The 2024 Ingram’s 250: Kansas City’s Most Influential Business Leaders

PUBLISHED OCTOBER, 2024

In 50 years of covering the greater Kansas City business community and its executive leadership, through thousands of stories and hundreds of economic assemblies, Ingram’s knows that Kansas City area companies are blessed with incredible C-suite talent. 

They are deep thinkers, thought leaders, focused decision-makers who consistently drive organizations forward.

Once a year, we’re honored to be able to question them as a group with this special edition we call the Ingram’s 250.
This year, we harvested their assessments on how economic trends are affecting their respective sectors, their approach as leaders to hiring and firing, how artificial intelligence in its current form is affecting their operations, the traits they look for in potential hires at the executive level, and what they see as priorities for setting a civic agenda in the greater Kansas City region.

Their observations on factors that drove growth over the past year in particular will give astute viewers a sense of just how healthy the regional economy truly is. We also gleaned a few insights into their character by asking them how they deal with the stresses of business leadership, and where they find inspiration inside and outside of their organizations. 

Collectively, their responses make up a business-leadership primer for anyone who wants to understand regional commerce on a deeper level, and at times a more personal one. No individual that we know of could access this breadth of leadership and extract this level of insight and candor with a group this large. Consider our gift to all who read it.

To anyone who wants to understand what the Ingram’s mission is, you’ll find your answer in this unique issue. We hope this Who’s Who of Kansas City Business will help you understand the people shaping our regional economy, and that their thoughts will help you set an agenda for growth in your own organization or career.

As always, our thanks go out to each of the executives who participated. We couldn’t do this without you.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Dan Abitz
President/Chair, GBA

Being ambidextrous in the public/private sense is proving beneficial at GBA. “A key advantage for us has been our ability to diversify our services across different markets,” says Dan Abitz. “Our company has experienced significant growth over the past five years, with 2024 marking a period of adjustment as we saw a pullback in the private sector. However, the public market remained strong.”

COLLEGE: B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Kansas State University; MBA, Rockhurst Univ.
OUTLOOK: “We anticipate a slight uptick in the private sector in 2025, projecting moderate growth overall.” 
SOURCE OF INSPIRATION: “My passion lies in mentoring and empowering individuals to excel in their careers. I draw inspiration from challenging the status quo and embracing change, as I believe these elements are crucial for the success of both teams and organizations.”
EFFECTS OF AI: “Recognizing its growing influence, we recently implemented an AI use policy to guide its application within our operations. Currently, we utilize AI primarily for research but are also exploring future opportunities.
CURRENT HEADCOUNT: As of July 1, it’s 320 FTEs in Kansas City; companywide, 479.

Rob Adams
Partner, Shook, Hardy & Bacon

If the awards keep pouring in recognizing Rob Adams’ work for Shook, Hardy & Bacon, he’s going to need a bigger office soon. This past year, this long-time Rainmaker scooped up honors from Missouri Lawyers Weekly (The Power List of Business Defense Attorneys), Lawdragon’s Top 500 Litigators, and Best Lawyers’ Lawyer of the Year for personal injury litigation. 

COLLEGE: B.A., University of Kansas; J.D., University of Missouri School of Law 
2023 REVENUES: $459,512,000 
IMPACT: Among Adams’ signature achievements was the largest defense verdict in Missouri in 2013, fending off a $62 million claim in a lawsuit that blamed the manufacturer’s brake system for a fatal school bus crash. 
FIRM LEADERSHIP: In addition to his role on Shook’s executive committee, he serves as co-chair of its practice group for general-liability litigation.
PRACTICE SPECIALTIES: His clients largely hail from the worlds of automotive, insurance and reinsurance, pharmaceutical, medical devices, and design and construction, and he provides litigation services in cases of product liability, mass tort, appellate and international matters, intellectual property, and automotive actions, among others. 

Raghu Adiga
President/CEO, Liberty Hospital

With Kansas City’s Northland containing two of the fastest-growing counties in Missouri, there’s also a growing need for access to high-quality health care. According to Raghu Adiga, Joining the University of Kansas Health System this past year is doing a lot to help spur growth at Liberty Hospital. “They share our goals to bring growth and renowned clinical excellence to the Northland.”

COLLEGE: Bangalore Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka State, India
SECTOR OUTLOOK: “Post-pandemic changes in health care, especially those involving labor force and reimbursements, are creating a large gap in maintaining quality and efficiency between smaller hospitals and large health systems.” 
SOURCE OF INSPIRATION: “Caring for people isn’t just a profession. There is real joy, fulfillment and sense of purpose that comes from working in health care.”
EFFECTS OF AI: “Generative AI now has shown great promise not only in assisting caregivers with accuracy and efficiency but also in drug discovery and precision medicine.”
STRESS BUSTING: “Personally, spending quality time with family and friends, picking up my camera for some landscape photography, and of course exercise.”
MANAGER MUST-HAVES: “Integrity, compassion, and aptitude for teamwork.”

Mauli Agrawal
Chancellor, UMKC 

“Word is getting out about UMKC,” says this very happy chancellor. The university welcomed the largest incoming class in its history this fall, after a record-breaking year for 2023-24. Agrawal is also excited about several ambitious capital-improvement projects in the works that he says will transform the UMKC campus and offer students even more opportunities, including the Hospital Hill campus Downtown.

COLLEGE: B.A., Technology, Indian Institute of Technology; M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University; Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Duke University
SECTOR OUTLOOK: “As undergraduate enrollment continues to grow, we’re feeling great about our progress. A lot of our hard work and growth strategies are paying off for our campus and our community.” 
SOURCE OF INSPIRATION: “The thing that keeps me most motivated and energized is my ability to help students succeed. When we hold commencement ceremonies, and I see all of our graduates and their families smiling and celebrating, it’s confirmation that we’re making a meaningful difference in many people’s lives.”
STRESS BUSTING: “I picked up oil painting about 15 years ago, and it’s been a great stress reliever for me.”

Matt All
President/CEO, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas

The smart deployment of substantial reserves, Matt All says, has been key to recent strong financial performance, and they’re looking forward to growing in key markets in the years ahead. He added, “Winning the Medicaid contract along with our partners is a big deal for us, and it will allow us to serve more Kansans than ever before.”

COLLEGE: B.A., Political Science, Univ. of Kansas; J.D., Yale Law School
INSPIRATION SOURCE: “Many, if not most, of the biggest moments will be caught up in the health-care system in some way. A few of those are beautiful moments, like the birth of children and grandchildren. Many are difficult and stressful. But all of them are full of meaning.”
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “The obvious answer is to get the stadium issues settled. Of course, I think they should all be in Kansas and that the Chiefs’ practice facility should be in Lawrence or Topeka.
STAFFING PLANS: “We are adding staff! We’re in growth mode as an organization, and we’re looking for great people to help make Kansas a better, healthier place.”
EMPLOYEE COUNT: “In greater Kansas City region, 1,584. Our overall headcount is 1,814.”

Damon Anderson
CEO, Tallgrass Freight

Damon Anderson spent 5½ years in sales for one of the region’s fastest-growing shipping companies before signing on with Tallgrass Freight in 2013. He helped turn Tallgrass into one of the region’s fastest-growing companies by drawing on the lessons of past success—specifically, making it a personal goal to beat his sales targets and raise them in subsequent cycles.

2023 REVENUES: $137 million  
COLLEGE: Kansas City, Kansas Community College 
MOMENTUM: While the nation’s logistics sector has seen a sharp pullback over the past year, Tallgrass Freight’s performance in recent years has sustained its status among the region’s fast-growth companies, weighing in at No. 81 this year.
WHAT THEY DO: The company’s brokers arrange truck shipping—full load and less than truckload—along with rail, expedited, and temperature-controlled transit options. 
SMALL BUT MIGHTY: Though fewer than 50 in number, the Tallgrass team has blossomed under the culture Anderson has intentionally crafted. “The best part of my job—what grounds me and literally makes my day and night—is the stories of the people here,” he says.

Don Armacost
Co-Owner, Peterson Manufacturing

He’s turned over the day-to-day leadership of the company to younger brother David, but Don Armacost’s stake in Peterson Manufacturing keeps him aligned with one of the biggest private-sector employers on Kansas City’s southern fringe and connected to a global leader in transportation-related manufacturing for various lighting and safety systems.

REVENUES: The company’s most recent revenue disclosure was in 2022, at $243 million.
ABOUT PETERSON: The company was founded in 1945 by its namesake, Pete Peterson, who sold it to the Armacost brothers’ Dad, Don Sr., in 1956. It’s been controlled by the family ever since. 
WHAT IT DOES: The company has seven operating units, each highly specialized, producing wiring harnesses, LED and incandescent lighting systems, reflectors, mounting and electrical accessories and more.
GLOBAL REACH: You’ll find Peterson Manufacturing products on vehicles across the Western Hemisphere, plus Australia, New Zealand, China, and the Middle East. 
EMPLOYEES: About 600

Adam Aron
President/CEO, AMC Entertainment

The retail investment universe is split on whether AMC will eventually succumb to an $8.67 billion debt burden or shake that off with the continued return of movie-goers to theaters. If recent history is a clue, Adam Aron will disprove the doubters. Year-over-year revenues popped more than 23 percent in 2023, continuing the bounce-back from COVID-era lockdowns that killed revenues worldwide. 

COLLEGE: B.A., Harvard University; MBA (with distinction), Harvard Business School
2023 REVENUES: $4.8 billion 
RESOLUTE: At last spring’s CinemaCon gathering of industry professionals, Aron flatly rejected suggestions that AMC was in financial peril. “I think it’s inconceivable that AMC would have to restructure like Regal Cinemas did and file for Chapter 11,” he said. “One of the things I’m very proud of is that going into the pandemic, AMC was in a very strong position.”
CASH IS KING: Throughout the recovery, Aron has consistently positioned the company to have cash on hand so it can respond to changing conditions in a highly volatile sector.
EMPLOYEES: Nearly 37,000 around the world. The theater count has been reduced overall with under-performing venues closing, while more profitable ones are opening.

Marco Assis
CEO, Propio Language Services

It’s been an award-winning run for Marco Assis since becoming CEO in 2019, with the acquisition of this translation services company in Overland Park. The past two years have seen the company finish in the Top 10 of the Corporate Report 100, Ingram’s annual ranking of the region’s fastest-growing companies. And on a personal level, Assis was part of Ingram’s 40 Under Forty this year.

COLLEGE: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro and Harvard Business School; EMBA, University of Missouri-Kansas City
FLUENCY IN TRIPLICATE: A tri-lingual native of Brazil, Assis says that “Coming from a distinct background, leaving my home country and working with different cultures, I feel connected to my company’s vision ‘to eliminate the everyday obstacles of communication through technology.’”  
THE ROAD TO KC: Before joining Propio, he spent 11 years at Shell Oil Co. and Puma Energy in various roles in finance and M&A. “I left Brazil in 2014 to pursue bigger dreams, and I met my wife along the way, which brought me to KC permanently in December 2016. Adapting to the Midwest and finding a job was a challenge and after many months and
no opportunities, I joined Propio as VP of Finance and Operations in June of 2017.” 

Mario Azar
President/CEO, Black & Veatch

The past year has been a pivotal one for Mario Azar and one of the region’s biggest engineering firms. In May, Black & Veatch unveiled a new operating model to sharpen the firm’s focus on five key areas: Power Providers, Fuels/Natural Resources, Tech, Commercial and Industrial, Governments/Communities, and Strategic Advisory/Lifecycle Resiliency Services. Those changes are expected to drive additional growth for a company that saw year-over-year revenues jump 10.6 percent.

COLLEGE: B.S., Electrical Engineering, University of North Carolina-Charlotte 
2023 REVENUES: $4.7 billion 
STACKING WINS: That 2023 revenue performance came after his first year in the leadership role which produced a 28.79 percent improvement over 2021 figures.
JOB MAGNET: B&V has nearly 12,500 employees around the world, with 2,275 working from the mothership in Overland Park. 
ON EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP: “As passionate employee-owners, we are all tightly aligned around the imperative to evolve and adapt to have the right solutions, talent, expertise and insights that our clients need and expect, both for today’s operations and tomorrow’s investments,” he says.

Rick Baden
CFO/EVP, Watco

The past year produced logistics headwinds, and for Watco, those were “the weather, global shipping challenges and lock closures on the Upper and Lower Mississippi,” says Rick Baden. “But we were still able to perform well for our customers with solid growth over ’23 considering these factors.” He serves a Pittsburg-based rail services company with more than $1 billion in global revenue.

METRICS: “Our most meaningful measure of performance is Free Cash Flow, and we are up over 15 percent vs. both the prior year and against our ’24 plan.”
SECTOR OUTLOOK: “With inflation continuing to cool and rate cuts on the horizon, we could see a rebound in industrial production and volumes. Additionally, there is a great deal of funding from government programs.” 
SOURCES OF INSPIRATION: “We have an outstanding team at Watco, and what amazes and inspires me is to see us operating today based on the same core principles that were established when the company was founded over 40 years ago: Value our customers, value our people, and safely improve every day.”  
IMPACT OF AI: “We are piloting Microsoft Copilot for use in the Office productivity suite for users across the organization. There is a chatbot under development for our rail customers to help them use our operational system more effectively.”

David Ball
CEO, Balls Food Stores

It’s been a historic year for Balls Food Stores: longtime president David Ball announced at the 100th anniversary celebration that it would transfer ownership of its 25 grocery stores to the company’s employees. “My grandfather and father taught me that if you take care of your teammates, the teammate will then take care of the customer, and the customer will take care of the business,” he said.

MARKET FOOTPRINT: Balls Food Stores owns grocery stores that fly multiple flags—Hen House Markets, SunFresh Markets, and Payless Discount Foods, along with 13 of the Kansas City area’s 52 Price Chopper stores.
REWARDED: Under the new ESOP, eligible employees receive allocations of company stock with no up-front contributions on their part. “It will be business as usual and everyone’s roles and responsibilities will remain the same,” Ball said. “We’ll continue to be a teammate-centric, customer-focused company committed to the communities we serve.” 
A CENTURY OF SERVICE: Ball’s grandparents, Sidney and Molly Ball, got started by opening their first grocery store in 1923 in Kansas City, Kan. Gen2 saw Fred Ball lead the company from 1975-2000, when he turned the reins over to David.

