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PUBLISHED APRIL 2025
Lessons in Leadership, Vol. 27
Spotlighting the high achievers from every corner of regional business
Executives and entrepreneurs, innovators and engineers, dreamers and doers. In many locales, 40 diverse achievers like this might pursue their separate destinies in business and never cross paths. This being Kansas City, of course, there’s always a chance to meet other high performers—in a lot of ways, the business community here is like a small town in itself. But this being Ingram’s, they are now connected, part of a larger family: the high achievers of 40 Under Forty, a program now in its 27th year, with an updated alumni count that now numbers 1,080. Business acumen alone didn’t punch their ticket into this select group. In most cases, you are seeing achievement on steroids, with many of this year’s picks (as always) highly engaged in civic and philanthropic causes and events. And for the vast majority, doing all of this with growing families at home. As has been the case with so many from the 26 previous classes, it’s likely that in the coming years, you’ll see many of these faces at the top of their organizations, playing pivotal roles in civic life, and showing all of us what it means to lead in ways prominent and behind-the-scenes.
Luke Abkes
Luke Abkes is a prime example of how form, functionality, and passion can come into alignment. The 33-year-old project engineer for Pulse Design Group has had a burning lifelong interest, he says, in “creating healing environments that truly help people.” After earning a construction-management degree from Wayne State in Nebraska and then his master’s in architecture at NU, he set out to reach that goal on the staff at Children’s Mercy. From there, his interests lasered in on mental health as he came to understand how effective design can improve patient outcomes. And mental health is now an issue of national importance that demands innovative solutions, he says. He has designed behavioral-health safe rooms in hospital emergency departments and led the design and construction of the first new mental-health hospital in Kansas in half a century. “These experiences have placed me at the forefront of some of the nation’s most significant mental-health design initiatives, reinforcing my commitment to improving access to care,” he says. At home, he and his wife, Kjirsten, are raising children ages 7 and 4, and he has compiled a packed slate of extracurricular activities: coaching his son’s youth baseball team, serving as head baseball coach at Maranatha Christian Academy, teaching as an adjunct professor in Lincoln, and recently helping Children’s Mercy raise $4.6 million for expanded mental-health care by serving on the board for the hospital’s Red Hot Night event. “I am deeply committed,” Abkes says, “to leaving a lasting impact, one that fosters healing, hope and a brighter future for our communities.”
Jeff Barnthouse
One of five children himself—and raising four under the age of 5 with his wife, Jill—Jeff Barnthouse knows a thing or two about team dynamics. The 38-year-old partner and wealth manager at Creative Planning says, “Taking a team approach to wealth management and the ability to keep each client’s ‘most important thing the most important thing’ feels second nature being part of a big family with different individual needs, circumstances, and goals.” His youthful competitiveness played out on the basketball courts of Rockhurst High and Rockhurst U., where he earned his degree in economics and his MBA before heading to KU for a law degree. That path shaped a work ethic “in the classroom, on the court, at home, and in the community,” he says. “I learned the power of teamwork, service to others, and how Creative’s credo of ‘passion, determination, and commitment’ is essential to achieving any goal. While delivering high-quality financial services pays the bills, his bedrock—family, faith and community—“informs my understanding of the importance of client goals,” Barnthouse says. Little wonder, then, that he’s built a management portfolio that has grown by $350 million in four years. “I am keenly aware that every dollar powers a person or a family’s dreams and helps protect them when life does not go as planned,” he says. “I never take this responsibility for granted. Regardless of a client’s location, age, career status, or milestone, assisting with their financial, tax, retirement, estate, or charitable planning needs is a privilege.”
Ally Cunningham
“Toxic” usually isn’t a word people want associated with their work, but for Ally Cunningham, it’s equal parts passion and mission: She’s a partner at Lathrop GPM, focused on environmental casework, toxic tort and crisis-related litigation, and she’s spent more than a decade exclusively in environmental law. That has made her a national strategic voice and go-to lawyer in the waste industry, especially in that dangerous subset of long-lasting “forever chemicals.” In that role, she leads more than a score of the firm’s lawyers, generating a seven-figure book of business representing one of the firm’s largest clients. “I’m currently carving out a new legal trail, handling one of the first lawsuits over alleged PFAS impacts between a landfill and a municipally-owned wastewater treatment plant,” she says. That’s an area of litigation that for years had only been speculative, but recent EPA rulings have created new opportunities for her to lead the way through what she calls the “wilderness of litigation with no pre-existing template in an area that will eventually set new legal precedents. I’m passionate about solving challenges swiftly, fairly and efficiently, ensuring clients achieve the best outcomes possible.” Testament to her work: she was recently named to Waste360’s 40 Under 40 list, as well, just one of numerous legal industry awards. “I became a lawyer because I like to dive into complex problems and find quick and effective resolutions,” says the 37-year-old. After hours, she relishes opportunities to engage in community service, hike, golf and get away to Colorado with husband Brad and their 3-year-old son.
Quinn Damon
Don’t buy that stuff about all young people being job-hoppers: Some sure, but Quinn Damon is not among them. Since leaving Mizzou in 2012 with his degree in finance, he’s been a fixture at Lockton, the world’s largest private independent insurance brokerage and benefits consultancy. “I started on the service side but switched to the production role in 2017,” he says. “I moved to Detroit at the end of 2019 to help start our Detroit operations from scratch. I returned in the summer of 2023 and helped grow that operation to 50-plus local associates.” He’s now an executive vice president and partner, which places him among the top 15 percent of more than 350 national producers. He also serves on the Executive Committee overseeing the Founders Series of Lockton (Kansas City, Omaha, Minneapolis, Michigan and Des Moines) and represents roughly a $500 million operation with 1,250 associates. “As of 2024, I lead the producer recruitment and hiring for our series as well for all geographies,” he says, while specializing in the construction and global manufacturing space for more than 75 clients nationwide. “I love leading, coaching and mentoring our young local talent,” the 35-year-old says. That extends outside the office as a member of the KC Tomorrow leadership class. “Getting to know Kansas City more intimately has been an incredible experience,” says Damon, who also serves on the steering committee for the Police Foundation’s largest fundraising event. “My family (wife Brooke and two children) is what is most important to me as well as my community. I love Kansas City and care deeply about the future of our region.”
