Kansas Leadership Center Selects 11 Kansas Companies for Workforce Innovators Program
Wichita, Kan. – The Kansas Leadership Center (KLC) has selected 11 organizations in Kansas to participate in Workforce Innovators, a new team-based training program to help companies transform their ability to attract, grow and retain employees.
Read the news story in the Wichita Business Journal.
In February, private mid-size companies in South Central Kansas were invited to apply for the program that is supported by a grant from the Charles Koch Foundation.
“We’re thrilled to have our first cohort chosen for Workforce Innovators and are eager to unite representatives from diverse industries to cultivate the skills needed to drive transformation and foster a culture of innovation to create a more effective and energized workforce. We had a fantastic response to the call for applications and plan to bring this program to more organizations in the future,” said Julia Fabris McBride, chief learning and development officer for the Kansas Leadership Center.
Chief Learning and Development Officer Julia Fabris McBride
The organizations representing the first cohort of the new Workforce Innovators program are:
- Berry Companies
- BG Products, Inc.
- ComfortCare Homes
- Emprise Bank
- Five Star Mechanical
- Harper Industries
- IdeaTek
- Key Construction
- Lange
- Learjet Inc.
- Wichita Urology Group
Participants selected for Workforce Innovators will complete three leadership programs on The KLC Path and up to three hours of individualized leadership coaching. Upon completion, participants will gain access to an Empowering Practices Toolkit that includes innovative approaches to benefit employees and create value for their company. Companies accepted into the program receive free leadership development and coaching valued at $3,200 per person.
“Berry Companies is very excited to partner with the Kansas Leadership Center on the Workforce Innovators program as we believe strongly in the need to develop and grow our own leaders. This opportunity gives us the ability to take what we are already doing internally in the training and development arena and give our people additional skills in adopting best practices and culture change needs with the brightest of other Wichita organizations. The process of learning from area leaders, teaming up with other local emerging leaders on workforce innovation problem-solving, and then also being able to receive individualized leadership coaching is invaluable. This is an opportunity we are thrilled to get our people engaged with,” said Stephanie Farley, chief people officer at Berry Companies, Inc.
Alejandro Arias Esparza, director, DEI & talent development at Emprise Bank, shared, “Participating in the KLC Workforce Innovators program alongside employees from other companies and industries will provide numerous benefits for our team, such as exposure to a wide range of perspectives, experiences and best practices, learning from others’ successes and failures, building relationships and collaborations with other organizations, and expanding our network of professionals to turn to for advice, guidance and resources in the future.”
Training for Workforce Innovators participants kicks-off April 15 and runs throughout October.
About the Kansas Leadership Center
The Kansas Leadership Center (KLC) is a first-of-its-kind nonprofit educational organization with a civic mission, national reputation and global reach. Founded in 2007 to foster leadership for stronger, healthier and more prosperous Kansas communities, KLC receives core funding from the Kansas Health Foundation (a private, philanthropic organization). It partners with nonprofit organizations, government agencies, educational institutions, businesses and communities to build cultures that are healthy, productive and well-positioned to make measurable progress on daunting challenges and emergent opportunities. KLC Press publishes leadership books and The Journal, a nationally recognized, award-winning civic issues magazine.
Over the past 17 years, KLC has built a strong and respected institution in Kansas designed to deliver leadership development and culture change at unparalleled scale. Now, organizations across the country and around the world look to us to provide resources and consultation to support their own aspirations for mission-driven leadership education. Learn more at www.kansasleadershipcenter.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Carrie Lindeman
316-393-1076
carrie@lindemancollective.com
