A network of “Community Navigators” is extending resources deeper into Kansas City’s entrepreneur community, KCSourceLink announced Friday, detailing the hiring of Citlali Valdez and Racquel Rodriguez to its months-old connectivity program.
Becca Castro, KCSourceLink
“We are thrilled to welcome these experienced team members,” said Becca Castro, senior director of regional ecosystem development at the UMKC Innovation Center, which houses KCSourceLink. “Their skills, passion and fresh perspectives bring demonstrated value to the way we support business owners and help drive meaningful impact in our community.”
Community Network Navigators connect entrepreneurs with more than 230 resources in the Kansas City region so they can start and grow businesses. Now totaling six people, the team includes three Spanish-speaking Navigators, and is embedded at KCSourceLink Resource Center, The Porter House KC, The Toolbox KC, Keystone CoLAB, Square One Small Business Center by Mid-Continent Public Library, and Aspiria NOW.
“KCSourceLink is dedicated to working with all types of businesses at any stage in the Kansas City metro and connects people to the business resources they need — all for free,” Castro said.
Valdez and Rodriguez — like other Navigators — draw from their experience as entrepreneurs themselves to serve others. Both will be based at the KCSourceLink Resource Center at UMKC Innovation Center, 4747 Troost Ave.
Bringing more than eight years of experience in small business operations and community-based entrepreneurship, Valdez is bilingual in Spanish and English.
“She has a deep understanding of how to navigate the local resources that help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses — especially within underserved and Hispanic communities,” according to a release from KCSourceLink.
The founder of El Café Cubano, Rodriguez brings experience in mobile food and beverage, organic and paid marketing, retail sales readiness and small business development.
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“Racquel has a deep understanding of how to navigate local resources that help entrepreneurs, especially those from underserved communities, to start and grow their businesses,” KCSourceLink said.
Current and aspiring entrepreneurs may connect with a Navigator through the website to book a meeting, call the hotline at (816) 235-6500 or visit the KCSourceLink offices at 4747 Troost Ave., Ste. 123, in Kansas City, Missouri. After meeting with a Navigator, entrepreneurs will receive their custom plan of the resources that can help them reach their goals.
“As a program of the UMKC Innovation Center, KCSourceLink is dedicated to supporting entrepreneurship-led economic development,” said Castro. “Our Navigators connect entrepreneurs with resources, convene stakeholders to strengthen Missouri’s entrepreneurial infrastructure and provide data and insight on the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
The team of Community Network Navigators also includes:
Jannae Gammage, Paola Zapata, Maddie Dierking, and Rachelle Hofstetter, KCSourceLink Community Navigators; courtesy photos
Jannae Gammage
Keystone CoLAB, 800 E. 18th St, Kansas City, Missouri
Aspiria NOW, 6550 Sprint Pkwy Suite 200, Overland Park, Kansas
Jannae Gammage is the CEO and co-founder of Cyphr, a financial AI platform, and founder of Enact Studio, where she works alongside underestimated founders to turn hustle into impact. With 15-plus years of experience as a founder, strategist, and investor, she’s helped hundreds of entrepreneurs launch, grow, and fund their ventures. Whether an entrepreneur is just getting started or ready to scale, Gammage brings practical insight and real talk to help them move forward with clarity.
Paola Zapata
The Toolbox Small Business Resource Center, 726 Armstrong Ave., Kansas City, Kansas
Paola Zapata brings over 11 years of experience as a serial entrepreneur in tech and client services. She has launched and grown strong brands both in the U.S. and internationally. Bilingual in Spanish and English, she is deeply passionate about helping entrepreneurs thrive by connecting them to the resources they need to grow and scale their businesses. Zapata offers firsthand insight and practical solutions for founders at every stage of their journey, guiding them to the right tools, networks, and opportunities for success.
Maddie Dierking
The Porter House KC, 811 E. 31st St., Kansas City, Missouri
Maddie Dierking understands what it takes to build and sustain a successful business. With more than 12 years of experience, including five years as the founder of Vista Design Co., she has firsthand knowledge of the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship. Dierking is passionate about helping aspiring entrepreneurs take the leap and seasoned business owners scale their ventures.
Rachelle Hofstetter
Square One Small Business Center by Mid-Continent Public Library, 1000 NE Colbern Road, Lee’s Summit, Missouri
Rachelle Hofstetter brings 20-plus years of hands-on entrepreneurial experience to new and growing business owners. As current owner/operator of Ardent Clothing Corporation and Plato’s Closet Belton, she understands the operational and financial realities of launching and sustaining a retail business.
