Events

Gene Taylor was named the Director of Athletics at K-State in April 2017, and in almost six years under his leadership, the Wildcats have recorded championship performances on the field and in the classroom, in addition to continued fundraising success and immediately improving the facility infrastructure to enhance the experience of all Wildcat student-athletes.
  
Highlighting Taylor’s tenure competitively has been back-to-back Big 12 Outdoor Women’s Track and Field championships, four football bowl appearances, a Big 12 Championship in football and a Big 12 Championship and Elite 8 appearance from the men’s basketball team, while Taylor and staff fundraised and have begun to implement a department-wide facility master plan that will benefit all Wildcat teams.

Taylor’s strategic plan for the department places an emphasis on the student-athlete experience, while his leadership helped navigate the COVID-19 crisis, in addition to enhancing the department’s already-strong diversity and inclusion program, has been well documented.

Serving as Deputy Athletic Director at Iowa from 2014 – 2017 after having a very successful run at North Dakota State and rising through the ranks over 15 years at Navy, Taylor started his career in Athletics at Arizona State and SMU.  

Taylor and his wife Cathy, have one daughter, Casey, and a son, Jared.

I’ll give a brief history of the Crossroads Arts District neighborhood, and its transition from a blighted area of abandoned warehouses and historic buildings to one of the most vibrant and diverse mixed-use neighborhoods in Kansas City.

·       First Fridays

·       Graffiti Cleanup Program

·       Security Patrol Program

CCA’s initiatives to continue to improve the neighborhood

·       Urban Forest Initiative

·       Efforts to create a Community Improvement District (CID)

Robert is a licensed professional engineer in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, and is a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP BD+C). Robert directed the development of LEED Prototypes for several large format retailers. He has extensive LEED documentation experience, and his company has participated in the successful certification of over 465 LEED projects covering more than 41,536,000 square feet in 48 states. Over the past several years Robert assisted clients in achieving EnergyStar Labeling for over 1,140 commercial buildings.

In 2013, Robert was instrumental in relocating his company from Overland Park to the Crossroads Neighborhood in Kansas City, MO. Dialectic, Inc. occupies approximately 20,000 square feet on two floors in the historic Zahner Building at 20^th and Central St. in the Crossroads.

Community Involvement

·       Crossroads Community Association-President (November 2018-Present)

·       Crossroads Community Association-Board Member (November 2014-Present)

·       Lake Lotawana Association – District 37 Director (June 2005-Present)

·       Lake Lotawana Association – Lake Improvement Board (January 2008-December 2018)

William Hayes is the founder of Trades CoWork Space and ReuseHomes LLC, a new thinking development company that is creating safe, stable, and affordable housing in areas of disinvestment.
 
Prior to founding ReuseHomes, William spent 3 ½ years helping to develop the largest Historic Re-Development project in the State of Missouri. East 9 at Pickwick Plaza is a $65 million dollar rehab of an entire city block located in downtown Kansas City and consists of 260 market rate apartments, a 293 car garage and approximately 40,000+ square feet of commercial property. William served as Director of Governmental Relations and ran the Commercial Real Estate division for the project. He was routinely involved in what was the equivalent of daily “value engineering” exercises on how to stay within budget and on deadline with 120+ contractors on the job, as well as attended weekly OAC (owner – architect – contractor) meetings. Pickwick, now fully operational and successful, and has since won many awards.
 
The last ten years have been the core building blocks by developing the skills necessary to successfully build ReuseHomes. The skills learned and earned through marketing and design allow for a keen eye in brand quality, and a high level of marketing and social media knowledge. His work in the development world has imbedded deep knowledge regarding best construction practices, architectural requirements, and managing large crews while juggling multiple time sensitive projects on a daily basis. His time spent within City Hall and at the State Capital has given him extensive knowledge of the political games and traps that are so easy to fall victim to.

