Scott Cahill

After a decade working on Capitol Hill, Scott Cahill, 38, returned to Kansas City in 2002 and took a position with Fleishman-Hillard. In 2004, he founded DSC Consulting, a strategic communications and public affairs consulting company. As president, he counsels corporations, individuals and not-for-profits. “You’ve got to tell the client to do the right thing. You counsel them to get out in front of an issue,” he says. “You’ve got to control it. You don’t want someone else to control it for you.” A native of Wyandotte County, Cahill earned a B.A. in political science from KU in 1992, and has since studied at Oxford University and the U.S. Naval War College. In Washington, he worked as a political advisor, spokesperson and most notably the vice president of government and industry affairs at the National Retail Federation. He praises the “opportunities and amenities” in Kansas City, and enjoys his local friendships, many of which date back to grade school. His work with the Children’s Museum and the Kansas City Ireland Sister City Committee has strengthened his ties to the community.

Rob Cleavinger

Rob Cleavinger is a sports enthusiast who loves to build things. As assistant vice president and head of the Sports Facility Construction Division at JE Dunn, he satisfies both interests. “My passions come together in building athletic facilities, because not only am I building a place for energy and spirit and competition, but I also look at it is as a glorified classroom where athletes will learn lessons they will carry on beyond their athletic careers.” Cleavinger, 38, says his fondness for the industry dates back to his years as a Lawrence teenager, when he picked up construction work. After graduating from KU in 1992 with a B.S. in architectural engineering, he started with JE Dunn, where he has dedicated the last 13 years. When he became involved with the Mizzou Arena in 2000, he realized the opportunities in stadium and arena construction. In Baldwin City, where he lives, he put together a baseball team for area kids, to keep them playing locally and to learn to play as a team before high school. “Athletics teaches a lot of life lessons,” he says. “That’s why I am involved with youth.”

Michael Clark

Engineering and insurance don’t necessarily seem to have much in common, but Michael Clark, 38, who holds a B.A. in Industrial Systems & Engineering from Ohio State University, feels his educational background enhances his occupation in the insurance industry. “In engineering school you become trained as a problem solver,” he explains. “The insurance business is about creating solutions for people.” As a senior benefits consultant at Haake Companies, he maintains relationships with existent clients and generates new sales production through employer groups. Prior to joining Haake in 2006, he served as president & CEO of Delta Dental of Kansas, Inc., of Wichita, where he implemented a sales strategy that generated $110 million in new annual revenue and more than doubled membership in three years. Of his recent relocation, Clark says, “I landed in a position to offer great advice and consultation services in a part of the country I have fallen in love with.” He is active in several service organizations, including Youth Entrepreneurs of Kansas. “My passion is for community groups that concentrate on kids at all different levels,” he says.

Michelle Davis

Michelle Davis’s success in helping private businesses earn a profit was a prelude to her leadership in the not-for-profit sector. “For me, the job at the Council on Philanthropy is the perfect blend of all the different facets of my career,” says Davis, 34. “My work benefits people at the human level.” The Council, which serves as an educational, training, and networking resource for area charities and other agencies, sponsors more than sixty programs annually. Most days, Davis is not behind a desk but out in the community, meeting with donors or potential partners. Her hard work has paid off. “For the first time last year, we had folks driving to Kansas City to attend our program.” Between her responsibilities as a fundraiser and a mother of two, she makes time to volunteer at Life Christian Academy, Higher M-Pact and Cristo Rey Kansas City.  She views her involvement in Centurions as a double-benefit. “It allows me to give back to the community and to engage with other community leaders.”  Davis held a management position at the National Kidney Foundation prior to beginning as executive director of the Council on Philanthropy two years ago.