Mark Davidson
At 38, Mark Davidson is on a career arc with no peak in sight: He just keeps moving up. A native son who grew up in south Kansas City and came out of Rockhurst High, and secured his bachelor’s and a master’s in accountancy from Mizzou; he’s a CPA doing big things for Atchison-based MGP Ingredients. Since joining the distilling and grain-production powerhouse in 2019 (after having risen to senior manager in the audit practice of KPMG), he’s been deeply involved in the nearly $500 million acquisition of branded spirits company Luxco in 2021, then the $200 million acquisition of Penelope in 2023. His path also included a stop nearby at St. Joseph’s Triumph Foods as corporate controller. These days, he flies wingman for the CEO during MGP’s year-end earnings calls with analysts tracking the public company, and most recently, was kicked up another level to vice president, corporate controller and head of treasury. All well and good, but real achievement, he says, starts at home. “At the risk of sounding cliché, I view my biggest personal accomplishments to be my 10-year marriage to my wife, Molly, and helping to raise our four young children.” His own Catholic upbringing and schooling, he says, “helped shape my identity and priorities. I strive to raise my children the same way, and they are currently attending Cure of Ars parish in Leawood. My priorities are simple: Family, Friends, Faith, Community. I also am a huge sports fan: Go Chiefs, Royals, and Mizzou Tigers!”
Frank Emert
After roughly a decade providing high-level accounting services to public and private corporate clients, Frank Emert decided that he might like to test the fit of entrepreneurial life. Thus was born the fractional CFO firm Summit CPA in 2017, and while he’s still providing guidance on financial reporting, audit services, accounting system design, capital raising and more, he’s doing it from an owner’s perch. “Fulfillment in helping clients and providing financial services led me to create Summit CPA,” he says. Leveraging a team of 15 and more than 20 independent CPAs/CFOs, “We have the unique ability to field clients/projects of all sizes and match the best solution to any need.” That’s allowed him to build a client base of more than 30 corporate and roughly 150 individual companies, mainly across the Kansas City region. He’s a local product—Shawnee Mission East and K-State (finance, with a master’s in accounting)—who’s proud to call his birthplace city home. Emert, 38, spent nearly six years with CBIZ, then a couple more with Hyphen funding, picking up the basics of outsourced CFO operations before making the leap himself. “Outside of work, I enjoy traveling and photography with my wife, Anne, being outdoors with our dog Levi, sporting events, playing golf and basketball and volunteering,” he says. The latter spills over into his interests, manning a smoker as part of Smokin’ Bunz BBQ, a barbecue team that does charity events, catering and competition smoking, including the American Royal.
Cara Finger
Cara Finger is all about the concept of connection. It is, she says, “a central theme that weaves throughout my professional and personal life.” At work, that comes as a brand marketing manager for AWG, the region’s third-largest private enterprise, with revenues north of $12.1 billion last year—a company record. And it carries over as wife and mother of two outside the office. At AWG, the 35-year-old says, “I bridge the gap between private brands and independent grocery retailers, enabling business owners to better engage with their customers and connect with their communities. Last year alone, I helped the AWG Brands team introduce 244 new products and develop the launch plans for two new private brands.” At home, and above all, she says, “I value the connections I have with my family. As a wife and mother of two young daughters, I am driven by a commitment to integrity, service, gratitude, and kindness—values I strive to impart to my family in order to build a fulfilled and meaningful life.” Faith also shapes her value set as an active participant in various ministries at Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church. “My faith is integral to who I am,” Finger says. To that end, she serves on the board of directors for the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas, and through her church’s New Wine Ministry, she helps foster a supportive community for young families. With Queen’s Moms Group, she coordinates meals for families welcoming new babies, fostering children, navigating difficult times, or undergoing medical procedures.
Joshua Fisher
Law school can be hard; succeeding as a lawyer, though, boils down to a simple formula for Joshua Fisher: Quality work and quality service. Those tools have allowed him to build an effective and cohesive local and national team in business law for Dentons, with a focus on everything from corporate transactions to the intricacies of aerospace, energy, M&A, real estate, tech, and more. “The lion’s share of my business comes from people who have seen my work and have seen that I lead with a commitment to trust and communication in my relationships,” says Fisher, 39. “I believe what most appeals to current and potential clients is their sense that I’m willing to work hard on their behalf, communicate honestly and operate both practically and ethically.” That approach saw him take lead roles for a $100 million business sale, private-equity firm representation, assisting shareholders of a Platte County tech firm in a complex, sensitive sale to an investment group, and more. Fisher is a KU grad who earned his law degree from the University of Minnesota and has been with the firm for more than seven years. His career has taken him to multiple firms, but he also flashed his entrepreneurial chops for a couple of years with a Blogspot site reflecting his passion for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He and his wife, Nikki, have three children, ages 6-17, and outside the office, he devotes time to leadership of Spartan Nation, a parents club for youth lacrosse in the Northland.
Trevor Flannigan
Everywhere Trevor Flannigan treads, it seems, success follows. Is that because he chose the right paths or because he made it happen no matter which road he took? Our bet: The latter. By 22, he was managing a district of stores for discount grocer ALDI, getting a primer in how leadership and operational efficiency drive business success. Next up was Bob Hamilton Plumbing, where, as general manager, he streamlined operations and improved profitability as sales bloomed from $7 million to $25 million. “Entrepreneurial ambition drove me to co-own and serve as COO of ProfessionalChats in Lee’s Summit, where we scaled from 0 to 150 employees in just 18 months before a successful sale,” he says; then, in 2019, he co-founded the home-services specialist Flint Group. “We’ve acquired 11 companies across the country, growing Flint Group to over $300 million in revenue with 1,100 employees nationwide. By optimizing operations, developing top-tier leadership, and executing strategic acquisitions, we’ve built a powerhouse in the home services industry—positioned for even greater impact in the years ahead.” Off the clock, he’s a mentor in the Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program and backs LaunchKC, promoting local entrepreneurship. He and wife Courtney are raising boys ages 10 months and 3. “Above all, I’m a husband and father first,” he says. “My wife and two sons are my greatest motivation—fueling my drive to build businesses, create opportunities, and give back. Success, to me, isn’t just about growth—it’s about impact on my team, my industry, and my community. And I’m just getting started.”
