The Loop KC brings together similar yet unique minds to create genuine friendships and ignite the next generation of business leaders in Kansas City. Members of The Loop KC are required to give back to local non-profit organizations.
Learn more about The Loop KC, here. 

 “I’m fortunate to say that I work for one of my favorite non profits,” said Taylor Limoges. She is the vice president of programming and communications for the Leawood Chamber of Commerce. Her work involves managing marketing, which is mainly digital, and also hosting networking events. Taylor attended Saint Thomas Aquinas High School and The University of Kansas. Taylor had the opportunity to volunteer with Bridge The Gap while she was taking a leadership class with the Northeast Johnson County Chamber of Commerce. Taylor is also a member of The Loop KC, where she has served on the executive planning committee.

Featured in the December 16, 2023 issue of The Independent. 

At home and at work, Samuel Noel believes in philanthropy. Samuel and his sister, Jessica Liberty, are the co-owners of Treasure Advertising. They have donated marketing services to Tiny but Mighty, a recently created organization that assists families who have premature infants in the NICU. “Our whole team was honored to be a part of kicking it off,” he said. In addition, Treasure Advertising supports Newhouse. After graduating from Lee’s Summit Academy, Samuel earned a bachelor’s degree in ministerial studies from RTC, a local bible college. He serves as a volunteer youth minister at Revive in Lee’s Summit, where he and his wife, Hannah, are in charge of the youth ministry services. This involves organizing many events. Hannah and Samuel also sponsor a child through Compassion International. In addition, they donate to FosterAdopt Connect and the Midwest Innocence Project. Samuel is also a member of The Loop KC. 

Featured in the December 9, 2023 issue of The Independent.
Photo credit: Kenny Marshall

Samantha Morain is an insurance agent and assistant vice president of personal lines for Walnut Risk Management. As an agent, she connects with individuals, researches options for them, and works with them to create plans. As an assistant vice president, Samantha is in charge of a department and manages a team that she has helped create. Samantha grew up in Independence, Missouri, and graduated from William Chrisman High School. She earned a degree in business management and entrepreneurship and social enterprise at the University of Central Missouri. Samantha became a Big with Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City and was matched with a Little in 2016; Samantha saw her Little graduate from the University of Missouri last year. Other organizations Samantha supports are POAC Succeed, The Farmer’s House, and Newhouse. Samantha is also a member of The Loop KC. 

Featured in the November 25, 2023 issue of The Independent.

Quincy Lee is the director of productions for Social Apex – that involves working on all aspects of video production from pre-production to post-production. Storyboards? Scripts? Shot lists? Quincy handles it all – and he casts the talent, too. “We currently work with ShareWaves, a non profit that helps connect kids with sports. We help amplify their brand by telling their story,” he said, adding, “I support ShareWaves’ mission because kids learn principles through sports that will help guide them through life.” Quincy is a graduate of Lee’s Summit High School. He is also a member of The Loop KC. 

Featured in the November 11, 2023 issue of The Independent.

Thomas LeManske is a business performance advisor for Insperity. He helps small and midsize businesses create  human resources infrastructures. Thomas attended Blue Valley Northwest High School and The University of Kansas. At Insperity, community projects are part of the job; Thomas and his colleagues have recently volunteered at Community LINC and HappyBottoms. “I’m starting to get involved with Kanbe’s Markets, whose goal is to provide fruit and vegetables to local corner stores,” he said, noting that this would create easier access to healthy foods in neighborhoods that traditionally have lacked it. Thomas is also a member of The Loop KC. 

Featured in the October 28, 2023 issue of The Independent.

