KANSAS CITY, Mo. — [September 9, 2026] — Great Jobs KC today announced that its Board of Directors has selected Aaron North as the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer (CEO), succeeding Earl Martin Phalen, who will depart after four and a half years leading the organization. North begins his tenure as CEO on December 8.
The leadership transition comes as Great Jobs KC marks its tenth anniversary. The organization traces its roots to the vision of Kansas City civic and philanthropic icon Ewing Marion Kauffman, whose Project Choice initiative first put into practice his belief that access to education is the surest path to opportunity. That belief grew into Kauffman Scholars, then KC Scholars, and evolved — over the past decade — into Great Jobs KC, a comprehensive workforce development and educational ecosystem serving the Kansas City region.
“Ewing Kauffman believed that every person deserves the chance to achieve their full potential,” said Jeff Simon, Chair of the Great Jobs KC Board of Directors. “For ten years, this organization has carried that belief forward, and under Earl’s leadership it has grown into one of the most impactful workforce development organizations in the country. We are deeply grateful for Earl’s service, and we are confident that Aaron North is the right leader to carry Mr. Kauffman’s vision into its next chapter.”
Under Phalen’s leadership over the past four and a half years, Great Jobs KC has:
- Raised more than $125 million to fund scholarships and workforce training;
- Nearly doubled its scholarship program, from 525 scholarships awarded to 928 awarded last year, and helped secure more than 3,000 additional university-sponsored scholarships;
- Achieved a 72% college graduation rate among scholars, which is 24% higher than similar students;
- Launched the Great Jobs KC skills training program, a tuition-free pathway to high-demand careers that has helped more than 3,000 graduates secure better-paying jobs, with graduates seeing average annual wage increases of $29,000 with full benefits;
- Built a workforce ecosystem of more than 150 partner organizations, community colleges and employers across the Kansas City region; and
- Commissioned an independent evaluation whose research found that Great Jobs KC’s early results could place it “among the most impactful workforce training programs in the U.S.”
“Leading Great Jobs KC has been the privilege of my career,” said Phalen. “Ten years ago, this organization was built on Mr. Kauffman’s simple, powerful belief that opportunity should not be determined by a ZIP code. I’m proud of what our team has accomplished, and I’m leaving an organization that is stronger, more far-reaching and better positioned than ever to serve this region. Aaron shares that same belief in the power of education and opportunity, and I am excited for him to lead Great Jobs KC into its next decade.”
North brings a distinctive combination of experience in philanthropy, education, workforce development and regional economic growth to Great Jobs KC. He spent more than a decade at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, where he served as Vice President and was chair of the Kauffman Scholars board of directors. North currently serves as Executive Vice President of Strategy and Economic Growth at the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, where he works with business, civic and institutional leaders to advance regional priorities for long-term economic growth. He also helped create and launch KC Scholars 10 years ago, giving him a firsthand understanding of Great Jobs KC’s origins, positioning him to lead the organization into its next chapter.
“I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to lead Great Jobs KC,” said North. “I am grateful to the Board for its confidence in me and to Earl for the strong foundation he and the team have built. Great Jobs KC invests in people by helping them gain the education, skills, and support they need to create real options and build better lives for themselves and their families. That mission, the results this organization is achieving, and its direct connection to Ewing Kauffman’s legacy and the Kauffman Foundation make this opportunity deeply meaningful to me.
“That gratitude also extends to Floyd May, the Civic Council Board, and its members for their trust and support throughout this process. I look forward to our continued work together in my new role. Listening, learning, and working alongside the Great Jobs KC team and our partners will be central as we build on the organization’s strong foundation and shape its next chapter together.”
“When the Board found out that Earl was ready to return to his previous entrepreneurial endeavors, we briefly considered conducting a nationwide search for his successor,” said Jan Kreamer, Great Jobs KC Founding Board Member. “However, when we listed out the qualities we thought necessary for the next CEO, we realized that talent was right here in Kansas City. Aaron understands, as Mr. Kauffman taught us, that access to education is the surest way to break the cycle of poverty. It opens the door to a great job, financial security, and self-sufficiency. Following the incredible growth under Earl, Aaron brings a reputation as a leader who will actively seek out, listen to, and act on good ideas from every level of the organization.”
About Great Jobs KC
Great Jobs KC, a 501(c)(3) organization, drives regional economic stability and mobility by ensuring low- and modest-income individuals achieve family-sustaining careers. Our programs prepare the future workforce through two core pathways: college scholarships (up to $50,000) and tuition-free training in high-demand fields. We ensure success by providing one-to-one support for every participant, from enrollment through their first year of employment. greatjobskc.org