Twelve six 2015 mag by KCSoul.com Presents TWELVE

This magazine is called TWELVE to note its monthly presence, only TWELVE times a year. Also, and more importantly, TWELVE is a symbol of time. So it represents timely information and the central point by which life events are measured. And of course, timepieces are part of the finer things, perfect for our core readers in pursuit of sophisticated living. Welcome to TWELVE.

Volume III, Issue VI

COVER

JUNE 2015

TECH N9NE DON’T MISS

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Calendar 52

Welcome to number SIX of TWELVE. This is the Money issue. It’s time we talk about economic empowerment, career and business development opportunities.

TWELVE Magazine is part of the KCSoul.com network. Owned by H.G.E. Marketing, LLC. (H.G.E.). Views & opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of H.G.E. or contributors.

Review the calendar to discover upcoming events and take note of what’s happening in the city.

INSIDE

This issue correlates to our 4th Annual Network with the 100. It’s the live interactive opportunity to learn, grow and build in money matters.

NETWORK Welcome Sarah

LIFE: Time & Money

MILLIONAIRE SUCCESS John Walker

FRAUD

MONEY RULES FED RESERVE

FITNESS

MUSIC: Tech N9ne

You have an opportunity to contribute to the content by writing, submitting story suggestions, and of course, attending the launch events and more. Contact us at info@twelvekc.com to get involved and send us feedback, too! Sincerely,

Ken L kcsoul.com

@TWELVEKC

What’s Different? Read It & Experience it Live Though a lifestyle publication isn’t unique, TWELVE evolves the genre. It’s the only magazine that you both read and live. We set out to create more than a literary piece. We’ve merged both the online world and the live event into the “magazine experience”. Once a month, we release a new issue of the magazine. The release is paired with a live launch event, where the feature elements and characters of our magazine are brought to life for you to touch, taste, feel and experience. The live experience becomes part of gathering ground of additional stories, photos, and more for the final written magazine.

SPECIAL THANKS To all of Our Writers, Designers, Planners, Contributors, Advertisers & Supporters of Xii.

PICTURED: SARAH FLETCHER Photo By: Ken Lumpkins

Ken L. Shemeka Cockerm Keyana Collins Kween Colston DJ Franklin Jasmine Jackson Raye Jackson Diamond Jones Katrina Leonard Clarence Lomax Iman Lott Sherry Lumpkins LeAndrea Mack Randi McCreary Carlanda McKinney Gary Mitchell Casie Murff Kendra Neal Earl Smith Tony Van Trece Jessikha Williams Christopher White

twelvekc.com twelve@kcsoul.com

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BUSINESS

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CONNECT

NETWORK TO YOUR NEXT OPPORTUNITY

Sometimes on the road to success and achieving our goals we need more resources beyond what we have currently. This can be especially true when we feel stuck and options appear to be minimal. An excellent opportunity to get energized again is to network in new groups and circles.

Welcome Sarah Coach & Development Specialist Greatness Realized

Networking is an excellent way to move further, faster. It allows for collaboration and the sharing of perspectives as it relates to similar goals and interests. You make new connections, expand your reach, and learn new things. Do keep in mind that networking is an art, a skill to be honed. Here are some tips to keep in mind: Networking is not a one way street. Approach networking as an opportunity to serve. Those seeking to make meaningful connections, should seek to add value wherever connections are made. This approach and understanding creates longlasting meaningful connections and open up greater possibilities for everyone. Create personal touch points during conversation. Make eye contact and address people by name. Whether the conversation is business or social, attention to these details will yield more productive and impactful outcomes. Finally, consider taking an extra step and sending notes of gratitude and appreciation to new connections thanking them for their time and noting why connecting with them is meaningful to you. Expressing gratitude and other small steps like this create a positive lasting impression. By Welcome Sarah

Time’s value –more than just money By Brian Foster

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s humans, our relationship with the concept of time is as fluid as a river: it holds a myriad of twists and turns, transitioning between trickles and torrents, and it’s constantly flowing downhill. All life on earth is dependent upon water, which qualifies it, arguably, our most precious resource. I submit that, while water is undeniably necessary to sustain life, the value of time cannot be overstated. It IS possible to have too much water. In most instances, when one references time in terms of value, business and money is invariably the theme. After all, “earning a living” is a necessity, in order to obtain the items we require to sustain our lives. You don’t need to be an economist to understand the symbiotic relationship between time and money; every second of the business day is an opportunity to earn a dollar, and any time not devoted to that enterprise is an opportunity lost. The investment and banking world espouses a very simple ideal: money + time = more money. Of course, the competing firms for your money will tell you that the skill and experience they bring to bear in the management of “...when, where, money is the key factor, but and how to inultimately, that’s all they’re vest our time is selling: “Give me your crucial for enmoney and some time, and suring a graduI’ll return more money to ated return on you.” The trick is to have that investment.” enough money to afford to invest, and the time to wait until it grows. While you’re waiting, life is still happening, and requires sustenance, shelter, and whatever amenities to which we’ve become accustomed. When I say “amenities” I’m not just referring to luxury items; toothpaste is an amenity…but many of us believe it’s key to dental hygiene. Believe it or, brushing your teeth is one of the many time-investment decisions we make every day without even realizing it. From the moment we awake to the moment we fall asleep, our time management choices are on full display, testing and growing our experience. Faced with decisions on how best to spend the time we have, our selections speak volumes regarding what we view as important: 11

