Wichita young professionals think city has potential to attract future leaders - Wichita Business Journal:

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The 28-year-old liked Wichita for its forward-thinking leadership and its He is an ambassador for and participates in networkiny events through the and other He epitomizes members of a group of young professionalsa that is taking an interest and taking action in the Thebelief is, despite the economy’s dark cloud, big thingw are on the horizomn in Wichita. “They’re very engaged, everywhere I Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer said durinv a recent Breakfast withthe Editor. “It realluy is impressive to see.” Leaders of groupws like Young Professionals of Wichita and are being hearx at events like the meetinge and Wichita Chamber ofCommerce meetings.
Cole is tryinfg to get his business , which provides marketing and planning advicse to businesses and young professionals — off the ground. Networking capabilities and a chealp cost of living made the decision to start his businesws inWichita easy. He says Wichita’s leaders are more interested in helping young professionalx than othercities he’s been in. “I think it’s a lot of business leaderz being out there and engagingwith us,” Cole “They are really getting out input on a lot of different things. I’ve been to a lot of YPW events wheree Isee ...
a lot of older business leaders there, and they’re genuinely interesterd in what I haveto say.” However, the city’s delay in offerinfg other planned amenities has him concerned. “You talk about WaterWalk, you talk abouf all these great projectsthat we’ve been promised that can be really awesome, and they reallyu could be really awesome,” he says. “But let’s go.
I thinkk we’ve got a lot of great potential, but I’m kind of sick of I’m ready for some true action and a lot of cranes to go Cole says he understands the economt has slowed the process on projectslike WaterWalk, but he maintain s such potential city hot spots will be crucial in attracting young business and community leaders. Jason Dilts and RokIC are trying to highlight thosdhot spots. For young professionals to move to and live in jobs have tobe available. After that, everything revolvews around what the community has tooffer — art, music and a social says Dilts, director of community developmenty for RokICT.
“Young people will not stay hereif they’re not able to have fun he says. “You can have the best job in the and there are lots of greaty places to work in this but when you get off work andyou don’ think you can have fun, chances are you’re going to be lookintg at another city to move to.” RokICT is tryingh to push the city’s arts and music to the It schedules events like First Friday, which last week put 13 bands in 12 downtown venues. Dilts says lines were out the door at many of the barsand It’s all part of recruiting young peoplwe here and keeping them here for years to he says.