The UMKC Henry W. Bloch School of Management celebrates the 38th Annual Entrepreneur of the Year awards ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 21 at H&R Block Headquarters. This year’s honorees include innovative leaders changing skylines and lives in Kansas City and around the globe.
Our Inspiring Honorees
Henry W. Bloch International Entrepreneurs of the Year | Bloch Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame Inductees
Chris Carver, Ron Labinski, Joe Spear, Dennis Wellner and Earl Santee
Representing the Founders of Populous
Originally founded in 1983 as HOK Sport with its initial roots firmly planted in Kansas City, the firm quickly developed an outstanding reputation for stadium design, with early revolutionary projects including the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium and Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore. A management buyout in 2009 rebranded the company as Populous, a name reflecting their commitment to fans and the communities surrounding their projects.
Upon rebranding, the firm’s first notable domestic projects included the new Yankee Stadium and Citi Field, home of the New York Mets. Internationally, Populous is responsible for venues at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games and the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
To date, Populous has more than 3,500 projects to its name, most recently completing game-changing venues like the Las Vegas Sphere and Co-op Live, the United Kingdom’s largest-capacity indoor arena. The company has also earned more than 250 global design awards for projects in 34 countries, evolving into a firm known for historic firsts and award-winning work.
Kansas City Entrepreneurs of the Year | Bloch Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame Inductees
Pat McCown and Brett Gordon | Founders of McCownGordon
McCown and Gordon founded McCownGordon in 1999 with the desire to build a company that would last beyond their tenure, and that would provide opportunities for their employees and partners. They also wanted to ensure that every employee embodied the company's core values of integrity, performance, and relationships.
With 25 years in business, McCownGordon is responsible for some of Kansas City’s most iconic buildings including Bartle Hall, the American Royal and Museum at Prairiefire. Their portfolio includes projects in education, science and technology, and healthcare, where they’re leading construction of the $145 million University of Missouri-Kansas City Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building.
Marion and John Kreamer Award for Social Entrepreneurship
Natasha Herdman | Founder and CEO of Pawsperity
Herdman (EMPA ’14) is the daughter of a dog groomer and a first-generation college graduate. She received her undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Iowa and an Executive Master of Public Administration from the UMKC Bloch School. She is passionate about working with parents who have multiple barriers to entering the workforce, such as lack of education, training or past incarceration. She brings experience in both staff and volunteer roles for Healing House, Reach Out and Read, Community LINC and Stop Child Trafficking Now to Pawsperity.
Based in Kansas City, Pawsperity is the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit grooming school in the country. Their students are some of society’s most vulnerable, with a focus on single parents living in poverty. In addition to a detailed curriculum for pet grooming, Pawsperity provides soft-skills classes such as communication and budgeting. Students also have access to a variety of wrap-around services to support them while in school such as housing, food assistance and case management.
Student Entrepreneur of the Year
To be announced at event