Wichita State University’s Institute for the Study of Economic Growth (ISEG) has launched an advisory board consisting of seven prominent Kansas executives, who will provide the ISEG team with strategic direction, advice on programs and opportunities for advancement in the industry.

The board is co-chaired by ISEG Executive Director Dr. Ted Bolema and Dr. Larisa Genin, dean of the W. Frank Barton School of Business.

The Institute for the Study of Economic Growth at the Barton School has quickly become a premier agent for the exploration of market and enterprise systems aimed at economic development. Established in 2018, ISEG works to advance the teaching, research and application of innovative and entrepreneurial activities to enhance societal prosperity.

“ISEG has only been around for three years and we’ve already made a meaningful impact,” said Bolema. “The importance of economic growth is paramount to success of society. From day one, our team hit the ground running to positively impact our communities.”

To date, ISEG has completed numerous initiatives including the formation of four new courses for the Barton School such as Exploring the World of Business (which reaches over 400 students in its first semester); being a public leader on discussions about COVID-19 shutdowns and their economic impact; actively contributing to Kansas occupational licensing reform; launching the Behavioral Economics Research Laboratory for the Study of Markets, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Growth; creating a virtual talk series; and partnering with the Mercatus Center for the State Fiscal Rankings report.

The advisory board members at its launch are Walter Berry, president of Berry Companies Inc.; Nicholas Bonavia; president and CEO of Bonavia Properties; Randy Doerksen, CFO of Meritrust Credit Union; Brad Elliott, chairman and CEO of Equity Bank; Joe Hand, president of Koch Carbon; Anne Smith, vice president of Alltite Inc.; and Johnathan Weigand, director of strategic initiatives at J.P. Weigand & Sons Inc.

“These pioneers have helped grow their businesses and their communities with great success,” Genin said. “I know with their insights, we can make an even greater impact on students and the economy of the Wichita region.”

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Wichita State University serves as the Kansas urban-based research university, enrolling more than 16,000 students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.

Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.

The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.

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About the W. Frank Barton School of Business

The Barton School of Business has been the undergraduate and graduate college at Wichita State University since it’s founding in 1926. Located in Kansas’ business hub, the college continues to transform with extensive applied learning opportunities and majors for students. The Barton School currently offers more undergraduate business degrees than any other institution in Kansas – including the state’s only entrepreneurship major. It also holds a double AACSB accreditation for business and accounting, which is the largest selection in the state and puts it in the top 1% of business schools worldwide.