Episode 151 - Wichita Chamber Business Accelerator - Christina Long

Posted by: Hannah Crickman on Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Half of the guests on the podcast have mentioned her and now we get to hear directly from the legend, Christina Long. Don and Ebony explore with her how CML Collective and the Create Campaign have lifted other minority-owned businesses in the community.

Proudly located in the heart of Wichita, Kansas in the e2e Incubator/Accelerator, CML Collective is an award-winning company that takes projects from conceptualization to completion at highly-competitive rates. Their company executes using a streamlined service delivery model that keeps us nimble, responsive and able to provide excellent services at maximum value for their clients. They also prioritize maintaining a supply chain, vendor base and partner network that is nearly 100 percent Wichita-based.

Christina Long is an entrepreneur and community-builder who is passionate about diversity, inclusion and economic development through entrepreneurship. Long is a native of Wichita, Kansas; Wichita State University graduate and owner of CML Collective, LLC, an inclusive communication and design firm. She is also the Founding President/CEO of Create Campaign, Inc., a tax-exempt nonprofit she established to help urban entrepreneurs in Kansas to launch, innovate and grow.

Long leads the Wichita Urban E-Community, has served on the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors and is an author of her book, “For the Greater Success.” Her numerous honors include being named among 50 Kansans Who You Should Know by Ingram’s Magazine; earning the Chamber’s Exceptional Young Leader Award; receiving a Wichita Business Journal Leaders in Diversity Award and being named the Kansas Minority Business Advocate of the Year by the Kansas Department of Commerce’s Office of Minority and Women Business Development. Long is married to Jonathan and the couple has three brilliant children, Amarah, Malcolm and Jordyn.

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On this episode we discuss:

Starting out in journalism through the Wichita Eagle, covering the ethnic and minority communities
Small beginnings with a t-shirt company and evolving
Becoming a creator and not just a consumer
A time of homecoming
The critical need to create a flow of capital and mentoring for minority-owned businesses
The risk of missing the opportunity we currently have
“I am because we are”
Having birthday resolutions
A rising tide lifts all boats
What she learned from a red rubber ball

Listen on popular podcast directories and aggregators, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Pandora, and ICT Podcast Network or using the player above. Send feedback on this show and/or suggestions for future guests or topics by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or emailing communications@wichitachamber.org.

Preview: