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Design Your Own Plane with Agency’s Free Online Game

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Wichita, Kan. – Greteman Group clients look forward to the agency’s always-creative holiday outreach. This year, the agency’s spreading the joy with AirFlair, an online, paint-a-plane game and competition, plus a donation for STEM aviation initiatives.

Participants can design their own plane with this free online tool. Choose from a menu of four components – a fuselage, wings, engine and tail – plus a background. Pick from a multitude of colors, patterns and textures –which can create almost a quarter-million possible combinations (248,832 to be exact). Deck out a plane then share the livery on social media.

A Prize You Say?

A random drawing will determine who snags the prize – a three-dimensional aircraft model, customized with the winning paint scheme. The drawing will be held on December 18. The winner will be contacted and announced on January 7, and the painted aircraft model will ship by the end of January 2019.

As is the agency’s tradition, Greteman Group will also make a contribution to a worthy nonprofit. Over the years it has supported everything from foodbanks and literacy programs to Habitat for Humanity and the Boys & Girls Club. This year’s donation goes to WSU Tech’s STEM aviation initiatives.

“Integrating science, technology, engineering and math into real-world applications helps us all fly higher,” says Sonia Greteman, agency president and creative director. “Developing AirFlair has been as fun for us as we hope it will be for everyone who plays along. Can’t wait to see the entries and to do our part for STEM.”

09.26.18 · Greteman Group

Shaesta Waiz Unites Women and STEM

Shaesta Waiz seems larger than life. The youngest woman to circumnavigate the globe solo in a single-engine aircraft. The eighth woman to solo across the Atlantic Ocean. The founder of the nonprofit Dreams Soar.

To meet the petite aviator in person you’d never know she was once so painfully shy that raising her hand in class for attendance was a daily struggle. Waiz was born in an Afghan refugee camp and immigrated to the United States as a child. A first-generation college graduate, Waiz earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She’s down-to-earth, gracious and passionate about STEM and lifting up others. On Sept. 12, Waiz came to Wichita to share her incredible journey.

Her Historic Flight to Promote STEM

On October 4, 2017, after 145 days, 182 flight hours, 22 countries visited across five continents, and 32 outreach events with more than 3,000 young girls and boys, Waiz completed her global solo flight in a Beechcraft Bonanza A36 aircraft. Waiz laughed and said she couldn’t gain any weight on her flight as she was crammed into the cockpit with an extra tank of fuel sitting where a copilot would have been.

She learned a lot along the way, including how to draw upon her inner reserves. She returned to Daytona Beach International Airport to mark the completion of her historic flight for STEM and aviation education. The trip was originally scheduled to take closer to 90 days, but weather and mechanical issues caused delays. When she landed at her final destination, she kissed the ground.

While you’d think there would be huge support for a female pilot making this journey, she had her share of skeptics along the way, both during the four years of fundraising and even continuing into the flight itself. One customs agent during her Atlantic crossing asked, “Do your parents know you’re out here?” While there were times she questioned herself, the thought of disappointing future generations kept her going.

When she turned on the engine, she became one with the aircraft, Waiz said. “When I get in that plane it doesn’t matter if I’m a male or a female. It doesn’t matter that I’m an Afghan refugee. The plane responds to how I fly it.”

So how does a shy, Afghan refugee get started in aviation? She spoke about being scared to fly as a teenager as her only knowledge of aviation was seeing crashes on the news. Then she flew alone on a commercial flight and it all changed. She wanted to be a pilot as a way to see the world. “Your biggest fear can become your biggest passion.”

Inspiration for the Day

I first heard Waiz speak last January during the International Aviation Womens Association (IAWA) General Aviation Leadership Forum. Various speakers and panels covered the career challenges and the opportunities for engaging young women in our field. Having spent my entire career in aviation, I recognize that it is critical that we as an industry engage the next generation. As Wichita Aero Club vice chair, it became my mission to bring Waiz to Wichita, the Air Capital.

