Burns & McDonnell Foundation donates $1.5 million to COVID-19 relief funding

The Burns & McDonnell Foundation is donating $1.5 million to the United Way COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund to support organizations and nonprofits providing critical resources during the coronavirus pandemic.

The fund supports communities across the U.S. and $750,000 of the donation will go directly toward COVID-19 response and recovery efforts in the Kansas City metro area.

“United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community by providing the resources and information unique to individuals’ needs,” said Ray Kowalik, chairman and CEO of Burns & McDonnell.

United Way has a presence in 95 percent of U.S. communities and is mobilizing to provide food, shelter and other vital resources throughout its network.

During the past decade, Burns & McDonnell employee-owners have given more than $10 million to the organization through annual United Way campaigns.

“Our employee-owners’ desire to give back and empower others is the heartbeat of our firm and our Foundation. During this pandemic, we are committed to protecting and supporting the most vulnerable in our communities,” Kowalik said.

“We all are fortunate to live in a community that has consistently proven its generosity to those in need,” said Brent Stewart, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Kansas City.

“This incredibly generous gift from Burns & McDonnell — who is such a wonderful partner of United Way — is yet another example of how businesses and citizens in our metropolitan community are giving at this critical time. At United Way, we call this ‘Kansas City taking care of its own.’ That need for caring for our people — our community — has never been more acute than as a result of this pandemic,” Stewart said.

In addition to providing relief funding nationwide, the Burns & McDonnell Foundation is matching donations from individual employee-owners, further supporting employee-owners’ ability to make an impact within the organizations and causes they are most passionate about.

Click here to learn more about the solutions and resources Burns & McDonnell is providing to communities, clients and employee-owners.

For more information on United Way's COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund, click here.

Cerner salutes physician community amid global healthcare crisis

Cerner Corporation, a global healthcare technology company headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., extended timely accolades to the physician community this week in honor of National Doctors' Day.

National Doctors’ Day, proclaimed in 1991 by President George H.W. Bush, is celebrated each year on March 30th to honor the nation’s physicians for their dedication and leadership. 

“On behalf of Cerner, I’d like to recognize and thank physicians and clinicians everywhere for their sacrifices and heroic efforts in safeguarding the health of their communities,” said Brent Shafer, chairman and CEO of Cerner.

“Physicians have always played an important role in society, but in these unprecedented times, we have witnessed our client physicians going above and beyond. We thank you for being on the frontlines of this pandemic and every day," Shafer said.

With pre-pandemic burnout rates among physicians and clinicians on the rise,  Cerner has continuously worked to provide tools and technologies aimed at reducing physician burnout. Throughout the years, Cerner has cumulatively invested more than $7 billion into research and development, creating meaningful physician-focused innovations, like voice-assisted technology and improved AI-assisted clinical documentation.

Since the global onset of COVID-19, Cerner has taken numerous steps to protect and empower physicians by expanding telehealth capabilities with Cerner Patient Observer and AmWell, making it easier for clients to perform life-saving work.

“As a practicing physician, I want to express my admiration and heartfelt gratitude for those physicians fighting on the frontlines of this global pandemic,” said Lu de Souza, MD, vice president and chief medical officer, Cerner.

“We at Cerner are responsible for providing these physicians with the infrastructure and support needed to combat this outbreak. We are humbled by the opportunity to develop technology that proactively contributes to physician wellness,” de Souza said.

Cerner currently employs more than 100 physicians, and Cerner’s solutions have nearly 700,000 physician users. Cerner has worked alongside its client physicians for decades to design intuitive, physician-friendly solutions that enable collaboration across mobile and desktop platforms and enhance user efficiency, productivity and satisfaction.

For more information on the company’s commitment to providing a first-class physician experience, visit Cerner’s Physician Solutions page. For more on Cerner’s response to COVID-19, visit Cerner’s COVID-19 Update or Commitment & Support to Clients.  

