BUSINESS REVIEW LITTLE APPLE
May 2017, Volume 13, Issue 5, www.manhattan.org
Congratulations to the 2017 Leadership Manhattan graduates
Leadership Manhattan Class of 2017 concluded preparation with lessons on civic engagement. One day earlier, the class observed paradigm shift tips from Action Pact Development’s Steve Shields. The class go to hear what running for office is like from a panel that included Mayor Usha Reddi, former mayor Bruce Snead, former county commissioner Dave Lewis and Riley County Election Supervisor Rich Vargo. Former Kansas Governor John Carlin discussed civic engagement and participation. The 2017 class and alumni gathered at Manhattan Country Club for the awards upon the class’ successful completion of the program.
Among festivities at every graduation, the Distinguished Service recognition awards Leadership Manhattan alumni. Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce established the Distinguished Service award to reward pinnacle community service and high qualities of leadership achievement. 2017 winner Neil Horton joins the long list of talented members to earn the award. Horton is former Board Chair, Greater Manhattan Community Foundation; past Kiwanis president; and serves as Meadowlark Hills Foundation president. He is a Fort Riley Distinguished Trooper, has been on boards for Boys & Girls Club and Boy Scouts, and has earned Scouter of the Year. Horton is a founding member of the Guardians, former Chamber Board Chair with selection on the new Business Advocacy Committee, Economic Development Committee; and active on Advantage Manhattan Distinguished Service award recipient campaigns. Congratulations to the entire Leadership Neil Horton and Kristin Brighton, Manhattan Class of 2017! past board chair.
A publication of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce
Bruce McMillan’s role in the Manhattan community started humbly enough. He began his architecture profession, at least locally, with an office in the back bedroom of a Manhattan house.Years earlier, McMillian had been stationed at Fort Riley and returned for K-State graduate school courses. From day one upon opening his own architecture “shop”, McMillan has been a Chamber member and embraced its positive offerings. The year was 1983, and Jan Ray was the first female Chamber Board Chair. McMillan has valued the networking offerings the Chamber affords from his simple professional introduction. His architecture firm employs five persons with offices in Manhattan and Junction City. “The best thing I could do was have my name and face in front of as many people as possible. It’s all evolved from that,” he said. The evolution McMillan experienced stemmed from involvement on multiple regional projects. McMillan Architects has designed renovation work for Union Pacific Depot, Wamego City Hall, Riley and Geary County Courthouses, Columbian Theater and CL Hoover Opera House. McMillan is well versed on regionalism; he was referred to as “Godfather of Regionalism” at a Chamber-sanctioned meeting. McMillan served as chair for a steering committee that led to the formation of Flint Hills Regional Council, as Chamber networking and the Columbian project facilitated the process.
“That was a very high-profile project for us, and I knew people in all three communities. I was the ‘grand go-between’ because I knew everybody … sort of the evolution of Chamber involvement.” 2017 Leadership Manhattan class
Be part of the community. Be part of the Chamber.