Wichita State News: W. Frank Barton School of Business

New CEDBR research gives insight into local economy

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:55:00 CST

The June Wichita State University Current Conditions and Leading Economic Index are now available at www.index.CEDBR.org.

The current index is up 0.5 percent from March to April, due mostly from small improvements in total non-farm employment and the unemployment rate.

The leading index is up 0.4 percent from the March level. This can be attributed to an improvement in the Kansas Leading Index component.

WSU's Center for Economic Development and Business Research has compiled the current and leading indices to provide insights into the present and future state of the Wichita economy.

The WSU Current Conditions Index is designed to give an indication of the present conditions of the Wichita metropolitan area economy.

The WSU Leading Economic Indicators Index is designed to give an indication of where the Wichita economy is headed over the next six months.

Scherz named new WSU faculty athletic representative

Thu, 6 Jun 2013 07:00:00 CST

Julie Scherz

For the first time in nearly 40 years, Wichita State University has a new faculty representative for athletics.

Julie Scherz, associate professor in communication disorders and sciences, has assumed the role handled the past 38 years by Marty Perline, who has stepped down.

However, Perline will continue as an economics professor in the Barton School of Business.

Scherz was recommended to President John Bardo by Athletic Director Eric Sexton. She assumed her additional responsibilities on June 1. The appointment is made annually, although Scherz has made a three-year commitment to the position.

"On behalf of the thousands of student-athletes, coaches, administrators, staff and fans that make up the Shocker Nation, I would like to thank Marty for his service to Wichita State Athletics as the faculty representative," said Sexton. "Wichita State is better because of his dedication to the position. He, and his wife, Donna, have also been a fixture at athletic events, and we look forward to continue to see them cheering on the Shockers."

Scherz is currently a member of the InterCollegiate Athletic Association Board at Wichita State, and is no stranger to WSU athletics.

"I am extremely pleased with the appointment of Julie Scherz to the faculty rep post," said Sexton. "She has been a member of the InterCollegiate Athletic Association since 2010, and has great input. Our student-athletes, coaches and staff will find her an asset and a great communicator. We all look forward to working more closely with her in this capacity."

Liasison between academics, athletics

The primary focus of the position is to serve as the liaison between academics and athletics.

"I see my primary responsibility as assuring a positive overall experience for WSU's student-athletes," said Scherz. "I am eager to begin working with the terrific staff in the athletic department who oversee the real work in this endeavor."

Scherz enjoys following Shocker athletics. However, Scherz claims she isn't receiving this appointment for her athleticism, jokingly describing herself as a klutz.

Each semester the faculty athletic representative certifies eligibility for all athletes and all teams. The representative also meets with all new athletes at their orientation meeting.

In addition, Scherz will attend various Missouri Valley Conference meetings and meet with the athletic director, staff and coaches as needed.

Acting director named for WSU's Center for Entrepreneurship

Wed, 29 May 2013 10:21:00 CST

Lou Heldman

Lou Heldman, an experienced business and campus leader, has been named acting director of the Wichita State University Center for Entrepreneurship, effective June 2.

His appointment was announced by Cindy Claycomb, interim dean of the W. Frank Barton School of Business, and Keith Pickus, interim provost of the university.

The center is part of the Barton School.

"Lou's extensive management experience and business contacts will be helpful in advancing the center's mission to encourage entrepreneurial thinking through education, research and community outreach," said Claycomb.

Heldman led the Elliott School of Communication the past two years as interim director.

Heldman had a career in newspapers and websites before coming to Wichita at the beginning of 2002 as president and publisher of The Wichita Eagle and Kansas.com. He retired from the Eagle in 2007 and joined WSU as Distinguished Senior Fellow in Media Management and Journalism.

In the Elliott School, he has taught courses focusing on the impact of the Internet on media, business and society. In the Barton School, he has conducted seminars for the Center for Entrepreneurship and the Center for Management Development. He is a graduate of Ohio State University and the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School.

"I have had a strong interest in the Center for Entrepreneurship since arriving in Wichita," said Heldman. "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with the talented staff of the center and the faculty of the Barton School to extend Wichita State's support of the Kansas economy."