Powerful Panel

In keeping with the spirit of a day focused on women in aviation, I organized and moderated a panel focused on community STEM initiatives. Our panel of seasoned veterans each had a rich story to tell about rising through the ranks, shattering the glass ceiling at each of their respective companies.

shaesta-waiz-stem-wac-panel
The panel (left to right) included Brandi Chandler, special assistant to the vice president and general manager for Airbus; Tonya Sudduth, vice president and Wichita site leader for Bombardier Business Aircraft; Lea Anderson, director operational excellence, defense programs at Spirit AeroSystems Inc.; Roxanne Howell, vice president of North American Customer Service Centers at Textron Aviation; and me.

When asked, ”If you were speaking to a group of 13-year-old girls, what would you tell them about considering a career in the aviation industry?”, the answers reminded us of why we are in this industry to begin with. “Have confidence. You can do anything.” “Dream big. Don’t hold back.” “Have faith. Be brave.” After a lively Q&A session on the need for more exposure to opportunities, networking, mentorship and making students and parents aware of careers in aviation, Chandler noted, “I think my to-do list just got longer.”

Outreach to the Underprivileged

In addition to speaking with aviation professionals, Waiz spoke to a group of more than 500 students at Jardine STEM and Career Explorations Academy, a lower socio-economic magnet middle school serving many refugee students. During her visit, Waiz spent time with four young girls who are Afghan refugees. Afterward she said, “My heart is so full.”

“I am again reminded why it is so important for more women to rise and serve as a true example for the next generation,” Waiz said. When asked if she would make the flight again, Waiz got a big laugh from the crowd when she replied, yes, if it was in a jet.

About the Speaker and Her Mission

Waiz is the recipient of the National Aeronautic Association’s 2017 Katherine and Marjorie Stinson Trophy, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s 2018 Trophy for Current Achievement, the Royal Institute of Navigation’s 2018 Certificate of Achievement and is also part of the National Geographic Speakers Bureau. To learn more about Dreams Soar, visit http://dreamssoar.org/.

ashley bowen cook with shaesta waiz at wac stem panel
We were all smiles both before and after Waiz’ presentation. So was the Wichita Aero Club crowd. We adults need inspiration, too, and we got it. Photo credit: Junebug Clark, Visual Media Group.
roxanne howell of textron aviation participates in the wac stem panel
Roxanne Howell, vice president of North American Customer Service Centers at Textron Aviation, said she serves as a mentor to other women whenever possible because there were so few when she entered the male-dominated field. Photo credit: Junebug Clark, Visual Media Group.
tonya sudduth of bombardier wichita participates in the wac stem panel
Mentorship was key to helping her break through the glass ceiling, said Tonya Sudduth, vice president and Wichita site leader for Bombardier Business Aircraft. Photo credit: Junebug Clark, Visual Media Group.
lea anderson of spirit aerosystems participates in the wac stem panel
Lea Anderson, director operational excellence, defense programs at Spirit AeroSystems Inc. encouraged young people to dream big. She knows all about that as a self-proclaimed “simple farm girl” to a promotion just days before the panel. Photo credit: Junebug Clark, Visual Media Group.
brandi chandler of airbus participates in the wac stem panel
Panelists emphasized that current demand for aviation talent is larger than the supply. Now is the time to get into aviation, said Brandi Chandler, special assistant to the vice president and general manager for Airbus. Photo credit: Junebug Clark, Visual Media Group.
Greteman Group team members (left to right) Heather New, Jordan Walker and Deanna Harms, along with aviation enthusiast Bree Cox gathered around the barrier-breaking Shaesta Waiz. If she can make her dreams come true, we can, too. Photo credit: Junebug Clark, Visual Media Group.

This article first ran in the Sept. 20, 2018, issue of BlueSky News. 

09.20.18 · Ashley Bowen Cook

Greteman Group plans voter registration drive during Open Streets ICT

WICHITA, Kan. – Stand Up and Be Counted is Greteman Group’s message during Open Streets ICT 2018. This community-building event along Douglas Avenue in downtown Wichita’s design district runs from noon-5 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 23. Douglas Avenue from College Hill on the east to Delano on the west will be closed to vehicle traffic. Businesses along the route set up activities in the street. Most are free.

