News

Howard Schultz, Carla Harris, and Sandy Kemper

Former Starbucks CEO, C2FO’s Sandy Kemper join Morgan Stanley exec for ‘Nothing to Fear’ DEI conversation

By Tommy Felts / July 13, 2021

Top business leaders are now embracing diversity and inclusion, Carla Harris said, but even their most sincere initiatives must survive the fear that comes with changing trends and an inevitable economic downturn. “Fear has no place in your success equation,” said Harris, a 33-year Wall Street veteran and Morgan Stanley executive who headlines Thursday’s Innovation…

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Just funded: Meet the six young startups joining Digital Sandbox KC’s summer slate 

By Tommy Felts / July 12, 2021

A round of funding from Digital Sandbox KC comes at a critical time for Bryght Labs — and five other early stage companies — as the AI-enabled gaming startup advances hardware development for its wildly popular, high-tech chess board, said Elliot Wilder. “Hardware is hard enough — but 2021 has added some unique challenges,” said Wilder,…

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Kirsten and Raul Reyes, Beyond Borders Collective

They met in Ecuador, relocated to KC; now one couple is wrapping the culture gap with native blankets 

By Tommy Felts / July 10, 2021

Editor’s note: The following story — a spotlight on a member of the Plexpod community — is sponsored by Plexpod, a progressive coworking platform offering next generation workspace for entrepreneurs, startups, and growth-stage companies of all sizes. A Kansas City company’s mission to connect U.S. consumers to native blankets ethically produced by artisans in Ecuador is…

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U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids visiting Upper Crust Pie Bakery in downtown Overland Park

Survival took more than just PPP — but federal relief proved pivotal, small biz owners tell Davids

By Tommy Felts / July 10, 2021

Sharice Davids strolled through downtown Overland Park Friday afternoon — with an ice cream cone in hand — stopping to meet with local small business owners to hear their pandemic survival stories and how federal relief programs played a role.  “Today has been really fun; to see just how innovative … the problem-solving modes that…

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Matt Condon and Ed Enyeart, Bardavon

Talent off the charts: Bardavon recruits another former Cerner exec to build team equipped for rapid expansion

By Tommy Felts / July 8, 2021

To keep growing in the workers’ compensation industry — as well as expand into commercial healthcare and beyond — Bardavon Health Innovations needs an even stronger team at the top, said Matt Condon.  “I think Bardavon is going to be a bigger, more important company than we first anticipated,” Condon, founder and CEO of Bardavon,…

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