Events

Dr. Brandon E. Martin began his tenure as Kansas City Athletics Director on December 3, 2018. Martin’s leadership has helped change the culture within Kansas City Athletics, as his positive energy, passion and strategic vision have helped elevate the Roos' momentum on-and-off the field.  Martin has been a visionary, focused on comprehensive excellence. Since arriving in Kansas City, he has orchestrated the transformational changes below:

• 95% Graduation Success Rate (GSR) and 3.35 GPA for all student-athletes.
• Launced the Roo Athletic Fund – Annual Giving Arm for Athletics, increased donor participation 380% and raised $3.5M since launch of new program.
• Increased department non-gift revenue 1,833% and all revenue 2,638% since December 2018.
• Completed new brand and identity for Kansas City Athletics in June 2019.
• Created Corporate Partnership. Program, increasing revenue 3,850%. Created Founding Partner program and successfully secured multi-year partnerships in health care and energy sector.
• Navigated conference realignment transition from the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) to The Summit League.
• Accomplished $1.5 million North Lobby Renovation Program at Swinney Center.
• Finalized enhancements in Swinney Center included new competition court, new graphics and installation of four new Daktronics videoboards.
• Completed Phase One Durwood Soccer Stadium, installing a $1M state of the new art turf pitch.

May 2020, Chancellor C. Mauli Agrawal selected Dr. Martin as committee chair of UMKC Forward, a campus-wide Covid-19 strategic initiative aimed at re-envisioning UMKC regarding efficiency, growth, innovation and revenue-generation. As chair of the Community Outreach/Auxiliary/Events Committee, Martin assisted in identifying university-wide opportunities for innovation and investment that lead to revenue growth through auxiliary and external services to advance the mission of UMKC.

In September 2020, Dr. Martin was promoted to Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics. In this role, Martin paired his athletics department leadership with strategic initiatives on campus including leading a task force on retention and graduation for underrepresented, first generation, transfer students, and students of color at UMKC. Since arriving at UMKC in December 2018, Dr. Martin has been appointed Executive in Residence in three academic departments on campus: The Henry Block School of Management, School of Education, and Race, Ethnic, and Gender Studies. In each academic role, he assists with the strategic vision, course development, advising students, and recruitment. These roles also include teaching various courses related to higher education administration, sport management, and diversity and social issues in college and professional sports.

On a national level, Martin serves on the NCAA Division I Council and was appointed 3rd Vice President for the D-I AAA Association in 2022. Dr. Martin also serves as Co-Chair for the Black AD Alliance—an organization aimed at promoting the growth, development, and elevation of Black athletics administrators at the Division I level. He is also the Chair of the Summit League Diversity and Inclusion Task Force. In 2022, Martin was recognized by the Sports Business Journal as one of the top Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion leaders in professional and collegiate sport. In that same year, he was also recognized by Ingram’s Magazine Missouri’s Business Magazine as one of the top 50 Missourians to know.

Merna Gill Bio and Session Description

Merna Gill has a Masters Degree in Education. Teaching HS Vocational Home Economics, then, Personal Finance and lastly a program called "Jobs for Americas Graduates". 

She still substitute teaches in Tulsa, Ok where she lives and mentors students all over the globe, thanks to Rotary.

It was her love for students that inspired her to join Rotary to work with Interactors and Rotaractors but it was speaking to Rotary Clubs about her Cuba travels that opened her eyes to Rotary's many missions.

Cuba actually brought Merna to Rotary. She's here today to share how Rotarians are working in Cuba today and the many efforts to re-establish Rotary there.

Merna Gill 480-686-6503

Courtney graduated from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln in 2001 with Bachelor of Arts degree.  She received her law degree from the University of Kansas in 2004.  

Immediately following her graduation from law school Courtney accepted a position with the Missouri State Public Defender System.  She left the public defender system in 2011 to begin serving as an assistant prosecuting attorney with the City of Kansas City.  In January, 2015, Courtney was appointed by the Mayor Sly James and City Council to serve as Kansas City Municipal Court Judge in Division 203, which has primary jurisdiction over all domestic violence cases filed in municipal court.  

As part of her commitment to offender accountability and victim safety she initiated the compliance docket, a specialized supervised probation docket for high-risk domestic violence offenders.  In October, 2017 the U.S. Department of Justice awarded the Kansas City Domestic Violence Docket a mentor court grant.  The grant is used to instruct other courts from around the nation regarding best practices for offender accountability and victim safety.  Kansas City is the first municipal court in the nation to receive this honor.

