Spotlight: Jarome McKenzie
A founder’s journey from New Zealand to KC—fueled by intuition, baseball, and community.
A Calling, a Glove, and a New Beginning
Born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, Jarome McKenzie moved to the U.S. in 2017 after a sudden but powerful instinct told him to go.
With no prior baseball experience, he picked up the sport as a pathway to college, starting in Colorado, then Iowa, and finally landing at Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri, in early 2018. While baseball and education were the catalysts, a meaningful relationship would ultimately be what rooted him in KC.
“College and baseball is what brought me to KC, but a girl is what has kept me here and why I now call KC home.”
After several moves—including stints in North Carolina and Florida—Jarome and his wife returned to Kansas City in late 2023, ready to put down roots.
Rediscovering a City on the Rise
Jarome may have been in and out of Kansas City over the years, but the city’s transformation hasn’t escaped him.
“Even in my short amount of time in KC, it’s amazing to see how much this city has grown.”
He’s noticed that no matter where he turns, people are genuinely invested in making the city better—a rare and energizing culture. Since reconnecting with the KC community, he’s found inspiration through initiatives like 2KC, and the collaborative work happening at Keystone CoLab.
Leading with People First at Arrowhead Strategy Group
Today, Jarome is the Founder and CEO of Arrowhead Strategy Group, a consulting and fractional CFO/accounting services firm that helps small and mid-sized businesses grow with confidence.
“What really sets us apart from other firms in our industry is our relationship-first approach.”
Rather than operating through traditional transactional models, Jarome and his team focus on building deep, outcome-driven partnerships. His goal is to empower business owners to harness world-class finance systems so they can make better decisions and experience more freedom. He’s got great wins to share, too! Ask him to tell you how he’s connecting clients and already positively impacting the KC business community!
All In on Kansas City
After living in several states, Jarome is making it clear: Kansas City is where he’s planting his flag—and not just for business.
“I want to help KC businesses grow, do awesome things, and achieve extreme success.”
Whether he’s serving clients through Arrowhead, supporting causes he believes in, or investing in other entrepreneurs, his vision is to contribute to a thriving local ecosystem. He’s especially energized by the tightly woven, tribe-like nature of KC’s entrepreneurial scene.
Get Connected
Jarome believes in the power of connection and welcomes new faces—whether you’re building something, exploring KC, or just looking to meet good people.
“I love meeting new people, so if anyone does want to connect and get to know each other, you can connect with me on LinkedIn, or email me at jarome@arrowheadsg.com.”
From an intuitive leap in New Zealand to a purpose-driven life in the Midwest, Jarome McKenzie is a great example of how following your gut—and committing to your community—can lead to extraordinary outcomes.
Don’t forget to tell us who is New2KC and needs to be highlighted in this community built to better connect the startup, tech, and innovation community. Check back next week as we highlight another talented leader on the move in KC!