New leader takes the helm on the eve of Riverfest’s 50th festival celebration
WICHITA, Kan. – Jan. 28, 2022 – Wichita Festivals, Inc., the not-for-profit corporation that produces Riverfest and is driven by a mission to create diverse celebrations for Wichita and the surrounding community, announced today that Nancy Duling has been selected as the organization’s new President and CEO, effective Feb. 14.
“Nancy has unique experience that will allow her to hit the ground running as we prepare to celebrate our 50th Riverfest,” said Jeff McCausland, chair of WFI’s board of directors. “Her knowledge of fundraising and management of local nonprofits will be instrumental in helping us rebuild the WFI staff and develop a vision for the future of our organization.” Riverfest will celebrate half a century June 3-11, in and around the Arkansas River in downtown Wichita.
“I’m excited to have this opportunity to lead the team at an organization as vital to the culture and life of the city as Wichita Festivals,” Duling said. “As we look forward to emerging as a community from what has been a challenging past couple of years, our events can play an enormous role in renewing public life. I look forward to working with the board, staff, sponsors and volunteers to create events that will contribute to that renewal.”
Duling’s career serving the not-for-profit and for-profit communities of Wichita spans nearly four decades, and includes two stints at WFI, as director of events from 1990-1996 and as director of development from 2000-2001. She holds a master of science in management and a bachelor of science in human resources, both from Friends University.
In addition to WFI, Duling has put her talents in fundraising and human resources to work at a number of Wichita organizations and social service providers, including GraceMed Health Clinic, American Heart Association, St. Francis Community Services, Kansas Children’s Service League, and Wichita Convention and Visitors Bureau. She served on the City of Wichita District V Advisory Board and the Sedgwick County Accessibility Board, among others.
Wichita Festivals, Inc. is a non-profit corporation that works to enhance the region’s quality of life by producing world-class community celebrations. WFI organizes Riverfest, which began as the city’s Centennial celebration in 1970 and now attracts more than 400,000 attendees and adds more than $30 million to the local economy each year. Riverfest is among the world’s 40 largest outdoor events, as ranked by PollStar. WFI also produces Autumn & Art at Bradley Fair, a three-day fine art show that has more than 30,000 attendees and features 100 painters, sculptors, photographers and other artists from around the nation. Over the years, Wichita Festivals has also produced the Wichita Vortex Music Festival, grand opening events for the new Eisenhower Airport, the Kansas Flight Festival and the Downtown Chili Cookoff, among others. For more information about Wichita Festivals, Inc. or its events, contact Teri Mott at (316) 267-2817, ext. 22 or teri@wichitafestivals.com.