What the New Downtown Plan Means for You | October WIBA Women's Luncheon

Description

WIBA Women’s Luncheon

Where Women in Business Connect & Grow

Held on the first Tuesday of each month, the WIBA Women’s Luncheon brings together 150+ women and business leaders for lunch, connection, and learning. Each event features a carefully selected speaker who shares both professional experience and personal journey, offering attendees a meaningful opportunity to connect with the person behind the title.

This core program creates a consistent space for women to step away from daily responsibilities, strengthen relationships, and stay actively engaged in Wichita’s business community.

"What the New Downtown Means for You" 

 After 15 years of steady growth and more than $2 billion of investment, downtown Wichita is ready for its next chapter. Our community spent the past two years imagining what’s next for downtown, and the recently adopted “Downtown Wichita Action Plan” serves as both a vision for what Wichitans want their city to be in 2035 – and a roadmap for how to get there. Learn what part you can play in improving connections, activating the river, elevating urban design, and providing a complete neighborhood feel in downtown Wichita. 

Meet the Speaker:

Heather Schroeder is the Executive Director of Downtown Wichita, a private 501(c)(3) corporation founded in 2002 to steward the development, growth and vibrancy of downtown.

Heather has worked in downtown management for more than a decade, previously serving as Deputy Director and Director of Economic Development at the Downtown Committee of Syracuse in central New York. Heather holds a Master of City and Regional Planning degree from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a B.S. in Policy Analysis and Management from Cornell University. She serves on the boards of the International Downtown Association and HumanKind and is a member of the Leadership Wichita class of 2026.

Heather is a proud downtown resident alongside her husband Petter and dog Daisy.

“What the New Downtown Plan Means for You”

After 15 years of steady growth and more than $2 billion of investment, downtown Wichita is ready for its next chapter. Our community spent the past two years imagining what’s next for downtown, and the recently adopted “Downtown Wichita Action Plan” serves as both a vision for what Wichitans want their city to be in 2035 – and a roadmap for how to get there. Learn what part you can play in improving connections, activating the river, elevating urban design, and providing a complete neighborhood feel in downtown Wichita.

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Good to Know Before You Attend

• Registration and networking begin at 11:15 AM
• Program begins around noon
• Lunch is included with registration
• Bring business cards and plan to connect with local professionals 

What to Expect

• A featured guest speaker
• Lunch and networking
• Opportunities to connect with fellow WIBA members and guests
• Topics focused on leadership, business, and professional development
• A welcoming, professional environment

Event Details

Date: Tuesday, October 6th
Time: 11:15 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: Ninth Floor Club + Venue
100 N Broadway St., Suite 900
Wichita, KS 67202

Registration & Pricing

• Members: $25
• Non-Members: $50
• Advance registration encouraged
• Seating is limited
• Guests may attend up to two core WIBA events at no cost

Who Should Attend

• Women business owners
• Entrepreneurs
• Corporate professionals
• Nonprofit leaders
• Community leaders

Why Attend

The Women’s Luncheon is one of WIBA’s most well-attended programs, offering participants the opportunity to:

• Learn from experienced local leaders
• Expand professional networks
• Gain practical tools and perspective
• Stay connected to the business community
• Build long-term professional relationships

We look forward to welcoming you to this month’s Women’s Luncheon and continuing to support women in business across our community.