ELEVATE

When that alarm clock goes off, do I immediately get out of bed to begin my day, or do I “invest” in an extra 10 minutes of sleep for my body? How long do I take to shower, shave, and brush my teeth? Do I sit with the kids and have some fruit before they head to school, or do I grab a donut at the coffee shop near work, so I can get a head start on the waiting emails? Do I take my full lunch hour at the cafeteria, or do I heat up a Hot Pocket and eat at my desk? Should I skip the gym today, so I can get home a little earlier? On the commute today, do I listen to NPR, the sports talk show, my audiobook, or funk out to one of my compilation CDs? When I get home, do I grab the remote out of my kids’ hands? Do I even ask them about their day, when I know they’re not going to tell me anything? Cook dinner or order a pizza? “SportsCenter” or “Letterman?” Or, perhaps, go to sleep earlier so I get enough rest?

As anyone who is about their business knows, when, where, and how to invest our time is crucial for ensuring a graduated return on that investment. Encouraging employees to make decisions as if they owned the company is a common tactic business leaders use to empower their workforce. If everyone views the way they spend their time as impactful to the success of the enterprise, the result is, hopefully, a more focused and efficient staff and a thriving company. I submit that, based on the bulleted list above, each of us owe ourselves the same level of examination – viewing our entire life’s journey as a business, in order to achieve the optimum result. In my way of thinking, there are three aspects of a person’s existence in which one’s time investment should be carefully considered and balanced: (Continued on page 13)

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100 Black Men KC: Use Your Time Wisely (Continued from page 11)

Physical well-being and health (“the body”) Mental acuity and flexibility (“the mind”) Relative state of happiness and contentment (“the spirit”) The world can be an extremely fast-paced place. There are literally thousands of distractions competing for our attention. In our drive to be successful – or, more often, to reflect the appearance of success – it is understandable when shortcuts are pursued. Chasing that “paper” can mean sacrificing sleep, nutrition, and physical fitness. Many of us begin this habit in college; making decisions outside of the watchful eye of our parents for the first time, we make sure that no opportunity for social interaction is missed, then study during hours best devoted to resting – eating anything that remotely resembles food.

We don’t know what we don’t know…and maybe, we like it that way. Decades of developing bad eating, exercising, and resting habits – that’s how easy it is for a society to become

obese, America. Typically, it’s never too late to undo some of the damage. A few minutes of investment each day to plan proper meals, exercise moderately (e.g., a 10-minute walk), and add 45 minutes to your sleep will pay off in sustainable, sound health.

The Internet – what I like to refer to as the 21st century library – provides access to virtually all of mankind’s accumulated recorded knowledge, yet illiteracy rates are shockingly high. I’ve heard college and high school instructors project a slow death for proper grammar, as students weaned on emojis and SMS shorthand turn in reports, essays, and other assignments that are increasingly unintelligible. Even with the advent of eBooks and tablets, America isn’t reading well…certainly not at the level it used to. Where one used to seek out books for adventure (and I include comic books in that equation), video games now serve Brian Foster, Immediate Past President, 100 Black Men of that escapist Greater Kansas City. Visit 100blackmenkc.org function. While I enjoy playing (Continued on page 16)

There is but one universal pursuit which every human being on the planet share: 13

we all want to be happy.

BUSINESS

PRINTING MONEY $50Million Dollars Annually! John Walker leads KC’s Largest Black business. Here’s How: 5 Steps For Business Success

ou’ve heard the phrase, “Printing Money”. It refers to making a great deal of money and is equated with success. This term has a double meaning when we speak of John Walker, the Chairman and CEO of Perfect Output, LLC. Not only is he successful, having built the largest Black-owned business in the city, with over $50 million in sales annually, a big part of his business is printing and document output services. The metaphor “printing money” is particularly applicable. Walker founded Perfect Output, LLC in 1997 to serve customers looking for customized, highly service-oriented document output devices and service solutions. Walker gained his experience in corporate America right out of school. He first joined IBM, then moved Blue Cross & Blue Shield where he would spend 26 years, holding executive positions including Vice President of Information Services and later, CIO. He would ultimately serve as BCBS’s Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer leading departments such as Finance, Marketing, Customer Service and IT. “In 1997, I decided to leave to start a consulting organiza(Continued on page 20)

