ICV26: Why Wichita?
Why Wichita? Why Now?
A message from Brent Christensen
“We didn’t come to Wichita just to look around. We came to understand how a city like this built such a strong aviation and manufacturing economy. For more than a century, Wichita has leaned into those industries and built an entire ecosystem around them. Companies, schools, workforce training, and local leadership have all stayed aligned around that strength.
The reason that matters to us is pretty simple. There is real momentum in the Triad right now, especially around aerospace and advanced manufacturing. Bringing leaders from across our region to Wichita gives us a chance to see how another community built around those industries and think about what lessons might translate back home.”
When this many leaders see the same things and talk them through together, it often leads to ideas that stick.
Brent Christensen
ICV26: Welcome
Welcome from the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce
Welcome to the 2026 Intercity Visit to Wichita, Kansas. These trips are designed to challenge us, connect us, and push us forward. While there, we will meet with leaders who are shaping Wichita’s economy and learn how their decisions have created long-term impact. We encourage you to ask questions, take notes, and think about how we apply what we see to Greensboro’s future.
Chamber Contacts
Ainsley Heffinger Director of Events
276.732.2872
Stay in Contact
Tracy Myers EVP, Member & Investor Engagement
On this Intercity Visit, we will be using the GroupMe app to stay in contact throughout the trip with our fellow attendees while in Wichita. This is how we will communicate real time updates and information.
You’ll get updates like: “Buses are picking us up in 10 minutes in front of the hotel.” This is also where you should post your questions and it should serve as your first point of contact if you need something.
We all plan on taking a lot of pictures on this trip, so let’s share. Download the PhotoCircle app. We have a group called 2026 Intercity Visit: Wichita (just click the PhotoCircle logo to the left). Please take selfies, group shots, shots from our visits (where we are allowed), your meals, etc. Everyone in the group can add photos and videos in real time and then download them later if you want.
ICV26: Agenda
Day 1 - Wednesday, May 13
4:45 pm:
Buses leave the Hyatt Regency
400 W. Waterman St.
5-6 pm: Opening Reception
Kansas Aviation Museum
3350 S. George Washington Blvd.
6-7:30 pm:
Dinner and Opening Session
Kansas Aviation Museum
Speakers:
Greater Wichita Partnership: President & CEO, Jeff Fluhr
Wichita Vice Mayor: Dalton Glasscock
Wichita City Manager: Dennis Marstall
Day 2 - Thursday, May 14
7:30 am:
Buses leave the Hyatt Regency
8-9:40 am:
Opening Session
National Center for Aviation Training
4004 N. Webb Rd.
Speakers:
President Richard D. Muma, Wichita State University
President Sheree Utash, WSU Tech
Topics:
University collaboration with local industry for the creation of a talent pipeline
Biomedical Campus discussion
National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR)
9:40-9:55 am
Break
ICV26: Agenda
9:55-10:20 am:
Tech Transfer and Entrepreneurial Pipeline
Debbie Franklin, Associate VP of Strategic Initiatives and Industry Engagement, WSU
10:20-11 am
Tours of the National Center for Aviation Training and pick up lunch
11-11:30 am Travel
11:30 am to 1:15 pm:
Group A: Innovation Campus Tour, 1800 Innovation Blvd
Group B: Textron Aviation Tour, 293 S. Greenwich Rd., Suite 400
1:15-1:45 pm Travel
1:45-3:30 pm
Group A: Textron Aviation Tour
Group B: Innovation Campus Tour
3:30-4 pm Travel
4-5:30 pm
Social at Club 95 on Innovation Campus
5:30-6 pm
Dinner at NICHE
124 S Broadway
Speakers:
Joseph Shepard, District 1 Council Member
John Michael, Director National Institute for Culinary and Hospitality Education (NICHE)
Chef Lexi Michael, Dean of Culinary Arts at NICHE
ICV26: Agenda
Day 3 - Friday, May 15
8-9 am:
Closing Session at the Hyatt Regency Hotel
Downtown Discussion with Wichita Partnership President & CEO, Jeff Fluhr
9-10 am: Closing Debrief
Begin departing for the Wichita Dwight D Eisenhower National Airport
What do we do for breakfast?
