Exploring Life & Business with Marc Harrell of Variety KC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marc Harrell.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I serve as the Market Manager and General Manager for Steel City Media, the company that owns Q104, BobFM, 94.1 KFKF, and Mix 93.3. I have been with Steel City Media since 2003. Based in Pittsburgh, PA, Steel City Media is a private, family-owned multimedia company with market-leading outlets in Kansas City. For more than 30 years, the company has maintained a strong local focus and a deep commitment to the communities it serves.

I was first introduced to Variety KC about 20 years ago when the former General Manager of CBS Radio (now Steel City Media) served on its Board of Directors. When Variety KC went through a leadership transition, the new Executive Director reached out to me early in her tenure. She asked if I would consider bringing the radiothon back to one of my stations. At the time, there were some fundamental challenges with the organization’s mission and direction. However, after years of hard work redefining the mission and strengthening the brand, she returned to me — and I was proud to bring the radiothon back to the airwaves.

Since 2007, I have had the honor of working alongside Variety KC. I served on the Board of Directors for over eight years, including three years as Board President, before becoming Executive Director in 2023. During that time, I’ve watched the #InclusionRevolution take flight in Kansas City and have been deeply involved in many of Variety KC’s major expansions, including inclusive playgrounds, adaptive sports complexes, special projects throughout the city, accessibility features in the new KCI airport terminal, and the opening of CPKC Stadium.

I am a graduate of the University of Kansas and a passionate Kansas basketball fan. Outside of work, I love traveling the world — one of my biggest passions. I live with my spouse, Ken, and our two Border Collie rescues, Tanner and Andy.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road — but I think that’s where the greatest growth has come from. A lot of what I’ve learned over my career stems from my tenure in broadcasting. I think that has helped me prepare for working in the non-profit space. You really need to run non-profits like a for-profit business. Sure, you have a mission to serve others, but you have to be business savvy to be successful.

Early in my career, one of the biggest challenges was learning how to adapt quickly to an industry that was evolving at a rapid pace. Radio was changing, digital media was emerging, and audience habits were shifting. I had to find ways to innovate while staying true to the core strengths of our stations.

At the same time, leadership itself came with challenges. Managing large teams, navigating economic downturns, and helping an independent, family-owned company compete against larger corporate media groups required resilience and creative thinking. I had to learn when to push for bold moves and when to protect the foundation we had built.

My work with Variety KC had its own set of challenges too. When I was first approached to revive the radiothon, the organization wasn’t quite ready yet — its brand and mission needed clarity. Saying “not yet” wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. It taught me that timing and strategic alignment are critical to building something sustainable. Watching Variety KC transform and grow after that tough call was one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.

Ultimately, the road has had bumps, but each challenge pushed me to become a better leader, a stronger partner to our community, and a more strategic thinker.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Variety KC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a more inclusive world for children with disabilities. We provide essential medical equipment — such as communication devices, mobility equipment, therapies, and more — that allows ALL kids to be active, be social, and belong. Our mission is rooted in helping every child experience life to the fullest, regardless of their abilities.

What sets Variety KC apart is our commitment to action. We don’t just raise awareness — we deliver real solutions, fast. Whether it’s building inclusive playgrounds, installing communication boards in public parks, creating sensory rooms in entertainment venues, or leading the way on projects like accessible spaces in the new KCI airport terminal and CPKC Stadium, we take a hands-on approach to making Kansas City the most inclusive city in the world.

We are most proud of leading what we call the #InclusionRevolution — a movement that is visibly reshaping our community. Thanks to the support of generous donors, corporate partners, and local leaders, Variety KC has made Kansas City a national model for accessibility and inclusion.

We want readers to know that Variety KC isn’t just a charity — it’s a movement. Every piece of adaptive equipment we fund, every park we build, and every barrier we break down brings us closer to a community where every child feels seen, heard, and included. And there’s still more work to be done. Inclusion is not a moment — it’s a mission.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I love most about Kansas City is its heart. This is an incredibly charitable city, filled with people and businesses who genuinely care about their neighbors and are willing to step up when there’s a need. I’ve seen firsthand through my work with Variety KC how quickly this community rallies around important causes — not just writing checks, but getting involved, spreading awareness, and pushing for change. There’s also so much growth and opportunity here right now — from infrastructure to sports to arts and culture — Kansas City feels like a city on the rise, and it’s exciting to be part of that momentum.

What I like least is that accessibility is often still overlooked in that growth. Too many new projects and spaces are being designed without full inclusion in mind from the beginning. It often takes a fight — advocacy, pushing, and sometimes even public pressure — to ensure that people of all abilities are considered and welcomed. Accessibility isn’t a special feature; it should be the standard. If Kansas City truly wants to be a city for everyone, inclusion needs to be built into our progress, not treated as an afterthought.

Pricing:

• The cost of raising a child with a disability is estimated to be significantly higher, approximately four to ten times higher, than raising a child without disabilities. Some studies even estimate costs as high as $2.5 million or more over the child’s lifetime, compared to an average of $250,000 for a child without disabilities.
• Adaptive bikes — specially designed to support children with mobility or balance challenges — can range from $5,000 to $8,000, depending on the size, customization, and support needs
• Communication devices (like speech-generating devices or specialized tablets) typically cost $5,000 to $8,000, and often are not fully covered by insurance, even though they are essential for a child’s ability to communicate.
• Sports wheelchairs — built for adaptive activities like basketball, tennis, or racing — can cost anywhere from $10,000+, with competitive models going even higher depending on sport-specific features and lightweight materials.
• Insurance rarely covers recreational or specialized adaptive equipment, meaning families must either pay out of pocket or rely on nonprofits like Variety KC to access items that promote physical activity, social engagement, and independence.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://varietykc.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/variety_kc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/varietykc/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/variety-kc/
• Twitter: https://x.com/VarietyKC
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/varietykc