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Young Professionals of Wichita is a community-based organization that offers innovative ways for young professionals in the Wichita area to socialize and expand their professional horizons. YPW's vision is to help Wichita become the Heartland's destination for young intellectual capital.
Carol Colletta, president of CEO for Cities, will be in Wichita on March 10th for the Wichita Downtown Development Corporation's 3rd Annual Lecture. She is a highly sought after speaker on the success formula for cities and creative communities and is frequently interviewed as an expert on urban issues by national media.
In 2008 she was named one of the world’s 50 most important urban experts by a leading European think tank. Most recently, she was named the recipient of the Lambda Alpha International 2009 International Journalism Award for her work with CEOs for Cities and Smart City Radio, and as one of the top 50 urban thinkers of all time by readers of PLANetizen.com.
Make plans to join the continued conversation on Project Downtown as Carol Colletta shares how cities transform themselves into places that attract talent, create distinctiveness and spread innovation to benefit the entire region.
The event is on March 10th at the Orpheum Theatre, with the lecture starting at 6:30pm. RSVP at downtownwichita.org.
On Tuesday, March 1st, you will have an opportunity to select the candidates that will run in the general election on April 5th. Voting in these local elections is very important because local elected officials make decisions that have a huge effect on our daily lives. City council and the mayor vote on city ordinances and projects like noise ordinances for live music, TIF funding, even on adopting a downtown master plan. YPW's Political Awareness sub-committee wants to help you make an educated vote so that you are represented in the decisions made in your hometown.
In case you missed our Political Awareness Newsletter, you can click here to view it online!
Some other helpful links are below:
The Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber of Commerce distributed a survey to candidates for the 2011 City Elections. Those responses can be found on this page.
The Wichita Eagle Voters Guide
The Wichita Eagle invited candidates to respond to questions about key issues. This guide allows you to compare candidates and their responses to these questions.
In 2010, YPW began a series of events that bring awareness to the importance of our local and state government. Our goals are to educate our members on the roles of city, county and state officials, create knowledgeable YPs who will get out and vote, and provide a non-partisan view on local issues that affect YPs and the Wichita community.
Better weather and looming legislative deadlines led to the most active and productive week of the session. This week, statehouse observers and the business community probably got their best insights into how the new Kansas political world would operate and how significant business proposals would look.
What was anticipated to be a much more conservative House proved to be just that. The first major indication of the shift in philosophy and control came with the adoption of the “Paygo” rule. The definition of this new House rule is: any amendment on the floor to increase spending that is not accompanied by an equal to or greater reduction in spending elsewhere is automatically ruled out of order and cannot be considered by the House. House Speaker Mike O’Neal attempted to institute Paygo two years ago, but was defeated by moderate Republicans and Democrats. Immediately after adopting Paygo, the House responded with the passage of a fiscal year 2011 rescission bill with an ending balance of $35M. Finally, House Republicans finished the week with the passage of a constitutional amendment that basically says Kansans do not have to observe the federal healthcare law passed by Congress last year.
Most people had a pretty clear understanding that Governor Brownback and the new House of Representatives would govern with a much more conservative mindset. The big question all along has been how the Kansas Senate would react to last November’s election outcomes and a new conservative Governor. The Senate’s handling of the FY 11 rescission bill, which is really Governor Brownback’s first budget, seems to indicate they are sticking to their traditional moderate mindset. While the House adopted the rescission bill from the governor as is, the Senate adopted very few of the cuts and actually spent money, leaving an ending balance of under $100K. In addition, while the House has been fairly quick to adopt the Governor’s Executive Reorganization Orders (EROs) the Senate has not.
Issues of vital importance to the business community also picked up steam this week. Both Chambers began work on Unemployment Insurance reforms (the fund is bankrupt) as well as Workers Compensation reform. Look for both Chambers to pass their own versions of workcomp and UI reform in the next week.
The upcoming week will see hearings taking place on the Governor’s economic growth and tax plans as well as hearings on improving the Promoting Employment Across Kansas Act, also known as PEAK. The Wichita Metro Chamber has been involved in creating a better business environment by working to make sure the aforementioned initiatives have a positive result for you and your business. We will continue that work in the coming weeks and we will keep you informed. If you have questions or input regarding activities in the Kansas Legislature please feel free to communicate directly with our lobbyist, Jason Watkins. He may be reached at 316-461-8112.
