Join Us at a Free, Celebratory Tailgate before E-Day at the K

On Monday, June 18, right before the Royals take on the Rangers at E-Day at the K, KCSourceLink is holding a free, celebratory tailgate party to celebrate our 15th Anniversary and recognize our Resource Partner Network with an All-Star awards ceremony. And you’re invited!

KCSourceLink 15th Anniversary All-Star Celebration and tailgate
Monday, June 18, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Kauffman Stadium, Hall of Fame Pavilion Tent behind Gate A
Free and open to the public
KCSourceLink calendar event
Facebook event

A few more directions to get you to the party . . .

Enter the Kauffman Stadium Parking Lot at Gate 6
Park in General Lot G or H
Join the food, fun and merriment at the Hall of Fame Pavilion Tent behind Gate A, next to Parking Lot J

If you want to stay for the Royals game, purchase your ticket here.

Celebrate KC entrepreneurship and say thank you to your All-Stars

The stage is set for the All-Star awards ceremony. We asked you to nominate and vote for folks from our Resource Network who have helped you test your ideas, find new markets, sort out your challenges, secure new funding and improve your odds for success. Winners will be announced at the tailgate on June 18.

Congratulations to all of the nominees and thank you, thank you, thank you for your hardwork and dedication to Kansas City’s entrepreneurial community. Here is the full list of categories and nominees:

Fanatical Fan recognizes the most enthusiastic KCSourceLink Resource Partner. You can’t help but feel motivated to grab the big W after just minutes with him or her.

Jay Austin, Powderkeg KC Ambassador
Bobby Burch, Startland News
Kim Curtis, Grandview Chamber and EDC
Kate Kershaw, KCK Chamber of Commerce
Matthew Marcus, KC Startup Foundation
Lara Vermillion, Blue Springs Chamber

Iron Man Award goes to the longest-tenured Resource Partner in the KCSourceLink network. They know the game of entrepreneurship, inside, out, updside down, blindfolded, one-hand tied behind his or her back, while mashing up “Eye of the Tiger” and “Started from the Bottom.” Mic drop.

Judy Bumpus, Women’s Business Center
Julie Cortes, The Freelance Exchange
Paulette Crawford, SCORE
Carmen DeHart, Small Business and Technology Development Center at UMKC
Jewel Scott, Civic Council of Greater Kansas City
Rick Usher, City of KCMO

Homerun Derby Winner recognizes the Resource Partner who routinely hits it out of the park for both Resource Partners and entrepreneurs.

Aaron Deacon, KC Digital Drive
Harold James, SCORE
Sally Williams, Small Business and Technology Development Center at UMKC
Xander Winkel, Ennovation Center

Silver Slugger recognizes someone who is willing to go above, beyond and out-of-the park in service. He or she is a great advocate, storyteller, proponent and supporter of KC entrepreneurship, inside and beyond our borders.

John Coler, Startup Weekend
Rep. Pam Curtis, Greater KC Chamber and KS Legislature
Adrienne Haynes, Multicultural Business Coalition
Christine Murray, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
John Pajor, KC BizCare
Morgan Perry, Square One Small Business Services
Melissa Roberts, Enterprise Center in Johnson County

Slugger Award recognizes the Resource Partner who has done the most to promote KCSourceLink, KC’s first stop for entrepreneurial connections.

Jason Camis, Gardner Edgerton Chamber of Commerce
John Coler, KC Roundtable
Terry Dunn, Greater KC Chamber
Ron Lemay, KC Rising
John Pajor, KC BizCare
Eric Petersen, KCMO Library
Tina Peterson, Sprint Accelerator
Gerald Smith, Plexpod
Rich Usher, City of KCMO

Utility Infielder should go to the Resource Partner who exhibits a great degree of flexibility and wears a lot of hats. Has there ever been an event you didn’t see him or her at? Omnipresent and omni-talented, this Resource Partner covers the infield of entrepreneurship like a boss.

Adam Arredondo, KC Startup Foundation
Keith Gary, KC Area Life Sciences Institute
Ben Gruber, Bloch Venture Hub
Matthew Marcus, KC Startup Foundation
Lesa Mitchell, Techstars
Tina Peterson, Sprint Accelerator
Elisa Waldman, Small Business Development Center at JCCC
Xander Winkel, Ennovation Center
Lisa Zimmerman, Justine PETERSEN

Manager of the Year recognizes a Resource Partner who is incredibly motivational. He or she know the big picture and doesn’t take his or her eye off the big prize, helping KC become America’s most entrepreneurial city.

Adam Arredondo, Kansas City Startup Foundation
Carmen DeHart, Small Business and Technology Development Center at UMKC
Jill Hathaway, Small Business and Technology Development Center at UMKC
Nathan Kurtz, Kauffman Foundation
Lesa Mitchell, Techstars
Sook Park, Asian Chamber of Commerce
Christal Watson, Unified Gvt. of Wyandotte County and KCK
Ryan Weber, KC Tech Council

Most Valuable Player recognizes the Resource Partner who has been the most active in the KCSourceLink network. You see them at Resource Partner meetings, ribbon cuttings, boot camps, policy discussions. He or she is all in for Team Eship.

