Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City Announces 2022 Inductees to Business Hall of Fame | Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City

May 24, 2022 –Junior Achievement (JA) of Greater Kansas City is honored to announce the 2022 Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame class: Carlos Antequera, Novel Capital; Darcy Howe, KCRise Fund; and Fred Pryor, Pryor Learning Services. The laureates will be recognized at the annual Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame on Tuesday, November 1, 2022, from 4:30pm to 7:30pm. The event will be held at the JA Youth Learning Lab, presented by the Mallouk Family Foundation, at 2842 W 47thAve; Kansas City, KS 66103.

“The 2022 laureates are exceptional examples of the entrepreneurial spirit that Junior Achievement instills in Kansas City youth each day,” says Megan Sturges Stanfield, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of Kansas City. “When students see the likeness of leaders like Carlos, Darcy and Fred on our walls, they have the confidence to become business leaders and change-makers in the community.” 2022 will mark the 22nd year of the JA Business Hall of Fame, a signature event in recognizing the efforts and accomplishments of those that are vital in building the past, present and future of the Kansas City economic and entrepreneurial ecosystem. These three leaders join familiar names of the Kansas City business landscape, including Gary Fish, Peter Mallouk, Jeanette Prenger, Ewing Kauffman, and more.

To support these laureates and the Hall of Fame event, you can contact Alex Basalo (abasalo@jagkc.org) to become a sponsor or purchase your tickets.

About the 2022 Laureates

Carlos Antequera

Carlos Antequera is Co-Founder and CEO of Overland Park-based Novel Capital, a revenue-based fintech platform. Novel Capital provides software entrepreneurs with non-dilutive on-demand growth capital and resources. Novel Capital recently raised $115 million in funding.

Darcy Howe

Darcy Howe’s accomplishments include building the largest Merrill Lynch Private Banking practice over a 32-year career at the firm. After a 2-week “retirement,” Howe built KCRise Fund, a venture capital fund which invests in high-growth technology companies in the region. KCRise Fund is now a top venture fund in the country.

Fred Pryor

As a result of the overwhelming positive response to Fred Pryor’s teaching through the Dale Carnegie Program, he launched Fred Pryor Seminars, the prototype of a new industry of one-day public seminars, in 1970. In the years since, Pryor has delivered over 8,000 speeches and his company has helped over 13 million learners and over 3 million businesses.

KC Innovator Award

In addition to the 2022 laureates, JA is honored to present the 2022 KC Innovator Award to Chris Goode of Ruby Jean’s Juicery. The Innovator Award is presented to those that positively disrupt their industries, create jobs and opportunities and apply innovation to solve critical social and economic problems. Chris Goode is a passionate entrepreneur who started his company in 2015 in honor of his late grandmother, Ruby Jean. Goode has made it his life’s work to educate underrepresented communities and integrate the juicing culture in his hometown. Ruby Jean’s has also launched a pilot program with Kansas City Public Schools to provide fresh juice to three schools; this is the first program of its kind in the nation.(For full laureate bios and headshots, contact JA of Greater Kansas City)Carlos AntequeraCarlos Antequera is Co-Founder and CEO of Overland Park-based Novel Capital, a revenue-based fintech platform. Novel Capital provides software entrepreneurs with non-dilutive on-demand growth capital and resources. Novel Capital recently raised $115 million in funding. Darcy HoweDarcy Howe’s accomplishments include building the largest Merrill Lynch Private Banking practice over a 32-year career at the firm. After a 2-week “retirement,” Howe built KCRise Fund, a venture capital fund which invests in high-growth technology companies in the region. KCRise Fund is now a top venture fund in the country.Fred PryorAs a result of the overwhelming positive response to Fred Pryor’s teaching through the Dale Carnegie Program, he launched Fred Pryor Seminars, the prototype of a new industry of one-day public seminars, in 1970. In the years since, Pryor has delivered over8,000 speeches and his company has helped over 13 million learners and over 3 million businesses. KC Innovator AwardIn addition to the 2022 laureates, JA is honored to present the 2022 KC Innovator Award to Chris Goode ofRuby Jean’s Juicery. The Innovator Award is presented to those that positively disrupt their industries, create jobs and opportunities and apply innovation to solve critical social and economic problems.Chris Goode is a passionate entrepreneur who started his company in 2015 in honor of his late grandmother, Ruby Jean. Goode has made it his life’s work to educate underrepresented communities and integrate the juicing culture in his hometown. Ruby Jean’s has also launched a pilot program with Kansas City Public Schools to provide fresh juice to three schools; this is the first program of its kind in the nation.