Kevin Barth
Chairman/CEO, Commerce Bank – Kansas City

When money moves, cash flow flows and banking clients thrive. So, Kevin and Team Commerce are making sure people can get funds where they need to be. “Commerce is heavily invested in helping our clients access the payments system and helping them improve their cash flows,” Kevin said. “We have continued to grow our total market share by winning several significant new banking relationships.”

SECTOR OUTLOOK: “Our overall sector remains very healthy with strong credit quality but softer loan demand. It is widely accepted that lowered rates will help maintain credit quality and improve loan demand as borrowers make purchases they may have postponed.”
INSPIRATION SOURCE: “First, being a player/coach on a team of people I admire, respect, and dearly enjoy going to market with is something I never tire of. Combine that with working with some of the most interesting, intelligent and experienced business leaders on the planet, and I can’t imagine having more fun in a career.” 
STRESS BUSTING: “Working with and training my dog, Daisy.”
STAFFING PLANS: “We will be filling open positions and we’re always making opportunistic hires of great people to add to our team.”
CURRENT HEADCOUNT: “KC: 2,176; Overall: 4,684.”

Marion Battaglia
President, Soave Automotive Group

Ever since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, the world of vehicle sales has been wracked with challenges, but Marion Battaglia is sensing a return to normalcy—if we can call it that—at Soave Automotive Group. “It has been an interesting year,” Battaglia says. “Vehicle supply has gone up and demand in certain segments has remained strong.”

2023 REVENUES: $233.39 million
INDUSTRY SHIFT: “Manufacturers are certainly reevaluating The electric-vehicle market with a move to more hybrid models.” 
THE CUSTOMER VIEW: “I believe that customers have many choices today and that we have to respect our customers’ time and provide the best possible service. Building a culture of responsibility to provide great customer service begins with how we treat our staff.”
OTHER DUTIES: He also sits on the board of the Automobile Dealers Association of Greater Kansas City and oversees dealership participation in multiple charities. 
BEFORE SOAVE: Battaglia spent nearly 14 years burnishing his luxury car sales credentials with Baron BMW.
FAN FAVORITE: Aristocrat Motors is a perennial Gold Medal winner in Ingram’s Best of Business Kansas City awards’ Best Foreign Auto Dealership category.

Brad Batz
President/CEO, Fike Corp.

A year ago, Brad Batz anticipated record revenues for Fike, wich makes sophisticated fire suppression, explosion protection, and other safety systems in complex industrial settings. He was spot-on: Fike racked up a year-over-year gain of 16.72 percent, a sign of strength overall and particularly within sectors that include data centers, power-generation sites and transportation systems.

COLLEGE: B.S., Business Administration, University of Florida; M.S., Lean Operations, Cardiff University, Wales
2023 REVENUES: $348.18 million 
OFF THE CLOCK: Batz is also a member of the advisory council for the Bloch School of Business at UMKC.
AT FIKE: The company was founded by his great-uncle, Les Fike Sr., in 1945, and Batz came on at the family-owned enterprise in 2002. His leadership path included director of operations, EVP of the oil and gas division, and president. Since 2017, he’s also been the chief executive.
EMPLOYEES: More than 1,000 worldwide, including sites in Belgium and Canada; 415 locally.

Chase Bean
CEO, Tnemec

Generation IV at industrial-coatings specialist Tnemec has Chase Bean in the leadership role nearly 30 years after he came on board in the company’s technical services laboratory. From there, he moved into sales, business development, and executive vice president, directing the sales, marketing, research and development, and technical services departments for eight years.

COLLEGE: B.A., English, Univ. of the South; EMBA, University of Missouri-Kansas City
FAMILY HANDOFF: Bean was named CEO in 2015, taking the baton from another member of the ownership family, Peter Cortelyou. The company was founded in 1921 by Alfred Bean, Chase’s great-grandfather. 
ABOUT TNEMEC: Tnemec is one of the largest privately held North American companies specializing in industrial coatings for steel, concrete and other substrates for new construction and maintenance. It has manufacturing facilities in KC and Baltimore. 
NATIONAL REACH: The company’s distribution facilities are in Atlanta, Dallas, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Seattle and Compton, Calif. Overseas, it has technical representatives in Canada, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Trinidad.
EMPLOYEES: 220

Kim Beatty
Chancellor, Metropolitan Community College

It truly was a ground-breaking year for Kim Beatty’s MCC: In April, the community college system turned dirt on the MCC-Maple Woods Agriculture Annex at its Northland campus. For an urban university, the annex is a nod to the influence of agribusiness here. The $6.8 million, 9,366-square-foot facility, expected to be completed by year’s end, will house an expanded agriculture program.

COLLEGE: B.A., M.A, English, Ed.D., higher education, Morgan State University 
MORE ON AG: Maple Woods began offering agriculture courses in the 2021 fall semester, and students can pursue an associate’s degree in applied science in agriculture with an emphasis on agribusiness, plant science, and animal science—all vital elements of the regional economy. Maple Woods also houses MCC’s veterinary technology program, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. 
BUILDING OUT: The Northland annex comes in the wake of a new $7.2 million Engineering Technology addition on the Midtown campus. That two-story facility houses classrooms and labs, MCC’s FabLab maker space, an outdoor covered work yard for large (or dirty) FabLab projects, a 3-D printing lab, and the Burns & McDonnell Design Innovation Lab.

Smitty Belcher
CEO, Best in Class Technology Services

From a steamfitter early in his career to founder of a construction services company with more than a third of a million dollars in annual revenue, the journey has been rewarding in multiple ways for Smitty Belcher. It added a dimension last year when the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce designated him its Citizens of the Year—yes, plural—in recognition of what he’s meant to the community.

COLLEGE: B.S., MBA, University of Toledo 
2023 REVENUES: $340 million 
ON SUCCESS: “Don’t let anyone tell you what you can or can’t do. You can do anything you set your mind to.
CHANGING LAWRENCE: “P1 is deeply committed to giving back to the communities in which we live and work,” he said as part of the chamber recognition. “Our family, the company, and our employees enthusiastically support local Lawrence causes, like the LMH Foundation, KU Endowment, Williams Education Fund, Lawrence Schools Foundation, Lawrence Arts Center, Junior Achievement, Friends of the Lied Center, and the Festival of Trees/O’Connell Children’s Shelter.”
ROAD TO LAWRENCE: He moved his family there in 1983, eventually bought out the MEP firm he was working for, and created the P1 Group (since renamed P1 Construction). 

Caroline Belmont
Global Innovation Chief, BIV

British native Caroline Belmont is head of U.S. Global Innovation and U.S. Regulatory Affairs for Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, the global pharmaceutical giant with a major plant in St. Joseph. She entered the profession in 1990 and has done two stints with BIV. The company is a key player in the regional Animal Health Corridor that runs from Manhattan, Kan., to Columbia, Mo.

COLLEGE: B.S., Agricultural Biochemistry & Nutrition, Newcastle University 
POSITIONING KC: Belmont is the chair for the Animal Health Corridor collaboration, work that she says will be key to “attracting more people, developing local talent and expanding innovation in the region. Animal health is a very diverse area that connects and includes more industries than ever. I see great potential in the Corridor to continue this growth and development, further establishing the region’s attractiveness.” 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM: What drew her to that sector? “Easy,” she said in a KCADC profile. “A passion for animals from childhood! Not just pets but also birds, livestock, and horses. I don’t think there has been a single day in my life where animals or birds have not featured heavily. I am also fascinated with agriculture in general and how we feed the world in a sustainable way for the long-term future.

Brad Bergman
Chairman/CEO, MTC Holding Corp.

The numbers around Brad Bergman’s trust-related enterprises are great, and he says achieving those numbers is all about human relationships. “We take care of our associates, who are empowered to take great care of our clients,” he says. Great recipe, given that Bergman has added more than 100 new employees in 2024 without taking any private equity or loans.

COLLEGE: B.S., Illinois State; J.D., Washburn University School of Law 
SECTOR OUTLOOK: “At the end of next year, unless anything changes, there will be a seismic shift in the ultra-high net-worth space. With the estate-tax exemption being halved, clients will be clamoring to update their estate planning.” 
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “As a city, to build our business community and not sell to institutions outside the city. With the loss of our corporate giants, part of our identity is shed. We need to be the acquirers, not the acquirees.”
STRESS BUSTING: “Work. Woods. Wine.”
STAFFING PLANS: “We anticipate a continued increase in our staff to support our growth plans after opening offices in new states.”
CURRENT HEADCOUNT: “In Kansas City, around 270, with almost 500 across the country.”

Bill Berkley
President/CEO, Tension Corp.

Bill Berkley carries on family tradition as a fourth-generation owner at Tension Corp. His great-grandfather founded the company in 1886, specializing in stationery and business novelties. Until its 2011 rebrand, Tension Envelope was known for that line of its business—producing business envelopes—but has expanded to a full line of packaging and automated solutions for various industries.

COLLEGE: B.A., Colorado College; MBA, Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College 
2023 REVENUES: $316 million 
OUTLOOK: “We believe the outlook for the rest of the year to be steady. … We anticipate our overall employment level will remain constant.”
KC’S Next big thing?: “A deeper commitment and expansion of early childhood education and literacy.”
IMPACT OF AI: “We consider AI to be an opportunity in our Packaging and Automation Division to make the work of our customers easier.”
EMPLOYEES: “In KC, 150; overall, 860.”
NO PAPER TIGER: Under his leadership, Tension became the nation’s second-largest domestic envelope manufacturer and a diversified three-division business. 

Steve Bernstein
CEO, Bernstein-Rein

One of the keys to success in advertising is not resting on your laurels. So, while Steve Bernstein has plenty to rest on, his focus is on building. “This year has been about preparing ourselves for growth in 2025,” he says, “and loading our client list with clients who have significant growth potential like Archwell Health, American National, DM Law, Kids & Co. and Manos Wine.”

SECTOR OUTLOOK: “The second half of the year feels much more optimistic, and dollars are opening up. I expect 2025 to be a strong year for the marketing sector.”
INSPIRATION SOURCE: “The people I work with, both our internal team and our clients. As BR celebrates our 60th anniversary, I am inspired by the associates who have called Bernstein-Rein their home over our storied history and their achievements.” 
EFFECTS OF AI: “Artificial Intelligence is definitely affecting marketing. I do not believe it alone is going to take jobs, but I do believe the people who best know how to use it will. We need to embrace the efficiency it brings while continuing to be creative in its application. These are exciting times!”
STAFFING PLANS: “It will definitely not be a year of reductions. We are hopeful that it will be a year of growth.
CURRENT HEADCOUNT: “Around 85 associates. About 70 are in KC.”

Martin Bicknell
President/CEO, Mariner

Marty Bicknell has established a solid reputation as a wealth-management leader who embraces a two-track growth strategy: Organic, by the increasing value of client portfolios, and through acquisitions, where he and his team continue to shake up the sector. Just this month, it picked up an additional $1.8 billion in AUM by snapping up Woodbridge International of New Haven, Conn.

COLLEGE: B.S., Political Science, Pittsburg State University 
STILL ON THE HUNT: Bicknell has previously declared that, by 2027, he wants the ranks of advisers he has on staff to swell from 1,450 to 5,000. 
FAMILY TRADITION: Marty’s dad, Gene, founded a Pittsburg-based company that would go on to become the nation’s largest Pizza Hut franchisee. 
KEEPING IT SIMPLE: Bicknell’s Ironclad Law of Success incorporates three commandments: “Clients first; no exception. Associates second. Shareholders last.” 
HIGH PRAISE: For eight straight years, starting in 2016, Barron’s magazine has included Mariner among the nation’s top five wealth-management firms.
PHILANTHROPIC LEADER: He champions organizations that promote and create opportunities for youth, including Halo, City Year, and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Brent Blake
Owner/President, Acendas Travel

A lot of water has passed under the cruise ship since Brent Blake came aboard as chief operating officer at what is now Acendas Travel back in 1997. Rising up as vice president of sales, vice president of operations, and eventually co-president and owner, he has rebuilt a company wracked by the 2020 pandemic, bringing it nearly all the way back with revenues from its diversified travel services.

COLLEGE: B.S., Marketing and Administration, Oral Roberts University 
OTHER DUTIES: Blake also serves on the Advisory Board for BCD Travel, the third-largest travel company in North America, and is on the executive board of the Travel Council. 
THE COMEBACK KIDS: “Rebuilding our staff back to pre-pandemic levels has been a challenge and extremely vital to our continued viability and success. With heavy furloughs, we had to rebuild the staff, facing the reality that we had many veteran associates who would retire or opt not to return.” 
CHALLENGES AHEAD: “Should the impact of inflation lessen, we will likely need to add staff. Talent acquisition will continue to be a challenge as the industry rebounds. It is estimated that 40 percent of the hospitality industry talent left the industry. Rebuilding will take time. It also creates a situation where travel agencies will need to be creative in attracting workers—with the realization that there will be movement from agency to agency.”

Ken Block
Managing Principal, Block Real Estate Services

The “Services” in the name reflects the diversification that allows Ken Block’s commercial realty firm to remain a top achiever, even in a challenging climate. Despite high interest rates, soaring construction costs, and lower demand for bulk industrial buildings, he reports, “Our growth in property management and other services have allowed our business to continue thriving.”

COLLEGE: B.S., Business, Michigan State University
SECTOR HEALTH: “I anticipate that the market will remain lukewarm in 2025 as the Fed continues to assess overall conditions. However, considering the significant growth and prosperity our industry has experienced over the past 10-12 years, it’s unlikely that we’ll face a downturn comparable to the one we saw in 2008.” 
EFFECTS OF AI: “AI software offers significant potential to improve our marketing efforts, leasing and brokerage services, property management, accounting, and construction tools.”
STRESS BUSTER: “That’s easy: Golf.”
STAFFING PLANS: “Growth is always our goal.”
EMPLOYEE COUNT: “Between all of our real estate businesses, we have just over 400.”

David Brain
Founder, Enfinite Capital

A computer. Two phones. A few sublet cubicles. From that humble setting—and the fertile entrepreneurship of David Brain—sprang EPR Properties in 1997, and he built it into a national power in entertainment-venue ownership. After departing nearly a decade ago, he founded the investing platform Brown Cow Capital, along with Enfinite Capital, specializing in large-scale renewable energy assets.

