Featured business person: Chris Conner

A lot of what Conner calls work sounds like play. Twisting balloons and playing with Legos, for example.

“I don’t have a whole lot of hobbies because they always become businesses,” he said.

There’s sometimes a serious purpose. Conner uses Legos to teach elementary school students about science and storytelling.

Conner, 45, grew up in Wichita. He started his first business at age 15, showcasing his skills as a magician, before earning a degree in communications with a minor in broadcasting from Wichita State University. He was director of education programs for Old Cowtown Museum and one of the original staff members at Exploration Place, creating live programs for the Kemper Presentation Theater.

His full-time job is as an instructor with the B.I.S.T. (Behavior Intervention Support Team) program at Dodge literacy magnet elementary school.

“I’m the one they go to if someone’s having a behavior problem,” he said. “We just try to make sure every day is a good day for the kids.”

Since January, he’s been running after-school programs for The Art Park on East 29th Street, where a variety of programs are offered for kids and adults.

Currently, he’s teaching kids how to build basic machines with Legos, after going over the science behind mechanisms such as gears and cams.

On Monday nights, he can be found twisting balloons into artistic shapes at Pacific Coast Pizza. Conner also performs as a magician and comedian through his company, Twisted, and does voice-over work for commercials.

He and his wife, Julie, have two daughters: Emily, a student at Maize High School, and Sarah, who is in elementary school. It’s a family that plays and works together.

“My wife and I are working on starting a balloon decor business, and my daughters, they are both in dance, and they help me in my show.”

Joe Stumpe

This story was originally published February 11, 2015 at 3:21 PM with the headline "Featured business person: Chris Conner."