TIME & VALUE for me, the churchgoing experience is central video games with my kids – or even by myself – to my spiritual feeding), because the intent of I don’t feel necessarily enriched by the experiworship – other than being thankful for life – ence, nor do I feel that I’ve is to remind yourself of added anything of particular the mission: service. substance to my consciousWinston Churchill said, ness. It’s true that “Fast & “We make a living by The kids who don’t Furious” movies are a relawhat we get, but we read for themtively enjoyable two hours of make a life by what we my time, but I didn’t walk out give.” Accumulating selves are robbed of the theater thinking, “I just wealth is a worthwhile of that opportunity became a better driver.” pursuit, and the most Charles Dickens transported tangible reward of the to self-examine, me to Oliver Twist’s world, time invested in acquirand ultimately, to and as a result, the experiing it. More so, there’s ence of reading the story nothing at all wrong self-improve. Oscontributed to my character. with spending your car Wilde once The kids who don’t read for hard-earned money on themselves are robbed of that whatever you desire. said, “It is what you opportunity to self-examine, Showering yourself, read when you and ultimately, to selfyour family, and your improve. Oscar Wilde once friends with baubles is don’t have to that said, “It is what you read gratifying, and sharing determines what when you don’t have to that your blessings with you will be when determines what you will be worthy causes can be when you can’t help it.” fulfilling. Volunteering you can’t help it.” Yes, reading requires a sigsome of your time to nificant time investment, but help someone is perenriching one’s mind is not haps the greatest gift only a profound experience, one can offer. Bebut keeps the brain cells cause the resource functioning at a high level. cannot be replicated, volunteering to give freely of your time offers a satisfaction equal There is but one universal pursuit which every in preciousness to the time being invested. human being on the planet share: we all want For a genuine pursuit of happiness and fulfillto be happy. I say happiness, instead of life, ment, it truly is better to give than to receive. because all one really needs to live is food to eat, water to drink, air to breathe, and shelter Spending time making money is prudent; from the elements. We work to earn enough spending all your time making money severely money to ensure those basic necessities are depreciates time’s true value. Of course, you covered; we break our necks for that which don’t have to agree with me. I won’t invest in makes life worth living. This often translates to arguing about this; I can wait. material possessions and experiences that others might view as extravagances…which they As Thomas Paine famously wrote: “Time are. Some psychologists would suggest that makes more converts than reason.” what we’re doing is attempting to feed our souls. I’m not talking about church (although, (Continued from page 13)

GALLERY Photo: Jessikha Williams

Picture of Success Some of our participating executives for the 4th Annual Network with the 100 Melvin Porter, UMB; Andrea Hendricks, Fed Reserve; Stan Beatty, Fed Reserve; Willetta Willis-McGhee, Fleishman Hillard; Mark Watson, Fed Reserve, Ted Crews, KC Chiefs, Tammy Edwards, Fed Reserve, Carla Wilson, UMKC, Fred Wise, Hallmark; Pat Brown-Dixon, US SBA; Pete Burney, Hallmark.

50 MILLION DOLLAR PLAN (Continued from page 14)

tion around IT business process and outsourcing services, and staffing for many of the businesses I had garnered some great relationships with. Xerox approached me about the time I was leaving and wanted us to come up with a strategic partnership to sell their products and services through our company, for companies that wanted a diverse solution.” The rest, as they say, is history.

Everything centers on doing what’s best for your customer. You do that and you do that well then you keep customers for life because they understand what you’ve done on their behalf and to what degree. Network. When I left (Blue Cross & Blue Shield) I never had to look back because the network was already in place locally and nationally. Equally important 5 as those above, hire high-end talent. The problem we have as small businesses is the fact that we can’t grow with our customers because we’re limited in our understanding and our scope. When you’ve got talented people that can do their jobs on behalf of the customer, you can continue to grow the business.

“Capital dollars real dollars need to be put into the process...FOR the nurturing and development of young people so they’re the next innovators to grow businesses.”

“From there we created some methodologies to strip out a lot of the costs for first Health Midwest, Turner, Hallmark, St. Luke’s Health Systems, and Sprint. In 2009, Sprint decided to outsource all of their document management and processed to us.” This along with the addition of new clients enabled Perfect Output to add a new portfolio of services. “It opened to the doors to business on a nationwide basis.” Walker approximates that 70% of the company’s revenue is national business, outside of KC.

Having achieved both corporate and entrepreneurial success, Walker is well-qualified to provide a lesson on “How to Make It Big”. Here’s what he prescribes:

First, have a vision and passion. You’ve got to see it. You’ve got to reticulate it and you’ve got to execute things that reach your vision. Be opportunistic. Never say what you can’t do. If it’s part of your vision, you should be able to figure out how you can do it and what value you can create for customer.

With money in the bank, a national network of clients, it would seem that Walker is close to the finish line, but he’s hungry for more. Walker says, “I’d like to see us become a $300-500 million dollar company. I’m a long way away from that but we’re establishing the building blocks. Then I can turn it over to my daughter, Farrah, who’s in business with me to continue the growth with her vision and passion.” The other priority is the success Walker wants to see for the African-American community. “I’ve served in a variety of roles, as a founder of Full Employment Council, on boards for organizations such as the Urban League, Opportunity Industrialization center and others, but more is needed”, he says. “Reaching inside our culture, our system and ‘Growing People’ is what we have to do. We don’t do

(Continued on page 22)

