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August 2024

Farewell & New Beginnings

Gretchen Rubin said, “The days are long, but the years are short.” I can say that the past 12 years at the PPMC have gone by in the blink of an eye. Saying goodbye isn’t easy, but I have decided to accept the position of Community Development Director for the City of Bel Aire. While I am excited about the new challenge and opportunity that lies ahead, it’s hard to put into words how much I’ll miss the PPMC.


I have had many amazing experiences collaborating on numerous successful projects. I feel fortunate to have worked with kind and dedicated public servants and have grown professionally and personally at the PPMC — it’s been a fantastic experience.


I have valued the connections I have made with public servants across the state. I can’t say thank you enough for the friendships, mentoring, coaching, and support that have been poured into me by so many. 


I am grateful for the opportunity to have been part of this team. My time at the PPMC was full of learning and shared successes that I will never forget. My life has been enriched by the kindness and encouragement so many of you have shown me. I will always be thankful for the many friends I have made along the way and the wonderful memories I take with me.


This is not goodbye but “see you later.” I’m sure our paths will cross in the future. Thanks for the memories!


Paula Downs

Former Talent & Organizational Success Manager

Access & Engagement

Access and Engagement welcomed two new team members this month, Sarah Gooding and Brad Richards! The growth of the team is exciting as we begin a fall season full of new projects. Sarah and Brad bring diverse experience, knowledge, and expertise to this team as we continue our work to provide actionable planning by coordinating community initiatives and driving strategic engagement.

Brad Richards

Community Program Coordinator

Meet Brad

Sarah Gooding

Community Program Specialist

Meet Sarah

Applied Research & Collaboration

The PPMC received a $75k technology grant from the Information Network of Kansas (INK). The PPMC will use these funds to explore the costs and technical requirements associated with sharing data from multiple state agencies to a centralized linking hub—to create anonymized datasets for addressing complex social questions.

Talent & Organizational Success

At the beginning of August, PPMC was delighted to host over 50 women for the annual Women in Public Service conference. This year’s theme, “Making Space: Being Authentically You,” resonated deeply with attendees. One participant shared, “how much of a breath of fresh air the conference was" and they acknowledged our "expertise in balancing inspiration with useful knowledge/skills and doing it in a professional way that felt authentic and substantial.” The event featured inspiring speakers and engaging workshops on topics such as impostor syndrome, serving on committees and boards, leveraging AI to enhance work, and addressing the unique challenges and joys of women in public service roles.

Women from various career stages, from early professionals to seasoned experts, came together and left feeling energized, refreshed, and confident that real issues were addressed throughout the day. PPMC is proud to be the host of this organization and can’t wait for our next activity.

Operations

Team PPMC believes diversity in all forms makes organizations and communities stronger. Recently, we toured Goodwill Industries of Kansas which allowed us to see and learn about the employment and educational programs offered to individuals with disabilities and/or other barriers.


A big thank you to Laura Ritterbush and Goodwill Industries of Kansas for hosting us and helping us on our journey toward inclusive excellence!

Team PPMC is Hiring

The PPMC is hiring! Join #TeamPPMC as the Talent & Professional Services Manager!

Want more information? Click the button below!

Apply Now!

Join Us

Empower your supervisors/managers and those who aspire to promotion with skills to accomplish more and gain confidence in their abilities. This new training series of three classes is for current and aspiring supervisors.


All three classes are 10 AM – 2 PM on Wednesdays at WSU with lunch included for a total $237. Register by September 16 for this special price

Register Now

Applied Research & Collaboration


Core Services:

Survey Research

Program Evaluation

Organizational Assessment

Policy Research

Access & Engagement


Core Services:

Strategic Planning

Community Initiatives

Strategic Engagement

Talent & Organizational Success


Core Services:

Professional Development

Association Support

Conference Administration

Executive Coaching

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