Nick Guiliani
Call it the Nick Giuliana Creed: “I believe,” he declares, “in the power of relationships—whether in business, community, or everyday life.” And he’s built them across nearly 15 years in sales and leadership roles for fast-growth companies, with some eye-popping results. One of them was Dynamic Logistix, where he came on board when it had just 28 on staff and $23 million in revenue; by the time he left, it had more than 120 on the payroll and sales of nearly $300 million. The next stop was VeriShip, another logistics enterprise, where he helped the founders position it for acquisition. Then came a leap to something different: financial services, with Cyphr, which just incorporated last year. There, as head of sales, he says, “My passion and drive to help others are on full display as we help financial institutions put more capital into the hands of small businesses and underrepresented founders. This work excites me because I believe in lifting others. I am driven by helping people succeed, whether in business or life.” His seal for start-up culture and civic engagement led to service as president of Top Gun Kansas City, the executive board for KC CAN! and Big Brothers Big Sisters, along with support for Band of Angels, Newhouse, and KC GIFT. “Giving back isn’t just something I do,” Giuliani says. “It’s something I deeply love and am passionate about. For me, true success isn’t about titles or numbers—it’s about showing up for others, helping where I can, and making a real impact in people’s lives.”
Lauren Guinta
With 10,000 Americans qualifying for Medicare coverage every day, Lauren Guinta and her team at Sprint Venture Group are well-positioned for growth as an insurance brokerage for senior health products. She oversees SVG’s Medicare distribution nationwide, leading two initiatives: SmartMatch Insurance Agency, one of the fastest-growing omnichannel distributors of Medicare Advantage, and United Medicare Advisors, the No. 1 Medicare supplement distributor. “Starting as an entry-level agent in 2012, we’ve grown from 21 to 1,208 employees, with 689 reporting to me,” she says, and part of her job is fostering an award-winning culture that has been widely recognized across the industry. Hard to knock the success she’s been part of: During her time there, agent head-count has grown 10-fold, policy submissions 11-fold, and EBITDA has grown 20x. “My agencies achieved significant market share growth vs. competitors in 2024, with a 55 percent Medicare Advantage production increase, following a 40 percent rise in 2023,” she says. That translated into more than 360,000 policies in 2024, with 70 percent growth in EBITDA and revenues up 39 percent. A key part of that: Culture, which she calls “paramount.” “My leadership emphasizes cultivating a sense of belonging, growth opportunities, and purpose-driven work for our team, reflecting our ‘We do work that matters’ philosophy and our steadfast commitment to ethical, customer-first sales practices.” Outside work, she and husband Dave are raising two children, and they are “committed to fostering a supportive family environment and contributing to our community,” she says.
Colin Halsey
Cancer patients will readily acknowledge the contribution of physicians, nurses, and researchers in battling their health challenges, but let’s not overlook the contribution of Colin Halsey to this region. Halsey, 39, is a project manager for McCarthy Building Companies, and in that role, he’s been integral in the brick-and-mortar construction of the built environment within which cancer battles are waged. “One of the highlights of my career has been leading the construction of the Kansas City Proton Institute, the region’s first privately owned, physician-led proton therapy center,” Halsey says. “It was an immense honor to be part of this pioneering project, which plays a vital role in increasing accessibility to life-saving cancer treatments.” He’s now managing multiple projects in the region, including the South Pavilion Infusion Clinic for the University of Kansas Health System, a transformative initiative that will double the facility’s capacity. Though 17 years in the trade, he’s a comparative newcomer to Kansas City, having arrived in 2020. But already, the impact is substantial: Since then, the firm’s health-care practice here has grown 50 percent; he established a peer-training program for new colleagues and led the Partnership for Women, a resource group dedicated to attracting, developing, and retaining women in the construction industry. He and his wife, Erika, are raising two children, and to help give them a better place to call home, he volunteers with various community-improvement projects “with a deep commitment not only to building structures but also people and communities in Kansas City.”
Preston Herman
In the 50-year history of the accounting firm Meara Welch Browne, only one person gets to wear the mantle of “youngest partner ever.” As of 2023, that cloak belongs to Preston Herman, and it’s a perfect fit. Within a year of graduating summa cum laude from Kansas State University with dual degrees in accounting and finance, he earned his CPA designation. Now, at 35, he’s licensed in both Kansas and Missouri, is accredited in business valuation, and is certified by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. That means you don’t want him showing up at your business unless you hire him. While racking up that list of qualifications and working full-time, Herman also picked up his master’s in economics from Mizzou. “I direct all of MWB’s audit, review, and attest engagements, as well as general business and management consulting,” he says. “I have extensive experience in forensic accounting and fraud investigations. From 2019-2021, I served as the outsourced CFO for a company where our firm investigated a multimillion-dollar fraud.” He’s also served as an expert witness for damages and related testimony in court cases in numerous jurisdictions around Kansas City and throughout the country. “I serve as a business advisor and consultant to numerous organizations ranging from Fortune 500 companies to sole proprietorships in how to best manage their finances and operations to maximize value and minimize risk,” Herman says. Outside work, he joined the board of directors of the Midwest Innocence Project this year and serves on the organization’s finance committee.
Shamika Hogan
Shamika Hogan is executive director for i.c. stars, which provides technology-based work-force development, community leadership training, internships, and job placement for underserved students. That’s her title, but it’s not just a job—it’s a privilege, she says. Her non-profit is, she says, “a transformative organization that opens doors for underserved communities. Over the past two years, I’ve successfully launched i.c.stars in Kansas City, enrolling three cohorts of young adults in a rigorous 14-week program focused on software development, project management, and professional networking.” Through strategic partnerships with organizations such as the Kansas City school district, Amsted Rail, the Polsinelli law firm, and Children’s Mercy, “I’ve ensured that our participants receive the mentorship, leadership training, and real-world project experience needed to thrive. In addition to raising $1.5 million annually to fuel this work, I have advocated for inclusive hiring practices and fostered economic mobility for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, driving meaningful change in our region’s tech sector.” She has collaborated with the KC Tech Council and Great Jobs KC to address the local tech talent shortage and retention challenges. “By implementing impactful mentorship programs and creating opportunities like our ‘High Tea’ speaker series, I’m committed to equipping young talent with the tools to succeed,” says Hogan, 36. She earned a degree in public administration from Washburn University and a master’s in management and fundraising from Avila University. She’s also a working mom and wife; she and Bryan have two children under 10.