Anyone over the age of 18 who is not registered to vote is encouraged to stop by Greteman Group’s fun voter registration booth, set up outside its offices at 1425 E. Douglas. Agency team members will be on hand with smartphones, tablets and laptops to help people register. Afterward, people can take photos with a mod, patriotic backdrop and signs that say everything from “I registered” and “First we register. Then we vote. Then we win.” to “I am the future. My vote matters” and “Only 9% of young people vote. We can do better.” Sharing the photos on social media spreads the message – and the motivation.

“Voting is a solemn duty, but we’re going to make registration a blast,” says Sonia Greteman, agency president and creative director. “Let’s embrace the democratic process and empower all voters, especially young ones.”

According to the League of Women Voters Wichita-Metro, 18 to 24 year olds make up 25 percent of the voting population in Sedgwick County, but only nine percent of people under 25 are registered to vote.

“When we learned about the staggering number of young people who aren’t registered to vote, we had to get involved,” says Jordan Walker, Greteman Group digital director. “Open Streets ICT is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate how easy it is to get registered. Young voters must stand up and be counted.”

Make Your Preferences Known
Several Sedgwick County offices are on the ballot in the upcoming November elections, incuding U.S. House District 4; Governor and Lieutenant Governor; Secretary of State; Attorney General of Kansas; Kansas State Treasurer; the Board of Education; Insurance Commissioner; district-level judges; and County Commission.

Voting Resources
Check Voter Status: (316) 660-7100 or KSVotes.org
Register Online and Find Your Polling Location: KSVotes.org
Voting Guide: Vote411.org

Share the event on Facebook: http://bit.ly/2NIVIhf.

09.14.18 · Greteman Group

Breaking Up with Internet Explorer

Some relationships last far longer than they should. You may be staying because things are easy … comfortable. You’ve been with them so long, you’re not sure what you would do without them. But in the back of your mind, you know things aren’t working. Your needs aren’t being met. I’m here to tell you that there are better options out there for you. You don’t have to settle for Internet Explorer.

In April of 2018, it was reported that a hacking group was using a vulnerability in Internet Explorer to infect Windows PCs with malware that had the potential to allow the hacker to remotely control the computer. Microsoft didn’t immediately respond with a patch for Internet Explorer. They did, however, offer this: “We recommend customers use Windows 10 and the Microsoft Edge browser for the best protection.”

That’s the equivalent of having your significant other’s parents tell you that you should be dating someone else. Someone younger and better looking. But there are good reasons why Microsoft has all but abandoned its once-golden child.

The History You Have Together

In 2003 Internet Explorer was the most popular browser with a 95% market share. It shipped with every PC running Windows and was its default browser. And it had relatively little competition. However, it never had a stellar reputation, as it was plagued with bugs and vulnerabilities over its various versions.

As a result of competition from newer, better browsers, today the percentage of people using IE has dropped to 3.04% worldwide. While IE11, the last version of Internet Explorer, still ships with Windows 10 due to legacy web apps that rely on it, the default browser is Microsoft Edge. IE is officially discontinued, with only IE11 receiving regular security patches when necessary. Other versions of IE are not supported by Microsoft.

Why the Honeymoon Is Over

If you’re still using Internet Explorer for general web browsing, you’re possibly leaving yourself vulnerable to attack. Hackers love to uncover flaws in browsers like IE, because they’re only marginally supported and have a long history of exploits to start from. And because IE is tied closely to the Windows operating system, allowing background processes that other browsers don’t, it’s often called the most vulnerable browser.

Another drawback with using Explorer is how it displays websites. You may notice while browsing sites in IE that things don’t look like they do in more modern browsers. Photos may be cut off, text might run into areas it shouldn’t and some site functions might not work at all. This is because as time passes, the way in which websites are coded changes. Since IE isn’t being updated to understand new coding techniques, it draws web pages onscreen based on what it does know. This leads to mistakes that can ruin the viewer’s experience. Web developers are faced with either not supporting IE, or including additional code just so Explorer displays sites as intended. Since this increases development costs, sites that support IE will continue to decrease.

Finally, Internet Explorer is much slower compared to other browsers, sometimes up to 30% slower on some sites. This makes general browsing frustrating and decreases your productivity if you’re using Explorer for work. Browsers such as Chrome and Firefox are continually updated to keep up with the increasing demands of websites, leading to a much better user experience.

