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KC is ME
Kansas City is MicroEnterprise
First Step Fund
2007 Annual Report
2007 Annual Report Page 2
Letter from the President and Executive Director
Dear Friends:
As 2007 comes to a close and we enter into 2008, we cannot help but take note of the
Microenterprise trends in the U.S. economy. We as a country are again seeing significant lay-offs in a wide
array of fields and increases in unemployment rates, foreclosures and bankruptcies are es-
development is a
calating at alarming rates, and prices for many day-to-day essentials are at an all-time high.
critical tool At times of uncertainty like these, we look for innovative strategies to handle the challenges
for communities we face. Microenterprise development is one such strategy. It is a relatively young approach
to addressing poverty, building assets, and developing communities; but in its twenty-plus
with low to years in the United States, positive results are being felt.
moderate
incomes, in Elaine Edgcomb and Joyce Klein, both with the Aspen Institute, set the economic context for
microenterprise and self-employment in their report Opening Opportunities, Building Owner-
countering the ship: Fulfilling the Promise of Microenterprise in the United States (February 2005) by listing
effects of a several factors that lead individuals into starting a business. Some of these factors include:
• Changes in the safety net that seek to require and/or support work
declining
• The need for working parents – particularly working women – to balance their
economy. working and caregiving roles
• Growth in immigration
• The move to downsize major corporations by outsourcing jobs and relying more
heavily on contingent and temporary workers
• The loss of well-paying, secure “middle class” jobs
• The aging of the population
Although microenterprises are often perceived as having low impact as an economic devel-
opment strategy, when the statistics from the Department of Commerce and the Census
Bureau (all from 2005 reports) are analyzed, it becomes clear that microenterprises are truly
the backbone of the U.S. economy. There are more than 24 million microenterprises
(defined as businesses with five or fewer employees) in the United States, which represents
87% of all businesses. These microenterprises employ 18% of all private sector employees,
meaning that nearly one of five private sector jobs is in a microenterprise.
The microenterprise statistics in the Kansas City metropolitan area (Clay, Jackson, and
Edwin T. Lowndes Platte counties in Missouri and Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas) reflect the
First Step Fund
Board President national figures. There are a total of 153,660 businesses, of which 131,938 (86%) are
microenterprises. Of the 1,111,104 private employees in the metro area, 173,005 (16%)
are in a microenterprise. Although quite small in and of themselves, microenterprises collec-
tively have a significant impact on our economy and our communities.
Microenterprise development is not a panacea for the challenges that lay ahead. It is,
however, a viable tool for individuals with low to moderate incomes who have the entrepre-
neurial drive and commitment it takes to be a successful business owner. Thank you to all
who have supported our efforts over the years and we look forward to continuing our work
together to help our clients reach economic self-sufficiency through entrepreneurship.
Vanessa Finley
First Step Fund
Executive Director Edwin T. Lowndes Vanessa Finley
Board President Executive Director
2007 Annual Report Page 3
Organizational Overview
The mission of First Step Fund—a microenterprise development organization—
is to foster economic self-sufficiency through entrepreneurship training, access
to credit, and ongoing support. First Step Fund offers entrepreneurship, or
self-employment, as an alternative to public assistance or minimum-wage and
other low-paying jobs. First Step Fund is a private nonprofit organization that
works exclusively with individuals with low to moderate incomes who want to
start or expand their own small businesses. It was founded by representatives
from local social service agencies, banks, and private businesses interested in
assisting entrepreneurs who could not afford the high costs of business train-
ing and who could not obtain small amounts of capital for business start-up.
Participants in a 2007 Family Child Care
Entrepreneurship class listening to the instructor
The approach to service delivery in microenterprise development programs is and preparing for group work.
not one of charity, but rather a process of identifying and building on a person’s
resources, ideas, and interests. It assists participants in connecting with training, capital,
and other community resources that will enhance those personal strengths. Combined
with building the business skills of prospective and current entrepreneurs, the success of
First Step Fund hinges on participants beginning to move towards a viable business plan
and establishing a sound business enterprise.
