Five high-profile KC startup, business leaders slated for Junior Achievement hall of fame
April 23, 2020 | Startland News Staff
A program that connects Kansas City business leaders with classrooms is giving high honors to a handful of startup veterans whose efforts to build global companies has already impacted a new generation of entrepreneurs.
Sandy and Christine Kemper; photo courtesy of the University of Missouri-Kansas City
Bruce Ianni and Davyeon Ross, co-founders of ShotTracker; Christine Kemper, founding chair of Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy, and Sandy Kemper, founder, chairman, and CEO of C2FO (both are founders of YEPKC, an organization focused on nurturing entrepreneurship in high school students); and Peter Mallouk, president of Creative Planning, have been selected for 2020 induction into the Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City Business Hall of Fame.
ShotTracker and C2FO both were featured on multiple lists of Startland News’ Kansas City Startups to Watch.
“Our 2020 laureates inspire Kansas City’s students by showing them how an innovative spirit combined with hard work can leave a lasting impact on the community,” said Kathy Rhodes, chairman of the Junior Achievement board and lead managing director at CBIZ. “I am proud to honor these business leaders for their role in making Kansas City a hub of creativity, entrepreneurship, and a fantastic place to work and live.”
Editor’s note: C2FO and the Kemper Family Foundation are financial supporters of STARTLAND, the parent organization of Startland News. Christine Kemper sits on the board of STARTLAND. Davyeon Ross is a former board member for the Kansas City Startup Foundation, now STARTLAND. This report was produced independently by Startland News.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2020, the annual Junior Achievement hall of fame event has previously recognized such entrepreneurs as Ewing Marion Kauffman, Dave Cummings, Barnett and Shirley Helzberg, Gary Fish, and Henry Bloch.
A luncheon celebration of the 2020 honorees is planned for Nov. 6 at The Gallery Event Space in Kansas City.
Click here for more in-depth bios of the honorees.
Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City aims to bring business back to the classroom by connecting students to mentors and programs that promote financial literacy, inspire entrepreneurship, and prepare students (K-12) for success in a 21st century workplace.
Featured Business
2020 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Victor Hwang illuminates the Kauffman Foundation’s entrepreneurial vision, new hires
Victor Hwang, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s vice president of entrepreneurship, recently took to LinkedIn to map out his vision for 2017 and beyond. In addition to making a series of new hires, Hwang outlined the four main areas of focus for the foundation: entrepreneurial education, entrepreneurial ecosystems, market gaps and big ideas. “We are…
Global Prairie sues ag tech firm FarmLink for loan default
Kansas City-based marketing firm Global Prairie has filed suit against a local ag tech firm for defaulting on a loan, according to a document that was filed Nov. 14 in Jackson County Court. In the document, Global Prairie alleged that Kansas City-based FarmLink failed to fulfill payments on a promissory note in the amount of…
Judge: KC, St. Louis Tesla shops can remain open (for now)
As we said goodbye to 2016, Tesla — along with many other Americans — faced an uncertain future in the Show Me State. When the clock struck midnight, the auto maker’s license to sell cars in Missouri expired. This prompted the firm to close its three locations in Kansas City and St. Louis on Saturday — but not…
Eyeing a funding round? InvestMidwest deadline looms
The top investment forum in the Midwest is hoping to garner more applications from fast-growing firms in the Kansas City area. Now in its 18th year, the InvestMidwest Venture Capital Forum hosts investors from around the world that hope to hear from the region’s most-promising firms that need a boost of capital. Companies that presented…