Dear Chamber Supporters,
At the beginning of the year, I was approached by the Ottawa Lions Club, which shared that our community was chosen to hold the Annual District Convention for the 60+ clubs in their region. This event is held in a new location each year and brings seventy or more individuals from various clubs who can be represented, this year's event was held this last Saturday at The Bottle House. Our local club finally got desperate enough and asked if I could welcome these individuals to town at the beginning of their gathering—after apparently exhausting all other options.... nevertheless, I graciously accepted and was thrilled to join them (picture here of that morning)! I was able to share a bit of history, some of the things that make Ottawa/Franklin County special, and what cool things are in the works. I asked the group if this was anyone’s first time in town and about twenty or so individuals had never been to Ottawa before. I’m thankful to the Ottawa Lions for introducing our community to a host of people who may have never popped their heads in otherwise!
Reggies Wenyika's Legacy at Ottawa University
I feel very honored to write this blurb about a gentleman who has played an integral role in shaping our university and the greater community over the last six years. As of Wednesday this week, Dr. Reggies Wenyika has stepped down as President of Ottawa University (full press release here). When I arrived on campus at Ottawa University in 2015 as a freshman, I would have had the opportunity to have Kevin Eichner as our University President. Along with our campus, he also would have overseen the growing online campus and spearheaded the creation of OUAZ in Surprise, Arizona as well. This workload was undoubtedly immense and pulled him in all directions at once. Over the next 2-3 years, OU created a new position (Chancellor) to rightfully manage all campuses, opening a President role specifically for OU in Ottawa. As a student at the time, this move felt long overdue; the college felt like there was a hole left where the university leader should be. Once the vacancy was opened, Ottawa University’s board and search committee hired Dr. Reggies Wenyika. From that moment on, Dr. Regg chose to bless our university through his leadership as President. From the student’s perspective, Dr. Regg made an immediate impact with his infectious enthusiasm and genuine desire to connect with the campus. Throughout my undergrad and graduate studies, I felt as though the student body was seen and heard, as there was an uplifting nature to Reggies’ leadership―even in some of the most challenging times in 2020 and 2021.
Through the years I would come to have an overwhelming appreciation for his involvement within the greater community as well. Our organization being one of many recipients of his zealous support (pictures here). His active involvement in community development, such as the City Planning Commission and the local Arts Council underlined his commitment to enhancing the overall well-being of Ottawa. Under Dr. Regg's leadership, Ottawa University experienced significant growth and development, both internally and externally. Beyond academic achievements, the university fostered stronger ties with the business community―I believe as a result of those relationships, we have continually seen OU grads choose to relocate to Ottawa following graduation. His emphasis on blending the student population and the community has resulted in a palpable sense of improved unity between the campus and the surrounding town.
Though Dr. Wenyika's departure marks the beginning of a new chapter for Ottawa University, there's a shared sense of optimism for the university's continued growth and impact under new leadership. We’d all be lying if we said there wasn’t work still to be done. The role of Ottawa University in shaping Ottawa's future is undeniable―the breadth and depth of its impact hold endless possibilities. Regg opened a gateway for many to see how significant a role Ottawa University plays in the greater community. This four-year institution in the heart of our town has the ability to impact us all; Dr. Wenyika made that clear. I feel it’s more than necessary to recognize and express gratitude for the transformative nature of Dr. Reggies Wenyika tenure at Ottawa University. He has undoubtedly left a legacy. Go Braves!
Community Session on Prairie Sunlight Project
One key function of your Chamber is to be a conduit for information to flow to our members and the greater community. With that in mind, we want to ensure you are aware of this upcoming opportunity. The staff from Orion Renewable Energy Group will be hosting an informative session next Thursday, March 14th. If you’re unfamiliar, Orion is the group working on the project dubbed Prairie Sunlight, a proposed solar project that would locally grow electricity. This meeting will be held at the Ottawa Memorial Auditorium, but they do ask those interested to choose a time slot and schedule ahead. Times start at 9am and conclude at 7:30pm this coming Thursday. To RSVP, contact Adriana Guevara at (510)267-8921 or aguevara@orionrenewables.com. At this point in time, no formal proposal has been submitted to Franklin County, but this meeting time does offer the opportunity to speak about project details, how it affects the community, and any questions you may have at the moment.
Hosting at Legacy Square
With warmer days sprinkled throughout our weeks, I wanted to give an update as we start thinking about the following three seasons and the outdoor events they will be accompanied by. If you are thinking your organization would like to host an outdoor event this calendar year, I wanted to share what that process looks like to have that held at Legacy Square (125 S Walnut St.). This year will look much like previous years, as the Chamber will remain the coordinator for prospective events until further notice. To turn in a reservation request, head to the Chamber’s website under the Legacy Square tab (here is a shortcut for you). If you click the button to the fillable form, you’ll be able to share all the details about your upcoming event. After you send that PDF to our office, we will work with you on any missed details before sending it on to the City of Ottawa department heads for final approval. This year is already starting strong with several submissions up to this point―whether you’re planning a work event, fundraiser, personal gathering, or anything in between, let our office help you get squared away with our outdoor downtown event space. The Chamber is proud of our partnership with the City of Ottawa and looks forward to the many great activities that will take place in our downtown corridor in 2024.
Chamber Coffee with Edward Jones
This morning we were hosted by our Main Street Edward Jones office for a Chamber Coffee. Those in attendance had to wait a couple of weeks as this was originally scheduled to take place on February 23rd but was luckily able to be rescheduled to today ―the crowd didn’t seem to mind (pictures here of this morning). Along with an office remodel that happened a while back, we were here to celebrate with longtime Franklin County native Casey Lytle and his transition to this new role as a Financial Advisor. Having been with Mid America Bank for over ten years, a stint with Porter Spears and Bundy Insurance, Casey is excited to have started this new journey professionally―and has hit the ground running. Working alongside Jacob Boyd in the shared downtown suite, and Ryan Henningsen whose Edward Jones office is located at 5th and Cedar, their teams work with clients to plan ahead with their finances.
Casey was able to share that when he graduated from Wellsville High School, his mentality (and the mindset of most students) was to leave Franklin County as quickly as possible―which is how it panned out. Through opportunities with the bank in Wellsville, he and his family were able to be pulled back to the county and he has shared that he has had no regrets. He mentioned his desire to work with the business community to instill a different mentality in those graduating in our local school districts and to share the opportunities/quality of life that can be experienced here in our area after graduation. I’m appreciative of all those who champion this same message! Thank you Casey for the reminder―our upcoming generations are our future. Much like we invest our finances through agencies like Edward Jones, we must also invest in our youth. I'm glad to have Casey and all our Edward Jones advisors and staff work/live in our community; we’re better with them!
~
This coming Monday our Chamber staff and board will be going through an organization strategic planning session. This has been a process in the works for several months and I’m extremely excited to see how this process prepares our organization for the future. Thanks to some of our lovely Ambassador Committee members, we will be able to keep our office doors open for walk-ins and calls―it takes a village! Talk to you soon,
Ryland Miller
President/CEO
Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce
ryland@ottawakansas.org
785-242-1000