COLLEGE: B.A., Economics, MBA, Tulane University 
THE ROAD TO EPR: Brain’s career path included a leadership role in the investment banking department of the former George K. Baum & Co., and before that, he was managing director of the corporate finance group for the KPMG Peat Marwick office in Kansas City. 
KNOWN INNOVATOR: In 2011, Brain was named Ernst & Young’s Master Entrepreneur of the Year for the Central Midwest region. That distinction goes to people who have inspired others with their vision, leadership and achievement.
MORE RECOGNITION: Brain is a past member of the board of governors for the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, along with venture-cap fund Capital for Entrepreneurs, plus the Center for Business Innovation incubator at UMKC.

Mark Brandmeyer
CEO, Brandmeyer Enterprises / KC Monarchs 

Mark Brandmeyer’s enterprises are many, but the Kansas City Monarchs are the apple of his eye, especially with the legacy of that brand. “This past year, our growth was driven by strategic expansion in fan engagement and community-centered events,” he says. “Additionally, our community involvement through Monarchs Charity has strengthened our brand identity and connection with Kansas City.”

SECTOR OUTLOOK: “I would say the outlook is closer to red hot as the desire for in-person entertainment continues to grow. Companies in this sector that focus on creating unique and engaging fan experiences will be well-positioned for success in 2025.” 
INSPIRATION SOURCE: “I’m inspired by the legacy of the KC Monarchs, a team that broke barriers and brought people together through the game of baseball. Our work at MaxFun Entertainment continues to build on this rich history.”
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “Expanding the entertainment and cultural infrastructure of Kansas City, Kansas. While the streetcar extension and the airport are excellent advancements, developing additional venues for large-scale events, concerts, and sports tournaments could further position Kansas City as a premier destination for tourism and entertainment with our mission to enhance the fan and community experience.”

David Bratcher
President/CEO, MGP Ingredients

The new face of leadership at MGP Ingredients in Atchison is David Bratcher, who assumed those duties at the start of this year. He made his way across Missouri in 2021, following the acquisition of St. Louis-based Luxco in a deal valued at $475 million. He had put in 27 years there, eventually attaining the rank of president, and served as COO at MGP through last December. 

COLLEGE: Business Administration & Management, College of the Ozarks; MBA and PhD, Business Administration and Management, Webster University
2023 REVENUES: $830 million, more than double the pre-pandemic level of $390 million. 
GROWTH CURVE: Over the past decade, MGP has more than doubled its work force to become one of the largest private-sector employers in the Atchison-St. Joseph region, at last count, had slightly more than 700 staff.
ABOUT MGP: Founded in 1941, MGP produces premium branded and distilled spirits along with industrial-use processed grains. It’s one of the largest distillers in the U.S., turning out bourbon and rye whiskeys, gins, and various brands of vodka.
IRISH FLAVOR: MGP has production facilities in Kentucky, Indiana and Mexico, but its furthest reach is across the Atlantic with a bottling operation in Derry, Northern Ireland.

Rob Bratcher
KC President, Commerce Bank

This past year goes down as a win all around at Commerce, says Rob Bratcher. Expense management in anticipation of interest-rate reductions and lean-thinking customers “are having a positive effect on the bank’s fee income earnings while driving significant cost savings for our customers. Very much a “Win-Win” in my book.” The overall outlook remains positive for the banking sector, largely due to relatively low unemployment and low credit defaults.”

SMALL-BANK CHALLENGES: “Some in our sector that have less-diversified revenue streams will experience margin pressure as the Fed lowers interest rates. This is likely why you are seeing smaller community and regional banks consolidate.” 
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “One major area of focus that is necessary to sustain our growth is workforce development. A skilled and educated workforce will not only benefit the companies already rooted in our city, it will help attract new companies to our area.”
AI IMPACT: “We are investing significant time and resources studying how we can safely use AI in a variety of areas. We believe AI could help financial institutions combat fraud. Additionally, we think there are many practical applications to improve efficiencies in our back-office operations and help with faster deployment of new payment solutions.”

Pamela Breuckmann
President/CEO, Ferrell Capital

The Ferrell family of Ferrellgas fame has a lot of philanthropic and financial interests, and Pamela Breuckmann’s team makes the assets behind those interests thrive. Over the years, Ferrell Capital has guided the family through successful ventures and investments, including real estate, banking, investment advisory services, private equity, and other passive and active assets.

COLLEGE: B.S., Business Administration and Accounting, University of Kansas; M.A., Accounting and Information Systems, University of Kansas 
INSPIRATION SOURCE: “I am inspired by the amazing people that surround me: my friend and mentor Jim Ferrell, my rock-star team at Ferrell Capital, my husband Mike Maddox, our five kids and their zest for life, and my many friends in the KC business community!”
KC HIDDEN GEMS: I love learning about the many businesses in KC. Prior to selling our bank, I sat on the executive loan committee; I was continually surprised by all the amazing businesses in the KC metro, many of them small and under the radar but providing jobs and contributing to the KC economy.” 
STRESS BUSTER: Getting things done! I can’t relax until I have prepared for or taken care of the stressor.”

Katie Briscoe
CEO, MMGY Global

The source of Katie Briscoe’s passion for the travel industry is readily apparent: “We get to spend every single day inspiring people to go places,” she says. “Travel transforms the human experience and that has always felt like a purpose bigger than myself.” She took the leadership reins of the company at the end of 2022, and her first full year in command saw a revenue pop of more than 17 percent. 

COLLEGE: B.S., Journalism/Mass Communication, University of Kansas 
CANDIDLY SPEAKING: “I’m often asked if I always wanted to be a CEO. The honest answer is no. I first fell in love with this company, its people and the transformative power of travel. It was an organization that empowered me to fail forward across a multitude of roles and in that came tremendous opportunities to grow and develop as a leader.” 
PATHWAY FOR WOMEN: “MMGY Global has more than 70 percent women across our 600-person team in 14 global offices. The majority of our Global Leadership Team are women, half being women of color. It has been incredibly important to me that our management and executive teams accurately represent our global population.”
ABOUT MMGY: Based in Overland Park, MMGY is an integrated marketing company that specializes in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. 

Rob Broomfield
CEO, UnitedHealthcare of Iowa, Kansas & Nebraska

More than 567,000 people in Kansas have health insurance with United Healthcare. But Rob Broomfield can tell you that coverage is only half the battle: The other part is changing behaviors that contribute to high medical bills. To that end, United Health last year steered $500,000 to four non-profits in Kansas focused on addressing social drivers of health and improving access to care.

COLLEGE: B.A., Finance, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Wharton School Executive-Development Program, University of Pennsylvania
IMPACT: Broomfield and his team of 3,200 touch a lot of lives. His network helps clients with coverage for services from nearly 22,000 providers at 148 hospitals in a four-state area. 
THE ROAD TO KC: Broomfield’s career started with Principal Financial Group as an underwriter in its Des Moines office. Eight years later, he jumped to Marsh to manage employee benefits and retirement plans. After stops in Iowa, California, and Texas, Broomfield came to this area more than 20 years ago in a leadership role with Mercer, then aligned with UHC in 2005. He assumed CEO duties there in 2017.
OFF THE CLOCK: Broomfield is a member of the Kansas City Area Development Council and a board member of the American Diabetes Association; he previously served as board chairman for Heartland Habitat for Humanity.

Michael Brown
Chairman/CEO/President, Euronet Worldwide

Michael Brown co-founded this digital process payments firm in 1994 and became chief executive two years later. Today, the Leawood company is a global leader in electronic financial transactions, serving banks and other financial institutions, retailers, service providers, and individual consumers. A previous venture, Innovative Software, was the region’s fastest-growing company in 1987.

COLLEGE: B.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Missouri-Columbia; 79 and a M.S. in molecular and cellular biology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1997
2023 REVENUES: $3.68 billion. 
ALWAYS INNOVATING: From the first ATMs in the former Soviet-bloc nations to digital wallets today, Euronet has been an innovator in the digital payments space. Case in point: Its rollout of Skylight, a platform that monitors financial transactions to identify illicit consumer behavior.
STOCK SWING: After hitting a four-year low of $78.32 early in the pandemic, Euronet has rebounded nicely, and shares of its stock stood just shy of $100 earlier this month.
GLOBAL REACH: Senegal, Bahrain, Bulgaria and Croatia—just a few off-the-beaten financial-services paths where you can find Euronet offices. 

Owen Buckley
Founder, LANE4 Development

If you’re interested in commercial real estate—whether as a retailer looking to buy or lease space, as an investor, as an owner needing property management, or as a leasee seeking tenant representation—Owen Buckley is your guy. For nearly 20 years, he’s been an active player on both the development and management fronts, with aggregate development value of more than $1 billion.

COLLEGE: B.S., MBA, University of Kansas 
ON GROWTH: “High interest rates and construction costs slowed our pipeline, but we’ve focused on enhancing our existing portfolio and securing new tenants, setting the stage for future growth.” 
SECTOR OUTLOOK: “The market is showing signs of movement, with opportunities arising from pent-up demand and the need to recalibrate poorly conceived properties. Kansas City has and will see distress, but nothing compared to the level of some coastal and fast-growing markets.”
SOURCE OF INSPIRATION: “Transforming the community landscape is both fulfilling and exciting.”
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “One focus should be on our crown jewel, the Country Club Plaza.” 

Mike Bukaty
Chairman/CEO, Bukaty Companies

Bukaty Companies is doing the hometown proud with growth, says MIke Bukaty, “fueled by our expansion to new markets outside of the KC area. While we pride ourselves on our local roots, our appetite for growth and increased business bandwidth has enabled us to explore new territories.” He’s also seen considerable organic growth from M&A activity within the current client base.

SECTOR OUTLOOK: “Industry consolidation will continue.”
NEXT THING FOR KC: “Keeping the Chiefs and Royals in the KC metro should be a priority. … They’re iconic pillars of KC that bring a lot of good to the community.” 
EFFECTS OF AI: “We are also exploring the possibility of developing our own AI platform, which could enhance our clients’ experience.”
STRESS BUSTING: “After a hard week’s worth of work, there is nothing better than kicking back and relaxing with a well-deserved beer.” 
STAFFING PLANS: “We expect to add staff commensurate to our growth. As our business profile continues to expand, so does our need to hire high-quality staff that will help deliver the top-tier client service we’re known for.”
CURRENT HEADCOUNT: “152 at our offices within the KC metro area and 160 overall.”

David Burkhart  
President/CEO, Garney Construction

A year into his CEO role, David Burkhart says “the outlook for water infrastructure nationwide is strong through 2025. … Garney’s growth is driven by the increasing need to update outdated infrastructure and build new systems to support growing populations and industries. The gap between aging infrastructure and necessary improvements is widening, and we need to bridge it quicker.” 

COLLEGE: B.S., Civil Engineering, University of Kansas
LOCAL OPPORTUNITY: “Take the City of De Soto, for instance. It relies on a water-treatment plant built in the 1940s for an ammunition factory as its current municipal drinking-water source. Meanwhile, the city is facing rapid growth and the addition of Panasonic’s new battery plant, adding to the need for modernized systems and facilities.” 
SOURCE OF INSPIRATION: “At Garney, our passion lies in building and creating—whether it’s infrastructure, businesses, or teams. While we’re proud to bring essential resources like fresh water to communities, our true drive comes from the act of creation itself. This passion isn’t limited to work; it’s ingrained in who we are.”
STAFFING PLANS: “We plan to add staff over the next year, focusing on expanding responsibly to maintain our commitment to quality and culture. As we grow, we see a greater need for training and education in the industry for ourselves and others.”

DeAngela Burns-Wallace
President/CEO, Kauffman Foundation

When the Kauffman Foundation brought DeAngela Burns-Wallace on as chief executive last year, it was getting a former higher-ed exec with both the University of Missouri and University of Kansas, where she honed her skills in operational effectiveness, IT modernization, and fiscal management, as well as someone with a world view honed by service in the U.S. State Department. 

COLLEGE: B.A., International Relations and African/African-American Studies, Stanford University; EdD, Higher Education Management, University of Pennsylvania
EDUCATIONAL TRAIL: She served as secretary of administration and the chief information technology officer for Gov. Laura Kelly in Kansas, following 15 years in higher education—as vice provost for Undergraduate Education at KU and assistant vice provost of Undergraduate Education at MU. She earlier had been assistant dean of Undergraduate Admissions at Stanford University. 
ADVICE TO YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS: “Figure out what you love, what gives you joy and use that,” she said in a Country Club Financial podcast this year. “Secondly … being ready, and ready for me means when preparation meets opportunity. Being ready means that you have to do particular things to make sure you’re prepared.”

David Callanan
Co-Founder, AE Wealth / Advisors Excel

For a lot of companies, 2023 was a good  year. For David Callanan, it was a great one. His Topeka wealth-management firm saw assets under management soar nearly 41 percent to top $27 billion, SEC filings show. And those are already outdated; the firm says that since that reporting period, AUM has topped $30 billion. That keeps AE Wealth in the Top 10 of regional wealth managers. 

COLLEGE: B.A., Management and Marketing, Washburn University 
SERVING THE SECTOR: Callanan also oversees Advisors Excel, an affiliated marketing firm that offers tech services to roughly 700 wealth advisers nationwide. 
COAST-TO-COAST: The firm services nearly 4,900 high-net-worth accounts with a combined $7.5 billion in AUM.
NATIONAL CHOPS: In addition to being in the Top 10 for regional wealth management firms based on AUM, Callanan’s team nailed down a Top 20 spot nationwide, finishing No. 19 on Financial Advisor’s ranking this year.
SUNFLOWER STRENGTH: AE Wealth’s Top 20 ranking gave Kansas three of the nation’s biggest wealth managers, tying California for states with the biggest number of large firms.

David Campbell
President/CEO, Evergy

Much has been made during this presidential election year about the increased cost of living in the past four years. When it comes time to parcel out the blame for that, deal David Campbell and Evergy out of the discussion: Far from any “gouging” of consumers, the region’s biggest electrical utility actually saw year-over-year revenues dip as his team helped customers hold the line.

COLLEGE: Yale; J.D., Harvard Law School; Masters, International Relations, Oxford University (Rhodes Scholar)
2023 REVENUES: $5.51 billion   
ON LEADERSHIP: “Not every role requires the same skills, but there are some commonalities I look for in all leaders. To borrow a phrase from a former colleague, I particularly value “end-to-enders”—leaders who can be confidently assigned the most difficult tasks with the knowledge that they have the suite of skills to analyze the issues, mobilize the right team, identify the solution, and lead all the way through to implementation.“
THE ROAD TO KC: Before landing at Evergy in 2021, Campbell held leadership roles at the largest power company in Texas, Vestra Corp., and its predecessor companies, Energy Future Holdings and TXU Corp.

