Featured Member: Jane Ehinger

By: Maggie Laubscher

Jane Ehinger

Nelle Member Jane Ehinger is a true renaissance woman. She is a philanthropist, architect, lawyer, and seasoned traveler, born and raised in Kansas City. She has a natural eye for design and currently works in commercial real estate for her family’s company, Ehinger Properties. There, she works to keep artists as tenants and support local businesses she believes in. Chatting with Ehinger, you get an immediate sense of her enthusiasm and intellect. She is active in the Kansas City community, serving on the board of Crossroads Community Association and volunteering for Midwest Innocence Project, among other endeavors.

Ehinger is a pure delight to know and be around, and we are proud to have her as a Nellie. Get to know Jane below.

Why did you join The Nelle?

It came into existence at a time when I was really looking for a strong network of women. I’d been back in Kansas City for a year or two at that point. Before that, I had lived in other cities where I had strong groups of female friends; they were always doing really badass, cool professional projects. And then one day in Kansas City, my friend Lauren Atterbury called me up and said, ‘You have to talk to Lauren Merriman, she’s trying to start this club…’ It was The Nelle. I was so excited, I think I signed up immediately.

What are you most looking forward to from The Nelle?

The social network and having somewhere that’s women-led. The idea of women-led projects is really beautiful. It brings a different perspective. It helps bring programming you might not otherwise get. There’s also the childcare element of it, and the way she (Lauren Merriman) approaches the thought of the gym as an un-intimidating but intense space. I also like her idea of hosting lectures on topics women don’t historically get educated on, such as financial planning and healthcare. Plus, it’s going to be hip and cool! There’s nothing wrong with hip and cool and fun. 

Why is Kansas City your home base?

I grew up here, born and raised. I moved away for college, lived in a few different places, and then came back to Kansas City a few years ago. 

Tell me a bit about that trajectory, your time away from Kansas City. 

I went to college and grad school in New Orleans at Tulane University. I got my bachelor’s and master’s in architecture, then moved to New York where I spent about four years working in architecture. While in New York, I became involved in a non-profit called Architecture for Humanity. It made me want to understand how policy works. I understood the design side of things but often got frustrated with how to actually get things done - legally, policy-wise, legislatively. So I decided to go to law school. 

I moved to Chicago for law school at Northwestern University. They have a really robust clinical program and a strong wrongful convictions program -- that’s how I first got into innocence work, which I continue today with Midwest Innocence Project. 

After law school, I knew I wanted to do public interest work. I applied for a one-year food justice fellowship, which led me to UC Berkeley. That’s definitely where I got a bit radicalized -- as probably everyone does when they move to Berkeley, California. It was overwhelming at times. My boss, who was really great, told me once, ‘Your empathy is a tool and an asset -- if you can control it.’ That was a powerful lesson for me. 

After the fellowship ended, I came back to Kansas City. 

What made you choose Kansas City?

I realized I had set myself up in my career and education to help run the family business (Ehinger Properties). Doing architecture and law, it fits right in with commercial real estate. 

It’s been fun getting more involved, both in renovating the buildings and being more intentional about the tenants we have and businesses we support. In the Crossroads, we’ve always tried to keep artists in our buildings. Like The Nelle! 

That’s a really cool thing about being back in Kansas City. At first when I came back, I was a little hesitant about being in a smaller city. I’d been in New Orleans, New York, Chicago, San Francisco. Even though I grew up here and I love it here, I was hesitant whether there’d be enough diversity and culture. 

What I found was: one, there is and there’s more coming. And two, if there’s not something here that you love, then you can help create it. 

What fuels you creatively?

Travel, for sure. I made a deal with myself when moving back to Kansas City that I would prioritize travel. Up until Covid, I was really taking advantage of that. I’m still taking advantage with my RV adventures now.

Before Covid, I went to Georgia (the country). It was so magical. The architecture was so cool, which is something I love to get into when I travel. The landscape was beautiful. They have this deep wine heritage and history. The hospitality is insane. The food is so good. I had never thought much about the country, and then going and seeing it: it makes you so aware of how huge the world is.

Museums and galleries are another thing that fuel me creatively. It’s a really interesting way to learn about a culture, through their art. Also, travel tip: they’re usually air conditioned so it makes for a nice break when you’re in hot places. 

Nice! Tell me about a woman who inspires you. 

Whenever I hear that question, I automatically think of Michelle Obama. Then I say, ‘Think of someone else! Diversify!’ But I just can’t. She’s a classic. She doesn’t seem to take any bullshit, and yet she’s the most graceful, beautiful, thoughtful person. I really admire that. I feel like women often are not allowed to be opinionated or object to life as it is right now, but she speaks her mind. 

Nicole Galloway is also really inspiring to me. She is obscenely qualified and talented and accomplished. She was Missouri state auditor for years. She was really successful at sniffing out corruption, which is really important in Missouri right now. And everywhere!

thank you, jane

We are so proud to call you a member of The Nelle!