BizTalk with the Wichita Business Journal

If all goes as planned Wichita State University could see a new business school building open for use in a year and a half.

The timeline and fundraising effort for the new Barton School of Business building on the WSU innovation campus was one of many topics I discussed with Dr. Anand Desai and Paul Allen in episode 10 of the BizTalk with Bill Roy podcast. Desai is the dean of the Barton School of Business. Allen is the chair of the WSU Foundation and chief executive at Allen, Gibbs and Houlik LC.

We believe it's important to hear opinions on Wichita from young professionals.

In Episode 7 of the BizTalk with Bill Roy podcast we talk with a pair of 2017 40 Under 40 winners: Jennifer Hughes, director of human resources for High Touch Technologies Inc., and Doug Ledbetter, assurance senior manager at EY.

Christina Long grew up in Wichita, became a journalist and later created her own business.

Now Long, owner of CML Collective, is a member of the Entrepreneurial Task Force and is helping others, particularly minority businesspeople, reach their goals of business ownership.

It's one of the great business success stories in recent Wichita history.

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers started with one store in west Wichita and is now up to more than 250 locations around the country.

And Scott Redler has used his experience in the restaurant industry to help lead Freddy's to impressive growth.

Redler, CFO of Freddy's, talks about growing up in St. Louis, entering the food service industry as a teenager and how Freddy's got started in Episode 5 of the BizTalk with Bill Roy podcast.

Is your company having trouble attracting and retaining talent?

You're not alone. Most of the company leaders we talk to say they are trying to find more talented workers to join their teams. The intensity of the search depends on the industry, but many say they have openings and they can't fill them with the right people.

Jeff Fluhr and Leah Lavender say they're trying to help.

On episode 3, we talk with Jeff Fluhr, president of the Greater Wichita Partnership, to get an update on the importance of talent attraction and retention. We also discuss the importance of the continued progress in the downtown area.

Wichita Mayor Jeff Longwell has a message for owners of small- and medium-sized businesses in the area.

"We care about you," Longwell says.

This week Longwell also discusses balancing growth with keeping Wichita's favorable quality of life, and he lets us in on plans for his political future.

Our thanks to Equity Bank for sponsoring the BizTalk with Bill Roy podcast.

Music: Going Higher - Bensound.com

Our debut podcast features a conversation with Wichita Mayor Jeff Longwell. We discussed so many topics we split it in half and the second part will be available June 9.

Sponsor: Equity Bank

Music: Going Higher - Bensound.com