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JANUARY 2017
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FEATURE
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Celebrating Leadership Excellence
tournament, which is still today a major
economic generator for the area,” he says.
When Roberts relocated to Wichita,
Kansas, in the early 1980s, he invested time
in more than just his role as vice president
of supplier Pioneer Balloon Co. Serving as
chairman of the Wichita Metro Chamber’s
federal a airs committee led Roberts to
the Friends of McConnell (FOM), a civilian
group that funded activities held on the
nearby McConnell Air Force Base.
“Friends of McConnell funded over
$25,000 in activities on the base, and as
a member of the group and an honorary
commander, I was very involved,”
says Roberts. In honor of his service
to FOM, Roberts received the Golden
Eagle designation fromMcConnell AFB
leadership in 2011; he is one of just seven
individuals to receive the Golden Eagle
since the base’s establishment.
roughout his time in Wichita,
Roberts remained engaged in the business
community as a member of the National
Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)
and as past chairman of the board for the
Wichita Independent Business Association.
Roberts and his wife, Norma, also became
impromptu saviors for a colony of feral cats
while living in Kansas. ough the two are
animal lovers, their constant travel meant
keeping pets wasn’t in the cards—but an
encounter with a family of cats outside a
local Walmart led them to work with Friends
of Felines, as well as to adopt three feral cats
of their own. e nonpro t group helps care
for feral cats by trapping and releasing them
into established colonies.
“Friends of Felines estimates that Wichita
has 100,000 free-roaming cats,” Roberts
explains. “TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) is
the only proven method to control the
population growth. Euthanization of the
cats simply doesn’t work. TNR is a win/win
because over time, municipalities spend
less money, and the stray and feral cat
population is signi cantly reduced. In some
areas, they are being used to help control
the rodent population.”
After more than 30 years with Pioneer
Balloon, Roberts and his wife entered the
next stage of life as residents of Bozeman,
Montana. But life in retirement wasn’t
going to be a quiet one; Roberts says as
soon as he and Norma settled into their
new home, they began looking for ways to
become involved.
“We volunteered to help maintain trails
for the Gallatin Valley Land Trust; we
started working at God’s Garden, which
supplies produce to the local food bank,
and we volunteer through our church at
the Community Café, which serves evening
meals to the needy,” he says.
Decades of service that continue to unfold
have given Roberts a veteran’s perspective
on giving back. “I have been fortunate to
volunteer for a number of worthy causes,”
he says. “It’s been particularly gratifying
to witness the impact of volunteers and
what their contributions have meant to
those organizations.”
Roberts’ nominator, PPAI lifetime
member Don Edwards, says his friend is
“very deserving of the Ted Olson award [the
late Olson was chairman emeritus of PPAI].
Wayne has made endless contributions to
society, his fellowman and many worthy
causes. e world is a better place because
of Wayne.”
Inspired by his own father, who ran a
restaurant and still found time to help
establish a Veterans of Foreign Wars post,
and a local rescue squad, among other
endeavors, Roberts lives by his father’s
words and is ready to pass them on.
“He told me you have to give back to
your community. I would encourage young
professionals to volunteer the time to help
their fellowman,” he says. “It not only
feels good to help others, it’s a great way to
connect with other individuals who may
be out of your normal circle of business
or friends.
“ ere are so many organizations in the
community that really do great work and
depend on their volunteers,” adds Roberts.
“Even an hour or two can be a big help to
these organizations, and you can learn a lot
through volunteering.”
Jen Alexander is associate editor of
PPB
.
Above: Wayne Roberts and his wife, Norma, enjoy retirement in the
great outdoors. Right: The couple plant crops in God’s Garden, which
raises produce for the Gallatin Valley Food Bank.