Startup community organizers named to Chamber’s new Centurions class

February 15, 2019  |  Startland News Staff

Davin Gordon, Courtney Windholz, and John Coler, Centurions

A trio of faces familiar within the Kansas City startup community have joined the city’s oldest and premier leadership development program.

The 35-member list of incoming Centurions — which includes John Coler, product owner at RFP360 and Startup Weekend organizer; Davin Gordon, business development officer at AltCap; and Courtney Windholz, COO at PROOF and former 1 Million Cups Kansas City organizer — was announced this week by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.

Coler and Gordon have been featured in Startland’s popular KCultivator Q&A series, while Windholz was profiled as a serial entrepreneur..

“Centurions’ motto of ‘learn, serve, lead’ means this next generation of leaders is not only continuing to lead Kansas City forward, but they’re also committed to lifting up our community right now,” said Joe Reardon, KC Chamber president and CEO.

The newest Centurions were selected based on a rigorous application and interview process, according to the organization, noting Coler, Gordon, and Windholz are set to begin a two-year, self-directed program that prepares emerging leaders across Greater Kansas City.  

For 43 years, Centurions alums have included CEOs, federal judges, heads of nonprofit organizations, lawmakers, and many more of the region’s most impactful leaders.

Check out the full list of new Centurions below.

startland-tip-jar

TIP JAR

Did you enjoy this post? Show your support by becoming a member or buying us a coffee.

2019 Startups to Watch

    stats here

    Related Posts on Startland News

    After coffee, calm: Messenger co-founder, partner envision West Bottoms bathhouse as retreat from what has been

    By Tommy Felts | July 16, 2025

    Nearly a year in the works, a first floor space in an 1890s-era West Bottoms warehouse is open and envisioned as the place for a “ritual of pause.” Klā Sanctuary — with its special spa baths and body-oriented treatments — and the tea-focused Selah Lounge share the 6,000-square-foot spot at 1400 W. 13th St. Matthew…

    KC-built delivery platform recruiting drivers, retailers ahead of summer app launch

    By Tommy Felts | July 16, 2025

    Dwayne Overton is no stranger to the hustle, he said. The Kansas City entrepreneur once juggled gigs with Lyft and DoorDash — jobs that gave him an up-close look at the struggles drivers face every day.  Now, as founder and CEO of VendiSafe, he’s building a delivery platform that spins the traditional model on its…

    Tech catches up to this ‘hot commodity’: Trially scaling to next level as an early investor forecasts unlocked opportunity

    By Tommy Felts | July 16, 2025

    Editor’s note: The following story was produced through a paid partnership with MOSourceLink, which boasts a mission to help entrepreneurs and small businesses across the state of Missouri grow and succeed by providing free, easy access to the help they need — when they need it. Kyle McAllister and his Trially co-founders see the Kansas City-based…

    KC Defender invests in Black-owned bookstore’s legacy, keeping its story alive as media startup’s new HQ

    By Tommy Felts | July 15, 2025

    Missouri’s oldest-operating Black-owned bookstore is set to evolve into a public archive, programming venue, and the new headquarters for The Kansas City Defender — a bittersweet turn of the page for a space marked by resilience and community action, organizers said. Willa’s Books and Vinyl, 5547 Troost Ave., has long stood as a sanctuary of Black…