Alisha Templeton, Techstars program director, talks KC’s need for grab-and-go cold-pressed juice and NYC-style bagels, being a big and more

Name: Alisha Templeton

Occupation: Program director for Techstars at the Sprint Accelerator

Hometown: Olathe

Current neighborhood: Columbus Park. Moving soon to River Market.

What I do: I run a mentorship-driven startup accelerator that helps tech entrepreneurs grow their companies and receive funding from investors.

What’s your addiction? Twitter, Foursquare, Facebook, Instagram, GroupMe, Slack and sometimes Snapchat

What’s your game? Connect Four, Skee-Ball, Super Mario Bros. And by the way, Thursdays are 10-cent tokens at Up-Down.

What’s your drink? Liquid Sunshine from the Filling Station, any juice from City Market Coffee House, vegan shakes from Café Gratitude.

Where’s dinner? On the patio at the Jacobson enjoying a cedar-plank salmon or veggie lasagna as the nonmeat eater that I am.

What’s on your KC postcard? The Crossroads — from Freight House to Kauffman Center on a busy First Friday evening in the spring.

Finish this sentence: “Kansas City got it right when …” Union Station was renovated back in 1999. Great spot for both adults and children with Science City, IMAX, planetarium, Parisi, Pierpont’s, annual Maker Faire and, of course, Amtrak to catch the train.

“Kansas City screwed up when …” The Labor Day weekend Spirit Fest at Liberty Memorial was discontinued. Shout-out to all the local and regional bands that played — the Urge, Kill Creek, Paw, to name a few. Glad that Boulevardia is bringing back a similar experience.

“Kansas City needs …” A grab-and-go cold-pressed juice place and a NYC-style bagel place.

“In five years, I’ll be …” Contributing to growing Kansas City’s startup community, growing companies and growing a family.

“I always laugh at …” All things Mindy Kaling and Schmidt from New Girl.

“I’ve been known to binge-watch …” Friday Night Lights. And right now, Veep. So funny.

“I can’t stop listening to …” NPR and Wilco’s A.M. — looking forward to their show at Crossroads this summer.

“I just read …” Lots of tweets and blog posts and reread The Lean Startup by Eric Ries, a must for any aspiring entrepreneur.

The best advice I ever got: I know you’re busy, but you should consider being a mentor to a child for Big Brothers Big Sisters. I did, and it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done. Thank you, Gene.

Worst advice: As soon as you stop trying to meet someone, that’s when you’ll find your soul mate.

My sidekick: John, my Techstars partner in crime and co-founder. Also, my lovely blue Prius with Thule bike rack.

My dating triumph/tragedy: I once went out with two Matts and a Mike on one Saturday.

My brush with fame: When I was studying film production in college, I worked on the camera crew for a film starring Dave Matthews. Super-cool dude. He played the dad in Where the Red Fern Grows, shot in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. And yes, I’m on IMDB. No big deal.

My 140-character soapbox: If you want to travel, don’t complain about not having the money or the time or the right people to go with you. Just do it. And enjoy every moment.

What was the last thing you had to apologize for? I left my 3-year-old nephew on an escalator at Crown Center and had to run up the down to get him. Sorry, B.

Who’s sorry now? Everyone on the escalator I pushed out of the way.

My recent triumph: Moving 35 entrepreneurs to Kansas City to help build their companies at the Sprint Accelerator powered by Techstars, and watching them present at demo day onstage at the Kauffman Center!