Professional Development Committee

This Committee is dedicated to the overall professional and business development skills needed for economic development professionals in Western Kansas.  Surveys have been taken among the membership and has identified areas of interest, needs, etc., and the Committee works to provide orientation for new members, new ED Directors, as well as existing members.  They assist with the Agendas for the Quarterly WKREDA meetings, aiding the host Community with speakers and topics of interest and provide scholarships for new ED Directors to attend training sessions and conferences of value.

Professional Development Committee Strategic Plan for 2020:

  • Report on current opportunities or advancements in recent industries such as Hemp.  These updates would be a part of the quarterly wKREDA meeting CD 101 sessions.  10-15 minute reports.
  • There would also be regular updates at quarterly meetings given by Kansas Department of Commerce staff on program changes, opportunities, updates, etc.  10-15 minute reports.
  • We would like to conduct several “ED 101” sessions either independent of the quarterly meetings, or as an addition to the meetings as a morning unit running from 9 a.m. to noon, as an example.  If they were held on a complete separate day, they may be a full day event.  An example of this would be when a quarterly meeting was held in Wichita, a separate session may be conducted by the Kansas Leadership Center specifically for WKREDA members interested in leadership development.  Sessions for new economic development directors would also be possible.
  • Conduct a survey of WKREDA members on leadership experience and needs.

Committee Co-Chairs:

Roger Hrabe - (785) 425-6881 - roger@rookscounty.net
Dan Steffen - (785) 217-3252 - dans.nwk@gmail.com

Committee Members:

Doug Williams - (785) 623-1100 - doug@growhays.com
Eli Svaty - (620) 655-2036 - eli@swks.org
Kimberly DeClue - (620) 672-5501 - executivedirector@prattkansas.org
Lea Ann Seiler - (620) 357-5561 - hodgeman1@unitedwireless.com
Maria Dennison - (620) 417-1957 - maria.dennison@sccc.edu
Nadine Sigle - (785) 346-6256 - nsigle@ksu.edu
Nikki Bjurstrom - (620) 375-2182 - wced@getleoti.org
Ron Wilson - (785) 532-7690 - rwilson@ksu.edu  
Stacie Schmidt - (785) 810-8303 - ewcountyeconomicdevelopment@gmail.com