Wichita Chamber Business Accelerator

Where does Hollywood go when they need to store critical items?  Who does a local medical supply company turn to when filing records?  Honestly, the same company: UV&S.  Host Don Sherman is joined by Jeff Ollenburger and Dan Reisig to talk about how UV&S has grown into Wichita and worldwide from their original business beginnings in Hutchinson.  On this episode we discuss: Company expansio...

What do you do when national competition comes flooding in?  How do you survive?  This is the story of a small local bookstore outlasting large national chains.  Sarah Bagby has been leading Watermark books through difficult challenges, but has always been able to move forward, partly on having the right focus.  She joins host Don Sherman to share what makes her business stand out.  On this episod...

On the second chapter of our Journey Unseen series host Don Sherman is joined by Amy Williams who shares about how she learned to own her own space when she entered the room.  With these special conversations we share the stories of women in our community who have had a profound impact on our community through their leadership and achievements.  On this episode we discuss: What brought Amy back to...

We wrap up our special three-part Journey Unseen series with Vera Bothner.  As she shares with us her unique career journey as a woman in business, she reflects with host Don Sherman on the pivots and changes she has made each step of the way and what she has learned from those.  On this episode we discuss: Initially wanting to get into clinical psychology serving children Finding the unexpected p...

Join us for a special three-part series called Journey Unseen where we share the stories of women in our community who have had a profound impact on our community through their leadership and achievements.  For the first of this series, Yoland Camarena talks about the value of mentorship in her life with hosts Don and Ebony: Growing up with five sisters Family values growing up in south Texas Less...

An entrepreneurial seizure and the passion to help others grow and achieve their potential.  That’s how it all began for Ajamu Webster when he first created Dubois Consultants.  Hosts Don and Ebony catch up with Ajamu to discuss how he expanded from his first location in Kansas City to the Wichita market and how he has approached growing and building his business over 30+ years.  On this episode w...

So a Human Resources director and a farmer walk into a bar.  Sounds like the start of a great joke, but it is the true story of an AI based video tech firm with an international reach that started right here in Wichita, Kansas.   Mike Mathia and Jason Toevs, co-founders of Quicc, join hosts Don and Ebony to explore everything from starting out with heavy involvement to investors and pivoting into...

Sometimes you just have to be willing to follow your passions and lean into what you don’t know.  When Stacy Ward-Lattin and her husband, Torrey, started the Hopping Gnome taproom 6 years ago, they had no idea the adventure they were in for. Stacy joins hosts Don and Ebony to share the Hopping Gnome story, from home brewing to deciding to create something brand new in Wichita.  On this episode we...

It all began with a single, humble restaurant in west Wichita, but now Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers has grown to over 400 locations all across the United States.  And now you can hear directly from co-founder and COO Scott Redler on how this business came to be and how the approach they took that brought so much success.  Hosts Don and Ebony grill (see what I did there?) Scott on every...

When competing on the global scale in data analytics, it’s important to find ways to stand out. Joy Eakins has done just that as her team focuses on delivering for their clients while also serving our local community.   Joy joins hosts Don and Ebony to discuss how her business has provided great service to a community that is desperate for data as it fights the COVID-19 pandemic.  On this episode...

Sometimes all it takes is that small moment of inspiration to create a business that is truly unique.  Conan Fugit and his wife, Katherine, turned their love of campers and photography into a thriving photo booth business to travel to events all over the Wichita area.   Conan talks with hosts Don and Ebony about their love for vintage and nostalgic items led to their experimentation and how Wichit...

It seems like a time of chaos, especially for small businesses.  Trying to remain open and pay employees is an ongoing challenge, but the Small Business Administration can provide assistance to new businesses or established companies that are struggling.   Wayne Bell, District Director of the Wichita SBA, joins hosts Don and Ebony to talk about the programs that the SBA makes available to support...

It’s all in the family with Shea by Dolce.  Carla Lawless’s daughter was inspired to create beauty products to assist with her own eczema struggles while leveraging her engineering knowledge.  Now the mother and 3 daughters have leveraged their own unique skills and experiences to create a whole different kind of beauty company.   Carla shares with hosts Don and Ebony how this endeavour continues...