In June, 2019, the domestic violence compliance docket developed a drug court track.  This specialized, supervised docket addresses high risk domestic violence offenders with substance use disorders.  The docket is designed to permit domestic violence offenders the therapeutic environment needed to recover from their substance use disorder while simultaneously holding them accountable for their battering behavior.  Kansas City operates the second drug court program specifically for domestic violence offenders in the nation.

In October, 2021 the U.S. Department of Justice awarded the Kansas City Municipal Court a $1 million grant for two early intervention domestic violence programs.  The first is a class required as a condition of bond designed to increase domestic violence awareness with first time offenders.  The second is a Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention (RSVP) docket that provides targeted services for young adult intimate partner violence offenders and their intimate partners.  

In September, 2022, Courtney was appointed as presiding judge of the Kansas City Municipal Court.  Under her term as presiding judge the municipal court debuted it first ever evening and weekend dockets.    

Courtney is Past President of the board of directors for Sheffield Place and currently serves on their advisory board.  She is an ex-officio member the board of directors for the Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City.  She is a member of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association.  She is a mentor with the Association for Women Lawyers Foundation Denise Henning Connections Program. 

Hilari Holt is a Kansas City, Missouri born and raised actor, comedic performer, as well as the founder and Executive Director/Producer of Black Comedy Fest KC. She specializes in comedic improv performing, and is an instructor & coach. There are many facets to her interests and skills but performing & creating shows & events are at the top of the list.

I joined Heart to Heart Int’l in 2014 after 30+ years in the pharmaceutical industry. I’d spent over two years as a teenager living in Ethiopia (my parents were missionaries.) Part of that time we lived deep in the bush, far from any type of medical support. I was drawn by the mission of HHI, including supplying medicines and medical support to areas in need, like places I had lived. I also felt my background in pharmaceuticals was a great fit.

 

After a few years leading HHI, including some fairly intense responses (e.g. Ebola in Liberia, Cholera in Haiti, hurricanes in Texas and Puerto Rico) I realized that we were not doing as much for people in our own country as I would have wished. Hence the idea to start a nonprofit Patient Assistance Program, bringing high cost medicines to elderly and low income patients in the U.S. by contracting with pharmaceutical companies who would donate the medicines.

 

The HHI board approved the idea in Dec 2018, and in 2019, I began shifting HHI leadership to our COO, who became the CEO. Meanwhile I started RegaloRx, a nonprofit PAP, which launched late that year. It was designed to compete with for profit PAP’s, earn a profit and turn those profits over to HHI.

 

In retrospect, launching a new business right before the pandemic began was the worst possible timing imaginable. We quickly pivoted to a virtual operation and remained that way even after the pandemic subsided. We also had to borrow money to fund the startup expenses, so the profits we started to earn were all going to debt repayment and servicing. It was going to be several years before we paid off the debt and could start funding HHI. By that time we were helping 40,000+ patients across the U.S., providing them free medicines and shipping them from our contracted mail order pharmacy.

 

In 2022, we were approached by a for profit company to buy our operation. In 2023, with the agreement of the RegaloRx Board, we decided to seek other potential acquirers since the value of the company needed to be verified. An obvious question is “how can you sell a nonprofit”? It can be done by selling the assets inside the entity but of course not the 501c3 itself. (I will describe this in the presentation.)

 

In late 2023, we sold all the assets of our nonprofit operation to a for profit company for $7MM, repaid all our debts and obligations, had approximately $900,000 left over (which belongs to HHI) and the pledge by the new  owner to support HHI for up to 7 more years based on certain milestones. No employee lost their job as a result of the acquisition. I remained another year (as a requirement of the deal) to run the new Regalo. I retired from the company at the end of September 2024.

Ned Seaton is a career journalist and publisher from Kansas. He grew up in Manhattan, went away to college at Harvard, then worked at newspapers in Arizona, California and Florida, as well as the Associated Press's Kansas City bureau, before returning to Manhattan, where he's the fourth generation newsman in this family. 

Karis Harrington is a Kansas City native currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Board Member for Kansas City G.I.F.T., as well as the Executive Director of The Next Paige Talent Agency.

In addition to her leadership roles, she serves on The Soul of Santa Board of Directors and actively contributes to the Board of Directors for More2 and the fundraising committee at The Melting Pot Theater.

With over 20 years of experience in business development, Karis is deeply committed to empowering underserved communities, supporting small businesses, and strengthening the Black economic ecosystem in Kansas City. Her passion for this work has made her a sought-after speaker and a recognized advocate for economic development. She has advised mid-sized businesses, consulted with C-suite executives, and delivered impactful presentations to city and county leaders.

