It's once again time for our annual recap of the year’s activities.  It seems like 2007 was a whirlwind year, beginning in January with representation of several construction clients and organizations relative to Kansas City’s work on a revised Minority and Women Business  ordinance, and creation of a new Workforce Diversity Utilization Ordinance.  I was honored to work with representatives of the Builders Association, Heavy Constructors Association, City Hall, Minority Contractors Association, Asian American Chamber of Commerce, Friends Group, KC Council of Women Business Owners, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, KCHACE, AFL/CIO, Building Trades Council, Women Construction Owners and Executives, National Association of Women Business Owners, the Jackson County legislators and Sports Authority, representatives of the Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs, and other groups too numerous to mention.   This effort started the year out on a positive note, representing an effective coalition of seemingly diverse groups and viewpoints engaging in dialogue, expanding our mutual understanding, and resulting in a consensus adaptation resulting in two ordinances creating a  win / win result for the city in general and a concerted effort towards building recruits in the construction trades specifically.  This effort represented a proactive legislative initiative working at its best.  If you haven’t already done so, be sure to check out the innovative work done by the Builders Association and the Kansas City School District in developing and introducing a construction based math curriculum into the city’s standard programs.  This curriculum, in conjunction with a new focus on votech training and recruitment, should prove invaluable in building youth interest in future careers in construction.

            This year our main activities included numerous public speaking engagements and articles covering minority and women business certification, commercial construction issues in Missouri and Kansas, constitutional issues surrounding affirmative action programs, business consultation, litigation, arbitration, and that endeavor most favorable to the clients – early settlements!  The firm continues to pride itself on a record of achieving early and favorable settlements in the majority of disputes it handles, thus saving the client significant dollars in legal fees associated with protracted litigation with no guaranteed outcomes.

            Due to a significant jump in business in 2007, the Firm expanded it’s office staff to include not only the firm’s long-time paralegal and all around Gal Friday, Noelle Wilson, but a new Gal Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Debbie Waid.  Both Noelle and Debbie are happy to help when I’m out of the office in meetings, court or travel. I’m always proud to hear compliments from clients and business associates about how great Noelle and Debbie are to work with.  While we all know that, it’s good to hear from others as well.

            In 2007 I was also proud to work with the Kansas City Chapter of National Association of Women Business Owners in the creation of a new Youth / Mentorship program, “Potential of Pink”.  The first year class represented an incredible and inspiring group of young women who make us very excited about the potential of tomorrow’s leaders!

           

with “Potential of Pink” Youth Proteges

Katie Scanlon, Jenny Mae Hartz, and Jameicha Prater at “Indigo Wild”

            Fiscal 2007 was also a year of much recognition for the work done previously by the Firm.  While we are proud of these recognitions, we also recognize that none of them would be possible without the backing and support of our long term clients and business associates.  So we’re taking this opportunity to thank our friends and our clients for their significant part in each of the following recognitions received in 2007, which include:

KC Business Magazine “50 + 1 Most Influential Businesswomen” 

Small Business Administration Regional Woman in Business Champion of the Year 

WIPP (Women Impacting Public Policy) National Public Policy Advocate of the Year 

Oxygen / Time Warner / Flourish Magazine “She Did What” Award

National Association Women Business Owners – Kansas City Member of the Year

Denise with WIPP National President Barbara Kasoff – Washington, DC