Macy Vulgamore is the marketing manager for the Buttonwood Financial Group. Her responsibilities include implementing marketing strategies. She also manages the firm’s human resources. Macy grew up in Joplin, Missouri. She graduated from the University of Missouri–Kansas City with a bachelor’s degree in communications. Macy serves on the board of directors of the UMKC Women’s Council, where she is the marketing/public relations committee chair. In addition to serving on the Kansas City Parks Foundation board of directors, Macy is the chair of the Kessler clean park micro-grant committee. When a group of 10 or more people spend at least two hours cleaning up parks in Kansas City, Missouri, this committee provides up to $500 in funding to that group’s organization. Macy has one other title: she is the president of Buttonwood Art Space, the community-focused art gallery at the office of Buttonwood Financial Group. The gallery hosts four art exhibitions per year. Each benefits a non-profit organization. At the exhibitions, the sale price of an artwork is split, fifty-fifty, between the non-profit organization and the artist. The Buttonwood Art Space does not take a commission. As Macy noted, “We have raised more than $750,000 for artists in our community and amazing non profits such as: Rose Brooks Center, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City, Kansas City Community Gardens, Amethyst Place, Reconciliation Services, Great Plains SPCA, Jewish Family Services, and many more.” Macy is also a member of The Loop KC.   

Featured in the October 14, 2023 issue of The Independent.

Sami Cintron has a special place in her heart for organizations with missions to help the heart. Professionally, Sami is a senior marketing manager with Swell Spark, which means she oversees marketing initiatives for Blade and Timber, Sinker’s Lounge, and Breakout rooms across the country. (What a fun place to work!) She is a graduate of Liberty High School and Northwest Missouri State University. Sami is a devoted volunteer with the American Heart Association and its Heart Ball. The organization is very near and dear to her own heart because Sami has lost several family members to heart disease. Congratulations to Sami for pitching in and helping raise much-needed funds and awareness.

Featured in the September 30, 2023 issue of The Independent.
Photo credit: Nicole Bissey Photography

Cody Stout is a project manager for Newkirk Novak Construction Partners. He grew up on the south side of St. Louis, Missouri. Cody graduated from Missouri State University, where he was in the Construction Management program. He now is active in Missouri State University alumni activities. Cody met his wife in college. The couple lived in New York for about two years prior to moving to Our Town in 2018. Cody feels philanthropy is important, both personally and as part of corporate culture. As he stated, “I believe we have a duty to give back.” Along with his Newkirk Novak colleagues, Cody assembles Happy Kits (small care packages) for Children’s Mercy and coordinates and participates in events packaging food at Harvesters. Cody is also a member of The Loop KC.  

Featured in the September 16, 2023 issue of The Independent.

Payton Thielmann is a financial advisor with Prime Capital Investment Advisors. He is a graduate of Blue Valley North High School, and he earned a degree in finance from The University of Kansas. According to Payton, he would like to get more involved in the community – but we think he is off to a good start. Payton is a supporter of the Go Further Foundation. He describes it as “a mental health non profit focused on assisting young professionals as they transition into the working world.” He stated that they host executive coaching workshops, provide mental health support, and have peer-to-peer mentorship programs. Payton also noted that the company he works for recently hosted a kickball-themed fundraiser for Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City. In addition, he is a member of The Loop KC.

Featured in the September 2, 2023 issue of The Independent.

Kit Bradley is a senior consultant, client services, with Oracle. He is a graduate of Blue Valley Northwest High School and Belmont University. Kit is married to Deanna Bradley. He has served as a volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association annual walk for more than 10 years. In 2019, Kit both ran and did fundraising for the Alzheimer’s Chicago Marathon team. What motivates him? “Their mission is important to me because of the people in my life who have been affected by the disease,” Kit said. He is also a member of The Loop KC.    

Featured in the August 19, 2023 issue of The Independent.

Cheyenne Farmer hails from Bentonville, Arkansas. She is a client success partner with SHC Roofing. Cheyenne sees it as imperative that women and young people recognize that there are abundant jobs available in the trades industry. She is involved with numerous organizations, including the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS), and the Apartment Association of Kansas City (AAKC). Cheyenne serves as the student liaison chair on IFMA KC’s board of directors. Her committee partners with groups such as Junior Achievement, KidsTLC, and school districts. Along with local facilities managers, she attends career fairs in order to draw attention to the opportunities that are available. Cheyenne is a member of The Loop KC.     

Featured in the August 5, 2023 issue of The Independent.