First Step Fund’s
Since the inception of direct programming in 1994, more than 1,400 individuals have mission is to
graduated from First Step Fund training. Of those graduates, 310 are currently in business
and employ more than 260 additional people in the Kansas City area, equating to more foster economic
than 570 current jobs created by First Step Fund graduates. Additionally, businesses oper-
self-sufficiency
ated by First Step Fund graduates are generating annual net profits in excess of $2 Million.
through
entrepreneurship
training, access
to credit, and
ongoing support.
First Step Fund graduate, Richetta Jones, (and
her daughter) at her business booth,
Rich-N-Scents, during a national conference
that was held in Kansas City.
Audrey Cutts (left) and Sharon Gay-Naik are
both graduates of First Step Fund and have
collaborated to share a location, each using
her own expertise, called Navaeh Day Spa and
Wellness Center.
2007 Annual Report Page 4
Local Programs
First Step FastTrac®
First Step FastTrac is one of two entry points into First Step
Fund’s services. During this twelve-session (36-hour) busi-
ness training program, participants learn basic business
concepts and complete a feasibility plan for their proposed
businesses.
• Five First Step FastTrac classes were conducted by
First Step Fund in 2007.
• Enrollment for these classes totaled 110, of which 90
Graduates and instruction team of a Fall 2007 (82%) graduated.
First Step FastTrac class.
• To date, a total of 1,408 individuals have enrolled in
First Step FastTrac and 1,121 (80%) have graduated.
First Step Fund provided training and support to 393 individuals in the
Greater Kansas City area in 2007.
Family Child Care Entrepreneurship Program
The Family Child Care Entrepreneurship class is the second point of entry for participants.
During this sixteen-session (54-hour) training covering core business components, topics in
early childhood care & education, and business life skills, participants complete business
plans and parent handbooks.
• Two Family Child Care Entrepreneurship classes were held
in 2007. These classes are delivered in partnership with
the Francis Institute and LINC’s EduCare program.
• Enrollment for these classes totaled 49, of which 37
(76%) graduated.
• To date, a total of 356 individuals have enrolled in a
Family Child Care Entrepreneurship class and 302 (85%)
have graduated.
Children and parents preparing for evening
departure at First Step Fund graduate Canada
Jones-Holliday’s child care business.
2007 Annual Report Page 5
Ongoing Support Services
Once participants successfully graduate from one of the entrepreneurship
training programs, they are eligible and encouraged to participate in any
of the ongoing services offered by First Step Fund, including:
• monthly Alumni Group meetings, where guest speakers refresh or Class graduates using First Step Fund laptops in
add to what graduates learned in class QuickBooks training as a part of the Microenterprise
Acceleration Program.
• Next Steps seminars, where graduates are provided more advanced
or industry-specific training
• the Microloan Program, through which graduates may borrow between $500 and
$5,000 for business start-up or expansion
• the One-on-One Mentor Program, where graduates are matched with successful
entrepreneurs or professionals with specific industry expertise
• the Group Mentor Program, where graduates in the business start-up phase benefit
from the mentoring process along-side their peers
• the Annual Graduate Business Directory, which promotes all graduates who request
a free listing (please contact the main office for a free copy) Since the inception of
services in 1994, First
• the Women and Company® MicroenterpriseBoost Program, through which small
Step Fund has:
equity awards are given to businesses owned by female graduates
• the HP Microenterprise Acceleration Program, which allows graduates to check out • Enrolled 1,764
laptops for use in their businesses and provides an on-site multi-media workstation participants in
along with computer instruction entrepreneurship
training classes.
• ongoing case management and technical assistance, which provide one-on-one
support from program staff in areas of both business and personal development. • Graduated 81%
(1,423) of those
enrolled.
More than 230 individual (unduplicated) graduates used ongoing support services in
2007 and nearly 650 individual graduates have used support services at some point • Provided ongoing
since First Step Fund started offering training in 1994. support to more than
650 graduates.