CBKC plans $12.6 million multifamily project on Blue Parkway corridor

Community Builders of Kansas City (CBKC), the area’s largest urban core developer, recently announced plans for a $12.6 million multifamily development east of Prospect Ave. in Kansas City, Mo.

The Rochester on Blue Parkway is one of the first projects announced in a Kansas City-area Opportunity Zone. The 81,400 SF, four-story complex will house 64 residential units.

“The Rochester brings a residential option to this corridor that does not now exist,” said Emmet Pierson, Jr., president and CEO of CBKC.

“The Rochester adds another dynamic element to CBKC’s Blue Parkway campus that already includes more than 430,000 SF of diversified office, retail and service providers. This residential development marks the first of a number of projects CBKC has planned along the Blue Parkway corridor and throughout the east side,” Pierson, Jr. said.

CBKC announced last year that its 69,000 SF office building at 4001 Blue Parkway was 100 percent occupied. With tenants such as Legal Aid and the Mid-America Assistance Coalition, the three-story property has become a convenient services resource for the community.

“CBKC is changing the landscape of Kansas City’s east side with meaningful projects that matter to the community,” said former Missouri Sen. Shalonn “Kiki” Curls.

“CBKC has proven it gets quality projects in challenging geographies done. We are excited to see this asset added to our community and know we can expect news of other development to come," Curls said.

The Rochester on Blue Parkway will feature in-demand finishes and amenities including stainless steel appliances, solid-surface countertops, in-unit washer and dryer, an indoor/outdoor rooftop deck, fitness center, package pick-up room, community meeting space as well as landscaped front and back yard spaces furnished for grilling and gathering around the fire pit.

Rates will be in the range of $985 to $1,275 for the one-bedroom/one bath, one-bedroom plus den/one bath and two-bedroom/two-bathroom units. There also will be a penthouse two-bedroom executive suite.

Founded in 1991, CBKC is responsible for revitalizing the Blue Parkway area by developing commercial projects such as The 4001 Blue Parkway Office Building and the Swope Health Services Campus and residential projects like Mt. Cleveland Heights and Townhomes. The effort brought affordable housing, retail development, commercial offices and countless social services to a formerly blighted area.

The property was named after R. (Rochester) Charles (Chuck) Gatson, the visionary founder of CBKC who grew up east of Troost and invested his career in service to the education, training and capacity building of individuals and communities in need. Gatson received numerous leadership recognitions including the James A. Johnson Fellowship from the Fannie Mae Foundation, awarded to leaders in affordable housing and community development.

“Straub Construction is appreciative to partner with CBKC in the project to honor a long-time visionary and client, Chuck Gatson. His significant impact on the community continues today,” said Parker Young, president of Straub Construction, the project’s general contractor.

CBKC currently has more than $80 million in real estate assets, from downtown to 63rd Street, under management.

Other project partners include project designer Hufft, Artin LLC, Custom Engineering, FSC,Inc., Land3 Studio and Taliaferro & Browne. CBKC is working with several partners to finalize the project’s capital funding.

Construction is expected to begin in Q4 2020 with an anticipated completion date of approximately one year later.

Regional business community releases survey regarding COVID-19

by MWM Staff

The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Civic Council of Greater Kansas City and the Kansas City Area Development Council, along with the State of Kansas and the State of Missouri, released survey results of 1,300 business members and stakeholders across the two-state KC region regarding the immediate impact and planned response to the COVID-19 global pandemic. 

The purpose of the survey was to collect and share information that will open up business partnerships, policy considerations and trade efforts to ensure the KC region does not fall behind as it emerges from the health crisis.

“The business survey quantifies the concerns the KC Chamber has been hearing from our individual members, especially from our small businesses,” said Joe Reardon, president and CEO of the KC Chamber. 

“Financial assistance is a key priority, and, in conversations with our Congressional representatives, we have been asking them to ensure the Kansas City region receives its fair share of federal relief dollars,” Reardon said. 

“Every employer in our region is facing pressure and uncertainty because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Marc Hill, president of the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City.

