In 2020, Willis Reed was determined to start his business. He began working on his box truck as an Owner-operator with Amazon Relay. Unfortunately, he faced some mechanical issues after getting his business up and running, which forced him to close operations. This made Willis face extreme financial difficulties. However, Willis was resilient and refused to give up, so he began looking for his next steps to get back on track. Willis connected to a Veteran Assistant to find a way to earn his Class A Commercial Driving License (CDL). This is where Willis was first introduced to KC Scholars. After looking further into the organization, Great Jobs KC seemed like the perfect opportunity for him to start building his career back. Willis started the program and completed his CDL test with Zeta Driving School in Kansas City. With his program completed, Willis began work as a solo dedicated Route Driver at Swift Transportation. Willis recognizes that this better-paying position will help him get his finances back on track to buy a new truck and reset his business.
The best part about the program for Willis was seeing how many great, solid jobs were available that he may have needed help finding on his own. Additionally, he shares how he appreciates the staff’s responsiveness to his needs. They were able to help him start his training quickly and connect him to quality jobs. His Scholar Advocate also provided him with assistance he didn’t expect at first, “The support has been great! As a Veteran, oftentimes when you need assistance, not many are willing to help. But my interaction with all within the KC Scholars program was great!”. After finishing his time with Great Jobs KC, Willis would tell anyone looking for a better job or trying to transition as he has to reach out to Great Jobs KC, “Great Jobs KC should be your first choice”.
Without the motivation or dedication to achieve a better life, success like Willis’ wouldn’t be seen. Willis shares that his motivation has been to get into the transportation industry and one day own and operate his business again. He wants to be someone young people can admire, especially as an Army Veteran, and show them how to be successful business owners. Willis is one of the many examples of Scholars that Great Jobs KC has helped to get back on the track they want.
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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.
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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.
