BUSINESS REVIEW LITTLE APPLE
April 2019, Volume 15, Issue 4, www.manhattan.org
A publication of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce
Jason Smith eager to embrace visionary progress as Chamber CEO
In his first two weeks at the Chamber, President and Chief Executive Officer Jason Smith has taken a measured approach to meet with business leaders and communicate his goals and objectives. Smith continues to assess all current conditions that involve Manhattan Area Chamber membership and business landscape. Smith was announced as Lyle Butler’s successor in January, and assumed the position on March 25. His dynamic career progression shows calculated gains toward economic development and quality of life fields in multiple Midwest-area demographic approximations to resemble this region.
His most recent professional contributions include Norman Economic Development Coalition, where Smith served on the board for the Oklahoma Economic Development Council. Raised in Oklahoma, Smith spent great amounts of time in Norman which gives him a firm affinity for communities with strong university presence. “There is something about university cities and the vibrancy of those communities,” Smith said. “It was something that I sensed immediately when I visited Manhattan. There is also a tremendous sense of collaboration between the university, city and business community. “That is something that is rare and was very attractive about the opportunity to move here.”
His career arc includes Abilene, Texas, Lincoln, Neb., and McAlester, Okla. A 10-year stay in Lincoln as VP Economic Development was an early career pinnacle as Smith contributed to the Nebraska capital’s selection as the nation’s best economic development program by Business Facilities (2012). Also in that Chamber position, Smith cooperated jointly
with a 14-member oversight committee to Lincoln Partnership for ED, and served as president of the Nebraska Economic Developers Council.
Regional collaboration leads to vital successes such as NBAF. Smith observes this collective vision can set the tone for future endeavors. “It has made the Chamber and community very aspirational about what we can all achieve together,” Smith said. “There is an incredible amount of visionary thinking that is taking place in this community. We have to think big to achieve big things. “At the same time, I am very impressed with the staff at the Chamber and their abilities to take these visionary ideas and tactically make them a reality. There is nothing really holding us back from becoming an incredibly strong economic player in the Midwest.” Smith brings that capacity for significant economic gains along with experience related to military affairs and tourism while Abilene (Texas) Chamber president. His ongoing efforts to meet membership and community business leaders will evolve through upcoming Chamber activities. While a number of things are going on at the Chamber, Smith said the executive committee has looked closely at the rollout and implementation of Region Reimagined, and further enhanced efforts devoted to young professional engagement. “We have a lot of work to do quickly,” Smith said.
“There is something about university cities and the vibrancy of those communities.” “It was something that I sensed immediately when I visited Manhattan. There is also a tremendous sense of collaboration between the university, city and business community. _ Jason Smith
Page 2
thank you
for reinvesting
Over 50 Years Thomas Sign Company Westar Energy 31 to 40 Years Faith Furniture Homecare and Hospice Manhattan Country Club Midwest Concrete Materials, Inc. Shilling Construction Co., Inc. Douglas Stigge 21 to 30 Years American Family Insurance, Tim Engle Agency, Inc. Bluestem Financial Management Insights Eyecare, P.A. KSNT, KTMJ, KTKA, NE Kansas CW 15 to 20 Years American Heart Association Candlewood Health Mart Pharmacy Carpet Plus Gideon Excavating Inc. Greater Manhattan Community Foundation Maximum Performance Physical Therapy & Fitness 10 to 14 Years Danker Roofing, Inc. First Command Financial Services First United Methodist Church The IDEA Center Kelley Construction Co., Inc. KS Commercial Real Estate Services, Inc. LDLB Landscape Architecture & Engineering, LLP Manhattan Area Habitat for Humanity PrairieStone, Inc. Sky Harbor Enterprises, Inc. 5 to 9 Years Col. (Ret.) Paul and Christine Benne Bluemont Hotel Bluestem Property Management Bourbon and Baker Flint Hills Appraisals G. Thomas Jewelers Growing Concerns (Landscape Management) Heartland Plant Innovations Inc. The Robinson Firm LLC Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast KS Weddle & Sons, Inc.
Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce Little Apple® Business Review
1 to 4 Years AMC Manhattan Town Center 13 Appletech Design & Construction, Inc. Arthritis Foundation Bullseye Business Planning Dale Carnegie, Kansas Heartland Region Duell Construction Express Office Solutions Framework LLC Girls on the Run of the Flint Hills KsFiberNet kstate CREDIT UNION Manhattan Catholic Schools Mathis Physical Therapy People’s State Bank (East Branch) Prairie Band Casino & Resort The Winged Lion
WELCOME
new members
April 2019
UPCOMING EVENTS April 5
First Friday New Member Spotlight 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. Chamber Boardroom
April 5
Midwest Dream Car Collection ribbon cutting 4 p.m. 3007 Anderson Ave.
April 9
Coffee Break Tuesday 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Blueville Nursery
April 10 Business After Hours 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. Rock Hill Real Estate/ MCM
April 16 Coffee Break Tuesday 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Sunset Cottage April 18 Tallgrass Title ribbon cutting 4 p.m. 210 N. 4th Street, Ste. A April 18 Manhattan Young Professionals 5:30 p.m.
April 23 Coffee Break Tuesday 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Capitol Federal Bank
Registration: events.manhattan.org
April 23 Prairie Salt Therapy ribbon cutting 4 p.m. 1140 Westloop Place
April 24 Leadership Manhattan Graduation 11:30 a.m. Bluemont Hotel April 25 Young Professionals Hooray Thursday 5:15 p.m.
April 30 Coffee Break Tuesday 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Flint Hills Area Builders Association
Harry A. Watts 785-532-9876
Dr. Cheryl Grice Kansas State University 128 Dole Hall 785-532-2535 K-state.edu
April 10 5:30 p.m.
Dustin Schoeck KW One Legacy Partners, LLC 2630 Farm Bureau Rd 620-757-9330 dschoeck.kwrealty.com/ Real Estate agent with Keller Williams Realty serving Manhattan and surrounding communities.
The Cardinal's Nest, LLC 12998 CR 261A, Nathrop, CO (877) 818-1014 Evolvevacationrental.com/407731 Amazing mountain home near Buena Vista, Colorado. 4-bedroom, 4-bath sleeps 16; perfect vacation spot for one large or several smaller families. After daily outdoor adventures, transfix your gaze to the incredible forest and mountain views from a spacious deck with outdoor fireplace. Ideal vacation rental for your next Colorado getaway!
Be part of the community. Be part of the Chamber.
721 S. 5th Street
Welcome Jane!
Jane Eyestone joins Manhattan Area Chamber staff as member relations manager. A longtime resident of Manhattan and Geary County areas, Jane brings business experience and is eager to serve Chamber membership. She is a US Air Force veteran with service during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. A Junction City realtor and co-owner of Eyestone Bison Ranch in Dickinson County, Jane spent two years at McCullough Development as executive assistant to the CEO prior to her Chamber move.
The mission of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce is to foster a changing environment for business success that enhances the quality of life in our region. We market the region, advocate for business, and provide services to our members and customers. Are you interested in being a member of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce? Give Sharla a call at 776-8829 for more information.
Contact us:
501 Poyntz Avenue • Manhattan, KS 66502 785-776-8829 • chamber@manhattan.org www.manhattan.org TDD Kansas Relay Center: 800-766-3777
Connect with us:
Manhaan PUBLISHED BY THE MANHATTAN CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
April 2019
Third Thursdays return to Downtown
Pull up your Outlook and key in Third Thursdays events for May, June, July, August and September. Downtown Manhattan Inc. started in 2018 the ultraenjoyable, entertainmentand food-focused events with great feedback and attendance along Poyntz Avenue business district. Restaurants feature food and drink specials along with artists, musicians and other surprises in specific areas along Poyntz. May 16 and June 20 are the first two spring events during 2019. Turn out, and send MHK visitors to the downtown area for these special, five-time happenings around our Gateway to the Flint Hills in Manhattan.
