Network Kansas
Simone Elder, Leoti, has been hired as the Manager of Rural Entrepreneurship, Western Region for NetWork Kansas.
She works with nearly 20 NetWork Kansas E-Communities in western Kansas to cultivate entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Elder most recently served as Executive Director of Wichita County Economic Development, a position she held from 2011 until joining NetWork Kansas in March 2015. She is committed to regional collaboration, also serving as a Regional Coordinator with Ogallala Commons and is active within the wKREDA organization.
In this new role, she will provide on-the-ground support for facilitating entrepreneurial activity in rural, western Kansas communities, focusing primarily on NetWork Kansas E-Communities, but also serving as a resource for other communities and fostering a collaborative atmosphere within the region.
Ellis County is an Entrepreneurship Community.
Her longtime passions for entrepreneurship, rural Kansas communities, and youth development coincide in this position.
Elder helped pioneer the Ogallala Commons Internship Program in 2007 and launch the Wichita County youth entrepreneurship fair in 2013.
She credits her interest in entrepreneurship to her entrepreneurial family and entrepreneurial hometown of Atwood. Simone is proud to be “Rural by Choice” and a Kansas Explorer.
She is a lifelong Kansan who graduated with distinction from the University of Kansas in 2011 with a B.S. in business management and leadership studies and a concentration in entrepreneurship.
“As the number of active Entrepreneurship Communities grow across the state, this position will allow for additional engagement and outreach in western Kansas,” Edler said in a news release.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to bring NetWork Kansas’ board certified programs (Growing Rural Businesses, Ice House, Destination BootCamp, and others) to western Kansas communities and businesses who are interested in growing their entrepreneurial capacity.
After leading Wichita County through the E-Community application process in 2012, I look forward to helping both new and existing E-Communities connect with the resources they seek to create more opportunities in rural economic development. I’m energetic about youth engagement, entrepreneurship, and helping rural communities become more sustainable.
Elder may be contacted at [email protected].
NetWork Kansas is growing an entrepreneurial environment in Kansas by cultivating resources to start and grow small businesses. It is a statewide network of non-profit business-building resources that help entrepreneurs and small business owners startup and grow successful businesses.