Events

Mr. Quatman is a licensed architect and attorney, who received two degrees in architecture from the University of Kansas and obtained his J.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Bill is a member of both the AIA and DBIA Colleges of Fellows and he is a fellow of the Construction Lawyers Society of America (CLSA). He has been named one of The Best Lawyers in America and he is annually rated a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent lawyer.

Bill was in private practice for 24 years, focusing on design and construction claims. From 2008 to 2021, Bill was Senior Vice President and General Counsel to Burns & McDonnell Engineering Co., Inc., one of the nation’s largest design and construction firms. Bill now serves as an arbitrator and mediator with Quatman ADR, LLC in Kansas City, Missouri and is on the board of the Skywalk Memorial Foundation.

Attendees will learn:

The reason the skywalks fell and design decisions that led to a critical change.

What happened to the two engineers involved and how this event changed building codes nationwide.

VanTrust: Then and Now

VanTrust Real Estate was founded in 2010 in Kansas City, Missouri.  From the beginning, VanTrust focused on understanding the unique needs of its clients and the communities where it operates. This client-centric approach helped VanTrust build a strong reputation for delivering tailored real estate solutions. By leveraging its expertise and commitment to excellence, the company quickly expanded its footprint across the United States, establishing itself as a significant player in the real estate development industry and is proud to be named the 2023 NAIOP Developer of the Year.

Rich Muller Bio

Executive Vice President, Science + Technology Rich Muller is a seasoned real estate executive and a founding member of VanTrust Real Estate. With a strong background in architecture, design, construction, and real estate, Rich brings a comprehensive perspective to his role. He currently leads VanTrust's newly formed national Science + Technology division, identifying and developing opportunities across the life sciences, R&D, and technology sectors.

Prior to this, Rich served as the Executive Vice President of VanTrust's Kansas City market, overseeing a robust development portfolio. His extensive experience includes the successful delivery of numerous commercial real estate projects, totaling over $1 billion in value.

A dedicated community member, Rich serves on the Johnson County Community College Foundation Board and is actively involved in various civic initiatives.

Hillary Singer Description and Bio

Navigating Current Trends in Refugee Resettlement and Immigration policy

Please join us for an insightful session with Hilary Singer, a specialist in refugee resettlement and immigration policy. With a deep understanding of the evolving landscape, Hilary will explore the latest trends, challenges and opportunities in this field. This presentation will provide a comprehensive overview of current policies, their impact on our communities, thus the future directions for effective advocacy and support. Do not miss the opportunity to gain valuable perspectives and enhance your knowledge on these critical issues.

BIO - Hilary Cohen Singer began her career in nonprofit leadership in New York City supporting education, coalition-building and advocacy efforts across religious and ethnic communities. Since returning to her native Kansas City almost 14 years ago, she has served as Executive Director at Jewish Vocational Service, working to make Kansas City a more welcoming place for refugees and immigrants, and providing holistic services to our newest neighbors to help them succeed. She continues to work to build bridges across diverse communities as a member of the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom Muslim-Jewish women’s dialogue group and the University Health Ethics Committee.

Zoom host Karyn Eppler

• A sign-up sheet will be circulated at club meetings until September 20
• Contact Denise Holt before September 20 at: dholt@linccc.com 

Kevin Honomichl was inducted into the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering Hall of Fame at Kansas State University in March of 2024.

Grandparents for Gun Safety's 11th annual forum is at 6 pm Monday Oct. 14 at Arrupe Auditorium on the Rockhurst University campus, 5401 Troost. The event features:

• Fred Guttenberg, gun safety advocate, father of a Parkland, FL, high schooler killed in school shooting,. He will be joined by two community gun safety advocates: 
• Jason Kander, former MO Secretary of State, head of Veterans Community Project, 
• Kyle Hollins, Lyrik Institute, a KCMO non-profit working with at-risk youth

Two tickets are $150. 

Details: https://grandparentsforgunsafety.org/11th-annual-community-forum/#!event-register/2024/10/14/11th-annual-community-forum

Zoom host Karyn Eppler

Ryan Sorrell

Ryan has a diverse background including working at one of the nation's most esteemed Black think tanks, one of Chicago's top Tech PR agencies, a top 3 global PR firm, and founded one of Kansas City's largest Black-led Abolitionist direct action groups during the 2020 uprisings. He was a key organizer in the October 2021, 21 day occupation on the grounds of Kansas City's City Hall following the horrific brutalization of a 9-month pregnant Black woman by a KCPD officer, and formerly, he was temporarily suspended from his college at Loyola University of Chicago for organizing the largest social justice demonstration in university history, before being pardoned by the President in the university's first ever pardon resulting from national outcry about the situation.

