“Ventria chose Kansas for its bioprocessing facility because of the state’s strong bioscience vision that has become a reality thanks to the dedicated effort of Junction City/Geary County, KTEC, KBA, KansasBio, K-State, KU, Governor Sebelius and the Kansas Department of Agriculture led by Secretary Polansky. Thanks to a coordinated and consistent team effort, we chose Kansas and are delighted to call Kansas our home.”
Scott Deeter
President
Ventria Bioscience
Junction City, Kansas
“I was about to move to the coast when KTEC found me. The KTEC PIPELINE showed me the priceless network here in the Midwest! People here are not selfish and are doing everything to make young entrepreneurs succeed! People from the Kansas heartland do have big hearts!”
Debra L. Ellies, PhD
CEO & President
OsteoGeneX, Inc.
Lawrence, Kansas
"We moved to Junction City to be in the heart of the country's "Biofuels Belt," close to the agricultural producers and cooperatives that are generating the dramatic increase in production of renewable fuels like ethanol. We also wanted to be close to the strong biological and agricultural research departments at Kansas State University. At a time when bipartisanship has not been easy to achieve, we've been impressed with the bipartisan support of Kansas government, elected and appointed officials alike, for new technology and new business. The support we've received has been consistent and sustained with good follow-through even after we moved to Kansas."
Bruce Ferguson
Chairman and President
Edenspace
Junction City, Kansas
"The quality of life in Kansas City is fantastic! The schools are among the best in the country, the economy is solid and steady, the businesses in the community are connected and very supportive of one another, the cost of living is low and the families and individuals that make up the community are the most friendly and genuine that I have ever encountered."
Bruce Ianni
President
Chemidex
Overland Park, Kansas
“I was in the Silicon Valley area of California working for an enterprise software company. We had been in California over eight years, and while my wife and I liked it there, we were looking for a place to raise our family that provided a better quality of life overall. My employer at the time offered to let me move anywhere in the US and work remotely. After some discussions, we decided on Kansas for a variety of reasons: generally lower cost of living, excellent primary and secondary public & private education, much less traffic, practical opportunities to find quality work in the software market should I ever want to work in the local economy and the central location as my wife's family is in Virginia and easy access to significant airport In KC to make frequent business travel easier, reasonable four-season climate. My family still lived in Kansas, and we wanted our children to know their grandparents and cousins better. I earned my MS in Engineering from the University of Kansas, and I wanted to be closer to Jayhawk basketball.”
Darren Knipp
Director of Product Management
Perceptive Software, Inc.
Shawnee, Kansas
“I am relocating to Kansas to focus on what really matters to me - family and quality of life, the business environment that the state of Kansas is creating through initiatives such as the Kansas Bioscience Authority and the opportunity to contribute my experience to others who are wanting to make a difference.”
Jim Mitchell, PhD
Director of Heartland BioVentures
Kansas Bioscience Authority
Olathe, Kansas
“I chose to live and work in Kansas for a variety of reasons. It was an opportunity to get in on a cutting-edge industry with a company that improves the health and well-being of children. It was a fantastic career opportunity with Ventria, and I was excited by the challenge of a General Manager role with a growing and dynamic company. It afforded the opportunity to build a business from start-up and to grow with the company. There is a clear and strong commitment from the state and local governments to our industry and our company, and there is strong community support for what we do. I like the people here and the Midwestern values and work ethic.Kansas is “home”. This is where all my family is from, and our roots run deep in Kansas - it just feels right to be back here.”
Greg Unruh
Vice President and General Manager
Ventria Bioscience
Junction City, Kansas