Kansas City, Mo. mayor Sly James (left) and RareWire’s Kirk Hasenzahl, a member of the Challenge Cabinet, show off the “mayor’s challenge coins” at the Big Kansas City closing party last month.
The first Kansas City, Mo., Mayor’s Challenge Cabinet has been stocked with 30 young professionals from a variety of industries in public and private sectors. Mayor Sly James opened applications for his advisory panel Jan. 30 and recognized the appointees—narrowed from 160 applicants—at his State of the City Address on March 19.
The Cabinet is “tasked with developing innovative, forward-thinking civic policies that reflect the evolving needs of our city,” according to today’s press release. Members will work with the city’s chief innovation officer, the mayor’s staff and entrepreneurial institutions around town, including University of Missouri-Kansas City‘s Proof of Concept Lab and Bloch School of Management, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and Google Fiber. Two startup executives—Jase Wilson of Neighbor.ly and Kirk Hasenzahl of RareWire—will be a part of the effort to transform how the city approaches problems.
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“I’m blown away by the talent sitting on the Challenge Cabinet,” James said in the release. “The breadth of their expertise and experience will have a lasting impact on the daily operations of the City. I’m excited to see the results of their work.”
The Cabinet will meet May 11 and is expected to have a finalized work plan and calendar to the mayor by June.
Members of the Mayor’s Challenge Cabinet:
- Brooke Beason – Digital Consultant
- Leanne Breiby – Director of Communications, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation
- Erika Brice – Self Employed, Real Estate
- Scott Chrostek – Lead Pastor, Resurrection Downtown
- Sarah Darmitzel – Structural Engineer, Burns & McDonnell
- Tom Demetriou – Executive Creative Director at Barkley
- Tim Duggan – Director of Make It Right: Innovations & Owner of Phronesis
- Chris Evans – Owner T-Shirt King, Inc.
- John Gordon, Jr. – Founder, BoysGrow
- Amanda Graor – Air Quality Program Manager, Mid-America Regional Council
- Tami Greenberg – Vice President of Strategy Development, United Way of Greater Kansas City
- Kirk Hasenzahl – CEO and Co-Founder, RareWire
- Nicole D. Higgins – Lecturer, University of Missouri-Kansas City
- Troy Lillebo – Assistant Vice Chancellor for External Relations, UMKC
- Kristin Littrell – Freelance marketing and communications for nonprofits
- David R. Lloyd – Co-owner Method KC Haberdashery, Attorney, Part-Time Professor at UMKC Bloch School of Business
- Marshall Lockton – Management, Lockton Companies
- Gnani Mahalingam – Transportation Engineer, City of Kansas City, MO
- Jared Miller – Engineer, HNTB
- Luke D. Norris – Director, Business Development/Code for America
- Alejandro Ogata – Senior Designer, HNTB Architecture
- Kate O’Neill Rauber – Founder and CEO, Sink Cycle and KORPR
- Jeff Phillips – SVP, Missouri Bank & Trust
- Kyle Rogers – Digital Engagement Strategist, Associated Wholesale Grocers
- Rachel Scott – Public Relations and Marketing Director, SWC
- Shane Spencer – Founder & CEO of Green REIT
- Luke Wade – Interactive Web Developer at VML, Owner/Manager of KC-Crew.com and Co-Creator/President of Social-Heart.com
- Alissa Wehmueller – Interior Designer, 360 Architecture
- Jase Wilson – CEO, Neighbor.ly
- Bill Ye – Digital Services Director/Global Prairie
Credits: Photo by Kenny Johnson Photography
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