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50 MILLION DOLLAR PLAN (Continued from page 20)

enough of it and we don’t do it to the degree that’s needed”. He continues, “Capital dollars real dollars - need to be put into the process. I’m not talking about in school systems itself, but the nurturing and development of young people so they’re the next innovators to grow businesses.” Understanding the opportunities as an entrepreneur and the changing landscape of business, he explains that we need to think and act differently to get ahead. “Not everyone should stay in corporate America. Not everybody’s going to reach the pinnacle that I reached in corporate America. I happened to be in the right place at the right time. With competition and things going global, very few of us are going to rise to the top.”

continued

ture. “Be creative around it, embrace it, bring your understanding to it to get the contracts.” Even as a leader, Walker has learned from others along the way. “Dr. Leon Sullivan of the Sullivan Principles was on the General Motors board, IBM board and others. He would come to KC and say ‘wake up’, to the kinds of things that need to take place in technology. He told a story of walking through GM’s dining room and kitchen, seeing his eggs being stirred by robotics. “This was 20 years ago.” Walker emphasizes that robots will continue to be able to handle service jobs. “You have to think toward the future to have a company that repairs the robots.”

“We need young people to emulate sustainable jobs for the future. We need buildings cleaned, but that’s not where the money is made.”

Like his own career path, Walker postulates that the corporate route might be the start, but greater achievements and contributions can lie in evolving into a business owner. “I used to tell interns, learn as much as you can inside the organization and go out and apply that through the networking relationships you’ve garnered and start something, grow it, and bring the talent in to become an entrepreneur from a small business standpoint and grow your business.”

The Future

One of the greatest lessons we can learn is to position ourselves for the future in high-demand businesses. “Often in Kansas City the kinds of businesses we have —such as janitorial and food service – are not the businesses we need for the future. We don’t have technology companies. You almost have to go to Chicago, Atlanta, New York, Dallas, Los Angeles and others, to bring in technology personnel for companies like Sprint, because we’re married to service businesses, and that’s not where businesses are going.” Walker views technology and S.T.E.M. jobs as the fu-

Today with technology, information, reach, and consumption quadruples every five years. “We need young people to emulate sustainable jobs for the future. We need buildings cleaned, but that’s not where the money is made,” says Walker. To further illustrate the technology advancements, he brings up the changing pace of car dealerships. “Lexus is getting rid of the dealerships. Lexus cars will be 70% marketing and 30% in the repair unit.” Forbes has an article, “The Future of Car Retailing” that substantiates his point. Dealers will have fewer cars onsite, but people can compose the type of car they want, drive it virtually in showrooms, and purchase the actual car digitally. “My point: you have to understand the technology and where things are going.”

The Business Lesson...In Conclusion Walker summarizes his lesson on how to build business and make money with this. “Start with vision, be opportunistic. Money, you can figure out how to get it if you’ve got the right idea. People are willing to fund you if you’ve got an idea and they can see how it fits into what you’re trying to sell or service. www.perfectoutput.com

SECURITY

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FRAUD In God We Trust, Everyone Else….

By Iman Lott

o to school, work hard, save, invest, and don’t overspend. Those used to be the five dependable money rules to yield a comfortable living. Those guidelines didn’t take into account the nefarious nature of the few that are all too happy to lay claim to your earnings. Millions annually are knowingly and unknowingly affected by some sort of fraudulent activity. Thus, “Security” is the new key to today’s financial management. Twelve spoke with Jabari Wamble, a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice in the Kansas City, Kansas office about the most common patterns of fraud and how you may be able to avoid them. “If it seems too good to be true it probably is” says Wamble reminding us of an old adage that still holds true today. It’s the first layer of protection against white collar crime such as the longstanding Ponzi scheme. In a Ponzi scheme, the perpetrator collects money ostensibly for the purpose of investing it. Then, rather than actually investing the money and paying genuine returns to the investor, he simply uses new “investment” monies to pay earlier investors. It’s a scheme that is guaranteed to collapse because, the perpetrator has to continually bring in new 24

investors to pay old investors and the more investors he brings in, the more investors he has to pay. Eventually, the amount of money owed to investors far exceeds the amount of new money being brought in. However, the scheme remains popular since it was made famous by Charles Ponzi in 1920, because it can run for years before collapsing. Operators usually entice new investors by offering better returns than other investments, in the form of short-term returns that are either atypically high or strangely consistent. “What gets people in the most trouble”, explains Wamble, “is they are approached by someone that they know and at the end of the day it was too good to be true. Individuals find themselves without their money and without resources and really embarrassed”. This speaks to the fact that part of the blame is often on the actual victims. Sometimes, it’s the victim’s own greed, not only the culprit’s, which makes them susceptible to financial crimes. Bernard “Bernie” Madoff, and his New York firm, raised Ponzi schemes to a whole new high. In what’s been called (Continued on page 26)

