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The $4 billion Panasonic electric vehicle battery plant in De Soto represents proof that Kansas can compete on a global scale for major international projects.

Ryan Wills, deputy chief of staff to Kansas Lt. Gov. David Toland, played a key role in the pursuit from the beginning. As the state competed for the project, Wills found inspiration in Panasonic's seven core principles, including fairness, teamwork and gratitude.

"It was just kind of random. After reading those, I'm like, you know, there's a song in that," Wills said.

The song wasn't delivered through a simple email. Instead, Wills found a vintage Panasonic boombox online, loaded it with the song, and shipped it directly to company leadership.

"That's how we delivered it," Wills said.

Gov. La

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