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WE MOVE NOW TO BIG IDEA NO.
3, GROWING KANSAS CITY MEDICAL RESEARCH FROM DISCOVERY TO CURE. IF YOU THINK ABOUT
TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE, IT'S BENCH TO BEDSIDE. TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH,
TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE, WHAT IT DOES IT HELP US FIGURE OUT WHAT WORKS.
THAT'S THE FOCUS OF OUR INITIATIVE ALONG WITH EDUCATION, LIFE SCIENCES, IS THE KEY TO OUR
FUTURE IN KANSAS CITY. PETER, THE LAST BOOK HE WROTE BEFORE HE DIED, SAID BY 2020
EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE WILL BE 40% OF OUR GDP. WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO GET THERE
RIGHT NOW. WE WANT KANSAS CITY TO ABSOLUTELY BE AT THE FOREFRONT.
I AM HERE TO FORMALLY AWARD THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS CITY -- UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS CANCER
CENTER WITH THE PRESTIGIOUS DESIGNATION AS A NATIONAL INSTITUTE CANCER CENTER.
IT MEANS THAT MANY CSIANS -- KANSANS AND THEIR
FAMILIES WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO SEEK CURES ALL
THE WAY DOWN TO TEXAS OR MINNESOTA. THE BETTER SURVIVAL RATES ARE
SEEN AT DESIGNATED CANCER CENTERS. IT MEANS PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO
LEAVE THE REGION. WE KNOW COMPANIES WILL COME HERE TO TEST THEIR PRODUCTS.
THEY CAN BUILD THE WHOLE SERVICE CENTER OPERATION,
AND KU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
OF ADDITIONAL GRANTS. IN TERMS OF PATIENT CARE, IN TERMS OF THE BENEFIT TO THE
REGION, IN TERMS OF THE REPUTATION OF THE HOSPITAL AND THE UNIVERSITY AND SO ON, THIS
IS GOOD NEWS. ONE OF THE BIG GOALS, OF COURSE, OF THIS EFFORT, WAS TO
SEE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE DESIGNATION FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER, AND
YOU COULD SAY KNOW MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, RIGHT? DONE, DONE, AND A LOT MORE TO
COME. JOINING US NOW IS THE CHAMPION OF THE CHAMBER'S
MEDICAL RESEARCH INITIATIVE, PATRICK JAMES, SITTING AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF QUEST
DIAGNOSTICS IN THE REGION AND THE CHAIR OF THE KANSAS CITY LIFE SCIENCE INSTITUTE,
DR. JAMES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. SO MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, DONE,
BUT LOTS MORE TO COME. ONE PART OF THE MISSION, RIGHT?
ONE PART OF THE MISSION, AND THAT WAS A HUGE PART OF IT. YES.
SO WHAT'S LEFT TO BE DONE ON THIS PART OF THE BIG 5 EFFORT, DR. JAMES?
NICK, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT, FIRST OF ALL,
LIFE SCIENCES IN THIS REGION HAS BEEN ONGOING IN
A BIG WAY, REALLY SINCE THE LATE 90s, WHEN THE STOWERS FAMILY CREATED THEIR INSTITUTE.
IT MADE US REALIZE WE COULD GET WORLD CLASS PEOPLE HERE IN KANSAS CITY TO DO WORLD CLASS
SCIENCE. THAT CHANGED THE GAME. THAT ELEVATED EVERYONE'S BOAT.
IN EARLY DECEMBER, THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION HELPED CONVENE A LIFE SCIENCES FORUM.
WE'RE DOING A COLLABORATIVE WITH ST. LOUIS, OMAHA
AND DES MOINES, SO WE CONVENED THEIR SCIENCE
LEADERS, SOME VERY IMPRESSIVE SCIENCE LEADERS, BUT THE WAY. AND WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT WHAT
WE'RE DOING. WHEN WE FINISHED THE KANSAS CITY CHAPTER, JAWS WERE DROPPING.
SO IN ST. LOUIS, OMAHA, DES MOINES, OTHER CITIES, SOMETIMES I THINK WE DON'T REALIZE WHAT WE
HAVE HERE IN KANSAS CITY AND WHAT WE'VE DONE. SO WHAT'S NEXT?
WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ALSO HAPPENED IN THE SUMMER OF 2011 IN ADDITION TO THIS BIG 5
ANNOUNCEMENT FOR MAKING RESEARCH OUR CRITICAL FOCUS FOR KANSAS CITY, WE WERE AWARDED ANOTHER
NIH GRANT. IT HADN'T GOT QUITE THE PUBLICITY OF THE NIH CANCER
DESIGNATION, BUT IT'S CALLED A CTSA GRANT, CLINICAL TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE AWARD,
RELATIVELY SMALL, 20 MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE NIH, BUT WHAT THAT HAS DONE IS CATALYZED
COLLABORATION REALLY LIKE NOTHING ELSE. SO NOW WE HAVE 28 ORGANIZATIONS,
ALL THE ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTERS, MANY OF OUR HOSPITALS. A LOT OF SAFETY NET
ORGANIZATIONS COLLABORATING IN THIS EVENT. AND THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR
SECRET SAUCE IN KANSAS CITY. WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A MAYO CLINIC OR JOHN'S HOPKINS
OVERNIGHT, BUT WITH THIS COLLABORATION, WE'RE GOING TO DO FABULOUS THINGS AND MAKE THE
NEXT DECADE BETTER THAN THE LAST. NOW, ONE OF THE OTHER GOALS
OF THIS SECTION OF THE BIG 5 WAS ALSO TO CREATE A REGIONAL TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH
INSTITUTE, A SEPARATE BRICK AND MORTAR INSTITUTION IN OUR METROPOLITAN AREA.
