Chamber works on many fronts to grow jobs

Chambers of commerce have a critical and unique role as a convener for important conversations between businesses, government leaders, elected officials, nonprofit organizations, and other community leaders. These discussions and exchanges help align and accelerate economic development efforts.

In 2015, the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce is continuing those conversations and the work of engaging more voices in that discussion. We’re building on the new partnerships we established in the past, with the goal of becoming even more inclusive in the future.

We firmly believe that all parties should be at the table and actively engaged in finding solutions for community challenges that affect the business environment.

We cannot become paralyzed by focusing on our differences. The world is much too competitive and the stakes are too high. Even if we can’t always reach consensus about the best solutions, we can all agree on one thing – our belief in and commitment to Wichita.

Jobs remain the priority

Wichita’s most pressing issue continues to be the need to replace jobs that were lost during the most recent economic downturn. Effective job growth and diversification of our economy requires a multifaceted approach. The Chamber is committed to actively working on job growth on several fronts. We need the continued efforts of the Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition combined with the initiatives of the Leadership Council, plus the future job growth promised by Wichita State University’s innovation campus.

Young professionals

We’re also open to new and creative approaches for addressing these challenges. And we believe that input from our millennials (born between 1980 and 2000) is critical to our success.

A PricewaterhouseCoopers study shows that the millennial generation will make up nearly 50 percent of the global workforce in less than five years. Retaining and attracting the best of these millennial workers is critical to Wichita’s future.

We’re fortunate to have several strong and well-organized groups of young professionals in Wichita that have been actively providing input about our community’s future. The Chamber’s Young Professionals of Wichita was organized 10 years ago and has nearly 2,500 members. Some of them serve on the Chamber’s board of directors, Leadership Council, Entrepreneurship Task Force and other important groups.

This group of young professionals embraces collaboration and values diversity. Most importantly they believe in Wichita and our ability to work together.

The group’s current chair, Laura Bernstorf with Airbus Americas Engineering, Inc., has authored an article in this Progress edition that includes a great challenge for each of us to be more vocal about our belief in Wichita. We know that communities that believe in themselves are more likely to attract young professionals and to succeed.

The YPW chair elect, Sam Foreman with Klenda Austerman LLC, recently captured the essence of our history and our future when he was asked to describe Wichita.

Sam said, “In a community built on the shoulders of riveters and wranglers, why should the wide open skies limit our aspirations? Wichita should be known as a place where anything is possible and every dream can be achieved.”

As we actively listen to and engage different points of view and continue to seek ways to work together, we need to keep Sam’s words at the forefront of our discussions. Anything is possible and there shouldn’t be any limitation to our aspirations.

This story was originally published March 1, 2015 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Chamber works on many fronts to grow jobs."