Director of Kansas State University’s Office of Engagement Tim Steffensmeier, Ph.D. will be the keynote speaker at Grow Ellsworth County’s annual meeting 6 p.m. March 22 at the American Legion.

In addition to his role at K-State in Manhattan, Steffensmeier also serves as faculty at the Kansas Leadership Center, founder of Third Floor Research at the center and author of “Leading Change in the Public Square.” He is a professor of communication whose scholarship and practice focuses on community engagement, public deliberation and leadership.

“Communication, collaboration and engagement are key to the success of our community,” Grow Ellsworth County Executive Director Stacie Schmidt said, “and we are thrilled to have a keynote speaker who is versed and influential in all of those arenas.

“As our community embraces change and cross-collaboration for better stewardship and more robust services, it seems like the perfect time to connect on our 2023 theme “The You in Unity,” and Dr. Steffensmeier is the ideal person to shape this conversation.”

Tickets are $25 per person or $150 for a table of eight. RSVPs are required by March 15. RSVP online at https://forms.gle/ A4ozhov92o1k13he7, ewcountyeconomicdevelopment@ gmail.com or (785) 472-9204.