TOURISM TOPICS
K-State Open House 2019: Welcome prospective students The Midwest’s biggest and best showcase for displaying
early-morning pancakes (Seaton Hall) and always-delish
what a university offers to prospective students launches
homemade baked goods (204 Shellenberger Hall). Just
April 6 at Kansas State University. K-State Open House
follow your nose! Derby Dining Center offers the “real
history dates to the late 1960s, and presents its best ap-
deal,” Cat-aclysmic foodie experience with an all-day
pearance on the state’s most attractive campus. “Launch
menu for purchase items.
Your Future,” the 2019 theme, features daylong events and rallies student volunteers to a splendid showcase of
Not to mention each college exhibits hands-on experi-
fun stuff right here on the main Manhattan campus.
ences that represent fun learning challenges that would be associated with classroom-type proficiencies for col-
You’ll want to check out K-State African Dance and Music
leges of Architecture, Planning and Design and more:
Ensemble (11:30 a.m.) in the
Agriculture, Arts and Sciences,
K-State Student Union
Business Administration, Edu-
Grand Ballroom. In Forum
cation, Engineering, Human
Hall, bounce to the beat
Ecology and Veterinary Medi-
with K-State Marching Band
cine. It’s almost time for K-
and drumline assembly. Stay
State’s greatest showcase
nourished for the day’s
event, Open House!
bounty of brilliance with
Flint Hills Festival arrives in May Circle May 11 for this year’s Flint Hills Festival, the sixth celebration for our regional ecological pride. Standard admission rates apply. Did you know: Flint Hills Discovery has welcomed nearly 500,000 visitors since its 2012 open with a record 85,000 guests during 2018? Keep up with future exhibits and special events at Flinthillsdiscovery.org. Following “Framed: Step Into Art” exhibition is the highly anticipated “Dream With Da Vinci,” which debuts May 25 and continues through Sept. 8.
Win the Dang Day during K-State’s Spring Showcase The times, they are a changin’ around Manhattan with the Kansas State football program. First-year coach Chris Klieman and staff have introduced a new era of Wildcat football with energetic workouts and a social media storm to rebrand the program with aggressive recruiting outreach. Early-season workouts culminate with introduction of an April 13 Spring Showcase instead of traditional spring game. The Spring Showcase event is touted as highly interactive and fans will hear a mic’d-up Klieman give on-field instructions. The day will include a host of concourse activities and accompanies the traditional Powercat Auction (April 12 at Bramlage), the 35th annual fundraising Ahearn Fund benefit. K-State opens the 2019 season Aug. 31 against Nicholls with the 11th annual Family Reunion at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Of course, these events are secondary to K-State fans who benefit from the chance to swarm Manhattan attractions and restaurants. Check out the beautiful green expanse of the Flint Hills during springtime! Enjoy all we have to offer here in the Gateway to the Flint Hills! Win the dang day, and Go Cats!
Fashion show real showstopper The ATID Showcase of Excellence is always a low-key smash success on Kansas State University campus. This year’s ATID Showcase – Apparel, Textiles and Interior Design department at Kansas State – the sixth annual fashion show, will be conducted at K-State Alumni Center (1720 Anderson Ave.) as it moves from McCain Auditorium. Purchase tickets through Eventbrite’s website, keyword: ATID Showcase. Note: No tickets sold on premises for this year’s show, 6 p.m. April 25.
Earth Day connections spark life into Sunset Zoo Join the Party on the Planet with April 27 afternoon activities around Sunset Zoo in observance of Earth Day. Family friendly fun to celebrate the tender relationship between the planet’s wild creatures and humankind; noon events with $5 standard admission ($3 children entry). Sunset Zoo receives a 4.0 rating on Trip Advisor’s 5-star scale, and three out of four visitors esteem the state’s top-ranked zoo with an excellent/very good review. Be sure to mark June 1 as the tentative date for Wine in the Wild, Sunset’s wildly popular fundraiser directed by Friends of Sunset Zoo. On another funding level, donate to the zoo’s Expedition Africa campaign to rediscover leopards, tigers and sloth bears for expansion of Sunset Zoo’s educational efforts. Get wild with wildlife conservation efforts at Sunset Zoo in Manhattan!
