Posts by Tommy Felts
Chef behind The Prospect KC selected for accelerator focused on employment, social impact
An emerging Kansas City culinary icon will help lead the way among socially-engaged entrepreneurs creating a more inclusive economy that helps overlooked individuals move workforce barriers to the back burner. Chef Shanita McAfee-Bryant is among 18 employment social enterprise leaders from across the country chosen by leading venture philanthropy REDF (the Roberts Enterprise Development Fund)…
Read MoreGlobal capital network selects IoT startup as its first ‘Endeavor Entrepreneur’ candidate from KC
Endeavor Heartland, the Northwest Arkansas-based division of a global network built to support high-impact entrepreneurs, has officially made its first foray into the Kansas City market, the organization announced. Pepper, a full-stack Internet of Things (IoT) platform-as-a-service provider, in May became the inaugural company from the Kansas City region to join Endeavor’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Shawn…
Read MoreNew CEO for KC Fashion Week; transition keeps an industry champion on the runway
A shift in leadership at Kansas City Fashion Week is expected to emphasize the brand’s commitment to showcasing and promoting local and national talent within the industry, its outgoing executive said. “The future of the fashion industry in Kansas City is in the best possible hands,” said co-founder and CEO Philip Willoughby, announcing the sale…
Read MoreEarly buy-in from Latinx shoppers pushes paraMi toward surprise storefront; here’s where you’ll find them soon
A physical storefront wasn’t originally part of the plan for paraMi, co-founder Veronica Alvidrez shared, until the women behind the brand listened to the needs of their community. “We knew we wanted to offer our customers a shopping experience,” Alvidrez explained. “When we did pop-up events, we realized our shoppers are tactile shoppers and they…
Read MoreIs there a doctor on board? Dragon boat race puts KC professionals in the rower’s seat
Brush Creek will put teams of professionals and other competitors to the test this weekend as Kansas City’s annual Dragon Boat Festival returns to the Country Club Plaza. For at least one crew, the waterway will become a lab of sorts — with leaders evaluating their teamwork and collaboration skills. Chris Jurief, a fourth-year resident…
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