There Are a Lot of Fish in the Virtual Sea

If you’re working in a company where your only option is Explorer, or you’re just a long-time user out of habit, you may not have any idea about what you should be using instead. Here are some serious contenders for your affection.

Google Chrome

Chrome is the current leader in terms of browser usage, with almost 60% market share. It’s fast, lightweight, easy to use, and can add third-party extensions, increasing the browser’s capabilities. It’s available on all major platforms, which means you can use it both on your desktop computer and your smartphone. In addition, you can sync your browsing activity across devices, making browsing easier and more seamless.

Firefox

Firefox was the first major challenger to Internet Explorer’s dominance. The current version, Quantum, is both fast and feature-rich. While not as popular as Chrome, Firefox competes very well in performance and ease of use. And it’s available for all platforms.

Microsoft Edge

Edge was released in 2015 to be the successor to Explorer. It’s both faster and more compatible with today’s websites than IE. However, as of today the Edge browser still uses Internet Explorer when viewing a website that is only compatible with IE. Because of this, Edge is not considered as secure as other modern browsers.

Explore Your (Many) Options

You may not have the ability to completely divorce yourself from Internet Explorer, especially if your company uses web applications that need it to function correctly. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t seek the company of other browsers when viewing other websites. Although Explorer will probably be hanging around for a long time making things awkward, you deserve the best browsing experience possible. It’s time to move on.

This column originally appeared in the September 13, 2018, issue of BlueSky News.

09.13.18 · Greteman Group

Content for Your Purchase Funnel

Your customers use Google to search for answers to problems you solve. Appearing on the first page – even better, in one of the coveted top three positions – increases the likelihood that they find you instead of your competition. What do you need to do to appear in search results, capture their attention and drive them through your sales process? Consider creating content for each stage of the purchase funnel.

Content for Questioning

Awareness stage content needs to answer questions. In this stage, your customers aren’t sure if they need you, your products or your services – but they do need an answer. Use the keyword research you’ve conducted around your brand, products and services to help you identify what questions your customers are asking. Then, create deep content, such as case studies, how-to blogs and Q&As, that answer your customers’ questions.

Read Greteman Group’s primer on keyword research for search engine optimization if you still need to complete the keyword research step.

Make your awareness content work harder by transforming your case study into several infographics you can share across your social channels. Increase the power of your how-to blog by putting a tutorial video on YouTube. Turn your text-based Q&A into a podcast to distribute through smartphone applications.

Content for Considering

Business-to-business audience and high-net-worth individuals conduct 20 hours of research, reading three to five pieces of content, before contacting a company about business and luxury products and services. These audiences know what they need, and they’re deciding which company to contact. To capture them, you need to produce content for the research and consideration stage.

Consideration content needs to provide customers with in-depth information about your products and services. Create product descriptions, service walk-throughs and comparisons to other solutions. Again, extend the work of that content by transforming it for your other channels. Written product descriptions and service walk-throughs become demo video content on YouTube. Gate your comparison content with a form and turn it into a lead generating drip campaign through email marketing.

Content for Purchasing

Customers in the purchase stage usually have the answers they want – and a product, service or brand in mind. Hopefully, your content to this point has convinced them you’re the best solution. But if it didn’t, you have this last chance to persuade them to purchase with content created for that specific purpose.

People ready to buy might read reviews and watch testimonials from other customers. Reviews are powerful search results – and Google serves them up directly in search from trusted websites like Yelp and its own reviews – but you can’t count on third-party review sites to be accurate or positive. However, you can rely on what you produce. Interview your customers and create testimonial videos optimized for the purchase funnel. Put them on your website and YouTube. Create short snippets of those testimonial videos for your customers to post on their own social channels.

Organic search drives traffic to your website from people who are actively seeking you and the products and services you offer, which makes it one of the most important channels for lead generation. Capture your potential customers by producing content for each stage of the purchase funnel. Extend your content across your other marketing channels, including advertising, email marketing and organic social media, which will in turn feed more authority to your organic search.

This column originally appeared in the September 6, 2018, issue of BlueSky News.

09.06.18 · Greteman Group