Joplin newest home of "1 Million Cups"

Joplin will soon be the newest home of a national program to engage, educate and connect local entrepreneurs.

Founded by the Kauffman Foundation, 1 Million Cups is based on the notion that entrepreneurs network and discover solutions over a million cups of coffee. The free, weekly gatherings help build startup communities on a grassroots level.

Beginning April 14, entrepreneurs, innovators, funders and others will meet Wednesday mornings at the Advanced Training & Technology Center in Joplin. Each entrepreneur will have six minutes to present on their business and talk about a challenge they are facing. This will be followed by a 20-minute question-and-answer session with the audience.

The inaugural 1 Million Cups in Joplin will feature presentations by Athena Marketing, a Marketing and Events business that is launching a real-estate CRM/Project management software next month called Homestretch. And, Makala Towner Photography, which offers a full-service, luxury portrait experience focused on building a community-over-competition mindset within the industry.

In each 1 Million Cups city, local entrepreneurs drive the program as community organizers. Volunteering for the leadership roles in Joplin are

Alicia Edens, Consumer Lender of Southwest Missouri Bank
Dominic Buccieri, Assistant Professor of Business Missouri Southern State University
Tammy Kabala, Senior HR Generalist of Amcor Flexibles North America
Lowell Lane, Business Management Service Consultant of Higher Vision Coaching.Training.Consulting
JD Buckridge, President & CEO of Higher Vision Coaching.Training.Consulting
Toby Teeter, President of Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce
Doug Hunt, Director of Entrepreneurship of Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce
Jeana Gockley, Library Director of Joplin Public Library
Erin Slifka, Marketing & Public Information Manager of Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce