What's happening at the PPMC

October 2025

Message from the Director

Friends,

Fall marks the start of conference season for the PPMC, and with it, one of my favorite parts of our work: connecting people through learning.

Across Kansas, our team partners with associations and professionals dedicated to local government, finance, management, and workforce development. Together, we have provided thousands of hours of continuing education in 2025 alone. Those hours represent not just training sessions, but real investments in people who make public service happen every day.

This year, approximately 600 attendees across our major conferences earned over 12,000 hours of continuing education. Behind those numbers are more than 100 volunteer speakers from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors who give their time and experience because they believe, like we do, that public service is essential.

We are also deeply grateful for the volunteer boards that guide these associations and our conference work: the Kansas Government Finance Officers Association, the City Clerks and Municipal Finance Officers Association, Kansas Department of Commerce, Kansas Board of Regents, Kansas County Clerks & Election Officials Association, Register of Deeds, and WSU City/County Management Summit. Each plays a critical role in ensuring local leaders across the state have access to high-quality professional development.

To all who speak, serve, and support these efforts, thank you. Your work strengthens the foundation of public service and reminds us that human resource capacity is our most unlimited resource.

Misty Bruckner

Director

Access & Engagement

In collaboration with the City of Wichita and Professional Engineering Consultants, the PPMC Access & Engagement team is pleased to announce the 21st Street Corridor Planning Study. This study is an essential component of the Reconnecting Communities project, which aims to cultivate a vibrant future for 21st Street.

Through this study, our team will engage with residents and interested parties to shape a vision for improvement in connectivity. This would include enhancing public transportation, improving bike and pedestrian access, and developing accommodations for disabilities. This study will strengthen access to essential services such as grocery stores, medical facilities, child care programs, and Wichita State University.

Applied Research & Collaboration

Members of our research team are out in the community sharing their expertise! Jamie and Isabel recently presented “Community Research: Tips and Tricks” at the 2025 CCMFOA Conference. By connecting data to real-world challenges, they helped participants see how applied research can drive meaningful impact at the local level.

Throughout the presentation, Jamie and Isabel shared approachable tools and strategies for conducting community research, from developing clear questions to collecting and interpreting data effectively. They focused on helping city clerks use research to improve resource allocation, evaluate programs, and make informed, data-driven decisions that strengthen their communities.

Talent & Organizational Success

Our Talent and Organizational Success team had the honor of hosting Lt. Governor David Toland’s “To The Stars” Small Business Awards Banquet this past month! The event celebrated outstanding small businesses from across Kansas, recognizing their innovation, resilience, and impact on local communities.

Held at the Robert W. Plaster Center at Pittsburg State University, the banquet drew more than 470 registrations and brought together entrepreneurs, community leaders, and state officials for an evening of recognition and connection. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the hard work and dedication of small businesses that help Kansas thrive.

Operations

Meet our newest team member, Nazjai Dickson!

Nazjai joined the PPMC as a student assistant. She is in her second year at WSU as a transfer student with a Major in Political Science and a Double minor in English and creative writing. Nazjai loves reading and writing in all capacities. She writes for The Sunflower and works as a bookseller for Watermark Books & Cafe.

What excites you most about joining the PPMC?

"I'm excited to get a peek into the work of the public sector. Many aspects of the job are new in a lot of ways for me, I can't wait to learn the ropes. I'm excited to grow learn and experience everything the PPMC has to teach me."

Why is public service important to you?

"Public service is the reason that so many people close to me -- family and friends-- have had the opportunity to grow from their circumstances. My mother always taught me the value of doing right by people, to me public aervice is doing right by the world and its people. It's the upmost honor to be in service of others, to help them get to better and promote growth from within. Whatever that is for them!"

Join Us

WSU Public Policy & Management Center invites you to join the following groups or organizations:

Local Government Network 2026

The Local Government Network (LGN) is designed to strengthen leadership and collaboration among city and county governments across Kansas. Through monthly learning and networking opportunities, LGN connects public servants who are passionate about effective, ethical, and community-driven local governance.

When your city or county joins LGN for 2026, all employees and elected officials can take part in a full year of engaging programs. Members gain access to workshops, webinars, and in-person events that foster connection, share best practices, and build capacity for stronger local government.

In 2024, 25 cities and 4 counties across central Kansas benefited from LGN membership. Will your organization join them in 2026? Learn more or check your membership status using the links below.

Learn more about LGN

Professional Development:

Supervisor Training Series

The PPMC is proud to announce the launch of a new Supervisor Training Series, offered in collaboration with the Kansas Small Business Development Center and the Community Engagement Institute. This bi-monthly professional development opportunity is designed for entry- to mid-level supervisors across all industries.

Each session provides relevant, interactive training focused on building core leadership skills, covering topics such as transformational leadership, coaching, conflict resolution, and collaboration. It’s a great way for supervisors to strengthen their leadership foundation and connect with peers from across the region.

For more information or to register, click the link below.

Learn More

ICTNext is Here: Join the Mailing List!

Introducing ICTNext, a new organization crafted just for young professionals in public service. If you are a young public service worker in the Wichita area, this is your invitation to join our mailing list and recieve notifications for all future group updates and events featuring vibrant networking, engaging conversations, collaboration!

Join Now

Resources