Patenting activity on the rise in Kansas

Tue, 7 May 2013 08:41:00 CST

In 2012 there were 2,756 patents granted to inventors living in Kansas. This represented 1.90 patents per 1,000 workers, slightly below the national average of 1.96 patents per 1,000 workers.

Although the current level of patenting activity in Kansas is below the national average, the growth in patenting activity of 6.3 percent in Kansas between 1980 and 2012 was above the average annualized rate, among the states, of 5.3 percent.

The Wichita State University Center for Economic Development and Business Research has analyzed the Strumsky Patent Database of The Brookings Institution for each Metropolitan Statistical Area in Kansas.

Go here to read the full report.

Claycomb named interim dean of WSU's business school

Thu, 2 May 2013 09:15:00 CST

Cindy Claycomb

Cindy Claycomb has been named interim dean of the W. Frank Barton School of Business, effective June 2, according to Keith Pickus, interim provost at Wichita State University.

Claycomb will be interim dean for the 2013-2014 academic year while a national search is conducted for a permanent dean.

"Dr. Claycomb demonstrated great leadership as co-chair of the WSU strategic planning steering committee this past year," said Wichita State President John Bardo. "I'm confident that she will accept this next challenge with the same enthusiasm, energy and commitment."

The change was necessitated when Doug Hensler, the current dean, announced recently that he is leaving Wichita State to assume the position of provost at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif.

"Dr. Claycomb has developed great relationships in the community and on campus," said Pickus. "She will help ensure that the W. Frank Barton School of Business continues to move forward in the coming year."

Claycomb joined the WSU faculty in 1994 as an assistant professor of marketing and entrepreneurship in the Barton School of Business. She was promoted to associate professor in 2000, and to full professor in 2006.

In 2004, she was awarded a teaching fellowship and became the Neff Family Fellow in Business. She won the 2003 Wichita State University Board of Trustees' Award for Leadership in the Advancement of Teaching. In 1996, she won the Barton School's "Instructor of the Year" award.

Claycomb won the Barton School's "Researcher/Writer of the Year" award in 2004 and 2000. She held a Barton Fellow position in the Barton School during 2002, 2003, 2011 and 2012. These fellowships recognize quality research.

Before coming to Wichita State, Claycomb held several management positions in her 10 years with Pizza Hut Inc.

Claycomb received her doctoral degree in marketing at Oklahoma State University and her master's and undergraduate degrees at Wichita State.

Her areas of expertise are marketing management, sales, retail, services marketing, relationship marketing and supply chain management.

WSU announces spring commencement schedule, speakers

Wed, 1 May 2013 10:14:00 CST

More than 2,200 students are eligible to participate in the 115th spring commencement ceremonies Friday and Saturday, May 17-18, at Wichita State University. Ceremonies will be held in Charles Koch Arena.

Undergraduate and graduate degrees will be conferred in individual college ceremonies.

Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
More than 800 liberal arts and sciences students are eligible to participate in commencement exercises at 3 p.m. Friday, May 17. Kenny Wilk will represent the Kansas Board of Regents. The commencement speaker will be Mike James, president of the Critical Care Systems subsidiary at Express Scripts.

College of Health Professions
About 400 health professions students are eligible to participate in commencement at 7 p.m. Friday, May 17. Kenny Wilk will represent the Kansas Board of Regents. The commencement speaker will be Dr. Paul Uhlig, Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Central Plains Cardiothoracic Surgery.

W. Frank Barton School of Business
About 275 business students are eligible to participate in commencement at
8 a.m. Saturday, May 18. Robba Moran will represent the Kansas Board of Regents. The commencement speaker will be Wayne Chambers, president and CEO of High Touch Technologies.

College of Education
Almost 300 education students are eligible to graduate in a ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 18. Robba Moran will represent the Kansas Board of Regents. The speaker will be Brad Neuenswander, deputy commissioner for Learning Services for the Kansas State Department of Education.

College of Engineering
More than 320 engineering students are eligible to graduate in a ceremony at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 18. Dan Lykins will represent the Kansas Board of Regents. The commencement speaker will be John Lovitt, former senior executive for Rational Software and former CEO of Pattern Insight.

College of Fine Arts
About 100 fine arts students are eligible to graduate in a ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 18. Dan Lykins will represent the Kansas Board of Regents. The speaker will be Bob Workman, director of the Ulrich Museum of Art at Wichita State University.

Employment outlooks released for Kansas, Wichita

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:05:00 CST

The Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University will release the Kansas and Wichita employment forecasts on Tuesday, April 30.

Both forecasts will be available at www.outlook.cedbr.org.

For additional information, call Jeremy Hill, director of the CEDBR, at 316-213-3673.

Wichita State University unveils strategic plan

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:45:00 CST

Strategic Plan background

A strategic plan defines the future of an organization. Wichita State University's strategic plan will shape the future of the university, guide decision-making and determine resource allocations.

The new plan will be used to guide the next phase of strategic planning at Wichita State University. In the next phase, all departments will create plans appropriate to their areas that respond to the institution's strategic plan.

Changes in direction and resource allocations are likely as everyone on campus strives to accomplish the lofty vision and the big audacious goals set out by the institution's strategic plan.

John Bardo

On Sept. 5, 2012, Wichita State University President John Bardo kicked off a campus and community-wide strategic planning process for the university. He appointed a steering committee composed of WSU faculty, staff and students, along with leaders from the larger Wichita community, and charged them with developing a strategic plan for Wichita State University.

Since that time, the steering committee received thousands of comments from students, faculty, staff, community leaders, business people and others with a stake in the future of WSU, Wichita and the region. The goal of the steering committee was to use this input to map a strategic course for the university. To create a new strategic plan the steering committee thoughtfully analyzed this large body of work. The result is a phenomenal integration of the comments received to create an exciting and energizing strategic direction for Wichita State University.

The steering committee's work is almost complete with today's (Thursday, April 25) preview of the new strategic plan for Wichita State University. Following several meetings to reveal this new plan to interested groups, a formal document will be finalized in the summer of 2013. The details of the draft plan follow.

The new vision — Wichita State University is internationally recognized as the model for applied learning and research — means that WSU will aspire to be "the model" not simply "a model" for requiring students to apply their skill sets in practical or real world contexts.

The new mission — The mission of Wichita State University is to be an essential educational, cultural and economic driver for Kansas and the greater public good — identifies WSU's unique niche in the higher education system of Kansas.

Goal 1: Guarantee an applied learning or research experience for every student by each academic program.

Ensures that every student will study a curriculum that engages them in real world experiences that allows them to develop and apply their skill sets, preparing them for jobs upon graduation.

Goal 2: Pioneer an educational experience for all that integrates interdisciplinary curricula across the university.

Ensures that faculty will work across disciplines to create integrated student experiences to develop students' critical thinking skills and help them make important connections between their fields, society and culture.

Goal 3: Capitalize systemically on relevant existing and emerging societal and economic trends that increase quality educational opportunities.

Ensures a process where all new initiatives exploit relevant existing or emerging trends including social, business, technology, demographic, policy or economic trends that add to the educational opportunities in Kansas.

Goal 4: Accelerate the discovery, creation and transfer of new knowledge.

Improves the educational, cultural and economic well-being of Kansas through increased quantity and quality of research projects that enhance the reputation of WSU, attract funding, or lead to new products by advancing knowledge, producing intellectual property, or transferring knowledge for practical application.

Goal 5: Empower students to create a campus culture and experience that meets their changing needs.

Allows students to create a desired destination campus by stepping away from dictating to students what they should want, or what we think they want, in a student experience.

Goal 6: Be a campus that reflects — in staff, faculty and students — the evolving diversity of society.

Ensures successful fulfillment of WSU's mission by mirroring the variety of types of people found in society.

Goal 7: Create a new model of assessment, incentive and reward processes to accomplish our vision and goals.

Develops an integrated reward system that breaks down the insularity that exists across the colleges on campus.

For full details of the strategic plan see:
http://wichita.edu/wsustrategy.

Senior found opportunity for involvement, success at WSU

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:11:00 CST

To have a well-rounded university experience, students are often encouraged to participate in activities outside of classes. Senior Laura Schlapp has heeded the advice, taking advantage of the opportunities that Wichita State has provided her.

