UMKC names top Kansas City entrepreneurs
The University of Missouri-Kansas City’s business school has named two local business owners entrepreneurs of the year.
The Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation together with the Henry W. Bloch School of Management announced that the 30th annual Entrepreneur of the Year awards will go to The Roasterie’s Danny O’Neill and Gary White, CEO and co-founder of Water.org.
O’Neill founded The Roasterie in 1993 and opened the first Roasterie Cafe in Brookside in 2005. O’Neill will receive the regional entrepreneur award.
White, who will receive the award for social entrepreneurship, established Water.org in 2009. The organization, which addresses water supply and sanitation needs in developing countries, is the result of a merger of WaterPartners International, co-founded by White in 1990, and H2O Africa, co-founded by actor Matt Damon. By the end of 2014, Water.org had served more than 3 million people.
A week of events beginning Nov. 16 are planned under the theme “Fearless City: Celebrating Those Who Fearlessly Create.” Festivities kick off at the Kansas City Convention Center, Grand Ballroom, 301 W. 13th St.
A student entrepreneur of the year will be announced at the dinner. The winner will receive a $2,500 scholarship. Proceeds from the dinner benefit the Bloch School’s Regnier Institute. For additional information or to register for the event, visit the Bloch School website.
Mará Rose Williams, mdwilliams@kcstar.com
This story was originally published October 20, 2015 at 5:10 PM with the headline "UMKC names top Kansas City entrepreneurs."