Being the vice president of sales for CD2 Learning should be enough to keep Gill Williams busy, but he’s committed himself to a plethora of volunteer work in addition to his career. Through CD2, Gill has supported local causes Care Beyond the Boulevard and Harmony Project. Still, in his own free time, he tends to seek involvement in organizations that are serving and protecting Kansas City’s women and children, such as Newhouse, Safehome, and KidsTLC. Especially close to Gill’s heart is Boge Golf, founded by Lucas Bartlett and Curt Whigham, the son of John Whigham, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2022. In conjunction with I AM ALS, the John Whigham Collection of golf apparel has been released with donations being made to ALS research. They have also started the #Swing4ALS challenge, to “just keep swinging through it all.” 

Featured in the July 22, 2023 issue of The Independent. 

Catie Tweedie is a clinical social worker and therapist at Resolve Counseling and Wellness. She is a native of Richmond, Missouri. Catie earned bachelor’s degrees in psychology and sociology from the University of Missouri–Columbia, and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Missouri–Kansas City. She is a  member of the Go Further Foundation and serves on the mental health committee, working as a resource for members in relation to mental health needs, education, and advocacy. Catie is a member of The Loop KC. 

Featured in the June 10, 2023 issue of The Independent. 

JoAnna Muenks spent her childhood on a farm in Westphalia, Missouri. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri–Kansas City, where she earned dual degrees in accounting and marketing. JoAnna is director of business development for ^exponent. In addition, she produces wedding highlight films. All that, and she finds time to engage with younger people and help them see more options for the future. “I love Junior Achievement,” she said, adding, “I love getting to talk to students about the many paths in entrepreneurship and how they can leverage their natural skills and interests to provide value to the community.” JoAnna is also a member of The Loop KC.

Featured in the May 27, 2023 issue of The Independent.

Max Bartlett grew up in Great Bend, Kansas, and came to Our Town after completing his studies at Kansas State University. He is vice president of sales for LED Direct. Max is a Big with Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City. What do he and Jeramiah, his Little, find time to do? Plenty. “We hang out almost every week and either watch football, do homework, or try new restaurants,” he said. Max is also a member of The Loop KC. 

Featured in the April 29, 2023 issue of The Independent.

Clair Crase is a client experience senior coordinator with Olsson. She grew up in Olathe, Kansas, and is a graduate of Olathe Northwest High School. Clair earned a degree in marketing from MidAmerica Nazarene University. At the Central Church of the Nazarene, she is involved with the Young Adult Council and Women’s Ministry Council. “As a council, we look for community volunteer opportunities. Once a month, our group volunteers at Shelter KC, building community through serving the community,” Clair said. The church also partners with Rising Star Elementary School. Clair and her husband, Zac, have two dogs, Mo, a Golden Retriever, and Conrad, a Parti Yorkie. She is a member of The Loop KC.     

Featured in the April 15, 2023 issue of The Independent.

Sam Kulikov is the co-founder and chief marketing officer of the Kansas City Pioneers and the founder and a partner of Social Apex. He spent his school days right here in Our Town, first at Shawnee Mission South High School, and then at the University of Missouri–Kansas City. Sam likes blending business with philanthropy. “The city of Kansas City is where our brands were born,” he said, adding, “Some of the non profits that we support are American Jazz Museum, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Disabled But Not Really, ShareWaves, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City, Parade of Hearts, 1K for KC, and First Tee.” Sam is also a member of The Loop KC.  

Featured in the April 1, 2023 issue of The Independent. 

Leah Daggett is an agency relationship manager with Humana. She lived in Madison, Wisconsin, prior to moving to Our Town about three and one-half years ago. During the time that she has been here, Leah has become a supporter of Newhouse and Big Brother Big Sisters Kansas City. Philanthropy is important to her. As she noted, “Mentoring is an invaluable experience that can positively improve the lives of our future generation.” Leah is also a member of The Loop KC.   

Featured in the March 4, 2023 issue of The Independent.

Connor Randell is an account executive with iFocus Marketing. He works with companies in Our Town and across the country to build success for their digital marketing strategies. Connor hails from Springfield, Missouri, and was educated at Missouri State University. He is a member of the board of directors of Manor Records Fund. “I assist in managing artists signed to the label, booking shows across the city, marketing/promotions, and fundraising efforts,” he said, adding, “It has been a blast.” Connor is also a member of The Loop KC. 