• Assisted a total of
more than 700
different businesses.
Recipients of the 2007 Women and Company® Microenter-
prise Boost Program equity awards were Sharon Irvin,
Marti Smith, Kathy Drews, Sandi Campbell, and Jenny Fu.
2007 Annual Report Page 6
Local Client Demographics and Statistics
The typical First Step Fund client is an African American woman who is single, has two de-
Profile of businesses pendent children, has received public assistance at some time in her adult life, has some
operated by First education beyond high school, and is not in business at the time of application. All of First
Step Fund graduates:
Step Fund’s clients meet low- to moderate-income requirements (80% of the area median
Home-based
income) at the time of application.
- 79% of the
businesses are More than 310 businesses are operated by First Step Fund graduates and these
home-based businesses generate more than $2 million in annual net profits!
businesses
Full- and part-time Gender Business start-ups/enhancements
businesses - 78% women - 59% started or sustained a business
- 54% of the business - 22% men since taking the course
owners operate their - 26% of graduates started a new business
businesses full time, Ethnicity - 33% of graduates sustained an existing
working an average - 69% African American business
of 57 hours per
- 21% Caucasian
week
- 5% Hispanic / Latino Currently in business
- 46% operate their - 1% Asian American - Of those who were not in business at the
businesses part
- 1% American Indian time of application, 44% are now in
time, working an
average of 13 hours
- 3% Other Ethnicity business
per week - Of those who were in business at the time
Marital status of application, 81% are still in busi-
- 29% work a
“traditional” job in At the time of application: ness
addition to their - 79% were not married (single, separated, - Of those who are currently in business,
business divorced, or widowed) 58% are in the same business for
- Of those working in a - 21% were married which they planned during class
traditional job, 15% - 38% of all First Step Fund clients were
are working in a field single parents Business income
related to their Between 2004 and 2006:
business Employment - 45% of graduates had an increase in
- 44% were not employed at the time of business net profits (the average
Employees application annual increase was $22,650)
- More than 260
- 24% of those who were unemployed had - 23% of graduates had a decrease in
individuals, in
addition to the been unemployed for at least two years business net profits (the average
entrepreneurs - Of those employed, 94% worked full-time annual decrease was $10,400)
themselves, are and 6% worked part-time - 32% of graduates had no significant
employed or change in business net profits
contracted by First Public assistance
Step Fund graduates - 47% were current or past recipients of pub- Household income
- 30% of graduate lic assistance - 56% of graduates had an increase in
businesses have - 24% were on public assistance at time of household income since taking the
employees: 28% application course
have one employee, - 23% were recipients of public assistance Of those with an increase:
56% have 2 to 4
at some time as an adult but were not - 62% had an increase of at least $1,000
employees, and 16%
have 5 or more
at the time of application per month
- 35% had an increase of at least $1,500
Phase of business per month
At the time of application: - 20% had an increase of at least $2,000
- 74% were not in business or were in the per month
start-up phase - 9% had an increase of at least $3,000
- 28% were in business per month
2007 Annual Report Page 7
Featured Graduate Profile
Sandi Campbell
Alpha and Omega Cleaning Services
For 30 years, Sandi Campbell enjoyed a lucrative career with
Fortune 500 companies in the finance industry. But when the
parent company for which she worked sold the subsidiary,
Sandi suddenly found herself unemployed. Unable to secure a
new position that paid enough to cover her annual expenses,
Sandi was facing bankruptcy and the possibility of losing her
home.
While working part-time cleaning new construction sites, it oc-
curred to Sandi that she could start her own cleaning business.
She liked the physical activity of the work and her years in the
financial services industry had given her good business skills.
All she needed was a little guidance and some capital to get
her started.
Sandi Campbell started her cleaning business when she was
laid off after 30 years of working in the finance industry.
At First Step Fund, Sandi enrolled in the 36-hour First Step
FastTrac class to learn how to write a business plan. She also
received a $2,500 microloan, which she used to develop a marketing plan, hire a
human resources consultant, file fees with the state, and purchase tax and ac-
counting software and services and a commercial lawn mower.