Aaron Khouri
’Fess up: How many people do you know who work in the barge industry? For most of you, this will be your first: Aaron Khouri, who since 2023 has been the CEO of TransPort 360, a St. Joseph freight-handling company dealing with barge, rail, and truck-transloading operations. One does not get into that line of work by accident. He spent 11 years with Ingram Barge Co.—no relation—based in Nashville. He started as a deckhand in 2012 and moved up through sales, logistics, and operations roles, including Fleet Manager on the Mississippi River near New Orleans. Along the way, he snagged a master’s degree in maritime business administration and logistics from Texas A&M. With TransPort 360, he’s at the vanguard of river traffic on the Missouri—St. Joseph is the first port to line the river on its way to the Mississippi, so his is a vital link in that transportation chain. Of course, as a multi-modal handler, his firm also relies on the abundant air, highway and rail assets this region has to offer. “My focus is to enhance safety, compliance, and efficiency at the company and to expand clientele in the Midwest,” he says. To that end, he’s on the board of directors for the Inland Rivers Ports and Terminals Association and serves as a representative for stakeholders and others in the waterways industry on the Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee. “I enjoy using my maritime background to help promote commerce along the Missouri River,” he says. In addition, he and his wife Jen have a two-year-old daughter at home “who makes every day a new adventure.”
Kyle King
Success metrics, you say? Yeah, Kyle King has them: Taking the helm last year at Summit Homes, the region’s largest home builder. King and his team delivered 333 home closings—nearly one new residence a day in a market starving for them. That was up 16.4 percent over 2023, which, as one might expect, yielded a nearly identical pop in ROA of 17 percent (more than double the prior year). Sales numbers were even stronger: 445 sold last year ($199 million in revenue) vs. 305 a year earlier ($147 million in revenue). Capital requirements fell by two-thirds, while team engagement/satisfaction rose 11 points to 88 percent … you get the idea. His work as executive director of the Summit Homes Charitable Giving Committee even yielded philanthropic gains, with 88 percent of the team taking volunteer time off to provide more than 385 services to regional causes. They also built the Summit Homes’ Home for Little Heroes charity house benefiting Children’s Mercy Hospital, which yielded $450,000 for the hospital’s efforts to support children’s mental health. Engagement like that made him a presenting sponsor for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kansas City’s Kids Night Out—at which he doled out a $100,000 donation to that cause. Since joining Summit in the spring of 2017, he has moved from project manager to area manager, division manager, market manager, and now vice president and general manager. “In my personal life,” King says, “my priorities are family, faith, and community. As a family, we spend our free time split between our primary home in Leawood and our farm in Hume, Mo.”
Ashton Klindt
Success, says Ashton Klindt, is not the product of a one-man show. At least in his case. “I’ve been lucky to benefit from phenomenal leaders in every stage of my life,” says Klindt, among the youngest ever to earn partner status at what is now Forvis Mazars, the accounting firm. “From a farm-town upbringing to Southwest Baptist University’s focus on building servant leaders, and ultimately Forvis Mazars’ dedication to building up communities, I’m inspired to generously give of my time and resources.” For him, it’s all about connecting needs with solutions. “In that vein, I identified opportunities early in my tenure to grow our Private Equity and Manufacturing sectors,” he says. That included a key role in building the firm’s growth playbook—coverage plans that help private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies unlock the value of all relevant firm service lines. That work, he says, cements the firm “as responsive, approachable, and trusted advisers beyond traditional audit and tax.” He’s also been shuttling between Kansas City and Minneapolis, leading development efforts in the firm’s newest market. His team’s revenue has more than tripled over the past decade, and he now manages approximately $5 million in annual relationship fees. In addition to making partner last year—he’s just 34—he was appointed the local manufacturing sector leader. At home, he and Misti are raising two children, and he serves on the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City and chairs its Sports LAB Advisory Board. In those roles, he says, “I help lead up fundraising efforts and healthy-lifestyles program development.”
Lyndsey Lowrey
Before she came on board at the region’s biggest general contractor, Lyndsey Lowrey worked in the HR department for Cerner Corp. during its rise to become the region’s biggest employer. Good thing, too: Experience with that kind of pace has to pay off at JE Dunn, where revenues have exploded in recent years, and hiring, too. The 36-year-old is vice president and regional HR business partner there, leading the human-capital strategy for several strategic business units, influencing workforce initiatives across a national footprint of 1,300+ employees and nearly $2 billion in revenue. “My role centers on aligning talent strategy with business objectives—driving leadership development, workforce planning, and engagement strategies that fuel long-term success,” Lowrey says. “By implementing key HR initiatives, I help ensure JE Dunn attracts, retains, and develops top talent to sustain its growth.” Throughout her career, she’s been passionate about building high-performing teams and fostering workplace cultures that empower people to thrive, she says. A Kansas City native and single mother of two, she has a lot going on outside the office, too: coaching my daughter’s basketball team, cheering on my son in baseball, basketball, and soccer, or spending time at the lake with family and friends. “Beyond my professional work, I’m deeply committed to community impact,” Lowrey says. “I serve as a board member for Saint Luke’s Foundation and actively volunteer with multiple nonprofit organizations. Giving back, networking, and relationship-building are core to who I am.”
Chloe Marshall Blaha
In the blue-collar, male-dominated world of freight logistics, Chloe Marshall Blaha is making an impact at Tallgrass Freight, one of the region’s fastest-growing companies in recent years. Not only is she the youngest vice president in the firm’s history, but she’s the first one in its growth and development unit, playing a key role as Tallgrass rolled to record-breaking revenues, agent count, and new business acquisitions. A K-State grad with degrees in public relations and business administration, she started her career in corporate recruiting before switching gears to logistics and earning Rookie of the Year honors for her work. “My passion for relationship-building led me to Tallgrass Freight, where I took on the role of director of agent development,” she says. “In just a year, I was promoted to vice president, overseeing our agent program, agency partnerships, recruiting, and marketing efforts.” On her watch, the recruiting unit has achieved unprecedented success, delivering year-over-year increases of 30 percent across the department. “I drive our company culture by mentoring and supporting agents and staff to achieve goals beyond their expectations,” she says. “I lead our programs by prioritizing people-first growth through training seminars, roundtable events, industry updates, and continuous support.” Off the clock, she and husband, Brennan Blaha, have two daughters who help them explore everything Kansas City has to offer. “Giving back is also a big priority,” she says, “and through The Grass Routes Foundation, I strive to make a meaningful impact in our local community and people’s lives.”
