Channa Steinmetz

Recent Articles by Channa Steinmetz

New city flag designed for KC’s now (and tomorrow): Here’s where you’ll see it flying first

Kansas City is ushering in an era of growth and development, Jared Horman said, and the unveiling of a new municipal flag is just the way to recognize this new chapter.  “The timing feels particularly exciting with the Chiefs headed to the Super Bowl, the opening of the new terminal at the airport and the…

PMI Rate Pro pivots to tech solutions firm as pricing tool integrates with mortgage software solution 

The mortgage industry is lagging behind in the current world of technology, Nomi Smith said; but PMI Rate Pro is innovating to become a one-stop shop for private mortgage insurance (PMI).  “We began as a quoting service, so we developed an API (application programming interface) supporting another API. But we quickly realized that there needed…

From the mixing bowl to the Super Bowl: Why this KC baker’s cookies are flying with the Chiefs to Arizona

Editor’s note: The following is part of a multi-story feature profiling Kansas City small businesses reaping wins thanks to the Kansas City Chiefs’ 2023 Super Bowl bid. Click here to read more from this limited series. Ali Madden’s frosted confections are taking flight this week — sending the cheeky cookie company to new heights, literally,…

Mahomes-era Chiefs prove a game-changer for small biz, community alike, says Tom’s Town owner

Editor’s note: The following is part of a multi-story feature profiling Kansas City small businesses reaping wins thanks to the Kansas City Chiefs’ 2023 Super Bowl bid. Click here to read more from this limited series. Time and time again, the Chiefs organization and team show how they are truly ingrained in the local community,…

Travis Kelce’s Super Bowl catchphrases score big for KC merch makers, driving business into the end zone

Editor’s note: The following is part of a multi-story feature profiling Kansas City small businesses reaping wins thanks to the Kansas City Chiefs’ 2023 Super Bowl bid. Click here to read more from this limited series. When the Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce opens his mouth, fans roar, social media lights up, and makers across…

They’re plating my jam! How a homecoming dance inspired this teen’s charcuterie business with family on board

Curating colorful boards of meats, cheeses, nuts and fruits always came natural to Bella Messmer, she shared; it wasn’t until after she started her charcuterie business that she learned that passion was passed down from her grandmother.  “In the ’70s, Bella’s grandmother would host these lavish parties among other Miami socialites, and she would make…

We’re all going to die: What’s more inclusive than death? asks KC’s favorite doomed streetwear brand

Wasteland Society is for the strange; those who believe that there’s no such thing as “normal”; people who recognize the reality that sadness is part of life, and that’s OK, the duo behind the irreverent apparel company detailed. “Whenever people ask us what we stand for, I always say existentialism with inclusion,” said Peter Nonprasit,…

2023 is about ‘going deeper’: Startups to Watch gathers founders from streetwear, tech to NFTs, Esports (Event Photos)

Storytelling brings communities together, said Austin Barnes, as nearly 200 of the region’s corporate, small business and startup leaders gathered for Startland News’ Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2023 reception and awards presentation.  “Startups to Watch is an opportunity for Startland News to do what it does best — amplify the story of entrepreneurship…

What’s in a name? KC filmmakers’ documentary short finds ‘Black joy,’ Sundance premiere in reclaiming a family name

Names hold a person’s legacy and connect them to their past. Names are individualistic while also a representation of family units. Names are the first thing people own in the world, said Kansas City filmmakers Sharon Liese and Catherine Hoffman.  The duo came together to tell the complicated, yet joyous, story of the Parker family….

SnapIT’s founder builds tech company’s mission overseas while growing talent pool in Kansas

Employers across the globe need access to tech talent as demand for skilled IT workers surges, said Neelima Parasker, noting her Overland Park-based firm writes critical coding for the solution.  “What we provide is unique in the sense that we are producing tech talent the fastest through microcredentials,” said Parasker, the founder and CEO of…