VegLifeKC is honored to host some of the most influential leaders in the animal welfare and food policy reform and innovation fields as they share their expert insight and discuss their contributions to increasing adoption of a humane lifestyle and a brighter future for people, animals, and our planet.





Presenters:

Gene Baur, Farm Sanctuary

Audrey Sanchez, Balanced

Lisa Feria, Stray Dog Capital Matt Rice, Mercy For Animals

Moderated by Nate Meador, Great Plains SPCA





Event timeline (loose; subject to change):

1:00 - Check-in / Meet and Greet / Book-signing

2:15 - Welcome and Individual talks

4:15 - Speaker panel (Q&A)

5:00 - Wrap-up



Location and Parking:

UMKC Student Union Theater, 1st floor

Parking at Cherry Street garage (free)



Admission and check in:

- Admission is free, with options to support the event

- Plan to arrive a little early for parking and check-in

- Have your e-ticket pulled up; no printed tickets, please

> or we can check you in using the ticket purchaser's last name







Net Proceeds will be donated, in full, to Great Plains SPCA. Thank you for your generous support.





About the presenters:





Gene Baur, President, Farm Sanctuary

Gene began his activist career selling veggie hot dogs out of a VW van at Grateful Dead concerts to fund farm animal rescues. Today, he serves as President of Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization, with shelters in New York and California. Providing rescue, refuge and adoption for hundreds of farm animals each year, Farm Sanctuary shelters enable visitors to connect with farm animals as emotional, intelligent individuals. Gene believes these animals stand as ambassadors for the billions on factory farms who have no voice, and he has dedicated his career to advocating on their behalf. Gene holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from California State University Northridge and a master’s degree in agricultural economics from Cornell University.

https://www.farmsanctuary.org/





Audrey Sanchez, Founder and Executive Director, Balanced

Audrey Sanchez is a decade-long educator and nonprofit executive. She started her career as a Teach For America corps member in Kansas City. She's worked in numerous cities across the country coaching teachers, school leaders, and executives and most recently worked as the Vice President of Education at Mercy For Animals. Just over a year ago, inspired by her daughter, she founded Balanced, a public-health advocacy organization fighting for healthier foods in schools, hospitals, universities, cafeterias, and stores. Audrey considers her role at Balanced to be one of the greatest privileges of her life.

https://www.balanced.org/





Lisa Feria, CEO, Stray Dog Capital

Lisa is a seasoned business manager with over 15 years of experience running organizations and businesses. She has worked with blue chip companies such as Procter & Gamble and General Mills. Lisa has an MBA from the University of Chicago where she was voted “one of the 25 most influential MBA students,” and a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Lisa has always been heavily involved in the community – as a volunteer for SPCA and United Way, and was recipient of one of the two ArtsWAVE awards, given by the Procter & Gamble CEO. She enjoys a plant–based diet and lives in Kansas with her husband, two boys, and many dogs.

https://straydogcapital.com/





Nate Meador, President and Chief Development and Marketing Officer, Great Plains SPCA (Moderator)

Nate grew up in Arkansas and moved to the metro from Southern California in 2011, and currently lives in Parkville, Missouri. Nate has provided many rescue animals a forever home, including a horse, Bill, and his dog, Arctic. Nate’s career as a development and marketing professional started in broadcasting and then transitioned to education. Nate brings diverse knowledge and experience from hosting and producing radio shows, to holding positions including School Director for private post-secondary educational programs, Marketing Director for a U.S. school franchise, and Executive Coach working with leadership teams in for-profit and non-profit organizations across the nation.

http://www.greatplainsspca.org/



