NEWS RELEASE

Aug. 30, 2007

Contact: Ryan Entz, 268-1152

Wichita Metro Chamber Selects 25th Anniversary Leadership Wichita Class

Wichita, KS - Twenty-four Wichita area citizens have been chosen to participate in the Leadership Wichita class of 2007, a leadership training program presented by the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce. The 2007 class marks the 25th anniversary of Leadership Wichita.

Since the inaugural Leadership Wichita class in 1983, its alumni represent a diversity of people and positions, including heads of the Kansas Air National Guard, Kansas Legislators, several Chairs of the Wichita Metro Chamber Board of Directors, local government and education officials, school board members, presidents and CEOs.

”While it’s difficult to measure its impact on our community, simply noting the quality and caliber of Leadership Wichita’s participants over the past 25 years genuinely demonstrate its importance to our region,” said Kendal E. Nelson, Chair of the 2007 Leadership Wichita Board of Trustees. “We have a rich history of leaders, and we must continually challenge ourselves to prepare tomorrow’s leaders. It will take leaders with significant skills working together to address our most important community issues. This is what Leadership Wichita is all about.”

Leadership Wichita was set in motion by the commitment and inspiration of Fred Berry, Chairman of the Berry Companies, Inc. Berry articulated his vision and Mr. Gary Sherrer, then of Bank IV, was asked to be the first Chair of the Leadership 2000 (now Leadership Wichita) trustees and quickly developed the first program model in early 1983. Together, Mr. Berry and Mr. Sherrer created an institutional framework that remains today, a leadership series that instills a greater depth of understanding for the community as a whole among its participants, enabling them to be more effective and engaged in their area of community interest.

Class of 2007 members:

• Mr. Hector Cortez, Director – Financial Reporting, Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
• Ms. Patricia Crowell, Director – ESG Marketing Education, LSI Corporation
• Mr. John DeCesaro, Account Executive, Armstrong/Shank Marketing Advertising and Public Relations
• Rev. Junius Dotson, Senior Pastor, Saint Mark United Methodist Church
• Mr. Daniel J. Eilert, Senior Vice President, Intrust Bank
• Ms. Debra Franklin, Regional Labor Force Analyst, CEDBR, Wichita State University
• Mr. Mark Gehrer, Business Development, Key Construction, Inc.
• Mr. Rick Griffin, Attorney, Martin Pringle Oliver Wallace & Bauer L.L.P.
• Ms. Heather Hogan, Director of Marketing and 100% Occupancy, Value Place Property Management
• Ms. Gail Jordan, Director of Integrated Services, Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas
• Ms. Welsly L. Kight, Internal Auditor Corporation, Hawker Beechcraft
• Ms. Angela Landwehr, Manager, Internal Communications, Cessna Aircraft Company
• Col. Leonard H. Mattingly, Maintenance Group Commander, Kansas Air National Guard
• Mr. Roger E. McClellan, General Counsel, Sherwood Construction
• Mr. Jamil C. Moody, Branch Manager, Commerce Bank
• Mr. Kenneth J. Rohling, Director Program Management, Bombardier Aerospace – Learjet
• Ms. Jamee Ross, Director of Development, Botanica
• Mr. Victor R. Scott II, Business Manager, Westar Energy
• Ms. Charlene Stevens, Assistant County Manager, Sedgwick County Government
• Mr. Thomas J. Stolz, Deputy Chief, Wichita Police Department
• Ms. Kylie Stupka, Director of Finance/Administration, Greater Wichita Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Ms. Alicia Thompson, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education, Wichita Public Schools
• Ms. Patricia Voth Blankenship, Partner, Foulston Siefkin L.L.P.
• Mr. Van Williams, Public Information Officer, City of Wichita

Members are selected through a nomination process; the program’s Board of Trustees selects 24 participants from the candidates who have submitted a formal application.

In its 25 years, more than 500 community leaders have participated in the Leadership Wichita program. The first session starts on Sept. 6 and concludes Nov. 29 with a recognition event. The focus of Leadership Wichita is to identify, inform and inspire leaders in the Wichita metro area for greater involvement in the community.

Twenty-five years of transforming the leadership of this community through Leadership Wichita is truly impressive. Recognizing the quality of these leaders is nothing short of inspiring.

###

Venture Boldly. Such a core belief is what makes the Chamber so pivotal in helping businesses achieve their full potential as we set bold and ambitious platforms in our never-ending pursuit to make our members successful.