Featured in the February 18, 2023 issue of The Independent.

Francie Knackendoffel is a senior technical recruiter at ECCO Select. She’s a Manhattanite – Manhattan, Kansas, that is – who moved to Our Town after graduating from Kansas State University. Francie is a board member of FIRE, the Foundation for Inclusive Religious Education, which works to make Catholic education more accessible to students with disabilities. This year, she served as the co-chair for the annual Play with FIRE Golf Tournament and as a volunteer for the FIREBall Annual Auction.  

Featured in the December 10, 2022 issue of The Independent.

Ben Sight is a financial advisor with The ETF Store. The Kansas City native attended Shawnee Mission East High School and graduated from The University of Kansas, where he studied finance. Ben and his family have been very big supporters of Wayside Waifs. Ben volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City and has been a Big since 2019. He is a member of the executive board of KC CAN! and serves on the Young Professionals Board of Boys Hope Girls Hope of Kansas City. Ben said, “I do my best to give back and make a difference for the local kids that need it the most.”

Bayli Martin is an associate attorney at Colantuono Guinn Kellper, where she represents both businesses and individuals in matters related to business and employment law. Bayli has made Kansas City home after moving here to attend law school at the University of Missouri–Kansas City. She serves on the board of the Bacchus Foundation, and this year they will bring back the wildly popular and successful Bacchus Ball, which will benefit the Della Lamb organization. She is also a member of the Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri, and the Young Friends of Art at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. We don’t have to guess how she likes to spend some free time, we just have to look at sweet Clementine! 

Nicole Dolan is a reporter for the Kansas City Business Journal. She covers commercial real estate developments on the Kansas side. In addition to equity, her articles spotlight a range of properties, including multifamily, office, industrial, mixed-use, and retail spaces. Nicole is passionate about The Manor Records Fund. As she explained, “The organization functions as a record store, record label, and neighborhood bar that turns profits into resources to support local musicians and the surrounding Strawberry Hill community.” Nicole doesn’t just promote The Manor Records Fund – she can sometimes be found bartending there! She is a graduate of Blue Valley North High School and The University of Kansas.   

Being a part of a marching band performing at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and on the Today Show is probably Alison Hudspeth’s greatest claim to fame! (They were the first marching band to be invited by the Today Show since 1956!) Her professional life, however, is much more serious. She is a partnership manager with Managed Energy Systems. Her volunteer life is quite rich, as well. Alison plays 10 instruments, mostly at nursing homes. She also gives a great deal of time to Grain Valley Faith United Methodist Church, where she has co-hosted Vacation Bible School, given music lessons, and led weekly worship music. In her free time, Alison enjoys her adorable daughter, Maebie. 

Featured in the September 17, 2022 issue of The Independent.

Kristen Whalen Petersen is the employee benefits account manager for AssuredPartners. Much of her free time is spent volunteering, often for cultural organizations. Kristen said, “The arts will always hold a special place in my heart. In my most formative years, theater gave me an opportunity to express myself by gaining confidence through public speaking and learning to think on my feet through improvisation. Theater affirmed my individuality and taught me the importance of inclusivity.” Kristen serves on Starlight Theater’s Young Friends of Starlight (YFS) steering committee. Along with Denise Dribben, she was a co-chairman of the inaugural Starry Night at Starlight in 2021 and assembled a group of 20 All-Stars. 

Featured in the September 3, 2022 issue of The Independent.

Jessica Kahmann is a project coordinator at PROOF Positioning, where she provides data analysis for organizations working to understand the thoughts and motivations of their decision makers. When she is not managing her professional duties, Jessica is a volunteer with Gordon Parks Elementary School in Kansas City. Serving as a mentor and watching kids grow socially and emotionally has been very rewarding for Jessica. She also serves on the Young Professionals Board for Love Fund. The Love Fund For Children offers youth services by partnering with advocates to fulfill unmet and unique needs of children in Our Town.

Featured in the August 20, 2022 issue of The Independent.