Then, through the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO), First Step Fund
was able to offer Sandi a cash equity award from the Women and Company® Mi-
croenterprise Boost Program. The $2,500 award enabled her to buy several “I now have
heavy-duty vacuum cleaners, a hard floor surface cleaner, and a power washer.
financial
The new commercial-grade equipment made it possible for her crew to do better
work in less time, resulting in higher profits and happier clients.
security and
With more than a 50% increase in revenue per quarter since she received her am able to
equity award, Sandi expects to meet or exceed her projected annual revenue for
2007. She acquired ten new customers, and enjoys a 100% retention rate for meet and
current clients. Increased demand for her services has also allowed Sandi to hire
five additional subcontractors. Sandi comments, “Most importantly, I now have exceed my
financial security and am able to meet and exceed my monthly living expenses.”
monthly living
As with so many Women and Company equity award recipients, Sandi is excited to
share her story with others, encouraging and supporting her fellow microentrepre- expenses.”
neurs. Sandi notes, “I enjoy the opportunity to share my story with someone think-
ing of starting a small business - someone who may have lost their job. I want
them to know that there are resources and tools available to help them be suc-
cessful.”
2007 Annual Report Page 8
Meet Some of Our 2007 Graduates
First Step FastTrac® Class #55 Graduate
159 current and RACHEL CANON
potential Shoshin Salon
entrepreneurs
Type of Business: Salon
attended one of
First Step Fund’s Advice to others taking the class: “Definitely go to class! Once
multi-week the class gets more involved people started to miss more, but
it is so valuable to be at every class.”
classes in 2007.
Rachel Canon styling a
Secret to success: “Have faith in yourself. Don’t be afraid.” customer’s hair at her salon.
First Step FastTrac® Class #58 Graduate
NABIL CHARIF
Bridging The Gap Interpreting, LLC
Type of Business: Interpreting
Benefits of the class: “Even though I already had a business, I still learned the pros
and the cons about running a business. I had been so excited and happy and was
full of a lot of positive emotions because I was glad to be starting my own business.
But the class showed me how to face challenges in a logical way, not just be excited
about business emotionally . . . It gave me the best road map and gave me an idea
about feasibility. . . Also, the quality you get in class is amazing for the price—all the
Nabil Charif receiving his graduation qualified coaches and speakers for only $50.”
certificate from First Step FastTrac
Facilitator Marylou DeWald.
Family Child Care Entrepreneurship Class #15 Graduate
ROSE ALEXANDER
Learning is Fun Academy
Type of Business: Child care
Secret to success: “Children feel that they
can trust me. They open up and then they
tend to be successful. If you understand their
developmental stages you can guide them
and watch them grow – let children be them-
selves.”
Rose Alexander at the park with the
children enrolled in her child care business.
2007 Annual Report Page 9
First Step FastTrac® Class #58 Graduate
LUIS GARCIA
Spyn (spy • n)
Type of Business: Multi-media design and marketing
Advice to others taking the class: “Have a strong foundation of your business and
what you want to accomplish going into the class so you can get the most out of
class. Know why you are taking the class.” Luis Garcia at his marketing
business, Spyn.
Secret to success: “Creativity.”
First Step FastTrac® Class #54 Graduate
EVELYN FULLER
A Sister with Elegance
Type of Business: Catering
Benefits of the class: “It helped me to get my priorities in order, to
know the right place to start. The feasibility plan really helped me
with pricing and to realize my time had a value in relation to the
Evelyn Fuller displaying the final
business.” layout of a catering function.
Advice to others taking the class: “You have got to really pay attention. As an older woman who
hasn’t been in a class for a long time, I was nervous about being in a class again, but you have to
go in and glean everything you can to help your business!”
Family Child Care Entrepreneurship Class #16 Graduate
DONNA HICKS
Playful Scholars
Type of Business: Child care
Benefits of the class: “The class helped me with planning and the business side of child
care.”
