Julie Leonhardt, Chief Executive Officer
julie@startland.org | Linkedin | Instagram
Julie brings a passion for entrepreneurship and team building to her role as CEO. Over the course of her career, Julie has been an executive leader for two of the most globally-renowned real estate brands, worked as a real estate finance attorney on Wall Street, and led teams and program development in education and healthcare-focused organizations. She also founded a real estate tech startup and understands how isolating entrepreneurship can be, and the impact organizations like Startland can have in that journey.
From her work in corporate structures, to startups and nonprofits, Julie has always maintained a focus on mentoring and empowering the people around her. She cares deeply about protecting the rights and dignity of all, especially women, the LGBTQ+ community, and those who are marginalized and traditionally underrepresented in business.
Julie’s passion for people and track record of success is fundamental to accomplishing Startland’s mission, vision and strategic initiatives.
Tommy Felts, Editor-in-Chief
tommy@startlandnews.com | LinkedIn | Instagram
Tommy is editor-in-chief for Startland News, a Kansas City-based nonprofit newsroom that uses storytelling to elevate the region’s startup community of entrepreneurs, innovators, hustlers, creatives and risk-takers.
Under Tommy’s leadership, Startland News has expanded its coverage from a primarily high-tech, high-growth focus to a more wide-ranging and inclusive look at the faces of entrepreneurism, innovation and business.
Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Reporter
nikki@startlandnews.com | LinkedIn | Instagram
Nikki brings to Startland News both community journalism and entrepreneurship experience and she loves being able to tell the inspiring stories of fellow creatives and risk-takers.
Before joining Startland News, she worked for over 10 years writing and editing for daily newspapers in Lawrence, Topeka, Duluth, Minnesota, and Park Hills, Missouri. She took a short hiatus from journalism to pursue her dream of becoming a pastry chef and starting her own baking business.
Taylor Wilmore, Reporter
taylor@startlandnews.com | LinkedIn | Instagram
Taylor Wilmore, hailing from Lee’s Summit, is a dedicated reporter and a recent graduate of the University of Missouri, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism. Taylor channels her deep-seated passion for writing and storytelling to create compelling narratives that shed light on the diverse residents of Kansas City.
Prior to her role at Startland News, Taylor made valuable contributions as a reporter for the Columbia Missourian newspaper, where she covered a wide range of community news and higher education stories.
Austin Barnes, Business Development Director
austin@startland.org | LinkedIn | Instagram
Austin is a growth-focused business strategist with deep roots in media and storytelling. As Business Development Director, he leads Startland’s revenue generation, partnership strategy, and market expansion— aligning mission-driven journalism with scalable business models.
With over a decade of experience spanning media, brand development, and strategic communications, Austin has helped grow Startland’s reach beyond Kansas City, launching new monetization efforts and driving engagement with more than 700,000 readers. His work bridges entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable growth —positioning Startland as a national model for community-centered media.