DaRon McGee
The diploma from Grandview High School was just the first step on an educational journey that would put DaRon McGee on a path to public service. After graduating from UMKC, he secured a master’s in public administration from the Harry S. Truman School of Public Affairs at the University of Missouri-Columbia, as well as a master’s in business administration from Emporia State University. He’s put all of that to work in elective office, first with the Hickman Mills school board, then the Missouri House of Representatives, followed by his election to the Jackson County Legislature in 2023, where he eventually became chairman. The Legislature is responsible setting and enacting county policy and ordinances. Starting with his school board time, he realized the impact that his position could make. “I devoted 100 percent of myself to changing the reputation of the board and making changes within the district that will impact families for years to come,” he says. Among them: Establishing the First Boys and Girls Club Unit in Hickman Mills (the Shalonn “KiKi” Curls Unit at Smith Hale), pushing for demolition of vacant/blighted schools in the district, and for passage of a $20 million bond issue to build a second middle school and make needed facility upgrades. Through his work, teachers in the district became the highest-paid in the region. “I firmly believe these accomplishments would not have occurred without my leadership,” he believes. Two terms in the Missouri House, representing south Kansas City, followed, with House Democratic leadership roles and a seat on the budget and education-appropriations committees.
Kamera Meaney
To paraphrase Chief Brody’s fishing insights from “Jaws,” Kamera Meaney is gonna need a bigger trophy case. The one she has now is brimming with well-earned recognition for achievements on her watch at University Health, where she’s currently serving as chief health policy and government relations office—the youngest senior executive in the system’s history. Meaney has been with the health system for the past decade, driving its mission to serve the most financially challenged patient base in the Kansas City healthcare market. In that time, she has been a change agent for patient programs and capital projects, including efforts to secure $300 million for a new 200-bed mental health hospital in Kansas City (which is projected to have an economic development impact of $1.6 billion for the region); leading the campaign to successfully extend Medicaid coverage for new mothers aimed at reducing maternal mortality across the state; and helping secure $7 million in joint federal, state, and local funding for a new substance-use disorder facility, the only public standalone facility of its kind in Kansas City. The 38-year-old mother of two, along with husband Michael Meaney, has built her career on a solid educational foundation, starting with a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Missouri–Kansas City and adding a master’s in history from Marquette University to go along with an MBA from MidAmerica Nazarene University. Her record of civic engagement includes service on behalf of Girls on the Run and the Phoenix Family Center, and she’s currently director of the UMKC Alumni Governing Board.
Lee Mudd
When he founded a telecom construction firm eight years ago, Lee Mudd did not choose the easiest entrepreneurial path to success. But he had an overarching strategy: Don’t think about failure, and take care of your people. Fast forward those eight years, and he’s now leading a $50 million dollar company he built from scratch. He’s a Kentucky native who earned his degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences—with an emphasis on Renewable Energy and Biological Processes—from the University of Kentucky. “I made the move to Kansas City after landing a position with one of the top contractors for Google Fiber in 2014. At this point, I recognized an opportunity to branch out on my own with RLM Underground.” Revenue doubled each of his first four years, proving the concept, and RLM sported 30 contracts in 2024. “As the business grew quickly, we added projects across the United States in markets including Ohio, Nevada, Oklahoma, Illinois, Kentucky, and, most recently, Florida,” he says. “We started with five employees and now have 300 spreading across the U.S.” Along the way, he adopted a profit-sharing model for contractors, employees—everyone. “When they succeed, we succeed,” he says. “Our employees run the company; I do not. Without them, there’s no RLM Underground.” An active member of the construction community. Mudd currently serves on the board of directors for the Kansas City chapter of the National Utility Contractor Association, and he and his wife, Erica, have two children. For him, “It is important to my family to give back to charitable causes,” he says.
Luke Naccarato
Family, faith, entrepreneurship and enterprise are traits that have defined Luke Naccarato for 39 years. They helped him on the path to becoming director of finance for Plaza Street Partners, which specializes in developing stand-alone quick-service restaurants. They helped him assemble a separate portfolio, worth $3.6 million, of single-family homes in this region and central Kansas. And they sustain him, his wife Molly, and two of their three children in the care of 4-year-old Amelia, severely disabled due to a rare genetic disorder called PDCD. More than just care, really—her case was a call to action. “My wife and I help raise awareness and funds for the Hope for PDCD Foundation, where Molly serves on the board,” Naccarato says. “The foundation provides resources for affected families with the primary goal of accelerating research for a cure.” That sense of community, he says, is bolstered by their faith at Good Shepherd parish. Naccarato earned business degrees at Hutchinson Community College and Pittsburg State before picking up an MBA from UMKC, a testament, he says, to the value his parents saw in education as teachers. “Through various academic and athletic scholarships and employer-sponsored tuition assistance programs, I earned an undergraduate degree and MBA without my parents taking on the financial burden of my education,” he says. At PSP, he says, “Our team has completed over 200 projects across the United States and grown revenues to well over $100 million. I am most proud of the enterprising spirit and family-first culture that exists amongst our team and partners.”
Amanda Narula
Amanda Narula cut her teeth in the quick-service restaurant industry, working for a Canadian company to hone her operations skills with brands like Tim Horton’s, Burger King and Popeye’s. These days, she’s dishing up heaping helpings of fast growth in a different kind of setting: as the top operations executive for Lenexa-based Southwind, the home services company. Managing franchise development, overseeing ownership changes, and supporting a network of over 5,000 dining locations in Canada gave her the skills to come on board as an operations manager for what was then 1-800-GOT-JUNK? The leap to a new sector was an ideal fit. “In my first year, these businesses generated $5 million in revenue with 15 trucks; through strategic acquisitions and growth initiatives, revenue increased to nearly $50 million under my leadership with a team of more than 50 leaders whom I worked with daily,” she says. That prompted her to move to the Kansas City area, where Southwind is the largest 1-800-GOT-JUNK? franchise group. As vice president of operations, the 34-year-old leads a network of 45 locations, generating approximately $300 million in revenue. “This network includes nearly 800 trucks and over 2,000 team members across North America,” she says, “with a projected 30 percent growth in 2025.” Founders Josh Herron and Tyler Staszak recognized her performance with last year’s “Can You Imagine?” award, one of the company’s signature recognition efforts. She’s now working on her MBA at DeGroote School of Business, yet still finds time to volunteer with local charities assisting the elderly and under-resourced.
