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
OP-based Innovation in Motion angel fund finds sweet spot in seed stage startups
A financial haven for entrepreneurs with fresh ideas in the agriculture, animal and human health spaces, Innovation in Motion (IIM) has made its ninth angel investment, said Lydia Kinkade. “We look for companies that are solving big problems, have a stellar team, and are poised to grow quickly,” said Kinkade, the Overland Park-sown fund’s managing…
Life Equals shoots $2.35M oversubscribed round led by former Anheuser-Busch InBev exec
Well, that didn’t take long. A freshly raised $2.35 million investment round will be a turning point for Life Equals, taking its brand to the national stage, said Kyle FitzGerald, announcing the funding Thursday at Startland’s Startups to Watch in 2019 celebration. Life Equals was selected as No. 7 on the list of Kansas City…
Chain of Trust manages secret passwords after coffee shop meetup, corporate departure
From Starbucks to startup, a swipe right on networking opportunities led two Kansas City, Kansas, men to an adventure in tech entrepreneurship — disrupting the secret management space with the inception of Chain of Trust Technologies, they said. “If you’re going to be an entrepreneur, get people who you can talk to that can give…
Latest Pipeline fellows include familiar KC founders, startups focused on eSports, saving pets, ‘hearables’
Eight Kansas City startup founders have the opportunity to build a lifetime of high-level entrepreneurial support as 2019 Pipeline fellows, said Joni Cobb. The Pipeline network of top-tier Midwest founders announced 13 new fellows last week at the organization’s annual Innovators event, staged this year in Omaha, said Cobb, president and CEO of Pipeline. More…