Step Into Art with Jay Nelson gallery tour Local art curator Jay Nelson, formerly of Strecker Nelson West Gallery on Poyntz, leads an April 18 gallery tour of Flint Hills Discovery Center’s “Framed: Step Into Art” exhibition. The tour embellishes upon artworks in the exhibition from Clementine Hunter (“Big Chicken”), Diego Rivera (“The Corn Festival”), John Singer Sargent (“Camping at Lake O’Hara”) and Grant Wood (“Dinner for Threshers”). Nelson describes some of the finer points the artists were striving to illustrate and how children can benefit from basic art appreciation.
McCain Series wraps with hilarity and Broadway showcase Bittersweet emotions surround McCain Performance Series final spring shows, as the 2018-19 schedule draws to a close and anticipated 2019-20 shows are announced within the next few months. This season’s penultimate month introduces The Dali Quartet with Olga Kern (2 p.m. April 14) then zany antics of the Church Basement Ladies: Rise Up O Men (2 p.m. April 18). You’ll laugh hysterically at Mavis’ hot flashes, before May’s season finale rolls on stage with Neil Berg’s 101 Years of Broadway (May 19). Tickets at k-state.edu/mccain. • Chase County, Kansas, welcomes Symphony in the Flint Hills signature event, held June 15 at Irma’s Pasture near Bazaar, located just 70-75 minutes south of Manhattan (65 miles). Ad Astra in the Flint Hills is the 14th annual concerto with the Kansas City Symphony on the Great Plains of mid-America. Tickets are on sale for this event at symponyintheflinthills.org. • If you haven’t already, mark down June 20-22 for 24th annual Kicker Country Stampede with headliners Jason Aldean, Old Dominion, Jake Owen and Clint Black. It’s never too soon to get excited about Stampede and get your best boots polished up for all the fun at Tuttle Creek Lake. Ticket info: Countrystampede.com.
“The Hate U Give” author makes McCain appearance Acclaimed author Angie Thomas speaks on the topic of activism – Finding Your Activism and Turning the Personal into the Political – during an April 11 appearance at McCain Auditorium. Community residents and visitors will find free tickets available at Manhattan Public Library and for K-State students/faculty, at the McCain box office. Thomas was born and raised in Jackson, Miss., and in 2017 published “The Hate U Give,” which became a No. 1 New York Times bestseller and double Goodreads Choice Award winner. Thomas has become a highly-requested speaker and her latest novel, “On The Come Up,” describes ordeals faced by an aspiring, young hip-hop artist.
Cultural events
Flint Hills Discovery Center • Step Into Art through May 12. Immerse your children into different paintings in engaging environment of artwork. • “Framed: Step Into Art” Gallery Tour with Jay Nelson, 6:30 p.m. April 18. • Storm Spotter Training, 6 p.m. April 11. • Ted Cable: Spring Bird Migration, 8 a.m. May 4 (location TBA). • Flint Hills Festival, 10 a.m. May 11, Blue Earth Plaza activities. Flinthillsdiscovery.org Art Galleries • Shoot for the Moon through April 27; An Endless Line, April 26 opening reception (through June 8), Strecker Nelson West Gallery. Snwgallery.com • Pete Souza: Two Presidents, One Photographer, through April 27; Picturing Kansas through June 1; Celebrating Heroes: American Mural Studies, through June 19; Art Linking Asia and the West, through Dec. 21; Beyond Gravity, through Oct. 19. Beach Museum of Art. Beach.k-state.edu McCain Performance Series • Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “The King And I,” 7:30 p.m. April 5; The Dali Quartet with Olga Kern, 2 p.m. April 14; Church Basement Ladies: Rise Up O Men, 2 p.m. April 