Edgar Palacios
Edgar Palacios long ago developed a commitment to increasing Hispanic representation in education and advocating for equity in those communities. But he didn’t just advocate: He did something about it. In 2018, he formally incorporated the Latinx Education Collaborative, a non-profit that promotes growing representation and retention of Hispanic educators, strengthening home and school partnerships, increasing student empowerment and broadening support for improving student achievement. “I’m driven by a strong sense of community, justice, and the belief that meaningful change happens when people come together,” says Palacios, 39, who serves as the group’s CEO. His efforts to broaden the base of support have pushed the non-profit past the $1 million threshold in the annual budget, and in tandem with that, Palacios has spearheaded the creation of the Futuros Program, a transformative initiative aimed at recruiting 50 new Latino educators by 2027. Under his leadership, “LEC has cultivated a network of nearly 2,000 Latinx education professionals and allies, driving systemic change through advocacy, professional development, and community-building,” he says. He’s also board president of MORE2, championing policy initiatives that advance racial equity and voter participation. “Volunteering and advocacy are central to who I am—whether it’s mentoring emerging leaders, fighting for immigrant rights, or creating spaces where Latino voices are heard and valued,” says Palacios, who’s also raising three children with his wife, Laura.
Lindsey Rood-Clifford
She was barely four years old when she made her first visit to Starlight Theatre—a 1989 performance of “Annie”—but it made an impression. A big one: Roughly three decades later, Lindsey Rood-Clifford became president and CEO of this region’s signature outdoor performing arts facility. She’s the first woman to serve in that leadership role for the Starlight Theatre Association of Kansas City. Before taking on that role in 2023, she had served as the theater’s COO and also led its philanthropic efforts, expanding philanthropic revenue by more than 50 percent and launching a $40 million dollar capital campaign to support capital improvements and programming expansions in time for the World Cup in Kansas City in 2026 and Starlight’s 75th anniversary. In her first year at the helm, Rood-Clifford implemented a new three-year strategic plan with aggressive post-pandemic objectives centered on Starlight’s short- and long-term financial health and significant organizational changes. “Access to the positive impact of meaningful arts experiences is vital,” says Rood-Clifford, 39. “Shared experiences and the inspiration and joy of live music and theatre are necessities for healthy individuals and communities.” Outside of work, she balances her time between an active family life—she and Chris have three children—along with friends and service opportunities that align with her priorities. Among those are AFPKC, supporting the power of philanthropy in Kansas City; Centurions (Class of 2017); and In the Name of GRACE, a foundation dedicated to providing safe sober housing and normalizing recovery.
Kate Ross
After taking the first steps into a marketing/design career in 2010, Kate Ross had the opportunity to work with brands most folks know: Airbnb, TD Ameritrade, Hershey’s, Honda/Acura, T-Mobile and Dunkin Donuts. Consumer stuff. Construction, though, is a different ball game, but it’s one she was willing to suit up for when she came on board at Centric, where today she’s the marketing and creative director for a firm that’s been among the region’s fastest-growing general contractors. “Once I decided to make the leap into construction marketing—an industry I had zero previous knowledge of—my focus shifted to building and serving our local communities, says Ross, 37. She came aboard when the company had a single marketing position but has overseen the expansion of staff, helped steer a rebrand, and promoted the shift to employee ownership. “As the only woman currently on our leadership team,” Ross says, “I proudly take up the mantle of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in our firm and help ensure our people and our culture are always top of mind.” Her extracurriculars have included teaching as an adjunct design professor at Johnson County Community College, and she currently serves on the board of Directors for AIGA KC, a professional design association. She and her husband have two children, and with all that going on, she has still found time to support non-profits and causes that include Cultivate KC, The Hope Center, Prep-KC, Children’s Mercy, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and others.
Lauren Roth
Not to say we told you so, but … we knew Lauren Roth had it going on back in 2017 when she was one of our 20 in Their Twenties. Since then? Nothing but validation. In the years since, she’s taken the reins as Holmes Murphy & Associates rolled out its Avant Specialty Products subsidiary, where she’s currently president at the age of 36. “I have had the privilege of building my entire career, family, and community of peers, colleagues, and friends from my hometown of Kansas City,” says Roth, who started the insurance brokerage and benefits consultancy in 2011 after nailing her business degree from KU. An MBA from Rockhurst University followed, and she became a shareholder in 2016, a year before co-founding Avant. In 2022, she became president, and in 2023, she joined the board of managers, one of 12 overseeing the parent company. Her team has doubled in size to 38 and now operates in Dallas, Minneapolis, and Atlanta. Avant takes the concept of employee benefits and drills deeper with a niche focus on ancillary benefits procurement and employee-communication design and delivery. But there’s more to her life than work: “My passion for our Avant team and business is out-matched only by the love and appreciation I have for my immediate and extended family,” she says of husband Patrick and their two children. “We enjoy coaching and supporting their many sports and activities, including basketball, lacrosse, flag football, swim team, golf, dance/tumbling and involvement at St. Ann’s Catholic Church.”
Lanie Sedlacek
Lanie Sedlacek is the very definition of balance between work and home life. Back in 2016, she delivered two children—and, no, not twins: One in January, one in December. She balanced that with job performance, which made her UMB’s top producer in the treasury management unit that year. And this, even before she achieved her accreditation as a certified treasury professional in 2018 (a year, incidentally, when she delivered her third child). That balance, she says, “is symbolic of my drive, passion and commitment to finding the synchronized balance between personal and professional success.” As senior vice president and program manager in the bank’s treasury management sales and service unit, she took on additional duties last year, including training new associates, as part of UMB’s $2 billion acquisition of Heartland Financial Services. All the while, she maintained her client portfolio and beat sales goals that yielded better than $100 million in new deposits and north of $1.3 million in fee income. It was, she beams, her highest-producing year since joining UMB in 2008. The 39-year-old, a Benedictine College math grad, carries that can-do attitude out the doors after each shift; home life, like work, is framed by her motto: “Be humble and hungry.” “To me, that means working hard and not losing sight of the things that matter most,” she says. “Regardless of how many goals you achieve, there is always work to be done and always room to become a better version of yourself.” That’s the example she tries to set for the three children she has with husband, Paul.
Girard Simmons
There’s no midlife uncertainty for Girard Simmons: He knows precisely who he is—servant, role model and leader—and what he stands for (community, valuing respect and authenticity). And yet says Simmons, a 38-year-old program manager for the Kansas City National Security Campus, none of that has real meaning if not accompanied by matching actions. In his 14 years at KCNSC, he’s held at least seven positions across the three largest organizations of defense contractors managed by Honeywell FM&T: engineering, integrated supply chain, and program management. “I’ve been extremely blessed with career opportunities and pride myself on being a results-driven leader, skilled at delivering bottom-line business results and forming productive relationships with others.” His engineering leadership included the introduction of more than 10 new product lines, all of which went into production ahead of baseline schedules. “Currently, I lead the execution and oversight of a significant program portfolio (~$500M annual budget) for our business, exceeding customer expectations, achieving all program milestones.” As he notes, though, there’s certainly more to life than work, “so I ensure I’m investing just as much time, if not more, into others and the ones I love most.” While raising three children with spouse Shawn, he’s earned his stripes through the Chamber’s Centurions program (Class of 2023) and Honeywell’s Corporate Diversity Career Advancement Program last year, turning those leadership experiences into the launch of a quarterly service project supported by volunteers from his team for various charities.
