NXTUS Celebrates Organizational Growth, Leadership Transition, 2023 Board

Nonprofit announces expanded impact on entrepreneurs, a growing board, new CEO

NXTUS, Inc. today announced its incoming CEO and 2023 directors, while celebrating milestones in the expansion of its work to help innovators and entrepreneurs grow companies of significance in Kansas.

Mary Beth Jarvis, who joined the nonprofit as Executive Director in August 2019, becomes President and CEO in March. She succeeds Josh Oeding, who remains on the NXTUS board of directors. Since Oeding took the helm in July 2018, the organization has expanded the number of entrepreneurs served annually from 30 to nearly 400, helped mobilize more than $6 million in growth capital for startups in the region, and secured funding support from the private sector, leading regional foundations, and the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

“Under Josh’s leadership, NXTUS honed its focus, developed excellent programs and grew tremendously in its ability to secure assets,” said Erik Pedersen, NXTUS board Chair and President & COO for NetWork Kansas. “All of us on the board are excited for Mary Beth and the team to continue helping Kansas succeed in today’s innovation economy by giving growth-minded entrepreneurs the support they need.”

“It’s been an honor, and one of the highlights of my career, to lead this organization,“ said Oeding, who, in addition to his roles with NXTUS, is general partner of Tenzing Capital, a venture fund he founded in 2021. “I’m thankful for the support and collaboration we received from many within the community and proud of the significant milestones achieved. The work to support our innovators is never done, and I’m excited to keep doing that as I scale Tenzing Capital and continue my work with NXTUS as a board member.”

““The work we do to help entrepreneurs grow companies of significance is vital, and we’re at a pivotal time for it,” said Jarvis. “The NXTUS team and I are ready to keep expanding our impact on entrepreneurs’ journeys and helping Kansas design a ‘next us’ that enables our people and our economy to thrive.””

Adding to its leadership depth, NXTUS welcomes new board members Abel Frederic, John Messman and Tonya Witherspoon. Each brings a personal passion for community and economic growth to their service with NXTUS, as well as unique professional experience.

Frederic, Vice President of Community Impact with United Way of the Plains, adds nonprofit operations and development experience. Messman, principal partner of the Messman Group, is a veteran startup investor with deep organizational- and talent-management expertise. Witherspoon, Wichita State University’s Associate Vice President of Industry Engagement and Applied Learning, will help NXTUS continue to engage with key people and projects driving the region’s future in workforce and talent development, technology and innovation.

For 2023, Pedersen will remain NXTUS board chair and Trish Brasted, President of Entrepreneurial Growth Ventures for NetWork Kansas, continues her tenure as Treasurer. Board member Luis Rodriguez, President of keycentrix™, is the new board Secretary. Other NXTUS board members continuing their service include Oeding; Kaye Monk-Morgan, incoming President and CEO of the Kansas Leadership Center; and Gary Oborny, CEO and Chairman of Occidental Management.

Bill Gardner, owner of Gardner Design, and Kylie Stupka, President of Empowered, have completed their board service, having helped lead NXTUS through three years of continued growth and development. To learn more about the organization’s positive impact on entrepreneurs, see the NXTUS 2022 Annual Report.