Scott Campbell
CEO, St. Francis Health Center

The easy part, Scott Campbell can tell you, is shelling out a single dollar for a hospital system. The hard part is turning it around. That’s been his charge since The University of Kansas Health System laid out that buck for the former St. Francis Hospital in Topeka in 2017. In 2022, KU Health’s joint venture with Ardent Health Services summoned Campbell as CEO. 

COLLEGE: B.A., Virginia Commonwealth University; M.A., Health-Care Administration, Medical College of Virginia, VCU
TURN-AROUND: On his watch, the rebound continues—last year’s revenues of $1.23 billion were 75 percent higher than pre-acquisition.  
A RARE COMBO: With some exceptions on the high end of the scale, hospitals in Kansas tend to be either for-profit or community-owned. The renewal at St. Francis was executed in partnership with KU Health and Ardent.
ACQUISITION MODE: The system has also been growing through acquisition, such as the 2023 pickup of Optimum Health Family Practice, bringing to 31 the number of primary-care providers employed by the Topeka campus.
RELIGIOUS ROOTS: The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, which formerly owned the hospital, established the Topeka location in 1909.

Shelly Cannon 
CEO, UTXL

Kansas City, Kan., native Shelly Cannon held roles in the grocery sector for 20 years, working in accounting and information technology, then finished up her college degree in 2018 and embarked on a business leadership path with UTXL, a third-party logistics provider. She started there as controller in 2017, then was promoted to president three years later.

COLLEGE: A.A., Business, Accounting and Business Management, Kansas City Kansas Community College; B.S., Human Resources Management, Upper Iowa University
2023 REVENUES: $107.9 million 
CIVIC GO-GETTER: Cannon, a mother of two, has a healthy resume of community activity in Leavenworth, including eight years on the Parks and Recreation Council. Previously, she served as president of the Immaculata High School booster club and co-coach for the school’s spirit squad, and before that, on the PTO board, the CYO board, and the school council at Saint Patrick School. She also did a four-year turn chairing the Leavenworth Regional Catholic School’s annual Greenway Auction fundraiser.
EMPLOYEES: 37

Faruk Capan
CEO, Eversana Intouch

The multi-billion-dollar acquisitions suck up all the media oxygen, but there’s something to be said for what Faruk Capan pulled off when the digital marketing company he founded in 1999 fetched a reported $950 million from Chicago-based Eversana. He got to retain the CEO duties over his division post-acquisition and was elevated to chief innovation officer for the new parent company. 

COLLEGE: Marmara University, Istanbul; MBA, University of Central Missouri
TROPHY CASE: Over the past year, this oft-recognized company has racked up additional hardware; it was named the Global Independent Pharma Agency of the Year at the London International Awards, where its various client campaigns won one gold and two silver awards. 
STILL GROWING: In the year following the union of the two firms, the hits just kept on rolling: “In the middle of being integrated into a big cog of the wheel and becoming part of the commercial team, we still grew almost $65 million, which is our highest number ever in growth size,” Capan told PM360. “Of course, we also won 50-plus awards, and our people grew by about 200, so those are all great, positive signs that have made us even more excited for the future.”

Mitzi Cardenas
CAO, University Health

Mitzi Cardenas plays a vital role in the administration of University Health, a two-hospital system serving some of the most underprivileged patients in the region. And she’s ready for the major change coming to the UMKC Health Sciences District, of which UH is a prominent fixture. The university is moving ahead with a $145 million Healthcare and Delivery Innovation Building, which broke ground last month.

COLLEGE: B.B.A., Univ. of Texas-Arlington; M.S., Troy State Univ. 
2023 REVENUE: $1.3 billion
BROAD BACKGROUND: Mitzi Cardenas is a healthcare executive with more than 30 years of experience in the industry. She currently serves as the Executive Chief Administrative Officer for University Health with oversight of corporate administrative operations and services, including construction and real estate, strategy and planning, information systems and technology, compliance, public safety, community relations, supply chain, and business growth and development.
RECOGNITION: She’s a two-time winner of Health Data Management’s Most Powerful Women in Health IT, as well as one of Ingram’s Heroes in Healthcare.
BOARD SERVICE: She’s also a member of the board for the Bluford Healthcare Leadership Institute and the Park University board of trustees. 

Melissa Cather
President, ProActive Solutions

Eighty square feet and a vision. That’s what Melissa Cather started with, in an 8-by-10 square-foot office, just three years after the “World Wide Web” entered the lexicon. In co-founding ProActive Solutions, she laid the foundation for what today is one of the Kansas City region’s biggest women-owned enterprises. She’s also a past honoree in Ingram’s Women Executives-Kansas City awards.

COLLEGE: B.A., General Studies, Wichita State University 
2023 REVENUES: $62.9 million 
AT WORK: Cather, the majority owner of ProActive, oversees management and control of the company’s finances, key partnerships, contracting, marketing, sales support, and public relations. She’s a 20-year veteran in leadership roles delivering hardware, software, and related technology services. 
ADVICE TO ENTREPRENEURS: “You have to be prepared to sacrifice and to push yourself beyond your comfort zone,” she once told us. “Stay focused, work hard and remain optimistic that you are on the right track,” she said. “It is so important to surround yourself with people you have faith in.”

Ramin Cherafat
CEO, McCownGordon Construction

Ramin Cherafat loves seeing his people enjoy the opportunities McCownGordon makes possible. “We’ve worked hard to expand our firm to new markets and our existing markets have performed very well for us,” he says. “This growth has led our firm to have opportunities to serve new customers, expand our reach in the marketplace, and this has provided some great opportunities within our company.”

COLLEGE: B.S., Construction Science, Kansas State University; MBA, UMKC
SECTOR OUTLOOK: “We see a positive outlook for 2025 and 2026. Several of our key markets (both vertical and geographic) remain strong and we’re optimistic for the next couple of years.” 
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “I’d like to see the KC Metro attract some large-scale employers to our region. We’ve made tremendous progress in investing in key infrastructure projects, nationally we’ve had a great deal of positive exposure and now is the time to build upon that.
STRESS BUSTING: “I’m a routine person. So, for me it’s getting up early (usually around 4:45-5:00 a.m.) and go to the gym, start my day there, spend time reading in the morning and then being very intentional about planning my time.”

Bill Clarkson, Jr. 
President, Clarkson Construction

The leader of this six-generation-deep construction operation says he and his crew draw inspiration from the company’s legacy. “Our long-standing presence is a testament to our dedication and resilience,” he said, “and that in itself is an inspiration.” That adds up to 75 full-timers and  300 seasonal workers what Norman Rockwell might have called a prime example of “Kansas City Spirit.”

STAFF-TO-WORK RATIO: “With many infrastructure opportunities currently available in the Kansas City area, we have expanded our staff accordingly to meet the growing demand. If some of the anticipated work out there falls our way, we would look to hire additional staff members.” 
CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK: “The current outlook is lukewarm, with many infrastructure projects in the pipeline. We’re hopeful that some of these opportunities will land.”
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “A Downtown or Crossroads-area baseball stadium.”  
EFFECTS OF AI: “We’re currently studying AI to see how—not if—it fits into our business.”
STRESS BUSTER: “Riding my horse through trails, all by myself, to decompress.”
MANAGER MUST-HAVES: “In today’s world, nothing gets accomplished in a vacuum. Is he or she a team player?”

Jeff Cloud
President/CEO, IBT Industrial Solutions

As the Generation Three leader of this highly diversified industrial supply company, Jeff Cloud appreciates the legacy of everyone who has come before him at IBT. “We pride ourselves on being the best-trained and hardest -working team in the industry,” he says. “The years of experience across our organization allow IBT to meet and consistently exceed our customers’ expectations.”

COLLEGE: General Studies, University of Kansas; AOS, Culinary Arts, New England Culinary Institute 
PAST YEAR’S LANDSCAPE: “Our organization grew via market share gain and new customer acquisition. We are focused on hiring and training more sales hunters to pursue new opportunities.” 
SECTOR HEALTH: “I’m not anticipating a strong economy for the remainder of 2024, especially with the upcoming elections. Next year, we are predicting a more favorable economic climate, especially when interest rates drop.
INSPIRATION SOURCE: “The enthusiasm of my team is what drives me. Our organization is filled with smart, self-motivated individuals who take pride in their work.”
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “Finalizing a Downtown Royals baseball stadium to highlight our amazing city.” 

Scott Colangelo
Managing Partner, Prime Capital Financial

His firm adopted a new brand this past year, but perhaps more important to his clients, Scott Colangelo and the team formerly known as Prime Capital Investment Advisors took advantage of a roaring stock market and organic growth to produce a 45.9 percent pop in assets under management. That will reaffirm Overland Park’s status among the area’s 10 largest wealth managers.

COLLEGE: B.S., Finance (minor in Marketing), Kansas State University 
DOUBLE DUTY: Colangelo is also chairman of the firm and architect of its Qualified Plan Advisors (QPA). Known for being forward-thinking in the financial business, he is responsible for the strategy and growth of these companies. 
GROWTH HISTORY: The original founders set up shop in 1984, and Colangelo joined with other leadership figures there to acquire ownership in 2017. That set the stage for four-fold growth in assets under management—even after adjusting for inflation.
ORGANIZATIONAL PERSPECTIVE: Colangelo was the driver in the 2004 creation of the Qualified Plan Advisors operation. While the mothership focuses on individual investors and families, QPA works with organizations to design retirement plans that help them meet their benefits-plan goals.   

Matt Condon
Founder/Board Member, Bardavon

In the cyclone of change that is America’s health-care sector, Matt Condon finds assurance in the perseverance of  employees at Bardavon, which helps injured workers get back on the job though various therapies. “The business of health care,” he says, “is too important to lose the drive that has been the catalyst of so much of our historical success.”

COLLEGE: B.S., Kinesiology, Iowa State University; JD/MBA, University of Toledo
ENTREPRENEUR AT HEART: Condon was the founder of ARC Physical Therapy and sold a majority stake in it for a reported $36 million in 2013.
SOURCES OF PASSION: “The people we serve, and the people we work alongside.” 
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “Undoubtedly, this city needs to find a solution for our beloved sports franchises that is mutually beneficial to all. I admit the idea of a Downtown baseball stadium sounds amazing.  That being said, we need to make sure we as a community are investing into the people and resources that can make our city safe and compelling for businesses and people to thrive throughout our region.” 
STRESS-BUSTER: “I have had a wonderful summer traveling with my family—and my stress level is the lowest it has been in a very, very long time.” 

Jon Cook
Global CEO, VML

As of the October 2023 merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, one of the largest advertising agencies in the world is now based in Kansas City. Jon Cook reports good times for VML, which has 650 employees here and 28,000 globally. “It’s been a successful year based on organic growth with longstanding client partners and new relationships,” he says, thanks in large part to the merger.

COLLEGE: B.A., Journalism, University of Missouri
SECTOR OUTLOOK: “Cautious optimism for the advertising and marketing sector. The risk and rewards of AI and other technology advancements will play out in real time, and the agencies that embrace the technology wave will reap serious benefits.” 
SOURCES OF INSPIRATION: “The opportunity to work with so many talented, motivated and fun people both at VML and with our incredible client partners.”
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “That’s easy—sparkling new Downtown baseball stadium.”
EFFECTS OF AI: “We are leveraging AI on multiple fronts—in the creative ideation process, advising business operations, and in a limited number (at this point) of client creative campaigns. AI is here to stay, and it will make our teams more nimble and effective.”

Jon Copaken
Principal, Copaken Brooks 

Grabbing and creating opportunity is the secret sauce to commercial real-estate growth at Copaken. “We are very demand-driven,” said Jon Copaken. “And we have continued our push into multi-family, restaurant and self-storage projects. We continue to help create density in places where growth has begun to occur but has not been there in a generation.”

COLLEGE: B.A., American History, Economics, University of Pa.; MBA, University of Mich. 
SECTOR HEALTH: “I am optimistic about the multifamily market, especially Downtown.”
INSPIRATION SOURCE: “We strive to do skyline changing, place-making projects with long-term ownership and sustainability in mind. We want to do good-looking, profitable projects but also those that change the landscape in the cities where we build. Creating something out of nothing or redeveloping something out of what is now nothing is very rewarding.”
STRESS BUSTER: “Live music.”
MANAGER MUST-HAVES: “Passion and excitement for learning and changing the status quo environment.”
STAFFING PLANS: “Holding pretty steady.”
EMPLOYEE COUNT: “About 85.”

John Cosentino
EVP, Cosentino Food Stores

Oh, to be a fly on the wall in a discussion between John Cosentino and public-office seekers on the topic of grocery-store “price-gauging.” In an industry that sports a hefty profit margin of 1.6 percent after taxes, Cosentino and his troops are in the trenches every day, fighting on the margin between victory and loss to help feed the region.

FAMILY ROOTED: From the fruit stand their grandfather and great-grandfather first set up, more than two dozen members of the extended Cosentino family are employed by this grocery enterprise. In addition to John, it’s led by other members of the second generation: Donnie, David, Victor and Jimmy Cosentino. 
MULTIPLE FLAGS: In addition to the Cosentino’s Market brand, other operations in the fold are Price Chopper, Sun Fresh or Apple Market stores. 
ALWAYS NEARBY: With 30 stores in the greater Kansas City area, the company generates sales metro-wide.  
MORE THAN EATS: Consumer demand for more one-stop shopping over the years has spawned additional store services with Cosentino’s Pharmacy, and there’s even a catering division.

Fred Coulson
Founder, Five Elms Capital

To the entrepreneurial soul, few thrills rival that of the successful start-up. One of them: the successful exit. Fred Coulson and the Five Elms team have experienced that happy outcome nearly two dozen times, including the IPO that took the online insurance-comparison site SelectQuote public in 2020. It was a rare regional two-fer: a successful exit involving a company headquartered here.