Julie Cortes, Freelance Exchange of Kansas City
Adrienne Haynes, SEED Law
Darcy Howe, KCRise Fund
Matthew Marcus, KC Startup Foundation
Quest Taylor Moffat, Project UK
Wayne Morgan, Enterprise Center in Johnson County
Gabriel Munoz, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater KC
John Pajor, KC BizCare
Terri Turner, iWerx and EnCorps45
Xander Winkel, Ennovation Center

Hank Aaron Award for batting recognizes the Resource Partner that does the best job of referring clients throughout the KCSourceLink network. They’re not in for the personal grandeur, they’re in it to make sure your team scores big.

Jim Baxendale, Whiteboard2Boardroom
Susan Brown, Mid-Continent Public Library Partner
Carlos Gomez, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater KC
Rebecca Gubbels, Small Business and Technology Development Center at UMKC
Stephanie Landis, Small Business Development Center at JCCC
Jerry Lonergan, Civic Council of Greater Kansas City
Eze Redwood, Twenty30 CEO

Roberto Clemente Award for Sportsmanship recognizes the Resource Partner who’s been a real team player. If a collaboration needs to happen to move Kansas City entrepreneurship forward, this person is first on your list.

Kim Beer, SCORE
Byron Ginsburg, The Freelance Exchange
Carlos Gomez, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater KC
Davin Gordon, AltCap
Stephanie Medina, Plexpod
Quest Taylor Moffat, Project UK
Eze Redwood, Twenty30CEO
Gary Sage, Economic Development Corp. of KCMO
Melissa Saubers, KC Coworking Alliance
Kelly Sievers, Women’s Capital Connection
Rick Vaughn, Mid-America Angels

Cy Young Award for Pitching recognizes a Resource Partner who is on target in solving problems.

Ruben Alonso, AltCap
Wes Bergman, BetaBlox
Lauren Conway, KC Startup Foundation
Ari DeGrote, Sprint Accelerator
Dave Hulsen, Workforce Partnership
Stephanie Landis, Small Business Development Center at JCCC
Stuart Ludlow, FastTrac TechVenture
Quest Moffat, Project UK
Steve Pope, Digital Sandbox KC Advisor
Melissa Roberts, Enterprise Center in Johnson County
Herb Sih, Think Big Partners
Bill Sherry, SCORE
Xander Winkel, Ennovation Center
Linda Zappulla, SCORE

Outstanding Coaching Award recognizes excellence in executing for entrepreneurs. This is your first call when you want to test that swing on a new idea or check your gait to see if you’ll make it around third this time.

Tina Cochran, KCSourceLink Calendar Partner
Lisa Cordes, Artist INC
Christina Dreiling, Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program
Rebecca Gubbels, Small Business and Technology Development Center at UMKC
Adrienne Haynes, Multicultural Business Coalition
Danielle Merrick, UMKC Entrepreneurial Legal Services Clinic
Jill Meyer, ScaleUP! KC
Melissa Roberts, Enterprise Center in Johnson County
Bill Sherry, SCORE
Sally Williams, Small Business and Technology Development Center at UMKC

Most Assists recognizes the Resource Partner who has been selfless in supporting others in the network. When things need to get done in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, this person is there, before you even put in the call.

John Adessi, Small Business Development Center at JCCC
Alma Alcantara, University of Missouri – Kansas City
Susana Bruhn, GUILDit
Andrew Byas, SCORE
John Coler, Startup Weekend
Rebecca Dove, Project UK
Carlos Gomez, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater KC
Angie Gunion, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater KC
Ken Harris, SCORE
Becky Johnston, Enterprise Center in Johnson County Mentor
Quest Taylor Moffat, Project UK
Corey Mohn, Blue Valley CAPS
John Pajor, KC BizCare
Tina Peterson, Sprint Accelerator
Jeff Pinkerton, Mid-America Regional Council

World Series Trophy recognizes Kansas City’s most successful supporter of entrepreneurs. When you think KC entrepreneurship, you can’t help but think of this person first because of how much he or she has done to transform eship here in Kansas City.

Mark Davis, Project UK Mentor
Carlos Gomez, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater KC
Rebecca Gubbels, Small Business and Technology Development Center
Barnett Helzberg, Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program
Quest Taylor Moffat, Project UK
John Pajor, KC BizCare
Steve Radley, NetWork Kansas
Jeff Shackelford, Digital Sandbox KC
Gerald Smith, Plexpod
Drew Solomon, Economic Development Corp. of KCMO
Sherry Turner, OneKC for Women
Ryan Weber, KC Tech Council
Courtney Windholz, 1 Million Cups

Golden Glove recognizes the Resource Partner who has the ability to field requests from entrepreneurs and other Resource Partners with ease and agility. He or she knows the ecosystem and can get you to the help you need, in one throw.

Adam Arredondo, KC Startup Foundation
Michael Carmona, Hispanic Economic Development Corp.
Mark Davis, Project UK Mentor
Marilyn Flook, SCORE
Carlos Gomez, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater KC
Adrienne Haynes, Multicultural Business Coalition
Darcy Howe, KCRise Fund
Michelle Kretsinger, Small Business and Technology Development Center at UMKC
Nathan Kurtz, Kauffman Foundation
Christine Murray, Greater KC Chamber of Commerce
Kim Randolph, Heartland Black Chamber
Melissa Roberts, Enterprise Center in Johnson County
Gerald Smith, Plexpod
Vicki Turnbow, Raytown Area Chamber of Commerce

Who do you think will win? We’ll all find out, and celebrate everyone’s hard work to support KC entrepreneurship, at the tailgate on Monday, June 18, 4:30-6:30 p.m. See you then!