Occidental Managements Vision E-Zine- May 2023

To Develop Retail, Office and Industrial Commercial Real Estate Properties

SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURS IN THE COMMUNITY

A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS WICHITA CHEESECAKE CO.

BRINGING CULTURES TOGETHER THROUGH THE JOY OF FOOD: BCHIC BAR & GRILL

KEEPING THE MOMENTUM

The only constant in business and in life is change. You have to be able to pivot, but more importantly, you have to be able to listen and comprehend change indicators; to listen to your customers and to your community about what is driving change and innovation. At Occidental Management, we don’t run the business today like we did in the past. We’re always looking for that new approach that’s going to be unique and help grow the markets we serve, all while keeping our eyes and ears open.

At the end of the day, dollars are just numbers, but the human element and being able to impact people and support entrepreneurs and companies separates great businesses and is what helps make an even greater impact on our communities as a whole. We’re all better and stronger when we work together.

We enjoy talking with our tenants and business owners, and the same themes resonate… the Midwest is a great place to do business. The Wichita and Overland Park, Kansas communities are very supportive of local entrepreneurs. In addition, there are great resources at your disposal to help you along your entrepreneurial journey… Your local SBA center, SCORE chapter and Chamber of Commerce ( Wichita, Overland Park), the Kansas Department of Commerce, Create Campaign, and NXTUS just to name a few.

These organizations offer programs, services and in-person support to help propel businesses, and they offer networking opportunities to expand business connections. That human element is vital when launching a business, and it’s always nice to put a face with a name. We’re pleased to help introduce our tenants to local businesses and help put faces with names. In this issue you’ll learn more about the Wichita Cheesecake Company and BChic Bar & Grill – Wichita’s first Afro cuisine restaurant.

You’ll also learn more about all the exciting new developments taking shape at the Aspiria campus in Overland Park. That strong Midwest entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic continue to drive companies from all over the nation to the campus, and we’re honored to be a part of it.

Chad Stafford President,

Occidental Management

CONTENTS

06

SUPPORTING ENTRPRENEURS IN THE COMMUNITY

28

BRINGING CULTURES TOGETHER THROUGH THE JOY OF FOOD

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Gary Oborny Chairman & CEO

Occidental Management

SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURS IN THE COMMUNITY

By Bob Ale-Ebrahim

The leadership at Occidental Management, Inc. (OMI) is committed to supporting entrepreneurs in the communities where we live and work. Gary Oborny our Chairman and CEO’s philosophy is to partner with our tenants wherever possible to help their business succeed. As a company, we contribute annually and volunteer in the community, as well as sponsor and host events to benefit meaningful initiatives and organizations. Organizations that we contribute to and support this mission are the Create Campaign, Inc., The Greater Wichita Partnership, the Entrepreneurship Task Force (ETF), Founder’s Grove, Destination Innovation, e2e Accelerator/NXTUS, Youth Entrepreneurs of Kansas (YEK) and the Wichita State Shocker New Venture Competition.

GROWING SMALL BUSINESSES

As a company, we support our entrepreneurial tenants by helping them through the entire leasing process. We often lend guidance in creating business plans, helping connect them to resources to secure financing, lending our experience and marketing, and providing access to valuable resources while they are getting started. Entrepreneurship is at the heart of OMI, and from sales to maintenance and our construction teams we make every effort to support small businesses

CREATING VALUE FOR OUR TENANTS

We all succeed when our tenants succeed, so we believe in going beyond the typical landlord-tenant experience. We want to add value for our tenants. One way we add that extra value is by offering marketing aid from our internal marketing team.

Currently, we have a marketing campaign called “Entrepreneurs Wanted,” showcasing some tenant testimonials. We want to increase exposure and generate traffic for our tenants. So, our marketing team also assists in creating and crosspromoting social media posts, writing press releases and articles, and even creating ads for the tenants of this magazine.

INVESTING IN THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT IN OUR COMMUNITY

Occidental Management Chairman and CEO Gary Oborny sits on the board of Create Campaign, Inc. — a nonprofit dedicated to serving urban entrepreneurs in Kansas. The organization is one of several community projects the company’s leadership team invests in and participates in the Wichita community.

Gary is also a founding Chair of E2E and is a current NXTUS board member. NXTUS connects entrepreneurs to what they need most: a community of mentor and resources, capital for startups, and customers to support growth.

Gary also serves on the leadership council of the Greater Wichita Partnership (GWP). The GWP was created in 2015 to serve as a liaison between the private and public sectors and encourage economic growth throughout the region. The GWP created the Entrepreneurship Task Force (ETF), which cultivates a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem in Wichita. Gary was the founding Co-Chair for the ETF. One of the major accomplishments of the GWP has been bringing in the E2E Accelerator (now NXTUS), the first startup accelerator in the state.