Schlapp, an integrated marketing communications major and management minor, has been an active student at WSU for four years. She is the marketing and media director for Barton International Group (BIG), a member of Delta Gamma sorority, a mentor in the Emerging Leaders program and Order of Omega treasurer. She was also involved in Student Government Association.

Through BIG, she traveled to China in August 2012 for two weeks. The group of 11 students visited Beijing and Shanghai for exposure to international business and a different way of life.

"I think the most impactful thing for me was the culture," said Schlapp. "I also really enjoyed learning about the businesses we visited because they were more on the manufacturing side of companies."

During the trip, they also spent time at famous locations such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and Tienaman Square.

Preparing for the future

Besides involvement in student organizations, Schlapp, who will graduate in December 2013, also gained valuable experience through jobs and internships.

Schlapp is now the part-time communications assistant for U.S. Rep. Mike Pompeo and the Fourth District of Kansas office. She runs his Facebook and Twitter pages and sends out media advisories and press releases to various publications. When Pompeo is in town, Schlapp accompanies him around the community to schools, chambers of commerce and media interviews.

"It has been a great experience because it directly ties with my major," she said.

After graduation, Schlapp is considering graduate school.

During summer 2012, Schlapp held an internship in Washington, D.C., with U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas. There she answered phones, spoke with constituents, gave tours of the Capitol to visiting Kansans, sorted mail, answered letters, attended and summarized briefings, and worked on special projects.

"I really enjoyed working with Sen. Roberts," Schlapp said. "Also, his staff was so nice and was really great about letting me do things with them so I could experience new things."

While in D.C., Schlapp recalled a few memorable sightings of politicians.

"I brushed shoulders with John Kerry, so that was exciting," she said. "Also, John McCain almost ran me over when he was jogging off to the Senate floor."

Schlapp has also been working in the Vice President for Administration and Finance office for four years.

The Wichita State experience

At Wichita State, Schlapp said she has learned a lot and grown as a person, especially through the help of WSU faculty.

"I have personal relationships with a lot of faculty here, not just in the Elliott School of Communication, but also in the business school, and through my job and other organizations," she said.

Schlapp also loves the energy and pride that people have for the university. For example, she traveled to the Final Four in Atlanta, and was impressed by the hundreds of students willing to drive 15 hours to watch their school play for a chance at the national championship.

"It speaks about the community at WSU, and if you get involved and really buy into the WSU life, you can have an amazing college experience and meet some great people," she said.

Schlapp said that in her experience at Wichita State, she doesn't see strangers on campus because of the school's close community and her involvement at the university.

"I have met mentors, my best friends and some great people who I love working with," she said. "I love being at WSU and take pride in where I come from."

WSU's Wichita Area Economic Outlook Conference set for Oct. 3

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:16:00 CST

Wichita State University will present Wichita's Economic Outlook 2012 Review and 2013 Forecast at the 34th Annual Wichita Area Economic Outlook Conference from 7:30-11:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, at the Century II Convention Hall.

Jeremy Hill

Jeremy Hill, director of WSU's Center for Economic Development and Business Research, will be the main presenter.

The cost of the conference is $95, which includes breakfast.

Registration is not open yet. Check www.agenda.cedbr.org beginning June 1 for speaker and registration information.

For more detailed information, contact Jeremy Hill at 316-978-3225 or jeremy.hill@wichita.edu.

Research helps WSU sophomore prepare for grad school, career

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:28:00 CST

Wichita State University sophomore Matt Conklin is taking advantage of opportunities usually pursued by graduate students.

He recently conducted a research project titled "The Future of the Aerospace Industry in Kansas: State Politics and Middle East Influence" for the Kansas Undergraduate Research Forum.

The goal was to show Kansas' elected officials the negative economic impact of decreasing higher education funding by relating it to the aerospace industry. Conklin, who is majoring in history and economics, integrated his personal interest in Middle East development, which highlighted how new markets can play a role in the state's success.

"My work for the Undergraduate Research Forum project is specifically tailored as a policy recommendation to state legislators, persuading them to preserve and hopefully increase current levels of higher education funding," said Conklin.

His argument includes several main points.

• Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) institutions, such as WSU, contribute billions of dollars to the state's economy.

• The Kansas aerospace industry, one of the highest Gross Domestic Product percentages in the country, relies on KBOR schools to produce competitive graduates prepared to enter the global workforce.

