Tim Barton

Barton, 39, is the Founder, CEO and Chairman of freightquote.com, a service that provides state-of-the art tools to simplify shipping heavy freight via less-than-load, truckload, domestic or international air. Begun just six years ago, web-based freightquote.com now employs more than 350 employees and enjoys annual revenues of $86 million. It’s not the first time that Barton has been involved in a highly successful business start-up. In 1992, he was the co-founder of UWI Association Programs, a telecommunications company that concentrat-ed on long-distance affinity programs for commercial trade associations. It had revenues in excess of $100 million. He was recognized by Entrepreneur magazine as a “Hot 100” executive, and by Ernst& Young as Entrepreneur of the Year, Technology Division. He serves on the E-Commerce Committee for the Greater Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation. As if he is not busy enough, he and his wife, Marque, have 9-year-old triplets: Rebecca, Katherine and Andrew.

Debbie Bass

As the Director of Major Gifts for the Truman Medical Center Charitable Foundation, Bass, 38, is responsible for helping the Foundation change lives in the Kansas City area. She has been in her role for more than 12 years, and has received repeated recognition for her efforts. She received the 1998 Ark of Friends Professional of the Year Award for advocacy of people with mental illnesses, and three-time Public Relations Award recipient from the Ark of Friends. She helped negotiate a $250,000 grant from Royals Charities for TMC’s Women’s Partner Council, formed to increase awareness of women’s health issues and to raise funds for women’s health services provided by Truman Medical Center. She has served on the boards of the National Alliance of the Mentally Ill of Kansas City, Community Health Charities and the Missouri Association for Social Welfare (president). She is a former foster parent to two teenage girls. She and her husband, Neil, have two daughters: Maggie (5) and Tori (7 months).

Martin Bicknell

The climb up the corporate ladder can be missing a key ingredient, according to Bicknell, 36, the Senior Vice President-Investments and Overland Park branch manager of A.G. Edwards & Sons. “It’s important to me that we challenge all those around us— our co-workers, our children, our friends—to strive to do their best, play by the rules, and to (remember to have fun) when striving for excellence.” He gets his fun out of leading A.G. Edward’s fifth largest office (out of 712 nationwide) and being ranked in the top 1 percent of the firm’s 7,000 financial consultants. He helped found WPL Partners, a mentor-capitalist firm that helps technology and service companies take root in Kansas City. “My passion for running a successful financial services business helps me when working with other small business owners,” he says. “I believe it is the entrepreneurial small business owner that drives our economy and ultimately raises the standard of living for everyone.” Quality of life for him and his wife, Cherona, is raised by Savannah (12) and Zachary (9).

Stacey Campbell

Campbell, 38, is a Partner in Shook, Hardy & Bacon’s Kansas City office, specializing in business and employment litigation. He has litigated all phases of employment discrimination cases, using his background in human resources with Hallmark Cards, Inc. He works with clients to conduct self-audits of affirmative action in compensation, hiring, promotion and termination processes, in compliance with the Executive Orders enforced by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). He also con- ducts OFCCP Corporate Management Reviews for clients and defends them during audits, investigations and litigation. He is a member of the American Bar Association, where he serves as the chair of Labor and Employment Sections Equal Opportunity in the Legal Professions Committee. He also is a member of the Bar Associations for Kansas, Missouri and the Kansas City Metro area. His charitable work includes the American Red Cross of Greater Kansas City and the Youth Volunteer Corp of America. He and his wife, Michelle, have two sons: Alan (9) and Austin (7).