ENTREPRENEURS REALLY ARE WANTED!

Destination Innovation is a program of Destination Innovation Inc., that aligns boldly resilient young people with the tools and mindset to move courageously, with purpose and discipline, to activate under-served communities. Camp Destination Innovation offers programs designed to expose marginalized youth ages 14-18 to careers outside of traditional norms with a target focus on entrepreneurship, including social entrepreneurship.

Camp Destination Innovation is hosted by the Wichita Urban YEC, along with NetWork Kansas and K-State, and funds young business leaders’ dreams across the state. This investment helps to fund young entrepreneurs’ business plans which gives them their “golden ticket” to turn their business ideas into real sustainable businesses. In fact, one such recipient of the Wichita Urban YEC is OMI’s very own Nick Flores. Flores works as a leasing agent for OMI, an opportunity that stemmed from his participation in YEC. Nick was the 2018 winner of the Wichita Urban YEC.

Today T-Mobile has taken over this project which is now known as the T-Mobile Accelerator. Startups work directly with T-Mobile leaders and other industry experts and mentors to develop and commercialize the next disruptive emerging products, applications, and solutions made possible by T-Mobile’s nationwide 5G network today and in the future.

We care about the communities in which we live and work, and want our tenants to succeed, and we’ll go the extra step to ensure that success. If you’ve got the entrepreneurial spirit and drive, and are ready to talk, we’re here and ready to listen. Give us a call at 316.262.3331.

A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

Local Cheesecake Company Celebrates 6th Anniversary

By Stacy Jones

A lot of times when the pressure of running a business seems overwhelming, I stick the key in the lock and I realize… man, I’m going somewhere that I want to be.”

Daniels,

A baker, a business degree, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a local niche to fill all mixed together to make the perfect recipe for starting a cheesecake business in Wichita.

Mark

Owner, Wichita Cheesecake Company

A FAMILY MIX

The Wichita Cheesecake Company is owned by Mark and Grace Daniels and operated with the help of their two daughters – Rya and Mi-Kel – who help with baking, filling orders and marketing.

The company offers madefresh-daily cheesecakes in more than 30 flavors, including banana pudding, caramel praline pecan, caramel apple, and New York style. They also offer seasonal flavors as well as custom orders. Cheesecakes can be purchased by the slice, as well as in sizes including minis, 6″, 8″, 9″, and 10″.

They started the business out of their home in 2017 and quickly outgrew the kitchen. They then utilized the commercial kitchen at their church for a couple of years, and are now celebrating the company’s third anniversary at its current location at the Union Station - Grand Hotel building in downtown Wichita.

“My wife, Grace, had been making cheesecakes for our family for the past 20 years,” said Mark. “She was self-taught and went through a lot of trial-and-error, but she enjoyed the process and enjoyed making them for family and friends. Then, one day our nephew wanted to hire Grace to make some cheesecakes for a company party. They were a huge hit and people suggested we start a business.’”

The Daniels decided to dip their toes in the business waters by purchasing booth space at a local bridal show. They brought 1,000 cheesecake samples the first day of the show, which were all devoured within the first two hours.

COOKING UP THE DEAL

Driving down Douglas Avenue one day, Mark noticed a “for lease” sign at the kiosks on the plaza in front of the Union Station Terminal building. He had no idea what it entailed to lease a commercial space, or what it was going to take, but he decided to call the number on the sign.

“I gave Occidental Management a call, set up a time to see the space and before you know it, I had prepaid six months upfront on a lease using some money from my 401k, and quit my job on the spot. I just went for it.”

After that, Mark added, We thought, maybe there’s really something to this and we decided to give it a go.”

The Wichita Cheesecake Company was established at the kiosk building where they stayed for two years, and then the Daniels were ready to expand. Occidental’s team worked with them to get into an already-established space at the Grand Hotel, making it more cost-efficient than building out a completely brand-new space.

“And six years later, here we are. It’s had its challenges, of course, with COVID and all, but navigating these challenges is fun. And the smiles that you see from people that come in who enjoy what it is you do on an ongoing basis, I mean I think that’s something that I could do for the next 20-30 years.”

SERVING UP VARIETY

Mark and Grace originally planned to one day segue into offering food on their menu, including bagels and sandwiches but didn’t want to get ahead of themselves. The popularity of their cheesecakes has kept their hands full. In 2022, the Daniels worked with the owner of a former sandwich shop in town, Metro Grill, to see if they could revive the restaurant. In the summer of 2022, the Cuban-inspired sandwich shop re-opened within the Wichita Cheesecake Company space, expanding the food offering for the cheesecake company’s existing customers as well as helping to bring in new customers.

