Kay Saunders
Founder & CEO |
Bellewether and the Human Asset Imaging® Institute
Kay Saunders is the founder and CEO of Bellewether, Ltd., an organization consultancy, and its subsidiary, The Human Asset Imaging® Institute which is dedicated to the people side of productivity. Her professional career spans over 30 years in which she was employed with such stellar companies as IBM, Digital Equipment Corporation, AT&T and Jostens Learning. A champion of continuous improvement in human systems, Kay recently authored the book, Interpersonal Secrets for Professional Success.
Kay’s approach to human performance and interpersonal and multicultural dynamics provides organizations with outstanding perspectives on how to positively impact bottom line performance.
Though her career began in the corporate world, Kay emerged with passion into the world of business ownership, launching Bellewether in 1994. Since then she has dedicated her focus on the development of curricula, tools and structures that assist small to medium enterprises in building capacity and implementing intentional strategies for sustainable growth.
Aside from providing strategic and management direction into the day‐to‐day operations of two companies, Kay continues to be instrumental in the creative process leading to the on‐going development and placement of Bellewether’s trademarked Human Asset Imaging® courseware used by clients in corporations, government, community‐based organizations and small business markets throughout the country.
Certifications
In 2004, Kay became a Certified Facilitator and Business Coach for the Kansas City based Kauffman Foundation’s FastTrac Entrepreneurial training programs. She was then 1 of only 4 facilitators certified at the Master level for the program. As a facilitator, Kay spent 5 years working directly with small business entrepreneurs, assisting them in the development of business ideas and growth strategies and touched more than 500 businesses. During her work with Kauffman, she co‐authored a chapter of the Growth Venture Curriculum on Business Operations. In 2009, Kay retired her facilitation services with Kauffman to give her full attention to the launch of her second company, the Human Asset Imaging® Institute.
Affiliations
Current:
Executive Board | Greater Kansas City Community Foundation – Secretary
Board Member | Greater Kansas City Community Foundation
Member | National Association of Women Business Owners
Past:
Board Member | Greater Kansas City Community Foundation
Chair | Eastland Community Foundation Board
Regent Emeritus | Rockhurst University Board of Regents
U.S. Delegate | Futurallia International Business Conference | 2011
U.S. Delegate | Futurallia International Business Conference | 2010
Past President of the Board | Seton Center and Seton Center School
Past President of the Board | Kansas City Adult Basic Education Program
Member | Ethics in Business Steering Committee | Lee’s Summit, Missouri
Mayor Appointee | Missouri Downtown Economic Stimulus Authority commission | Lee’s Summit, Missouri
Mayor Appointee | Land Clearance Redevelopment Authority | Lee’s Summit, Missouri
Honors | Awards
Professional Service Firm of the Year—Minority Enterprise Development Week | 2005
Kansas City Business Journal Women Who Mean Business | Class of ‘05
Small Business of the Year—Lee’s Summit Chamber | 2005 Nominee
Publications
Featured:
KC Business: Cover and Layout | Futurallia KC 2011 Story
Flourish! Magazine: Cover Girl and Layout | 2008
Fortune Magazine: Small Business Feature | Business Coach | 2007
Authored:
Interpersonal Secrets for Professional Success, published December 2011
On‐going contributions to Thinking Bigger Business Magazine, Thinking Bigger Guide for KC Entrepreneurs and other trade publications.
Presentations
On‐going Facilitation: JE Dunn Minority Contractor Business Development Program
Keynote Speaker: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs | Baltimore 2012
Society of Human Resource Managers [SHRM] Regional Conference 20