Entrepreneur, startup advocate becomes new KC Chamber chair
October 26, 2017 | Bobby Burch
A prominent Kansas City entrepreneur with some serious startup chops is now serving as the new chair of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.
Matt Condon, CEO of Bardavon Health Innovations and ARC Physical Therapy, was unanimously voted to serve at the helm of the chamber’s board of directors as its chairman. Condon, 42, is the youngest chair in the history of the 130-year-old organization.
A successful entrepreneur and advocate of Kansas City’s startup community, Condon said the community still can improve its entrepreneurial efforts.
“There’s been tremendous growth,” Condon said in a release. “But, we still have a long way to go. We need to stay focused on promoting entrepreneurship – it’s part of the foundation of whether Kansas City will still be vibrant ten years from now.”
In 2003, Condon launched ARC Physical Therapy and a decade later sold a majority stake in the firm as part of a $36 million deal. After selling his stake in the firm, but remaining its CEO, Condon launched a new startup, Bardavon Health Innovations. Founded in 2013, the health analytics and tech firm employs more than 50 people.
In addition to regularly promoting and connecting with members of the Kansas City startup community, Condon has served as the leader of the chamber’s initiative to make Kansas City America’s most entrepreneurial city.
Condon’s one year term as Chamber Chair begins Nov. 1. He succeeds current chamber chair Karen Daniel, CFO of Black & Veatch.
2017 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
K-State opens physical innovation hub space to boost research, economic development
Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. MANHATTAN, Kansas — A newly unveiled collaborative office space at Kansas State University is expected to catalyze research commercialization, industry partnerships and economic growth, said Richard Linton. “This new space…
Kansas City jazz swings harder: How KU is building on the city’s historic musical legacy
Editor’s note: This article was written for a class at the University of Kansas’ William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications and distributed through the Kansas Press Association. Icons like Charlie Parker and Count Basie define Kansas City’s jazz legacy. But today’s contemporary artists — such as Blue Noyes and Nic Weaver —…
Northeast Pizza shop bakes KC’s most accessible food into a new restaurant for all, owner says
Rising from a family of restaurateurs, Noah Quillec is striking out on his own — with the help of some culinary friends — to bring a new pizzeria to Kansas City’s Northeast; it’s a move he hopes will bring unity by the slice. “This neighborhood is very accessible, so diverse and so all over the…
Best-selling tea towel maker’s business model hangs by this thread: ‘the more I give back, the more I’ll succeed’
Elene Banks, founder of Kansas City-based Absorb-Lumen, turned her boutique clothing store into a mission-driven business that puts eco-friendly kitchen essentials in the spotlight, all while giving back to the community through a charitable business model. “It was a happy accident,” Banks said, “We started a boutique online and tried to carry tea towels from…