Tiffany Stuck
Tiffany Stuck needed just one year, working at the zoo in Springfield, to find the place to make her career mark: Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City. And what a mark it is, with performance metrics that would be impressive in the for-profit world but are dazzling in the non-profit space. “Under my leadership, we have grown revenue by 300 percent, expanded our fundraising team from two to 11 members, and developed corporate giving initiatives that led to a 2,700 percent increase in corporate donations,” she beams. She launched a monthly giving program that has been adopted by other Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies nationwide and expanded board networks to more than 120 active leaders. In addition, “Our events are recognized among the best in the region,” she says, and BBBSKS was also ranked No. 3 Best Place to Work by NonProfit Times. “Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to expanding opportunities for young people and building strong, sustainable fundraising strategies,” Stuck says. She’s currently leading the Big Futures capital campaign—a $14.5 million initiative to expand the headquarters into a campus and scale workforce development programs. “This ensures that Littles have the long-term support needed to thrive in careers and life, bridging the gap between mentorship and economic mobility,” she says. As a wife and mother, working with husband Ben to raise two children, she says, “I am passionate about creating opportunities that empower future generations with the resources, guidance, and support they need to succeed.”
Chelsea Templeton
Chelsea Templeton is a partner in the corporate finance division for the Stinson law firm, rolling up her sleeves each day to tackle the legal aspects of mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital. “I have a wide range of clients, including Fortune 500 companies, two of the largest family offices in the United States, emerging growth companies, and local business owners, all of which have trusted me to guide them through high-stakes transactions totaling over a billion dollars,” she says. “I’m passionate about translating complex legal concepts into practical business strategies, helping my clients achieve their goals with clarity and confidence.” Her work at the firm doesn’t stop there, though: Recognizing that a law firm is only as strong as the caliber of its upcoming attorneys, she supports future generations of Stinson leaders by mentoring several associates and by serving as chair of the recruiting committee for the firm’s summer associate program. She is also part of Stinson’s Pro Bono Nonprofit Legal Clinic, serving in leadership roles with local arts organizations and racking up more than 370 hours of pro bono work since joining the firm. She has served on the board for Kansas City Young Audiences since 2019 and has been involved with the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in several capacities since 2015, including serving as both vice-chair and chair of Party Arty, one of the museum’s largest fundraising events, and she now serves on its Business Council Steering Committee. At home, she and Quentin are raising “two inquisitive and caring little girls, and are devoted servants to two rescued greyhounds.”
Tristan Trupka
A job is something you do. For Tristan Trupka, a career is something else, something defined by factors outside the workplace—in his case, faith, family, and a love for the outdoors. They all come together to drive growth at Industrial Accessories Co., where he came on board in 2013 after earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at K-State and is now part of the ownership as president. “Recognizing my potential, our CEO, Glenn Smith, promoted me quickly through increasing leadership roles in engineering management,” Trupka recalls. “At the time, IAC was a 30-year-old dust collection and pneumatic/conveying-equipment manufacturer also providing aftermarket parts and services.” But Trupka sensed an opportunity for growth, so he spearheaded the Engineer, Procure, Construct projects division, driving companywide revenue growth more than 10-fold in just five years while scaling the team from approximately 40 to 170 office personnel and more than 150 field staff. At 38, he oversees all company divisions while leading efforts to strengthen and modernize operations. The father of two with wife Jenny, he credits much of his own success to strong mentors, from earning his Eagle Scout rank to competing in high school sports. “I pay that forward by volunteering as a Scout leader and mentoring and coaching my children’s youth soccer teams,” he says, and for his alma mater, “I stay engaged with the Alumni Association and lead IAC’s contribution of equipment and installation services to the new Bulk Solids Technology Center at K-State Olathe.”
Kasey Vena
Let’s see … journalism graduate, career start in sports entertainment, and now operations director for Newmark Zimmer, the large commercial real estate firm. We’ll defer to Kasey Vena to connect those dots: Early on, she says, “I had the opportunity to work with iconic organizations, including the Kansas City Royals, the NBA, and Manchester City Football Club,” she says. “These experiences shaped my ability to navigate complex business landscapes with strategic vision and operational excellence as my career transitioned into commercial real estate.” As vice president of operations and principal at Newmark Zimmer, she’s helping a different kind of team succeed as she directs multiple departments, including IT, Human Resources, Marketing, Administration, Accounting, and Property Management. Since coming on board in 2022, Vena, 39 has improved business operations, driven net income growth, and led to a 71 percent increase in the square footage of properties managed. “Equally important to me is fostering a culture at Newmark Zimmer that reflects our core values,” she says. Beyond the workplace, she’s not only raising three children with husband Kyle, but she also serves in leadership roles with the Kansas City Public Schools Education Foundation, Starlight Theatre, and CREW Kansas City, working to advance education, the arts, and women in commercial real estate. “These commitments are deeply personal to me, as I strive to demonstrate the importance of leadership and community impact to my children,” she says. “Family is at the core of everything I do.”
Britaney Wehrmeister
Effective digital marketing can boost sales of sneakers, ocean cruises and energy drinks. But how do you turn that tool into a revenue generator for a convention center? Britany Wehrmeister knows how. As district marketing director for the company that manages the Overland Park Convention Center, she’s spearheaded the launch of two new Web sites and implemented data-driven digital marketing strategies, pushing facility revenue to nearly $14.5 million last year and driving a 542 percent increase in website-generated revenue, effectively demonstrating the tangible business impact of digital transformation. That success hasn’t gone unnoticed; Oak View Group promoted her to district marketing director, and she now assists in setting marketing strategies for 40 venues across the United States, helping drive similar impact at a national level. Wehrmeister, 36, is particularly proud of her work to elevate OPCC’s convention and meeting appeal. It was named Best Small Convention Center in North America in 2023. All of it, she says, flows from a passion for strategic growth and community impact. Her commitment to philanthropy is equally impactful. “Since 2016, I have led communication efforts for Kansas City’s Toys for Tots campaign, ensuring maximum visibility, community engagement, and donation growth,” she says. “In 2024 alone, we collected 31,531 toys at our venue—more than some entire states—solidifying our role as the region’s largest donation hub.” She also serves on multiple non-profit boards, including HopeKids Kansas City, the Christian Okoye Foundation, and the Blue Valley Education Foundation.