Chad Stafford, President of Occidental Management, said the shared space has been a win-win for both businesses. “It’s a unique situation, but it’s worked well for both businesses. Metro Grill already had a loyal following from their previous location, and the shared space has increased exposure for both businesses.”

To further enhance their restaurant offerings, Mark says next up on the menu will be beer, wine and cocktails, which they currently have in the works.

THE ICING ON THE CAKE

In addition to a natural entrepreneurial drive and a supportive, hard-working family, Mark says that community support has been essential to the success of their business.

He’s found that the business ecosystem in Wichita is bigger and more closely knit than one might think. He credits organizations including Create Campaign, the Wichita Chamber of Commerce, and Wichita’s Small Business Admission for all being a part of the Wichita Cheesecake Company’s growth.

“Six years in, and I see nothing but a positive future ahead. And knowing that my kids see me in a role that I want to be in, that I get to teach them to be a part of and show them that it’s possible to take a thought in your head and turn it into a dream… That’s fun for me.”

Wichita Cheesecake Company is located at 801 E. Douglas in Wichita. They are open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and offer online and call-in orders, as well as walk-in sales for items available in their display case. To learn more or order online, visit

wichitacheesecakecompany.com

Click to watch video and learn more about Wichita Cheesecake Company

AIRSHARE

LANDS AT ASPIRIA

By Michael Grimm & Bob Ale-Ebrahim

We say Aspiria is Where Inspiration Takes Flight. Now, it’s literally true with Airshare, one of the largest private jet operators in the United States announcing the move of its headquarters from Lenexa, Kansas, to Overland Park, at the Aspiria campus by the summer of 2023. JLL Executive Vice President Ryan Schneider facilitated the lease for Airshare, working with Hunter Johnson, Senior Vice President of Leasing for Aspiria

Airshare was founded in 2000 and is a private aviation company that offers a full suite of solutions, including whole aircraft management, fractional ownership, EMBARK jet cards, and charter services. Airshare has received IS-BAO Stage 3 and ARGUS

Platinum designations, meeting the highest international standards for safe flight operations. The company operates a fleet of super-midsize and light jets within their fractional and EMBARK programs, primarily serving customers across the central United States. Airshare provides

whole aircraft management and charter services nationwide, while also providing comprehensive maintenance services for third-party aircraft.

Airshare’s rapid growth in the last five years necessitated the relocation, with the company more than doubling the square footage of their headquarters as they anticipate a 50 percent increase in staff to serve their fractional share-owners, jet card and charter customers, and whole aircraft owners. The company is also preparing to continue expansion of its service footprint into new areas of the country, including the East Coast.

Located at the Aspiria Campus at 6240 Sprint Parkway, the new Airshare headquarters will be conveniently located at the innovation hub that empowers premier businesses to promote a holistic approach to nurturing talented workforce

We believe Airshare is one of the best places to work in Kansas City, and our new office at Aspiria will enhance our efforts to attract and retain the best talent in private aviation.”

John Owen, President & CEO, Airshare

and communities. The campus will provide a hybrid model of flexible work environments with on-site amenities like a three-story, 65,000-square-foot fitness center; contemporary eateries like Café 6050 and The Roasterie; and other attractions. The Aspiria campus is in an advantageous location in the Kansas City metro area about 20 miles away from downtown Kansas City and Airshare’s private hangar at the Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport. The new headquarters will also feature Airshare signage facing both 119th Street and Nall Avenue.

“The rapid growth we are experiencing has necessitated more space for current employees, as well as for the significant number we anticipate adding over the next few years,” remarked Airshare President and CEO John Owen. “We believe Airshare is one of the best places to work in Kansas City, and our new office at Aspiria will enhance our effor ts to attract and retain the best talent in private aviation. We went through an extensive process in choosing the right location for our new corporate headquarters. The on-site amenities, proximity to restaurants and retail, ease of commute for employees, and ability to customize the space based on employee feedback made this an easy choice for us.”

Aprimary feature of their new headquarters will be a larger area designed specifically for the needs of their operations department, providing enhanced abilities for open collaboration among Airshare’s Flight Control and Owner Services teams. Additional improvements will include a dedicated training room, expanded employee lounge and several more conference rooms. Overall, the new headquarters will better position the company for continued rapid growth in both their customer base and fleet, which now includes 54 aircraft.