COLLEGE: B.S., Business Administration, University of Kansas 
THE STRATEGY: This growth equity group Coulson founded in 2006 lasers in on early-stage companies with between $2 million and $20 million in revenues, brings between $10 million and $150 million in capital to the table, and takes a significant position within each, either as minority or majority owner. 
BILLION-DOLLAR BOUND: From an initial investment fund of $21 million at the founding, Coulson has built an enterprise with more than $2.4 billion in assets under management.
QUOTABLE: “Our best-performing companies are obsessed with company culture—it’s crucial to their success,” Five Elms states. “We have a very simple playbook … great products + great people = great outcomes.” 

Tim Cowden
President/CEO, Kansas City Area Development Council

Tim Cowden is bullish on Kansas City, heading up one of its signature economic-development organizations. “I am confident in KC’s continued rise,” he said, “but it won’t happen without continued collaboration, vision and intentionality, which is what creates big region energy.” He added, “Don’t let up on the gas. We aren’t near finished.”

COLLEGE: B.A., Journalism, University of Oklahoma 
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “Leaving a legacy from the 2026 World Cup will take on so many different projects and outcomes. There is much opportunity across our region, and naming just one priority or project limits us.” 
INSPIRATION SOURCE: “I realize how fortunate I am to pursue an impactful career in a region that I love. A professional life doesn’t get much better than that.”
EFFECTS OF AI: “It’s too early to determine how AI will impact us as a regional economic-development organization. We are watching closely to see how the ‘sizzle’ around AI will settle into long-term impact.”
STRESS BUSTER: “I love mowing my lawn. Just me, my headphones, and zero distractions.”

David Cummings
Owner, Tradebot Systems

Dave Cummings is the man who cracked the code for creating high-speed stock trading platforms, forever changing a financial system that is a bedrock of capitalism. First with Tradebot Systems, then with BATS Global Markets, the companies he founded changed the trading game by executing stock sales within microseconds. BATS sold to Cboe in 2017 for $3.4 billion.

COLLEGE: B.S., Computer and Electrical Engineering, Purdue University 
WORKPLACE DESIGN: The work is demanding, but Cummings knows how to reward performance: Tradebot offers four weeks paid vacation right out of the gate, cash bonuses at year-end, catered daily lunches and the opportunity to work with top-tier talent. 
MULTI-TASKER: With Tradebot Systems making long strides on its growth journey, Cummings saw another high-speed trading opportunity and started BATS Global Markets (for Better Alternative Trading System). He raised $152 million to get it up and running, and it eventually became the nation’s second-largest trading platform, surpassing NASDAQ in volume with more than a billion shares traded per day.

Wiley Curran
Principal/Co-Founder, Curran Companies

Buy. Build. Hold. Wiley Curran’s formula for success at CPC is just that simple. He helped to build the Kansas City investment firm by spotting opportunities in various unrelated sectors, and the firm now has ownership stakes in 14 companies, from aerospace and manufacturing to supply chain management and professional sports—among others.

COLLEGE: B.A., Finance, Miami of Ohio; MBA/Accounting, Cox School of Business, Southern Methodist Univ.  
SHAPING THE BATTLESPACE: CPC derives its success by focusing on five key business traits within each acquisition: people/talent, operational systems, execution capabilities, customer intimacy and product leadership. 
STRATEGY, NOT GAMBLING: Limiting itself to one or two strategic acquisitions a year, CPC seeks deals where it can secure controlling interest in the $60-$120 million range, often with existing leadership given an opportunity to hold an equity stake, but going all-in on the purchase when necessary. 
TWO-TIME HONOREE: Curran has been recognized by Ingram’s in both 20 in Their Twenties (2013) and 40 Under Forty (2021).

Dennis Curtin 
Owner, RE/MAX Regional Services

It takes a seasoned, strategic professional to weather the changing tides of residential real estate, and Dennis Curtin has been teaching a master class in it for decades. Even as his industry reels from a landmark lawsuit over agent commission structures, each day can find him planning growth for his company. That’s what makes him an award-winning member of his profession.

COLLEGE: B.S., Business Administration and Marketing, Rockhurst College  
CURRENT LANDSCAPE: “The real estate industry is in a bit of turmoil this year due to the confusion that the NAR lawsuit has brought about buyer representation. That, along with the shortage of inventory and higher interest rates, has taken many low-producing agents out of the marketplace.” 
INSPIRATION SOURCE: “I believe that my team and I can still make a difference in the lives of our brokers and associates, and that is why I get up every morning.”
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “Let’s get the West Bottoms developed into the next great cultural destination.”
STRESS BUSTER: “Hiring the next generation who has the desire and drive to take the company to the next level.”

Tim Danker
CEO, SelectQuote

A while back, we told you Tim Danker had SelectQuote on the verge of breaking through the billion-dollar revenue threshold, and indeed, it topped that mark by $2.8 million in 2023. This past cycle? Revenues popped 31.8 percent to $1.32 billion. In the highly competitive space for online insurance shopping tools, Danker and his team have continued to roll out new products that broaden the potential customer base. 

COLLEGE: B.A., business administration, University of Missouri; MBA, University of Kansas
ABOUT SELECTQUOTE: Danker has been CEO at the firm since 2017, overseeing its online exchanges for home, auto, Medicare, and life insurance services.    
THE ROAD TO SELECTQUOTE: Danker joined SelectQuote as president of the auto and home segment in 2012, following a successful run as co-founder and CEO of Spring Venture Group, which became a national leader among direct-to-consumer property and casualty insurance brokerages. He prepped for those roles by working for one of the region’s biggest corporate names early in his career, Cerner Corp.
GOOD CALL: Ingram’s knew then that achievement awaited when we recognized Danker in our Forty Under 40 Class of 2012.

Tim Davis
Manufacturing Manager, Goodyear Topeka

Tim Davis can tell you just how far you can go working with tires: In his 36-year career with Goodyear, he’s directed production at facilities in Luxembourg and in Canada, and domestically in Alabama, North Carolina and Virginia—and, since 2021, in Topeka. He’s on his second stint there, coming back in 2021 after having worked at one of the biggest regional employers from 2007-2011. 

COLLEGE: B.S., Mechanical Engineering Technology, University of Tennessee-Martin; MBA, General Management, Oklahoma City University 
EMPLOYEES: The Topeka plant has roughly 1,700 on the payroll.
BROAD EXPERIENCE: In holding leadership assignments for operations ranging in size from 400 to 2,300 people and overseeing capital budgets of more than $500 million, Davis’ career has seen him in charge of engineering, operations, business development, lean manufacturing, labor relations, and best-practices implementation.
OFF THE CLOCK: Davis is a member of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce board and previously served on the governor’s Industrial Development Advisory Board and local ED agency Go Topeka. 

Brian DeFrain
President, D&L Transport

Let’s see … Dean’s List and No. 1 in his UMKC law school class in 1999 and 2000. Gee: Hard to imagine that Brian DeFrain back then was punching his own ticket for success. Harder to imagine is that he’d find it not in law, but in logistics. In more than 13 years at D&L, he’s helped build the transportation services company into a heavyweight with tools for shippers, agents, brokers and carriers. 

2023 REVENUES: $270.66 million
COLLEGE: B.B.A., Finance, Baylor University; J.D., University of Missouri School of Law  
GETTING A BREATHER: A great many companies in the nation’s logistics sector witnessed a 2023 pullback after years of explosive growth, and D&L Transport was not immune from that trend (Google, for example, Yellow Freight). Still, the company has notched nine appearances in 11 years on Ingram’s Corporate Report 100 list of the region’s fastest-growing companies. That included this year’s CR100, thanks to the momentum generated since the start of the post-pandemic recovery.
TWO-FER: D&L is among a handful of companies that also has enough scale to crack the Ingram’s 100 list of the Top Private Companies in the Kansas City area.
EMPLOYEES: 225

John Dicus
Chairman/CEO, Capitol Federal Financial

For more than 20 years, John Dicus has led the state’s largest bank, which most recently reported $9.3 billion in assets. In the hyper-competitive world of regional banking, that’s comfortably ahead—by roughly $2 billion—of No. 2 in Kansas. Topeka-based CapFed opened its doors in 1893 and, for most of its history, has been known as the go-to lender for home buyers seeking mortgage loans. 

COLLEGE: B.A., Business, MBA, University of Kansas 
2023 REVENUES: $200.62 million
EDUCATION FOCUS: Dicus isn’t just a KU grad; his interest in higher ed led to his appointment to the Kansas Board of Regents by Gov. Laura Kelly in 2022. In addition, Dicus sits on Washburn University’s board of regents and is a trustee of both the Washburn University Foundation and of the KU Endowment Association.
PHILANTHROPIC: Among his many philanthropic efforts, Dicus has been part of a pair of $20 million gifts. With his late father, Jack, they led a donation in that amount to build Capitol Federal Hall, home of the School of Business at KU, and in 2019, an equal amount to a revitalization effort in Downtown Topeka.
EMPLOYEE HEADCOUNT: 604

Mark Dohnalek
President/CEO, Pivot International 

The world of global product development, design, engineering, and manufacturing is Mark Dohnalek’s oyster.  Our best attribute was to broaden our reach and organizational scope while focusing on our predominant core competency,” he says. “We have applied these core strengths to broaden into a multitude of new markets that have proved very beneficial over the past several years.”

SECTOR OUTLOOK: “With the pending interest rate cycle likely to be in a forthcoming declining rate environment, 2025 could, in fact, cycle back up to a fairly favorable up trend, although, I would not call it red hot—more moderately positive.
NEXT THING FOR KC: “Without question, we need to continue light rail solutions that ultimately serve KCI and Arrowhead, connecting the Plaza and Downtown. … This will drive a multitude of new events for the city over the longer term.”
STRESS BUSTING: “No. 1 stress-busting activity is golf in the summer, as well as boating, along with sporting events.
STAFFING PLANS: “We will likely be modestly adding staff, but predicated on how things are settling in as we enter the new year.”
CURRENT HEADCOUNT: “Our current headcount in KC is: 142 and Overall: 751.”

Mark Donovan
President, Kansas City Chiefs

Chiefs fans can thank their lucky stars—and owner Clark Hunt—for bringing Mark Donovan on from Philadelphia as club president in 2009. Donovan soon attracted Andy Reid as head coach, then Brett Veach, the current general manager and architect of the Super Bowl-winning rosters. We’ll know his influence has reached its zenith when the concession stands offer authentic cheesesteaks.

COLLEGE: B.S., Organizational Behavior and Management/Political Science, Brown University
STAGE MANAGER: Donovan’s business acumen has helped bolster team revenues by making Arrowhead a more attractive big-ticket draw for concerts and other events. Last year, for instance, Arrowhead was the Kansas City venue for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour performance—where she received a friendship bracelet from a fan in the audience by the name of Travis Kelce. 
BIG PLANS: Donovan will play a lead role in preparations for Arrowhead to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup games. Arrowhead will share host-city playing field duties with Children’s Mercy Park when teams from around the world show up to compete. The World Cup prep by itself is expected to cost $50 million.

Case Dorman
Owner, Jack Stack Barbecue

A lot of restaurant owners slammed in the 2020 pandemic never recovered. Case Dorman and his team at Jack Stack came out of it … well, smokin’. Pivoting immediately to curbside pickup, emphasis on delivery options and bolstering its catering footprint, the venerable kings of Kansas City ’cue held on, rebuilt and even expanded. Dorman opened its sixth location, in Lenexa City Center, in 2021.

SEIZING THE MOMENT: With the Kansas City Chiefs’ emergence as a national phenomenon, Dorman’s marketing team recently seized on the chance to align with two key members of the team’s offensive line, Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith, to offer the Creed Combo and the Trey Feast. Note to those not in the 300-pound-plus weight class: Better bring a few friends to get through either.
PROUD HISTORY: Russ Fiorella got it all going in 1957 with a small storefront stand featuring half a dozen items. The torch passed to his son, Jack Fiorella, then to Jack’s son-in-law, Case Dorman, and along the way, the restaurant has expanded its menu to make it the widest selection of offerings in the city. 
TEST  YOUR ’CUE IQ: The Jack Stack websites BBQ 101 page will walk you through the various cuts of beef and what each contributes to the final product on your plate.

Dan Duffy
CEO, United Real Estate Group

He made it big by delivering processes and systems that make other real estate agents successful, and by identifying adjacent business opportunities, then mastering their nuances. Dan Duffy has done it again, launching a pair of programs that serve self-employed agents in other ways—with services to provide health-care and financial planning services. 

COLLEGE: BBA, Indiana University; MBA, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern Univ.
2023 REVENUES: $629.42 million 
BOOM: With more than 70,000 transactions, the United team produced $27.8 billion in sales last year. Coming amid the national slowdown in home-buying, it makes United’s 11.6 percent year-over-year revenue growth even more impressive. 
ABOUT UNITED: The holding company has divisions that specialize in single-family homes, country estates and rural properties, realty IT services, relocation services, and more.
SECRET SAUCE: One reason for its success is that agents want to be part of an organization that pays out an average of 96 percent on commissions to its agents—significantly higher than industry averages—putting it at the top of brokerages in the U.S.

Leslie Duke
CEO, Burns & McDonnell

The eighth CEO in the firm’s 125-year history is presiding over an exciting period of growth. Though power availability is a constant challenge amid growing demand for data centers, Leslie Duke says that “as more infrastructure projects transition from planning to reality through the trillions of dollars of investment in the U.S. … we see growth in roads, bridges, power and water.”

COLLEGE: B.S., Civil/Structural Engineering, Texas Tech University
MORE ON GROWTH: “Our industry is undergoing a massive transformation and we are on the front lines with our customers.” 
SECTOR OUTLOOK: “As an industry, we are on the cusp of amazing opportunities and we are extremely busy. With AI and generative design, we will experience more change and opportunity in the next 10 years than since the arrival of computer-aided drafting. This is a watershed moment for the industry.” 
STRESS BUSTING: “I love to travel. My family is always shocked if I have traveled all week for work and they want to do something, I say, ‘Yes, I’m up for it!’ … We are constantly looking for great destinations and places to go we have never been.”
CURRENT HEADCOUNT: “More than 4,000 employee-owners in Kansas City and nearly 12,000 globally.”

Terry Dunn
Founder, DD Ranch Leawood

Life as an investor is a lot more work than people outside the field may think. Terry Dunn and the other business pros headquartered at his DD Ranch for investors and entrepreneurs need to keep all 10 fingers on various pulses. For instance, Dunn says, “this has been a year of significant headwinds. Several investments have grown dramatically. Also, several have closed.” 