Ryanne Sass is vice president of pre-development for Plaza Street Partners. She oversees the division which manages the due diligence, design, and permitting for the firm’s clients, mainly fast food restaurants, convenience stores, and other one-tenant spaces. This helps to ensure a smooth start to the construction process. Ryanne is originally from St. Louis, Missouri. She earned both a bachelor of arts degree in business and a bachelor of science degree in international studies from the University of Missouri. In 2017, shortly after moving to Our Town, Ryanne became a volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City. “I am fortunate to be able to have such a strong friendship with my Little. It has been amazing to see how much she has grown emotionally and socially,” she said, adding, “I look forward to seeing her continue to excel in school and eventually attend college.”  

Featured in the August 6, 2022 issue of The Independent.

Paige Engle is the event engagement manager for Big Brothers Big Sisters KC. Her responsibilities include planning and overseeing Bowl for Kids’ Sake. Throughout the year, Paige interacts with donors and event goers. She manages one full-time event assistant and a seasonal team of 10 interns. Paige earned a degree in public relations with a minor in nonprofit leadership studies from Kansas State University. She is a Big – Paige and her Little, Arleah, have been a pair since February 2020. Paige serves as membership chairman for genKC, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s junior board, and she is a member of The Loop KC.

Featured in the June 25, 2022 issue of The Independent.

Claire Martin is the public relations and content manager with Crux KC. She manages public relations strategy, media relations, and research for clients. Claire is a graduate of Notre Dame de Sion High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Creighton University. Claire has provided pro bono marketing and public relations support for Kanbe’s Markets and KC Shepherd’s Center. She has helped to build public relations efforts and event awareness for KC Common Good and People of All Colors Succeed. Claire is a member of The Loop KC.

Featured in the June 11, 2022 issue of The Independent.

Cody Isabel has carved out a niche for himself in his professional life that positions him to help people ages 25-35 who might be struggling in the world of work and careers and pressure. Cody is the founder and CEO of Rewrite and Rise, helping young, top-performing individuals deal with early career burnout and life crises. The Blue Springs native has a background in neuroscience and a desire to help others, whether in the workplace or in the volunteer sector. He has given his time to Harvesters, The Salvation Army, Community Services League, and GoFurther Foundation. For GoFurther, he is a mentor for young adults coming out of college who struggle with mental health. Cody’s passion for addressing mental health in our society is undeniable and admirable. 

Featured in the May 28, 2022 issue of The Independent.

Luis Florez, Jr.’s mantra appears to be “give back.” It’s what he does so naturally. Luis is managing partner of AKCESS Management Group, which provides consulting focused on unlocking capital, innovation, and opportunity across the digital economy, and he also serves as CEO of AKCESS  Studios. The Kansas City native graduated from Shawnee Mission West, and has a bachelor’s degree in finance and strategic selling from K-State. In his volunteer role, Luis gives back to Big Brothers Big Sisters and K-State. Having been a Little, himself, he understands and benefited from the program, and in his words, “It changed the trajectory of my life. I want to help grow the organization in any way possible.” At K-State, Luis was part of the creative endeavor to start RiseUp Scholars, a professional development and scholarship program in the College of Business. Recently, he started giving his time to Suits For Hire, providing professional attire to lower income individuals. 

Featured in the May 14, 2022 issue of The Independent.

Hannah Bogue is the partnerships restaurant success manager and marketplace ambassador for ChowNow. Her responsibilities include assisting with the development of marketing strategies and business tactics to ensure the growth of online ordering and takeout sales for a portfolio of local restaurants partnering with ChowNow. Hannah is a member of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art’s Friends of Art organization, and she serves on the Party Arty 2022 planning committee. In addition, she helps produce and edit social media content and gives branding advice to 411: Disability Awareness, a local non profit. Hannah is also a member of The Loop KC.

Featured in the April 30, 2022 issue of The Independent.

Kiona Sinks is the community engagement manager for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Kiona also serves on the emerging leaders board of the KC Sports Commission. She is a member of Band of Angels’ Rockstars Class of 2019. While an undergraduate at Central Methodist University, she helped lead the founding of the African American Student Union (AASU). Kiona recently received the Distinguished Young Alumni Award from Central Methodist University – and, yes, she’s a member of The Loop KC.