Donna Hicks in her home office
handling the administrative aspects Advice to others taking the class: “Stick with it. If it is your goal, you can achieve it.”
of her child care business.
Secret to success: “Determination.”
2007 Annual Report Page 10
Second Year of Curriculum Distribution
National distribution of the First Step FastTrac® (FSFT) and Developing Your Family Child
Care Business™ (DYFCCB) curricula is moving into its third year. This earned income ven-
ture ended 2007 on a positive note in terms of outreach, with First Step Fund achieving 96%
of its sales goals for the year. As of December 31, 2007, there are 185 certified sites (90
DYFCCB and 95 FSFT) in 43 states. In 2007, more than 3,800 individuals were trained by
these sites.
First Step Fund
provides For 2008, First Step Fund has several new target markets opening for the curricula. Robert
Morris College in Pennsylvania will be using the FSFT materials in their program targeting
certification,
veterans re-entering the civilian workforce. Many of these individuals come back from their
training, and time in service without clear career goals, and the program is a great way for them to ex-
technical plore if entrepreneurship is a fit for them. In Florida and other states, the DYFCCB curricula
are part of the effort to shore up the business skills of the family child care provider. With
assistance to the implementation of public Pre-K programs in many states, which significantly reduces the
organizations number of 3- and 4-year-olds being placed in child
across the care full-time, the need for family providers to
sharpen their business skills becomes more urgent.
country seeking
to utilize the First In several areas, the FSFT curriculum is being used
in Workforce Development programs targeting indi-
Step FastTrac and
viduals who are laid off from manufacturing jobs
Developing Your and want to consider entrepreneurship as an op-
Family Child Care tion. First Step Fund’s outreach into the Hispanic
community continues to grow as well via the Span-
Business
ish language version of First Step FastTrac (called
curricula to help Primer Paso). There are more than a dozen sites National facilitators working on a group
exercise during certification training by First
foster economic certified to use the Primer Paso curricula and four
additional sites using the Spanish version of the
self-sufficiency child care curricula.
through
entrepreneurship A complete revision of the First Step FastTrac curriculum is currently underway, as is the
development of a derivative of the Developing Your Family Child Care Business which will
in their own make the program accessible to both center directors and family providers.
communities.
First Step Fund looks forward to furthering its mission of fostering economic self-sufficiency
through entrepreneurship on a national basis, in collaboration with other organizations such
as the two excellent national partners profiled below.
Meet Two of Our National Sites
Primer Paso FastTrac® Site
Rhode Island Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Johnson &
Wales University, Providence, RI
Latinos are the fastest-growing segment of Rhode Island entrepreneurs, and the Hispanic
population in Rhode Island has increased 27 percent between 2001 and 2006. Therefore,
First Step Fund was very excited about developing a relationship with the Rhode Island
Small Business Development Center (SBDC) using the Primer Paso (literally “First Step”)
FastTrac program. According to Tomas Avila, the SBDC business coordinator and course
administrator, Primer Paso “brings with it the whole structure, all the steps necessary to do
2007 Annual Report
Page 11
the feasibility plan prior to going into the business plan.” He realized that
because of language barriers and other factors, many savvy Latino
entrepreneurs weren’t getting the education and skills they needed
to succeed in their businesses. Avila emphasizes that new business
owners need to learn to be “masters of everything, as opposed to
being masters of the one position they held as employees.” When
he brought the Primer Paso classes to his clients, he estimated that
52% of business-owning participants enhanced their existing busi-
nesses and that 30% of those who wanted to start a business were
able to do so, using the confidence and knowledge they gained.
Many of them are learning to save money for start-up costs instead
of going into debt, and a recent class of 12 graduates was able to
secure more than $200,000 in capital. The Association of Small Class in session for participants in a Primer Paso FastTrac
Business Development Centers (ASBDC) recently awarded Avila with class conducted by the Rhode Island Small Business
the 2007 ASBDC Rhode Island State Star for his efforts in bringing Development Center.
Primer Paso to Latino clients.