The Primary Election for the Mayor and City Council Districts 2, 3, 4, and 5 will be held on Tuesday, March 1, 2011 followed by the General Election on Tuesday, April 5, 2011. You can register to vote online. Questionnaires were sent to the 22 candidates running for office. Questionnaire answers will be posted on the Chamber website.
 Meet YPW Member, Sommer Keplar. She is the 2011 YPW Board of Trustees Chair, is on the Enhance CommunitYProject subcommittee of the Community Relations Action Team, and has been a member for 5 years.
Name: Sommer Keplar
Age: 29
Occupation: Organizational Effectiveness Specialist for Via Christi Health
YPW
How long have you been involved? Approximately 5 years
Why you are involved? I initially got involved to learn about the community, but quickly realized the value of staying involved and all of the benefits that have come along with being a member.
Has the organization allowed you particular opportunities? I have gotten both personal and professional development from YPW. Additionally, YPW has been a catalyst for getting involved in the community in multiple other ways.
Your personal goals for the organization: As the organization has passed its 5 year anniversary, I know we can keep the momentum going to continue to build upon the mission of the organization to attract and retain talent in the Wichita area. As the Action Teams continue providing great programming for members, it is also exciting to see DestinationICT recommendations come to life. I look forward to seeing further movement in this great city so that it remains a place YPs love to call home.
Favorite recent YPW event? The political awareness this past fall that allowed YPs to meet and hear from Congressional candidates was a great way to hear about candidate stance on particular issues, as well as let candidates know what is important to YPs.
Career
How did you get to where you are today? During my last semester of graduate school, I did an internship at Via Christi. The internship turned into a job after graduation and after more than 5 years at Via Christi, I still look forward to going to work every day. It is great working for an organization that is so strongly rooted in its Mission, and to work for leaders who support my development.
Anything you would do differently? I have been given so many opportunities, and there is not anything I would have done different. It is all about carving your own path and I have no regrets for the path I have carved.
What inspired you to get into your profession? Since high school I described my ideal job as helping employees enjoy their time at work and it is great there is a field that actually allows me to do this. I don’t know “what’s next” for me in life, but I have enjoyed my path thus far.
Community
Involved in any way? There are various ways I have been able to get involved in the community, including: YPW, Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce Board, American Red Cross Midway Kansas Chapter Board, Visioneering Wichita, and American Society for Training and Development Board.
Your favorite thing about Wichita/Most unique thing about Wichita: I love all of the opportunities to be involved in the community and make a difference. Our community is great already, but still has a lot of potential and it is up to each of us to make a difference.
Why did you choose Wichita? The original plan was to come to Wichita for 2 years to attend graduate school and then return to somewhere closer to where I am from in South Dakota. By the end of graduate school it was evident I was here to stay because I had a job, had met my now husband, and fell in love with this community.
In 2010, YPW began a series of events that bring awareness to the importance of our local and state government. Our goals are to educate our members on the roles of city, county and state officials, create knowledgeable YPs who will get out and vote, and provide a non-partisan view on local issues that affect YPs and the Wichita community. Read more »
The Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce announced today that Bryan Derreberry, President and CEO, has been named President and CEO of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce in Charleston, South Carolina.
Derreberry was one of six finalists and the Charleston Metro Chamber's Board of Directors approved the Search Committee's selection this week. Derreberry was contacted about the position by a national search firm retained by the Charleston Chamber to conduct their candidate search. “I was not looking for this position, however, when I was contacted, I became interested in investigating further,” said Derreberry.
“The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce opportunity was very attractive to my family and me as each of our parents live within four to six hours of Charleston. It will be a wonderful privilege to be able to spend time with them and be there when they need us. Additionally, Charleston’s natural aesthetic beauty, incredible downtown, strong South Carolina business setting, diverse business clusters, and national brand identification make for a winning economic and community development environment.”
Derreberry continued, “Gail, our children, and I have thoroughly enjoyed our seven years in Wichita. The engaging attitude of the people here has allowed us to develop wonderful professional and personal friendships. The people here are phenomenal and we will carry wonderful memories of our time here with us in the years ahead.”
