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Kansas City Business Journal
Conference hopes to put KC on the global fintech map
An executive at Overland Park-based TreviPay has a new obsession: creating a new business-to-business payment conference hosted in the Kansas City area. <\p> Chief Marketing Officer Allen Bonde is leading the effort to launch the inaugural TreviPay Crossroads, a conference designed to draw banking, finance, sales and digital development people from around the globe interested in learning more about the latest in business-to-business fintech payment systems. The three-day event will be Oct. 2-4 at Loews Kansas City Hotel. Keynote speakers include Nick Utton, former CMO of E-Trade, Mastercard and JPMorgan Chase; and Loie Maxwell, former creative director for Amazon, Starbucks, CVS Pharmacy and Target. The conference will include breakout sessions and networking events. <\p>
Lawsuit: Credit union fired exec for reporting cannabis business
A former Kansas City Credit Union executive claims in a federal lawsuit that she was fired for accusing the CEO of illegally providing banking services to marijuana businesses.<\p> Sarah Calhoun, a 14-year industry veteran, worked at Kansas City Credit Union (KCCU) for seven years. Calhoun started as a loan officer in 2014 and was promoted to branch operations manager in 2016. In April 2018, she became interim CEO until the organization hired Nakia "Nick" Richmond in October 2018. Calhoun became vice president of operations at that point. <\p>
Giant company buys Cheez-It maker with KC-area facility
Mars Inc. is growing its food empire even more, with a big footprint in the metro area.<\p> The family-owned conglomerate in McLean, Virginia, has agreed to buy Kellanova Co., which makes Pringles, Cheez-It crackers and Eggo waffles, in a deal valued at nearly $36 billion, the companies announced Wednesday morning.<\p>
Apartment renters seeing price relief as landlords sweeten deals
Rental rates on some apartment types slipped in July compared to the same time a year prior, the first time that's occurred since June 2020 — the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.<\p> Median asking rents for studios and one-bedroom apartments fell 0.1%, two-bedroom apartments fell 0.3% and units with three or more bedrooms fell 2.4% between July 2023 and July 2024, according to Redfin Corp. (Nasdaq: RDFN). <\p>
BarkleyOKRP chief says ad agency wants to be a 'big indie'
Even after 30 years, BarkleyOKRP CEO Jeff King thrives from leading the agency through various evolutions, a necessity for the ever-changing marketing and advertising agency. <\p> He has led the Kansas City-based agency, founded in 1964, through a series of milestones, from adopting a private equity investor last year to a large merger that led a rebranding to an acquisition that extended its reach into Austin. <\p>
Law firm adds space to double Lenexa attorneys
Looking to double the number of attorneys it has in the Kansas City area, Wichita-based Hinkle Law Firm plans to expand its Lenexa City Center office. <\p> Hinkle Law Firm had four attorneys in April 2020 when it moved into the office at 8711 Primrose Lane and has grown to eight. Now, it’s going to add enough space to build eight more offices and an internal meeting room. The firm will occupy about two-thirds on the building's third floor.<\p>
KCSourceLink picks known leader as its director
KCSourceLink has tapped a 2024 NextGen Leader as its next director and network builder.<\p> Becca Castro most recently was strategic initiatives manager at the Economic Development Corp. of Kansas City, where she spearheaded the redesign of LaunchKC, transforming the grants competition into a yearlong program with mentors and education to better support entrepreneurs. <\p>
Local pet insurance company fetches $20M in funding
Leawood-based Companion Protect has closed a sizable financing round from existing Series A investors.<\p> The company, which wants to make pet insurance mainstream, received $20.5 million in an extension round. Last year, its Series A round raised $27 million from investors such as Avanta Ventures, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Old Republic International Corp. and Stray Dog Enterprises.<\p>
State wants 200-bed psychiatric hospital in Northeast
Missouri looks to build a $300 million psychiatric hospital on an island-like site that Kansas City leaders and urbanists previously sought to reconnect to its surroundings with a community-centric project.<\p> The state is advancing a 303,614-square-foot hospital with at least 200 beds on more than 15 acres northwest of Independence Avenue and The Paseo. The site includes land where the Chouteau Courts housing project was torn down and that housed Belvidere Park, which voters in 2019 agreed to remove from the city's park system. Lawmakers approved $300 million for the project in 2023, and officials since have discussed potential local sites.<\p>
KC-area hospital will add clinical trial research center
A metro-area Prime Healthcare hospital will play a part in bolstering nationwide access to clinical trials.<\p> EmVenio Research's new center will go inside Providence Medical Center, 8929 Parallel Parkway in Kansas City, Kansas. The center, which is being renovated, is expected to open in mid-September, EmVenio spokesperson Carolyn Wait said via email. <\p>
OP could get another hotel before the World Cup
The Kansas City region could add a hotel to the growing list of development projects targeting completion ahead of the World Cup. <\p> HCW Development plans to build a four-story, 100,000-square-foot AC Hotel by Marriott at the southwest corner of 115th Street and Nall Avenue on the Aspiria campus in Overland Park. <\p>
These local companies make this year's Inc. 5000
Although fewer Kansas City-area companies made the Inc. 5000 ranking than in previous years, the region still had a good showing among America's fastest-growing businesses. <\p> Forty-three companies made the ranking this year, a decrease from 53 in 2023. Thirty-eight are repeat honorees, and two are newly founded. <\p>
Huge KC banquet facility names new chef
The Overland Park Convention Center tapped David Ruiz to be the venue’s executive chef. <\p> Ruiz, a James Beard Foundation competition winner, brings deep experience and what the convention center called a fresh, innovative approach to dining there. He previously worked in Aspen, Colorado; San Jose, California; and Albuquerque, among other cities. <\p>
Why Morgan Stanley sees KC as a top growth market
Kansas City has emerged as one of the strongest growth markets for Morgan Stanley, where it's seen a 59% growth in assets over the past five years. <\p> Morgan Stanley’s local operation employs about 100 people, who are led by market manager Doug Adams, a 23-year employee. It has two area offices, one at 11161 Overbrook Road in Leawood, and the other at 4520 Main St. on the Country Club Plaza. <\p>
KC lands on list of top cities for starting a business
Starting an entrepreneurial journey is tough for anyone, but a new USA Today report shows that Kansas City residents may have an advantage. <\p> Kansas City recently was listed as No. 16 on USA Today Blueprint's list of the best cities to start a new business. It was the only Missouri or Kansas city in the top 20. <\p>
Creative Planning seeks buyer for minority stake
Overland Park's Creative Planning is seeking an investor to acquire a stake from minority owner General Atlantic Service Company LP. <\p> Creative Planning CEO Peter Mallouk confirmed the action was underway but did not share any monetary values. <\p>
Zona Rosa's newest addition is savory and sweet
Zona Rosa is adding a tenant known for its colorful mochi doughnuts in flavors such as pistachio, matcha and mango.<\p> Mochinut plans an October opening at 8610 NW Prairie View Road in Kansas City near Anejo Modern Mexican Cuisine. The store will be the Kansas City metro’s second area location. The other is in Overland Park.<\p>
Transit officials want fresh look at NKC streetcar route
North Kansas City is again considering a streetcar extension, on the heels of an active decade in development and with 100 acres of land assembled for future projects.<\p> The Kansas City Streetcar Authority and Missouri Department of Transportation want to advance conceptual design and environmental review for a streetcar extension over the Missouri River to North Kansas City. <\p>
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