You will be given a voucher for breakfast. This can only be used one time per day. You can use it in the restaurant for a full breakfast, or to just grab a coffee and a pastry. But remember, if you just get a coffee, that counts as your full voucher. So get everything at once.
Looking for something in the hotel?
The Hyatt Regency Wichita offers a variety of convenient dining options The Harvest Kitchen and Bar in the hotel offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, while Perks Market is your one-stop shop for coffee, pastries, snacks, and light meals. Feeling under the weather? There is an on-site pharmacy vending machine in the hotel for those emergency needs.
What can you do on your down time?
While we do have a full slate of activities for our time in Wichita, there will be times in the evening for you to get out and explore if you want to.
Use the official 2026 Wichita Visitors Guide to help find somewhere to grab a bite, learn about the shopping districts, arts and culture, and late night hangouts.
ICV26: Locations
Club 95
1865 Innovation Blvd
Club 95 is a private dining and gathering space located on WSU’s Innovation Campus. Operated by Wichita State Hospitality, the venue hosts events, business meetings, and visiting groups. With views overlooking the Innovation Campus, Club 95 serves as a place for university leaders, industry partners, and community guests to come together
Website
Innovation Campus
1800 Innovation Blvd.
Wichita State University’s Innovation Campus brings together students, researchers, and industry partners in one place to collaborate on applied research, product development, and workforce training. Companies including aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and technology firms operate directly on campus alongside university programs, creating a hands-on environment where ideas move quickly from the classroom to the marketplace
Website
Kansas Aviation Museum
3350 George Washington Blvd.
The Kansas Aviation Museum is housed in the original Wichita Municipal Airport Terminal Building. This museum showcases the growth and development of general aviation in Kansas with a focus on Wichita’s influence.
Website
ICV26: Locations
National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT)
4004 N Webb Rd
The National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT) is the world’s premier facility for the development of a skilled aviation manufacturing workforce. NCAT was built in 2010 and boasts 220,000 square feet of premier training labs and 25 classrooms
Website
NICHE
124 S. Broadway
NICHE is a culinary and hospitality training center operated by WSU Tech in downtown Wichita Students gain hands on experience through working restaurants, a food hall, and catering operations while completing their culinary training
Website
Textron Aviation
One Cessna Blvd.
Textron Aviation is one of the world’s leading general aviation manufacturers and the parent company of the Cessna and Beechcraft brands. The company designs, builds, and supports a wide range of business jets, turboprops, and piston aircraft used around the world. Its Wichita facilities play a central role in aircraft manufacturing and engineering
Website
ICV26: Attendees
Marikay Abuzuaiter
Greensboro City Council marikay abuzuaiter@greensboro-nc gov
Melvin “Skip” Alston Guilford County Government salston1@guilfordcountync gov
Brian Ambuehl
Greensboro Area Convention & Visitors Bureau bambuehl@greensboro live
Michelle Arbogast UNC Greensboro mdarbogast@uncg.edu
Jamie Athas Cone Health Jamie.Athas@conehealth.com
Kevin Baker Piedmont Triad Airport Authority bakerk@gsoair.org
Scott Baker TowneBank scott baker@townebank net
Debra Barksdale UNC Greensboro djbarksdale@uncg edu