“It has been a privilege to work with an incredible group of volunteer business leaders, elected officials and professional staff in strengthening and redefining the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce thereby increasing the prosperity prospects of our metro area. Collectively, we have set and achieved new performance levels in community development with Visioneering Wichita; economic development with our Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition (GWEDC); young professional assimilation with Young Professionals of Wichita; small business programming with our business services team; and lobbying success with our government relations effort. Our commitment to generating economic prosperity for the metro area has been realized in each of these delivery platforms,” stated Derreberry.
“Bryan has been an effective leader of the Wichita Metro Chamber for the past seven years,” said 2011 Board Chair Lynn Nichols. “We are sad to lose him, but understand the importance of being close to family and new opportunities. We know Bryan’s high credibility, expertise in business and chamber management, and ability to lead an organization made him a perfect candidate for Charleston.”
Nichols also announced Suzie Ahlstrand will serve as the interim president and CEO of the Chamber. Nichols indicated that a search committee of board members will be formed to find the next chamber president and CEO. The national search will be complete this year. Nichols and the chamber executive committee will also provide input to the national search process. Derreberry will remain CEO and President of the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce through the beginning of March.
Nichols stated, “The Chamber’s mission of economic prosperity is important for our community, and the value we deliver to our members through our business services, the success we’ve had in our advocacy and economic development efforts as well as Visioneering Wichita and Young Professionals of Wichita will continue. The Chamber is comprised of an outstanding professional staff, and the board and I look forward to working together to keep our momentum and focus during this transition.”
 YPW Member, Monica Cameron, of Cameron Law Office has started a YP specific Wichita Referral Society. Their mission is to network with other young professionals and refer business to one another.
The Wichita Referral Society is a new spin on networking. Young (19-39 year old) business professionals meet socially for lunch once a week and make a pact to refer clients to one another. Only one member of each profession can be a member of WRS. Membership is free and the benefits are endless.
They meet on Wednesdays from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm.
Visit them on Facebook or view their Meetup page for more information.
In 2010, YPW began a series of events that bring awareness to the importance of our local and state government. Our goals are to educate our members on the roles of city, county and state officials, create knowledgeable YPs who will get out and vote, and provide a non-partisan view on local issues that affect YPs and the Wichita community.
State Budget
Legislative budget committees, in both the House and Senate, fine-tuned bills dealing with cuts to the fiscal year 2011 budget to be forwarded their respective chambers. In Governor Brownback’s State of the State address, he outlined approximately $52M in cuts to the current year budget. The Governor then requested that the legislature take immediate action and forward a bill to his desk by the end of January – a pretty aggressive target both in terms of dollars and timing.
The House Appropriations Committee acted first and cut an additional $2 million. The Senate followed and dramatically reduced the cuts made by the Governor. Watch for both chambers to change the bills only slightly before sending them across the rotunda to each other. With the House budget cutting more than the Governor and Senate budget cutting less, the likely outcome from a conference committee will be a compromise bill that probably looks an awful lot like what the Governor proposed in the first place. The real question is whether a much more conservative House will sign-off on that type of agreement
Work Comp Reform
Business, labor, and the plaintiff’s bar have come to an agreement – in principle – on work comp reform. Representatives are now conferring with legislative leadership before drafting a final version of the legislation. It is possible that hearings could be held on the bill by the middle of next week. We will share the exact language of the bill when it’s released.
Unemployment Insurance Reform
There was also plenty of talk this week about reforming unemployment. Folks are correctly concerned about significant increases in 2012 if reforms are not put in place. Remember, the fund is insolvent and payments to the unemployed are only taking place because we have borrowed from the federal government. That money has to be paid back and those payments start next year. That will be costly no matter what, but reforms could lessen the impact for business owners. New Labor Secretary, Karen Brownlee, has compiled a set of proposals with the goal of both stabilizing the fund and paying back the federal government. Key among the changes – adding up to six (6) new rate classes based on experience ratings; reinstating the “waiting week”; and eliminating eligibility for a spouse to receive UI benefits when relocating with their spouse. Spouses of military members would still be eligible.
Immigration Reform
Although nothing has been produced yet, it now seems fairly certain that an Arizona-type immigration law will be introduced this session. Most would agree that laws need to be enforced and that immigration is an area that needs to be addressed in some way. The main concern for business is any bill that would require business to perform for “free” the duties that the state or federal governments cannot or will not perform themselves.
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