DOWN SYNDROME INNOVATIONS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Member / Founder, Mojica Ventures, LLC
Mr. Mojica has a wide range of experience in financial services including asset management, venture capital, investment and commercial banking. In 2018, he sold his ownership position in Tortoise Capital Advisors, a $20 billion energy-focused asset manager, which he helped to start in 2003 as an outgrowth of a private equity investment. While at Tortoise, Mr. Mojica developed the institutional portion of the business which accounted for most of the company's energy assets under management.
Prior to Tortoise, Mr. Mojica was a principal at venture capital firm Kansas City Equity Partners. He made early investments in Inergy Partners, LP (NRGY), High Sierra, MarkWest Energy Partners, LP (MWE) and Build-A-Bear Workshops (BBW). Mr. Mojica's experience also includes high-yield investment banking at First Chicago Capital Markets and commercial banking with Citigroup.
Mr. Mojica also includes serving as an adjunct faculty member at the Bloch School Business at the University of Missouri, where he taught the MBA level Venture Capital Finance course for six years. Mr. Mojica earned his bachelor of art in Economics and Political Science from the University of Chicago and his MBA in Finance from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
Abel Mojica, Member Founder, Mojica Ventures, LLC Mr. Mojica has a wide range of experience in financial services including asset management, venture capital, investment and commercial banking. In 2018, he sold his ownership position in Tortoise Capital Advisors, a $20 billion energy-focused asset manager, which he helped to start
Job Titles:
- Secretary / Chief Human Resources and Chief Administrative Officer, CrossFirst Bank
- Secretary, Board of Directors / Chief Operating Officer, CrossFirst Bank
Amy is an accomplished banking professional with more than 20 years of experience in operations. Today, she is the Chief Human Resources and Chief Administrative Officer at CrossFirst Bank. Previously, she served as Executive Vice President and COO of SolutionsBank where she directed all aspects of daily operations. Her experience also includes senior management positions at Hillcrest Bank and Citizens-Jackson County Bank.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Philanthropy
Amy began working at one of our legacy organizations in 2006, serving as Executive Director for First Downs for Down Syndrome. At Down Syndrome Innovations, she oversees philanthropy, stewardship and grants. Amy has over 20 years experience in event planning and philanthropy. Amy earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Education from the University of Kansas.
Job Titles:
- Vice President / Senior Vice President, CBRE
- Vice President, Board of Directors / Senior Vice President, CBRE
Since joining CBRE in 1993 as an Office Property Specialist, Bob Fagan has been involved in more than 1,100 projects with a gross consideration exceeding $1 billion. He has led or been an area team member for Fortune 500 companies' leasing assignments, serving both tenants and landlords. Prior to joining CBRE, Bob was the Vice President of a general contracting firm specializing in office building construction. His experience in construction and intricate contract negations has proven to be a significant benefit for his clients. At CBRE, Bob has been a consistent Top Five performer (1997 to 2017) with multiple years as the #1 producer, as well an international top performer.
Job Titles:
- Marketing Strategist With 25 Years of B2B
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Member / Retired, Human Resources Executive
- Member of the Board of Directors / Retired, Human Resources Executive
Deborah Kass possesses more than 20 years of Human Resource experience. Her background includes Vice President level roles with Walmart Stores, Inc., 10K Enterprises, Inc. (Burger King Franchise Group), US Bank Corp and Yellow Freight. Deborah most recently led the human resource division for KBP Foods. Among her professional accomplishments, Deborah also holds professional membership in Society for Human Resources Management.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- President
Jason became CEO in 2017. He has executive-level experience in higher education and healthcare. He has built a reputation for driving results, strengthening programs, enhancing financial stability and building infrastructures to grow organizations. He earned bachelor's degrees in Business Administration and Public Relations at MidAmerica Nazarene University and Master's and Doctorate degrees from the University of Kansas.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant - Part Time
Job Titles:
- Coach
- Employment Specialist - Part Time
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant - Part Time
Job Titles:
- Adult Continuing Education ( ACE ) Coach - Part Time
Job Titles:
- Adult Services Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Treasurer / Partner, Forvis
- Treasurer, Board of Directors / Partner, Forvis
Partner, Forvis Joe is a certified public accounting specializing in audit and assurance work for clients in the manufacturing/distribution, construction, transportation and service industries. His specialties include audit assurance, mergers and acquisitions and due diligence. Joe is the proud father of a young man with Down syndrome.
Job Titles:
- Wealth Management Consultant
Executive Vice President, Simplicity Life John Melvin is an experienced Wealth Management Consultant with a demonstrated history of work in the financial services industry. John's specialties include portfolio management, banking, private banking, investment management and financial planning.