(Continued from page 24)

the “Scam of the Century”, he perpetrated a multi-billion dollar Ponzi scheme, the largest financial fraud in U.S. history, reportedly affecting potentially 50,000 investors. Estimated to have been a two-decade lie, it finally ended in 2008 with Madoff receiving a 150-year prison sentence. This fraudulent operation is not just on Wall Street. It happens close to home and can come from just about any place, ranging financial managers to even churches. “We find often people don’t report it when they should because they’ve been victimized by someone whom they know and love, or at least trusted”. In today’s digital age, trust isn’t a requirement. Accounts and finances are unknowingly raided every day. Every credit card swipe, request for a social security number, and unsecured computer, is subject to illegal use. Victims suffer loss of money and credit and sometimes irreparable harm to their livelihood. “You’ve probably seen on television where large retail stores have had credit card breaches and millions of customers’ information is just floating out there. Unknown to a lot of people, their personal information is considered currency and is sold on the black market to individuals anywhere in the world who use it or resell it. This makes it hard to track who the perpetrator is because of how it’s sold, packaged, and processed on the internet”. Wamble says another current trend in fraud is identity theft which de-

scribes the unlawful use of someone else’s identifying information, such as name, social security number, bank accounts, etc. Identify theft comes in various forms with a recent surge in one particular form, tax fraud. “Many people file their taxes in March and April but fraudsters are filing in January and February before you, attempting to assume your identity and collect any returns coming to you.” Wamble recommends checking your credit report by calling the credit bureau and having them run a credit check. If you notice items on it that you don’t recognize or charges inconsistent with your spending habits, report the activity as soon as possible. “Unfortunately, the investigative process is slow. This happens every second of the day and is considered a criminal act. Criminal investigations don’t move fast. The reality is millions of people every year have to deal with this and in this day and age it is very difficult to track down who the perpetrator is. It can take months or even years to come back from something like this”. Wamble says while it’s impossible to completely insulate yourself from potential fraud, even with best technology and security, there are a few keys to remember that can greatly reduce your risks. “Guard your personal information with discretion. Don’t give your social security number out to people or organizations you don’t trust. You can also go to IRS.gov and they have tools you can use to alert them as well as a tax payer advocate that can work with you if you have issues concerning identity theft and tax fraud”.

“Many people file their taxes in March and April but fraudsters are filing in January and February before you, attempting to assume your identity and collect any returns coming to you.”

Jabari Wamble Assistant US Attorney Department of Justice

Photo: Ken Lumpkins

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s BACK! The 2nd Annual Work of Art Calendar. Sign up to be a part of the style or production team! info@twelvekc.com

2016

BANKING

MONEY RULES ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TIME WE JOIN THE CONVERSATION AND THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF KANSAS CITY CAN HELP

(l to r.) Melissa Norwood: Manager - Retail Payments Technology Services; Andrea Hendricks: Deputy Director of Diversity and Inclusion and Organizational Development - Human Resources; Stan Beatty: Assistant Vice President - Financial Services

rom the beginning, “money” has been the great divider. It’s separated the poor from the rich, and forged the class structure defined by haves and have-nots. Money is a determining factor in who receives the opportunities and even influences the justice system. As we examine the situation in the urban community, we discover the great equalizer is first and foremost education.

(l to r.) Mark Watson: Vice President - Research Tammy Edwards: Vice President - Regional, Public & Community Affairs Porcia Block: SRM Manager - Supervision & Risk Management

(Front to Back) Melissa Norwood; Tammy Edwards, Stan Beatty, Porcia Block; Andrea Hendricks, Jeff Legette, Mark Watson

(Continued from page 31)

When it comes to wealth, we need to know what it is and how to get it, keep it, and grow it. It’s natural for the rich to pass on money lessons of inheritance, wealth and ownership. However, the African-American majority has never been on parity of ownership, or even basic civil rights, to be able to garner this same education. Lack of trust—in people and systems—further exacerbates the issue. Though we won’t bridge the gaps in money education or ownership in one issue, at TWELVE, we seek to bring awareness and “conscious living” to this issue. Here, we provide you with a few insights on money from those who know, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, which supervises financial institutions and sets policies on money.

THE NATION’S BANK Founded in 1914, the Federal Reserve Bank of 32

Kansas City is one of 12 Regional Reserve Banks, which, along, which, along with the Board of Governors in Washington, D.C., make up the Federal Reserve System. As the central bank for the United States, the Federal Reserve System is responsible for three mission areas: setting the nation’s monetary policy, providing financial services to depository institutions, and supervising and regulating financial institutions. The System’s structure, which includes local boards of directors and advisory councils at each Reserve Bank, ensures that a broad spectrum of views from the public at the regional level is used in national policy deliberations. The Kansas City Fed employs about 1,350 people at its head office in Kansas City and at Branch offices in Denver, Oklahoma City and Omaha. The Bank is responsible for the Tenth Federal Reserve District, an area that includes Colorado,

Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wyoming, northern New Mexico and western Missouri.

HOW SAFE IS YOUR MONEY? Following the financial crisis of 2008, Congress passed new legislation in 2010, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The goal of this legislation was to reform the country’s financial regulatory system by imposing more stringent requirements on financial institutions and creating new agencies, including the Financial Stability Oversight Council and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. More information and background about the law is available at http://www.federalreservehistory.org/ Events/DetailView/59. At the Kansas City Fed specifically, an entire division of more than 320 employees is dedicated to supervising and monitoring financial institutions in our seven-state region. These employees conduct examinations of institutions to ensure compliance with safety and soundness and consumer protection regulations; review applications from institutions seeking to merge, open new branches or change ownership structure; and collect financial data, analyze banking industry trends to identify emerging issues and potential areas of concern.