“All of our organizations believed it was important to collaborate on one survey to collect information efficiently and share that information back with our members, as well as our partners and public officials," Hill said.

Responses from nearly 350 small, medium and large KC area businesses across a dozen different industry sectors highlighted workforce, financial and supply chain considerations in responding to COVID-19’s impact on their business. Key findings include:

• The top three most critical tools needed by businesses are access to workforce, tax relief, and short-term and low-interest loans. 

• More than half of survey respondents expect to struggle to meet financial obligations.

• One out of four businesses are reducing their workforce temporarily or permanently. 

• More than 90 percent of respondents are rescheduling or cancelling large meetings and events. 

• For companies large and small, employees’ health and well-being is a top concern.

• Businesses are seeing equal supply chain impact from multiple directions including limited access to critical goods, decreased demand and delay in receiving goods.

• One third of medium to extra large businesses (50-1,000+ employees) and more than half of small businesses (less than 50 employees) would not be able to comply with changes to FMLA outlined in Families First Coronavirus Response Act, or H.R. 6201.

• More than half of all small to medium-sized businesses (1 to 249 employees) responded that they would be interested in a low-interest rate SBA loan.

• When asked about the broader community, businesses listed these top concerns: access to medical care; child care; food bank support; and housing relief. 

“This collaborative civic effort will kick start conversations across the KC region to prepare our business community for the post-pandemic economy,” said Tim Cowden, president and CEO of the Kansas City Area Development Council.

“The regions that address business needs early and aggressively will be the ones to remain competitive for new business growth and jobs,”  Cowden said.

A complete summary of survey responses can be found online at the KC Chamber and KCADC websites.

Design group keeps the Pulse on positivity during uncertain times

Pulse Design Group employees occasionally work from home, so the transition was somewhat seamless from a technology standpoint.

“The hard part is the human connection disruption, and we are only one week into the stay at home ordinance. Our team relies so heavily on one another for collaboration and social interaction. The Pulse family is just that – a family,” said Rick Embers, Pulse Design Group managing partner.

“Design is a collaborative process, and our open office environment supports and fosters that need. This pandemic changed the normal business landscape, so we changed with it,” said Embers.

“Communication and employee engagement are so important, especially in these uncertain times, so we quickly implemented various platforms for employees to stay in touch and connect, and the outcome has been awesome,” said Mary Moore, associate principal.

“Weekly all-company ‘Pulse Peeps’ meetings are occurring through Microsoft Teams, employees are sharing pictures of their home offices, communicating through group chats and having virtual happy hours,” said Moore.

Pulse leadership is sharing additional resources including remote workouts, free financial consulting services, and work from home tips and tricks to keep everyone engaged.

“Staying upbeat and positive is extremely critical” said Embers, while wearing a frizzy wig and colored sunglasses during an internal video conference call.

“Healthcare design is our sole focus and the industry is always evolving. We are used to adapting quickly, just not in this manner, but we are making the best of it.

Our workload remains steady, projects are on schedule, and new work has resulted as our clients respond to this pandemic.

We recently helped The University of Kansas Health System convert an ambulance garage and modify the existing specialty chemistry lab at Bell Hospital into a COVID-19 testing facility. We are doing our part to help the cause,” said Embers.

“This is an interesting and scary time, but there are so many silver linings. Hospitals are responding quickly to treat patients, labs are preparing test kits and vaccinations, community partners are coming together to offer support, people are volunteering, companies are offering goods and services at reduced rates, and people are smiling and genuinely happy to see one another (from a safe distance of course).

Hardship makes you see the world through a different lens. The smallest kind gestures mean so much. You really appreciate the importance of leadership, friendship, camaraderie, family, coworkers and develop a strong sense of community” said Dennis Burns, president of Pulse Design Group.

"Pulse Design Group is proud to support our healthcare clients and community as we navigate this new norm. Thank you to all doctors, nurses, and staff for your continued efforts in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic," Moore said.