Hi, I'm Byron

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I’m a writer creating content that helps individuals and organizations achieve their communications goals. I mix a strong business background with creativity to help clients tell unique stories that inform, acquire or retain their ideal customers and followers. 

I specialize in three types of work on behalf of clients primarily in the banking, wealth and charitable giving industries:

1. Educational: What the client wants you to know. 
2. Thought Leadership: What the client thinks or believes.
3. Recognition: Their journeys, accomplishments and setbacks—and why it all matters.  

My style is human, relatable and conversational. Really, how I think someone wants to consume what they’re reading—and what will move them to action when needed. I seek the anecdotal and experiential angles, largely leaving the technical X’s and O’s to others. 

I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism & Public Relations from the University of Kansas and an MBA from Avila University. I volunteer at arts, professional and entrepreneurial organizations, and have mentored both pre-revenue and growth ventures.

I work solo or with teams. It begins with active listening and skillful interviewing to understand the client’s goals, and together, we find the often-overlooked connections that inspire a memorable story or message. By collaborating, we solve problems of low awareness or understanding about who they are, what they do, why it matters, and who can benefit by working with them. 

In addition to writing self-researched original articles, I’ve jump-started back-of-napkin ideas, polished rough drafts and right-sized pieces that have rambled on way too long. Word-count reductions of up to 30% with improved flow and clarity are typical. Readers often don’t want to know everything an expert wants to say. Instead, they just want to learn enough to decide if action is needed or how they can benefit. 

Depending on the project, I can easily access a robust network of talented creatives whose expertise ranges from Social Media to Investor Relations and from Design to Videography. 

I've been fortunate to work with clients whose expertise includes:

• Banking/Credit Union
• Benefits
• Career Management
• Community Foundations
• Consulting 
• Counseling
• Cybersecurity
• Data Management
• Disability Inclusion
• Education
• Energy Distribution
• Financial Services
• Fintech
• Franchise
• Internet Security
• Legal
• Marketing/PR Agency
• Nonprofit
• Realty
• Retail
• Retirement Planning
• Software
• Wealth Management

• Freelance Exchange of Kansas City
• Head for the Cure
• International Association of Business Communicators - Kansas City
• Kansas City Art Institute
• The Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City
• Regnier Institute of Entrepreneurship & Innovation; University of Missouri - Kansas City
• Growth Mentoring Services/Enterprise Center of Johnson County

• Fitness: I'm often spinning/cycling, playing tennis or taking group classes
• Mentoring: 10+ years at UMKC's Henry W. Bloch School of Management
• My home-management side-hustle: visit www.housesitterkc.com to learn more

I'm passionate about podcasts and listen regularly to these programs:

• Remarkable People, hosted by Guy Kawasaki
• Business of Story, hosted by Park Howell
• The Sports Media Podcast, hosted by  Richard Deitsch
• The Self-Employed Life, hosted by Jeffrey Shaw
• The Minimalists, co-hosted by Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus 
• The Daily, from The New York Times
• How I Built This, hosted by Guy Raz
• The Crazy One, hosted by Stephen Gates
• Her Money, hosted by Jean Chatzky
• The Apex Business Advisors Podcast
• Signal or Noise, with Peter Mallouk

I've read these books recently and welcome referrals: 

• Obvious in Hindsight by Bradley Tusk
• Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
• The Gift of Influence by Tommy Spaulding
• Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
• Shanda - A Memoir of Shame and Secrecy by Letty Cottin Pogrebin
• Look for Me There: Grieving My Father, Finding Myself by Luke Russert
• Invisible Storm by Jason Kander
• The Good Life by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz
• By the Grace of the Game by Dan Grunfeld
• Uphill by Jemele Hill
• Start More Than You Can Finish by Becky Blades
• The Power of Regret by Daniel Pink
• Just Keep Buying by Nick Maggiulli
• Finish Big by Bo Burlingham
• Winning on Purpose by Fred Reichheld
• How Full is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath and Don Clifton
• The Master/Roger Federer by Christopher Clarey
• Getting Naked by Patrick Lencioni
• The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon
• The Path by Peter Mallouk with Tony Robbins
• The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson
• Die with Zero by Bill Perkins
• Lingo by Jeffrey Shaw
• The Gig Economy by Diane Mulcahy
• Marketing Rebellion by Mark Schaefer
• Everybody Writes by Ann Handley
• Pitch Anything by Oren Klaff
• The E-Myth - Revisited by Michael Gerber
• Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankel