KC Scholars is excited to announce the election of Jeff Simon to the board of directors, starting a three-year term on July 1, 2021.
Jeff Simon is the Office Managing Partner at Husch Blackwell in Kansas City. Jeff is a known and respected leader in our region’s civic and corporate community. Involvement includes but is even more extensive than: Kansas City Downtown Council Board of Directors, Harry S Truman Good Neighbor Award Foundation Secretary and Director, Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners, Kansas City Economic Development and Incentives Policy Task Force, and the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Centurions Program. Among Jeff’s recognitions are Ingram’s magazine, 50 Missourians You Should Know, 2016 and Kansas City Business Journal, Best of the Bar, 2002, 2007, and 2018.
KC Scholars was incubated at the Kauffman Foundation, launched September 2016, and has completed four scholarship application and selection process. KC Scholars currently has over 5,000 Scholars, with over 2,500 that will be enrolled in college in Fall 2021 (others are in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades of high school and preparing for college enrollment). Developed through a community-engaged process that included involvement of 70+ community members, KC Scholars 1) awards college scholarships – renewable for five total years, 2) provides college advisement and planning support to Scholars and their families, and 3) encourages at least 80% of Scholar graduates to remain in the Kansas City region to work, achieving this by connecting Scholars to regional employers from the moment they enter the program. Individuals eligible to apply are 9th graders, 11th graders, and adult learners with some college and do degree from a six-county, bi-state area who are low- or modest-income and may not be able to afford college otherwise. Learn more at: willh108.sg-host.com.
The KC Scholars Board of Directors includes Jan Kreamer (board chair), David Warm (secretary), Tammy Edwards (treasurer), Michelle Kay, Michael Roane, and Beto Lopez. Terry Bassham’s term ends June 30, 2021 – as an inaugural board member, Terry served 4 years.
Crossing the Line: Solving the Workforce Gap Across Kansas City’s State Line in the Growing
KC Scholars Jeff Simon Elected to KC Scholars Board of Directors KC Scholars is excited
KC Scholars Dear KC Scholars: Right now, we are reading and hearing hundreds of statements
Stephanie Underwood serves as Chief Financial Officer at Great Jobs KC, where she leads the organization’s financial strategy in support of its mission to create economic mobility through education and workforce opportunities. With more than 17 years of experience in nonprofit finance, Stephanie brings deep expertise in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and compliance. She is passionate about using her career as a platform to serve and support mission-driven organizations, helping them maximize impact through strong financial stewardship.
Prior to joining Great Jobs KC, Stephanie served as Chief Financial Officer for Griffith Centers, a behavioral and mental health organization, where she oversaw financial operations for a multi-million-dollar organization spanning residential, educational, and community-based programs. She also spent nearly a decade as Vice President of Accounting Services at NFP Partners, providing CFO-level leadership to nonprofit organizations across the country, with a focus on strategic growth, audit readiness, and governance.
Outside of her professional role, Stephanie volunteers her time at her church and serves on the board of a local nonprofit. She is known for her collaborative leadership style and her commitment to aligning financial strategy with mission impact. She holds a Master of Science in Accounting and is proud to be a first-generation college graduate.
Program offers:
Eligibility Requirements:
If you need more information on program details, please find our FAQs HERE
As the Chief Operating Officer, Jimmy Swift is responsible for overseeing our core programs, our adult workforce development program, Great Jobs KC tuition-free job training, and our KC Scholars Scholarship Program, which includes 11th Grade Traditional Scholarships and Adult Learner Scholarships.
Jimmy has a career in education that spans more than 25 years and is built around supporting and improving the performance of career training programs and leading the operations of degree-granting institutions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in management and has served as Campus President, Vice President of Career Services, and Executive Director of various career schools.
Most recently, Jimmy served as the Vice President of PLA University at Phalen Leadership Academies, bringing access to job skill training to the parents and families of the Scholars served by Phalen Leadership schools across the country. Beyond his higher education experience, Jimmy serves as the Executive Board Chairman for Project Safety Net NY, a nonprofit community-based agency delivering a broad range of health, education, and prevention services to the New York Community. As the Chief Operating Officer for Great Jobs KC, he and his team are poised to make a substantial impact on the economic stability and future of Kansas City.