COLLEGE: B.S., Business Administration, Rockhurst University; MBA, University of Missouri at Kansas City
SECTOR HEALTH: “The economic sectors have become lukewarm. In the construction market, the cost of materials has downward pressure. Salaries are still competitive.” 
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “Address the rising levels of poverty and violence/crime.”
EFFECTS OF AI: “Advances in AI also involve advances in software to improve productivity, which leads to increases in productivity.”
STRESS BUSTER: “Daily prayer, physical workout, and dialogue with my spouse.”
MANAGER MUST-HAVES: “A candidate needs to illustrate the best of intellect and interactive communication skills, including the ability to listen. The candidate also needs to provide a track record, references, and show accomplishments.”

Tim Dunn
Chairman/Chief Investment Officer, JE Dunn Construction

Long-range planning is paying off for Tim Dunn and JE Dunn. He credits growth to some key industries, as with its advanced-facilities group focus. That includes, he says, “advanced manufacturing, data centers, battery plants, and the onshoring of manufacturing. We positioned the company for this more than a decade ago.”

COLLEGE: B.S.B.A, Accounting, University of Richmond; M.A., Entrepreneurial Real Estate, UMKC
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “Now with the South Loop initiative moving forward, a continued focus on job growth, densifying our Downtown and more amenities to attract companies and residents.”
EFFECTS OF AI: “Our use of AI did not just recently begin. We used data insights to build industry-leading estimating software that provides our clients with more accuracy for better decision-making in a fraction of the time that traditional estimating offers.”
STRESS BUSTING: “Working out; exercise.”
STAFFING PLANS: “Our work force (4,700 total, 1,500 in KC) continues to grow! So far this year we have already hired over 1,000 employees across our national footprint.”

Rachel Dwiggins
Kansas City Managing Partner, FORVIS Mazars

Rachel Dwiggins says her profession is changing rapidly—as the recent merger with French-based Mazars confirms—but her firm  is thriving due to “a commitment to our firm culture and disciplined approach to managing our business.” That includes smart hiring, which shows no signs of slowing. “We continue to recruit both campus and experienced hires,” Dwiggins says.

COLLEGE: B.S., Accounting, Missouri State University
SOURCE OF INSPIRATION: “Building people. I love watching and facilitating the growth of others and enabling them to reach their full potential.” 
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “Addressing crime and ensuring our Downtown continues to thrive.”
THE MERGER IMPACT: Dwiggins’ team is no stranger to rapid organizational change: What had been Springfield based BKD merged with Charlotte-based Dixon Hughes Goodman in 2022 to rebrand as FORVIS, then as of June 1 this year, the firm joined forces with Paris-based Mazars.
CURRENT HEADCOUNT: “Almost 300 in KC and over 7,000 firm-wide.”

Matt England
CEO, Triumph Foods

If spare ribs, pulled pork and bacon are your thing, you have a friend in Matt England. Closer to 2,800 of them, the size of his team at Triumph Foods. They’re producing 1.4 billion pounds of pork product annually with exports going to 25 countries. “The engine of Triumph’s growth has been an ever-expanding learning culture and a deep commitment to continuous improvement,” he says.

COLLEGE: B.A., Business Administration, University of Nebraska
SOURCE OF INSPIRATION: “Agriculture is a people business. I joined this company because I wanted to be a part of a different approach that could be offered by a farmer-owned company.” 
EFFECTS OF AI: “AI will not be replacing the work of our team members, though it will provide more meaningful information in a timelier manner to ensure we are providing the highest-quality products to our customers.”
STAFFING PLANS: “The demand for skilled professionals is growing across all industries and we are staying committed to investing in the talent of our future success with leadership training, language education, tuition reimbursement and technical certification.
EMPLOYEES: 2,800

Warren Erdman
Executive Advisor/Strategic Projects, Canadian Pacific Kansas City

If you think Warren Erdman’s understanding of transportation is limited to his long career in the rail sector, you don’t know Warren Erdman. He stayed on the leadership team after Canadian Pacific acquired Kansas City Southern Railroad, but he’s also a member of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission.     

COLLEGE: B.A., Westminster College 
INDUSTRY HONORS: Erdman has been recognized by Railway Age magazine as one of the 10 most influential people in the railroad industry. Among his other honors, City Year named him Kansas City’s Idealist of the Year in 2022.
LEVERAGING CONNECTIONS: Erdman’s career path before the rail sector came in the public sector; he worked under former governors John Ashcroft in 1985 and Kit Bond, then was Bond’s chief of staff in the U.S. Senate. The connections made in legislative processes would prove highly useful in the rail world.
OFF THE CLOCK: In addition to the highway commission, Erdman has served on the executive committee and board of directors for the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry and as a member of Kansas City’s Downtown Council. 

Jason Evelyn
President/CEO, Cerris

He’s new to this roster of executive talent in a couple of ways: First, Jason Evelyn took the reins of CEO from Tim Chadwick in May of this year at Overland Park MMC Corp, the parent of multiple construction services companies. The new factor applies to the company, as well: Evelyn had been in the driver’s seat just a few weeks before a rebrand was announced as Cerris.

2023 REVENUES: $1.23 billion
ROAD TO THE C-SUITE: Evelyn has been with the company for nearly 30 years, coming up through the builder’s division (including seven years as its president) before becoming COO in 2018. 
BRAND MAKEOVER: In addition to the parent company, the subsidiaries took on a new flag: MW Builders became Cerris Builders, MMC Contractors and Building Control Services became Cerris Systems, and a new innovation incubator was rolled out as Cerris Emerging Solutions.
ONE BIG FAMILY: Founded by three brothers nearly a century ago at the depths of the Great Depression, the company adopted an ESOP ownership structure in 2000, and in 2002, it became 100 percent employee-owned.

Bill Ferguson 
President/CEO, Central Bank of the Midwest

Continued success for Central Bank, says Bill Ferguson, has followed from its work to strengthen the financial health of the 28 communities it serves through 47 branches throughout the region. “By focusing on our core strengths, we have maintained a solid momentum,” Ferguson said. “And our culture has enabled us to expand our team for achieving more success in 2025.”

COLLEGE: B.S., Finance, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Executive MBA, Entrepreneurship/Finance, UMKC 
SECTOR OUTLOOK: “With the Federal Reserve lowering interest rates, I believe the banking sector is positioned to be reasonably strong as businesses continue to perform well and are prepared for future growth.” 
EFFECTS OF AI: “AI is simplifying daily tasks, improving search efficiency, and broadening abilities for everyone. I think this trend will accelerate.”
STRESS BUSTING: “Listening to music and tackling home projects.” 
MANAGER MUST-HAVES: “The enthusiasm and commitment they show in striving for success both personally and professionally.”
CURRENT HEADCOUNT: About 440 people locally and 3,000-plus across the company.

James Ferrell
Chairman, Ferrellgas Partners

James Ferrell is a model of determination: In August, he returned from a short leave of absence to resume duties as chairman of Ferrellgas, one of the region’s biggest investor-owned companies. That the company has lived to see its 85th year in business is a tribute to Ferrell’s leadership; he received a hardship discharge from the military to help his father right a struggling ship in 1965.

COLLEGE: B.A., Business, University of Kansas
2023 REVENUES: $2.03 billion 
EARLY ADOPTER: In 1998, Ferrellgas was among the first companies in this region to adopt an ESOP structure with employee ownership. Even today, only about 6,300 unique company ESOPs exist nationwide. 
THE BIG LEAP: Ferrell’s business skills—buying smaller companies at discounted rates—helped lead his own company to profitability, but the real breakthrough came in 1986, with the acquisition of Buckeye Pipeline’s propane assets, making Ferrellgas a national firm.
INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP: From 1998-2000, Ferrell was president of the Paris-based World LP Gas Association. He also worked with the Propane Education & Research Council and was chairman of the Propane Vehicle Council.

Wesley Fields
Office Managing Partner, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

Wesley Fields doesn’t just know development law, he lives it: The office managing partner for one of the region’s biggest law firms has been at the table for deals to structure and document more than 100 development and public infrastructure projects in Kansas City. The combined value of those projects: North of $5 billion.

COLLEGE: B.S., Political Science and African-American Studies, Yale University; J.D., Univ. of Virginia 
FIRM IMPACT: With 60 lawyers on staff here, BCLP is one of the 10 largest firms in the region. It’s part of a large global firm with 31 offices worldwide and more than 1,200 lawyers. 
HE’S ALL BUSINESS: Fields’ breadth of experience in general business representation and counseling includes negotiating agreements involving shareholders, employment and consulting, non-competition and non-solicitation cases, stock-option plans, and other matters. 
OUTSIDE THE OFFICE: He has a deep history of civic and non-profit engagement, including service with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Harvesters, the Community Food Network, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and Friends of the Zoo. 

Dave Flickinger
President, Kiewit Power Group

How busy have Dave Flickinger and his Lenexa-based team at Kiewit’s power group been over the past year? Well, the top line should speak for itself: Year-over-year revenues for that division popped 32.83 percent in 2023, barreling their way past the $3 billion threshold for the first time. That helped the Omaha-based parent notch $17.1 billion company-wide for the year.

COLLEGE: B.S., Civil Engineering, Pennsylvania State University 
2023 REVENUES: $3.03 billion  
WATTS HAPPENING: In addition to renewable energy and power delivery, Flickinger’s division specializes in energy storage, gas/hydrogen generation, nuclear power and retrofitting coal-fired plants.
ELBOW ROOM: Kiewit is working to expand its presence in the Kansas City area by adding a fourth building. Valued at $120 million, the project would add more than 700 jobs to the current roster of nearly 1,700 employees. 
GROWTH MAGNET: As a corporate anchor, Kiewit played an important part in Lenexa’s effort to remake its Downtown from the ground up as Lenexa City Center. It’s a $120 million project that would include a fourth office building on the campus, housing 800 employees, covering nearly 178,000 square feet and opening in 2025.

Michael Frazier 
President/CEO, ReeceNichols

ReeceNichols continues to be a realty leader, even in challenging times. “The past year in real estate was filled with change, and we tackled it head-on,” says Michael Frazier. “We focused heavily on preparation, training, and communication to make sure our team was fully equipped to handle the new landscape.” That has boosted sales volume and positioned the firm for continued success in 2025.

COLLEGE: B.A., William Jewell College 
SECTOR OUTLOOK: “As inflation starts to settle down, we anticipate a decline in mortgage rates, which should drive demand up. We’ve already seen a noticeable increase in demand during the third quarter of this year, and I expect that to continue into 2025.” 
SOURCE OF INSPIRATION: “That we play a crucial role in helping people make one of the biggest decisions of their lives. Homeownership is transformative, and our role in the process is a responsibility we don’t take lightly.”
EFFECTS OF AI: “It’s helping us connect with clients earlier in the buying and selling journey, which eases the process for buyers and sellers.”
STAFFING PLANS: “Right now, we’re planning to hold steady with our staff numbers.”
CURRENT HEADCOUNT: “2,500 agents and employees in KC, and 3,000 overall.”

Dan Funk
President/CEO, Associated Wholesale Grocers

In his first year directing the region’s second-largest private company, Dan Funk is enjoying the success that comes from supporting grocery-store owners in their mission to serve customers. “AWG made the decision several years ago to invest in an automated upstream supply facility that allows us the ability to expand services and assortment to existing and new members seamlessly,” he says. 

COLLEGE: B.A., Marketing, University of North Dakota; Cornell University
SECTOR HEALTH: “The grocery industry, both wholesale and retail, continues to be challenged in many parts of the country today. As inflationary pressures within many products and producers over the past few years compound the impact on consumer spending power, consumers are increasingly looking for value in their grocery basket.”
INSPIRATION SOURCE: “Associated Wholesale Grocers supports independently owned and privately held grocery stores across the country. Supporting these entrepreneurs to provide quality, fresh products to their customers, knowing they are strengthening Main Street in communities across America, is what drives our passion.
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “How and where the stadium projects move forward will be impactful within the region.”

Cameron Garrison
Managing Partner, Lathrop GPM

At the helm of Kansas City’s oldest law firm—its roots now run back more than 150 years in Kansas City, to 1873—is Cameron Garrison. As managing partner, he leads a team of more than 375 legal professionals nationwide. He’s also a legal gladiator in intellectual property litigation.

COLLEGE: B.A., Government and History, University of Virginia; J.D., Washington and Lee School of Law
2023 REVENUES: $192.57 million  
RECOGNITION: Missouri Lawyers Media has—again—named Garrison one of its Top Managing Partners for 2024. The award goes to the “best-known and hardest working” managing partners of law firms in the state. Among his team, eight were named to the publication’s Lawyer of the Year in their various practice areas.
DEAL-MAKER: Garrison played in instrumental role in Lathrop GPM’s recent combination with Hopkins Carley, a leading Silicon Valley 60-lawyer law firm. Effective October 1, this was the second-largest combination in the firm’s history.
STEERING THE SHIP: Garrison leads day-to-day functions and is chairman of the firm’s Executive Committee, which determines and implements the firm’s strategic direction. 

Bill Gautreaux
Managing Director, MLP Holdings

When it comes to power players, Bill Gautreaux navigates multiple venues: He’s an industry icon in the energy sector, having aided in the rise and sale of Inergy, LP. He’s part of an elite group of business executives who signed on with his former boss and now Royals majority owner John Sherman to claim a seat on that ownership group. And he may be the most astute art collector in the region.

COLLEGE: B.A., History/Philosophy, William Jewell College; Oxford University
FOLLOWING HIS PASSIONS: Gautreaux has a deep history of philanthropic board service, support and participation. He’s been on the board of trustees for his alma mater since 2009 and on the boards of both the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art (since 2014) and the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art (since 2015). 
ON THE CIVIC SIDE: Other board services on his record include stints with the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, the Kansas City Police Foundation, and the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City. 
MASTER COLLECTOR: Along with his wife, Christy, Gautreaux has built an art collection impressive enough to put on public display; they have loaned various pieces to the Kemper and Nelson-Atkins museums, as well as the Venice Biennale.

Bill George
CEO, WHC Worldwide

A lot of people are trying to get a handle on AI; Bill George’s executive-transportation operation already has it well in hand. “We have embraced AI in several areas,” he says. “Customer relations, routing, communication and planning.” His company operates zTrip vehicles providing transportation services around the metro area, just one facet of WHC’s mobility-based portfolio.