Job Titles:
- Coach
- Adult Continuing Education ( ACE ) Coach - Part Time
Job Titles:
- Director of Adult Continuing Education
Job Titles:
- Speech - Language Pathologist
Job Titles:
- New Parent and Medical Outreach Specialist - Part Time
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant - Part Time
Job Titles:
- Board President / President & CEO, ReeceNichols
- President / President & CEO, ReeceNichols
As President and Chief Executive Officer, Mike ensures the long-term health of the ReeceNichols companies by assisting the team of managers, agents and employees with business issues. He ensures that ReeceNichols is innovative and progressive, and creates the vision for the future. The most rewarding part of his job is working with agents to help them become more profitable and efficient. Prior to joining the company in 2007, he worked in banking and with Hallmark Cards on the Crown Center Redevelopment.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Governance Committee
- Chairman, Governance Committee / President / CEO, KBP Foods
For more than a decade, Mike Kulp's passion for creating a A Great Place to Eat and A Great Place to Own has created a unique culture at KBP Foods. Under his direction, KBP Foods has grown from $7-million to $780 million in annual revenue over a 10 year period. He has been an active member of many local advertising cooperatives, serving as an executive board member in Atlanta, Tampa, Kansas City and Omaha DMA Cooperatives. Mike also serves as a member of the Core Products Improvement Council, the National Operations Committee and the Restaurant Margin Improvement Committee in partnership with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Michael dedicates service to several boards of directors, including Fresh Alternatives. In addition to his work with Down Syndrome Innovations, Mike is an active philanthropic member of community in partnership with Truman Medical Centers and the Kansas City Harvesters food bank.
President/CEO, KBP Foods For more than a decade, Mike Kulp's passion for creating a A Great Place to Eat and A Great Place to Own has created a unique culture at KBP Foods. Under his direction, KBP Foods has grown from $7-million to $780 million in annual revenue over
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Member / Vice President, University of Kansas Health System
- Member of the Board of Directors / Vice President, University of Kansas Health System
- Vice President for Ambulatory Services and Practice Management at the University of Kansas Health System
Russell Rein is the Vice President for Ambulatory Services and Practice Management at the University of Kansas Health System. Prior to his current role, Russell spent nearly 30 years in a variety of leadership roles at Mayo Clinic and Mayo Clinic Health System. He managed inpatient, outpatient and ancillary services for the Departments of Surgery, Enterprise Radiology, and Enterprise Cardiovascular Services Center.
Job Titles:
- Director of Creative Services
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Member / Managing Attorney, Shepherd Elder Law Group, LLC
For over 15 years, Samantha has served the elder care, special needs, and disabled communities as they plan for their healthcare and financial wellbeing. Utilizing her legal expertise and compassionate heart, Samantha has successfully helped individuals and families as aging and crisis have left them vulnerable to ensuring self-care. She listens, advises, and walks these challenging roads with her clients while bringing together local, statewide and federal resources all to respond most effectively to her clients' needs.
Samantha began her legal career upon graduation from Boston College School of Law. Her professional work experience includes positions with the Essex County District Attorney, Grant Schwartz & Brown, Banknorth Group, Broward County Legal Aid, National Association of Insurance Commissioners, & the Law Offices of Craig Reeves. During the latter portion of this time, Samantha also completed an LLM from the University of Missouri. In line with her entrepreneurial spirit, in 2009, Samantha started Shepherd Elder Law Group which since its opening has helped over 7,000 Kansas City and Hutchinson, KS families.
Samantha knows deeply of the challenges in navigating the care systems which exist for seniors, those with special needs, and the suddenly disabled. Seeing a need to further serve individuals with these vulnerabilities, Samantha started Assured Trust Company in June of 2020, which offers independent professional trust administration as well as care management services for those who need a helping hand.
Her experience in assisting families who are facing the challenges of IDD (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) led her to start a new charity, Special Needs Assured, in December of 2020. The mission of SNA is to provide individuals and families with education on the best practices of special needs planning and financial grants for under-funded special needs trusts. Samantha currently serves on the Board of Down Syndrome Innovations in Kansas City.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Lifespan Services
Sarah joined our organization in 2018. She has worked with people with developmental disabilities for over 25 years. Sarah oversees our educational and therapeutic services; and designs new, innovative programs to better serve the Down syndrome community. She is a licensed occupational therapist with expertise in program design, independent living skills, and assistive technology. Sarah earned a Bachelor's degree in Occupational Studies and a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Kansas.
Job Titles:
- Data and Billing Specialist
Job Titles:
- Lifespan Services Assistant - Part Time
- Lifespan Services Team Assistant - Part Time
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Marketing
- by Strategy
Vanessa joined our organization in August 2019. She has over 20 years of marketing experience in the non-profit industry. She has a successful track record of strengthening organizational brands and outcomes through the development of comprehensive marketing programs. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Communication from Villanova University and a Master's Degree in Mass Communication from the University of Central Missouri.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant - Part Time