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Wichita Business Journal
BizTalk 378: Leveraging diversity in business through Advance Kansas
The Advance Kansas program through Butler Community College was dealing with diversity issues in the workplace long before the George Floyd murder and the politicization of the DEI term.<\p> Still, I asked Advance Kansas facilitator Juan Johnson if those recent events — one that spread the intensity of focus on DEI, the other pulling it back in many businesses — had changed the way he looked at getting the message to students inside the program.<\p>
Commerce Bank market president 'bullish on Wichita'
When it announced its new Wichita market president this spring, Kansas City-based Commerce Bank went with a bank veteran who was no stranger to Wichita.<\p> Todd Anciaux, who has spent his entire 25-year banking career at Commerce, moved to Wichita 17 years ago and has since risen in the financial institution's local ranks. His promotion came as part of a Kansas leadership shuffle that saw Craig Duerksen become regional director and president of Commerce Bank-Kansas, and Monte Cook move to Commerce Bank-Kansas chairman.<\p>
Young Professionals in Education
Welcome to the latest installment of the Young Professionals series, where the Wichita Business Journal spotlights up-and-coming professionals ages 25-40.<\p> These professionals are the next generation of city and community leaders. Take a look at who's achieving at a young age.<\p>
Family, fertility benefits increasingly offered as retention strategy
A growing number of employers are offering “highly-valued” fertility benefits to boost retention and reduce absenteeism.<\p> The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans found about 42% of American organizations now offer some kind of fertility benefit — up from 30% in 2020. But some specific fertility-related benefits have skyrocketed, including fertility medications, which grew from being offered at 8% of U.S. employers in 2016 to 32% in 2024. In vitro fertilization was offered by 13% of employers in 2016 and has grown to 32% in 2024. <\p>
Second phase starts on 260-acre Maize neighborhood
A Wichita developer has started Phase 2 of a 260-acre residential development in Maize. <\p> Schellenberg Development is set to break ground on the second phase of The Coves, a 260-acre residential development located on the east side of Tyler Road between 45th and 53rd streets in Maize. The development is scheduled to create 390 single-family and patio homes across multiple phases. <\p>
The Playbook: A potentially costly mistake hiring managers are making
Editor’s Note: Welcome to The Playbook Edition, a look at stories, trends and changes that could affect your business. Want more stories like this in your inbox? Sign up for The Playbook newsletter. <\p> The barrage of criticism toward Generation Z workers may have reached a tipping point and could be leading hiring managers toward making costly misjudgments on future employees. <\p>
What businesses should do after massive data breach
Welcome to The National Observer, a roundup of top business news and actionable insights from across The Business Journals network of publications. We're looking at what shifting desires for remote work mean for retention, what's happening with home improvement demand, and a $4.9 billion deal by a semiconductor giant. First, however, we're digging into why the recent National Public Data breach matters and what to do about it.<\p> Get more stories like these every day in your inbox by subscribing to The National Observer newsletter.<\p>
The Waterfront adds pair of medical office tenants
As medical office continues to show strength in Wichita, one of the city's most prominent developments has added a pair of tenants from the sector.<\p> Earlier this summer, MK Wound and Limb Preservation Clinic opened its doors at the Waterfront near 13th Street and Webb Road. In an adjoining space at 10346 Stonegate, Elite Compression & Bracing has also arrived.<\p>
Airxcel's RV Products completes $18M expansion in Wichita
A climate control products manufacturer for recreational vehicles in Wichita has finished an $18 million expansion on its facility. <\p> RV Products, a division of Airxcel that works with original equipment manufacturers on HVAC products and more, has added 125,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space to its approximately 150,000 square-foot building in north Wichita. The company moved into the expanded facility at 3050 N. St. Francis at the end of July. <\p>
CrossFirst Bank names new Wichita market leader
CrossFirst Bank has shuffled its Wichita market executive ranks.<\p> The regional bank, headquartered in the Kansas City area, announced Wednesday that it's promoted Dan Dakhil to the role of Wichita market president.<\p>
Wichita's largest spec warehouse lands big ag name
Wichita's largest speculative industrial warehouse — all 201,000 square feet of it — has been scooped up.<\p> AGCO, a global agricultural equipment manufacturer and distributor, has inked a lease for the building within Ironhorse Manufacturing Park near the southwest corner of Seneca and MacArthur.<\p>
Westlink Shopping Center has a new owner
A long-standing west Wichita neighborhood retail center is under new ownership.<\p> ICT Capital, a local real estate development company, closed last Thursday on the purchase of the 106,000 square-foot Westlink Shopping Center on the southwest corner of Central and Tyler Road.<\p>
Why the nation's child-care crisis largely comes down to real estate
More than half of Americans live in a child-care desert.<\p> That sobering statistic from public policy research and advocacy organization Center for American Progress underscores how tough it's become to access child care across America. <\p>
Freddy's CEO: Wichita center shows city's value to company
As Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers continues its rapid growth across the country, the fast-casual restaurant brand now looks to have planted its flag in Wichita for the long haul.<\p> The company, founded in Wichita in 2002, held a ribbon-cutting and open house on Tuesday to showcase its new 23,000 square-foot Freddy's Training & Innovation Center in the Cypress Business Center near K-96 and Webb Road.<\p>
FAA will inspect a Boeing plane with Spirit-made fuselages
Boeing 787 Dreamliners will be inspected following a March incident in which one of the jumbo airplanes went into a sudden dive that injured more than 50 passengers.<\p> The Federal Aviation Administration ordered the inspections Monday.<\p>
Toastique shares opening date for first Wichita location
The opening of a new gourmet toast and juice bar concept in Wichita is coming soon.<\p> Wichita business owner Kalene Hoffmann is opening Toastique, a fast-casual chain based out of Washington D.C., on Sept. 7 in Cambridge Market at the southeast corner of 21st Street and Webb Road. <\p>
AI is already fueling layoffs, but there is one silver lining
Employee concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on their career prospects have ramped up as generative AI tools like ChatGPT have taken center stage.<\p> They have good reason to be concerned, according to a new survey of 984 business leaders by ResumeTemplates, which found 3 in 10 companies said they have replaced workers with AI this year. Additionally, 38% of companies that said they will use AI in 2025 will replace workers with the technology next year. <\p>
The five Wichita companies that made this year's Inc. 5000 list
Five companies based out of Wichita are considered among the 5,000 fastest-growing, privately held companies in the U.S., according to a list published annually by Inc. magazine.<\p> Three of the five are making a first-time appearance on the 2024 ranking, which is based on percentage revenue growth between 2020 and 2023.<\p>
Wichita developer to finish 56 duplexes in Bel Aire
Bel Aire will soon have a range of single and multi-family homes in nearby neighborhoods. <\p> Developer Andrew Reese from Banister Real Estate, who has done most of his work in the outskirts of Wichita like in Bel Aire and Newton, said he is slated to finish Sky View at Block 49, a 20-acre residential development off of Webb Road and 49th Street North, which includes 56 duplex homes and 91 single-family housing lots. <\p>
New-to-Wichita wellness brand preps for Bradley Fair storefront
When SweatHouz, an infrared sauna and cold plunge recovery studio, launches its first Wichita location this fall on the city's east side, franchisee Hunter Mitchem said he believes it could catch some people by surprise.<\p> While the wellness concept aids with inflammation and muscle recovery, Mitchem said it's what the studio's services can do for the mind that can jump out.<\p>
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