Rise & Lead
Her Journey. Her Passion. Her Success

A native of Raleigh, North Carolina, Joni and her indisputable southern accent arrived in Kansas City almost 15 years ago after leading initiatives within state and federal government and advocacy organizations. In her eight years with the mayor’s office—most of them spent as Chief of Staff—Joni proved herself an accomplished political strategist, communications expert, and organizational leader. An artful negotiator, Joni helped steer Sly’s major development projects in Kansas City while raising the city’s profile at the national and international levels.

Before her time at city hall, Joni worked with the American Federation of Teachers, the Missouri Department of Transportation, and the office of Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan. An accomplished alumnus of the University of Missouri, where she earned her Master of Arts in political science, Joni received the 2019 University of Missouri Truman School of Public Affairs Mel Carnahan Public Service Award.

She was also named one of the 50 most powerful people in Kansas City and is a member of the Kansas City Business Journal’s prestigious Class of 2023 Women Who Mean Business. Joni is the author of the best-selling book titled, “The Thin Line Between Cupcake and Bitch: Taking Action, Driving Change and Getting Results.”

Susan Hiland is a successful communications professional with 25+ years of experience in broadcast journalism. The Kansas City native and Oak Park graduate is the Director of Media and Public Relations for North Kansas City Schools. She leverages her Emmy Award-winning TV reporter and anchor skills to create impactful videos, assist in crisis communications, host a podcast, coach staff and students for interviews, and facilitate positive news coverage.

Susan’s expertise has earned her local, regional, and national awards. Throughout her career, she has worked at TV stations across the country including FOX 4 in Kansas City, Midwest Correspondent for ABC affiliates in Chicago, St. Louis and New Haven, CT. She was named Kansas City’s Best News Anchor and Social Media Club’s Trailblazer of the Year.

Susan holds a Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism from Missouri State University. She is an active member of several professional organizations, including the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the National School Public Relations Association. She is also a board member of the Northland Animal Welfare Society.