HOW CAN THE COMMUNITY GET EDUCATED ON MONEY?

The Kansas City Fed is dedicated to helping consumers and young people better understand how their financial choices affect their future. In 2014, the Bank hosted educational programs that reached nearly 20,000 people in urban or underserved areas across our District, including more than 1,500 urban high school students who participated in Bank-led educational programs. One of our hallmark programs is our Student Board of Directors. This program is designed for high school students in the Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas, school districts. More information on this is found on p. 25 of our OMWI Annual Report on diversity, or at http:// www.kansascityfed.org/education/foreducators/ student-board/index.cfm 33

Another key program is our Summer @ the Fed program, in which members of our Student Board program join the Bank as paid summer interns and lead financial education programs throughout the Kansas City community. More info on this is on p. 27 of our diversity report. In addition, our Money Museum provides a great opportunity for people to learn more about how their money works and the Fed’s role in the economy. Located at 1 Memorial Drive in Kansas City, the Museum is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and admission is free. More info is available at http:// www.kansascityfed.org/moneymuseum.

NOW HIRING

Some of the areas in which we recruit candidates include customer service and support, economic research, banking supervision, financial services and technology (including application development, information management and big data). Recently, the Bank announced plans to hire up to 200 new technology professionals over the next three years. These positions are needed as the Bank’s duties have expanded in monetary policy, banking supervision and financial services, including services to the U.S. Treasury Department.

“We want the best on our teams and offer more than you may expect in terms of career opportunities, compensation and benefits.”

The Bank is committed to ensuring its workforce represents the diversity of the District we serve. We recognize that diversity of thought and experience leads to innovative solutions to meet our current and future challenges. In order to meet this goal, the Bank recruits at diverse colleges and universities and part(Continued on page 51)

FITNESS By LeAndrea Mack Photos: Raye Jackson

W 34

ith so many people hitting the gym these days, it is easy to see losing weight as the big picture but running miles and pushing up as much weight as possible doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t complete the full fitness experience. Fitness goals should be treated like any other goal in life: devoting hard work and (Continued on page 38)

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LOOK LIKE A MILLION

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Clothing Courtesy Of: Todd's Clothiers & Tailor Shop 7052 W 135th St, Overland Park, KS, toddsclothiers.com

dedication to achieve results. Casie Murff, participant in the 2015 Natural Southern States Classic and the 2015 Heartland Classic bodybuilding competitions, says, “So many people forget or just don’t understand that their diet is 80% of meeting their goals. I see so many people dedicated to fitness but only see minimal results because of their diets. I guarantee those same people would see significant changes if they focused on their diet combined with working out 3 to 4 days a week.” Fitness devotee, Casie Murff loves barb-que, soul food, and pizza, so when he decided to commit to bodybuilding and fitness, he knew his biggest challenge would be changing his diet but believes that the change is the key reason he’s attained the level he has to date. Casie had always worked out regularly and admits that his motivation was diminishing. He needed something that would allow him to continue his fitness journey and step his game up. He began watching friends who competed in fitness and bodybuilding shows. He says, “They kept encouraging me to compete, so one day I said, ‘why not’. There were times that I wanted to quit but when I thought about the time and money I had already invested in it. Quitting wasn’t an option.” It was only when Casie fully committed to training for fitness competitions that he truly began to see and understand that how the body responds to what is put in it. When asked what Casie’s diet normally consists of, he said: My diet is constructed in a hybrid manner. It is extreme because of my training for shows. I do a combo of low carb, Paleo, and low to no sugar. 38

I would suggest for a person who is not competing and just wants to stay healthy and look their best to get with a trainer. Pick your trainer wisely, one who has been there and done that and is looking out for your best interest and not just to get paid. Casie currently trains with the Men’s Physique North American Natural Bodybuilding Federation Pro, Craig

So many people forget or just don’t understand that their diet is 80% of meeting their goals. I see so many people dedicated to fitness but only see minimal results because of their diets. Donnell, who recently won 1st place overall at the 2015 NPC Midway USA Championship in Wichita. They train with A to Z Fitness at the Train for Warriors Facility in Lenexa, KS and Lee’s Summit, MO. Follow Casie Murff on Facebook, Instagram and twitter to get tips, tricks and glimpses of his diet plan.

From fitness to finance, if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re interested in being featured, email info@twelvekc.com for consideration. twelvekc.com

EXECS

Melvin Porter

UMB Vice President

orn and raised in Kansas City, MO. Melvin attended school in the KC school district. Later, he received a B.S. Accounting from DeVry University and MBA from Baker University.

