Knowing that someone believes in you and sees your potential is like nothing else in helping you to reach it.

This simple phrase captures the essence of Mina Steen’s interest in serving as a Board member of the Thompson Foundation for Autism and Neurodevelopment.  For – at the core of the institution – lies a belief in the inherent worth and potential of every patient and family that walks through the door.  To be involved in assuring the expansion and continued success of such a pure and sound human endeavor – was something Mina never expected but quickly embraced.

Mina comes to the Board with a variety of professional and volunteer experiences.  She has had an entrepreneurial spirit and has applied it as the owner of three Gymboree Franchisees in the Kansas City area.  She also served as the campaign staff for the historic BiState Tax Proposal, the passage of which restored KC’s Union Station and built Science City Museum.  That led to her work in Development for the KC Museum and Science City.

Shifting direction, Mina earned her master’s in human services and worked for a decade as a Parent Educator for a therapeutic boarding school.  She then used her networking, technical writing and communication skills as the head of Business Development for a New York City-based cost and schedule engineering firm.  In this capacity she expanded the company’s national scope in its specialized capacity of bringing large, complex projects in on time and on budget.

Mina’s recently retired from 15 years as a residential Realtor® with Better Homes and Gardens KC Homes.  She was a regular multi-million-dollar producer – but more important to her was focusing on personal excellence in service to each client.  The dear friendships made were an unexpected bonus.

Alongside her professional work, Mina has been an active volunteer all her adult life.  Her training came, primarily, from membership in The Junior League of KCMO, where she served as President in 1994-95.  She has been honored to serve on the following Boards:  St. Luke’s Hospital; St. Luke’s Medical Ethics; Children’s Therapeutic Learning Center (TLC); Children’s Relief Association; Shawnee Mission Education Foundation; Belinder, Indian Hills & SM East PTA’s; Bishop Spencer Place; and The Advocates Group, The Society of Fellows and The Committee of 100 of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.  In addition, Mina chaired Tom Watson’s Golf Classic, a benefit for Children’s Mercy Hospital and co-chaired The Groundhog Run, a benefit for Children’s TLC.  She also was the co-founder of The Friends of Mission Vision Project.

Mina hopes to combine her passion for the emotional, educational, physical and developmental needs of children and their families with her experience in the business, civic and volunteer sectors to the benefit of the Thompson Center.  With a strong belief in the mission of the Thompson Foundation and a deep respect for the talent, passion and expertise of staff at the Thompson Center, Mina welcomes coming “on Board”.