Latest news with #KansasCity-area
Business Journals
28-05-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Kansas City HR execs share 5 creative talent strategies
Beyond supply chain calculations and balance sheet math, companies depend on a limited variable that defies equations: people. In today's battle for talent, winning attributes are far from static. 'Diverse industries need a variety of skill sets, and generational differences bring priorities and goals that HR professionals have to navigate to offer flexible and customized ideas for career advancement,' said Matt Linski, president of Bank of America Kansas City. 'Talent strategies must take into account the evolving business ecosystem, a mix of lingering uncertainties, but also the optimism of what our world is.' Hiring leaders from several Kansas City-area employers gathered at a panel discussion, sponsored by Bank of America, to talk about creative strategies for attracting and retaining talent. The panelists who joined the conversation included: Lauren Bertram, talent acquisition director, Burns & McDonnell Jessica Tasler Noble, senior vice president, employee experience, Hallmark Karen Reardon, HR executive, Bank of America Regional Banking, Merrill Wealth Management, Private Bank and Enterprise Credit Vernon Williams, chief people officer, Dimensional Innovations Here are key takeaways from the conversation. The participants' comments have been edited and condensed for clarity. 1. Rethink conventional job postings Some companies are reevaluating boilerplate job requirements with formal degrees. Recognizing the efficacy of on-the-job training, they look for the soft skills that underpin workplace success. 'We're really taking a step back and saying, 'What are the skills we want to develop inside our own company?'' said Karen Reardon, HR executive, Bank of America Regional Banking, Merrill Wealth Management, Private Bank and Enterprise Credit. 'We have a great learning function … we can develop those skills. We're looking more for the softer skills — the attributes of resilience, empathy and just general leadership.' 2. Urge internal mobility In large companies, divisions sometimes hoard talent, said Lauren Bertram, talent acquisition director with Burns & McDonnell. But the architecture, engineering and construction firm is trying to make internal mobility a positive thing, even advertising openings across an internal jobs platform. They're encouraging competition for every position over appointments. 'That's really helped with transparency, fairness, engagement, because people are excited about these opportunities,' Bertram said. Panelists also described proactive efforts to help employees map out potential internal career paths so they don't assume advancement means moving to a new company. 3. Bridge the promotion training gap Successful employees tend to get promoted — but those promotions may put them in supervisory roles for which they have little or no training, said Vernon Williams, chief people officer at Dimensional Innovations, which invents immersive, engaging experiences for audiences across industries. 'We have really worked on the middle manager level,' Williams said. 'When someone moves into that spot, we are exposing them to training immediately.' Upon promotion, these new leaders are coached on the key roles of a supervisor, as well as on how to manage and motivate talent among their teams. 4. Align communications and culture Companies — particularly large or rapidly growing ones — can struggle with the tug of war between foundational identity and fluctuations in strategies, skills, hiring, artificial intelligence, and more. Some employees may resist change; conversely, trends can generate hype about relatively short-term considerations. A clear understanding of core culture, buttressed by complementary communication, emphasizes consistency even in the midst of lower-level changes, panelists said. For Burns & McDonnell, Bertram said, the foundational element is employee ownership, which the company emphasizes in its hiring, communication, training and opportunities for connection. 'I think you have to find out what is foundationally part of your culture and go all in on that, then be flexible with the things that maybe you can evolve in,' she said. Hallmark's purpose is 'to put more care in the world,' said Jessica Noble, the greeting card and gift giant's senior vice president for employee experience. That comes across in employee experience considerations, such as Hallmark's commitment to employees' work-life balance, flexible hybrid arrangements and developmental opportunities. But it also shows in the interactive behaviors Hallmark promotes, down to its celebration of employees' birthdays, special events and achievements with cards, gifts and other tokens of appreciation. 'We like to live our culture inside of the building in the same way we want our consumers to live it outside of the building,' Noble said. 5. Stand by employees Employees today face plenty of anxiety-inducing concerns; great employers meet those with multidimensional support: physical, emotional and financial, Reardon said. 'As HR professionals, we've got to be nimble and flexible, and we've got to meet our employees where they are,' she said. 'Being able to attract talent — the very premise of that — is being a great place to work. Your existing employees are your best recruiters.' Disclaimer Bank of America' and 'BofA Securities' are the marketing names used by the Global Banking and Global Markets divisions of Bank of America Corporation. Lending, derivatives, other commercial banking activities, and trading in certain financial instruments are performed globally by banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Trading in securities and financial instruments, and strategic advisory, and other investment banking activities, are performed globally by investment banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation ('Investment Banking Affiliates'), including, in the United States, BofA Securities, Inc., which is a registered broker-dealer and Member of SIPC, and, in other jurisdictions, by locally registered entities. BofA Securities, Inc. is a registered futures commission merchant with the CFTC and a member of the NFA. Investment products offered by Investment Banking Affiliates: Are Not FDIC Insured Are Not Bank Guaranteed May Lose Value ©2025 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved. GBGM-563-AD 6107252
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
North Kansas City Hospital recognized as top hospital by Castle Connolly
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — North Kansas City and Meritas Health were recognized as a top hospital by Castle Connolly Top Hospitals in three procedures. The list deemed the health system as a top hospital in gastroenterology and bariatrics-hernia repair surgery. Kansas City man charged with murder after deadly shooting near Westport North Kansas City also received a Top Hospital-Gold Standard designation in obstetrics and gynecology-C-section and Gastroenterology and bariatrics-colon surgery. 'It is a true honor to have several of our procedures recognized by Castle Connolly as Top Hospitals,' said Steven Starr, MD, FACC, chief medical officer of NKCH. 'This recognition reflects the dedication of our team and the quality of care we provide each day. Our commitment to data-driven, compassionate care remains the cornerstone of our efforts, continually setting new standards of excellence.' Only 10 hospitals in each state can earn Gold Standard recognition for a procedure. Castle Connonlly recognizes over 1,400 hospitals for their excellence in performing specific medical procedures. Four Kansas City-area students participate in National Spelling Bee Each area of recognition is selected for analysis based on patient volume, level of specialization and the comparison of outcomes across health system. Hospitals are evaluated on performance measures such as mortality and complication rates, patient safety, failure-to-rescue rates and physician expertise. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Rep. Graves asking RFK Jr. to look into cancer cases at Liberty school
