Damon Young
CEO, Lead Wichita
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.