Real Estate, Politics, Marketing; these are the three pillars upon which the future will be built. No matter how grand the idea or design, only the most solid foundation will determine not only how high one can go, but how long it will last. The Core principles; Environment – Community – Done Right.

www.tradecoworkspace.com

Introduced by Nancy Shawver

As Kansas City positions itself as a hub for economic investment and top destination to raise a family, KC Common Good is spearheading new initiatives to make our city safer.

Kansas City is at a crisis level for homicide, domestic violence and other violent crime. KC 360 is a comprehensive, community-based approach to reduce violent crime, build stronger community relations, increase access to education and jobs and implement responsible justice reforms. Fifteen years ago in Omaha, Nebraska, a nonprofit called the Empowerment Network was founded to reduce violence through community-based solutions that collectively involve prevention, intervention, enforcement, reentry and reform and support services. Since this time, Omaha has seen a 74 percent reduction in shootings and its homicide rate has fallen to its lowest in 30 years. Modeled after the Empowerment Network, KC Common Good is bringing the success of the 360 model to Kansas City.

Klassie Alcine is CEO of KC Common Good, she brings a wealth of knowledge from her unique background and experience as a political consultant, crisis management expert, non-profit executive, and successful entrepreneur. The mission of KC Common Good is to create an environment where all citizens can live safely and have access to real opportunities. KC Common Good is a collective impact model requiring multiple organizations to work together in reducing violence. This approach has been successful in cities across the nation, spurring lower homicide rates and decreasing gun violence after implementation.

She is a multifaceted public servant dedicated to uniting communities, joyful leadership, and conscious action for Greater Kansas City. Before joining KC Common Good, she was the director of corporate and community partnerships at Central Exchange, where she managed community relationships, expanded corporate partnerships, and supported marketing strategies to empower Kansas City leaders. She holds a master’s in public administration with an emphasis in urban administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Henry W. Bloch School of Management, a bachelor of arts in Political Science and Criminal Justice from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Klassie is an entrepreneurship scholar from the Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and has a professional certificate in non-profit fundraising from the Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership. She is certified in the Science of Wellbeing from Yale University, gender equity, and conflict management.

School: University of Missouri

College Major: Bachelor of Science in Education

Scholarship Winnings: $16,000

Scholastic Honors: Graduate from the University of Missouri in May 2022
Graduated Magna Cum Laude
Recipient of the Tri Delta Foundation: Live, Learn, Lead Scholarship
Recipient of the Greek Week Pillars Scholarship
Recipient of the St. Louis Panhellenic Association Undergraduate Scholarship
Recipient of the Marjorie E. Chapman “Everybody Matters” Memorial Scholarship
Clare Marie was recognized by the Missouri House of Representatives for her commitment to education as witnessed by receiving the Glory of Missouri Award for the Virtue of Education.

Career Ambition: Educational leader

Talent: Dance

Social Impact Initiative: Clare Marie’s mission is to help children with cancer continue to experience the joy of childhood while they are undergoing treatment. She actively supports fundraising efforts and innovative research for childhood cancer while partnering with organizations across the state and nation who serve those, and their loved ones, affected by pediatric cancer.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received? My grandma, Mimi, always reminded me to be as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside. These words have become the mantra in which I strive to live my life. Mimi was a very influential person in my life. She had a heart of gold and made everyone around her feel special. In my daily actions, I always make sure my intention is right in honor of Mimi.

Save the Date

Truman Library, Independence, MO

Inntroduced by Dave Robinett

Bethany Ruhl, our Club Service Chair, is announcing that there will be a Spring Walk-about at Bo Steed's acreage in Daviess County.  AKA the Farm. There are miles of walkable trails on the 140 acres, about 80 acres in woods and the rest is sort-of-open grassland.  Bo guarantees there will be wild asparagus to pick and morels, for those who are sharp-eyed.  The date is Saturday May 6 from before lunch until you decide to wrap it up.  The farmer says he will be there all day.  The address is 15230 Titan Ave., Winston MO  64689.  It is north up I-35 and about 75 minutes from the Plaza.  Details on food and games etc. to follow.  Rotarians, family and friends are all welcome.

Save the date!