Kansas is redefining its business landscape through innovation, workforce development and small business development. Recent years brought expansions like Panasonic Energy’s $4 billion EV factory in DeSoto and Fiserv’s announcement to bring nearly 2,000 new jobs to a hub in Overland Park. In June 2025, the Department of Commerce launched the Kansas Small Businesses Office as a central hub for entrepreneurs. The state also announced investments in digital skills programs to strengthen workforce readiness.
Promoting Employment Across Kansas (PEAK): Offers the ability to retain 95 percent of payroll tax withholding for 5 to 10 years for qualified companies.
Kansas Industrial Training (KIT): Assists companies involved in new job creation with funds for instructor salaries, curriculum planning, materials and training aids.
Kansas Department of Commerce
kansascommerce.gov
Kansas Economy
kansaseconomy.org
Greater Topeka Partnership
topekapartnership.com
Greater Wichita Partnership
greaterwichitapartnership.org
One Fortune 500 company HQ in the state.
0
1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