Featured in the April 16, 2022 issue of The Independent.

Mattie Karr has a pretty amazing gig going in Kansas City! She is the fun coordinator of large group events for Swell Spark, the company that brings fun to gatherings at Blade and Timber and Breakout KC. When she isn’t helping people have fun, Mattie is volunteering for two of her passions – helping women navigate unplanned pregnancies, and working to match musical instruments with kids who need them. Mattie has committed her philanthropic time to the Wyandotte Pregnancy Clinic and to Band of Angels. She is also the events co-chairman for The Loop KC. 

Read more in the March 5, 2022 issue of The Independent.

Having grown up on a farm south of Abilene, Kansas, Curry Sexton has kept Kansas near and dear to his heart. His professional practice is that of an associate attorney with Seigfreid Bingham in their civil/commercial litigation department. And his philanthropic life revolves around two very important groups – Teach for America – Kansas City, and No Stone Unturned Foundation in Manhattan, Kansas. Curry serves on the Champions Board for Teach for America because he believes in the importance of education. He also serves on the board for No Stone Unturned, as its mission is to serve children from across the eastern half of Kansas, and provide a therapeutic learning center for children with a range of disabilities.

Read more in the February 19, 2022 issue of The Independent.

Alexa Wren is a business banking specialist with First Citizens Bank. She joined The Loop KC in February 2020 and has served on the philanthropy committee. Alexa has also volunteered with Newhouse, both by helping organize clothing by size, and by participating in the organization’s Digs Against Domestic Violence volleyball tournament. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Missouri–Kansas City. As a member of Delta Zeta sorority, she served as co-treasurer and as social chairman. Alexa is a lifelong Kansas Citian and a graduate of Staley High School.   

Read more in the December 22, 2022 issue of The Independent

Kaylee Chappelow’s volunteer work with KC Scholars includes reviewing and scoring scholarship applications for high school students and adult learners, who are applying for need-based/college savings scholarships. She has been doing this for four years. For Kaylee, it is especially meaningful because her mother finished college after she was an adult. Kaylee careers as a sales account executive at Greenhouse. She is a graduate of Blue Springs High School and Missouri State University. Kaylee is a member of Sigma Kappa sorority and The Loop KC.   

Read more in the January 8, 2022 issue of The Independent

Angel McGee is a graduate of Lee’s Summit West High School and Truman State University, where she earned a bachelor of arts degree in communications. Her title with the Kansas City Royals is manager, community partnerships and events. Angel is an advisory board member with WIN for KC and a KC Champions board member with Teach for America. She is the chairman of the advisory committee for the Tyrann Mathieu Foundation. At PREP-KC, Angel is a volunteer connector and volunteer engagement committee member. She is also a scholarship reviewer for KC Scholars. On top of all that, Angel is a member of The Loop KC.  

Read more in the December 18, 2021 issue of The Independent

Kurt Jensen has a lot on his plate! He is an industrial broker with Kessinger Hunter, where he assists all parties with the real estate decision-making process. Kurt is a graduate of Shawnee Mission East High School and the University of Missouri. He is a member associate of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors, he is a Big Brother with Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City, and he enjoys giving back to the Kansas City community. Kurt especially wants to make sure that kids have quality mentors, of which he is one.

Also featured in the December 11, 2021 issue of The Independent

Janelle Paulson is not only an avid Chiefs fan, but a fan of recycled materials in Kansas City. Janelle works at Pratt Industries as a packaging sales representative, which means that she is finding unique packaging solutions (100% recycled) for businesses in the metro area. Janelle is also the co-chairman of the philanthropy team at The Loop KC, where she assists with partnerships with three organizations – Go Further Foundation, Newhouse, and Youth Ambassadors. Coming from a small town, she loves to be able to connect with other young professionals in our community. 