Phil Barnhill East Greensboro NOW phil barnhill@eastmarketstreet com
Jana Barrett Jana Barrett Consulting janalbarrett@outlook.com
Toni Bennett Motivvit Solutions toni.bennett@motivvit.com
Ryan Blackledge Cone Health ryan blackledge@conehealth com
Beau Brinkley
Business HP Board inventigrate@gmail com
Danny Brown United Maintenance Group dbrown7031@triad rr com
Joey Cheek Greensboro Chamber of Commerce jcheek@greensboro org
Masud Chowdhury Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering Mhchowdhury@uncg edu
Brent Christensen Greensboro Chamber of Commerce bchristensen@greensboro.org
Allyson Cobb North Carolina A&T State University ahcobb@ncat.edu
Rachel Collins Business High Point Chamber of Commerce rachel@bhpchamber.org
Doug Copeland The Copeland Interests dougcopeland100@gmail com
Brantley Craft High Point Economic Development brantley craft@highpointnc gov
Bramley Crisco Action Greensboro bcrisco@actiongreensboro org
Mike Daniels
Honda Aircraft Company Michael Daniels@haci.honda.com
Nicholas Davis Honda Aircraft Company Nicholas Davis@haci.honda.com
Trey Davis City of Greensboro nathaniel davis@greensboro-nc gov
Anthony Dellinger UNC Greensboro aldellin@uncg edu
ICV26: Attendees
Jeff Dowden
Textron Aviation/Cessna Aircraft JADowden@txtav com
Manuel Dudley
Guilford Technical Community College mcdudley@gtcc edu
Greg Ferguson City of High Point greg ferguson@highpointnc gov
Beth Fischer UNC Greensboro epbarrin@uncg.edu
Geoff Foster Core Technology Molding Corporation geoff.foster@coretechnologycorp.com
Brandon Gray-Hill Guilford County Government bgrayhill@guilfordcountync.gov
Andrea Harrell City of Greensboro andrea harrell@greensboro-nc gov
Ainsley Heffinger
Greensboro Chamber of Commerce ajohnston@greensboro org
Michael Hennessey WGHP Fox 8 Michael Hennessey@wghp com
Bob Henson UNC Greensboro RAHENSON@uncg.edu
Jeremy Hiatt Smith Leonard jhiatt@smithleonardcpas.com
Hugh Holston
Greensboro City Council hugh holston@greensboro-nc gov
Chris Huntley shift ed chris@shift-ed org
Victor Isler
Guilford County Government visler@guilfordcountync gov
Karen Jackson
NC A&T State University ktjackson@ncat edu
Tiffany Jacobs Forge Greensboro jacobst@forgegreensboro org
Jake Keys Greensboro Chamber of Commerce jkeys@greensboro.org
Erik Kummer Toyota North Carolina erik.kummer@toyota.com
Jodi Lorenzo Sanctuary House jodi@shgso.org
Kathryn Lutterloh synerG Young Professionals lutterk@gcsnc com
Brian Maas ECS Southeast BMaas@ecslimited com
Adam Marshall Greensboro City Council a marshall@greensboro-nc gov
Marshall Matson Guilford County Schools matsonwm@gmail.com
Paul Meyer
Gateway Research Park paulm@gatewaygso.com
Julius Monk Guilford County Schools monkj@gcsnc com
Tracy Myers
Greensboro Chamber of Commerce tmyers@greensboro org
ICV26: Attendees
Stu Nichols
Downtown Greensboro Inc stu nichols@gmail com
Heidi Norman
North Carolina A&T State University hnorman@ncat edu
Sherine Obare
UNC Greensboro soobare@uncg edu
Jesse Ortt
Honda Aircraft Company jesse ortt@haci.honda.com
Justin Outling Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard joutling@brookspierce.com
Barbie Patterson
Reading Connections barbie patterson@hotmail.com
Robbie Perkins
NAI Piedmont Triad rperkins@naipt com
Stephen Pollock
Smith Leonard spollock@smith-leonard com
Dede Potter
MI-BOX Mobile Storage dede@miboxtriad com
Marvin J. Price
Greensboro Chamber of Commerce mprice@greensboro.org
David Ramsey
Landmark Builders dramsey@landmarkbuilders.com
Ranata Reeder
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Ranata Reeder@AdvocateHealth org
Rich Richardson
Honda Aircraft Company rich richardson@haci honda com
Adia Ross Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Adia Ross@Advocatehealth org
Denise Roth
