For nearly 15 years, Rick Worrel of Affinis Corp. has been a mainstay volunteer with the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce.

He recently completed a one-year term as the chairman of the OP Chamber Economic Development Council. In 2012, he served as the chair of the chamber itself.

He ended up with that last job, funnily enough, after he asked to step back from leading a government-affairs committee for several years.

While civic work like this can be time-consuming, Worrel said it’s good for local entrepreneurs to take part. Not only is it a great way to practice leadership skills and build professional networks, the community needs you.

After all, Johnson County is an economic engine for the entire state of Kansas, and the chamber and the EDC play important roles in supporting job creation and business retention here. The chamber, for example, led the campaign for the renewal of a 1/8-cent sales tax that will fund infrastructure work through 2024.

“I think it’s important from a small business standpoint—and for, really, anybody—to give something back to the community,” Worrel said. “I just thought the chamber was a place I could do that.”