Each year, the Wichita Business Journal gives the nod to 40 local up-and-comers, all under the age of 40, who are making strides in their chosen professions. This year, a good number of the total honorees have strong ties to Wichita State.
Congrats, Shockers!
Tyler B. Brown ’03 is vice president of product development for PuriFan, which makes a ceiling fan air filtering system. He spent four years as vice president of business development at Wichita Technology Corp. While there, he created an educational program that brought Kansas youth together with WTC employees to learn about start-up companies.
David L. Cox fs ’86 began working at The Specialists Group as a valet. After some 20 years, he’s now national marketing manager and senior executive recruiter.
Molly E. Edwards ’92 ended a decade-long career in banking when she became vice president for member development and programming at the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce. She was instrumental in creating the Young Professionals of Wichita, an organization that boasts more than 1,600 members.
An attorney with Martin, Pringle, Oliver, Wallace & Bauer LLP, Tim Emerson ’95 rebalanced his priorities after his youngest son was born with Down Syndrome two years ago. Becoming more adept at making his career work around his family life, Emerson also finds time to serve on the executive board for Rainbows United and volunteers with the Down Syndrome Society of Wichita.
When WSU’s Center for Real Estate opened, Jeff Englert ’00 was one of its first students. Now he’s a commercial real estate advisor at Grubb & Ellis | Martens Commercial Group LLC. Englert is also active in the community, serving on the March of Dimes Board of Directors and the Young Professionals of Wichita advisory board.
Valarie A. Florio ’98, a former WSU Alumni Association event director, is development director for Youth Entrepreneurs of Kansas Inc., an organization that educates high school students about business and entrepreneurship. Florio, whom her colleagues describe as enthusiastic and motivational, is involved in many community and university organizations.
Jeremy Gilson ’99 plans to retire from Preferred Health Systems, where he first started working in the mailroom while a student at Wichita State. In the meantime, he serves as a senior marketing executive. Last year Gilson generated more than $10 million in revenue for the company.
A student job as an event assistant at the WSU Alumni Association helped Carmen D. Hytche ’00 land her current gig as director of special events and community relations at Wichita State, where she organizes such university-wide activities as award ceremonies, dedications and lecture series.
His background in student government helped Joel D. Pile prepare for his role as city administrator of Rose Hill, Kan., where he oversees the day-to-day operations of the city and its 30 employees. Currently working on a master’s degree in public administration at WSU, Pile looks forward to one day managing a larger city.
Working as a valuing differences manager at Cargill Meat Solutions is only the beginning for Amy M. Williams ’97. She also teaches aerobics, runs marathons, studies Tae Kwon Do — and serves as a volunteer, board member or committee chairperson for 10 local organizations.
