Episode 61 - Wichita Chamber Business Accelerator - Anita Oberwortmann

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After decades in business, nothing scares Anita Oberwortmann. She shares her entrepreneurial origin story with Don and Ebony, revealing the key business lessons she has learned along the way.

Founder/President/CEO of Wilson Building Maintenance, Inc. a janitorial and building maintenance company and Metro Courier, Inc., a delivery service firm. 

In 1978, Anita started Wilson Building Maintenance with a broom and a mop. 43 years and over 200 employees later, Anita remains the CEO of the company. Anita purchased Metro Courier in 1999 and remains President and Owner along her son, James. Wilson services some of Wichita’s most prestigious facilities, some as large as 1.5 million square feet, and Metro Courier has grown from in-town courier deliveries to nationwide freight capabilities. 

Anita has served in various volunteer capacities. She took the lead on many committees and attained the level of President or Chair for many organizations. Her volunteer activity spans most of the 40 years she’s been in business. She was the first woman to be top volunteer for several organizations including Chairman for The Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce, President of the Wichita YMCA, President of the Quivira Council Boy Scouts of America and a four state region of the American Cancer Society. 

Anita has been recognized with honors from the American Cancer Society where she received the National Divisional Award St. George Medal. The Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing Office of Minority and Women Business Development recognized her with the Woman-Owned Service Industry Firm of the Year for three years. She is a Girl Scout Woman of Distinction, Blue Chip Enterprise Award Top State Designee and Small Business Administration Women in Business Advocate of the Year honoree. Other awards she has received include the Metro Award two years in a row. Rotary Club of Wichita Service Above Self Award, Youth Entrepreneurs Pillar Award, Boy Scouts of America Quivira Council Silver Beaver Award, Junior Achievement Hall of Fame Award, Wichita Business Journal Women in Business Hall of Fame Award and in the 20th Anniversary Issue of the Wichita Business Journal, Anita was—unsurprisingly—named as one of the top ten most influential women in Wichita.

Metro Courier, Inc.

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On this episode we discuss: 

• From scrubbing toilets to maintaining Koch Industries
• Organic growth of a business
• From small cars to 28 ft. freight trucks
• Why not all business is good business
• The Chamber is the center of the business community
• How her persistence has paid off
• Never be too reliant on one customer
• Nothing scares Anita

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Wichita Chamber Business Accelerator is a weekly podcast devoted to supporting and learning from area business owners. Released every Wednesday, it's produced by Forge Podcast Co, managed by the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Evergy. 

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