During Ryan's professional career he's consulted brands such as Facebook, Samsung, Amazon and Google. He is a recipient of the Civil and Human Rights Award recognized by the Urban League of Kansas City, Innovator of the Year by the Local Media Association, and Emerging Leader of the Year from the Institute for Nonprofit News. He has engaged in a number of public talks as a prison industrial complex Abolitionist thinker including on; DemocracyNow, NPR, PBS, a Kansas City Art Institute Lecture, a lecture at University of the Arts London, as well as the Annual International Symposium.

Most recently he founded the nation's fastest growing Black nonprofit digital news startup and community organization, The Kansas City Defender. Under Ryan's leadership the Black-led organization has broken over 20 national news stories, reaching over 50 million people and growing a social media following of over 85,000 across platforms since its launch in 2021.

Jennifer Sweeton

Bio and Description

Description: More than 50% of us will experience at least one traumatic event in our lives, and we know from brain science that even one trauma can alter brain activity. However, these changes don't have to be permanent, and with a little bit of knowledge and know-how, we can all begin to take steps to change our brain in the direction of health, maximizing attention, emotion regulation, problem-solving, and tackling unwanted thoughts. This presentation will present attendees with some fast, evidence-based techniques for brain recovery after trauma!

Bio: Originally trained as a neuroscientist, Dr. Jennifer Sweeton is a clinical and forensic psychologist, Amazon #1 best-selling author in clinical psychology, and internationally-recognized expert on trauma recovery and the neuroscience of mental health. She is the author of the Trauma Treatment Toolbox (PESI Publishing), Train Your Brain Card Deck (PESI Publishing and Media), Eight Key Brain Areas of Mental Health and Illness (W. W. Norton & Company), and the Traumatic Stress Recovery Workbook (New Harbinger Publications, Inc). She has a private practice on the Country Club Plaza.

Heath Rath

Executive Director, PACE KC

Heath Rath has spent his professional career working to build and expand evidence-based programs that improve the lives of older adults. Over the last six years, he has focused his efforts on the development of programs that aim to allow older adults to age gracefully in the communities they call home, specifically PACE Programs. PACE – Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly – is a model of care that provides a full range of person-centered health and wellness services that empower individuals age 55+ to age in place rather than be institutionalized. PACE KC is a newly formed non-profit, championed by Swope Health, to bring the PACE model of care to the residents of Kansas City for the first time.

Heath worked with Swope Health to successfully lobby members of the Missouri Senate and House of Representatives as well as the Missouri Department of Social Services, MO Health Net Division, to support and appropriate PACE funding.

Prior to his work with Swope Health, Heath served as Director of Midland Care Connection’s Ann Street PACE Center in Kansas City, Kansas. During his time at Midland, he oversaw the development and successful launch of Midland’s third Center and the first PACE Program in the Kansas City metro area.

Heath earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and secondary major in Gerontology from Kansas State University. He went on to complete a Master of Science in Gerontology with an emphasis in long-term care administration. While earning his M.S. at Kansas State he worked in the College of Health and Human Sciences Center on Aging as a project specialist for the PEAK 2.0 program. Heath is a licensed long-term care administrator in the state of Kansas.

Zoom host Karyn Eppler

Nominations for the 2024 RISE Business Awards Are Open

Kansas City Plaza Rotarians are asked to nominate businesses for the 2024 RISE Business Awards.  The awards recognize minority—and women-owned businesses in the KC Metro area whose owners adhere to the principles of the Four Way Test in operating the businesses.

Nominations are free and easy, and business owners may nominate their own businesses.  Nominees complete the entry form, and independent judges review entries to select the top three businesses.  Kansas City Plaza Rotary Club members vote on the winner.  The winner receives a free one-year membership in Plaza Rotary and a custom promotional video.  Nominations are due July 31, 2024.

Save the Date – for the second annual awards ceremony, 6 p.m. Thursday, November 21, at The American Jazz Museum.

RISE stands for Rotary Investing and Supporting Equity.

Zoom Host Karyn Eppler

Zoom Host Karyn Eppler