DRIVING GROWTH: “We continue to focus on our core business of transportation and expanding our offerings. We are also in heavy acquisition mode.”
SECTOR HEALTH: “Red hot. We are expecting 30 percent-plus growth.” 
INSPIRATION SOURCE: “Mobility is a quality-of-life issue. We all take pride in pioneering new ways to deliver that quality and freedom. We’ve been fortunate to build a really great team that is passionate about our work.”
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “I will always advocate that public safety is the most important civic goal and responsibility. When you have that, everything else is easier.”
STRESS BUSTER: “Leisure travel, especially to Europe.”
STAFFING PLANS: “We anticipate significant growth in 2025.”
CURRENT KC HEADCOUNT: “274 locally, 748 overall. Plus, about 3,500 independent contractors.”

Brent Giles
CEO, Hawthorn Bank

Hawthorn Bank continues to march steadily toward the $2 billion mark in assets under the direction of CEO Brent Giles. When his predecessor, David Turner, was preparing to retire last year with the Jefferson City-based holding company, he and the board were committed to bringing this long-time veteran of regional banking on board, and they agreed to let him remain based in the Kansas City area. 

2023 REVENUES: $99.16 million 
COLLEGE: B.S., Finance, MBA, University of Missouri 
THE ROAD TO HAWTHORN: Giles spent nine years as a bank examiner for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City before going to work in the private sector with UMB, Lawson Bank, BankLiberty and Bank of Blue Valley before making the move to Hawthorn in April 2023.
RARE COMPANY: Hawthorn Bank is among a comparative handful of Missouri banks that operate as public companies. Its stock is listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol HWBK.
ABOUT HAWTHORN: Hawthorn Bancshares has 21 locations company-wide, six of them in the KC market.

Lisa Ginter
CEO, CommunityAmerica Credit Union

In the financial services pond of regional credit unions, CommunityAmerica is the big fish—it’s more than four times the size of its next-largest competitor. Hometown product Lisa Ginter leads the charge there, closing in on 10 years in the leadership role. She took that on in 2015, after a 20-year rise through the ranks, driving growth in total assets at the end of 2023 to $4.6 billion.

2023 REVENUE: $360 million  
COLLEGE: B.S./B.A., Accounting, Rockhurst University 
RECOGNITION: It’s been a year of distinction for Ginter, who was elected chair of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce last fall and then inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame in the spring. Last year also saw her named chair of the executive board of directors for the Credit Union National Association.
GROWTH FACTOR: CACU’s asset base has tripled under her from its $1.5 billion in 2015. 
EYE FOR TALENT: Ginter and her team were quick to secure a commercial endorsement from an unproven commodity in 2017—it was Chiefs’ rookie quarterback Patrick Mahomes, well before he began tearing up NFL record books, becoming a much hotter marketing commodity in the process.

Douglas Girod
Chancellor, University of Kansas

Here’s Doug Girod’s vision as chancellor for the biggest public university in Kansas: 1. Be a destination for top scholars from across the world. 2. Be an engine of economic growth for the state. 3. Earn KU recognition as one of the nation’s leading research universities. A surgeon by training and practice, he has been atop Mount Oread since 2017.

COLLEGE: B.A., University of California-Davis; M.D., University of California-San Francisco, surgical residency, University of Washington 
PHYSICAL CHANGES: Girod and his team are overseeing two transformational capital projects for the mothership campus in Lawrence. The larger one is the $300 million makeover now underway for the football team’s Memorial Stadium; perhaps the more long-term significance for the region is the $100 million gift from the Sunderland Foundation to build a world-class cancer center on KU’s medical school campus in Kansas City. 
TRANSFORMATIONAL: The stadium redesign is part of the larger Gateway District concept that will include a conference center and multi-use facilities to encourage year-round use and spark economic activity. It is, he says, “a once-in-a-generation project to transform our campus and drive economic development throughout the region.”

Sean Goodman
EVP-CFO, AMC Entertainment

Sean Goodman signed on with the world’s largest theater company in February 2020. Let that date sink in: For a company reliant on filling seats at movie theaters around the globe, he was the chief financial officer with, effectively, zero ticket revenue when countries began locking down large-crowd venues. Since then, he’s been CEO Adam Aron’s wingman in the recovery that has brought AMC back from the brink in the years.

COLLEGE: Bachelor’s, Business Science, University of Cape Town, South Africa; MBA, Harvard Business School  
THE ROAD TO AMC: Before AMC snagged him, this certified public accountant was senior vice president and CFO at Georgia-based Asbury Automotive Group, a Fortune 500 company. Before that, he was CFO and chief accounting officer of Unifi, Inc., a North Carolina textile manufacturer.  He also was senior vice president and CFO for the Americas division of a Swiss company, Landis+Gyr Group AG, following a series of strategy and finance roles at The Home Depot.
GETTING STARTED: The first stop on Goodman’s career path came with Morgan Stanley, focusing on corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions. He followed that up in the financial-services sector working for Deloitte in accounting and auditing.

Greg Graves
Chairman, The University of Kansas Health System

What inspires this former Burns & McDonnell CEO? “It’s not complicated,” Greg Graves says. “Giving back to this town that has given so much to me.” Much of that focuses on health care, as with his duties with the health system. Growth there, he says, ”can be attributed to two core values they always focus on: The best possible patient outcomes and being one of the area’s best places to work.”

COLLEGE: B.S., Mechanical Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines 
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “I want a Super Bowl, Final Four, and a Big 12 Championship. That means we need a new domed stadium for the Chiefs, and soon. I want No. 15 to play at least one Super Bowl at home.”
AI EXPERIENCE: “AI will affect everyone and everything and in ways not even contemplated yet, especially as ‘deep learning’ takes AI to even higher levels of thinking. For Barstow School, where I sit as a fiduciary, it will especially change how STEM education is taught and even more, how it is learned. For KU Health System, just imagine the higher and faster levels of diagnosis that will be possible. Think Star Trek’s Dr. McCoy, and sooner than you think.”
MANAGER MUST-HAVES: “Can they listen, not just hear? Are they authentic? Do they think transformationally? Am I absolutely sure I can’t find someone better in-house?”

Nathaniel Hagedorn
CEO/Founder, NorthPoint Development Co.

Nathaniel Hagedorn was barely past 30 when he acquired the final piece of Briarcliff Development from Charles Garney. Rebranding as NorthPoint, he led a team that has rocked the nation’s commercial realty world in the 12 years since: $19.7 billion in assets under management, 5,400 multifamily units owned or managed, and 151.6 million square feet of industrial properties in its portfolio.

JOBS, JOBS, JOBS: Industry metrics suggest that every 1,000 square feet of new industrial space translates into an additional job. By that measure, Hagedorn & Company have helped put 151,000 Americans to work on their developed sites.
LOCAL IMPACT: NorthPoint is most famous hereabouts for taking over the development of a moribund industrial project in southwest Johnson County and transforming it into Logistics Park KC, now nearly halfway built out to its projected capacity of 30 million square feet. It also turned the former Bannister federal complex into the Blue River Commerce Center, with 2.6 million square feet of new Class A industrial space. 
INVESTOR REDOUBT: Hagedorn has made NorthPoint the focus of high-net-worth investors who have helped fund much of the company’s expansion. Since 2008, he has raised north of $250 million in capital for various projects. 

Marc Hahn
CEO, Kansas City University

If not for the U.S. Army, Marc Hahn might have remained within the East Coast health-care network that included stops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the National Institutes of Health and Penn State University’s medical school. Once free of that gravitational pull, though, it was Kansas City’s gain. He arrived at KCU in 2012 and, a year later was named to lead Missouri’s biggest medical college.

COLLEGE: B.S., Syracuse University; D.O., Des Moines University 
EXPANSION MINDED: One of the biggest initiatives undertaken on his watch was the expansion of KCU’s footprint in Joplin. “This strategic initiative builds upon our university mission: Improving the well-being of the communities we serve,” he says.  
MORE THAN MISSOURI: By locating both medical and dental classes in southwest Missouri, Hahn notes, KCU’s impact goes beyond the state to touch patients from Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
POWER CLIENTS: Without violating any patient confidentiality, we can now safely report that during his time at Walter Reed, Hahn was on the provider team caring for two presidents—Ronald Reagan and the elder George Bush.
EMPLOYEE COUNT: About 325 in Kansas City and 175 in Joplin.

Don Hall, Jr.
Executive Chairman, Hallmark Cards

Try to name a more universally recognized Kansas City corporate brand than Hallmark. To speak with Don Hall is to know that the heartfelt nature of the company’s mission isn’t just talk. “I have always been energized by Hallmark’s purpose of enriching people’s lives and doing what we can to serve the human spirit,” he shared, “to celebrate, to laugh, and to heal.”

COLLEGE: B.A., Economics/Literature, Claremont-McKenna University; MBA, University of Kansas 
INSPIRING A TEAM: “Anytime you look at research about employee engagement and job satisfaction, it always comes down to feeling like you are making a difference and serving a purpose. No matter what role you play … this is a universal truth.” 
BEING PART OF A TEAM: “It is also energizing to be in an organization of people who share these same values and who work tirelessly to find new or better ways to achieve our goals. We have great people at Hallmark Cards, Crayola, Hallmark Media and Crown Center who possess skills, curiosity and a sense of accountability, but the most important element for our success and sustainability is that they share our brand values and contribute to our culture.”

Brad Hampton
CEO, Helzberg Diamonds

Many of us wish we had the investing acumen of Warren Buffet. Brad Hampton sees the Oracle of Omaha through a different lens: He gets to work for the man. As CEO of Helzberg Diamonds, Hampton’s business unit is part of the Berkshire Hathaway Group. He took the helm of Helzberg after five years as senior vice president and chief financial officer for one of Kansas City’s iconic business brands.

COLLEGE: B.A., Economics/Latin American Studies, University of New Mexico; M.A., LeTourneau University. Additional certifications from Duke University and Georgetown University 
HISTORY OF CONNECTIONS: Before entering retail, he spent nearly 21 years with Sprint, rising to the c-suite. As CFO, he had P&L responsibility for the $25 billion post-paid business unit. He also was with aviation giant Lockheed Martin for seven years. 
NATIONAL REACH: The jewelry chain, which was acquired by Warren Buffet in 1995, now has more than 200 stores nationwide. Seven of those are in Kansas City, generally within a short distance from Interstate 435. 
OFF THE CLOCK: Hampton is a member of the board for Make-a-Wish Missouri & Kansas and president of the board for Center Place Restoration School in Independence. 

Brad Hardin
CEO, Diode Ventures

When Black & Veatch was ready to spin off a data-focused tech enterprise, it found the leader it needed right there in the c-suite: Brad Hardin had been the engineering giant’s chief technology officer for three years. Since taking on the Diode Ventures mission, Hardin has been driving the region’s unprecedented and explosive growth in development of massive data centers.

COLLEGE: B.A., Architecture, Kansas State University; metal sculpture, Kansas City Art Institute
TECH TRACK: Between the lines of Hardin’s work history, you can see construction-related technology interface with the development world, and he was at the forefront, first by taking a lead role in the introduction of Revit programming at Crawford Architects, then for McCownGordon Construction rolling out the implementation of BIM—Building Information Modeling. 
FROM KC AND BACK: Hardin left Kansas City for jobs in San Diego and St. Louis before Black & Veatch came calling in 2014. The firm handed him the Diode duties in 2017. In that role, he oversees a global infrastructure development company that specializes in data center infrastructure, telecommunications, and utility-scale renewables.

Dave Harrison
President, VanTrust Real Estate

Last year, Dave Harrison’s VanTrust Real Estate snagged national Developer of the Year honors from NAIOP, the commercial real estate development association. Harrison attributed the firm’s success to employees’ work ethic and commitment of capital from the Van Tuyl family, whose late patriarch, Cecil Van Tuyl, had built the nation’s largest privately owned vehicle sales group.

COLLEGE: B.S., Business Administration, Rockhurst University
QUOTE: “There’s a great balance between science and art in real estate,” says Harrison. “I think we’ve struck a great balance understanding the math and the science of real estate while also being able to incorporate the art of it. That’s our recipe for success.” 
CATALYST FOR GROWTH: Harrison was the general manager for Opus Group when, in 2010, he and Van Tuyl formed Caymus Real Estate (later rebranded to VanTrust).
ABOUT VANTRUST: This full-service development company’s service line includes acquisition, disposition, development, and development services, plus asset management. 
WHERE THEY WORK: VanTrust’s team is multi-talented, with projects that span the commercial-realty range of office, industrial, multifamily, retail, hospitality, science and technology, and recreational. 

John Hazlin
President/CEO, Hill’s Pet Nutrition

The civic community hereabouts collectively winces when another billion-dollar company pulls up stakes, but this past year saw those tables turned: John Hazlin brought his leadership team at Hill’s Pet Nutrition from Topeka to Overland Park. The pet products division of global giant Colgate-Palmolive, fittingly enough, now fills some of the space vacated by the former private-sector big dog, Sprint. 

COLLEGE: B.A., History, Duke University; MBA, Marketing/Finance/International Business, Stern School of Business, New York University
2023 REVENUES: $4.2 billion 
WORLD TRAVELER: Hazlin took over duties at this CP subsidiary in 2022 and has been with the organization for 27 years. He’s been stationed in New Zealand, Malaysia, England, and Switzerland and was president of the Africa-Eurasia division for Colgate-Palmolive.
INVESTING LOCALLY: Earlier this summer, Hazlin announced a $1 million donation, spread over five years, to create an endowed professorship in small-animal clinical nutrition at Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “By supporting the education and development of future veterinarians,” Hazlin said, “Hill’s is helping to ensure that pets receive the best possible care throughout their lives.”

Jason Hendricks
President/CEO, Performance Contracting, Inc.

Jason Hendricks has plenty to brag about in leading a $2.6 billion company with operations nationwide, but PCI hasn’t outgrown its hometown: Just this year, it won a pair of honors in the Building Excellence Awards, presented by The Builders, a chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America: Project of the Year by a Subcontractor (under $5 Million) for work at CPKC Stadium, and in the under-$1 million class for work on the new airport’s Delta Sky Club.

