Giving Heart & Soul…and Then Some

The 34 th Entrepreneur of Year Awards Celebrate Kansas City Innovators By Kelsey Haynes I n true Bloch fashion, the 34th Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, hosted by the Regnier Institute of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, was celebratory of the collaborative work it takes to turn dreams into reality. The event, held November 15 in Bloch Executive Hall, noted how the legacy of Henry Bloch lives on through the lives of others and within Kansas City.

“In the past few years, we’ve been saying, ‘Let’s make Kansas City America’s most entrepreneurial city,’ and we’ve worked together to make that happen,” said UMKC Innovation Center executive director Maria Meyers, the Marion and John Kreamer Awardee for Social Entrepreneurship. Meyers founded SourceLink, a repository of resources for local entrepreneurs that has been replicated across the nation.

Many of the 2019 honorees shed light on their climbs to success, the leaps of faith it took to get their ideas off the ground and the support from the Kansas City community to persevere.

“There’s a long-existing theory that suggests when you dream out loud — when you speak your ideas into the universe — they are more likely to come back to you,” said Tom Bloch, who introduced the Cerner co-founders as the Henry W. Bloch International Entrepreneurs of the Year. “We could say that’s what happened for Cerner co-founders and Entrepreneur Hall of Fame inductees Neal Patterson, Paul Gorup and Cliff Illig.”

Everything that Henry Bloch touched was heart and soul first.

— Danny O’Neill, founder/“Bean Baron” of The Roasterie

From an idea generated around a park bench to one of the largest health-care technology companies in the world 40 years later, Cerner employs more than 29,000 associates in 26 countries worldwide. In his acceptance speech, Illig shared gems from the co-founders’ journey for attendees to take away, such as treating your employees as business associates, creating a collaborative culture to tackle complex programs and sharing the success with your team.

“Kansas City is a town built by entrepreneurs,” said Illig. Recalling words from co-founder Neal Patterson, he said, “the only way that Kansas City can grow and thrive is through the efforts of its entrepreneurs. We’re not going to attract the big national companies to relocate or headquarter in our city. We have to grow our own.”

In that same spirit of grit and determination, the power of passion and persistence were shown in this year’s honorees.

“Persistence is the most important character trait for an entrepreneur. It’s essential for success,” said Kansas City Entrepreneur of the Year Michael Rea. “During the difficult times, knowing what you’re fighting for will get you through.”

Rea, founder and CEO of Rx Savings Solutions, added that he didn’t start his company because he thought it would make him rich, but because he thought it was the right thing to do.

“If you’re not actually creating a change or making a difference in someone’s life, so what?” said Zach Anderson Pettet, former managing director of Fountain City Fintech at nbkc bank, recalling some of the lessons Bloch passed down.

“Through their entrepreneurial spirits, our honorees have shown what it takes to grow an idea into a successful business, and that education these days is more than just about landing your dream job. Education, now, is about creating your dream job,” said Brian Klaas, Bloch School dean.

That realization is what business administration major Ali Brandolino leans on to find her drive and success in college through entrepreneurial experiences as a member of UMKC Enactus.

“I’ve realized that my idea of entrepreneurship wasn’t changing the world myself, but inspiring others to change the world. I’m a social entrepreneur and I hope to create my own social venture someday,” said Brandolino, the Student Entrepreneur of the Year, who recently became vice president of Enactus.

All proceeds from the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards directly benefit the Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation’s student and community programs.

2019 ENTREPRENUERS OF THE YEAR

Neal Patterson, Paul Gorup and Cliff Illig, co-founders, Cerner Corporation; Maria Meyers, executive director of UMKC Innovation Center/SourceLink; Michael Rea, founder and CEO, Rx Savings Solutions; Ali Brandolino, UMKC junior

The 35th annual Entrepreneur of the Year Awards will be Nov. 12, 2020. Look for more details at bloch.umkc.edu/eoy.