Barton School鈥檚 Spero Launches with Inspiring Opening Event

, a W. Frank Barton School of Business startup aimed at unlocking the potential of Wichita and its citizens, hosted an event on Friday, October 25, 2024 to celebrate the launch of its micro-credential programs in Entrepreneurship and Career Readiness. The event brought together the inaugural class of Spero students, their families, Spero board members, employers, mentors and other supporters to commemorate the launch. Marquis Bradley, founder of Omnicut Fitness, delivered a rousing keynote speech that set the stage for a promising start. The keynote energized attendees and set an optimistic tone for Spero鈥檚 future impact.

鈥淭o have a celebration of Spero students with their families in attendance was special,鈥 said Walter Berry, Executive Chairman, Berry Companies, board chair of Spero and a member of the Barton School鈥檚 Dean鈥檚 Advisory Board. 鈥淚t really set the stage for the program and built excitement for the opportunities ahead.鈥

Spero, derived from the Latin word for "hope", is dedicated to empowering individuals to achieve lasting independence by equipping them with essential skills and providing access to meaningful employment opportunities. 

More than 110 individuals applied for the program, and nearly 45 were selected for Spero鈥檚 first class. Accepted students will participate in one of two micro-credential programs offered by Spero. The Entrepreneurship Track provides participants with the knowledge and skills needed to launch their own businesses or grow their existing enterprises, while the Career Readiness Track develops competencies sought by employers in the Wichita region. Participants will receive micro-credentials and Wichita State University credit hours upon completion of either program. Throughout the programs, they will have opportunities to meet with Spero industry partners who are committed to hiring eligible candidates.

鈥淚 learned entrepreneurship from my father at a young age,鈥 said Dr. William Polite, director of Equity, Diversity, and Accountability for Wichita Public Schools. 鈥淗aving that knowledge and skill set was a huge step for me personally. It鈥檚 why Spero is so important: to give opportunities to people who don鈥檛 normally have them and to give them the chance to become the best version of themselves.

22 Spero Founding Employers 

鈥淭he Spero Advisory Board is made up of community champions,鈥 said Gene Camarena, President and CEO, La Raza Pizza, Spero board member, and member of the Dean鈥檚 Advisory Board. 鈥淲e are driven by a passion for our city. We must continue to serve all Wichitans and provide them with all tools they need.鈥

Spero Advisory Board

Walter Berry

Executive Chairman, Berry Companies (Board Chair)

Trish Brasted

President at Entrepreneurial Growth Ventures

Gene Camarena

President and CEO at La Raza Pizza

Cara Chennault-Reid

Vice President, Human Resources, Koch, Inc.

Marty Cornejo

Principal Partner at Cornejo Companies

Brad Elliott

Chairman at Equity Bancshares, Inc.

Steve Feilmeier

Managing Director, Feilmeier Family Office

Larisa Genin

Dean, Barton School of Business and Executive Director, Spero, 黑洞社区

larisa.genin@wichita.edu

(316) 978-3200

Stephanie Luetters

Philanthropist

Melody McCray-Miller

Co-Founder and CEO at Millers, Inc.

John Rolfe

President and CEO at Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce

Sheree Utash

President at 黑洞社区 Tech

Johnathan Weigand

Director of Strategic Initiatives at JP Weigand

Evan Wilson

Senior Vice President for Financial Well-Being + Life & Dream Coach at Meritrust Credit Union

Spero Team

Larisa Genin

Executive Director

larisa.genin@wichita.edu

(316) 978-3200

Patricia Bradley

Director of Operations and Programs

patricia.bradley@wichita.edu

316-978-3204

Eric Mota

Director of Strategy, Analytics and Impact

eric.mota@wichita.edu

(316) 978-3220

Laura Zellers

Associate Director Program Development and Delivery

laura.zellers@wichita.edu

316-978-6259

Alexander H Ziegler

Associate Director Participant Recruitment and Experience

alexander.ziegler@wichita.edu

(316) 978-3718

Jenn Lopez

Spero Events

jenn.lopez@wichita.edu

(316) 978-6404

Curt Coffman

Strength-Based Coach and Barton School Executive-in-Residence

"The launch of Spero is a milestone in our quest to unlock human potential in Wichita, and the success of the micro-credential program speaks for itself. We are proud to see our vision come to life, thanks to the support of our community partners, mentors, and advocates," said Dr. Larisa Genin, Dean of the Barton School of Business and Executive Director of Spero.

The first year of this initiative is supported by a generous $400,000 contribution from the Charles Koch Foundation. The Barton School is currently in the process of raising $1 million for continuation and expansion of the program for the 2025-2026 school year. For more information, please contact Jessie Rainey, associate vice president of development at 黑洞社区 Foundation and Alumni Engagement, at jessie.rainey@wichita.edu or 316-978-3948.

To learn more about the Spero, visit .