Austin Barnes
Publisher
Austin is an award-winning journalist whose career has evolved over the past decade from reporting to leading the business and growth of Startland.
As publisher, he leads Startland’s overall business strategy and operations, including revenue, partnerships, audience development, and expansion — building a sustainable business model that strengthens its journalism and extends its impact.
With experience spanning local and national newsrooms, brand development, and strategic communications, Austin has helped expand Startland beyond Kansas City, develop new revenue streams, and build an audience of more than 800,000 annual readers.
Tommy Felts
Editor-in-Chief
Tommy is Startland's editor-in-chief.
Under his leadership, the publication has expanded its coverage from a primarily high-tech, high-growth focus to a more wide-ranging and inclusive look at the faces of entrepreneurism, innovation and business.
Before joining Startland in 2017, Tommy worked for 12 years as an award-winning newspaper journalist, designer, editor and publisher.
He was named one of Editor & Publisher magazine’s top “25 Under 35” in 2014.
Nikki Overfelt Chifalu
Reporter
Nikki brings to Startland both community journalism and entrepreneurship experience and she loves being able to tell the inspiring stories of fellow creatives and risk-takers.
Before joining Startland, she worked for over 10 years writing and editing for daily newspapers in Lawrence, Topeka, Duluth, Minnesota, and Park Hills, Missouri. She took a short hiatus from journalism to pursue her dream of becoming a pastry chef and starting her own baking business.
Taylor Wilmore
Reporter
Hailing from Lee’s Summit, Taylor is a dedicated reporter and a graduate of the University of Missouri, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism.
Taylor channels her deep-seated passion for writing and storytelling to create compelling narratives that shed light on the diverse residents of Kansas City.
Prior to her role at Startland, Taylor made valuable contributions as a reporter for the Columbia Missourian newspaper, where she covered a wide range of community news and higher education stories.
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