18. McCain Auditorium, Kansas State University campus. K-state.edu/mccain Music • Chancey Williams, April 5; Flatland Cavalry, April 12. The Hat Manhattan (8:30 p.m. concerts). thehatksu.com Theater • K-State Big Band (April 24, Forum Hall) and Jazz Combos (April 25, K-State Ballroom), 7:30 p.m., K-State Union; The Government Inspector, 7:30 p.m. April 25-27 and May 2-4, Nichols Hall/Chapman Theatre; K-State Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. April 30; Concert Band and University Band Concert, 7:30 p.m. May 2; McCain Auditorium. K-state.edu/mtd/events • West Side Story, April 19-21 and April 26-28, Manhattan Arts Center. Manhattanarts.org Special Events • K-State Open House, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 6, campus-wide events. K-state.edu/openhouse • The Hate U Give Author Angie Thomas, 7 p.m. April 11, McCain Auditorium. K-state.edu • Midwest Dream Car Collection Grand Opening, April 13, 3007 Anderson Ave. Midwestdreamcarcollection.org • K-State Spring Showcase football event, 1 p.m. April 13, Bill Snyder Family Stadium. K-Statesports.com
April 2019 5
5
5
Polyester Party
11 The Hate U Give:
Book Talks; The Joy
K-State Alumni
7 PM
Quartet with Olga
Luck Club
Center
McCain Auditorium
Kern
2:00 PM
12 Trivia Night at Your
2 PM
Manhattan Public
McCain Performance Series: The King and I
Library
7:30 PM
6 PM
McCain Auditorium
Manhattan Public
Chancey Williams in
Library 12 Flatland Cavalry in
8:30 PM
concert
The Hat
8:30 PM The Hat
Into the Spider-Verse
13 Pink Up the Pace 5K
7 PM
& Honor Walk
Forum Hall
8 AM
5 & 7 South Pacific
Downtown Manhattan
7:30 PM
13 Little Apple Pride
CL Hoover Opera
Parade and Festival
House
Noon
K-State Open House
Larry Norville Band
9 AM
Shell
Kansas State
13 K-State football
University
spring showcase
The Everly Brothers
1:10 PM
Experience
Bill Snyder Family
7:30 PM
Stadium
Columbian Theatre 7
25 Humanities Kansas
Angie Thomas
5-6 Films: Spider-Man:
6
ÂŽ
7 PM
concert
6
14 McCain Performance
13 Our Continuing
The Loveliness of Air
Journey: From
2 PM
Bondage to Freedom
The Volland Store 10 K-State baseball vs. Omaha 6 PM Tointon Family Stadium 10 Adaptations of the Handmaid's Tale 7 PM
4 PM Lazy T Ranch 2103 Zeandale Rd 14 Glenn Miller Orchestra 2 PM CL Hoover Opera House
Series: The Dali
McCain Auditorium 18 K-State baseball vs. Texas Christian
Library 25 ATID Showcase of Excellence
6 PM
6:00 PM
Tointon Family Stadium 18 Behind the Exhibit Lecture: Step Into Art
Kansas State University Alumni Center 26-28 K-State baseball vs.Oklahoma
Gallery Tour
6 PM, 4 PM, 1 PM
6:30 PM
Tointon Family
Flint Hills Discovery
Stadium
Center
27 After Hours at the library
18 McCain Performance Series: Church
5:30 PM
Basement Ladies,
Manhattan Public Library
Rise Up O Men 7 PM
27 Party For the Planet: Earth Day at Sunset
McCain Auditorium
Zoo
18 Paint Your Own
Noon
Bookends
Sunset Zoo
7 PM Manhattan Public
Upcoming Conferences, Sports and Special Events in The Little Apple
27-28 Annual Tulip Festival
Library 19 Manhattan Public Library Read-a-Thon 2 PM
9:00 AM Wamego City Park
April
Anticipated Attendance Numbers
Conferences/Meetings/Reunions 2
FarmHer Grow KS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
2
2019 KS Governor's Public Health Conference . . . . . . .400
6
KS Agriculture & Rural Leadership (KARL) Gala . . . . . . . . .
8
KS PowerSchool Users Group Spring Conference . . . .250
10
KS Association of Court Services Officers Conference .100
10
KS Independent College Association Conference . . . . .10
11
KS Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Conference . . .150
11
Manhattan Christian College All School Alumni Reunion . .
