Meet Justin Short

Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Short.

Hi Justin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hello! My name is Justin Short and I was born in raised in the Northland! Went to Park Hill South High School and then on to The University of Missouri! I was a cheerleader there and got my degree in Hospitality Management with Minors in Business and Mass Communication! From there I worked on a cruise ship in various entertainment roles, working my way up to cruise director!

My father was a Platte County Commissioner and on the Park Hill School board and my mother was really involved philanthropically. This led to my desire to serve the public. I always knew I wanted to get into Local Politics. In the fall of 2020, I was appointed to the LGBTQ Commission of Kanas City For District 4 in Kansas City. I was overwhelmed to have been selected by Councilman Bunch and Councilwoman Shields.

This lead to nose dive into the local political scene and it fueled my desire to be part of the next chapter of Kansas City. I always assumed this would be much later in life, however, through a forced reorganization of my life in March of 2020. I was able to take a step back and realize it was the perfect time to make the run. I work for

Worcester Investments and am on the Management Team for a high-rise apartment building and office space. I live downtown as well.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t always been easy, no. There were lots of opportunities for improvement, and opportunities for growth along the way.

Coming out is not something you go through, it is something that you survive. Unfortunately like so many others, I struggled deeply with this part of myself and it lead to some pretty serious mental health challenges that would take years to overcome. I did the work and I have learned to love my life, I have learned that I  am worthy of all life has to offer inherently because I was born.

2020, was for me, like so many others, one of the most difficult years of my life. I have been so lucky to have had smooth sailing for the most part until March of 2020. I lost my jobs, was alone in my 515 sq. ft. apt, and I lost both of my grandparents (to covid 19), we lost a fierce friend at the young age of 24, and my father was diagnosed with cancer.

Like so many others in our world, the hits just kept coming. I was asking myself constantly, what is next? However, this part of my life was also a wonderful blessing. I connected better with friends, I value physical interaction more now, and now have the courage to take on a political campaign.

This would not have been possible had 2020 not been something we collectively had to navigate.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am the Assistant Property Manager for 909 Walnut.

Which is a high-rise luxury apartment building in downtown Kansas City. The building is owned by my employer Worcester Investments. We also have an 8-floor parking structure with an event space on top and an 8-story office building.

I specialize in a positive customer experience. These people trust us to manage their homes and spaces in which they spend a great deal of their time. I owe it to them to provide a level of service and care that I learned through my extensive hospitality training.

What sets me apart? That is a really tough question for me to answer. My intensive hospitality experience leads me to be able to adapt to really tough situations.

I have always said, there is no better sentence to hear than, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Kansas City. Kansas City is a magical place, it is my home, it is the place I am invested in. I want to see this place grow and I want to be a part of that future.

There is, after all, no place like home.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
My persona, I believe the way I am in the world, and how I present myself is what makes me successful.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: justinshortforkc.com
• Instagram: @JustinShortforKC
• Facebook: Justin Short For KC
• Twitter: @JustinShort-88