Blog

Sometimes all it takes is a screwdriver and the will to figure it out. Hear how Andre Anderson Jr. applied this philosophy to his unique mobile automotive service business.

Starting out with a background in art, Robin Lies found her way into the jewelry business with Burnell’s Fine Jewelry. Learn how customer experience is at the forefront of creating a lasting legacy through business.

View Transcript Ever wonder what it was like to do branding and marketing for a professional sports team? Bob Moulette shares with Don and Ebony what it has been like to build the MLB affiliated Wind Surge from the ground up. The Wind Surge were ...

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.

After taking care of his own grandparents, it became clear to Doug Stark’s family that there was a clear need in Wichita to provide higher quality care for the elderly struggling with dementia. He is joined by Robert Miller as they share their journey with Don and Ebony to bring more compassionate care to Wichita.

For many years, it didn’t even dawn on Robert Moody that he could become a lawyer, but at the age of 35 he went back to school and now finds himself as a partner at Martin Pringle. He talks with Don and Ebony about his Leadership Wichita experience and how he is pulling others up to give them hope through our justice system.

It took a lot of phone calls, but the determination of Troy Brooks to be great eventually broke through as he created Greatness Vodka. He shares with Don and Ebony how he was inspired to create his own liquor brand in Wichita.

When sisters Deborah Gladney and Angela Muhwezi-Hall saw a need for the workers and employers in the service industry, they didn’t let their lack of tech knowledge hold them back from starting QuickHire. They share with hosts Don and Ebony how their tenacity led them to create a tech startup that is on the rise.

Julie Breault has always been focused on helping furry friends, but now with The Hairy Sofa she has created a business that gives dogs the VIP treatment. She shares with Don and Ebony how she has dealt with growth and struggles since opening in 2013.

Although Tricia Wilson and her husband, Brandon, didn’t expect to start their own business, they slowly moved from side-projects to creating Icon Structures. Tricia shares their journey of humble beginnings to statewide success with Don and Ebony.

Andrew Gough has shaken up the coffee scene in Wichita with Reverie Coffee Roasters. He shares with Don and Ebony his perspective on empowering and supporting employees and the community.

Vicki Bond has always been ready to pick up the phone. From growing and selling her own business to starting a new non-profit while attending Leadership Wichita, she shares with Don and Ebony how she has been inspired to lift up the community with the Raise My Head Foundation.

The first episode of 2022 starts with a bang as incoming Chamber Chair Damon Young joins the program. He shares his perspectives on leadership and entrepreneurship in Wichita with Don and Ebony and unveils the guest for the upcoming Chair’s Lunch at Intrust Bank Arena on February 9th.

Mary Billings explores the origin success story of Love of Character. Love of Character is a paper goods & party supplies shop based in Kansas.

It’s a milestone today as we hit 50 episodes! Danielle Johnson, Executive Director of the Wichita Habitat for Humanity joins Don and Ebony to share her experiences with the Leadership Wichita program and how it has impacted her perspective on the community.

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.

When it opened, The Monarch was not necessarily in the best location in Delano, but owner Jen Ray trusted her intuition and has been able to thrive over 9 years in business. She shares her challenges through the COVID pandemic with Don and Ebony and her perspective on the local business community.

We are excited to have the new Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, John Rolfe, join us to share his insight for what the Chamber does for our community. Listen now to get inside his vision for supporting businesses in our region.

Troy Houtman was always supposed to be an accountant, but he found a passion for growing communities through Parks and Recreation. He shares with Don and Ebony how the Leadership Wichita program challenged him in new ways and gave him a network of support across the city.

Josh Oeding and Mary Beth Jarvis aspire to grow the Wichita business scene through NXTUS by capturing the rapid change created by new startups. They share how all of us can be involved in supporting startup growth with Don and Ebony.

Being a dentist that intentionally considers their practice a business is rare. Dr. Ashley Humlicek talks with Don and Ebony about her unique perspective as a healthcare provider that focuses on her practice as an entrepreneurial opportunity.

When the pandemic started in 2020, Taishma Council saw business opportunities to support others in the midst of chaos. Through a team of virtual assistants, she shares with Don and Ebony how the Virtual Goals Assistant Agency helps others grow and become successful.

When businesses come to Kansas Business Services, LLC it’s about more than just business. Donna Wright shares with Don and Ebony how she and her son are supporting the community and culture through this work that they do.

When Brandon Gaide helped to start the strategy and innovation firm Sevenfold, he found an unlikely partnership with construction firm Hutton. Brandon shares with Don and Ebony how that partnership has allowed the creation of something new to help businesses make work more human.

Imagine for a moment just how much media has changed over the last 30 years, from TV and radio to internet and social media. Bonnie Tharp, founder of Copp Media, has been in the middle of that transition and shares her story of growth and transition with Don and Ebony.

In the world of providing marketing and media to the local Hispanic community, Claudia Yauiar-Amaro is all over the place. She shares with Don and Ebony how AB&C Bilingual Resources has created a bridge to the Spanish-speaking community in the Wichita area through intentional and thoughtful engagement.

The Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting is coming up. Which makes this a great time for us to catch up with the 2021 Chair Ben Hutton, CEO of Hutton. He joins Don and Ebony to talk about his leadership path as well as what to expect from special guest speaker Patrick Lencioni at the Annual Meeting.

View Transcript For the past 25 years, Steve Dixon has been helping others to live their best life through providing career opportunities at P.B. Hoidale. He shares with Don and Ebony his passion for the community and people in it while providing ...

Sometimes your super-power just finds you. That’s what happened to Dawn Monroe as she began her first job out of college helping others learn how to use WordPerfect and Lotus. From there, she shares with Don and Ebony how she built her own technical education business, Dawn Monroe Training, from the ground up.

There aren’t many companies that can claim they have been in business longer than electricity has been available in Wichita, but that’s what the four-generation Dondlinger Construction can hang their hard hat on. Tom Dondlinger and Raymond Dondlinger share with hosts Don and Ebony what has contributed to their long term success over a century in business.