Author: KansasBizNews

Bell Textron —  an aerospace manufacturer with facilities in Wichita — in September announced Boeing as an authorized and endorsed supplier providing Used Serviceable Material (USM) products for Bell 212 and Bell 412 helicopter customers and maintainers.Boeing said in a press release it will offer a continuous supply of safe, quality and dependable parts supported by its global supply chain network.“Kansas is a major center for aviation manufacturing and maintenance,” said Kansas Chamber President & CEO Alan Cobb. “Both Bell and Boeing are valued members of the Chamber, and we commend and congratulate them for this agreement. Partnerships like this…

Hinkle Law Firm announced 28 of its attorneys have been named to the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America list. The publication also recognized three additional attorneys at the Wichita-based firm as “Ones to Watch.”The peer-reviewed guide recognizes top lawyers by practice area and geographic region. Attorneys on the list are nominated and undergo a rigorous vetting process.”We are pleased that 28 of our attorneys have been included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America,” Hinkle Law Firm Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer Melissa Smith told KansasBizNew.com. “The recognition is a reflection of the…

More picture highlights from the event below.The 2023 Kansas Congressional Fly-In, hosted by the Kansas Chamber, Heartland Black Chamber, and Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce, took place this week in Washington, D.C. The event brings together Kansas business leaders to meet with the Kansas congressional delegation and learn about the latest issues and policies affecting Kansas businesses.“It’s been another great year for the Fly-In,” said Kansas Chamber Vice President of Communications Sherriene Jones-Sontag. “It’s such a valuable opportunity for Kansas business leaders to connect with their elected officials, learn about the latest issues and policies affecting their businesses, and network…

Voting Now Open For Coolest Thing Made In Kansas – People’s Choice Tournament – Round #1The Kansas Manufacturing Council (KMC) on Tuesday announced the 16 products that made it into the 2023 Coolest Thing Made In Kansas – People’s Choice Tournament.”Kansans cast thousands of votes for their favorite products during this year’s nomination round. The top 16 vote getters are a great representation of the diverse items made in Kansas communities across the state,” said KMC Executive Director Brandie McPherson. “We are excited to get this year’s tournament started.”Click here to read the list of the products that qualified for…

The number of Kansans participating in apprenticeships increased by 37.9 percent, from 3,200 in September 2022 to nearly 4,400 currently. The Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship added 49 new job titles to the apprenticeship pipeline. These efforts strengthen workforce development and economic growth in Kansas.Wednesday marked one year since Governor Laura Kelly established the Office of Registered Apprenticeship.“The Kansas Chamber’s workforce priorities include growing the number of apprenticeships available throughout the state,” said Kansas Chamber President & CEO Alan Cobb. “We applaud the Office of Registered Apprenticeship for helping build a stronger workforce for the future by providing Kansans with…

The Kansas Business Hall of Fame (KBHF) announced retired BNSF Railroad President and CEO Carl Ice and late Salina entrepreneur and business owner Charlie Walker will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 4, at Emporia State University.The Kansas Business Hall of Fame exists to celebrate the heritage and history of the outstanding Kansas business community and recognize individuals who have made remarkable contributions in the state. “KBHF recognizes historical contributors and present-day leaders who have made private enterprise work in Kansas and throughout the country,” said KBHF Executive Director John Rich. KBHF…

The Kansas Chamber has named William Wilk as its Senior Director of Government Affairs. For the last two years, Wilk worked for Devine, Donley, & Murray Governmental Affairs where he was responsible for building relationships with legislators, attending committee hearings, and writing reports on key policy issues. “With his experience at the statehouse and understanding of the legislative process, William is well-equipped to join the Kansas Chamber’s efforts in advocating for policies that promote economic growth and prosperity in the state of Kansas. We are excited to welcome him to the Chamber team and look forward to the positive impact he…

Integra Technologies recently chose Don Warring as its Vice President of Quality. Warring has 35 years of engineering and quality management experience for companies including Motorola, ON Semiconductor and International Rectifier. His background includes manufacturing, reliability engineering, cost reduction, yield enhancement and quality improvement. Warring graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He continued postgraduate coursework and training in Statistics, ASQ Quality Management, Semiconductor Failure Mechanisms, ISO/AS Standards. In early February, Integra announced it would invest 1.8 billion in a large-scale facility in Wichita in exchange for $304 million in state tax incentives. This…

Its unique connection to Kansas brought the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to the President Dwight D. Eisenhower Library in Abilene to celebrate its 70th Anniversary. SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman joined Kansas elected officials and more than 100 other Kansans at the library to recognize SBA’s seventy years of service to small business owners. “For 70 years, the U.S. Small Business Administration has helped entrepreneurs gain the know-how and the funding to start and grow,” said SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. “The results are undeniable: In the seven decades since its founding, the SBA has financed billions, fueled some…

Phil Hayes, a longtime member of Kansas Society Human Resource Management (KS SHRM) and the Kansas Chamber, received the Father Becker Award for his major contributions to unemployment insurance research and transformative impact in the state of Kansas from the National Foundation for Unemployment Compensation and Workers’ Compensation.  Hayes is a longtime Kansas advocate who has assisted for years with reforms to the Kansas Unemployment Insurance program.“Phil Hayes is most deserving of this national recognition!  He has been THE unemployment insurance expert in Kansas, volunteering countless hours since 2013 to help with significant restructuring of the Kansas UI tax structure,…