“In their new headquarters, Airshare will be able to grow its talent acquisition and increase its operational footprint as one of the nation’s largest private aircraft operators,” JLL Executive Vice President Ryan Schneider noted. “The new headquarters will be a strong example across the Kansas City market in how high potential and

excellent businesses like Airshare can accomplish its goals via occupying top-notch office space.”

Occidental Management President, Chad Stafford, said, Airshare chose Aspiria because it will allow them to create a compelling new office environment for its employees and to assist in recruiting more talent as they grow. Airshare employees can enjoy our employee indoor and outdoor collaboration spaces, access our 5G, high-speed campuswide Wi-Fi network, and our fitness center, walking and bike paths, and our easy-to-use mobile app.”

Stafford continued, “Having signage on the exterior of the building that can be seen from a major thoroughfare was important to Airshare. Making our tenants visible for the rest of the city to see is part of Occidental Management’s vision for opening the campus to Kansas City residents.”

Learn more at flyairshare.com

BRINGING CULTURES TOGETHER THROUGH THE JOY OF FOOD

By Stacy Jones

Making sure that all the regions of her native country of Africa were represented in her restaurant was important to BChic Bar & Grill owner Beatrice Forchu. So, prior to opening the restaurant and deciding on the menu, she did some traveling to the different countries of Africa and watched and learned.

Beatrice Forchu, Owner, BChic Bar & Grill

Cooking is pretty much second nature for me,” said Forchu. “It has been part of my family growing up. My aunties own restaurants, my mom is the best cook ever, and my youngest sister owns a restaurant. But I am a curious person. I enjoy trying new things and I wanted to add to what I hadn’t tasted yet.”

The BChic menu includes authentic Afro cuisine and dishes with a Caribbean flare, including jerk chicken, coconut curry stew, steamed jasmine rice, and plantains. Two of the most popular menu items include fufus (a side dish made with pounded yam) and egusi soup.

Ensuring the restaurant had a warm and authentic atmosphere was also important to Forchu. She wanted to instill the welcoming ambiance that is a big part of the African culture. As she says, “In the African home, you are always welcome.” So, guests will find a comfortable lounge area at the front and authentic decorations and bright colors throughout the space.

Forchu says it’s important to meet people where they are. This advice also rings true when meeting new customers and opening them up to new cuisines. So, Forchu and her staff do their best to educate customers about what it is they’re about to try and taste, describing the seasonings and textures, and even the background of the dishes.

The authentic Afro cuisine is not only a welcome surprise for those who’ve never tried it before, but also a welcome enjoyment for the large African population in Wichita.

“I actually had someone from Kenya come in with his family and he was very excited,” Forchu added. “He told me he feels like he’s in Mombasa, his native city in Kenya. He said, ‘You know what it means when you get out of church and you actually come in and you’re being served the ugali, the vegetables and the meat just the way it’s served back home… that’s how this feels.’”

Starting a new business venture is not void of its challenges; however, filling a niche that was otherwise missing in the Wichita community helped to jumpstart the restaurant. The restaurant developed a loyal following and customer base, but Forchu was ready for a new location with better visibility. She chose Northwest Centre for its high traffic count at the intersection of 13th and Tyler Rd. Nick Flores, leasing agent for Occidental Management, assisted Forchu in finding the new location and handled the lease for her.

The curiosity of the cuisine has certainly been a big draw for BChic Bar & Grill,” said Flores. People drive from all over to experience her food.”

Forchu added that she is thankful her passion has turned into a career and encourages other entrepreneurs to do the same.

“If you enjoy something, you can turn that into a career and you will never feel like you are actually working. It’s also important to stay curious,” she added. “I enjoy hearing our African customers’ different accents, stories, and the many ways they cook. Our culture is about celebrating, and our cuisine is to be enjoyed by everybody. So, I encourage others to come and try us out. Let your taste buds try something new. You will be amazed.”

BChic Bar & Grill is at Northwest Centre in Wichita, 8428 W 13th St N, Suite 100. The restaurant offers both lunch and dinner, and has a full bar. Dining options include dine-in, carry-out, special orders, and catering services. For more information, visit bchicafrocuisine.com.

Click to watch video and learn more about BChic Bar &Grill

THE ASPIRIA IS TAKING FLIGHT

By Bob Ale-Ebrahim

There are exciting new developments underway on the 207-acre Aspiria campus in Overland Park, Kansas. Slated for 2023-2024, these new developments will further add to and enhance the “community within a community” that has formed at Aspiria.

NEW OFFICE-RETAILENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX COMING TO CAMPUS

Wichita-based real estate developer Occidental Management plans to build a three-story, 102,000-squarefoot, mixed-use building at the southeast corner of campus.

