.com Wichita Family Medicine Specialist www.wichitafms.com Wichita Public Schools www.usd259.com
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Through the Lens
Get the Story Behind the Photo Now that you’ve experienced Metro Wichita through our photos, see it through the eyes of our photographers. Visit throughthelensjci.com to view our exclusive photographers’ blog documenting what all went in to capturing those perfect moments. From Our Photo Blog: Metro Wichita Wichita, Kan., is a hub for all things aviation. All the big aircraft manufacturers are represented as well as a lot of great smaller shops. They all help to provide great jobs to the people of the area. And many of those workers are getting training at the National Center for Aviation Training. NCAT was developed by Sedgwick County Technical Education and Training Authority (SCTETA). Here are some photos from a recent shoot there while working on the Business Images Metro Wichita magazine. Posted by Antony Boshier
More Online
See more favorite photos and read the stories behind the shots at throughthelensjci.com.