Today, Mayor James announced his appointments to one of Kansas City’s most influential economic development boards. “My focus on making Kansas City the entrepreneurial capital of the world is reflected in the new TIF Commission. Each one of these new commissioners has started their own business in Kansas City or served in nonprofit capacities to guide and shepherd the creation of new businesses,” said Mayor Sly James. “They are a group uniquely qualified to change the way we use our valuable economic development tools. They have the experience to know that not all development is good development, but that good development can create ripple effects that leverage our public dollars. To the end, I am confident this group will realign our priorities to use tax dollars to promote development that will create meaningful job opportunities at companies that grow and invest back in our community over time.”
“Additionally, each of them understands that TIF is a two-edged tool. It should be used to both encourage development in ways and places that further our city’s progress, and used to invest in underserved and disinvested areas of the community. I have charged this group with thinking of new and different ways to use the most important and effective tool in the city’s economic development tool box,” concluded Mayor James.
The Mayor has appointed the following residents of Kansas City, Missouri to the Tax Increment Financing Commission:
Chairman Ron Yaffe is the past Chairman of the Missouri Real Estate Commission and is currently a realtor for Reece and Nichols in Kansas City. Mr. Yaffe has served the city in many roles including previously as the Chair of the TIF Commission and member of the City Planning Commission for Kansas City, Missouri . He has also received the Fair Housing Award from the Human Relations Department of Kansas City, Missouri and the City Manager’s Office. Mr. Yaffe has been appointed to serve on the Citizen’s Advisory Panel for the reuse of the Bannister Federal Complex.
Commissioner Estella Morales is a lifetime resident of Kansas City, Missouri and has devoted her time and talents assisting nonprofit agencies toward meeting their goals of improving the lives of its citizens. She served as the first female Chair of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and is currently Chair of the Greater Kansas City Hispanic Collaborative.
Commissioner Barrett Hatches serves as President and principle owner of BHMM Energy Services which specializes in managing energy facilities. Prior to founding his own company, Dr. Hatches served in several executive roles. He served as President and CEO of Northern Indiana Public Service Company, and more recently as Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Swope Community Enterprises and President and CEO of Swope Health Services. Dr. Hatches is a graduate of Jackson State University with a Ph.D. in Urban Leadership and Higher Education.
Commissioner Rhonda Holman is the Vice President of the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City where she manages the Foundation’s grant portfolio. Prior to her work at the Health Care Foundation, Ms. Holman focused on developing new businesses and fostering innovation first as Vice President for Entrepreneurial Development at the Kauffman Foundation and more recently as Interim Director of the Entrepreneurial Growth Resource Center at UMKC’s Block School of Business. Ms. Holman holds an MBA from Rockhurst University and an MPA from UMKC.
Commissioner Philip Glynn is Vice President of Economic Development at Travois, Inc., a Kansas City-based housing and economic development financing firm. Travois works primarily to finance affordable housing and economic development projects on Indian reservations, Native Hawaiian Homelands and in Alaska Native villages. Phil holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a bachelor’s degree in English from Wake Forest University.
Commissioner Kelley Martin is the principal of Martin Financial Group, LLC, a financial planning and investment advisory firm located in Kansas City north of the river. He has been active in civic and economic development efforts for over twenty-five years. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Missouri Development Finance Board, Northland Community Foundation, Saint Luke’s Northland Hospital, Spellman Medical Foundation, Citizen’s Association, Forward Kansas City and the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre. Mr. Martin was a member of the City Plan Commission for over seven years where he was Vice-Chair. He has also served on the Charter Review Commission and Bond Finance Advisory Board for the city. Mr. Martin received his B.S. in physics and M.S. in geophysical engineering from the University of Missouri at Rolla.
