May Meeting

SME Topeka welcomes Bob Ross, newly appointed President of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, for an insider’s look at how to sell a community to investors and site selectors. A lifelong Topekan and one of our city’s most passionate advocates, Bob has helped elevate Topeka’s profile through national media, award-winning campaigns, and strategic storytelling that gets results.

Before stepping into the Chamber presidency, Bob led marketing and communications at the Greater Topeka Partnership, where he helped guide the organization to a 2024 ACCE Chamber of the Year finalist nod. His private-sector background includes leadership roles with Payless ShoeSource and Academy Sports + Outdoors, experience that shapes his practical, outcomes-focused approach to economic growth.

For this session, Bob will unpack the strategy behind positioning a city for investment:

• Crafting a compelling value proposition for capital and talent

• Turning momentum into measurable wins across retail, legislative priorities, and major projects

• Building narratives that resonate with decision-makers and the national market

He will also touch on recent Topeka efforts, including mall revitalization opportunities, legislative engagement, and several high-impact projects that are moving through the pipeline, with as much detail as can be shared publicly at this time. 

Bring your questions. If you work in marketing, sales, development, or civic leadership, this is a rare chance to hear how top-level community selling really works from the person now leading our Chamber.

Register below to reserve your seat.