Taking Pride in Wichita

In case you missed it, Dan Powers, Office Managing Partner for Grant Thornton LLP, contributed this letter to the editor that ran in the Wichita Eagle last Sunday. There’s a great deal that makes me proud to be a Wichitan.  Nationally-recognized companies headquartered in our backyard. Being recognized as the Air Capital of the World. A thriving arts and cultural scene. But I understand there's room to improve in Wichita, similar to most cities. Dan Powers, Office Managing Partner of Grant Thornton LLP, shared his thoughts about working and living in Wichita with Chairman's Lunch participants on Thursday, February 11. The Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce’s recent Chairman’s Lunch brought together city, county and chamber leadership to discuss the four challenges that most plague Wichita: business cycle, human capital, entrepreneurial and perception (Feb. 12 Eagle). While these challenges are complex, other communities have successfully tackled similar hurdles. I’m proud to report that our community’s leadership echoed that we, Wichita, will do the same. But is it just up to our elected officials? To the businesses that promote Wichita as a place to live and work? No. It’s up to every single one of us. We’re already making great progress in each of these four areas, but are we communicating the activities already underway? Are we encouraging our peers to participate? Inspiring our neighbors to get involved? I ask you to stand in support of Wichita – the great community we are today, and the better community we’ll be tomorrow. Acknowledge that while we have work to do, we plan to do it together. Elected officials, business leaders and citizens working side-by-side will help us regain speed on a positive, economically impactful route. The challenges Wichita faces are significant and the consequences of failing to address them are profound. Nevertheless, events like the Chairman’s Lunch give me hope that, together, with a shared vision of the future, we’ll continue moving this great city forward. Let’s go make and be Wichita Proud. Follow these links for more information about the Feb. 11 Chairman's Lunch. Videos Event Photos Wichita Eagle article and video Wichita Business Journal article and photos