Megan Weismantel
True to the engineering ethos, Megan Weismantel has approached her career with a design—in her case, one built on strategic vision and relationship-driven business development. Those building blocks have taken her from an entry-level role as a transmission line engineer, then to business development, and most recently to sales operations manager. Her 12-year trek began with a civil engineering degree, cum laude, from North Dakota State and she’s now overseeing record-breaking growth in her division, driving strategic account development and using data-driven decision-making and innovation to fuel progress. “Beyond business metrics, I am passionate about leadership development,” the 33-year-old says. “I created our Business Development in Training program to cultivate sales talent and lead our Seller-Doer program, a leadership development program engaging 120 participants annually.” She’s also passionate about mentorship, providing career and workplace guidance for multiple individuals every year. “As a woman in STEM and business development—two male-dominated lines of work—I feel a responsibility to not only guide others toward leadership but also demonstrate that career impact and personal fulfillment can go hand in hand.” Along with husband Josh, she’s raising one child and actively supports Children’s Mercy and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through charitable contributions and fund-raising events. “Giving back,” she says, “is a core value of mine, and I believe in using my resources and time to make a meaningful impact.”
Austin Whiles
There’s something special about a career that transforms lives by the millions, and Austin Whiles gets to experience it every day with MoKan Labs, the molecular laboratory he launched in 2022. To date, it has reported more than 10 million impactful and meaningful patient results. “I continue to be dedicated to advancing patient care through precision medicine after 15 years in the molecular diagnostics industry,” says the 39-year-old, who serves as CEO. His company has developed a groundbreaking molecular urinary tract that allows health-care providers to treat complex infections with unprecedented accuracy and speed. That innovation in diagnostics and treatment, he says, has raised standards of care, and is the product of what he calls “Focused Prioritization,” integrating people, products, and processes to foster efficiency and innovation. “By streamlining operations and optimizing workflows, I successfully drove the lab’s operation costs down by more than 28 percent since its inception, with the goal of making high-quality diagnostics more accessible and cost-effective.” A father of two with wife Bristol, Whiles sees himself as a visionary entrepreneur—MoKan is not his only health-care tech company—and one that is committed to improving medical outcomes and reducing costs. “All my prior and current success is rooted in unwavering faith and a deep commitment to my family. I firmly believe that without the grace of God, none of this would be possible,” he says. “My journey is a testament to the power of faith, perseverance, and the support of loved ones.”
Richard Wiles
Richard Wiles came out of New York’s French Culinary Institute with a refined sense of what a dining experience should be. But that experience and a career detour through multifamily development gave him something else: A sense of the unique physical spaces that restaurant owners and operators need to create those experiences. He’s pursuing those twin passions today as a partner and chief development officer for Tiki Taco and as a partner in Opal Arch Construction. “I am,” he says, “an entrepreneur with a passion for hospitality, development, and business growth. At 19, I co-founded Westport Café, launching my career in the restaurant industry. Since then, I have been involved in several restaurant concepts, including Tiki Taco.” A coming location in Olathe will mark the ninth restaurant he’s helped develop, drawing on his expertise in restaurant expansion, operational efficiencies, and business strategy. In real estate, he previously owned and developed more than 100 multifamily units in Kansas City, “but my core holdings are now in commercial properties,” he says. “This shift allows me to focus on high-impact development projects that enhance business functionality.” At Opal Arch Construction, his hospitality background provides a unique edge in designing efficient, functional, and aesthetically compelling spaces that drive profitability. Wiles, 35 this month, says that having lost his father at a young age, “I understand the importance of strong role models and actively support Big Brothers Big Sisters, where I help fundraise and advocate for mentorship programs.”
Mike Wirtz
He’s the controller for VanTrust Real Estate, but his work doesn’t stop with one company: Mike Wirtz has overseen the accounting functions for more than 200 affiliated entities in that role. Financial reporting, cash-flow analysis, operational budget development, financial modeling and treasury management are all on his plate, as are IT operations. Since he come on board in 2013, the company has surpassed $7 billion in development activity, a growth that required significant expansion of both the financial and technical infrastructure. “We’ve streamlined our financial-reporting processes, improved cash-flow management, enhanced accurate financial modeling and implemented multiple new company-wide systems, ensuring the long-term stability of our operations and allowing the extremely talented people we have at VanTrust to be as effective and efficient as possible,” says Wirtz, 38. Off the clock, he has served as the Kansas advocacy champion for the National Epilepsy Foundation. It is, he says, “a cause that’s especially meaningful to me as I support my son, George, who lives with epilepsy.” He also volunteers with Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas to promote financial literacy through its Family Financial Transformations Program, and he’s treasurer and a board member for Missouri River Relief, promoting restoration and enjoyment of the river. “My faith and family are central to everything I do,” he says. “My wife (Melissa) and I are devoted to raising our two children with strong values and a strong work ethic, and my involvement in the community is an extension of the beliefs that guide me.”
Kaity Woody
The first rung, 17 years ago, came as an administrative assistant at UMKC. Through a mix of strong work ethic, leadership, and the earned trust that the university’s leadership has placed in Kaity Woody, she’s near the top of the ladder as vice chancellor, directing alumni relations and annual giving. “In my current role, I’ve led initiatives that have strengthened alumni engagement and fundraising,” she says. “By developing key performance indicators and implementing annual plans, we now measure and track engagement metrics that are currently in the benchmarking phase.” That data-driven approach, the 39-year-old says, “helps us show growth and foster lasting relationships between the university and its stakeholders. Since February 2024, the Annual Giving department has reported to me, and we’ve redefined how we engage audiences. Compared to last year, we are ahead by $100,000 and at 72 percent of our goal with five months left in the fiscal year.” Her time outside the office reflects a commitment to giving back to the community. She served as the Silent Auction chair for The HALO Foundation for nearly a decade and continues to support it philanthropically. “Additionally, I support Cultivate KC, ReStart Inc., UMKC, and SUNY Stony Brook (my undergraduate alma mater). As a member of the Centurions Alumni Association and the Centurions Alumni Board, I actively volunteer across various organizations in Kansas City. I strive to lead with empathy, fairness, and integrity—values guiding my professional decisions and personal life,” Woody says. “These values are at the core of who I am.”