Nearly 200 organizations in 43 states are currently certified by First Step Fund to deliver the
First Step FastTrac and Developing Your Family Child Care Business curricula. More than
3,800 individuals were trained by these sites in 2007.
Developing Your Family Child Care Business™ Site
Louisiana State University (LSU) AgCenter at LSU, Baton Rouge, LA
As a result of damage caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, eight coastal parishes in Louisiana suffered extensive
losses and business interruption. Many experienced child care providers left the state when their homes were destroyed.
Of those who remained, a large number were having difficulty returning to operations because they lacked adequate funds
to repair centers or homes. To obtain funding, they needed a busi-
ness plan, which few had. At the same time, key businesses nec-
essary for re-building the overall economy in the parishes were
finding it difficult to attract a workforce because of the shortage of
quality child care for families with young children. In February
2007, the Louisiana Department of Social Services (using grant
funds), in partnership with LSU AgCenter’s Family and Consumer
Sciences Program, instituted the Louisiana Child Care Recovery,
Entrepreneurship and Training (LACCRET) Program. Using the De-
veloping Your Family Child Care Business curricula, a program was
implemented to focus on resolving these issues. As of July 2007,
approximately 350 people have participated in the LACCRET Pro-
Developing Your Family Child Care Business class graduates gram. Multiple classes have been held across the parishes to
through Louisiana State University AgCenter. date, with graduates beginning to open or re-open family child care
homes and centers. Classes continue to be held and are seen as
an integral part of the re-building efforts in Louisiana.
2007 Annual Report Page 12
2007 Financial Highlights
Revenue
Participant Fees and
Subcontracts & Dues
Full audited 1%
Fees-for-Service Other
financial 4% 1%
statements as
In-kind
completed by Ifft 7%
& Company, Grants & Contributions
Curricula Sales
Chartered, 58%
29%
Certified Public
Accountants, are
available upon
request. Grants & Contributions 334,151
Curricula Sales 168,140
In-kind 40,670
Subcontracts & Fees-for-Service 24,879
Participant Fees and Dues 5,993
Other 7,721
Total Revenue for 2007 581,554*
*Restricted carryover from 2006 was also released and covered a portion of 2007 expenses.
Expenses
Operating Costs
14%
Local Salaries & Benefits
32%
Program Contractors
14%
Direct Programming
Expenses National Salaries &
16% Benefits
24%
Local Salaries & Benefits 212,683
National Salaries & Benefits 165,068
Direct Programming Expenses 109,768
Program Contractors 97,937
Operating Costs 99,029
Total Expenses for 2007 684,485
2007 Annual Report Page 13
New Donors in 2007 - Thank You!
American Association of University Women, Kansas City, Missouri, Branch, Nettie Irene
Van Der Veer Wagy Fund (a charitable trust of the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation)
This contribution was for the “License to Succeed” program, a brand new program that pro-
vides small amounts of money to graduates of the Family Child Care Entrepreneurship course
to meet state licensing requirements. Becoming licensed will significantly boost graduates’
earnings potential. During the 2008 pilot year, First Step Fund hopes to prove the success of
this endeavor for future prospective funders. First Step Fund
clients benefit
Bank of America Foundation
2008 will be First Step Fund’s year for capacity-building, kicked off with this substantial gift of each year through
technical assistance from Bank of America Foundation. In March 2008, an evaluation consult- strategic
ant team will begin to analyze program evaluation processes and help develop an improved
evaluation system. A portion of these funds will also be used to subscribe to the Biz-Trakker investments made
client database to improve client outcomes tracking. by generous
Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) donors. Continued
This gift from CCHD was used to expand the two-year old HP Microenterprise Acceleration support by these
Program (MAP). MAP is designed to increase client access to critical business technology,
including computer training and loaned laptops with which they may test business software contributors is
applications. This key gift from CCHD allowed First Step Fund to expand free computer instruc- critical to the
tion for its clients.
sustainability of
Francis Family Foundation programming.
