WASHINGTON, April 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Former National Football League wide receiver and motivational speaker Eddie Kennison will be a guest speaker for Kansas City's National Small Business Week event on Tuesday, May 13. 

Kennison, who played for the New Orleans Saints, the Chicago Bears, the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs between stints with the Rams, returned to retire jersey #87 from the Chiefs in 2010, where he says he "found his home."  Now living in Leawood, KS, Kennison joined Kansas City's small business community in 2008 when he and his wife, Shamika, opened Entourage Institute of Beauty and Esthetics in Lenexa, KS.  Kennison Brown Real Estate Co., Kennison's venture with partners Shawn Brown and Damon Taurer, is the "official real estate company" for the Chiefs. Kennison opened Cellar & Loft wine shop, nearly three years ago with Bill and Maggie Dane.  Kennison contributes to the spiritual website "Power to Change." Eddie and Shimika Kennison established "Quick Start - The Eddie Kennison Foundation" in 2003, which supports people with lupus.

Every year since 1963, the U.S. Small Business Administration takes the opportunity to highlight through National Small Business Week the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others from all 50 states and U.S territories. This year, in addition to other SBA regional and local small business week events being held—Kansas City, along with San Francisco, Boston and Washington, D.C. were selected to host one of the four national events. 

The Kansas City National Small Business Week event will be held at the Burns and McDonnell World Headquarters at 9400 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, MO 64114. Registration and a networking breakfast will begin at 8 a.m.

For more information, including a complete list of events and locations please visit www.sba.gov/smallbusinessweek.  Sessions will also be live-streamed on SBA's website at www.sba.gov.

Release Number: 14-17

Contact: Terry Sutherland (202) 205-6919
Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news

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SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration