KARMA MASON

Retired, Co-founder of iSi Environmental Chair of Kansas Chamber

Karma Mason calls Wichita home. This is where she and her husband Gary started their own environmental consulting firm in their dining room in 1990 and grew the company, iSi Environmental Services, both in number of employees (150+) and diversity of services. After 30 years, they officially turned the company over to their son and daughter in late 2021.

Karma also has served on a number of boards and committees. She has served sixteen years and four Kansas Governors on the Kansas Water Authority representing Commerce and Industry. Karma is currently the chair of the Kansas Chamber Board and serves on the Wichita Regional Chamber Board and Wichita State University’s National Advisory Council. She and Gary have three children and seven grandchildren.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN BUSINESS?

Quite frankly, I never anticipated owning my own business or even working in the environmental field. Upon graduation, I taught school for a year then tried my hand at accounting. I probably wasn’t very good at either of those professions and, with that in mind, I returned to WSU to get a master’s degree in geology. I worked in the oil and gas industry for several years but found myself without a job when the oil industry entered a terrible downward spiral. Once again, I returned to WSU to beef up my geology degree with hydrology and ultimately, my husband (Gary) and I decided to start our own consulting business leveraging Gary’s experience in the environmental field along with my geologic background. So, in my case, I would have to say that the need to support my growing family is what led me to consider starting my own business. It’s somewhat humorous to me today to think that we started our consulting business in our dining room with a landline, archaic computer, fax machine and very little money in the bank.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR JOY IN BUSINESS OWNERSHIP?

As we grew our business and started growing our workforce, I realized how we impacted our employees and their families’ lives. I began to hear about employee’s first home and vehicle purchases, weddings, births and so many things unrelated to the actual business. It was incredibly heartwarming to hear employees’ family stories and realize that iSi was integral to their own successes. I loved that!

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF AS YOU LOOK BACK ON YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY?

I’m incredibly proud that iSi is the recognized leader for environmental, health and safety in the Wichita area. Over the years, we were able to diversify our service offerings to include almost anything related to that service industry. We are very fortunate that our children joined iSi several years ago, helped us grow the business, and are now pretty much running the show.

Project-wise, I’m proud of how the iSi team provided critical support to Spirit AeroSystems in 2012 immediately following a direct hit from an EF3 tornado. iSi was part of the team that Spirit called on to assist during assessment and cleanup, successfully restarting production just one week after the disaster.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR BUSINESS OWNERS AND ENTREPRENEURS?

You must have a passion for what you’re doing and be willing to work hard. Surround yourself with good, trusted people with whom you share common goals, and value those people. Grow and nurture relationships, including establishing a good working relationship with a banker. Finally, to ensure you don’t miss opportunities, be flexible and adaptive to situations and circumstances because few things ever truly go as planned.

WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE KANSAS BUSINESS COMMUNITY?

For business to prosper in Kansas I think it’s critical that the state be attractive for both new and existing businesses. To accomplish this, it’s imperative that Kansas has sound tax policy, affordable utilities, enviable public education, modern infrastructure, and a fair legal system. All these things, as well as many others, are necessary for businesses to thrive. I DO think that Kansas competes favorably in these areas, but we must be forever vigilant and striving for improvement.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR LOVE FOR WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY.

I’m a two-time graduate of WSU and a second-generation Shocker. In my undergrad days I was fortunate to be recruited by WSU’s women’s bowling program. Yes! WSU is known worldwide for its bowling program. I am honored to have been a team member on three national championship teams. I had a lot of fun competing for WSU, all while getting a great education. WSU was there for me a couple of years later when I decided to return for a masters in geology and then again when I needed to prepare myself to enter the environmental field.

As much as I value the education and experiences I received at WSU, both in and out of the classroom, I see a totally different institution of higher learning today. WSU is still known for its world class bowling program, but more importantly it has expanded its reach internationally in research and development and has opened its campus to business partners representing manufacturing and innovation. These partnerships bode well for Wichita and its continued success as a significant manufacturing hub.

WHAT HAS YOU EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF WSU?

WSU is a vibrant, exciting place to be these days; there is so much going on. It’s the home of internationally renowned NIAR (National Institute for Aviation Research). It has also grown its Innovation Campus beyond imagination by providing world class research facilities, makerspaces and labs, and creating onsite partnerships with industry giants such as Textron Aviation, Airbus, Spirit AeroSystems, NetApp, Deloitte, PacMarTechnologies, and others.

WSU is also successfully enhancing the student experience. There are new student housing facilities, a hotel, multiple onsite restaurants, an onsite YMCA, remodeled student rec center, and a soon to open Student Success Center. The campus is beautiful, thriving and offers an amazing campus life.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT WICHITA?

I was born and raised in Wichita and have spent most of my life here. Wichita is a large metropolitan area with a small-town feel, offering many entertainment options, a vibrant arts community, sports teams, a revitalizing downtown, and the best kind of people. My friends, children and their families, and businesses are here in Wichita and there is no other place I would want to call home.