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An alarming number of cancer cases at a Kansas City-area school has a local congress member asking for government help. U.S. Rep. Sam Graves wrote a letter this week to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., asking for his agency's help in looking into a 'concerning number of cancer diagnoses' reported among staff from Warren Hills Elementary School in Liberty. The school is located within the Republican congressman's district. Unpaid parking fines? New Lawrence regulation means you could get the boot In response, Liberty Public Schools acknowledged that while community members have questions, the district has been assured by local and state health agencies that the school is safe. In his letter dated May 12, Rep. Graves wrote that since 2013, at least six staff members have developed breast cancer, with another unexpectedly dying after a short battle with liver cancer last fall. He said many parents 'have deep and growing concerns' about sending their children to school there. While the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services conducted a radon testing study in 2015 that found no issues at the school, and the Clay County Public Health Center conducted a public health study in 2022, Rep. Graves stated there hasn't been a comprehensive study into what's going on, and that's why he's asking Secretary Kennedy for help. The school has fewer than 650 students and about 40 teachers, according to the letter. FOX4 has reached out to Rep. Graves' office for any updates on his request. Read the full letter from Rep. Graves here. The school district created a section on its website about this issue, including a January letter from the Clay County Public Health Center that maintained the breast cancer rate at the school is 'no higher than expected for the community.' The school district sent the following statement Wednesday to FOX4: 'Liberty Public Schools is committed to providing safe and healthy learning environments at all of our schools and facilities. Specifically to Warren Hills Elementary, in recent years our team has been in close contact with the Clay County Public Health Center, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Children's Mercy Environmental Health, and the Missouri Cancer Registry, as we have responded to specific health and environmental concerns expressed by Warren Hills staff. We are thankful for their expertise and partnerships and will continue to work with them as we move forward. Their work has been, and will continue to be, essential in leading and guiding us. In following the guidance and determinations made by the health agencies listed above, we have been assured that the school is safe for the Warren Hills community. Having said this, we also fully recognize that this school community has had questions related to this, and it is of the utmost importance to us to support them with information and resources. Throughout, our focus has been on the well-being of our staff and students as we have worked to provide support to the Warren Hills school community. An account of all of the work completed to date has been published and made available on the Warren Hills school website, which is updated regularly. We will continue to remain engaged with the staff, families, and school community and provide them updates, as necessary.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Gov. Jeff Colyer joins Republican primary for Kansas governor
Former Gov. Jeff Colyer announced his campaign for Kansas governor on May 15, becoming the fourth candidate to enter the race. Colyer served about a year as governor, assuming the office after the resignation of Gov. Sam Brownback. He served as Brownback's lieutenant governor and prior to that served a term in the Kansas House and half a term in the Kansas Senate — which he vacated to join Brownback's ticket. Colyer announced his candidacy on Mundo in the Morning, a Kansas City-area talk radio show, on May 14. In a newsletter, he listed his priorities as the following: Make the state more affordable for families. Create a Kansas Department of Government Efficiency to address waste, fraud and red tape. Remove diversity, equity and inclusion directives in schools and universities. Simplify the tax code, lower property taxes and attract jobs. Protect parental rights. Securing the border. Colyer highlighted his ties to President Donald Trump. Colyer chaired Trump's 2024 campaign in the state. "President Trump is leading the greatest American comeback in history — and Kansas needs a Governor who will fight side by side with him. I'm your man. I'm ready to roll up my sleeves, take on the special interests, and deliver real results — for you, your family, and every Kansan who dreams big," Colyer's newsletter said. Colyer sought the governorship in 2018 but narrowly lost the primary to then-Secretary of State Kris Kobach by fewer than 400 votes. Kobach was bolstered by an endorsement from Trump a day before the election. Colyer considered running for the role again in 2022 but left the race after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. Outside of politics, Colyer is a plastic surgeon who has volunteered with the International Medical Corps in war-torn regions. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Jeff Colyer is seeking his first full term as Kansas governor
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Family sues KC-area hospital, claims assault led to patient death
A woman's family is suing a Kansas City-area medical center for negligence, claiming it failed to prevent a sexual assault that they say led to her death. The victim was receiving treatment at Saint Joseph Medical Center, 1000 Carondelet Drive, on March 16, 2024, for septic arthritis, according to court records. In the early hours, Stanley J. Antoine was allegedly allowed to walk into the hospital, visit several floors and steal one patient's phone before arriving on the victim's floor. Antoine later pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary and two counts of stealing. Court documents say Antoine was not approached or questioned by staff before entering the victim's room, where he allegedly sexually assaulted her. She screamed for help and he hit her nose, causing it to bleed. Family said in court documents that the victim received severe and continual injuries from the sexual assault, including injuring her nose, PTSD, pain, suffering, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life, which they said contributed to her death on April 7. The victim's family argues in court documents that the hospital had a duty to care for the victim, including providing a safe environment, and breached that by negligently hiring, training and supervising its employees, as well as failing to prevent abuse and have proper security measures in place. The family is asking for a trial by jury and a minimum of $50,000.