Read more from the November 13, 2021 issue of The Independent

Jeremy Terman is a graduate of The Barstow School and the University of Missouri. He is the director of enterprise sales for Lunchbox, where he leads a team of sales professionals selling omnichannel digital solutions to restaurant brands. (Think websites, mobile apps, loyalty programs, marketing, etc.) In addition, he is an owner and advisor to the KC Pioneers, whose vision is to use the power of esports to champion diversity, inclusion, and opportunity to players and fans across the world. Beyond that, Jeremy mentors two companies with Techstars, where he helps founders build upon their vision and tackle challenges of business start-ups. In his spare time, he coaches high school baseball at University Academy. 

Also featured in the October 30, 2021 issue of The Independent

Originally from Midland, Texas, Jake Durham is firmly rooted in all things Chiefs, Royals, and barbecue! Jake is a risk consultant/producer at Brush Creek Partners, where he specializes in risk management and insurance for rapidly growing technology companies and their investors. Jake is also an executive board member for the Kansas City Children’s Assistance Network (KC CAN!), and he is a mentor for the Go Further Foundation. When not working or volunteering, Jake enjoys golf, hunting, and rooting for Texas A&M football. 

Also featured in the October 16, 2021 issue of The Independent

Christopher Stibbs brings a world of experience and passion to his volunteer and professional work in philanthropy. The native of Omaha, Nebraska, earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Rockhurst University, and he is now the director of philanthropic engagement at Newhouse Shelter for domestic violence victims. Chris also serves on the leadership team for The Loop KC, is on the core planning team for TEDxKC, is on the board of directors for the Association of Fundraising Professionals Kansas City Chapter, and serves on Teach for America Kansas City’s Champions board of directors.

Also featured in the October 2, 2021 issue of The Independent

Mary Crowe is a member of The Loop KC. She is also a member of the Young Ambassador Board at The Children’s Place. Mary grew up in Our Town. She graduated from Notre Dame de Sion High School and the University of Missouri. Mary’s early volunteer experiences included working with the Upper Room and Bags of Fun KC. She is a commercial real estate broker with AREA Real Estate Advisors and teaches yoga at Power Life. 

Also featured in the September 18, 2021 issue of The Independent

Although originally from Caracas, Venezuela, Mariel Walker has called Kansas City home since her sophomore year at Blue Valley West High School. With a bachelor’s degree in human nutrition from Kansas State University, this Alpha Delta Pi sorority member has been a volunteer for Ronald McDonald House Charities since her college days. Mariel currently serves as a market sales manager for government programs at UnitedHealthcare. In her role, she supports the external distribution channel in the Kansas City market, which involves a great deal of opportunities to work with Medicare. Mariel also volunteers with Junior Achievement, Underground Social KC, and more.

Also featured in the September 4, 2021 issue of The Independent

Ryan Carter is a member of the leadership team of The Loop KC. He is an associate director with MMG Mid Markets Group, where he advises clients on the best strategies for handling multi-family investments. Ryan is a graduate of Shawnee Mission East High School. He played football at Pittsburg State University for one year, then transferred to The University of Kansas, where he majored in exercise science. Ryan shares his middle name, Jeffrey, with his uncle, the late Jeffrey Liametz, who died of lymphoma at the age of 25. This year, Ryan competed in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Man and Woman of the Year campaign, raising nearly $20,000 for the cause.       

Also featured in the August 21, 2021 issue of The Independent

Emerson Hodes founded The Loop KC, which is a young professionals peer networking group. Already, there are 125 members in Our Town, and the organization has four locations throughout the country. The Loop is partnering with and supporting the Go Further Foundation, which addresses mental health issues of young adults, Youth Ambassadors, an employment program for underserved youth, and Newhouse, which provides shelter and programs for people affected by domestic violence. Emerson, who was educated at Rockhurst High School and is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, is chief operating officer of CBAi, a local artificial intelligence and advanced analytics startup. He also has three part-time jobs: director of client experience for Blue Venture Advisors, senior recruiter and marketing manager for Chief of Staff KC, and managing partner with Red Rose Capital Partners. As if that wasn’t enough, Emerson serves on the executive boards of KC CAN!, Bags of Fun KC, and the Go Further Foundation.   

Also featured in the August 7, 2021 issue of The Independent