WHY WOULD WE NEED THAT? NICK, AS WE BROUGHT OTHERS INTO OUR ENVIRONMENT, THE KANSAS
CITY AREA LIFE SCIENCES INSTITUTE, CALL STATE, HAS A SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THESE ARE WORLD RENOWNED SCIENTISTS. THEY COME TO US EVERY YEAR, TAKE
A LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING, REVIEW PROGRESS FROM THE PRIOR YEAR, AND THEY REALLY HELP US
POINT OUT OPPORTUNITES GOING FORWARD. GOING BACK ABOUT 4 YEARS,
THEY'VE BEEN SAYING CONSISTENTLY, GEE, YOU'VE GOT STOWERS, FABULOUS BASIC SCIENCE
RESEARCH INSTITUTION. YOUR ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTERS, THE SAINT LUKE'S, AND THE KU
MED, CHILDREN'S, ARE DOING FABULOUS THINGS. THEY'RE GETTING BETTER, BUT
THERE'S A PIECE IN THE TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH SIDE, AND ALL TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE REALLY
MEANS IS ACCELERATING CURES. SO TAKING THAT BASIC SCIENCE AND GETTING IT TO THE BEDSIDE MORE
QUICKLY, THEY TELL US, IF WE HAVE AN INSTITUTE THAT WOULD REALLY FOCUS ON THAT ACTIVITY
AND WORK CLOSELY WITH THE OTHER BUILDING BLOCKS WE HAVE IN PLACE, THAT WOULD REALLY ELEVATE
KANSAS CITY TO ANOTHER PLAIN OF ACTIVITY IN LIFE SCIENCES. IS THAT ONE OF THE BIG PUSHES
NOW? THAT'S SOMETHING WE ARE FOCUSING ON.
THAT'S KIND OF THE THE WHAT, HOW WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN. WE'RE LOOKING AT A LOT OF
DIFFERENT OPTIONS, BUT THAT'S PART OF OUR VISION, YES. YAEL ABOUHALKAH WRITING IN
THE KANSAS CITY STAR IN JANUARY TALKED ABOUT THE
POTENTIAL FOR A RESEARCH TAX THAT PEOPLE WOULD
BE VOTING ON. WOULD IT BE FOR THIS PARTICULAR INSTITUTE?
YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE THE THOUGHT AGAIN --
J CERT HAS BEEN SUCH A GREAT DEVELOPMENT ON THE
KANSAS SIDE. AN INITIATIVE LIKE THAT ON THE MISSOURI SIDE WE THING WOULD
REALLY BE A FUNDAMENTAL STEPPING STONE TO THIS KIND OF INSTITUTION.
WOULD THAT BE A REGIONAL TAX? YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE SPECIFICS ARE YET TO BE REALLY
WORKED OUT, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT VENUES, BUT NOTHING IS CERTAIN YET.
HOW ABOUT OUR THINK-TANK OF EXPERTS HERE WITH REGARDS TO THIS?
IT IS A TOUGH SELL FOR PEOPLE, BECAUSE THIS IS AN AREA, I THINK ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND LIFE
SCIENCE RESEARCH ARE TWO OF THOSE BUZZWORD AREAS THAT WERE THE MOST PROBLEMATIC WHEN WE
STARTED THE BIG 5 EFFORT, THE TWO AREAS MOST PEOPLE REALLY HAVE A HARD TIME IN THE GENERAL
PUBLIC GETTING THEIR ARMS AROUND. AND SO WE TRY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT
THESE THINGS ACTUALLY ARE, AND MOST MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC REALLY DON'T HAVE A FULL
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THIS IS, AND SO THE ECONOMIC POTENTIAL AND THE HEALTH POTENTIAL OF A
LOT OF THIS GETS LOST. THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT WE COULD DO AS A COMMUNITY THAT
WILL CREATE MORE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND HIGH QUALITY JOBS THAN BY CREATING KANSAS CITY, MAKING
KANSAS CITY A GREAT CENTER OF LIFE SCIENCES. BUT DR. JAMES, YOU CAN LOOK
UP NEWSPAPER STORIES FROM SO MANY BIG CITIES ACROSS AMERICA, AND THEY ALL ARE TRYING TO ALSO
BE THIS LIFE SCIENCE MECCA. THEY ALL FANCY THEMSELVES THAT WAY, AS WELL.
HOW HAS KANSAS CITY GOT A LEG UP ON THOSE OTHER CITIES? YOU KNOW, NICK, ABOUT A MONTH
AGO, I WAS SITTING IN THE OFFICE OF THE VICE CHANCELLOR FOR RESEARCH AT WASHINGTON
UNIVERSITY. SO WORLD CLASS RESEARCH INSTITUTION.
HE HAD JUST GOTTEN BACK FROM ST. LOUIS AT A FORUM
HERE IN EARLY DECEMBER, AND HE SAID, I MARVEL
AT WHAT KANSAS CITY HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
HE SAID YOUR COMMUNITY CAN FOCUS, CAN GET PEOPLE BEHIND A FEW BIG IDEAS AND REALLY GET
THINGS DONE. AS HE SAID, IF YOU DRIVE AROUND THIS COMMUNITY AND LOOK FOR THE
CRANES, EVEN IF YOU GO BACK TO 2008, 2009, THE
RECESSION, WHERE WERE MOST OF THE BUILDING CRANES
GOING ON IN THE AREA? HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, RESEARCH HOSPITALS.
AND THE YOUNG ONES WITH US TODAY, IF YOU TAKE AN AFTERNOON SOMETIME AND PARK YOURSELF IN A
LOBBY OF A PRESEARCH UNIVERSITY OR ONE OF OUR
MAJOR ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTERS, COME TO MY SHOP
AT QUEST, AND YOU'LL SEE HIGHLY EDUCATED PEOPLE THERE. YOU'LL SEE GREAT JOBS, AND IT'S
NOT JUST IN SCIENCE AND MEDICINE. IT'S IN COMPUTING.
IT'S IN ENGINEERING. IT'S A WHOLE -- SO THE KIND OF JOBS WE'RE CREATING ARE
TERRIFIC. IT'S GOING TO DRIVE THE ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR THIS COMMUNITY, I
BELIEVE, BUT GET OUT AND SEE IT. I'D LIKE TO ASK, FOR EVERY HIGH DOLLAR PROFESSOR OR
DISCOVERER WE HIRE INTO ONE OF THESE GROUPS, HOW MANY OTHER JOBS ARE CREATED.
YOU KNOW, GREG, THE KBA HAS PROBABLY DONE THE BEST JOB OF CONSISTENTLY TRACKING THAT, SO
THEY PUT UP ABOUT $120 MILLION INTO STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS. THAT'S CREATED OVER A BILLION
DOLLARS OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. SO 8 TO 1. I'M ACTUALLY GETTING TIRED,
GREG. WHY DON'T YOU STAND HERE FOR A MOMENT.
THAT'S ALL RIGHT. DR. JAMES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR UPDATING US ON THIS
ITEM ON THE BIG 5. WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
AND PACKING THIS AREA OF THE BIG 5. WE MOVE ON TO BIG IDEA NO. 4.
KANSAS CITY WILL HOLD A WORLD SYMPOSIUM ON ANIMAL HEALTH. WE HAVE THE LARGEST
CONCENTRATION OF ANIMAL HEALTH INTEREST, PUBLIC-PRIVATE COMMERCIAL RESEARCH IN THE WORLD
BETWEEN HAN HAT -- MANHATTAN AND CLUB -- COLUMBIA AND ST. JOE AS THE HUB.
IT IS TIME TO GET IT RIGHT AND MAKE THIS A BIG 5. WE OWN THE CATEGORY AS THE
WORLD'S LEADER IN THE ANIMAL HEALTH MARKET AND THE BRAND AS THE ANIMAL HEALTH CORRIDOR.
RARELY DO YOU FIND THAT OPPORTUNITY IN A COMMUNITY, LET ALONE MOBILELY.
YOU HEADED SPRINT, AND THEN HEADING THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.
HOW DID YOU GET ROPED INTO THIS CHAMPIONING OF ANIMAL HEALTH? IT WAS ONE OF THE
COMBINATIONS OF RAISING MY HAND AND AT THE SAME TIME THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE
COMMUNITY ON SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT. SO IT WAS -- I WAS ASKED, BUT I
ALSO VOLUNTEERED, SO A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. IT IS THE PLACE FOR ANIMAL
HEALTH, KC'S ANIMAL HEALTH CORRIDOR, WELCOMING THE BEST OF THE BEST, MAJOR COMPANIES,
UNIVERSITIES, AND A LARGE LIST OF TALENTED SERVICE PROVIDERS AND SUPPLIERS.
ONE-THIRD OF THE GLOBAL ANIMAL HEALTH INDUSTRY. MORE THAN 13,000 PEOPLE
EMPLOYED, OVER 220 COMPANIES AND GROWING, INCLUDING 70 GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS.
THE LARGEST SINGLE CONCENTRATION OF ANIMAL HEALTH INTERESTS IN THE WORLD.
KANSAS CITY ANIMAL HEALTH CORRIDOR. JOINING US NOW TO UPDATE US
ON THIS BIG 5 IDEA IS BOB MARCUS, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE KANSAS CITY AREA DEVELOPMENT
COUNCIL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US, MR. MARCUS.
THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST NARROWLY DEFINED OF ALL OF THE BIG 5 IDEAS, HOLDING THIS WORLD
SYMPOSIUM ON ANIMAL HEALTH. HAS THE DATE BEEN SET, FIRST OF ALL?
OUR TARGET DATE IS MID 2014. IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE FOR BIG 5,
EVERY ONE OF THESE WITH THIS EXCEPTION CAN BE PRETTY WELL CONTROLLED BY WHAT HAPPENS
WITHIN KANSAS CITY. IT IS UP TO KANSAS CITIANS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
THIS INITIATIVE IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO INVITE THE WORLD TO COME TO
KANSAS CITY, AND THE WORLD HAS TO SAY, THERE IS SUFFICIENT REASON FOR US TO DO SO.
THAT'S A BIG CHALLENGE, AND SO WITH A WE ARE DOING NOW IS VERY THOUGHTFULLY AND CAREFULLY
WORKING THROUGH THAT CHALLENGE. WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO IS THROW A PARTY AND HAVE NOBODY
COME. SO THE PARTY HAS GOT TO BE THE RIGHT PARTY.
WE'VE ASKED OUTSIDE THIRD PARTY CONSULTANTS WHO
ARE EXPERTS IN THE BUSINESS OF BUILDING WORLD
CLASS SIM -- SIM SYMPOSIUM TO HP US BY GOING OUT
TO THE ANIMAL COMMUNITY AROUND THE WORLD AND
ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS, WHAT TOPICS ARE YOU INTERESTED IN? WHEN WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET?
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK ABOUT? WOULD YOU COME TO KANSAS CITY?
WHAT ARE THE PRICE POINTS THAT MAKE THIS MAKE SENSE FOR YOU?
WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF
THAT RIGHT NOW, NICK. WE'RE OPTIMISTIC, BUT LIKE MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES AT THE TABLE
HERE, WE'RE NOT QUITE READY TO UNVEIL OUR FINAL THOUGHTS AND PLANS.
