News Stories

Plaza retailers concerned for employee safety after recent shootings, upticks in thefts, harassment at iconic KC shopping district

No business owner should have to deal with ongoing incidents that threaten the safety of their employees and customers, Tyler Enders shared, but that’s the reality for some entrepreneurs on Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza. Employees at Made in KC’s marketplace location on the Plaza were closing up for the night Sept. 2 — the…

Ballerina-turned-entrepreneur’s second act moves older adults to embrace vitality through dance

Dot Burner spent her younger years dancing, taking modern dance classes in college and swaying the evenings away with her late husband. At 93, Burner still loves to dance. She takes part in bi-weekly ballet classes, hosted by Vitality In Motion. “It’s very relaxing,” said Bruner, a Shawnee Hills community member who has been taking Vitality…

KC entrepreneurs tapped to team up with top-tier Kansas enterprise businesses

A trio of emerging Kansas City startups are among 20 cohort members selected to forge new strategic connections with big-name Kansas enterprise partners like Koch, Evergy, Cargill and Spirit AeroSystems. Wichita-based NXTUS this week announced the latest program participants for the NXTSTAGE Enterprise Engagement Series — a diverse array of growth-minded entrepreneurs offering innovative tech…

From childhood friend to Chief’s personal chef: ‘Whatever he’s feeding me is keeping me young,’ says Travis Kelce

Kumar Ferguson has a meaty behind-the-scenes role in the Kansas City Chiefs coming season: fueling professional athletes, the personal chef to Travis Kelce shared. Since 2016, Ferguson’s full-time job is to worry about what’s for dinner, so Kansas City Chiefs tight end Kelce doesn’t have to. He prepares three fresh meals a day, so his…

Access all in one room: KC Black Owned bringing Black business summit to KC Convention Center

It’s easy to get caught up in the daily hustle and forget to step back and reflect when building a business, said Chelsey M., announcing a fall summit meant to help minority entrepreneurs strategically gain insights, network, and plan for growth and success. The Infinity & Beyond Black Business Summit — set for Oct. 7 at…