Our Team
Michael Riley, Chief Executive Officer
Michael Riley is a results-oriented Public Affairs professional with an illustrious career spanning over a decade. Hailing from Raymore, MO, by way of Kansas City, MO, Michael has established himself as a creative strategist and expert in government relations, P3 specialist, and Community Development.
Michael’s journey in the realm of public affairs commenced with his academic pursuit at Kansas State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a Pre-Law Emphasis in 2008. This solid educational foundation laid the groundwork for his future accomplishments.
With an innate ability to bridge gaps and forge connections, Michael embarked on a career path that showcased his exceptional talents. His tenure as a Community Affairs Liaison under U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver II demonstrated his skill in cultivating local, state, and national relationships with stakeholders. His leadership in designing and executing integrated campaigns highlighted his strategic prowess in addressing community needs through public affairs initiatives.
As a Government Affairs Manager at Unite Private Networks (UPN), Michael emerged as a key figure in fostering relationships with governmental entities. His role as a liaison, coupled with his vigilance in monitoring regulatory landscapes, showcased his dedication to advancing the interests of UPN while ensuring compliance with evolving policies. While at UPN, Michael excelled at creating public-private partnerships between the company and municipalities to generate economic development in the Mid-West region.
As the Director of TOD/TOC at The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA), Michael is leading the charge in facilitating transit-oriented development initiatives that will benefit not only the ridership for KCATA but the two-state seven-county region the KCATA serves.
Outside the boardroom, Michael spends his time with his wife Leah and their three children.
Gary Hailes, President
Gary Hailes, born in New Brunswick New Jersey, spent his early years in Portsmouth New Hampshire where his father was called into the ministry. Gary spent most of his junior and high school years in Charlottesville Virginia, until attending Ottawa University in Ottawa Ks, in 1976.
It was at Ottawa where Gary became interested in Radio Broadcasting, honing his skills on the campus station KTJO. Graduating with a degree in Speech and Communications and a minor in Radio Broadcasting in 1980, he began a 43 year Media career.
With his first job as a seller for a Lawrence, Ks News paper, while doing some post graduate work at the University of Kansas, Journalism school, he found his passion in Media Sales. A quick introduction to former owners of what is now Hearst Broadcasting, launched a 9 year television sales career with KBMC-TV9 in Kansas City. In 1998, Gary’s skills was recognized by one of the stations new clients, a start up aviation company, Vanguard Airlines. As the Director of Sales, Hailes led the Airlines executive Road Warrior program that was launched to compete with Southwest Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Midwest Express and a host of low cost carriers. Gary and the team posted the first ever profitable quarter in the young history of the airlines. It was shortly after that and Gary was recruited by a group of local entrepreneurs and sports figures to launch what was one of the first all sports talk radio stations in the country.
In fall of 1990 the partnership of Union Broadcasting was formed. Serving as a partner and VP and Director of National Sales Gary led the efforts to put Sports Radio 810WHB, in the national spotlight by brokering deals with a national rep firm and some of the top advertising agency’s in the country. It was then that Gary became known as a skilled negotiator and someone who could be counted on to drive revenue with creative concepts and an eye on the bottom line.
After 23 years in the broadcast arena another client took noticed and Gary was asked to use those skills that had launch a sales career to help change the culture in Health Care as a development Director with the university of Kansas Health system.
It was there that along with his board service, local non profit Community LINC, (formed to end family houselessness) that his passion for moving from success to significance was inspired.
When approached about Community Feeding Partners, he knew it was time to try and make a difference.
Sheoni Givens, Chief Operating Officer
Originally from Davenport, Iowa, Sheoni Givens has lived in the Kansas City, MO community since 1992.
She attended the University of Missouri as a Spanish Major with a Minor in Political Science. She went on to continue her studies at American Intercontinental University for Business Administration with a specialization in entrepreneurship.
Sheoni Givens is the President & CEO of S. Givens & Associates. S. Givens & Associates is a small business consulting firm focused on small business in their efforts to start, grow, and excel. S. Givens & Associates has worked with many for-profit and non-profit organizations and has created extensive
opportunities for those seeking to increase the health of their business. Sheoni was also VP & COO for New Reflections Technical Institute, an institution dedicated to providing education and training to the Kansas City metropolitan area.
For nearly 20 years, Sheoni has worked in the housing field. She began her housing career in property management with Trammel Crowe Property management companies. She worked for many property management companies over the years until she secured a position as Project Coordinator and later Housing Counseling Director for Move UP, a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating blight, crime, and addiction. She continued her career in housing as the Executive Director for Home Free Kansas City, working with home buyers in preparation for homeownership. In addition, she also served as Regional Sales Manager for Liberty Bank & Trust in the mortgage division assisting in the expansion of the newly created division in the Kansas City market.
In 2017, Sheoni started Transitions for Life, LLC and founded Transitions for Life Foundation, a 501C3 organization dedicated to assisting in the elimination of homelessness and its’ contributing factors. This organization continues to house nearly 300 homeless individuals per year.
In 2020, she became the President of The CORE Syndicate, an organization founded on the idea of helping non-profits increase capacity and secure multiple funding sources.
Erika Woods, Chief Resource Development Officer
Erika Woods is a native of Kansas City and holds a Bachelor of the Arts from Howard University School of Communications.
Ms. Woods began her career working in the Corporate Sponsorship Division of the National Football League (NFL) located in New York City.
Ms. Woods’s life would soon change when she was scouted by Wilhelmina Modeling Agency which lead to her booking National Commercials and Print Ads and then eventually becoming a Full time Actor.
When she is not appearing as Stephanie “Pop” Henry opposite Wendell Pierce and Patina on the hit show “Raising Kanan” on the STARZ network, Ms. Woods is busy working with her Father Ronald Woods and a group of her Family and Friends on a Company they formed to help feed children, families and homeless called Community Feeding Partners. www.Communityfeedingpartners.org