NOW, KANSAS CITY ALREADY HOSTS QUITE A LARGE ANIMAL HEALTH CONVENTIONS CURRENTLY.
SOME OF THOSE HAVE INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS WHO COME INTO TOWN TO DO THAT.
HOW WOULD THE SCALE OF THIS BE DIFFERENT? YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
LAST AUGUST, WE HOSTED THE EIGHTH HOMECOMING EVENT, AS WE CALL.
IT WE HAD 800 ATTENDEES IN THE AUDIENCE. WE HAD 187 COMPANIES, ANIMAL
HEALTH COMPANIES REPRESENTED IN THAT PARTICULAR
ROOM, AND THIS EVENT HAS JUST GOTTEN BIGGER AND
BIGGER. THE NEXT DAY, WE HOSTED THE FOURTH INVESTMENT FORUM.
FOR FOUR YEARS IN A ROW NOW, WE HAVE INVITED
SMALL EMERGING ENTS PRACTICE NEURAL COMPANIES --
ENTREPRENEURIAL COMPANIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO COME TO KANSAS CITY AND PITCH THEIR
COMPANY IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE OF VENTURE CAPITALISTS OR INVESTORS FROM THE MAJOR
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES. AND IN THAT FOUR-YEAR PERIOD OF TIME, WE'VE HELPED TO RAISE OVER
$60 MILLION THAT HAS GONE IN, AND IT HAS BEEN INVESTED IN THESEENT PROSECUTE -- PRESENT --
ENTREPRENEURIAL FIRMS. WHAT WE HOPE TO DO IS TAKE ALL OF THIS GREAT FOUNDATION AND
TAKE IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL. WE BELIEVE THAT THE TOPIC THAT IS REALLY GOING TO RESONATE HAS
TO DO WITH INNOVATION. SO YOU'VE CHOSEN THE DATE, BUT YOU HAVEN'T INVITED THE
PEOPLE YET? YES, THAT'S CORRECT. HAVE YOU CHOSEN A VENUE?
WE HAVE NOT CHOSEN THE VENUE. SO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN. OTHER THAN KANSAS CITY.
WE KNOW IT WILL BE THERE. OTHER THAN KANSAS CITY. OKAY.
ALL RIGHTY. I DON'T WANT YOU TO WORRY, NICK.
IT WILL BE IN THE KANSAS CITY. BUT IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO HAPPEN?
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN? WELL, LET'S BE CAREFUL HOW WE ANSWER THAT.
REMEMBER WHAT WE SAID. WE'VE ASKED FOLKS WHO DO THIS FOR A LIVING TO GO OUT AND
ASSESS THE OPPORTUNITES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US. AND TO DO IT ON A COMMERCIAL
BASIS. SIMPLY BECAUSE WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS BIG EVENT
DOESN'T MEAN IT WILL HAPPEN UNLESS WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT COME TO THE EVENT, SO WE HAVE TO MAKE
THIS THING WORK. WE HAVE TO CRAFT IT CAREFULLY. SO I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT IT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO GUARANTEE
YOU THAT THE SUN WILL COME UP TOMORROW, NICK.
I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC. BUT THE DREAM OF DOING THIS, THE GOAL, IF ALL OF THESE PEOPLE
WERE TO COME IS WHAT TO KANSAS CITY? HOW WOULD WE BENEFIT IF THAT
WERE TO HAPPEN? THAT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT, BECAUSE THE END GAME IS NOT
SIMPLY TO HOLD A WORLD SIM SYMPM ON ANIMAL HEALTH. THE END GAME IS TO FURTHER GROW
THE REGIONAL ECONOMY OF KANSAS CITY IN AN AREA WHERE WE HAVE PREEMINENCE.
ABOUT A THIRD OF WHAT HAPPENS IN THE WORLD IN ANIMAL HEALTH CAN BE TRACED BACK TO KANSAS
CITY. SO WE WANT TO BUILD ON OUR STRENGTHS.
WE WANT TO TAKE THAT THIRD AND TURN IT TO 40% OR 50%. MOST PEOPLE, AND WE TALKED
ABOUT DR. JAMES WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE LIFE
SCIENCES, AND I SAID MOST PEOPLE IN THE GENERAL
PUBLIC HAVE REALLY VERY LITTLE UNDERSTANDING
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE LIFE SCIENCE AREA, AND HE
CAN TALK ABOUT ALL THE CRANES AND EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING. WE HAVE VERY LITTLE LIMITED
KNOWLEDGE IF YOU'RE NOT IN THAT AREA. WE CAN SAY HOW MANY FABULOUS
SCIENTISTS AND ALL, THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING, BUT THE GENERAL PUBLIC HAS LOW
RECOGNITION. SIMILARLY IN ANIMAL HEALTH, WE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT
WE HAVE 30%, DID YOU SAY, A THIRD OF ALL THE ANIMAL HEALTH CONCENTRATION OF COMPANIES IN
THE WORLD THAT ARE BASED HERE. I THINK MOST MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC ARE GOING TO BE
QUITE SURPRISED AT THAT. WELL, THINK ABOUT THIS, IF YOU HAD A HEALTHY MEAL TODAY,
MAYBE FOR BREAKFAST YOU HAD BACON AND EGGS. THAT FOOD WAS BROUGHT TO YOU
SAFELY, SAFELY, BECAUSE THE U.S. FOOD SUPPLY, THE
FOOD CHAIN HAS BEEN PROTECTED BY COMPANIES THAT
PRODUCE VACCINES, THAT KEEP OUR SWINE AND OUR POULTRY AND OUR CATTLE HEALTHY, AND COMPANIES
THAT PRODUCE ANTIBIOTICS IF THE ANIMALS DO GET SICK. SO THIS IS A BIG BUSINESS,
PROTECTING THE AMERICAN FOOT CHAIN AND THE FOOD SUPPLY IS REALLY WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
AND THEN IF YOU HAVE A PET, IF YOU'VE GOT A DOG OR A CAT AND YOU'VE GOT A COLLAR ON THAT
ANIMAL, A COMPANION ANIMAL, THAT WAS PROBABLY MADE HERE IN KANSAS CITY.
