You can’t plan for this: ‘Mr K’ finalists wary of another ‘wrench into the face’ from Washington

An upended national political and economic climate has rippled down to Main Street, acknowledged leaders of this year’s Top 10 Small Businesses, bringing concerns about racism, DEI backlash, tariffs, and supply chain disruptions to Kansas City’s front door. 

Dulcinea Herrera, Café Corazón, speaks during a panel conversation with the finalists KC Chamber’s Small Business of the Year or “Mr. K” award; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

“We’ve had people come into the shop and harass our employees, our customers,” explained Dulcinea Herrera — who runs Café Corazón with her parents, Miel Castagna-Herrera and Curtis Herrera — during a panel conversation with the finalists KC Chamber’s Small Business of the Year. “They’ve told us, ‘Go back to your country.’ They’ve said things like we can’t speak Spanish here in our own establishment.”

The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce organized its 2025 Small Business Celebration Top 10 CEO panel Friday morning at the Union Station. Finalist companies are vying for the prestigious “Mr. K Award” — named for the late Kansas City entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Kauffman — that honors the Small Business of the Year in Kansas City.

ICYMI: Mr K finalist reveal: Meet the 10 contenders for KC Chamber’s Small Business of the Year

David Pruente, chief strategy officer for the KC Chamber, opens a breakfast panel conversation with the finalists KC Chamber’s Small Business of the Year; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

“This recognition represents more than just business success, whether it’s the first time being honored for some of them or they’ve been recognized before in the Top 10,” said David Pruente, chief strategy officer for the KC Chamber. “Their achievements reflect something much deeper: leadership that uplifts others, values that shape their company’s culture and community, and a commitment to building a stronger and more dynamic Kansas City.”

“Being named a Top 10 small business means you’re not just growing your bottom line,” he added, you’re growing your people, your purpose and your place. You’re creating jobs, building relationships. You’re contributing to the kind of region that we all want to live and work in.”

​​Friday’s breakfast marked the final KC Chamber showcase before a winner is announced at the Small Business Awards Luncheon, which is set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 17 at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center.

Click here to get tickets to the event, which is recognized as one of the largest small business celebrations in the country.

Herrera — whose family had a difficult time in the beginning finding a landlord who was willing to rent out space for a Latin and indigenous coffee shop — said the hate isn’t going to stop them at Café Corazón, which has grown to three locations and a roastery.

“We’re very true to our culture,” she continued. “We don’t falter. We don’t do anything based on trends. We honor our ancestry. It’s bigger than us. Our goal was to create a safe space where people of all cultures can come in and feel welcome. They can experience our culture and we can teach them about it.”

Luis Padilla, founder of Fresco Marketing, speaks during the KC Chamber panel conversation; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Many of the finalist companies are doubling down on their DEI initiatives despite a backlash led by conservatives and championed by President Donald Trump, they shared. Luis Padilla — founder of Fresco Marketing — has started an internship program to give minority students experience in the advertising industry, which he noted lacks diversity.

“I’m an immigrant, so diversity and inclusion comes naturally,” he explained. “When I came to this country, I didn’t think about it. I thought it was something that everybody loves. But it didn’t click until I was coaching inner city kids soccer. When I was coaching this group of 150 kids, I saw that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not so.”

“Now I do Fresco with the intention of being a platform for others,” he added.

Leonard Graham, president of Taliaferro & Browne, speaks about businesses helping fellow businesses during an entrepreneur panel hosted by the KC Chamber; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Taliaferro & Browne has made it a goal to help other businesses, particularly minority and women owned businesses, said Leonard Graham, president of the multi-disciplinary firm that specializes in civil and structural engineering, landscape architecture, land survey, and construction inspection. An example of that is when the company won one of four contracts to work on the new Kansas City International Airport terminal.

“We won the project with a team of eight minority- and women-owned sub consultants that did portions of the work under our direction,” he continued. “We provided opportunities for others to showcase their talents and to become involved in an iconic project like that improvement.”

Kim Finley, president of Perfect Promotions, standing, and her team react to again being named to the Top 10 in the KC Chamber’s Small Business of the Year competition; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

At Perfect Promotions — a full-service merchandising agency in Lee’s Summit — Joan Charbonneau said she and her leadership team are meeting weekly just because there’s so much change happening in the world.

“We made it through COVID and now we’re in tariff world,” the CEO explained. “You can’t plan for these things. You just have to make sure that you have the right people around you that can really support and work together and come up with those answers. It is communication. It is empowering your people to make the right choices and decisions.”

“We have specific goals by quarter, but those get thrown out the window when a wrench like this is thrown into your face,” she added.

A lot of the merchandise they purchase at Perfect Promotions comes from overseas, she noted, so honesty with customers is also essential.

“I’d love to tell you that we saw this coming,” she continued. “We anticipated this. I think a lot of us thought this might come. So we have been working for months and months on that shift. But it comes down to communication with our clients. We don’t know. If anybody’s watching the news, no one really knows what that price is. So it’s about being honest with communication and problem solving.”

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Brandy McCombs, CEO of IBC Carpentry and Traffic, discusses supply chain challenges during KC Chamber panel; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Brandy McCombs — CEO of IBC Carpentry and Traffic — said open and honest communication is also essential with their clients when it comes to supply chain issues.

“We are working alongside our customers and making sure that we are advocating for all teams involved,” she explained. “It always really goes to making sure that we are all talking about what’s going on and offering up opportunities and answers.”

During the pandemic, the leaders at Woodside Health Club learned to focus on one issue at a time when it comes to dealing with the overwhelming nature of uncertain times, noted CEO Blair Tanner.

“There was a lot of panic in the beginning, but we calmed ourselves down,” he recalled. “I said, ‘Listen. We can’t control this madness out here. Let’s just do what we can do.’”

Jeff Phillips, Landmark National Bank, poses a question to small business owners during the KC Chamber panel conversation; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

During Friday’s panel discussion — which was moderated by Abby Wendel and Jeff Phillips with Landmark National Bank, the presenting sponsor of the event — the leaders representing the finalist companies also tackled such topics as staying true to the company’s identity as it grows, how to keep team culture consistent across multiple locations, their staffing approach during growth phases, and how they invest their resources in their team.

“Their stories represent perseverance and creativity and remind us why small businesses — especially in our community — matter so deeply,” said Wendel, president and CEO of Landmark.

Recent Mr. K Award winners include Walz Tetrick Advertising in 2024 and Parrish and Sons Construction in 2023. The honor has been presented annually since 1987.

Several other awards are set to be presented at the June luncheon, including the KC Chamber’s Emerging Business Award, Small Business Equity Award, and the Luminary Arts and Creative Small Business Award.