With Over 19 years in the financial services industry, including work at State Street Bank Kansas City as a fund manager, Melvin is now with UMB Bank, operating as Trust/Custody Operations Manager, VP. Melvin manages multiple teams that perform various securities service functions across the entire footprint of the bank. He supports the main lines of business to include Private Wealth Management, Investment Banking, Institutional Asset Management, Investors Banking & Institutional Services, and Corporate Trust Operations. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s married to his wife Marquetta and has two children, Brittany & Melvin. 40

GRADS

SALUTING THE CLASS OF 2015 Pictured: Graduate,Vincent Tabb and members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Delta Rho Chapter at UMKC.

MUSIC Photos Courtesy: Strange Music

Tech N9ne NO STOPPING NOW

“I

f you’re from a certain area there’s nothing better than to represent where you grew up.” This is our mantra at TWELVE so we appreciate hearing this from Tech N9ne. Now making global moves, he never misses a moment to let listeners know about the home town. (Continued on page 48)

When I hear a dope beat, I’m just going to go and I can’t change that.

“Represent where you grew up. I love my city. I love Gates barbecue, I love Jack Stack. I love Niece's. I love the Plaza. I love where I grew up Wayne Minor…Michigan on 58 th St. This is what I know and I rap what I know. I still live in KC. Even after I moved to L.A. I came back to my comfort zone. I tell people all over the world, when we do Einstein even overseas… K-C-MO. If you don’t know, you’re not really paying attention. My whole career is me banging for Kansas City. This is my home.

Success-Right on Time Tech N9ne is synonymous with success these days. Known for the most robust touring regimen in rap, more than a decade owning the most successful independent rap label, solidi48

fied with an independently released gold single, and recurring placement on Forbes’ Hip-Hop Cash Kings list. Now with Special Effects his 15th studio album, he’s now getting the recognition to match what the numbers have already clearly shown. “This is a beautiful place to be: to get Eminem to say ‘yes’; Corey Taylor of Slipknot to say ‘yes’; T.I. 2 Chainz, B.o.B. Yo Gotti, Lil Wayne, Audio Push, E-40 to say ‘yes’; and we all work together to make this album the best one I’ve ever done. This is wonderful place to be! To get validation of all my peers in music and saying, pretty much saying I’m doing this Tech, just for love. But this is only the beginning of getting bigger for next week.” Considered his best work to date, the new album, Special Effects, stays true to Tech N9ne’s need to deliver true emotion—passion and pain, break-up heartache, frustrations and woes. Through it all, he’s

focused on the lyrical content all the while conscious of the needs of his fans that want to party, with cuts like Hood Go Crazy. Tech N9ne considers this album to be a bridge builder. “This album is making a way for me to approach Gary Clark, Jr., and Jay-Z again and get it; Marsha Ambrosius of Floetry like I’ve always want to; OutKast and get both of them on track, I pray. This is not ‘we made it’. This is: we have to prove why we have these summer jams and headline shows like Rock Fest. We have to show these people that are paying attention now why we have this position, so we can go even bigger, on the next one, so no, I’m not complacent at all. This album is dedicated to my mom. I don’t think this is a coincidence that this is biggest album I’ve ever had. Number 1 rap, R&B Billboard, No. 1 independent, out of the top 200, the No. 4 on Billboard. So I think I have a real angel with me now. This album is dedicated to her. Thanks to all my Technicians that agree that this is my best work and spreading it to everyone else. This is the one.”

Kansas City Artists...In Due Time Kansas City has had a handful of artists, in recent years with some moderate success, but nothing sustaining. Tech N9ne is often the solo name in the conversation on national players. “It’s just now opening up, but you gotta think, Tech N9ne is not the norm. Black due, painted face, red-spiked hair. What the hell is that? We don’t need another one of those, but now they want another one of those. They’re not going to get another one of those, ‘cause I’m one-of-akind.” Tech N9ne does his part to not just rep the town in his music but as co-owner of recording label, Strange Music, he brings other KC artists along. “I signed Ces Cru, born and raised in KC. Krizz Kaliko, Kutt Kalhoon, Big Scoob. The list goes on and on. We have a lot of talent in KC. The Popper, GRock, Joey Cool, Jay L from B-Hood, been rapping with me forever. These are KC artists with so much talent, it just needs to be opened all the way up. It’s not too late. I’ll be the one helping open this up this thing up all the way.”

On Success (Continued on page 51)

INSPIRED Author, Georgetown Professor and NPR Host Dr. Michael Eric Dyson gave a public lecture on April 29th. Saint Paul School of Theology hosted the event as part of the Cleaver Lecture in Religion and Public Life. The event drew a full house and was held at St. James United Methodist Church, 5540 Wayne Ave, Kansas City, MO. Michael Eric Dyson, named by Ebony as one of the hundred most influential black Americans, is also the author of sixteen books.