• Cutting higher education funding at a time when the government faces a future revenue shortfall will not stimulate economic growth; relying on private investment in education will also hurt growth.

• Emerging markets in the Middle East are an example of how supportive higher education policies are necessary to maintain Kansas' competitive advantage in the global aerospace industry.

The research process

Within the past year, Conklin traveled to Jordan, Israel and Morocco. The trip helped him legitimize his cultural perspective. He also gathered supporting quantitative information from consultant reports, industry forecasts, governmental materials and media outlets.

Clyde Stoltenberg, professor in the W. Frank Barton School of Business, was Conklin's research adviser for the project.

"My role was to serve as a sounding board to help identify a good project that would make sense to Matt based on his experience, knowledge and interest," said Stoltenberg. "It also needed to be feasible in scope and of interest to the business and public policy community."

On April 3, Conklin will present his findings to state legislators in Topeka, Kan.

Enhancing university experience

Conklin, from Winfield, Kan., began pursuing research opportunities in order to prepare for law school after graduation and to get an advantage when applying for national scholarships.

"By gaining exposure to research and practicing various methods at this point in my undergraduate career, I hope to gain the skills and credentials to be a competitive candidate for the caliber of programs I would like to attend," he said.

Stoltenberg said that students should pursue studies that interest them and have the possibility of benefiting the public.

"For undergraduates, research helps to form the link between learning and application," said Stoltenberg.

Conklin is excited that Wichita State is focusing more on undergraduate research. He is now in the beginning stages of a project on relations between the United States and United Arab Emirates for WSU's honors research seminar class.

"Providing opportunities for students interested in research is instrumental in preparing us for success in graduate school and beyond," said Conklin. "More students should pursue research at WSU because it greatly enhances the overall university experience."

Independent inventors conference set for April at Wichita State

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 09:28:00 CST

The 2013 Kansas Regional Independent Inventors Conference, co-sponsored by Wichita State University's Center for Innovation and Enterprise Engagement (CIEE) and the U.S. Patent and Trade Office (USPTO), will be held April 18-20 at the National Center for Aviation Training facility, 4004 N. Webb Road in Wichita.

The event is open to the public. For more information go to http://www.wichita.edu/j/?2095, call 316-978-6487 or email kimberly.moore@wichita.edu.

Cost is $90. Space is limited, so register early at http://www.wichita.edu/j/?2094.

A pre-conference workshop the evening of April 18 will provide attendees with an overview and prepare them to get the most out of the conference. Over the next two days, attendees will have the opportunity to hear inspiring and informative presentations from experts in the field of entrepreneurship and marketing.

Guest speakers include Marcia Stevens, regional director of WSU Kansas Small Business Development Center; Wayne Bell, district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration; and A.J. Anderson, director of the Wichita District Office for the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Keynoting the event will be Bruce Kisliuk, USPTO deputy commissioner for patent administration.

Experts from the USPTO will also address the process of applying for a patent or trademark and provide insight on the many initiatives and programs to assist applicants available through the USPTO.

A sampling of the presentations offered at the conference includes workshops on advanced claim drafting and how to conduct a search of trademarks. Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet in brief one-on-one sessions with USPTO staff and intellectual property professionals to discuss specific intellectual property concerns.

The 2013 Kansas Regional Independent Inventors Conference provides an opportunity for individuals to network with other like minds about the inventor process. In this down economy, more and more people are taking an idea for a nifty invention they've been kicking around in their head and trying to develop it.

The conference is an opportunity for area entrepreneurs to learn not only about patents and intellectual property, but also the examination process and how patents provide legal protection (through claims). Attendees will learn about the incentives a patent offers, as well as how to leverage it for investment and licensing potential. Experts will be on hand to share information about the many various programs offered by government agencies.

$25,000 up for grabs at Shocker Business Plan Competition

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:31:00 CST

The Center for Entrepreneurship at Wichita State University will hold its seventh annual Shocker Business Plan Competition this April.

The competition is designed to encourage student innovation and provide a forum where students from any major can present new business ideas to more than 250 local business leaders, including entrepreneurs and investors.

It is open to all enrolled students from any four-year university or college in the state of Kansas. Students may register as a team or individually.

