SEK Innovation Summit to Feature Greensburg Mayor-Independence, Kansas

Press Release

July 29, 2011

Bob Dixon, mayor of Greensburg, Kansas will be a featured speaker at the second annual SEK Innovation Summit in Independence, Kansas on September 14 and 15. In a keynote dinner presentation on September 14, Dixon will share lessons learned in innovation during Greensburg’s resurrection after an F5 tornado destroyed most of the town in 2007. “We’ve used innovation not only to build a green, sustainable infrastructure, but also to build a new sustainable area economy,” says Dixon. He suggests that most rural communities need to undergo an innovative process to re-establish their identity and values even when there hasn’t been a natural disaster.

The SEK Innovation Summit is sponsored by the Innovative Business Resource Center and will be held in the Memorial Hall and Civic Center. The event begins on September 14 with a brainstorming lunch followed by nationally known and regionally grown innovators sharing how innovation can help businesses and communities better survive and thrive in the future. September 15 begins with a continental breakfast sponsored by Montgomery County Action Council followed by more innovation presentations and work sessions. The event will end with lunch on the 15th and a keynote presentation to close out the conference.

“We have a great line up of presenters again this year and we are very happy that Bob Dixon of Greensburg will be sharing innovation and inspiration with us on Wednesday evening,” said Jim Correll, executive vice-president of IBRC. “We had such positive response from those attending last year and we know this year’s program will inform and inspire about ways we can use innovation to improve our regional economy.”

Those wanting more information can contact Correll at 620-332-5470 or email jcorrell@indycc.edu.

Incorporated in 2010, the Innovative Business Resource Center (IBRC) was created to provide business mentoring and incubation services for area businesses. Mentoring is provided by local/area volunteers experienced in general and specific areas of business while special entrepreneurship curriculum is provided by the Successful Entrepreneur Program at Independence Community College. IBRC is a not-for-profit 501c3 organization that works with commercial property owners to incubate new, expanding or re-inventing businesses in an ideal location.