Prior to her current roles, Karis served as the Senior Business Development Officer for the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City.

Karis holds an undergraduate degree from Tennessee State University, a graduate degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), and also pursued law studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law

David Nelson is a coach, teacher, and founder of The Human Agenda.

David’s area of expertise, “appreciative inquiry” helps provide an intentional framework of listening and sharing diverse points of view to help us build on what’s right, (and what we have in common) instead of focusing on what’s wrong (and different) to live a fully human life.  This is especially important today, as we live in times of division, and instability around the world.

David Naster was a theater/psychology major in college. He soon realized he’d rather make fun of people instead of helping them. That’s what lead him to becoming not just a comedian, but an internationally, well-known comedian. Naster was the only American Comedian to open for Celine Dion’s World Love Tour. He has been a headline act for Norwegian Cruise Lines for 29 years, and he has received awards from colleges and TV for his comedic talents.

Yet, underneath all of the laughs, David discovered that humor and laughter could heal the deepest emotional and physical pains. That led him back to his psychology roots, creating You Just Have To Laugh.  This one-of-a kind brand and applicable philosophy inspires, encourages and brings joy to millions of people. By using real examples of real life from real people, David Naster speaks to professional and private organizations worldwide. 

David is an award winning author and filmmaker. His books and films have been implemented at the Stanford Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic and MD Anderson Cancer Institute. 

In his 40th year of making people laugh, David’s passion and purpose is simple “To Help Heal the World, One Laugh at a Time.”

Matt Mayer is the Kansas City Market President for Busey Bank (formerly CrossFirst Bank), a $20B financial institution headquartered in Leawood, Kansas with location in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Florida and New Mexico.  Mr. Mayer joined CrossFirst Bank in August 2019, and was promoted to Market President in January 2023.  Mr. Mayer is responsible for all lines of business, including Commercial & Small Business Banking, Commercial Real Estate Banking, Community Development, Treasury & Payment Solutions, Private Banking and Retail operations.  Mr. Mayer is a graduate of the University of Kansas and resides in Olathe, KS with his wife and two children.

Marquita Taylor, MBA, serves as the CEO of MB Taylor Consulting, LLC, offering expertise in nonprofit fund development, marketing and public relations. She also is the President of the Santa Fe Neighborhood Council, is extremely active in several leadership roles in the community. 

She was appointed to the Jackson County, Missouri Memorial Wall Commission, the City of Kansas City's Neighborhood Tourism and Development Commission (NTDF), and the Kansas City Neighborhood Accountability Board (KCNAC). She also holds board positions with Historic Kansas City, Project Equality, The Community Resource Team (CRT) and The Leroy Satchel Paige Family Home, Inc.

Her past board contributions include the NAACP of Greater Kansas City, Boys Choir and Girls’ Choir of Kansas City, Midwest Association of Fundraising Professionals, and numerous other organizations dedicated to community service and development. Marquita has received various awards and accolades. 

In addition to her consulting firm, Marquita owns Marquita Brockman Taylor, Special Events, providing exceptional event coordination and management services for major fundraising events throughout the community.

Marquita earned her bachelor’s degree in management from the University of Phoenix in Kansas City and a master’s in business administration. She also holds certifications in Conflict Resolution and Mental Health First Aid. In her leisure time, she enjoys staying informed on global affairs and working in the community she loves.

Krishna Lee has an extensive background in athletics as both a decorated competitor and a seasoned coach. She served as the captain of the 2022 U.S. Women’s National Tackle Football Team, leading them to a gold medal victory at the IFAF World Championships in Vantaa, Finland. That same year, she was named Defensive Player of the Year and Team MVP for the Kansas City Glory Women’s Tackle Football team, as well as the Defensive Player of the Year for the Women's National Football Conference (WNFC).

Before excelling in football, Lee was a standout track and field athlete at the University of Missouri, earning three All-American honors, twelve All-Big 12 accolades, and a Big 12 Championship. Her achievements led to her induction into the 2024 class of the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame.

In addition to her playing career, Lee has over 25 years of coaching experience across multiple levels, including NCAA Division I, professional, and para-athlete track & field. She has also coached varsity high school track and basketball, as well as numerous youth recreational sports. Her passion for coaching and leadership extends beyond the field, as she regularly speaks to collegiate and high school athletes about strategies for success both in competition and in life.

She served as the Athletic Director of Kansas City Parks & Recreation for 6 years shaping the landscape of recreational sports in the city. Lee currently serves as the General Manager of the Kansas City Glory, continuing her leadership in professional women’s tackle football.