Today we’d like to introduce you to Wes Cauveren.
Hi Wes, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born and raised in Independence, Missouri, and have spent most of my life here in the Kansas City area. Looking back, I think my story is really about learning to move from living life by default to becoming more intentional about the life I’m creating.
Growing up, I had younger siblings whose needs consumed much of my parents’ attention, and really, the attention of nearly everyone around us. I naturally became the kid who tried not to make waves. I learned to be independent, adaptable, and pretty good at figuring things out on my own. When I was around 17, my dad became seriously ill with a brain tumor, which brought another layer of uncertainty into our family. I didn’t realize it then, but those early experiences shaped how I would approach life for many years.
I went on to build a career in healthcare technology and leadership that now spans more than 30 years. I was married for 25 years, raised a family, spent 14 years as a foster parent, and today I’m fortunate to be a father of 3 and grandfather of 4. Family and relationships have always meant a great deal to me, although I’d be the first to admit I haven’t always shown up in the ways I could have.
Life has brought its share of changes, including divorce and some significant personal transformation. Some of that was physical, including a major weight loss journey, but the more meaningful changes have happened internally.
One of the greatest gifts in my life has been meeting Tricia Keightley, the love of my life. Tricia introduced me to a much deeper exploration of spirituality, consciousness, and the connection between our thoughts, emotions, and the lives we create. She opened a door I didn’t even realize was there, and what began as curiosity has become a very personal journey of self-awareness, healing, and learning to be more present.
Today, much of my energy outside my professional career goes toward supporting others. I’m involved with the UMatter Movement, Second Chance KC, the Authentic Community Movement, and Portrayals XR. Each provides a different opportunity to connect people, resources, and ideas in ways that can make a meaningful difference.
I’ve carried a personal mission for some time now, and that’s to be part of something that helps people recognize their own ability to heal, grow, and inspire that same possibility in others. I know that sounds like a pretty big aspiration, but I also believe it happens one person, one conversation, and one act of kindness at a time.
I certainly haven’t figured it all out, and I now understand that’s by design. I’m much more conscious of how I want to show up, who I want to be, and what I want to contribute while I’m here.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t think anyone gets through life without challenges, and mine certainly hasn’t been without them. But I also don’t look at my experiences as things that happened to me as much as opportunities that have helped shape who I am.
My dad’s illness when I was young, navigating a 25-year marriage and eventual divorce, raising a family, and balancing the responsibilities of a demanding career have all taught me something. There have been difficult seasons, relationships I could have shown up for differently, and plenty of moments when I didn’t recognize my own role in what I was experiencing.
For much of my life, I believed that working harder, doing more, fixing problems, and keeping everyone around me happy was the answer. I became pretty good at being dependable and taking care of things, but somewhere along the way, I realized I wasn’t always taking care of myself or being fully present with the people who mattered most.
One of the biggest shifts in my life has been recognizing that I’m not a victim of my circumstances. I’m a creator in my own life. That doesn’t mean I get to control everything that happens around me. It means I get to take responsibility for my thoughts, my emotions, my choices, and what I create from the experiences life brings me.
Relationships have probably been some of my greatest teachers. I’ve had to become more aware of old patterns, learn the difference between loving someone and trying to control an outcome, and recognize that not everyone is going to experience life the way I do. And that’s okay.
I’ve also come to understand that personal growth isn’t necessarily about fixing something that’s wrong with us. It’s about becoming aware of the beliefs and behaviors we’ve carried, understanding where they came from, and recognizing that we have the ability to choose differently.
I still have challenges, and I still catch myself falling into old patterns. The difference today is that I try to approach those moments with curiosity rather than judgment. Instead of immediately asking why something is happening to me, I’m more interested in what the experience might be showing me about myself.
I wouldn’t say the road has been smooth, but I’m grateful for where it’s taken me. Even the difficult parts have contributed to the person I’m becoming.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Professionally, I’ve spent more than 30 years in healthcare technology, operations, and leadership, helping organizations navigate change, solve complex problems, and bring people and technology together. I’ve been fortunate to work with some incredible people and lead initiatives that have impacted large populations.
While healthcare has been the foundation of my career, what I’ve always enjoyed most is connecting people, ideas, and opportunities. I like finding solutions where others might see obstacles and helping people recognize possibilities they may not have considered.
More recently, I’ve been incorporating artificial intelligence into more of what I do, both professionally and personally. I see tremendous potential for AI to simplify how we work, reduce unnecessary effort, and give us more time and energy for the things that matter. At the same time, I believe we have to be intentional about preserving human connection. Technology should help us become more present and available to one another, not less.
Outside my corporate career, I serve on the Executive Board of the UMatter Movement, which focuses on mental health awareness, suicide prevention, addiction recovery, and connecting people with support. I’m also a cofounder of Second Chance KC, where we turn surplus and donated goods into affordable opportunities for the community, with all proceeds supporting the UMatter Movement and the outreach center we’re working to establish in Independence.
I’m also involved with the Authentic Community Movement and serve as a strategic advisor to Portrayals XR, an organization exploring how technology, neuroscience, and wellness experiences can support emotional healing and personal growth.
Another area I’m increasingly passionate about is supporting men in becoming more self-aware, taking ownership of their lives, understanding their emotions, and building healthier relationships. Much of that interest comes from my own experiences and recognizing how easily we can spend years living according to patterns we never consciously chose.
What I’m most proud of isn’t necessarily a professional accomplishment or title. It’s the relationships I’ve built, the people I’ve had the opportunity to support, and the ways I’ve been able to contribute to something beyond myself.
If there’s something that sets me apart, I think it’s my ability to move between very different worlds while keeping people at the center. Whether I’m sitting in an executive meeting, helping build a nonprofit, exploring technology, or having a conversation with someone who’s struggling, I try to bring the same curiosity, authenticity, and genuine desire to make a difference.
At this stage of life, I’m less interested in being defined by what I do for a living and more interested in what I can do with everything I’ve learned along the way.
What were you like growing up?
I grew up in Independence, Missouri, and looking back, I think I spent much of my early life living by default rather than intention.
I had younger siblings whose needs consumed much of my parents’ attention, and really, the attention of nearly everyone around us. Without necessarily realizing it, I became the kid who tried not to make waves. I learned to be independent, adaptable, and relatively low maintenance. I didn’t want to add to what was already going on, so I got pretty good at figuring things out on my own and keeping things to myself.
I don’t think I recognized how much that shaped me until much later in life. I learned to go with the flow, keep the peace, and put others first. Those aren’t necessarily bad qualities, but somewhere along the way, I also learned to minimize my own needs and avoid uncomfortable conversations. I was physically present in my life, but not always fully engaged in creating it.
Those patterns followed me into adulthood, including my relationships, marriage, parenting, and even my professional life. I’ve had to recognize that while I was often trying to be everything for everyone, there were times I wasn’t fully showing up for myself or even for the people I loved.
I don’t look back with blame or regret. My parents were doing the best they could with what was in front of them, just as I was learning to navigate life with the understanding I had at the time.
What’s fascinating to me today is how much of our adult lives can be influenced by beliefs and behaviors we developed as children without ever consciously choosing them.
Much of my personal growth has been about recognizing those patterns, finding my voice, and understanding that I have the ability to choose differently.
I spent a lot of years trying not to make waves. These days, I’m much more interested in making a meaningful ripple.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://secondchancekc.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wescauveren/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wes-cauveren-a3181a8/?isSelfProfile=true
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WesCauveren
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@wesnc76