SO THIS BUSINESS THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY TRULY
EXPERIENCE EVERY SINGLE DAY. WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOU UPDATING US ON THIS AREA AND
ADDING TO RECOGNITION OF THIS AREA. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED. BIG IDEA NO. 5, TRANSFORM
KANSAS CITY INTO AMERICA'S MOST ENTREPRENEURIAL CITY. HAVE WE FORGOTTEN THAT GOOGLE
PICKED US OUT OF MAYBE A THOUSAND ENTRANTS AS A PLACE TO LAUNCH THEIR ULTRA, ULTRAHIGH
SPEED BROAD BAND. EVERY ENTREPRENEUR IN AMERICA OUGHT TO BE THINKING ABOUT
COMING TO KANSAS CITY. I'M SYLVESTER JAMES, MAYOR OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.
AND I'M JOE REARDON, MAYOR OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS. TOGETHER WE ARE DECLARING OUR
COMMUNITY TO BE AMERICA'S MOST ENTREPRENEURIAL CITY. THIS EVENT IS ALL ABOUT
EXPOSURE. THIS EVENT IS GOING TO HIGHLIGHT 24 OF THE BEST COMPANIES IN
KANSAS CITY. IT'S NO ACCIDENT THAT WE STARTED WITH AN EVENT THAT FEATURES
LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS. WE WANTED TO GET DOWN TO THE REAL PEOPLE WHO WERE DOING IT,
THE RISK TAKERS, PEOPLE WHO HAVE QUIT THEIR DAY JOBS, PUT THEIR LIVES ON HOLD TO START A
COMPANY, CASHED IN IRA'S. WE REALLY WANTED TO START WITH THE REAL ENTREPRENEURS IN THE
ROOM. OUR VISION IS REALLY CLEAR, TO CREATE AMERICA'S MOSTENT
EXTRA NEURAL CITY RIGHT HERE UNDER OUR FEET. NOW, THIS WASN'T GOING TO BE
JUST PETER'S VISION, BACK IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH, YOU HAD 13 COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS, AND WE
STUCK OUR HEAD AROUND THE DOOR OF SOME OF THEM OF OUR KCPT CAMERAS.
HERE IS SOME OF THE FOOTAGE OF ONE FROM THE KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION.
ONE OF THE THINGS WORKING WELL FOR ENTREPRENEURS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THEN WHERE ARE
OUR WEAKNESSES? WHERE ARE WE FAILING THE ENTREPRENEURS.
I THINK THE SHEER NUMBER OF SERVICES THAT ARE
OFFERED HERE, THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
CENTER. WHICH IF YOU LOOK AT THE SMALL BUSINESS MONTHLY, THERE IS SOME
EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT YOU CAN DO TO JUST ABOUT ANY DAY, AND I'VE TAPPED INTO MANY OF THOSE.
I KNOW TALKING TO PEOPLE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, THEY DON'T HAVE THAT.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE DO HAVE A WEALTH OF START-UP ASSETS HERE TO GET PEOPLE GOING, BUT I FIND
THERE IS THAT GAP WHERE THERE IS THIS NATURAL HAND OFF, STARTED FROM 5 TO 50 TO 500 PEOPLE.
MAN, IT'S TOUGH. SO WHAT ARE OUR BIG 5 LEADERS DOING TO MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR
ENTREPRENEURS SINCE WE STARTED THIS BIG 5 EFFORT? PLEASE WELCOME PETER DESILVER
WHO IS LEADING AND CHAMPIONING THIS BIG 5 INITIATIVE,
ALSO THE COFOUNDER OF CERNER, CLIFF ILLIG
ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE. THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING WITH US.
SO IT IS RUBBER HITS THE ROAD TIME. WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE LIFE
EASIER FOR THESE ENTREPRENEURS SINCE WE STARTED THIS BIG 5 EFFORTS?
WELL, NICK, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ALWAYS GOOD IN HOLDING US ALL ACCOUNTABLE.
I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT. WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH
TIME FOR ME TO LIST EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING
ON IN GREATER KANSAS CITY IN THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP INITIATIVE. BUT LET ME HIGHLIGHT A FEW.
NO. 1, WE DID HOLD THOSE 13 COMMUNITY CONVERSATION, AND THOSE WERE VERY HELPFUL TO US IN
UNDERSTANDING THE CURRENT STATE OF OURENT -- OUR ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM.
ON THE STRENGTH SIDE, IT'S VERY CLEAR THOSE SERVICES THAT WERE DESCRIBED.
WE HAVE AN ARRAY OF SERVICES IN THIS COMMUNITY LIKE NONE OTHER IN THE COUNTRY.
ON THE NONSTRENGTH SIDE, WE HEARD FUNDING. FUNDING IS AN INTERESTING DILEMMA FOR US.
