Events Preview: Transportation in KC, WordPress conference

There are a plethora of entrepreneurial events hosted in Kansas City on a weekly basis. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, investor, supporter, or curious community member — we recommend these upcoming events for you.

Are you hosting a relevant community event? Feel free to add it to the FWD/KC calendar for increased exposure. Once your event is submitted, it will quickly get reviewed and then published to the calendar.

Innovation Exchange: Transportation in KC
When: April 25, 4:30 – 6:30
Where: Think Big
At the center of the nation, Kansas City has a long history as a logistics hub. And while we can look back more than a hundred years at our position as a leader, the future of transportation is also blossoming in Kansas City. From the prospect of a Hyperloop line arriving in the metro to the next phase of the streetcar line, Kansas City transportation is quickly changing.
In the April Innovation Exchange, we’ll dive into exciting developments within Kansas City transportation by talking with leaders in the streetcar expansion, those developing plans for Hyperloop Missouri and Smart City efforts to not only handle traffic but also make the city more accessible to all people.
This month, we’re hosting …
Bob Bennett, Chief Innovation Officer of KCMO
Matt Staub, KC Streetcar Authority Board member
Amana Graor, Air Quality Control program manager, Mid-America Regional Council
Hunter Johnston, Transportation & Mobility advisor, Think Big Partners
Tim Sylvester, founder of Integrated Roadways
**More guests to be announced**

The Foundation Series: Attracting and Retaining Engaged Employees with Ashley Harper, Harper Strategy
When: April 26, 11:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Where: Village Square Coworking Studio

The Foundation Series addresses legal and operational issues commonly faced by startup founders, from the process of finding and working with co-founders to strategies to protect your intellectual property. This ECJC workshop series is presented in partnership with Village Square, Located in the heart of the Kansas City Startup Village, Village Square is a coworking space that offers entrepreneurs and startups a place to call home.

Premiere Leadership Summit
When: April 27, all day
Where: The View at Briarcliff (inside the Courtyard Marriott)
During this one day event, three sessions have been designed precisely for the top issues that leaders face. The speakers will utilize case studies and role playing to emphasize 360 degree communication, problem solving skills, and employee coaching techniques. Plus, our luncheon speaker will offer comic relief with his storytelling prowess.

KC Roundtable Breakfast
When: April 27, 7:30 a.m.
Where: Eggtc.
KC Roundtable is in existence to provide 20 and 30-something Kansas City entrepreneurs with a group of peers to support and collaborate on each others’ businesses. Our mission is to: – Focus on relationship building; not lead generating – Facilitate collaboration, openness, transparency, learning and teaching – Establish an entrepreneurial network – Fill the void of not having the water cooler.
We meet for breakfast and various locations around the city. In addition to our morning meetings, KC Roundtable provides additional opportunities to network with young entrepreneurs such as events like small group Mastermind sessions & After Hour events.
Prospective members are self-motivated, curious, open to learning and currently starting a new business. Thanks for checking us out. We look forward to meeting you soon!

Intentional Collisions – Customer Experience
When: April 27, 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Where: Sprint Accelerator
It’s time for another session of Intentional Collisions at the Sprint Accelerator and this time we’ll be diving into Customer Experience, with our theme champion, Virgin Mobile!
Intentional Collisions is an ongoing program, where Sprint Accelerator organizes a themed and condensed coworking day; bringing together people interested in similar subjects and/or working to solve common challenges. When we share knowledge and collaborate, we can problem solve together more rapidly!
Customer Experience (CX) is the product of an interaction between an organization and a customer over the duration of their relationship. We, as humans, are constantly interacting with our environments; brands, products and services are surely part of that! Whether a startup or a large corporation, you’re likely curious how your brand is experienced among your customers.
Become exposed to different individuals who are focused on creating a defined experience around their brand. Hear the speakers’ passion for customer experience and be gifted with some real life examples of how to craft an experience. We’ll also do a hands-on activity so you can proactively explore your customers’ experience.
Join us for the conversation!
The event runs from 10:30 AM to 4 PM, with a guided talk led by our partner Virgin Mobile, relating to specific challenges around Customer Experience. We’ll then hear from three speakers whose brands embody great customer experience and do a group modeling activity.
Virgin Mobile US has generously offered to provide lunch for those in attendance, so be sure to thank them and be sure to RSVP so we have an accurate headcount!
Thursday, April 27th
AGENDA:
10:30 – 11:00 Attendees and speakers arrive, network and work within the space
11:00 – 11:30 Lunch, welcome to the space & Virgin Mobile Speaker
11:30 – 12:00 Specific Customer Experience Story (TBA)
12:00 – 12:30 Specific Customer Experience Story (TBA)
12:30 – 1:00 Specific Customer Experience Story (TBA)
1:00 – 1:15 Overall Q & A
1:15 – 3:00 Group Modeling Activity
3:00 – 3:30 Report Key Insights/Takeaways
3:30 – 4:00 Network & Wrap-UpThis event is for you if:

• You’re curious about Customer Experience and how your company might craft a specific desired experience
• You’re currently working within the Customer Experience realm
• You’d like to hear challenges of large corporations, startups and those in between face with Customer Experience
• You enjoy collaboration in an open and motivating work environment
• You’re energized by brainstorming with intelligent people

We look forward to seeing you there!
– Sprint Accelerator Team

The Sales Series: Why Have a Sales System? with Tom Mulligan, the Coffman Group
When: April 27, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Where: Enterprise Center in Johnson County
The Sales Series teaches entrepreneurs the basics of building scalable sales systems, attracting and compensating top-performing sales staff and customer retention.

WordCamp KC: Annual WordPress Conference
When: April 28 – 29
Where: Kauffman Foundation Conference Center
WordCamp Kansas City is an annual conference focused on WordPress (free and open source website software), as well as blogging, content distribution, social media, entrepreneurship, coding, marketing and more.
WordCamp Kansas City gathers developers and users of WordPress as well as managers and decision-makers from around the midwest to discuss new directions, exciting implementations, creation and distribution of engaging content, and business practices.
If you use WordPress (or are even thinking about it!) – this is the premiere local conference designed especially for you: two days of helpful seminars at a cost that can’t be beat! Plus a help desk and pros to answer all your questions! Check out our speaker and session lineup and register today!

Literacy KC 23rd Annual Spelling Bee
When: April 28, 6:00 p.m. – 10:00
Where: UMKC Pierson Auditorium
Literacy KC’s 23rd annual Spelling Bee is just around the bend! Here’s how the Bee works…
Individuals and corporations sponsor a three-member team. Each team gets one chance per round to spell a word correctly.
… but that’s not all!
You don’t have to have a team to have fun! Bring your friends to enjoy a night of fun spelling competition, good food, signature drinks, and a fantastic Live & Silent Auction that you don’t want to miss.
Why should I come to the Bee?
Bee-cause it’s FUN! And because your participation directly benefits the teens and adults who rely on our programs to change their lives through literacy.
How do I join?
Spelling Team sponsorships start at $3,000 – limited spots available!
No team? No worries! We have a variety of corporate and individual sponsor packages, as well as tickets for just $85 each!
Doors open at 5:30, with the main event beginning at 6:30!

Ongoing events

Don’t miss out on the events that happen every week at the same time, in the same place.

Code for KC Hack Night
Mondays from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Sprint Accelerator

Hammerspace Open House
Thursdays from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at Hammerspace

1 Million Cups
Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at Kauffman Foundation, Lawrence and KC Live Stream

Looking ahead

The Art of Invisibility: A Conversation with Kevin Mitnick
When: May 4, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Linda Hall Library
Reformed computer Hacker Kevin Mitnick will discuss cyber security issues with retired FBI Special Agent Jeff Lanza

TechHire KC – Tech Sector Meetup at Think Big
When: May 10, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Where: Think Big Partners
Find out how the TechHire initiative can impact your organization, how you can participate with subsidized placements, and discover how you can influence programming, training and curriculum to better meet your workforce needs. During these meetups, we will explore those topics and dive deeper into the region’s 5-year outlook, sector best practices, labor trends, and curriculum/instructional design in I.T. in Kansas City.
This meetup is for tech-sector employers looking to hire or shape the workforce pipeline. All events take place from 12-1:30 (lunch provided) at Think Big Partners, 1712 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Meeting Rooms B-C-D.
Think Big Partners serves as the Tech Sector Intermediary on behalf of FEC and the TechHire initiative in Kansas City.
About TechHire
TechHire is recoding the American economy by helping employers find outstanding tech talent, and overlooked job seekers get the training and connections they need to start successful technical careers.
TechHire Kansas City
In one of the original communities to join the President’s TechHire initiative, the Full Employment Council’s Greater Kansas City Technology Career Collaboration (GKCTCC) will help train 2,000 participants, including young adults facing barriers to employment such as disabilities and criminal records and workers currently in low-wage jobs. Training will focus on four high-growth industries: (1) IT, (2) healthcare, (3) advanced manufacturing, and (4) financial services. Working with Think Big, Full Employment Council, the National Machining and Tooling Association, and Missouri/Kansas Hospital Association, GKCTCC will identify the skills to succeed in each industry and work with training providers to customize curricula to help prepare participants for well-paying jobs.