Dear Chamber Supporters,
Makayla and I had an early morning last Saturday as we arrived in Manhattan, Kansas, for the Little Apple Marathon (picture before here). This 26.2-mile race is Makayla's second marathon, her first being this past spring in Olathe. What started as a cool morning quickly turned into a warm 90-degree day, a temperature none of the runners expected when signing up for an October race day. The heat didn't slow Makayla down; not only did she finish, but she also shaved off over four minutes from her previous marathon (pictures here)! She also claimed the second fastest time in her age group. In the weeks leading up to the race, she wasn't sure she would be up for pushing all the way through the full marathon. When she finished, she said she felt good enough to do even more. I'm incredibly impressed, proud, and happy that she finds so much enjoyment from running for four hours straight. Go Makayla!
From Classrooms to Careers
Wednesday morning, Ottawa High School opened up its doors to surrounding high schools, businesses, and nonprofits/civic clubs to partake in this year's Franklin County Career Day. Nearly 250+ area juniors came together to learn about the many avenues they can take as they work towards their high school graduation. This is accomplished through a handful of different sessions throughout the morning. To start off the event, a representative from Kansas Tourism spoke to the students about their statewide campaign, Love Kansas (photo here). This is a push from the Kansas Department of Commerce to retain and attract current and former Kansans to work and live in the state―highlighting the many reasons why they should consider making this their home.
Following this conversation, the students broke into a handful of rotating sessions.
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The south gymnasium held the career fair portion of the event (pictures here). This included nearly fifty businesses, all taking the opportunity to speak with these students about their organization. Along with students learning about the businesses, the businesses were able to learn about the student's interests and, if aligned, how the high schoolers can take steps toward these career opportunities.
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In the Performing Arts Center, there was a panel of three different businesses: Heather Stevens with Beauty Bar Aesthetics, Ryan Twellmann the State Game Warden, and Michael Cressner with Orion Renewable Energy Group (picture here). These professionals shared how they got into their respective industries, what a day in their shoes looks like, and other advice for students interested in these fields.
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The upper PAC and PAC lobby held the civic/nonprofit sessions. Kiel Lasswell, Under Sherrif and President of the Ottawa Rotary Club, spoke with students about his experiences serving the community in these roles. In the lobby, a handful of groups spoke to students about volunteerism, how to get involved with their organization, and the effect they have by serving our community (pictures here).
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In the Community Room, a representative from the Kansas Leadership Center engaged with students on the power of storytelling and how it relates to applying for jobs and making connections in life (pictures here). Students moved around, working on telling their own stories with others in their group, all while being forced out of their comfort zone for the duration of the session.
It was great seeing the students engage in these different ways. From the administration side of the event, we hope that they take some nuggets of wisdom away. Even if the takeaway is knowledge of a few local businesses or a glimpse into a future career. More than anything, this program plants seeds that have the opportunity to blossom. This might happen a year and a half after graduation or maybe a decade down the road. A big thank you to all those who took the time to help water these proverbial seeds!
Candidates Take a Seat
Wednesday was a busy day for me, as the Chamber's Legislative Action Committee hosted the 2024 General Candidates Forum in the evening at the Ottawa Memorial Auditorium. The primary election forum took place in the county commission chambers back in July. We moved locations for this forum as we expected a larger crowd at the general forum―we were spot on with that assumption. The primary forum had just over 70 individuals in attendance, and the general forum had over 130, well over the seating capacity at the County Annex. Along with more seats, we also had the light, sound, and technology help at the OMA, as Noah White ran all the operations for the evening. This includes recording the forum on the Chamber's Facebook Live, which can be watched back if you missed it (view that link here). One of my favorite changes at the committee's recommendation was using day chairs for the candidates rather than having them stand at podiums (pictures here). I love how this turned out visually and the candidates appreciated the comfy seat. This was made possible with the help of Messenger's Home Furnishings here in Ottawa.
One of the biggest reasons our committee expected large crowds for this forum was the inclusion of the US Congressional House Race in District 3. We did have confirmation from both candidates, Sharice Davids and Prasanth Reddy, leading up to the event. Davids unfortunately relayed her inability to attend early afternoon before the forum. That did not stop her opponent, Dr. Reddy, from participating. He kicked us off soon after the 7 pm start time. Check out his comments and responses to questions on the live stream (view that link again here).
We also had five state races present on Wednesday evening:
Kansas State Senate District 3
a. Rick Kloos, R-Berryton
b. Dena Sattler, D-Topeka
Kansas House District 59
a. Rebecca Schmoe, R-Ottawa
b. Michael Lewis, D-Ottawa
Kansas State Senate District 12
a. Caryn Tyson, R-Parker
Kansas House District 5
a. Carrie Barth, R-Baldwin City
b. Henry Johns, D-Lawrence
Kansas State Board of Education District 4
a. Connie O'Brien, R-Tonganoxie
b. Kris Meyer, D-De Soto, KS
State Senate and House candidates answered questions about utilities, healthcare, women's rights, green energy, and information about who they are and why they are running (you can view these maps to find whose district you're in). State Board of Education candidates spoke about their stance on improving Kansas' education system, cell phones in schools, school vouchers, early childhood education programs, and they finished by explaining why they were running for this position. Candidates could submit bios about themselves prior to the forum that we included in our program for the evening (view that here). On one page of the program, you'll see that important election dates were included, the soonest being the deadline to register/update your voter information on October 15. If you have any questions about your registration or would like to see a sample ballot, you can view it on the Secretary of State's website (find that directly here). Early voting begins in Franklin County on October 21 and ends on November 4, with the election on November 5. I look forward to exercising my right to vote this fall, and I hope you also take advantage of this opportunity too!