I CAN TELL YOU AFTER EXPLORING THIS AT SOME LEVEL, THERE IS ADEQUATE FUNDING IN KANSAS CITY
IN ORDER FOR US TO DO WHAT IT IS WE WANT TO DO AND SUPPORT OUR ENTREPRENEURS, BUT IT'S
FRAGMENTED. IT'S NOT PLED TOGETHER IN ANY MEANINGFUL WAY, AND CLIFF AND
MYSELF AND OTHERS ARE WORKING TO MAKE THAT A REALITY. LET ME TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF
OTHER THINGS. I GET REAL EXCITED ABOUT THIS. WE WENT OFF AND DID THREE DEAL
MAKER DINNERS. I HOSTED 75 FOLKS AT THE KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION OVER THREE
DINNERS, AND I ASKED EVERY ONE OF THEM, DO YOU KNOW THE OTHER DEAL GUYS IN THE ROOM?
YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY, NO, NEVER MET THESE FOLKS, AND SO WE TRY TO PULL THAT FRAGMENTATION
BACK TOGETHER ON THE DEAL MAKER SIDE AS WELL AS THE SERVICES SIDE.
HAVE YOU HEARD OF A MILLION CUPS YET? WE'RE TRYING TO SERVE A MILLION
CUPS OF COFFEE DOWN AT THE KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING.
WE HAD 108 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE LAST WEEK AT LAST WEDNESDAY'S SESSION.
COME ON DOWN. YOU WANT TO SEE STUFF GOING ON? YOU WANT TO SCIENTER PRACTICE
NEURAL ACTIVITY -- SEE ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY GOING ON IN KANSAS CITY?
COME ON DOWN TO THE KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION. HOW ABOUT ONE WEEK IN KANSAS
CITY LAST YEAR, 30 EVENTS IN ONE WEEK OUGHT CLUSTERED AROUND ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY
CULMINATING WITH CELEBRATING ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT THE K. MR. K'S HOME, IF YOU WILL,
KAUFFMAN STADIUM, AND WE HAD 1500 PEOPLE, AND HERE IS SOMETHING I'M MOST PRAWD --
PROUD OF. 40 MAYORS AROUND KANSAS CITY SIGNED A COMMON PROCLAMATION
DECLARING THAT PARTICULAR DAY AS ENTREPRENEUR DAY
IN KANSAS CITY. WE'VE BEEN PRETTY DARN BUSY OVER
THE LAST 12 MONTHS. BUT YOU STARTED BY SAYING THAT THINGS WERE FRAGMENTED.
DIDN'T HE START BY SAYING, THAT CLIFF? ABSOLUTELY.
PART OF IT WAS THAT THE MONEY WAS FRAGMENTED, SO WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO FIX THAT?
MY JOB IS TO JUST REPLACE PETER'S BATTERY WHEN IT RUNS LOW.
(LAUGHTER). BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE THE ENERGY THAT GOES WITH ALL OF THIS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT HARD TO CELEBRATE ENTREPRENEURISM IN KANSAS CITY.
I DON'T THINK WE DO A VERY GOOD JOB OF IT, BUT
IF YOU -- JUST THINK OF THE NAMES, DUNN, BLOCK,
KAUFFMAN, HALL, KEMPER, STOWERS, HELZBERG. THINK OF THOSE NAMES AND WHAT
THOSE NAMES AND THAT GENERATION OF ENTREPRENEURS
DID FOR KANSAS CITY AND WHAT THE COMPANIES AND
THE JOBS, WHAT THEY DID FOR OUR ECONOMIES AND
WHAT THEY DID FOR OUR CIVIC INFRASTRUCTURE, WHAT
THEY'VE DONE FOR OUR EDUCATION. THE BLOCH SCHOOL, THE KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION, THE STOWERS
INSTITUTE. THINK ABOUT WHAT ENTREPRENEURISM HAS DONE FOR KANSAS CITY IN THE
PAST. AND SO A BIG PART OF WHAT PETER IS FOCUSING ON AND WHAT THIS
WHOLE INITIATIVE NEEDS TO FOCUS ON IS WE'VE GOT A TREMENDOUS LIST OF ASSETS THAT ARE ALREADY
HERE THAT CAN BE APPLIED ON STIMULATING THAT NEXT GENERATION.
WE NEED TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS. WE LOOK AT THIS GENERATION, THE
18 TO 34-YEAR-OLDS. I WAS ONE OF THOSE AT ONE POINT IN TIME.
WE STARTED CERNER WHEN I WAS 27. YOU WANT THOSE
PEOPLE THINKING THAT KANSAS CITY IS THE PLACE
WHERE THIS IS HAPPENING. WHAT ARE YOU DOING, THOUGH, TO MAKE IT EASIER?
WE'RE DOING A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS TO MAKE IT EASIER. WE'VE GOT THE COFFEE, AND
WE'VE GOT THE GLOBAL EVENTS, SO WE'VE GOT THE
KAUFFMAN STADIUM DEAL, BUT WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO
MAKE IT EASIER FOR THESE FOLKS? WE'VE CELEBRATED LOTS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP HERE.
I THINK WE'VE DONE A REASONABLY GOOD JOB CELEBRATING AND RECOGNIZING WE ARE THIS HUB
OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP. BUT YOU'RE RIGHT. THERE ARE MORE OBSTACLES TO BE
REMOVED WHICH THE CITY OF KANSAS CITY HAS A TASK
FORCE TRYING TO REMOVE OBSTACLES, BECAUSE WE
HEAR IT'S TOO HARD TO GO THROUGH THE PERMITTING
PROCESS AND GET A LICENSE, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
MAYOR JAMES IS SQUARELY FOCUSED ON TRYING TO MAKE IT EASY TO DO BUSINESS IN KANSAS CITY.
HOW ABOUT WHAT YOU STARTED WITH, THOUGH? YOU SAID THE MONEY WAS
FRAGMENTED. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MAKE IT EASIER ON THE MONEY FRONT FOR
PEOPLE THAT WANT TO START A BUSINESS AND GET ACCESS ON THAT MONEY?
