Channa Steinmetz

Recent Articles by Channa Steinmetz

Sky Jackson, Scoops

First foot forward: LA dreamer returns to KC to launch shoe brand with one-of-a-kind pop-up

Sky Jackson walked through Motion House Studios in the West Bottoms wearing a shirt and pants he had sewn together himself, as well as a pair of Scoops — Jackson’s premier footwear line inspired by the light-heartedness and joy of ice cream.   “I have been wanting to make a shoe brand since I was a…

Jannae Gammage and Milad Ghasempour, The Market Base, center, with their mothers at the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Small Business Celebration

‘What we’re doing matters’: On-demand marketing startup honored as top ‘emerging’ KC business

A never-give-up attitude and an appreciation for every opportunity that comes their way continues to fuel the founding duo behind Kansas City-built The Market Base.  “We’re just glad to be recognized for our relentless pursuit,” Milad Ghasempour, co-founder and COO, said moments after the startup was named Emerging Business Award winner by the Greater Kansas…

Chase McAnulty, Charlie Hustle; Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Small Business Celebration

Mr. K winner: Charlie Hustle wears heart on its sleeve as it accepts Small Biz of the Year honor

Civic pride continues to pay off for Kansas City-stitched Charlie Hustle, winner of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s 2021 Mr. K Small Business of the Year Award.  Chase McAnulty, founder and CEO, accepted the coveted award Thursday afternoon during a KC Chamber-hosted luncheon — a successful end to the vintage-inspired apparel company’s third run at…

KC’s premier queer sports league nearly doubles in enrollment; focuses on uniting diverse LGBTQ+ community

Athletics has not always been a space where Jared Horman felt comfortable, he shared; but through Stonewall Sports, he discovered a way to genuinely enjoy games while connecting with other queer individuals and allies. “We get to kind of reclaim this thing that was terrifying for us as children,” said Horman, who was first introduced…

Jordan Fox, Foxtrot Studio

Sneak peek: Foxtrot Studio rebrands, reopening in KCK with more space and a caffeinated twist 

With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting in-person retailers across the globe, Jordan Fox found himself compelled to take a step back and return to the roots of his passion — creating quality products by hand, he shared.  “Foxtrot has always been very experience-driven. The feeling you have when you come into the space, coupled with the…

Ryan Harvey

Demand more than the life you see scrolling Instagram, Ryan Harvey urges after scam inspires self-reflection

Kansas City motivational speaker Ryan Harvey thought his dreams had come true when a duo from Los Angeles offered him a job creating videos for their up-and-coming self-help company, he recalled. To the community thought leader’s shock, the two took the revenue from the company and disappeared — leaving Harvey to answer to upset clients…

Carlanda McKinney, Bodify

Right fit, refined: Carlanda McKinney’s third venture in apparel measures up to its digital design

Online shopping is a staple for Carlanda McKinney, she noted, but the inaccuracy and variety of size guides leave both shoppers and retailers with major pain points.  “On the shopper side, it is frustrating to order multiple sizes and not have anything fit your body the right way. … On the seller side, retailers are…

Girls in ‘tough-boy’ jobs: Young welders torch outdated beads on what’s possible

Vanessa Bello and Adriana Figueroa feel a rush of adrenaline as they gear up in their welding uniforms and watch their blueprints come to life — it’s a feeling everyone deserves to experience, regardless of gender, they shared.  “It’s all dark but you see this little light while welding; then when you take off your…

Ryan Manning, Bad Rhino Studios

Bad Rhino wants to build, not exit (so investors aren’t playing): Why the fast-paced KC studio hopes to rewrite the game

Midwest investors need to familiarize themselves with the potential waiting to play within the video game industry, said Ryan Manning, noting they otherwise risk losing out on major opportunities. “I don’t mind having those conversations and educating the parties involved,” said Manning, the founder of Bad Rhino Studios. “I think the biggest reason things need…

Fanny Ruiz de Chavez, Sabor Latino

‘I have to make it’: Fanny Ruiz de Chavez refused service to failure; 16 months later, she’s still cooking

 Story and photos by Channa Steinmetz, Startland News | Video by Catherine Hoffman, Flatland Sitting in fear was quickly off the menu for Fanny Ruiz de Chavez — told less than two months after her Lee’s Summit restaurant’s 2020 grand opening that she’d need to close down because of COVID-19 restrictions, she recalled.  “I…