Any event that pulls together a group of high-performing young professionals is apt to leave you feeling energized and upbeat about the future. That was certainly the case at Young Professionals of Wichita’s Founders’ Day Gala. The event, held July 27 at Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, honored 2018 Distinguished Young Professional finalists, selected for their positive impact and efforts to make Wichita a premier destination for growing businesses, careers and communities. Judges considered professional achievements as well as promise for continued success.
The evening’s honorees included Jordan Walker, digital director of Greteman Group, an aviation-specialty marketing agency based in Wichita, the Air Capital. Since its founding in 1989, the agency has developed a team of purpose-driven pros. It provides advertising, marketing and public relations for everything from new product launches and pilot recruitment to brand building and lead generation.
Leadership That Goes Beyond Digital
Today, almost every Greteman Group project is digital or has a digital component,” says Sonia Greteman, agency president and creative director. “Jordan serves a vital role in our digital efforts, leveraging analytics on everything we do, from programmatic advertising and results-driven email campaigns to search-engine optimization and social-media management.”
Walker’s background in digital marketing strategy and execution includes certification by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), the only globally recognized and accredited program for digital sales. She serves on Greteman Group’s five-member Traction leadership team, which sets goals and meets weekly to discuss progress and challenges. Walker has been with the agency almost three years. She turned 30 this past spring.
“When we’re faced with an issue, Jordan’s always quick to help strategize solutions,” says Greteman. “She’s wise beyond her years, which is why she’s able to direct a team of professionals that includes Baby Boomers as well as Millennials.”
In addition to her high-level of professional achievement, Walker’s YPW recognition was based on her community-building efforts. Those include current and past support for the Douglas Design District, LevelUp, Wichita North High School Alumni Association, Child Start and Rainbows United. Through her ongoing support for the Wichita North High School Alumni Association, the entire board was inducted into the school’s 2017 Hall of Fame. That made Walker one of the youngest people in North High’s history to have been inducted.
Recommendations From People in the Know
Janelle King, Douglas Design district president and owner of The Workroom, recommended Walker, saying, “Wichita has made significant strides in recent years to overcoming a perception problem and increasing civic pride. This is significantly due to community champions and leaders such as Jordan.”
Fidelity Bank SVP and Marketing Director Katie Grover said, “This is a woman who illuminates every room she enters—and it’s not just because of her glowing red locks. She’s genuinely interested in those with whom she engages and she’s on a life-long quest to not only better herself, but also her community.”
Reverie Coffee Roasters President Andrew Gough called Walker an advocate for all-things-Wichita. “Without her initial consultation and advocacy, we wouldn’t have been able to get to the place we are today,” said Gough. His rapid business expansion included relocating his flagship roastery, adding a bakery/restaurant and opening auxiliary shops at the Garvey Center and Wichita’s new Advanced Learning Library.
Kate Flavin, the public information officer for Sedgwick County, and Thea Pajunen, Fidelity Bank’s marketing specialist, received YPW’s Distinguished Young Professional Award at the gala.
