×
Subscribe

Subscribe Today

Save almost 50% off the newsstand price!

In addition to receiving 26 issues of The Independent Kansas City’s Journal of Society, your subscription will include our annual publication, the Charitable Events Calendar and a subscription to our e-newsletter, The Insider.

Questions about your current subscription? Contact Laura Gabriel at 816-471-2800.

2015 Class of Rising Stars – Kimberly Wilkerson

Kimberly Wilkerson’s first career was in education, where she taught and held an administrative position. When her father died in 2004, she and her brother, Ryan, became third generation business owners of Haas & Wilkerson Insurance. She serves as the agency principal and vice president. 

WILKERSON_Kimberly_ind

Early in their lives, Kimberly and Ryan learned the importance of giving back and realized the culture of serving was missing at Haas & Wilkerson. “We wanted to bring that into our daily life here at work,” Kimberly said. She is now solely responsible for community outreach, culture and branding and has dedicated countless hours to local boards including KCPT, Don Bosco Centers, American Royal, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. She also is involved with the American Heart Association, ArtsKC, the Arts and Recreation Foundation of Overland Park, Harvesters, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Healthy Communities Wyandotte, the Kansas City Art Institute, the Kansas City Zoo, KC Autism Training Center, KidsTLC, Operation Breakthrough, Salvation Army, and Union Station Kansas City. The Haas & Wilkerson staff has witnessed her dedication to philanthropy and become more involved in the community. As a result, office morale has increased substantially. 

In addition, Haas & Wilkerson is the title sponsor of Accelerent KC, where decision makers can build relationships for the sole purpose of growing their respective companies. Through this group, Kimberly created the Accelerent Non-Profit Initiative. Each month, she selects a local charity and promotes it at a monthly breakfast, at one-to-one meetings with business leaders and through email blasts to all members. 

Kimberly feels honored to be chosen as one of The Independent’s Rising Stars of Philanthropy. “It is humbling to be singled out as there are so many people doing good work in Our Town. From an early age, I was driven to engage in community service. I am fortunate to continue that work not only on a personal level but also through my company, Haas & Wilkerson Insurance.”

Also featured in the July 11, 2015 issue of The Independent
By Ann Slegman

Features

Name Dropping – Jorge Soberón-Hernández

In just one year, Jorge Soberón-Hernández and his team at Arvest Bank led more than 170 financial literacy classes in Kansas City, helping hundreds of people gain the financial knowledge…

MOCSA – Night Out with MOCSA Cocktail Party and Auction

The Midland Theatre will be the site for Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault’s (MOCSA’s) 20th annual Night Out with MOCSA Cocktail Party and Auction on October 19th. The event…

MOCSA Volunteer

Kersti Azar recently moved from Chicago to Kansas City and immediately started making an impact in MOCSA’s hospital advocacy program. She completed 40 hours of training and has provided more…

Rising Star Laura Palacios

Laura Palacios is a woman who gets things done. In her words, she “means business” when it comes to the causes she champions. Renowned for her support of literacy, diversity…