JEN GREENSTREET

After eight years as a prosecuting attorney in Jackson County, Jen Greenstreet decided it was time for a change—but not in law. She took a chance to found a nonprofit organization, Just Like You Films, which creates, produces and distributes reality films featuring children facing unique circumstances such as severe burns or cancer. “Having the opportunity to help create films that ease pain, educate and make the world a more understanding place has definitely been my most fulfilling accomplishment,” she says.

She has created seven short films and two feature-length films. Distributed internationally, her work has helped change attitudes and perspectives of children and adults all over the world. She plans to continue producing films that encourage broader societal acceptance of a larger variety of medical conditions. Service closer to home has always been an important part of her life, and a major contributor to her motivation, she said. Through building and developing relationships and entering every situation with a positive attitude and compassion, she has learned how to make her career her passion. In addition to her role as board member and chief executive officer for Just Like You, she has been involved with the event planning committees of the Kansas City Free Health Clinic and First Hand Foundation, both of which help with the health-care costs of those in need. She has taught criminal law classes at William Jewell College, her alma mater.

CHRIS HESS

Chris Hess says his greatest accomplishment was becoming a proud parent last fall with his wife, Melissa. Hard to argue with that. But even as his family at home grew, Hess says, so did his family at McCownGordon Construction. He was most recently named division manager for the company, a fitting reward for his achievements at the age of 38. He now manages 17 employees and heads up the budgeting/estimating process and contract negotiation and ensures all client goals are achieved effectively.

McCownGordon’s health-care market has doubled since Hess, 38, has taken leadership. He’s worked on projects such as the University of Kansas Bioscience & Technology Business Center, Carriage Club, the renovation of the Courtyard by Marriott.

Most memorable for Hess was the construction of the Kiowa County K-12 School in Greensburg, Kan. After being leveled by an EF-5 tornado, the town of Greensburg was without a school. Hess said managing the construction of the school was “the most important project of my career and I am just proud to have been a part of it.” He relies on strong ethics, integrity, and open and honest communication to lead each project with efficiency and accuracy.

He is dedicated to clients he works with, always being sure to communicate project plans, status, activities and any possible issues. Seeing construction projects from preconstruction through project closeout, Hess stands by his clients and co-workers from start to finish.

RACHELLE HESTERLEE

For the past 10 years, Rachelle Hesterlee has been vice president of quality control and regulatory compliance for Midland Loan Services, a PNC Real Estate business, previously working as a senior auditor for another practice. With 15 years of experience directing complex assurance and consulting projects, Hesterlee knows her way around the financial services industry—she carries a double degree in accounting and business from Columbia College. Her responsibilities include coordinating Midland’s financial and operational external audit activities, serving as an expert for contractual and regulatory compliance requirements, and managing quality control and compliance audit activities. Striving to give her company leadership and support, the 39-year-old has demonstrated integrity, values and ethics, her colleagues say.

One of the four founding members of the Midland Women’s Network, she advocates for networking options, professional development and training for women working there. And dedicating much of her time to serving a greater good, Hesterlee finds her passion in working with “organizations that help further young girls’ ambitions to achieve greatness.” She is also heavily involved with PNC Grow Up Great, Knox Presbyterian Church and Cross-Lines Community Outreach. Her commitment to her community, church and school is important, but her husband and daughters, she says, are her life.

PAUL HIMMELSTEIN

In his head and in his heart, 38-year-old Paul Himmelstein knows a few things.
He knows estate-planning law, serving high net-worth clients for the Kansas City law firm of Van Osdol & Magruder. He knows he’s been blessed with not just a wife, but “a best friend and partner,” as well as with their three young girls. And he knows that his blessings compel him to give something back in a life that has given him so much.

An exhaustive list of his community service shows more than 15 non-profit organizations, schools and advocacy groups that have benefited when Himmelstein has answered the call to serve, including Children’s Mercy Hospital, where he’s been active for 12 years, most recently with the Planned Giving Council.

Career, service, family: It’s all part of a single tapestry for the 38-year-old Himmelstein, who says “my career accomplishments are dwarfed by the ability to instill constructive values in my daughters.” Teaching them about the absolute need to help others, he says, and illustrating the time and energy needed to succeed professionally—all while maintaining what he calls “the sacred primacy of family time,” is a delicate balancing act.

But one with an enormous payback that he anticipates in the years to come: “Helping my girls mature into strong and honorable women,” Himmelstein says, “is the ultimate reward for my wife and me.”