Greensboro City Council denise roth@greensboro-nc gov
Kevin Sasser
Weaver Investment ksasser@weaverinvestment com
Joseph Schorr
Downtown Greensboro, Inc joseph@downtowngreensboro.org
Elswick Smith Pinnacle Bank Elswick.Smith@pnfp.com
Melissa Smith Greensboro Chamber of Commerce msmith@greensboro.org
Hannah Sprague WGHP Fox 8 hannah sprague@wghp com
Evan Stone Dewberry Engineers estone@dewberrycom
Steve Swetoha Greensboro Swarm sswetoha@hornets com
Robin Team Front Street Capital robin@frontstreetcapital.com
Sapna Tejpal Bank of America sapna.tejpal@bofa.com
Shaunne Thomas Guilford County Government Sthomas12@guilfordcountync gov
Cecelia Thompson Action Greensboro cthompson@actiongreensboro org
ICV26: Attendees
Lindsay Bloodworth Thompson
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Yost & Little Realty
LindsayThompson@bhhscarolinas com
Tammi Thurm
Greensboro City Council
Tammi Thurm@greensboro-nc gov
Patrick Tillman
Guilford County Government ptillman@guilfordcountync gov
Joshua Tucker
Gateway Materials Test Center josht@gatewaygso.com
Richard Vanore
Koury Corporation rvanore@kourycorp.com
Tony Villier
QWRH - O. Henry & Proximity tvillier@qwrh.com
Sam Wagner
UNC Greensboro s wagner@uncg edu
Penny Whiteheart
Piedmont Triad Partnership pwhiteheart@ptpnc com
Gina Willis
Blum Construction Company gina willis@flblum com
Nicolas Yale
Guilford Technical Community College nayale@gtcc.edu
Marshall Yandle
City of Greensboro marshall.yandle@greensboro-nc.gov
Joining our trip from WGHP Fox 8 is: Anchor/Reporter: Michael Hennessey
Photojournalist: Hannah Sprague
Michael and Hannah will be conducting interviews along throughout the trip, and recapping the day’s events.
Thank you to both The Cemala Foundation and Koury Corporation for each providing an Intercity Visit scholarship
Roll Call (by Action Greensboro) is helping shine a light on Guilford County Schools and early childhood education It's a social media space built for Guilford County families and residents who want quick, easy access to the facts about education in our community. No jargon. No insiders. Just a reliable, friendly resource of information and updates. Give Roll.Call.Guilford a follow on Facebook and Instagram and help spread the word.
Instagram: @Roll.Call.Guilford Facebook: facebook.com/roll.call.guilford
Survey & Post Trip Debrief
The Greensboro Chamber of Commerce is working with Ricochet Growth Partners to build a new market research tool that will give our members access to insights that are usually out of reach This is the kind of data large national companies rely on, and we are making it available at home in Greensboro
Alan Mitchell shared an early look at this project at our Small Business Awards, and we are now inviting Intercity Visit attendees to help shape it This is a strong opportunity for partners who want to be part of something new that will support smarter decisions across our business community
Stay tuned for a survey we’ll ask you to complete. By doing this, you are helping us build a tool that reflects real business needs for our members.
Post-Trip Debrief
We will wrap up our time in Wichita with a post-trip debrief focused on what we learned and most importantly, what comes next This is where the trip turns into action We’ll talk through the key takeaways, share ideas, and start shaping how these insights can move Greensboro forward
This session will take place back home in Greensboro:
Thursday, June 4
10-11:30 am
Guilford County Schools Community Education Center, 2703 E Florida St
If you made the investment to be part of this trip, this is an important step. Your perspective matters, and we want you in the room as we turn our conversations into a clear path forward for our community.
