Christopher Reitz

Reitz, 39, came to the Kansas City area fresh out of high school in Gainesville, Fla., to attend the University of Kansas on “somewhat of a whim,” but he and Kansas City are better off because he did. He received three degrees from KU: accounting, business admin- istration and law. He passed his CPA exam on his first try while serving in the audit department at Ernst & Young. As the Interim General Council and Corporate Secretary for Aquila, he interacts with the board and maintains the corporate records for the multi-state integrated electric and gas utility company. The corporate secretary function allows him to manage the legal affairs and maintain the official records of the company. Aquila has had a lot of challenges and successes in the past couple of years, and Reitz believes there are more challenges and opportunities ahead. “I am a person focused on my relationship with God, my family and friends, and dedicated to the success of my employer,” Reitz says. He and his wife, Lisa, have a son (Brogan, 8) and a daughter (Mallory, 6).

Seth Rupp

The career path for Rupp, 36, has taken a straight path to his current position of Vice President, Engineering, for Cerner. He began with Cerner in 1997 as Senior Manager, Community Physician Practice, and has moved steadily up the chart. He has earned Cerner’s “Top Gun” award for being in the top 5 percent of the company. He describes his career passion as “making a difference in people’s lives through intellectual property.” In his technology-related career, he has done client consulting, off-shore development and commercial software development. His proudest achievement has been serving as lead executive for Cerner’s Consumer Health Care Portal and Juvenile Diabetes Initiative. Last October, Cerner announced that it would give away its solution, IQHealth, free for 10 years to any juvenile diabetic in the United States who requests it. It will “connect diabetic kids to the health care providers to facilitate their disease management and ultimately to enhance their quality of life,” according to Rupp. Rupp and his wife, Megan, have two children: Harrison (3) and Claire (6 months).

Dan Saferstein

When Saferstein, 34, tells someone to “put a lid on it,” he generally wants the best for that person. The President/CEO of Sportsman Cap Network and the great-grandson of the company founder joined the family company a little more than a decade ago, and his favorite part of the business is thinking into the future and strategi-zing how to get there before the competition. What started with the purchase of a failing cap factory during the Depression now has 14 wholesale outlets worldwide. Saferstein is a benefactor and active supporter to several area organizations, including KCPT Public Television, KCUR Public Radio, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the National Kidney Foundation, the Children’s Spot, Boy’s and Girls Clubs, AIDS research, the Ali Kemp Scholarship, and the Martin Bayless Foundation. Sportsman Cap Network co-sponsored the first annual Joe Randa Tennis Classic to benefit Hope House. To “cap” it off, Saferstein and his wife, Caroline, raise Oscar (5) and Martha (3).

Matt Salzman

When Salzman, 34, a Partner with Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP, joined the firm (then known as Morrison Hecker) in June 1998, he set three goals for himself: to become a partner, to be promoted to a full-equity partner and to be the lead council in a nationwide class action case. He was named a partner in 2002 and was promoted to full-equity partner in 2004, the first year he was eligible. He also just completed two nationwide securities class action and derivative lawsuits in which he served as lead defense counsel. It should be no surprise, however, as Salzman graduated magna cum laude (in three years) from the University of Notre Dame and cum laude from Northwestern University School of Law. He has served on the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City Tomorrow Program. He also volunteers on the finance committee for Ronald McDonald House Charities. He and his wife, Kirstin, have two daughters: Caroline (5) and Pacey (3).