• Joe Zwillenberg
• Website:
  joejoescatering.com
  westportfleamarket.com 
• Position: 
  Owner
  Joe Joe's Catering/
  Westport Flea Market 
• Contact:
  

Topic - Lessons Learned from Kansas City Entrepreneurs You May Not Have Heard Of

Moderator: Scott Mize, Silicon Valley Venture Development Executive; 
Panelists: Adam Coomes, Zaarly, Infegy; Tyler Prochnow, Think Big Partners; Joe Zwillenberg, Westport Flea Market, Joe Joe's Catering; Jene' Popper Hong, Business Transition Specialists

You've seen their businesses. You've dined in their establishments. You've utilized their services. But what's the story behind many of the Kansas City businesses that you pass by everyday? Where did they come from? How did they get started? And most importantly, how did they become successful?

Many people have heard Neal Patterson's story, Joyce Hall's story, and even Henry Bloch's story. But what about the hidden stories of entrepreneurial success that you've never heard before? There are hundreds of Kansas City entrepreneurs who have been there, done that, and can inspire you to build your dream up to their level of success. Trust us when we say that some of their lessons may surprise you...

In this session, participants will:

• Gain insight, advice, and wisdom from some of Kansas City's own entrepreneurs
• Hear personal stories from entrepreneurs of KC and learn how to get to their levels of success
• Find out what it takes to launch a business venture in the Kansas City area from people who have experienced it firsthand
• Learn how to apply the speakers' stories into your business life

Bio

To say that Joe Zwillenberg knows the restaurant business is a major understatement. As current owner of the iconic Westport Flea Market and one of Kansas City's most successful Starbucks, Zwillenberg has taken the challenges of owning a restaurant and made it work to his advantage.

From his humble beginnings, Zwillenberg was passionate about the restaurant business. He first became interested in food during his first job as a scooper at Baskin-Robbins at 63rd and Wornall Road. He enjoyed the job so much that he continued to work at some of the most iconic restaurants in the Kansas City area including the Waldo Astoria dinner theater and Parkway 600 – even if it meant lying about his age so that he could serve alcohol!

Prior to delving even deeper into to the restaurant business, Zwillenberg attended the University of Missouri in Columbia where he graduated with a hotel and restaurant management degree.

After graduation, Zwillenberg began work with prestigious Kansas City restaurant chain Gilbert/Robinson where he became manager of Houlihan's on the Plaza and later partnered with Mario Scaglia to open Jumping Catfish.

After this business venture, Zwillenberg finally found the opportunity to open a restaurant of his own. He started Joe Joe's Italian Eatery in midtown and became one of the first restaurants to serve Paninis in Kansas City. Zwillenberg also opened Joe's Burgers and finally, Westport Flea Market in 2005.

In addition to launching, running, and working in successful Kansas City restaurants, Zwillenberg also operates his own profitable office catering business with clients such as Cerner and Aquilla.