Does your online presence need an upgrade?  Krissy Buck, Program Director of Digital Marketing at WSU Tech joins the show to talk all things social media and digital presence.  Hosts Don and Ebony pepper Krissy with questions aimed to help you optimize your digital marketing efforts in a way that will grow your reach to potential customers.  On this episode we discuss: Diving into the digital medi...

Beginning as a passion side-project, Mary Billings came to a crossroads with her party company, Love of Character.  Faced with uncertainty, she left the safety and security of a corporate job to pursue growing her own business full time. Join hosts Don and Ebony as they explore the origin success story of this Chief Fun Officer.  On this episode we discuss: Where the business name came from The in...

Expanding a business just mere weeks before a pandemic sets in?  That’s exactly what happened to Sherrie Hill when she expanded her dry cleaning business in March of 2020.   Joining hosts Don and Ebony, they explore Sherrie’s positive outlook and how she has found opportunities in the midst of struggle.  On this episode we discuss: Buying the Martinizing Dry Cleaning business and where the term “M...

Sometimes the business is already prepared and it just needs to be brought to a new location.  James Barfield discusses being a franchisee for a larger brand and how he focuses on being a resource partner locally in Wichita.  Joining hosts Don and Ebony, they dive into the opportunities he has found, while also the challenges and struggles he faces being a black business owner.  On this episode we...

Inventors come from all over the world, and Ethan Eck has found the right spot to perfect his inventions in Kingman, Kansas.  Ethan shares with Don and Ebony how his Chem-Blade product revolutionizes a pain point for farmers across America and how he plans to grow his business in the heartland.  On this episode we discuss: Starting in chassis building for motorsports How little things make a big d...

One thing that often is forgotten when starting and running your own business is how you finish.  On our first deep dive conversation, Chad Hanson from Emprise Bank joins us to talk about succession planning for your business.  Don and Ebony bring the questions and Chad guides us through things to consider as you plan your exit.  On this episode we discuss: Using SBA loans as a tool for starting a...

Growing in Wichita, some think it's not possible.  But Luis Rodriguez is convinced that Wichita is a fantastic location for growing any kind of business, particularly the technology kind.  He joins hosts Don and Ebony to discuss his roles at KeyCentrix and Method Productions and what challenges face Wichita as the economy transforms during the current technology evolution.  On this episode we disc...

Sometimes where you end up is not what you expected.  April Albert, owner of Four Feathers Boutique, joins hosts Don Sherman and Ebony Clemons-Ajibolade to share how she unexpectedly pivoted from eCommerce to having her own storefront.  On this episode we discuss: Humble beginnings: starting out with 3 tank tops and a pair of leggings in the basement The April synergy The unique story behind the b...

Sometimes a simple idea can explode into a full-blown business.  Eddie Sandoval started Pinole Blue in his dorm room at Wichita State and now finds his products on the shelves of Whole Foods.  He also shares with hosts Don Sherman and Ebony Clemons-Ajibolade some crazy stories around marking through TikTok.  It’s a business hero origin story in Wichita.  On this episode we discuss: The evolution o...

It’s time to talk about marketing.  Chrissy Robben, the owner of Hexcode Designs shares her keys to marketing with hosts Don Sherman and Ebony Clemons-Ajibolade. She will share how embracing business diversity and diving into her clients’ businesses has helped her to deliver a great customer experience.  On this episode we discuss: Ebony and Chrissy as kindred Poli-Sci spirits Being active on soci...

Throughout the years, McClelland Inc. has been a business staple in Wichita since 1928.  Even being in a market dominated by technology shifts, this family business has continued to evolve.  Janice McClelland, owner and President,  joins hosts Don Sherman and Ebony Clemons-Ajibolade to share about how those shifts have occurred and finding opportunity and growth during a pandemic.  On this episode...

It’s no joke, exhibit and display company Red Door Three was founded on April Fool’s Day in 2014.  Hosts Don Sherman and Ebony Clemons-Ajibolade are joined by owner Stacy Edmundson discussing her passion for helping her customers.  Learn how she overcame the negativity of others to have incredible success and growth.  On this episode we discuss: How her background in sales got Stacy started in the...