Meet the
Team.

Staci Hubbard is the Founder and Executive Director of KC Book Beat, where she leads grant development, community partnerships, literary programming, publications, and organizational strategy. She holds a master's degree in Communication and Leadership from Park University and a bachelor's degree in Communication Studies from the University of Maryland Global Campus. With more than 15 years of experience in higher education, communications, and program development, Staci is committed to creating inclusive opportunities for authors, readers, and community partners.

Matthew Hawkins is President of KC Book Beat and owner of Hawkins Events, bringing more than 20 years of experience in event production, logistics, and community building. After losing his leg in a 2008 accident, Matthew founded Adaptive Skate Kollective — a nonprofit that spent a decade proving what's possible when community shows up for people. That same conviction drives his work at KC Book Beat. A poet himself, Matthew brings both the operational precision of a seasoned event professional and the creative soul of someone who genuinely believes in what stories can do.

Dane Hubbard is Interim Treasurer of KC Book Beat and owner of H3 Answers LLC. With a background in facilities management, project coordination, and budgeting, Dane is the kind of person who makes sure the details are handled so the mission can move forward. He supports KC Book Beat through financial oversight, operational planning, and the steady, practical problem-solving that keeps an organization running right.