Kansas City, Inclusion, and Everything In Between
Marty and I hit the skies one last time this year for an impactful engagement in the heartland of America, traveling to Kansas City, Missouri for my keynote at the SETWorks All-Hands End-of-Year Employee Event. I left that room feeling so full. SETWorks is a SaaS tech company building a simple, AI-powered platform that helps disability service agencies work more efficiently, so teams can focus on what truly matters, people. LOVE this. Being surrounded by innovators intentionally designing technology with disability in mind was a powerful reminder that inclusion works best when it is built in from the beginning, not added later. And yes, the black top made its appearance too, a subtle throwback to my SaaS startup roots and where my corporate career first began.
How This Full-Circle Moment Began
This trip to Kansas City was sparked earlier in the year in Portland, Oregon when I delivered my Heart of Inclusion keynote at APSE’s Pacific Northwest Employment Forum. I always say relationships are built in the moments between the “main moments,” and that conference was proof. I spent time connecting with the people, vendors, and community gathered to do the work that disability inclusion requires, and that is where I met the SETWorks team in the exhibition area. They were sharing their vision for making the service-providing process less daunting and creating tools that help agencies focus on clients a little more and overhead a little less. I must have made a good impression because not long after I was booked to bring that same message to their team back at headquarters, to help even a company devoted to inclusion find fresh inspiration.
The Reality Behind the Scenes
As successful as the event was, getting there came with challenges Marty and I know all too well. The trip began with a 2:00 a.m. wake-up call to prepare for a long travel day out of Oakland Airport, which is a couple hours from home. We left Milo with our trusted friend, got to the airport, and boarded our 7:20 flight. Travel days require a lot of planning for me, especially around the tougher aspects of my disability, managing my intakes, building in time for care needs, and preparing for what comes before and after a flight. With a full schedule ahead, I landed feeling more run down than usual. Then we hit a snag with the rental car, because just as we were attempting to leave, the vehicle became a no go and we had to do a quick swap before we could even exit the airport.
A Historic Hotel and a Hard Moment
Marty handled the driving and got us into our hotel in downtown Kansas City at Hotel Phillips on a brisk, chilly day. We valeted the car and stepped into a historic building where President Harry Truman used to stay, and we quickly realized the charm came with accessibility challenges. The ATM was upstairs, the restaurant was downstairs, and nearly every other accommodation came with a set of stairs. I was feeling fatigued and I had not eaten in almost a full day. I was close to a full meltdown and even considered canceling our reservation and finding somewhere else to stay. Marty anchored me, reminded me it was our anniversary the following day, and after inspecting the room, we decided we could manage without adding another layer of complexity. Still, I was so strained I could feel a kidney infection stirring in my body, and for a moment I wondered if we might need to head home.
Marty Being Marty
Marty did what he always does and supported me in every possible way. He encouraged me to connect with my care team back home, found a pharmacy in town, and helped coordinate a prescription so we could get ahead of what was going on. While I rested, he went out to handle it all. While waiting for the prescription to be filled, he visited a few sites and ended up overlooking downtown from the World War I memorial. In true Marty fashion, he struck up a conversation with a local news anchor, Morgan Riddell, who was filming a news spot for the evening. He shared my story, and she was interested in doing a piece, especially since we already have plans to return for another event in 2026.
An Anniversary, an Invitation, and a Surprise News Moment
The timing was wild in the best way. The Center for Disability Inclusion, a nonprofit that was coincidentally holding its annual awards luncheon the following day, heard I would be in town for SETWorks and invited Marty and me to join them. They wanted us to share about my upcoming engagement next September. That luncheon fell on our anniversary, and thankfully, after the medication and rest, I felt so much better and we made it. Because of Marty’s resourcefulness, KCTV Channel 5 sent a camera to the luncheon at the Union Station Boardroom to capture a spot that may be used in the news.
Making the Most of Kansas City
We also did what we always try to do when we travel, we carved out a little joy and made memories. We celebrated our anniversary with barbecue at the highly recommended Q39, drove around The Plaza at Country Club, and made it over to the City Market to experience as much of Kansas City as we could in the time we had. It was the perfect reminder that even in the middle of work, there is still space for life.
The Main Event at SETWorks
When it came time for the keynote, I felt the energy I needed return. I was inspired by the employees, staff, and leadership at SETWorks, and proud to deliver another quality event, the kind I am known for. I am so thankful for the ability to travel with my husband and technical guru, who once again proved invaluable in helping set up and support all the tech behind the scenes. Most of all, I am grateful to SETWorks for trusting me to be their keynote speaker for their end-of-year event, for the conversations, the openness, and the shared commitment to doing better together. David Lindell, Henri McCracken, and Julia Hefferon, thank you for the warm welcome and for building with inclusion at the center.
