Woman-led

New CEO for KC Fashion Week; transition keeps an industry champion on the runway

By Tommy Felts / June 8, 2023

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…

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Early buy-in from Latinx shoppers pushes paraMi toward surprise storefront; here’s where you’ll find them soon

By Tommy Felts / June 7, 2023

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…

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Is there a doctor on board? Dragon boat race puts KC professionals in the rower’s seat

By Tommy Felts / June 7, 2023

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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The journey can make or break an entrepreneur; Pipeline gala returns June 15 to celebrate connectivity at the intersection

By Tommy Felts / June 6, 2023

Editor’s note: Pipeline Entrepreneurs is a partner of Startland News, though this report was produced independently by the nonprofit newsroom. Pipeline Entrepreneurs’ new era is all about community, said Melissa Vincent, with more than a nod to the resilience needed to sustain a vibrant startup ecosystem. “When you go through the Pipeline program, it becomes…

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Yoli Tortilleria’s grind to “honor the very humble tortilla” earns James Beard Award

By Tommy Felts / June 6, 2023

Editor’s note: The following story was originally published by KCUR, Kansas City’s NPR member station, and a fellow member of the KC Media Collective. Click here to read the original story or here to sign up for KCUR’s email newsletter. Yoli Tortilleria, a Mexican tortilla bakery with a retail store on Jefferson Street on Kansas City’s Westside and a manufacturing location…

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