UMKC kicks off high-impact entrepreneur speaker series

August 20, 2015  |  Bobby Burch

The University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Bloch School is hosting a bevy of successful area entrepreneurs to offer lessons and insights.

UMKC’s “First Wednesdays” series will kick off this fall, aiming to offer area residents and students the chance to network and learn from some of Kansas City’s brightest business minds.

The university’s first event is set for Sept. 2 and will welcome Bill Zahner, CEO of A. Zahner Company. Zahner’s company is best known for its use of metal in iconic structures around the world, including the “Sky Stations” atop Kansas City’s Bartle Hall.

Other speakers scheduled thus far are Terry Van Der Tuuk, founder of Graphic Technologies, Inc. and angel investor, and Dan Lowe, founder of RED Development and RED Legacy.

All three of the speakers are a part of the UMKC Entrepreneur Hall of Fame, which opened in late 2014. The hall aims not only to educate visitors on remarkable Kansas City businesspeople, but also celebrate the area’s entrepreneurial spirit. Take a tour of the hall of fame here.

The events are free, and parking, food and drink will be provided. RSVP here.

Tagged
Featured Business
    Featured Founder
      [adinserter block="4"]

      2015 Startups to Watch

        stats here

        Related Posts on Startland News

        KC on top: Hat maker’s best-seller spotted on ‘GMA,’ ‘Ted Lasso’ as brand shapes its national profile

        By Tommy Felts | August 8, 2025

        Sandlot Goods wears the spotlight well, said Thomas McIntyre, noting each high-profile media close up of its signature dad hat is another step toward establishing Kansas City’s only hat manufacturer as a national brand. After being featured on the “Made In America Christmas” segment of ABC World News Tonight with David Muir, Sandlot was again…

        Rooftop Cinema Club premieres its open-air movie theater experience in KC’s Crossroads

        By Tommy Felts | August 8, 2025

        Pink dusk views of the Kansas horizon and a cityscape bathed in sunset only added to the silver screen experience for midweek movie-goers trying out the newly opened Rooftop Cinema Club in Kansas City’s Crossroads Arts District. “Just the ambiance and what they did with the design is really cute,” said Emily Hendricks of Kansas…

        Kauffman targets $250K grant toward vacant storefront revitalization as World Cup looms

        By Tommy Felts | August 7, 2025

        Funding from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is expected to help Kansas City prepare for an influx of visitors cheering on competitors at the 2026 FIFA World Cup — activating vacant storefronts in key areas with retail, artist, and community-focused pop-ups, city leaders said this week. The KCMO-centered initiative — first announced in June and patterned…

        How these KC pitmasters are smoking barbecue’s gender stereotypes

        By Tommy Felts | August 7, 2025

        Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Kansas City PBS/Flatland, a member of the Kansas City Media Collective, which also includes Startland News, KCUR 89.3, American Public Square, The Kansas City Beacon, and Missouri Business Alert. Click here to read the original story. [divide] Veronica Scroggins of Scott’s Kitchen is the latest on a short list…