Joe Wilson
Joe Wilson’s resume ranges from military, law enforcement, nonprofit work and IT. Wilson is an owner of the IT company SorWil Technology Solutions, that provides IT and cyber security support for its clients.
Wilson is a Leavenworth High School graduate where his early leadership skills began as a cadet in JROTC.
“I found my people when I got into ROTC,” Wilson said. “It gave me my voice. I was one of the battalion commanders. It was a great experience for me. I was on the drill team with weapons. I got to go to a lot of competitions. I mean, really expanded the focus there. That, I was recruited because of that to go to KU on a National Guard scholarship. In 93, I went into the National Guard while I was at KU.”
Wilson served 10 years in the National Guard, a year as a corrections officer at LCF and 10 years with the Leavenworth County Sheriff’s department. Over the years, though, he also pursued his interest in Information Technology.
Wilson finished his college education years later, getting a degree in IT with a minor in cyber security in 2020. He has plans to finish a Master’s in Organizational Leadership.
“I actually started my first IT company in 2001. I’d gotten some Microsoft credentials while I was at Olathe, but 9/11 happened and there were no IT jobs. And so, I’d just gotten these credentials, I couldn’t find a job doing IT work So, while I was working for the sheriff’s department, I started working out of my garage helping people fix their computers.”
This led to opening his first IT business, J&J Tech, with his brother in a building at 7th and Ottawa.
The brothers sold their business in 2015, and Wilson went to work managing home for the soldiers on Fort Leavenworth with the Michaels Company. This took Wilson to live in New Jersey for five years until COVID happened. After months of a shutdown, he eventually decided to return to Leavenworth to be closer to his extended family again.
“As soon as I came back, one of my former IT customers came knocking,” Wilson said. This led to Wilson reigniting his IT career with SorWil Technology Solutions, in 2022. Wilson is one of four partners in the business. Wilson’s daughter is his marketing director, and his son-in-law is one of his top techs.
“The thing I love about what I do is I really enjoy getting to know people and understanding their business and trying to approach IT not from you have to do this, you have to do that, but giving them and empowering them to make the decisions that they feel are important and taking the responsibility for the decisions they make,” Wilson said.
In 2024, Wilson ran for County Commissioner. Although unsuccessful, his campaign helped him connect with community concerns and what voters are looking for from elected leaders.
“What was really appealing to me, is I don’t see party lines,” Wilson said. “I see people who have problems. And I think as a politician, we need to represent all the people, not just the people that agree with us. And I think once you start using the jargon from the far right or the far left, you disillusion so many people,” Wilson said.
Wilson explained his reasoning for continuing to pursue a path towards civic leadership as a candidate for City Commission.
“At the end of the day, do I feel like I can listen to more people and I’m willing to cross that divide and try to figure out what the best path forward is for everybody? Or do I just want to sit back and hope that somebody else makes the right decision?” Wilson said.
In addition to Wilson’s work resume, he serves on several community boards.
“I’m on the St. John’s Hospital board, Grow Leavenworth County, which does gap funding,” Wilson said. “I’m on the LCDC board, the Leavenworth-Lansing Leadership Group that does leadership training class for anybody who applies with the Chamber. I’m also on the United Way board.”
Wilson has a podcast called SorWil Solutions where he interviews business owners, elected officials and community members about topics of local and state interests.
“We do business with a lot of these different groups in the community, with CASA, with the Chamber,” Wilson said. “And so, we meet all types of different people, groups of people with different concerns. And everybody always pulls me aside to talk about different things. Being in business for so long and self-employed, you know, you’ve got to learn to talk to all kinds of people.”
Although at this point in his life, Wilson has many skills and experiences, he can reflect and give credit to those who inspired him.
“I learned a lot of leadership in ROTC, in the military, and how to be a team player and not necessarily having to be the guy that’s out in front all the time.” Wilson said. “Sometimes you have to lead from the rear and that’s important, too. But I can lead from anywhere at any place – and I can talk to people. I think this is what can usually bring us to consensus.”
Wilson has participated in several town hall forums recently, including the League of Women Voters, the Leavenworth-Lansing Chamber of Commerce and United Kansas, all held in the past month at the Leavenworth Public Library. To listen to further comments from Wilson in Q&A format from the Chamber moderator, click the link to the youtube video of the Leavenworth-Lansing Chamber of Commerce forum: https://youtu.be/L8aZx9kP4Vg?si=iJ4iEFTMCWvljbmP