New Leadership, Same Braves Spirit
Exciting news came from Ottawa University’s campus, as Dr. Bill Tsutsui shared that they have officially announced the new OUKS Campus President, Dr. Bambi Burgard (full press release here). Having served as Interim President since June, she’s already made a lasting impression on students, faculty, and the Ottawa community with her warmth, inclusivity, and ability to tackle challenges with grace. I had the opportunity to serve on the hiring committee for this search, and I have been pleased to hear so many positive comments from faculty and staff since her arrival this summer. These feelings made her rise to the top of a long list of qualified candidates. From my limited time with Bambi, I think the committee made an excellent choice, and our campus has a bright future ahead with this appointment. Bambi shared that she is eager to further entrench herself on campus and within the Ottawa community. I look forward to finding opportunities for Chamber members to meet her again soon as she sheds her Interim title. We’re all thrilled to have her at the helm and excited to see how she’ll help our campus and community thrive. Go Braves!
Chamber Unveils 2025 European Adventure
This week, Sherri and soon-to-be international travelers met in preparation for their upcoming Croatia trip at the beginning of November. Nearly 30 individuals will head to the Mediterranean with the Chamber this fall. With Sherri leading this group from Ottawa to southeast Europe, I'm confident it will be organized, safe, and chock-full of things to do. I look forward to hearing about the splendor of their trip when they return to the States a couple of weeks later. I'll make sure to include pictures from their experience upon arrival!
In other exciting news, the Chamber has solidified our 2025 travel destination, which includes an unforgettable journey through the heart of Europe―highlighting Austria and Germany during Oktoberfest (all the info here). Mark your calendars for September 26 - October 4, 2025, as you embark on an exciting 9-day trip deep into the majestic Tyrolean Alps, vibrant cities, historic castles, and lively festivals. Some of the key sights include Innsbruck Austria, the host city of two Winter Olympics and full of stunning alpine views. Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, which inspired Disney's Magic Kingdom castle, where fairytale towers rise against a snowy mountain backdrop. And no trip to Bavaria in the fall would be complete without experiencing Oktoberfest! You'll make your way to Munich for a day, diving into the heart of Bavarian tradition with lively beer tents, vibrant music, and authentic German cuisine. Along with Austria and Germany, there is an option to extend your journey to Italy and Slovakia as well. This trip only has 45 seats available, so if you have any interest, talk to Sherri ASAP to make sure you and your loved one's spot is reserved (email here). The orientation meeting to learn more will take place on October 29th at 5:30 pm at Neosho County Community College.
Along with the fantastic experience these trips bring to those who partake, they also bring in revenue for our organization as Sherri works alongside the travel planners. Her work does not go unnoticed, as the travel groups we partner with have always touted Ottawa's program because of her dedication. Every traveler thinks of her as family with the care she adds. I hope you can experience it yourself next fall!
Driving Success at Bob Allen Ford
This morning's Chamber Coffee was held at Bob Allen Ford at 2320 S Oak Street on the south side of Ottawa (pictures here). General Manager Lee Walton spoke about the history of their dealership, introduced his staff, and shared about his journey working for Bob Allen. Bob Allen Ford was cofounded in 1986 by Allen Wiegers and Bob Hewlett in Overland Park. Just eight years later, Lee Walton started working at their dealership as a Porter, moving and cleaning vehicles on the lot. The following thirty years entailed Lee working his way through the many departments in the dealership before leading Ottawa's branch. Among his staff are his son and daughter, Chris and Taylor Walton. Taylor bragged on her dad that one of the benefits of having Lee in a leadership position is his experience working in practically every role, allowing him to understand the goals and challenges of each of his employees. Lee is excited to be moving to Franklin County and further spread his roots in our community after the many years of success Bob Allen Ford has had over the past seven years.
We also learned about some features that make Bob Allen Ford special. In addition to their dealership and service department, they have recently expanded into collision repair. This is located at 426 N Main Street, adjacent to the Wet Lillies on the north side of town. This allows them to help families with their auto needs, whether purchasing, service or whatever damage they might have run into. This location will eventually have its own front-room staff, but at the moment, all scheduling takes place at the dealership on the south side of town. We also learned about some of the innovative options customers have when needing assistance. This includes mobile service, pickup, and delivery. If your car is in the parking lot with a flat or isn't starting, they can come grab your car or even work on it in your driveway. All the while giving you a loaner to ensure your day isn't completely disrupted. I look forward to seeing how this dealership continues to innovate and serve the Ottawa and Franklin County communities many years into the future.
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Makayla and I are headed to the Topeka Regional Airport today to catch their annual air show. My brother-in-law works at this airfield throughout the year, but today, he is bringing his family so we can all sit and watch the planes rather than work on them. It doesn't look like we'll need a jacket, but we've made sure to pack ear protection! See you next week,
Ryland Miller
President/CEO
Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce
ryland@ottawakansas.org
785-242-1000