WE SAT IN ON SOME OF THOSE FORUMS AND PEOPLE COMPLAINED ABOUT THAT.
IT'S AN INTERESTING DILEMMA, AS I SAID. NOT EVERY IDEA SHOULD BE FUNDED.
KEEP THAT IN MIND. ENT PROSECUTE NIEWRS -- ENTREPRENEURS ARE GOING TO BE
PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR IDEAS. THAT'S ONE ELEMENT TO CONSIDER. WE HAVE BROUGHT TOGETHER THE
FUNDING COMMUNITY. AS I SAID, WE'VE HAD 75 PEOPLE TOGETHER.
I'LL HAVE AS MANY DINNERS AS THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO COME TO TRY TO CONNECT THESE
FOLKS. FOR EXAMPLE, I KNOW A GENTLEMAN IN TOWN WHO RUNS A 3,
400 MILLION-DOLLAR PRIVATE EQUITY FUND, AND HE SAID TO ME, I WOULD NEVER CONSIDER INVESTING
IN KANSAS CITY. AND I SAID WHY? HE SAID, I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING
WAS GOING ON. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN IN OUR COMMUNITY?
WE ARE TRYING TO NETWORK THOSE FUNDERS, CONNECT
THOSE FUNDERS TO THE ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH THE
KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION AND A LOT OF WORK THEY'RE
DOING SO THAT IT IS EASIER TO GET THAT CAPITAL TO
THE PLACES WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. QUESTION FOR BOTH OF YOU. WE ARE GOING TO GO BACK TO A
STAR EDITORIAL START OF THE YEAR, THE GREATER KANSAS CITY CHAMBER'S BIG 5 IDEAS NEED TO
START PRODUCING RESULTS, ESPECIALLY IN THE FIELD OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP, THUS
PRESERVING JOBS THERE. HOW HAVE YOU SPURRED JOB CREATION?
DO YOU WANT THAT ONE OR DO YOU WANT ME TO TAKE THAT ONE? WELL, AS A COMPANY THAT HIRED
3,000 PEOPLE LAST YEAR, WE HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE AT CERNER IN THIS REGARD.
THIS YEAR, WE'LL HIRE MORE. OKAY? I MEAN, YEAH, THAT'S 30 YEARS
INTO OUR DEVELOPMENT. PETER INDICATED THIS IS A LONG GAME.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SIT THERE AND TURN AROUND NEXT
YEAR AND SAY HOW MANY JOBS DID THIS ENTREPRENEURIAL INITIATIVE CREATE, BUT WE OUGHT TO BE
LOOKING FOR THE NEXT CERNER, AND AS BOB MARCUS AND
I TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF TIMES, HEY, IF YOU'RE
WORKING ON -- IF YOU'RE GOING TO FIND ONE GOOD ONE, YOU'VE GOT TO BE WORKING ON 50.
OKAY? AND SO WE HAVE TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THOSE 50 FEEL
WELCOME. THIS IS A LONG-TERM INITIATIVE.
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR IMMEDIATE GRAPH -- GRATIFICATION AND SATISFACTION, THIS ISN'T THE
INITIATIVE FOR YOU. BUT IF YOU WANT TO LOOK BACK 10, 20 YEARS FROM NOW AND SAY THIS
IS THE MOMENT WHERE WE CREATED THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WAS THE CATALYST FOR THE NEXT HUNDREDS
WHICH COMPANIES TO BE FORMED IN KANSAS CITY, THIS IS THAT MOMENT, AND WE'RE TRYING TO BE
THAT CATALYST, IF YOU WILL. ARE YOU AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN HOUSING FOR HACKERS?
HAVE YOU HEARD OF THIS? I'VE NEVER HEARD. HOUSES FOR HACKERS GOING ON
RIGHT HERE IN KANSAS CITY. WHAT IS HE DOING? HE BOUGHT A HOUSE, AND HE'S GOT
ACCESS TO ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT RESOURCES RIGHT NOW, CALLED GOOGLE FIBER, AND HE'S
INVITING FOLKS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO COME
TO KANSAS CITY AND SET UP THEIR BUSINESSES IN
THEIR HOMES CALLED HOMES FOR HACKERS. THAT'S AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SHIFT, A HUGE SHIFT FOR US. TODAY WE GO OUT AND TRY TO OO CARE COMPANIES.
NOW WE'RE GOING OUT AND TRYING TO ACQUIRE TALENT. WE'RE TRYING TO GET INTELLECTUAL
CAPITAL IN KANSAS CITY, IN AN ENVIRONMENT SHAPED BY THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND ECOSYSTEM.
IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD OF KC START-UP VILLAGE, IT'S GOING ON RIGHT HERE.
THEY'RE TRYING TO START SIX COMPANIES RIGHT IN KANSAS CITY THAT HOPEFULLY WILL BE THE JOB
CREATORS OF THE FUTURE. SO THERE IS A LOT GOING ON IN THIS REGARD.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW, EVEN THOUGH IT MAY BE A 10 TO 20 YEAR INITIATIVE, WE'LL STILL BE HERE
HOLDING YOU ACCOUNTABLE EVERY YEAR. WE'RE GOOD WITH THAT.
LOOK FORWARD TO IT. QUESTIONS FOR OUR ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERS?
CAN YOU TELL US HOW MANY COMPANIES HAVE BEEN SPAWNED OUT OF CERNER, ENTREPRENEURS WHO
STARTED AT CERNER AND NOW HAVE STARTED THEIR OWN COMPANIES? SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 15 AND 20,
INCLUDES BATS. LAST QUESTION, AS ACCOUNTABILITY, HOW DO WE
KNOW -- WE WANT TO BE AMERICA'S MOST ENTREPRENEURIAL CITY. HOW DO WE KNOW IF WE ARE?
