Wichita's Keeper of the Plains and bridge at sunset

11.16.20

Wichita Entrepreneurship & Innovation Series Wraps First Session

The Wichita Entrepreneurship & Innovation Series concluded it’s four-month training program for small businesses and entreprenuers. The series focused on strengthening local emerging and disadvantaged businesses.

“Local, disadvantaged businesses create jobs,” said Ajamu Webster, CEO and founder of DuBois Consultants and a participant in the program. “And more often than not, they’re going to hire people in the same category.”

Fred McKinney, Ph. D., led the Wichita Entrepreneurship & Innovation series.

Renowned leader Fred McKinney, Ph. D., led the series. Dr. McKinney serves as Carlton Highsmith Chair for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and director of the People’s United center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Quinnipiac University.

“It has been my honor and my team’s honor to present to you guys over the past four months,” said Dr. McKinney.

The series was originally planned to be an in-person, immersive experience, but was moved to a virtual environment due to COVID-19. All sessions were also recorded and made available to participants. Each two-hour session focused on a different area of business: strategy, financing and financial management, marketing, economics and innovation. Dr. McKinney enlisted the help of Anthony Price, author and CEO of LootScout, Steven Rogers, retired Harvard University professor, Ramon Peralta, CEO of Peralta Design and Gerald Jaynes, Yale University professor. The instructors focused their presentations on how small business owners could capitalize on the COVID-19 economic crisis.

Open quote. The lineup of people that he brough in was very impressive, but I knew if Dr. Fred was a part of it, I knew the quality would be there and I would get a lot out of it. And that has definitely been the case. Close quote by Ajamu Webster, CEO and Founder of DuBois Consultants, LLC

In addition to the virtual classes, participants could also schedule one-on-one consulting sessions with the session leaders. Mark Daniels, co-owner of Wichita Cheesecake Company, was able to schedule time to discuss his company’s marketing strategy and current business model.

“Dr. Fred having dealt with Walmart and having been an entrepreneur himself was able to give me some feedback on things we might be able to do to position ourselves to take advantage of some of those channels,” said Daniels. “And then the same thing with Mr. Price…he even sent bullet points to me that I was able to look at and see how we can implement those things.”

Open quote. This session has exceeded by expectations! I'm already ending today with ideas and plans for expansion. Close quote by Ti'Juana Hardwell, Owner, Mamarazzi Communications, LLC.

All 70 program participants attended the series for free thanks to sponsorship by Alberici and Burns & McDonnell, the lead firms building the City’s new Northwest Water Facility and Evergy. The program was managed locally by Christina Long, President and CEO of Create Campaign and Owner of CML Collective, LLC.

“Projects, like Wichita’s new Northwest Water Facility, are a tremendous community investment,” said Ron Coker, Burns & McDonnell senior vice president, “and it’s important to Burns & McDonnell and our partners that we also make an investment in the community.”

Small business owners and entrepreneurs in Wichita tune into a Zoom session led by Dr. Fred McKinney.

“Thank you for bringing this program. It shows your company’s level of support for this community,” said Curtis Whitten, President & CEO of VendTech Enterprises, LLC. “I greatly appreciate this opportunity.”