Through this generous grant, the Francis Family Foundation helped fund business training for
home-based child care providers and the adaptation of the Developing Your Family Child Care However, new
Business™ curriculum to include a new audience—early childhood center directors. Thanks to donors are also
their support, this industry-specific, adapted curriculum will help fill the business practices
training gap for both home- and center-based early childhood care and education providers. required to grow
programming and
Janice C. Kreamer Community Fund (Greater Kansas City Community Foundation)
For years, First Step Fund staff tracked donor and constituent records on spreadsheets, which build
was fine given a few hundred records but not for a current mailing list of 2,000 people. organizational
Thanks to this capacity-building grant for donor software and training, First Step Fund pur-
chased its first donor/constituent database which will enhance the cultivation of relationships capacity.
with a more diverse array of funders.
Taylor S. & Patti H. Abernathy Charitable Trust (Bank of America, Trustee)
This gift will support the cost of a website overhaul. Consultants will assist with the redesign
and new website implementation during the spring of 2008. When completed, the new site will
vastly improve client access to services and communication with other constituents.
RubinBrown Charitable Foundation
This generous unrestricted gift supported First Step Fund’s goal of fostering economic self-
sufficiency through entrepreneurship training, access to capital and ongoing support.
2007 Annual Report Page 14
2007 Donors
Nellie Abernathy Janice C. Kreamer Community Fund (Greater
Taylor S. & Patti H. Abernathy Charitable Trust Kansas City Community Foundation)
(Bank of America, Trustee) David Long
American Association of University Women, Edwin T. Lowndes
Kansas City, Missouri, Branch, Nettie Irene Robert D. Mayer
Van Deer Wagy Fund (a charitable trust of Barbara Millard
the Greater Kansas City Community Foun- Frank O. Oligbo
dation) Operating Sooner (Becky Rawls-Riley)
Association for Enterprise Opportunity Oppenstein Brothers Foundation
Bank Midwest Port Authority/Ameristar-Isle of Capri Economic
Bank of America Foundation Advancement Fund
Cheryl Bisbee Susan Ray
Brotherhood Bank RLS Illumination Fund
None of First Step Malinda Bryan-Smith Peter J. Roszel
Citi Foundation – Women and Company® RubinBrown Charitable Foundation
Fund’s services
Country Club Bank Joe D. Schoonover
would be possible Catholic Campaign for Human Development Alan M. Schumacher
Entrepreneur Assistance Corporation Dierdra L. Singleton
without the Financial Alliance (Daniele F. Finnell) SkillBuilders Fund
support of others Vanessa Finley Union Bank
Francis Family Foundation Robin Wells
in the community. Fredrick W. Griffin Kimberly Masters Wilkinson
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Thank you to all of
the partners who
contribute time,
2007 Volunteers
Nellie Abernathy * Yolanda Harness * Brett Osborn
expertise, Lynn Alexander Jeremey Hegle John M. Pajor
funding, and Curtis Atchley Brad Hirni Marilyn Brooks Penn
Sherri Becker Kim Ho Ann Petersen-Myers
other resources to Cheryl Bisbee Ed Huwaldt Rhonda Raglon
Janet Blauvelt Sharon Irvin * Becky Rawls-Riley
make all of First
Kathy Boas Monica Johnston Elizabeth Reefer
Step Fund’s LeDrue Bolder * Inez Kaiser Randy Richardson
Malinda Bryan-Smith Craig Kirchner Julie Riddle
programs Jacqueline Buycks * Rebecca Koop * Debbie Roberts
possible! Sandi Campbell * Lori Kravets Pat Ross *
