"I look for ways to impact change, through economic development, opportunities for housing or community enrichment. . . and leadership is the tool I use to leverage these," says Rick Jackson, first vice president and Community Development Director for Topeka's Capitol Federal Savings Bank. Realizing a personal vision through his co-development of a Leadership Forum within the company, Capitol Federal honors fifteen employees yearly. After his first introduction to the area's challenges as a member of Topeka's Leadership Class in 1996, Jackson immersed himself in volunteer efforts such as expanding educational opportunities for African Americans through the Legislative Caucus Foundation, making housing policy recommendations to the state legislature as part of the Governor's Commission on housing, and strategic planning during the expansion of services at the Topeka YMCA. Yet to come, Jackson will serve as the Greater Topeka United Way Drive chair for 2003-2004.

His toughest leadership role of all may be that of father to five boys, as Jackson and wife Danette earn the honor for Most Sons Per Couple among this year's Forty Under Forty class.

A degree from the School of Hard Knocks came in handy for Birch Telecom V.P. Gary Johnson, as the company dealt with the economy's rough hand on the industry for the past two years. Johnson joined Birch in October 2000, and was able to build and maintain a superior engineering and operations organization. His team migrated the entire core network and implemented new access technology in 200 new locations, against the opposition of reductions in force and an unstable capital environment. Johnson's previous employers included Concentric Network Corporation, a top-five internet service provider, and Critical Technologies, a telecommunications consulting firm. "Those two successful engagements aside, I have to say that helping Birch manage through the trials of these past sixteen months far outweighs any professional experience I have had," he says.

"The most important thing for me is to build a foundation for my children to grow from," Johnson admits. Father to two, Johnson sets an example of leadership. His straightforward nature, a stint in the Army Signal Corps, and seventeen years experience with information processing and data communications are the tools Johnson used to lead his Birch team to high performance.

This nursing student-turned-trial prosecutor has sent over 300 child abusers and molesters in the Kansas City area to the penitentiary. Roseann Ketchmark, mother to three herself, devoted her first decade as an attorney to prosecuting violent crimes with an emphasis on crimes against children. Being named Jackson County's Trial Prosecutor of the Year in 1994 and an 82-percent win record got her noticed quickly. Now Ketchmark serves as First Assistant to the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. Her beat encompasses 66 counties and 57 criminal and civil trial attorneys who represent the U.S. government. As a member of the Terrorism Working Group, Ketchmark helps plan the area's criminal justice system response and adjustment to carrying on in the event of an attack.

Ketchmark grew up in a middle-class home as the youngest of six children. This is where she learned the values of fairness and compas-sion, which, along with a commitment to God, guided her through the nursing field and into child protection law.

CPA Brett Kolman's gift is finding savings in operations without sacrificing mission. And it keeps on giving. As Chief Financial Officer and Interim CEO for Lafayette Regional Heath Center in Lexington, Missouri, he has nipped at the seams of the facility by increasing cost report reimbursement by more than $300,000 and reducing the average length of stay from 3.9 to 3.4 days. "You always wish you could do more for the employees, customers, facilities," he says. But his staff at LRHC has had almost no turnover since he became CFO in 1995, possibly a testament to his managerial skills. He is honest with them and not afraid to apologize. "But there are also times when you have to say, "life's not fair. I tell my kids ‘fair' is a place you go to show your pig." As money matters in the health care industry grow increasingly muddled, Kolman is refreshingly successful in making the tough decisions.

He and his wife Susan raise two children. Kolman volunteers as treasurer for Rotary International and serves on the finance committee of Englewood Ministries Church.