ANNOUNCING:
Lead Wichita’s first CEO and new City Movement strategy
“We believe this is a defining moment for Wichita’s future.”
On February 21, 2025, the Lead Wichita Board of Directors announced the appointment of Damon Young as the organization’s first Chief Executive Officer. Young is returning to the organization after previously serving on the board for five years (2018-2023), during which time he helped develop its early outreach and impact programs. The move comes as Lead Wichita broadens its focus and impact to a City Movement model – a relational, strategic effort to align leaders and organizations toward a shared vision and measurable impact on Wichita’s most pressing challenges.
“As we dreamt and prayed about the role and impact that Lead Wichita can provide for our city, our board began researching and meeting with city movement leaders across the country to understand what is working best to help their communities flourish,” said Josh Pearce, Lead Wichita board chair and CPO of Capital III.
“I believe the greatest innovation and growth happen at the intersections and fringes—where sectors, ideas, and relationships collide in unexpected ways,” said Damon Young, incoming Lead Wichita CEO. “I invite each of you to join me in this work—as we connect, equip, and inspire Wichitans toward a more flourishing city.”
Learn more about this broadened focus and more from Damon: News Release
Save the following dates:
May 1, 2025 - Wichita Prayer Breakfast: Start your day off right with a moment of reflection and connection at the Wichita Prayer Breakfast. It's an excellent opportunity to gather with fellow faith-based leaders, share insights and draw strength from one another.
August 7 & 8, 2025 - Global Leadership Summit: Join leaders from across the community to gain insights, practical tools and inspiration to help you lead with excellence and impact.
About Damon Young
Damon Young is on a mission to ignite and sustain transformation with his gift for connecting divergent ideas into a unifying vision. As the first CEO of Lead Wichita, he will be building a more empowered, connected city while launching a boutique consultancy focused on vision casting, executive mentoring, and public speaking. Young brings a wide aperture of experiences to view his community of 30 years, including ministry, commercial construction, and nonprofit work. He previously served as Chief Business Officer at the Kansas Leadership Center and began his new role at Lead Wichita in March 2025.
As the board chair of the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce in 2022, he continued to champion civic trust through meaningful dialogue. A former All-American collegiate debater, he still loves a good argument, especially if it involves basketball or Star Wars. Young currently serves as the Executive in Residence at Friends University Business School, his alma mater. He is a devoted husband, father of five, poet, and podcast enthusiast who believes in the power of faith and curiosity. He’s always looking for ways to inspire, empower, and move people toward a greater vision for themselves, their families, and our communities.