The Shocker Business Plan Competition is a multi-round competition. The competition begins with the screening round. Competitors submit a shortened business plan that is evaluated by judges from the local community. The top 16 teams from the screening round move on to the trade show at 3 p.m. Friday, April 19, at WSU.

The Trade Show is open to invited teams, faculty advisers and judges. The top eight teams from the trade show will compete in the semi-finals.

The top four teams from the semi-finals will present at the final round of competition at 2 p.m. Friday, May 3 , in WSU's Devlin Hall. The final round is free and open to the public.

The day ends with the annual Center for Entrepreneurship Banquet and Awards Ceremony from 6-9 p.m. at the Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview in downtown Wichita.

Keynote

This year's keynote speaker for the banquet is Charlie Chandler, chairman, president and CEO of Intrust Bank.

The banquet is open to the general public. Individual tickets can be purchased for $35 each.

More than $25,000 in prizes will be awarded to the top teams whose new venture ideas have the greatest potential to successfully launch. Previous winners include: Aqua Audio, Advanced Mobile Healthcare, Fairmount Technologies, Quince by Melissa, and Petro Power.

For more detailed information regarding the competition, contact (316) 978-3000, bizplancompetition@wichita.edu, or visit the competition website at www.wichita.edu/BP.

Two area high schoolers win WSU's $20,000 Jabara scholarship

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 10:52:00 CST

Two Wichita-area high school students are winners of the 2013-2014 Professor Fran Jabara Scholarship in Entrepreneurship at Wichita State University.

Katie Deutsch, a senior at Wichita High School East, and Everett Lacy, a senior at Maize South High School, are the recipients.

The scholarship is one of the most prestigious at WSU and one of the largest entrepreneurship scholarships nationally.

It awards each recipient $20,000 over four years.

To compete, a student must have a minimum ACT score of 24, a GPA of 3.5 or better and be a declared entrepreneurship major.

The Jabara Scholarship was established in 1998 and is named for Fran Jabara, former dean of the College of Business Administration at WSU.

Along with the financial benefits, winners also are mentored by Jabara during their stay at the university.

Katie Deutsch
Deutsch is the daughter of Steven and Cindy Deutsch. While at Wichita State, she plans to study business administration, with a major in entrepreneurship and marketing along with a minor in Spanish.

Katie Deutsch

She is a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society, as well as the Wichita Mayor's Youth Council and DECA, an international association of marketing students.

Deutsch has been on the East High honor roll all four years of high school and finished second at the DECA Central Regional Competition last year.

A babysitter since 2007 with Seven Neighborhood Families, Deutsch also worked in hospitality for Catholic Care Center.

Everett Lacy

Everett Lacy
Lacy is the son of Chad and Jessica Lacy. He plans to major in entrepreneurship, with a minor in journalism at WSU.

He is a member of the National Honor Society and has lettered academically and in band and cross country.

Lacy is a member of his church's tech team and works as a cashier at Chick-Fil-A.

Entrepreneur seminar has something for every business owner

Wed, 6 Feb 2013 13:04:00 CST

The Center for Entrepreneurship at Wichita State University is offering a spring series of seminars designed for entrepreneurs and small businesses seeking to keep up with the latest changes in conducting business in today's dynamic economic times.

The first seminar is from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, in 010 Devlin Hall. To register, go to http://www.wichita.edu/j/?2024.

Andrea Feodorov, director of social media marketing and Web analytics for the Social Analyst, will present "Drive Sales and Increase Customers Overnight with Google AdWords."

The program is open to students for $5 and general public for $45 a session including all materials. The session is set up to accommodate business owners who have limited time to spend away from the office.

This event is part of the center's "Practical Entrepreneur Training Tools" series, which will run with different speakers throughout the spring. The various topics aim to position entrepreneurs and small businesses to change quickly and respond to the current business climate.

Tim Pett

Whether a start-up or established business, these programs will provide you with the skills and knowledge to succeed.

"The focus is to help entrepreneurs take a new tool and apply it to their business in order to remain competitive one challenge at a time," said Tim Pett, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship.

For more information, go to www.wichita.edu/PE or contact Wendy Veatch at (316) 978-5219 or wendy.veatch@wichita.edu.