Leadership Wichita Announces 40th Anniversary Class

Thirty-one emerging leaders from South Central Kansas have been selected to participate in the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce's 2023 Leadership Wichita program. The 2023 class marks the 40th anniversary of the Leadership Wichita program, which aims to motivate individuals to take up influential roles in their community. This immersive program offers valuable insights into various areas such as local government, economic development, education and media.

These sessions provide participants with first-hand experiences like acting as principal for a day, doing a police ride-along, firearm simulation, meeting Wichita City Council Members and Sedgwick County Commissioners, influential business leaders, reporters, economists, students, inmates and more.

The program’s Board of Trustees selects each class from an extensive list of competitive applicants, who go through a rigorous application process.   

Leadership Wichita was introduced in 1983 with more than 1,000 local business, community, government and military leaders graduating from the program with a commitment to becoming stronger leaders for the community.

2023 Leadership Wichita Class

Nicole Alexander, Nicole Alexander Co.

Bobby Berry, Wichita State University

Tanya Bulluck, Child Start, Inc.

Matt Byrum, Hutton

Angela Cassette, Music Theatre Wichita

Renee Chaloupka, Thrive Restaurant Group

Brandon Converse, The Converse Team

Scott Elpers, Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce

Suzy Finn, Wichita Public Schools

Mandy Fouse, WSU Tech

Travis Francis, Ascension Via Christi Health

Brandon Gaide, Sevenfold

Alex Hamel, Spirit Aerosystems, Inc. 

Kristy Hawkins, The Arnold Group

David Hewlett, United States Air Force

Misti Hoheisel, Wichita Public Library

Wendy Hummell, Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office

Alex Ibarra, J.P. Weigand & Sons, Inc.

Sarah Leslie, Leslie Coffee Co.

Andre J. Mboule Jr., KAJ Hospitality

Jennifer Ray, The Monarch

Laura Ritterbush, Goodwill Industries of Kansas

Ben Sauceda, Kansas Aviation Museum

Tammi Schulte, Fidelity Bank

Dawn Shepler, Mental Health & Substance Abuse Coalition & WSU Public Policy & Management Center

Kristen Stinnett, Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office

Zach Theademan, Yingling Aviation

Cecilia Thibault, INTRUST Bank

Jennifer White, ICTSOS

Stephanie Wise, Street Commercial, Inc.

Tyler York, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran's Office  

For more information on the Chamber’s Leadership Wichita Program, please visit the Leadership Wichita page.