Angela Castro * Michael Kruse Peter Roszel
Cathleen Connealy Chris LeBeau Joe Schoonover
Patty Cook David Long Al Schumacher
Karen Dabson Linda Lowenstein Jennabeth Settle
Cheryl DeAngelo Edwin T. Lowndes Judith Sharp
Kevin Dervin Evelyn Maddox Dotti Shomin *
Marylou DeWald Kim Malcolm Pam Singleton
Roosevelt Draine Robert Mayer Betsy Slosar
Kate Duffy Carrie McDonald Ann Suellentrop *
Dwight Elliott Darcy McGrath Carol Taylor *
Ivan Fenwick Kristine McKinley Dorothy Thurman *
Lisa Fickenscher Barbara Millard Lillie M. Triplett *
Daniele Finnell * Christina I. Miller Valerie Tucker-Blackwell
Pola Firestone Marquita Miller Liz VanNote
Edwina Fountain-Jones Anabelle Minniefield Paul Weber
Necia Gamby Dianna Moore Robin Wells
Carman Gilmore * Mary Kay VanBuskirk Morrow * Lonnie J. Williams
Theresa Gorman * Maria Navarette Marva Wills *
Frederick Griffin Pam Newman Becky S. Wilson
Gena Gunn Bart Nichols Eileen Wolfington
Steve Hall Kristi Nimmo J. Wayne Zimmer
Linda Harbin * Frank Oligbo
* First Step Fund Graduate
2007 Annual Report Page 15
2007 Board of Directors
President
Edwin T. Lowndes Malinda Bryan-Smith
Housing Authority of Kansas City, MO SBDC, Johnson County Community College
Vice President Edwina Fountain-Jones
Alan M. Schumacher Small Business Division —City of Kansas City, MO
Union Bank Frederick W. Griffin
Secretary The Kingdom Financial Group
Becky Rawls-Riley David Long
Operating Sooner, Inc. Heartland Business Capital
Treasurer Barbara Millard
Peter J. Roszel Johnson County Community College
First National Bank of Johnson County
Frank O. Oligbo
Immediate Past President M&I Bank
Jacqueline Buycks (First Step Fund Graduate)
Big Momma’s Rolls Joe D. Schoonover
Brotherhood Bank & Trust
President Emeritus
Robert D. Mayer Lillie M. Triplett (First Step Fund Graduate)
MR Capital Hallelujah Boutique of Alt’ns and Sewing School
Nellie Abernathy (First Step Fund Graduate) Robin Wells
The Abernathy Home Day Care Country Club Bank
Cheryl Bisbee
H&R Block
2007 Staff and Program Contractors
Executive Director Program Contractors
Vanessa Finley First Step FastTrac Coaches
Don Baston
Staff Sherri Becker
Beth Benzinger Kathy Boas
Community Developer Frank Clay
(AmeriCorps*VISTA) Ramona Davis
Edwina Fountain-Jones
Dorothy Browning Necia Gamby
National Curricula Manager Steve Hall
Ed Huwaldt
Judy Bumpus Tricia King
Program Manager
Linda Lowenstein
Kelly Henning Patti Maxwell
Client Services Coordinator Mary Kay VanBuskirk Morrow
JoLee Juergens First Step FastTrac Facilitators
Administrative Assistant Marylou Dewald
Kate Duffy
Susan Ray Valerie Tucker-Blackwell
Resource Developer
Family Child Care Entrepreneur Training Instructors
Candi Smith Judy Bumpus
National Curricula Assistant Rose Munoz
First Step Fund
4747 Troost Avenue
Suite 218
Kansas City, MO 64110
Phone: 816-235-6116
Fax: 816-235-6162
E-mail: info@firststepfund.org
Local website: www.firststepfund.org
National website (for curriculum distribution):
www.firststepfasttrac.org
Fostering economic self-
sufficiency through
entrepreneurship.
Become a Friend of First Step Fund
You are invited to become a Friend of First Step Fund! Friends are individuals
who make contributions of $25 or more to help us
train and support local microentrepreneurs.
To let us know that you wish to become a Friend of First Step Fund,
please write “Friend” in the memo section of your check or send us a note.
Thank you!
First Step Fund, 4747 Troost Avenue, Suite 218, Kansas City, Missouri 64110
Phone: 816.235.6116, Fax: 816-235-6162, E-mail: info@firststepfund.org, Websites: www.firststepfund.org and www.firststepfasttrac.org