17
KS State Troopers Association Annual Meeting . . . . . . .40
20
2019 Little Apple Comic Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
24
KS Optometric Association Annual Conference . . . . . .300
24
National Guard Association of KS Annual Conference .100
26
Women in the Wind International - MOTALK 2019 . . . . .60
27
National Guard Association of KS Annual Conference .100
30
KS Dept of Health and Environment WIC Conference .100
Sporting Events 6
KS US Women's Bowling Tournament . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
13
Flint Hills 50 and Marathon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
13
KS US Women's Bowling Tournament . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
13
Manhattan Spring Slam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
20
Midwest USSSA Showcase Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
27
KS US Women's Bowling Tournament . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
27
Midwest Sports Productions Wildcat Classic . . . . . . . . .100
27
Manhattan Invitational Soccer Tournament . . . . . . . . . .200
Manhattan Public Library 20 K-State baseball vs. Texas Christian 6 PM Tointon Family Stadium
Manhattan Public
Manhattan CVB Steering Committee
Ben Sigle, Co-Chair
Ex-Officio Members:
Scott Garrett, Co-Chair
Lyle Butler, Chamber
Bud Cox, Restaurant
Library
Brad Everett, Hotel
Manhattan Convention & Visitors Bureau Staff Karen Hibbard, Director karen@manhattan.org
Marcia Rozell, Sports/Leisure Sales Manager marcia@manhattan.org
Tony Ballard, Convention Sales Manager tony@manhattan.org
Anna Kozak, Service Coordinator anna@manhattan.org
Lynn Gentine, Attraction
President Wayne Sloan, Chamber Board Chair
Bernie Haney, Attraction
Usha Reddi, Mayor Pro Tem
Lowell Kohlmeier, Financial
Eddie Eastes, City of
JJ Kuntz, Hotel
Manhattan
Colin Noble, Hotel
Karen Hibbard, Convention
Kevin Roberts, KSU
& Visitors Bureau Director
Wayne Rouse, Entertainment Danielle Tegtmeier, Attraction
Page 7
Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce Little Apple® Business Review
Lessons from Social Media Marketing World 2019
Social Media Marketing World is three days of social media gurus sharing their knowledge, the latest tactics, and technology with thousands of marketers from a host of different industries. Even though I wasn’t in attendance, it’s amazing what you can glean from social media. This article provides a round-up of important concepts and advice from the conference as well as a few questions to help you consider how they apply to your business. Critical things about life that are changing the way we market (or should be) In author and podcaster Mark Schaefer’s keynote entitled Social Media Reimagined: How to Adapt in a World Without Loyalty, he discussed that what worked for us once, is no longer viable. Marketers are facing the following problems: • Advertising is dying because people see it for what it is. • The customer is unreachable • You can’t buy your way in • You have to be invited Questions to consider: how will you be invited in? What are you doing in order to get their attention, get them to know who you are enough to invite you in, and make them want to?
Tips for Humanizing Your Brand You are encouraged to humanize your brand to develop a closer relationship with people who are interested in you. It will help your audience get to know, like, and trust you. Here are three key elements in your brand becoming more human: • Simplicity: ditch the complex • Empathy: understand your customers • Embracing imperfection: relationships aren’t built on perfection. No one believes it. Question to think about: how can you start thinking more H2H (human to human) business instead of B2B or B2C?
User Mistakes in Instagram Stories Social media and personal branding strategist Tyler McCall shared what most people aren’t doing right on Instagram Stories: • Not having a reason behind what you’re doing there. It may seem like a pretty site, but if you’re there for business there must be a strategy behind it. • Allowing perfect to trump value. Find out what your ideal audience wants and needs and give them the value they want. • Not using Stories to tell stories. It’s set up for that so why are so many people failing to use it for its intended purpose?
April 2019
The Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to offer an event that celebrates in creating a better community such as our Business After Hours which was hosted by the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation (GMCF).
It was a wonderful turnout bringing several businesses, a lot of people and the call for awareness in community giving, all together under one roof at 555 Poyntz at the Colony Square. Different businesses participated by opening their doors, such as MBI and McMillian Architects. Chamber members enjoyed delicious food and drinks provided by GMCF which HyVee catered. Many members went home with prize baskets given by Edward Jones-Bill Wolf, Konza United Way, SPS Companies, Inc. Weary Davis and the host GMCF. These many businesses opened their doors as well, making a successful evening for all that attended.
Thank you
to registration Volunteers: Janet Lowell, Central National Bank;
Jenn Alley, Bluemont Hotel; Jill Sherman, McCownGordon Construction.
