Crushing student debt levels tend to defuse entrepreneurial dreams, but some are still willing to take on the outsized risks considering the potential rewards.

Jenny Poon has a unique perspective on student debt, as the child of immigrant parents who had to bootstrap her way to success through the American system.

Lori Kettner is an executive administrative assistant supporting the Legal team for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Kettner has had a long employment history with ties to the Kauffman Legacy in Kansas City. She joined the workforce as an administrative assistant with Marion Laboratories, Ewing Kauffman’s original company. She continued there when a merger yielded […]

Donell Hammond is a visionary technology executive with over a decade of expertise in leading digital transformation, IT strategy, and innovation across both nonprofit and corporate sectors. As the chief information technology officer at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Hammond plays a key role in advancing and aligning technology priorities in support of the Foundation’s […]

Kristin Smithson is a senior impact officer for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, where she manages program investments that address various civic and social issues in the Kansas City area. Her work has focused on strengthening networks within the local nonprofit sector, investing in programs that support family economic stability, and promoting spaces for civic […]

Chief Executive Officer, Bardavon Health Innovations, LLC

General Counsel, Secretary, and Chief Ethics Officer, Legal

Executive Administrative Assistant, Finance & Grants