How UMKC’s top student entrepreneur found shelter (and a path forward) as a founder

By Tommy Felts | December 5, 2025

Shapree Marshall’s path began with shared struggle, re-routed to survival — and ultimately made a stop Wednesday evening at H&R Block’s World Headquarters where the startup founder was honored as UMKC’s 2025 Student Entrepreneur of the Year. “My journey into entrepreneurship did not begin with a business plan or a class project,” said Marshall, founder…

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Q&A: Troy Nash grew up in public housing; now he’s leading real estate innovation at UMKC

By Tommy Felts | October 30, 2025

Editor’s note: The following story was written and first published by the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Click here to read the original story. Executive MBA professor named new real estate center director With more than two decades of leadership in public-private partnerships, economic development and community engagement, Troy Nash will serve as director of the Lewis White…

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Why executing even the greatest startup idea first requires sales (and beyond-superficial curiosity)

By Tommy Felts | April 22, 2025

That sexy pitch alone might not get your startup its first customer, said Lee Walter, noting that lasting success relies heavily on jumping outside the vaunted “ideation” phase to truly question a venture’s value. Walter’s revelation — born from a sales career that stretched from selling school lockers and coffee beans to commercial espresso machines…

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