Check out our showcase of sixteen amazing female leaders here in North Kansas City. Some come from the business world, some started their own business. Some represent the City as elected officials, and some are volunteer community advocates. We’d like to introduce you to them, as they showcase red-hot Fall fashions from Three & Me Boutique, Bombshell Boutique, MadHouse Market, plus items from Boheme and Flagship Books — the five collective storefronts inside Iron District. This photoshoot was a labor of love and couldn’t be done without photographer Robert Hoops, Iron District founder Rachel Cuevas, our five host vendors and Tiki Huna’s Trent Kesterson.

See anything you like? Hover over it and click to purchase online or visit them at 1599 Iron Street Thursday-Sunday (visit them on Facebook for Fall operating hours).

Let’s meet our showcase:

Yvonne Salinas

Yvonne is a resident of Ward 4 in NKC and one of their two representatives appointed to the city’s new Equity and Inclusion Committee. Her work includes a forthcoming “People of NKC” story project. Yvonne also runs the Nottingham Society food pantry at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.

Toni Bonadonna

Toni is the owner/operator of Scimeca’s Market on Swift Street. A member of the Scimeca family, she serves up the family’s famous Italian recipes and signature Italian sausages.

Ana Pellumbi

Dr. Pellumbi is a clinical pharmacist at North Kansas City hospital and City Councilwoman representing Ward 4. Her first-hand knowledge as a frontline worker during the COVID pandemic has been invaluable to the council.

Jessica Loya

Jessica is a founding member of the City’s Equity and Inclusion Committee (representing Ward 1), and a community activist working with nonprofits and AmeriCorps. Jess fearlessly advocates for the city’s houseless population.

Kathy West

Kathy, who runs the Pitch-nominated “Kathy Cycles” bike group, leads rides throughout town and advocates for bicycle safety from her home in Ward 3.

Kathy Ragan

Kathy is co-owner/operator of Expressive Arts Studio with her business partner Mindy Hart. She coordinates with local artists for curated shows and teaches art and music classes and offers painting parties for neighborhood youth and adults.

Amie Clarke

Amie is a Ward 4 City councilmember and local advocate for cycling, parks and outdoor activities. She also serves as liaison to the Parks & Recreation board and helped land a Ward 4 park in River Forest.

Rita Pearce

Rita is a former Ward 1 councilwoman and the executive director of the Northland Assistance Center. Under her leadership this year, the NAC housed 20 neighborhood families during a deadly cold winter emergency.

Bri Burrows

Bri Burrows, the master brewer (and now co-owner) at Big Rip Brewing Co at 9th & Swift is active in Pink Boots Society for female brewers, and is a local advocate for LGBTQ representation in the industry and in North Kansas City.

Jan Jensen

Jan is an artist and agent, running her agency Jan Jensen Artists out of iWerx on Clay Street (where they curate monthly shows). Jan coordinates opening receptions and pop-ups at Northtown bars and cafes.

Tina Weaver

Tina is the executive director of the North Kansas City YMCA. Her focus is on sports, healthy living, and equity for residents in need. Tina is also the Y’s national LGBTQ+ chair. 

Sarah Sheckells

Sarah is a Ward 3 representative for the City’s planning commission. She’s co-owner of Northtown Design t-shirt co. Sarah is also an advocate for local storefronts with the Pint Path pub crawl.

Morgan Perry

Morgan is a Ward 3 resident and business specialist at the Mid-Continent Public Library. She specializes in lifting up under-resourced entrepreneurs whose ideas aren’t easy to find investors for.

Sam Jones

Sam is the director of the Pint Path NKC bicycle pub crawl, and for years she has documented the bars and brewers and annual Snake Saturday festivals on her Kansas City Beer blog.

Jasmine Varela

Jasmine is the owner/operator of Snow & Roast mobile cafe at Macken Park. She and her family serve up shaved ice and coffee to Macken Park regulars and at neighborhood events in NKC.

Julie Sola

Julie is senior vice president and general manager of Harrah’s Casino Kansas City, an establishment responsible for millions of NKC’s capital improvements budget. Julie spent 24 years working her way up at the casino, becoming general manager last summer during COVID protocols and corporate mergers.