Kara Lowe taking KC Tech Council helm as longtime CEO Ryan Weber departs
April 12, 2022 | Startland News Staff
The KC Tech Council will soon welcome a familiar face as its new leader, the organization announced Tuesday.
Kara Lowe, the council’s longtime COO, will succeed Ryan Weber as CEO next month — putting her commitment to Kansas City’s tech sector on full display and allowing her contributions to the regions tech ecosystem to further shape its direction.
“I’m thrilled to lead an organization that is so meaningful to one of Kansas City’s most critical industries,” Lowe said in a release.
Click here to connect with Lowe on LinkedIn.
“Ryan has been a terrific leader and champion of Kansas City’s tech industry and I’m thankful for his support as I step into my new role. The future of our tech industry has never been brighter, and together with our membership, we’re excited to tell that story.”
Ryan Weber, KC Tech Council
The council said Weber will step away from the role he originated upon the council’s founding in 2012. Lowe is expected to assume the position May 27.
“It has been my pleasure to have led the KC Tech Council for the last decade and now it’s my honor to leave the organization in capable hands with a leader who continues to show the dedication necessary to support the future of the organization,” Weber said.
“Together we have witnessed and celebrated incredible industry and organizational growth, and I am confident Kara will experience the same support from community and business leaders that I have.”
Lowe steps into the role at a critical time of growth for the council. The organization launched its Apprenti Tech Apprenticeship Program last year. The initiative — a local offshoot of a national effort that intends to fill 4,000 local tech jobs with skilled workers — was recently awarded a $550,000 grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce.
Click here to learn more about the Apprenti program and its leader, Erin Christensen.
The council’s commitment to policy advocacy work and community building is expected to also hold strong under the leadership of Lowe, added Karen Hornig, board chairperson and CEO of NIPR.
“During her time as COO of the KC Tech Council, Kara has demonstrated the necessary experience, leadership and vision to lead the organization to a new level,” Hornig said.
“On behalf of the KC Tech Council board of directors, we are thankful for Ryan’s service, and thrilled to announce Kara as the next CEO of the KC Tech Council.”
[divide]
This story is possible thanks to support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, a private, nonpartisan foundation that works together with communities in education and entrepreneurship to create uncommon solutions and empower people to shape their futures and be successful.
For more information, visit www.kauffman.org and connect at www.twitter.com/kauffmanfdn and www.facebook.com/kauffmanfdn
2022 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Think accounting: 3 ways to drive your accountant insane
In this Think column, Emerging Business CFO founder Dan Schmidt shares three ways to drive him, and other accountants, crazy. The Think column helps entrepreneurs to stop and think about the various aspects of starting and running a business. Accountant and finance professionals are generally known to be level-headed clear thinkers, able to ride the crests of emotion…
Kansas City seeks leaders for Smart City board
The City of Kansas City, Mo., is now seeking nominations to lead the city’s smart city efforts. City leaders hope to attract citizens with experience in smart city technologies to help advise the City of Fountain’s coming Cisco Smart City project, in addition to its other smart city efforts. The newly authorized “Smart City Advisory…
RECAP: 1 Million Cups focuses on time with Mixtape, Flowh
There was a theme at today’s 1 Million Cups KC, and it was time. Two startups presented their businesses, both at different stages, and both in different industries, but both dealing with time — how we remember it and how we manage it. Mixtape founder Joel Johnson was first to present his firm, which created…
Lean Lab eyes $25K in national pitch contest
The Lean Lab, a Kansas City-based education innovation incubator, is hoping to strike gold in a national pitch competition in California. The organization on Wednesday will be pitching its model in the Teach For America Social Innovation Awards, an annual competition in which the Lean Lab hopes to snag a $25,000 prize. Lean Lab is the…