Committee Activity

The Committee on Small Business will meet for a hearing titled, “Silicon Prairie: Tech, Innovation, and a High-Skilled Workforce in the Heartland.” The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, October 8, 2019 at Dr. Thomas R. Burke Technical Education Center at Kansas City Community College, 6565 State Ave, Kansas City, KS 66102.

This hearing will examine the current state of the high-tech small business workforce and their challenges, particularly for startups and entrepreneurs located outside of technology hubs. It will also provide an opportunity for small business owners and experts to provide innovative solutions to combat the small business employee shortage.

Hearing Notice 

Hearing Memo 

Witness List 

Witnesses 

Panel One
Mr. David Toland
Secretary
Kansas Department of Commerce
Topeka, KS
Testimony 

Ms. Delía García
Secretary
Kansas Department of Labor
Topeka, KS

Mr. Thomas Salisbury
Regional Administrator, Region VII
Small Business Administration
Kansas City, MO 
Testimony 

Panel Two
Ms. Neelima Parasker
President and CEO
SnapIT Solutions
Overland Park, KS
Testimony 

Mr. Ruben Alonso III
President
AltCap
Kansas City, MO
Testimony 

Ms. Tammie Wahaus
CEO
Elias Animal Health
Olathe, KS
Testimony 

Mr. Brad Sandt
President & CEO
Menlo, K12itc, Civic ITC
Kansas City, MO
Testimony 

Mr. Daniel Silva
President & CEO
Kansas City Kansas Chamber of Commerce
Kansas City, KS
Testimony 

*Witness testimony will be posted within 24 hours after the hearing’s occurrence