Focusing on the future is chamber head’s goal

One of the questions I was asked most often during this past holiday season didn’t have much to do with what was on the top of my personal “wish list” for Christmas or my New Year’s resolutions for 2016.

Many of my associates, friends and colleagues were intent on learning one thing: how I plan to spend my year as the chairman of the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce. They wanted to know more about my main focus in 2016, and they were curious about how I intended to measure my success.

Those are the same thought-provoking questions that I’m sure every chamber chairman entertains at the beginning of their term. And because I’ve experienced the value in so much of the chamber’s work over the years, it has been tough to narrow my focus to just a few manageable goals.

Fortunately, the year I spent as the chairman-elect provided me with some time to reflect on how I could most effectively support the chamber’s work in the two areas I believe are the most vital to the success of our business community: educating our workforce and utilizing new leadership talent.

I’ve personally been very passionate about these two areas for a number of years, and I’m pleased that chamber leadership and staff appreciate and support my focus on these areas.

Educating our future workforce

My focus on educating our future workforce is a result of my own career experience as a student, an educator and as a business owner.

So I’m very pleased that the chamber’s 2016 Legislative Agenda includes nine advocacy points in the Education and Workforce Development category. One of those points is to support career and technical education programs to ensure an abundant and skilled workforce.

The chamber believes a strong education system is vital to workforce and talent development. Investing in the children in our community is imperative for the global competition we face, and necessary so they can learn how to apply the power of their innovative ideas to our community’s challenges.

Utilizing new leadership talent

One of the many benefits of a skilled and educated workforce is that you enjoy a steady supply of new leadership talent revitalizing your community, region and state.

The Young Professionals of Wichita – a chamber affiliate – prepares its members for future leadership positions through educational opportunities. And it has been reaching out to other organizations of young professionals in Wichita to determine how it can work more closely together to build momentum in this area.

We’ve tapped into this talented pool for both appointed and elected positions on the Chamber Board of Directors this year. I’ll be working closely with chamber staff to ensure that we have more committee representation from these and other young professionals who can further energize our work.

Measuring success

At the end of the year, I hope that we will be able to point to meaningful legislative wins, especially in the education area. And I look forward to celebrating major contributions by some of our young emerging leaders.

The ultimate measurement of our long-term success in these two areas will be the fulfillment of the chamber’s vision to make the Wichita region the premier place to grow companies, careers and communities. Building a better business environment is the foundation for our region’s success.

I appreciate the support of the chamber’s board, members and staff as we continue working on our strategic priorities. I look forward to the opportunity to lead the chamber during such a pivotal year.

This story was originally published January 13, 2016 at 5:15 PM with the headline "Focusing on the future is chamber head’s goal."