Celebrating Sherri
This week marks a special milestone for our longtime serving Office Manager, Sherri, who had a birthday on Wednesday! We all agreed that she is turning 45 this year, meaning she has another couple of decades of Chamber work ahead of her… Whether or not that’s true, we’re incredibly blessed to have her contributions to our team. We wouldn’t be the same without her! If you’d like to wish her a belated birthday, shoot her a message here (Sherri’s email here).
Kansas Regional Excellence Initiative
This week, I was invited to a regional meeting for a statewide conversation called the Kansas Regional Excellence Initiative (REI). This specific meeting was focused on the Greater Kansas City area, including Wyandotte, Johnson, Leavenworth, Douglas, Miami, and Franklin Counties. The session, organized by MARC (the Mid-America Regional Council), brought together economic development and education partners to discuss how the Kansas Department of Commerce can strengthen manufacturing competitiveness and drive economic growth (picture here). Similar REI meetings are being held across the state, each working toward identifying one to three flagship projects that could be advanced at the regional level.
For the KC region, MARC highlighted three major industry focus areas that emerged from conversations with employers in their district. These included energy, bioscience/healthcare, and national security. Participants broke into working groups to explore what ideas could accelerate growth in these sectors and what barriers Commerce could reduce to help industries expand more effectively.
A couple of themes emerged, including the manufacturing sector’s need for more reliable access to raw materials. Another theme was the need for better communication from the region so businesses can understand cross-industrial needs, stay informed about where support is being targeted, and adjust their own strategy accordingly. While these findings may seem simple, they highlight an important point: if Kansas can enhance supply chains and improve communication between the state and industry, businesses in our region could benefit. More clarity and predictability in the system could help smaller manufacturers plan more confidently, make investments sooner, expand into new markets, and compete more effectively.
It's important that our community is involved in these stakeholder conversations like this. It ensures that regional progress from communities outside the metro core are represented as the state shapes its approach. By participating in the discussion, Franklin County can stay connected to emerging opportunities and help ensure that future statewide investments reflect rural Kansas, not just its largest markets. I loved that Franklin County was invited to the table and look forward to more regional connectivity in the future!
Future Leaders on Display
I also had the opportunity to participate in an annual program, called a Discussion Meet, hosted by the Franklin County Farm Bureau in conjunction with the Franklin County FFA chapters this week (picture here). This is a Leadership Development Event (LDE) focused on critical thinking and problem-solving. The event is designed to simulate a committee meeting, giving students practical application. 4-6 participants engage in a structured discussion about an assigned challenge or issue. Over the course of the 15-minute conversation, they practice logical thinking, listening skills, speaking concisely, and encouraging collaboration in a controlled environment. With a moderator, timekeeper, and panel of judges, these students are being evaluated on their ability to solve problems, lead discussions, and invite others around the table to engage in meaningful conversation.
I was invited to serve as a judge for three of the student groups that presented. While I didn’t know exactly what I was getting into, I was so encouraged by the end of it all! While the next generation can be spoken about in a negative light with their lack of control when someone states the numbers 6 and 7… there are some extremely bright kids in our community! These are the kind of individuals that I look forward to seeing serve on community boards and making progress on the challenges of our area. Thank you, FFA and Farm Bureau, for pouring into the next generation of leaders for our community and state!
Be Part of the 2025 Chamber Auction Fun
We are gearing up for our 2025 Annual Awards & Banquet, and once again we’re asking our members and supporters to help us make the event special by donating auction items. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and the online auction has become a fun way to showcase our generous businesses and organizations—and raise a bit of money while doing so! Every item includes the donor's name, logo, and a link to your website, helping highlight the incredible people and services that make up our community. Items can be large or small (there’s really no wrong answer), and the Chamber is happy to pick them up if that makes life easier. Donations must be received by December 19 so our staff can photograph and upload them before bidding opens the week of January 27. If you can participate, you’ll be helping us continue supporting local businesses and quality of life right here in Ottawa and Franklin County!
Foundation Funds Expansion, Youth Programs, and Family Birth Place
The AdventHealth Ottawa Foundation, the fundraising arm of our local hospital, hosted this morning’s Chamber Coffee. This group is overseen by Philanthropy Officer, Sara Lissauer, who works with a group of local volunteers that make up the Foundation. Ryan Henningsen is one of those board members who spoke on behalf of the organization this morning (pictures here). He shared that as an independent 501(c)(3), the Foundation’s mission is to inspire generosity to support the healing work of AdventHealth Ottawa. What makes this work special is that 100% of every dollar donated stays right here in our community, fueling programs, equipment, and services that benefit our neighbors. A great example of this local support includes the Foundation's contributions to the expansion and renovation of the AdventHealth Ottawa Health Park. Through the partnership with trusts and foundations in our region, over $600,000 was brought into our community for this development. This project more than doubled the available space and introduced new specialties, including behavioral health, cardiology, and pulmonology. Through this expansion, AdventHealth Ottawa increased access to care for local citizens, so we don’t need to drive far to see a specialist.
One of my favorite initiatives over the last couple of years, hosted by the AdventHealth Ottawa Foundation, is called Shoes That Fit. Through a partnership with the national nonprofit, the Foundation provides new athletic shoes and socks to students in Franklin County who qualify for free or reduced lunch. Just this year, more than 1,500 pairs of shoes and 3,000 pairs of socks were distributed across seven elementary schools. An impact that will undoubtedly change the trajectory of the health and success of our local youth. Stay tuned: this program has become an annual event and will return to Franklin County schools this February.
This morning, the Foundation also made a sizable donation to support the newly reopened Family Birth Place here in town, providing mothers with a place to deliver in our community. The reopening of this facility is a massive win for our area. As we hope to grow our young families in town, this department is a testament to women’s health in our region. These dollars were raised by their recent Sporting Clay Tournament, which brought in $100,000 and is committed to bringing birthing support back to Ottawa (photo here). Brenden Johnson, President/CEO of AHO, stated that these funds will directly support keeping our newest residents (our new babies) safe. As we enter a time of thanksgiving next week, I'm thankful for the generosity of time from the volunteers who make up the foundation board, and for the commitment to health in our area from those who give monetarily. It was great learning about how our community continually steps up to take care of each other!
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Makayla and I are headed to Topeka for round one of Thanksgiving for her side this weekend. Then we’ll head to Missouri for my side next week. We’ll make sure to pack our stretchy pants and loose-fitting clothing, as we will undoubtedly be carb-loading over the two days with family.
As we look ahead, make sure to have November 29th from 4:30-5:30pm on your calendar as we will be lighting the downtown for the holiday season ahead. More info about this event and more here (view that here)! Talk to you soon,
Ryland Miller
President/CEO
Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce
ryland@ottawakansas.org
785-242-1000