The new development will include up to 60,000 SF of Class A office space, 43,000 SF of retail space for shops and restaurants. Plans are also in development to add a boardwalk around the surrounding lakes as well as create a campus transit

system. “We have been working closely with Overland Park’s planning commission to bring our vision to reality, said Chad Stafford, President of Occidental Management.

You could have somebody that lives on the Aspiria campus walk down, go to work, and then utilize transit options to get to the restaurants or fitness center. We’re creating a true live-work-play environment, and it’s going to be a very cool amenity and feature for Overland Park.

ANDRETTI INDOOR KARTING AND GAMES TO OPEN ITS FIRST LOCATION IN THE KC METRO

The Overland Park Planning Commission unanimously approved the final development plan to create a new entertainment hub within the Aspiria campus. Andretti Indoor Karting & Games, the Orlando-based company named after race car driver Mario Andretti, intends to create a 103,430 SF go-karting and game complex at the northwest corner of 117th St. and Nall Ave. The facility will include a laser tag arena, a bowling alley, a multilevel indoor go-kart track, a restaurant, and an arcade.

The restaurant will be available for when patrons need a break, and they will be able to visit the space’s food and beverage areas that feature a full bar and food menu comprised of items like burgers, wings, pizza, and nachos.

“This location is good visibility for Andretti’s,” added Stafford. “A big draw for Andretti’s are corporate users who want to do team-building activities, and at Aspiria they’ll share the campus with 30+ corporate tenants. This location also offers convenient access for the surrounding neighborhoods.”

Along with the Andretti Entertainment complex, there are plans to build an apartment building, additional retail options and a hotel on the Aspiria campus.

COWORKING FACILITY CREATES AN ENTREPRENEUR’S HUB

Aspiria NOW is a coworking facility that was launched in 2022 and is Kansas City’s newest workspace solution. With vibrant, flexible spaces available on one of the nation’s most technologically advanced campuses, Aspiria NOW is a unique offering to bring small businesses to a space with the advantages that are usually reserved for large national companies.

Aspiria NOW offers month-to-month and long-term memberships catered to fit any business’s needs. Workspaces are filled with bright, open collaboration hubs; spacious private offices; multiple conference rooms; and a large, dedicated training center … all designed for workplace engagement. Just like other tenants on campus, Aspiria NOW members get free, full-access to the three-story Aspiria Fitness Center.

CAMPUS AMENITIES OFFER CONVENIENCE & NETWORKING

We’re pleased to announce even more convenient dining options are coming to the Aspiria campus! Aspiria has a new convenience store, the Express at Building 6400, and a new micro market, the Lounge at Building 6300.

Food trucks come onto campus every Wednesday in April through the fall, offering dining options that are not only convenient but allow for fun networking opportunities outside the office walls.

Minnow Pickup Pods are also available on campus to make food deliveries easy. Pickup Pods are available in Buildings 6300 and 6550, with another coming soon to 11501. Food can be delivered from Door Dash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and more, and then conveniently picked up through cubbies accessed via the Minnow app.

LEASING ACTIVITY IS PICKING UP

Recent signed leases have regional, national and international companies, including Spectrum, SitusAMC, Airshare, Cogent, Black & Veatch and Hills

Pet Nutrition coming to the Aspiria campus. Leasing activity is brisk and companies are citing the amenities, technology, proximity to an International Airport, access to a major metropolitan area, and a pipeline of highly skilled and educated workforce as being key to their decision-making of selecting the Aspiria campus for their headquarters.

Nowhere else in the country can companies discover an atmosphere sure to delight top talent like this technological oasis in the heart of the Midwest.

Space is available for immediate lease in existing buildings or in the new development. If you are interested in leasing or setting up a tour, contact Hunter Johnson, Senior Vice President of Sales and Leasing, Occidental Management at hunter.johnson@occmgmt.com or 913.355.5173.

LEADERSHIP

Gary Oborny, Chairman & CEO

Chad Stafford, President

Troy Marquis, Chief Financial Officer

Brian Burris, Chief Legal Officer

Steve Lebeda, VP of Construction Services

165 S. Rock Island, Ste. 300 Wichita, KS 67202 316.262.3331

occmgmt.com

MARKETING DIRECTOR

Bob Ale-Ebrahim

EDITOR

Stacy Jones

PHOTOGRAPHER

Dina Curtis

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Bob Ale-Ebrahim

Dina Curtis

CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS

Bob Ale-Ebrahim

Michael Grim

Stacy Jones

Chad Stafford