The QBS Express

Host Scott Heidner is joined by Kansas State Representative and House Majority Leader Chris Croft.  They talk about his life and military career that eventually brought him to Kansas and led him to taking on his current role in state government.  On this episode we discuss:

• The role his mother played in his life and finding role models for him
• Growing up outside
• Joining the Army and seeing the world
• How he met his wife
• What he learned from Popeye’s Fried Chicken
• Jumping out of the first plane he rode on
• The value of mentors in his life
• Working at the Pentagon and military mobility equipment
• Finding a home in Kansas
• A vision for transportation infrastructure in the state
• Getting started in public service
• Taking on the house majority leader mantle
• Going out on Black Friday and Christmas Eve

Other Resources:

Learn more about ACEC Kansas

Chris Croft, Kansas State Representative, 8th District

This podcast is brought to you by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Kansas.  

This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network.  For more information visit ictpod.net

Host Scott Heidner meets with the previous and current ACEC presidents in Jeff McKerrow and Brett Letkowski to discuss the latest developments and the opportunity that lies ahead for the organization.  On this episode we discuss:

• Transportation funding situation
• Stopping some legislation is just as important
• Moving back to in-person meetings
• Legislative leadership and the upcoming governor race
• Keeping the train on the tracks (figuratively speaking)
• Increasing college scholarships
• Bringing back the emerging leaders program
• The partnership with KSPE
• How to be involved with ACEC

Other Resources:

Learn more about ACEC Kansas

Brett Letkowski, TranSystems, ACEC Kansas President

Jeff McKerrow, Kimley-Horn, ACEC Kansas Past President

This podcast is brought to you by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Kansas.  

This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network.  For more information visit ictpod.net

Listen in as we get an in-depth account of how SmartPort came to be, who it serves, what part of the market occupies its time and resources, and how Chris's interest in this industry was sparked by collecting beer cans at a young age!

The latest episode of The QBS Express features co-host Jeff Keller with Burns and McDonnell and KDHE Director of the Bureau of Water Tom Stiles.

Listen in as we learn about his interest in water quality from a young age, how he found his way to the engineering field, the services he provides to members, and the interaction that involves with ACEC member firms.

The QBS Express is happy to welcome Senate President Ty Masterson to the show.

Join Scott Heidner and co-host Travis Grauerholz as they learn about Senator Masterson’s childhood on a farm in Butler County, his thirty-one cousins, his journey to the capital, and his experiences as a senator!

The QBS Express is happy to welcome co-host Shawn Turner with Transystems and Representative Richard Proehl to the show!

Tune in as we learn about Representative Proehl's interest in veterinary science and agriculture, his time in the 101st Airborne Division, working as a rodeo clown and bull rider, and most importantly the importance of good infrastructure investment!

The QBS Express welcomes Chad Bristow, Director of Facilities for the Kansas Board of Regents, to the show!  Join us as we discover how a farm kid from Leavenworth County found his way from art to the world of facilities and design, the many ways Chad and the Board of Regents team partner with ACEC member firms, and some very interesting recent developments regarding the funding of university infrastructure!

Join us as we visit with Keith Browning, the Local Road Engineer for the Kansas Association of Counties!  Listen in as we discuss how he found his way to the engineering field, the services he provides to members, and the interaction that involves with ACEC member firms.  Stay with us to the end and you may find out something you didn’t know about what Keith does in his free time!

The QBS Express visits with Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA) CEO Steve Hewitt.  Join as we learn about the KTA’s mission, the customers it serves, partnerships with other states, aligned certain services with KDOT, and how technology is driving change.  And if you stay with us to the end, you may or may not learn about Mr. Hewitt being part of a dynamic 80s/90s grunge cover band…..

The QBS Express visits with KDOT Secretary Julie Lorenz and KDOT Director of Aviation Bob Brock to discuss the recently announced Kansas Supersonic Flight Corridor!  Learn the exciting story of how KDOT and partners all around the state proactively created and pitched this program, the opportunities and challenges that were met along the way, and what the future of this project means to Kansas business, the aerospace industry, scientific/academic fields of study, and much more.