IN THE BANK: FED RESERVE (Continued from page 33) (Continued from page 49)

Keep up with Tech N9ne if you can. He’s not only taking over music, but other projects are underway like his beverage, Caribou Lou, and even movies. So how can others succeed on this level? “For me, my ‘Making It’ is longevity. Serving the people. Over and Over again.” If this is also your idea of success, Tech N9ne offers these pointers: It starts with the music. Beats with quality. “Without no pulse, there’s no life.” Business sense to get to the people. Tour. Create merchandise, a walking billboard. It’s easier for youngsters now with Social Media and YouTube. You hit millions of people at once. Thank God for technology now for upcoming artists. Distribution. Learn where and how to press music the correct way and get it to the people. Money. It’s takes money to press up CDs, posters, and flyers for a show or tickets. Money is what you need to make it happen. I tell everybody that ‘cause it can be frustrating, but that’s what it takes.

Not Gonna Stop Fifteen studio albums and non-stop touring, it’s got to stop sometime, right? “I love music man. Ain’t no way my fans are ever gonna let me stop. I feel like I’m getting younger. I’m gonna do it till it goes away. When I hear a dope beat, I’m just going to go and I can’t change that. I don’t have a projected timeframe. I’m using this music to rejoice. I’m not gonna stop.”

Check out the Tech N9ne’s latest work. Cop Special effects and catch him on the road. www.strangemusicinc.com

ners with professional organizations such as the Urban Financial Services Coalition, INROADS, the National Black MBA Association, the National Minority Supplier Development Council and many others. As detailed in our 2014 diversity report, the number of total minority hires at the Bank has increased in each of the last three years. In addition, minorities make up 16.7 percent of our senior management team, more than double the average for organizations in the Kansas City metro area. Dr. Andrea Hendricks, assistant vice president and Deputy Director of the Office of Minority and Women Inclusion, helps lead the diversity efforts of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. She echoes the commitment to diversity. “In order to attract top performing, diverse talent, the Bank must have a strong, favorable and visible presence in the community. People must know who we are, what we do, and what we offer. We want the best on our teams and offer more than you may expect in terms of career opportunities, compensation and benefits. A career with the Bank also comes with the prestige of working for an organization that affects the everyday lives of people”, says Hendricks. As the Bank continues to build its talent pipeline over the next two years, she encourages career seekers to explore opportunities and information about their community involvement by visiting the Fed website. In addition to direct hires, you’ll also discover additional support is provided to minority and women-owned businesses through its supplier diversity strategy, thereby helping others create jobs. Find out more today. www.kansascityfed.org

CALENDAR

Add your events and more to kcsoul.com. Fri 06/05 UMKC 10th Annual Women of Color Leadership Conference UMKC Student Union 9:00 AM-5:00 PM Location: UMKC Student Union 5100 Cherry Street Kansas City, MO Select One 64110 Sat 06/06 Buffalo Soldier Ques White Pty Event type: Fundraiser Venue: Leavenworth Heritage Center: 109 Delaware Street Leavenworth KS Time: 8:00 PM - 1:00 AM Producer: OII chapter of Omega Psi Phi Contact: Cyrus Russ Email: terrence.griffin2@gmail.com Phone: 337-540-3453 buffalosoldierques.clubexpress.com/

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Event type: Community Action Venue: Brush Creek Community Center 3801 Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd, Kansas City, Mis: 3801 Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd, Kansas City, Time: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Contact: Howard Johnson Email: Phone: 913-909-5356 Web: https://www.facebook.com/ events/1452130315100569/ Mon 06/15 INROADS 20TH ANNUAL MIDWEST REGION GOLF TOURN Event type: Business - Finance Venue: Deer Creek Golf Course : 7000 W. 133rd Street Overland Park KS Time: 12:00 AM - 6:00 PM Producer: INROADS Golf Tournament Planning Committee - Alumni Contact: Mallorie Denmon Email: msdenmon82@gmail.com Phone:

Crescent Dr Lake Quivera KS Time: 6:30 PM - 1:00 AM Producer: AKA Upsilon Rho Omega Contact: akaupsilon rhoomega Email: akaupsil@akaupsilonrhoomega.com Fri 06/26 The Kansas City Greek Picnic 2015 STOMP DOWN 2 Event type: Performance Venue: Paseo High School: 4747 Paseo Kansas City MO Time: 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM Producer: Im Greek and Im Proud Contact: KC Greek PIcnic Email: kcgreekpicnic@gmail.com Phone:

Sat 06/13 Black Fathers Matter Flash Mkt Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church Event type: expo/fair Time: 10:00 AM-4:00 PM Location: Metro Missi. Baptist Church 2310 Linwood Blvd. Kansas City MO Producer: Black United Front

Thu 06/18 Festival on the Vine Gem Theater Time: 8:00 PM-10:00 PM Location: Gem Theater 1615 East 18th Street Kansas City Producer: KC Friends of Alvin Ailey

Sat 06/27 Brandon C. FauntleroyMcDowel 2015 Scholarship Luncheon Event type: Community Action Venue: Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Center: 3700 Blue Parkway Kansas City MO Time: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Producer: OXL Fdtn Contact: Jermain Wilson Email: omicronxilambda@omicronxilambda.org Phone: 8167261903 Web: http://www.omicronxilambda.org

Sat 06/13 16th Annual American Red Cross Charles Drew Comm Blood Drive 52

Fri 06/19 2015 Big Hats & Bow Ties Venue: Lake Quivera Country Club: 100

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