ICT Summit: Panel discusses need to strive for excellence in city's vision

A discussion moderated by WBJ managing editor Kirk Seminoff during the ICT Summit on June 2 focused on the vision for Wichita's future and dove into the city's brand and talent attraction/retention, among other topics. Panelists included (from left to right on the stage): Sheree Utash (WSU Tech), Daniel White (AGH CPAs & Advisors), Mary Beth Jarvis (NXTUS), Luis Rodriguez (Keycentrix) and Angela Muhwezi-Hall (QuickHire).

During an ICT Summit session on Thursday, panelists dove into what Wichita should tout — and where it can improve — if it is to build a future that benefits all of the city's population.

"It's not always about bigger, but it should be about great," said NXTUS executive director Mary Beth Jarvis, when the panel was asked if Wichita has a hard time dreaming big.

Jarvis said the city does not have a problem hitting standards of excellence with projects — citing the downtown offices of Cargill, Hutton, IMA Financial Group and Martin Pringle Law Firm, as a few examples — but that the community should work more often to "translate that into things that are for the overall."

Angela Muhwezi-Hall, QuickHire co-founder, participated in a panel discussion about Wichita's future at the ICT Summit on June 2 at The Vail.

Sheree Utash, WSU Tech president, Daniel White, AGH CPAs & Advisors senior consultant, Keycentrix president Luis Rodriguez and QuickHire co-founder Angela Muhwezi-Hall joined Jarvis on the panel.

White said Wichita has work to do in building a culture of big aspirations that avoids complacency. Those in leadership positions around the community are key, he added.

"We've got to understand who we are and where we are going from high levels, and not just leave it to everyone to step up and say just do what you want to do," he said.

Rodriguez cautioned that one of the traits of the Midwest — "malignant politeness" — can also be a hurdle to making big progress at the pace that is needed.

"There's strength in our niceness, but it's also a weakness if we don't manage it," he said.

Earlier in the session, Utash said Wichita has a strong history to utilize and build upon.

"In my personal opinion, the 'Air Capital of the World' is a reputation and a brand that people would die to have in their cities," she said. "So keep it, hold it close and continue to build it. But let that not be your only brand and reputation and build onto it."

The importance of moving the community forward in order to attract and retain talent wove into multiple points of the conversation, including why it's key to promote Wichita's "wins" and progress.

Jarvis said the middle of the country has a "unique opportunity" right now, because people living on the coasts are taking a fresh look at where they live and work.

"I think the middle of the country —whether it's Tulsa, northwest Arkansas or Des Moines or Omaha and Wichita — has the opportunity to give more people the answer to their 'where.' And I think there is an all-ships-rise possibility, if we're willing to be more of the things that people are making individual choices about," Jarvis said.

While Wichita builds its vision, panelists talked about the need for equity, addressing parts of the city that have been neglected and using education as a tool.

Muhwezi-Hall said one of the biggest grievances she's heard from those who grew up in Wichita, left and are deciding whether to come back is what has happened to the neighborhoods of communities of color.

"When you're trying to tell someone who is an African-American individual who moves somewhere and say, 'why don't you consider Wichita,' they say, 'have you been to my neighborhood that I grew up in?'" she said. "There are no schools. There isn't a grocery store. Why would I go back to a place that is not investing in communities that look like me?"