Question for you: are you using the popular visual site to tell your business story or are you just posting pretty pictures? There’s nothing wrong with just posting pretty pictures but if you want to meet business goals using the site, you need to be deliberate about what you post. If you’d like to see more of the social media goodness you missed at the conference, check out the Twitter hashtag: #SMMW19. This roundup is one of my favorite things about Twitter and social media. Even when you’re not fortunate enough to attend a professional conference, you can still connect with those who attended and learn a little bit of what they did. It may not take the place of all the fabulous connections you’d have made had you attended in person but it certainly gives you some good insights into what you could be doing with your business and those insights could become the beginning of future paths to growing your business. Christina R. Green teaches small businesses, chambers, and associations how to connect through content. Her articles have appeared in the Midwest Society of Association Executives’ Magazine, NTEN.org, AssociationTech, and WritersWeekly. She is a regular blogger at Frankjkenny.com and the Event Manager Blog.
Pagen tabbed for U. S Chamber Business Fellowship Program
Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce VP/Community Development John Pagen earned a high distinction and excellent learning opportunity courtesy of a U.S. Chamber of Commerce program. Pagen will spend a portion of this month in Chicago and later this summer in Denver at the Business Leads Fellowship Program. The four-month fellowship is in response to workforce development needs of state and local chambers such as the Manhattan Chamber. The program trains and equips 35 fellows with resources, access to experts and a network of peers to build their capacity to address education and workforce challenges. Pagen received the nomination from a competitive application and selection process of more than 110 applicants. The program deals with the entire talent pipeline, including early childhood education, K-12, higher education and workforce development. Upon completion, fellows will join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s dedicated network of 200 chambers of commerce and statewide associations from around the nation who regularly engage on education and workforce initiatives.
Page 8
Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce Little Apple® Business Review
Ribbon Cutting
Military Relations Committee: IIF yields partnership progress
Partnerships were a key derivative of Installation Innovation Forum (IIF), in particular Intergovernmental Support Agreements. IGSAs are mutually-beneficial, cost-effective community partnerships that innovate beyond municipally-shared services. These programs primarily impact military readiness, environmental resilience and family support areas.
McCownGordon Construction 1880 Kimball Avenue, Suite 200 (785) 789-3100 Mccowngordon.com/about-us/kansas-office
Frontier Construction & Frontier Property Management 709A Pecan Circle 785-370-0797/785-370-0162 Frontierconstructionmhk.com/Frontiermhk.com
April 2019
Fort Riley Plans, Analysis, & Integration Office Director Ben Van Becelaere talks about road salt at the Association of Defense Communities Installation Innovation Forum.
Association of Defense Communities introduced IIF to a March audience of more than 600 domestic, military relations professionals. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment Robert McMahon presented the introductory town hall, a general session to establish the relationships theme all the way through multiple innovation laboratory breakout sessions.
$90,000 annual savings for Fort Riley. Plus, the reduced city reserves that would have been expended toward storage facility maintenance and staffing.
With focus around collaboration, Fort Riley PAIO’s Benjamin Van Becelaere was invited to discuss local results of the IGSA process. Fort Riley and city of Manhattan signed an agreement to share road salt acquisition and storage. Through this arrangement, Manhattan made the purchase at a 50-percent lower rate than could Fort Riley.
Other topics IIF covered included: Infrastructure, spousal employment, STEM proficiencies (via Advanced Placement curricula), family resiliency, base of the future creation, state and local governance education, encroachment, large scale deployments effect and quality of life support best practices.
In exchange, Fort Riley storage came with decreased costs. Known as the Army’s first commodities IGSA, this method of Flint Hills economic partnership created an estimated
Van Becelaere is director of the Fort Riley Plans, Analysis and Integration Office.
Next MRC Luncheon: May 1, Holiday Inn at the Campus; Melissa Chesnut, Warrior’s Best Friend.
Sessions 4 & 5 of Leadership Manhattan acquainted the class with current initiatives in education including the recent school bond issue. The class visited area schools to observe essentials the bond issue would address.
Fox Home Innovations, LLC 9175 Excel Lane (785) 340-5630 www.foxhomeinnovations.com