THAT'S A TOUGH ONE TO MEASURE. I'LL BE HONEST, WHEN IT WAS
SUGGESTED WE USE THAT TAG LINE, I WAS REALLY REMISS TO USE IT FOR THIS VERY REASON.
BUT THE COUNSELING WE ALL WENT THROUGH AND GOT WAS, YOU KNOW WHAT, JUST DECLARE IT.
DECLARE THAT THIS IS AMERICA'S MOST ENTREPRENEURIAL
CITY JUST LIKE INDIANAPOLIS SAID THEY WANT
TO BE THE AMATEUR SPORTS CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. YOU KNOW HOW MANY ASSETS THEY
HAD AT THAT POINT? NONE. WE HAVE ASSETS.
WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT ACTUALLY WORKS REALLY WELL. IT WILL BE HARD FOR ME TO ONE
DAY SAY WE SUCCEEDED. THIS IS A DISWRURNY, -- JOURNEY, NOT A DESTINATION.
STICK WITH US. YOU WILL SEE GREAT THINGS COME FROM THIS INITIATIVE, BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY, LOOK FOR THE COMPANIES THAT GET CREATED THAT ARE HERE 5, 10, 20 YEARS FROM
NOW, AND YOU'LL KNOW WE'RE SUCCESSFUL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
FINAL THOUGHTS FROM OUR SAGE THINK-TANK STARTING WITH YOU JIM.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID TO SET THIS APART FROM OTHER SIMILAR INITIATIVES
IS THAT WE CHOSE CHAMPIONS. WE CHOSE PEOPLE WHOM I SAID BACK ON SEPTEMBER THE 13th OF 2011
WHEN WE KICKED OFF THE BIG 5 INITIATIVES, THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE WORLD FAILURE
NOWHERE ON THEIR RESUME. THEY KNOW HOW TO GET THINGS DONE.
I THINK YOUR VIEWERS HAVE SEEN THAT IN THIS PROGRAM. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW TO
GET THINGS DONE, HOW TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN, AND THAT'S WHY ULTIMATELY I'M CONFIDENT WE WILL
SUCCEED IN IMPLEMENTING FOR BIG KC EACH OF THE BIG 5 INITIATIVES.
GREG GRAVES. FIRST OF ALL, A BIG THANKS TO NICK HAINES AND KANSAS CITY
PUBLIC TELEVISION. YOU CAN'T COVER AN ISSUE LIKE THIS IN A 30-SECOND VIDEO OR
SOUNDBITE, AND IT TAKES AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THIS TO KEEP US ON THE BALL AND TO MAKE SURE
THAT GREATER KANSAS CITY SEES THAT GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING.
AND THEN I WANTS TO SAY A THANK
YOU TO MY FRIEND, JIM HEATER, WHO WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS KNOWING THAT AFTER A YEAR I GOT
TO LEAVE, BUT KNOWING THAT HIS FUTURE AT THE
CHAMBER AND WITH THESE NEXT CHAIRS WAS DEPENDENT
ON ACCOMPLISHING BIG, BIG THINGS, AND I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER.
AND HE LEFT, AND YOU ARE NOW THE MAN IN CHARGE. THAT'S RIGHT, NICK.
WELL, JIM IS HERE, TOO, AND HE'S A GREAT, GREAT PARTNER. BUT I HAVE A COUPLE OF
OBSERVATIONS. ONE, WE LIKE YOU AND YOUR VIEWERS AND ALL OF KANSAS CITY
ARE LOOKING FOR TANGIBLE RESULTS FROM THE BIG 5, AND WE'RE HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE AS
I KNOW YOU ARE. SECOND, I EMPHASIZE THE BIG PART OF THIS 5.
IT'S NOT THE 5. THIS ISN'T A STOPLIGHT ON THE BOULEVARD OR A SHORTER FORM AT
CITY HALL. THESE ARE BIG TRANSFORMATIONAL IDEAS THAT ARE COMPLEX AND GOING
TO TAKE YEARS. WATCH US. WE'RE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH THESE
THINGS, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE OVERNIGHT. AND THAT IS ALL WE HAVE TIME
FOR. OUR THANKS TO OUR BIG 5 LEADERS, OUR THANKS TO OUR AUDIENCE RIGHT
HERE AT UNION STATION, AND THANKS TO YOU AT HOME FOR TRACKING THIS WITH US.
YOU CAN ALSO TRACK THIS AT HOME ON THE WEBSITE
BIG 5 KC DOT COM, OR ON THE LOCAL SHOW DOT ORG.
I'M NICK HAINES FROM KANSAS CITY'S GATHERING PLACE IN THE HEART OF KANSAS CITY.
GOOD NIGHT. [ APPLAUSE ]. PRINCIPLE FUNDING FOR THE
LOCAL SHOW PROVIDED BY FRANCIS FAMILY FOUNDATION, FREDERICK AND LOUISE HARTWIG FAMILY FUND,
KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION, HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION OF GREATER KANSAS CITY, JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY
COLLEGE, JOHN AND EFFY SPEES MEMORIAL TRUST, BANK OF AMERICA TRUSTEE; RICHARD J STERN
FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS, COMMERCE BANK, TRUSTEE; AND KCPT MEMBERS.
THANK YOU. SPECIAL COVERAGE ON KCPT OF THE GREATER KANSAS CITY CHAMBER'S
BIG 5 INITIATIVES IS FUNDED BY BURNS AND MCDONNELL WITH ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT
FROM SWOPE COMMUNITY ENTERPRISES AND BY:
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