COLLEGE: B.S., Finance, University of Arizona
BOOM: Last year, PCG’s revenues were up 23.18 percent year-over-year from 2022. 
TAKING CHARGE: Hendricks started with the company in the Los Angeles office in 2003, rising through the ranks in branch operation, division, and corporate management roles. He became president in 2019, then added the CEO title in 2020.
NATIONAL REACH: PCI, founded in 1887, has offices in more than 40 locations nationwide, and it works on industrial, commercial, and non-residential projects.
CIVIC/PHILANTHROPIC COMMITMENT: Hendricks’ commitment to civic causes includes being a board member for CASA of Johnson & Wyandotte Counties; he’s also a supporter of the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s breast cancer advocacy.

Josh Herron
CEO, Southwind

Josh Herron co-founded a junk-hauling business in 2007 and now runs a multi-brand home services powerhouse. “Last year we acquired several new businesses and started two new brands in Kansas City,” he says. “Our ability to create a winning formula for organic growth through internal development of our people and improved processes” will fuel continued growth, he says.

SECTOR OUTLOOK: “The home services sector is red hot! With private equity pouring capital into our space, technology is driving a great rate of innovation and making good companies much more efficient and more valuable.”
NEXT BIG THING FOR KC: “Reimagining the Country Club Plaza and turning it into the region’s premier shopping, entertainment and dining experience.”
EFFECTS OF AI: “We are going deep on using AI to automate monotonous operational and administrative tasks. We are also using AI to estimate services for our customers.”
STRESS BUSTING: “Exercise.”
STAFFING PLANS: “We plan on adding more sales, leadership and administrative staff next year.”
CURRENT HEADCOUNT: About 450 people here and 1,900 across North America.

Brad Hewlett
Dealer-Principal, Bob Allen Ford/City Rent-a-Truck

Brad Hewlett has good reasons to be proud of the work his team has done at Bob Allen Ford—four good reasons, in fact. That’s how many times the Overland Park dealership has bagged the prestigious Ford President’s Award. Each year, it goes to those dealerships that fall within the top 10 percent for their performance in customer service, satisfaction, and overall experience.

STICKING WITH IT: Hewlett, whose father was in car sales, came on board at Bob Allen in 1991 as a service assistant.
MORE THAN CARS: In 2012, Hewlett launched City Rent-a-Truck, which has become a booming platform in its own right.  
EARLY RISER: Hewlett was flagged for his potential as a rising young executive when he was part of Ingram’s 40 Under Forty class of 2010.
ABOUT BOB ALLEN FORD: The dealership has a full range of products and services, including new and used cars, vehicle service, collision repair, parts and financing assistance.

Adam Hill
President/CEO, The Scarbrough Group

Supply chains and the companies supporting them have had it rough in recent years, so let this logistics guy tell it like it is: “This has been one of the toughest years we have experienced as an organization since the Great Recession,” says Adam Hill. “The rest of this year in the logistics space is lukewarm at best, and we don’t foresee the sector starting to pick up any appreciable steam until 2025.”

COLLEGE: B.A., William Jewell College; MBA, University of Memphis 
COMPANY/TEAM INSPIRATION: “They are one and the same and cannot be stripped apart from one another. The team is the company, and the company is the team.” 
EFFECTS OF AI: “We have been investing in AI since late 2019/early 2020 and have seen impacts throughout operations and finance.”
STRESS BUSTING: “Getting outside and moving around. That can be on my own or with my wife and daughter.”
MANAGER MUST-HAVES: “Such a tough question. To me, this is 100 percent a gut decision, especially when you are hiring for executives within an organization. We look for a combination of insatiable curiosity and the ability to execute (i.e., get things done).”
CURRENT HEADCOUNT: “KC: 130. Overall: 170.”

Michael Hoehn
President/CEO, ASI

Things are moving along nicely at ASI, which makes industrial-scale conveyors and production systems for some of the most prominent manufacturing firms in the world. “We were fortunate to enter a long-term strategic supply contract with a key customer,” says Michael Hoehn, “which has driven our growth over the prior few years and next few years.”

COLLEGE: Georgetown University; Young Presidents Program, Harvard Business School
STRESS BUSTER: “Long walks with our energetic monster of a pup.” 
MANAGER MUST-HAVES: “When they can take our customers’ wants and needs seriously, but not ourselves too seriously.”
2023 REVENUES: $303.8 million
CULTURE IS KEY: Even when things get busy, Hoehn can count on a few laughs along the way: “It’s energizing to be a part of a team that trusts one another and can find, or create, the moments of fun in the middle of really tough projects,” he says.
EMPLOYEE COUNT: “235 team members in Kansas City, 435 team members across North America.”

Karen Hogan
VP & General Manager, Turner Construction Co.

Is there a construction company on a bigger roll in this region than Turner has been lately? Karen Hogan oversees the Kansas City office, which in 2022 secured a lead role in the construction of Panasonic Energy’s $4 billion EV battery plant in De Soto. Then it won a big piece of the Memorial Stadium renovation that is a linchpin of the $450 million Gateway project for the University of Kansas.

COLLEGE: B.S., Engineering Management, Missouri University of Science & Technology
UP THE LADDER: Hogan started as a field engineer with Turner in 2003, held several project-management positions, then became the office’s business manager in March 2019. Less than a year later, she was put in charge of the Kansas City operating unit. 
ABOUT TURNER: The parent company is a national powerhouse in contracting. Based in New York, it ranked No. 1 on Engineering News-Record’s list of the nation’s biggest contractors, with a whopping $172 billion in revenue. 
OFF THE CLOCK: In addition to chairing the company’s annual Turner KC Charity golf tournament, she sits on the board of the Kansas City Area Development Council and is a past chapter president for the Design Build Institute of America.

Paul Holewinski
President/CEO, Dickinson Financial Corp./Academy Bank

With several growth initiatives in play and staff expansion expected in 2025, Paul Holewinski is looking carefully into the collaboration between man and machine in the near future. “I do expect AI in the next several years to be transformative in the way we do business,” he says. “We are actively embracing it in a thoughtful and deliberate way.”

COLLEGE: B.S. Finance, Saint Louis University; J.D., MBA, Saint Louis Univ/SLU School of Law; Colorado School of Banking 
MORE ON AI: “AI can be used in tandem with our robotic process automation capabilities to drive more revenue and gain efficiencies across our banks. To further this, we have stood up an Innovation Hub at Academy Bank to identify and implement use cases for AI in our operations.” 
STRESS BUSTING: “Running.”
DOUBLE DUTY: In addition to oversight of Kansas City-based Academy Bank, Holewinski is CEO of Armed Forces Bank, headquartered at Fort Leavenworth and primarily serving the nation’s military community.
2023 REVENUES: $200.66 million

Jason Hooper
President/CEO, KVC Health Systems

Is anything more fulflling than treating mental health and safeguarding child welfare? “The need for mental-health treatment and family well-being services is contributing to KVC’s growth,” says Jason Hooper. “We are meeting the needs by expanding programs like our K-12 therapeutic schools, innovating new services, and launching a groundbreaking joint venture with Children’s Mercy.”

EFFECTS OF AI: “We’re currently implementing an AI platform that will allow us to develop and deploy AI solutions tailored to our specific needs in child welfare and behavioral healthcare. This shift will enable us to streamline processes, gain deeper insights from our data, and ultimately provide even more effective services.”
STRESS BUSTING: “All things FAMILY!” 
STAFFING PLANS: “We are hiring approximately 150 people for the Children’s Mercy + Camber Mental Health mental-wellness campus opening later this year. … We’re also hiring across our programs: in-home family services, K-12 schools, foster care, adoption, outpatient mental health, administration, technology, and more.” 
CURRENT HEADCOUNT: “KVC Health Systems has 765 employees in the greater Kansas City area and 2,433 employees overall.”

Sam Huenergardt
CEO, AdventHealth Mid-America Region

“We experienced tremendous growth due in large part to hiring success and leaders who have maximized capacity in their areas,” says Sam Huenergardt. He attributes AdventHealth’s growth to a new site in Lenexa City Center, a new cancer institute and fertility center, expanding their birth center, and opening their Ottawa Health Park, expanding care in the Franklin County community. 

ON LEADERS: “We are blessed with leaders who know their people, their service lines, and their medical communities better than anyone.” 
SECTOR OUTLOOK: “Red hot and will only get hotter. Healthcare is booming in Kansas City, and we are thrilled to be a part of it.” 
INSPIRATION SOURCE: “Knowing that people don’t know they need an incredible team in health care until they need us.”
NEXT THING FOR KC: “To set our sights on being the safest and most welcoming metro in the country. That will spur a healthy environment for everyone.”
EFFECTS OF AI: “Addressing clinician burnout is a top priority across all of health care. To combat this, we are piloting some new technology with our primary care providers, helping increase the amount of time providers spend with their patients and reducing the amount of time they are documenting.”

Clark Hunt
Chairman/CEO, Kansas City Chiefs

With Super Bowls seemingly an annual occurrence, Clark Hunt’s biggest challenge over the past year has involved the future of Arrowhead Stadium: Rehab it, or leave it for new digs elsewhere in the metro? In April, voters said no to a sales-tax extension to fund $500 million for an overhaul. Would they feel the same if the question were posed without linkage to a Downtown Royals stadium?

COLLEGE: B.A., Business Administration/Finance, Southern Methodist University
QUOTABLE: After winning it all in 2020—half a century after his father’s team did it—but falling short in 2021 and 2022, Hunt offered this bit of humility in addressing the victory parade hordes: “I’m glad,” he said, “it didn’t take another 50 years.” 
CHECK THE RECORD: Since the 2009 season, just before Hunt became CEO, the Chiefs have won more NFL games than all but two teams—New England and Green Bay. If recent trend lines hold, they could be No. 1 in that metric by the 2026 season.
LOOKING AHEAD: “We do have 6½ years left on our lease at Arrowhead and GEHA Field at Arrowhead is a special place, but we do have to look to the future,” Hunt said before this year’s training camp opened. “We do need a solution starting in 2031.”

Marco Ilardi
Managing Partner, V2 Ventures

At a company founded on innovation—then built on it—Marco Ilardi is committed to more of the same. V2 Ventures is the current branch of a family-brand tree that initially took root in the fertile mind of entrepreneur Scott Lynn as Virtumundo in 2000. It morphed into Adknowledge in 2003, then V2 Ventures in 2017,  each step, pushing the boundaries for internet-based advertising tools.

COLLEGE: B.S., Truman State University 
THE BEAT GOES ON: “We continue to innovate and find new ways to provide our services or technology to new sectors,” says Ilardi, who came on board as chief strategy officer at Adknowledge in 2010 and became president two years later.
INDUSTRY OUTLOOK: “We expect it to continue to grow as advertising shifts from linear to digital.”
SOURCE OF INSPIRATION: “Love working with good people who are passionate about the work and winning!
STRESS-BUSTERS: “Golf, tennis, preparing a meal.”
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “Let’s get the ballpark Downtown!”
ASSESSING PROSPECTIVE LEADERS: “If they can show that they actually care about the work, industry, and people.”

Cliff Illig
Partner, TIFEC, LLC

Cliff Illig’s impact on regional business goes well beyond having been a founding partner of Cerner Corp. The fortune he derived from that drove his participation in a new venture’s acquisition of the Kansas City Wizards—now Sporting Kansas City—setting the stage for the region’s transformation into a soccer hub. And as a venture capitalist, he’s helped seed other aspiring entrepreneurs.

COLLEGE: B.A., Accounting/Business Administration, University of Kansas
OTHER VENTURES: He co-founded FanThreeSixty, which helps sports teams create better user experiences for fans and grow revenue. 
HONORS: In 2019, Illig was inducted into the Entrepreneur Hall of Fame at UMKC, along with Cerner co-founders Neal Patterson and Paul Gorup. He was also named the Henry W. Bloch International Entrepreneur of the Year by the university’s Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
ON HIS HONOR: Illig, who was an Eagle Scout himself, has been a longtime member of the executive committee of the Heart of America Council of Boy Scouts of America and Stowers Institute Board of Directors.

Chris Isaacson
Executive VP/COO, Cboe

Once again, Chris Isaacson reports great news. In Q2 this year, Cboe logged record net revenue, up 8 percent year to date. While Cboe’s innovative investment products produce big results, he attributes much of the success to simple readiness, with people working “hard to make sure we have the technology and infrastructure in place to support the continued growth of the industry.”

COLLEGE: B.S., Information Systems/Computer Science, Nebraska Wesleyan University; MBA, Computer Science and Management, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
SECTOR HEALTH: “Outlook is quite strong in our sector with global macroeconomic uncertainty from elections, shifting monetary policy, and geopolitical tensions and conflicts adding to the need for investors to manage risk on a timely basis.”
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “The World Cup in 2026 will be a major opportunity for Kansas City to be on the world stage. There must be diligent preparation throughout to ensure a smooth and safe event for visitors and residents.”
STRESS BUSTER: “At home or traveling, I enjoy running three to four times per week to help clear the mind and reset. A good pair of Hokas are always in my suitcase.”
EMPLOYEE COUNT: “Kansas City, 278; total 1,718.”

Robert Jacaway
President/CEO, Max Motors

The 2012 opening of I-49 in south Kansas City created new opportunities for growth, and few have responded to them the way Bob Jacaway and the Max Motors team have. Founder Mark Muller brought Jacaway on board in 2017, and he turned into a vehicle-sales behemoth: nine franchises, 13 dealerships, three commercial truck departments and two collision centers spanning eight cities.

2023 REVENUES: $610.13 million (up 28.52 percent from 2022)
SPOT-ON: A year ago, Jacaway told us the company had no intention of slowing down. Sure enough, in the fall, it acquired Jim Raysik, Inc. in Clinton and rebranded it as Max Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Clinton. 
BIG AND FAST: The company’s rapid growth ranked it No. 44 on Ingram’s Corporate Report 100 this year, and the scale it has achieved on Jacaway’s watch placed it within the 100 largest private companies just three years after he signed on. It ranked No. 56 on the Ingram’s 100 this year.
SECTOR SOLDIER: Jacaway’s path in vehicle sales started at Thoroughbred Ford in 1991 and eventually reached Columbia, where he led a 36-year-old dealership to No. 82 on Automotive News’ list of the top 150 U.S.-based dealers groups.

Joe Jeffries
President/CEO, Westlake Ace Hardware

If Westlake Ace Hardware’s stores don’t carry bulk containers of confetti, they should—it’d be more convenient for Joe Jeffries. He and his team have been on a celebratory tear over the past year, making acquisitions, opening new stores, and filling open slots in the leadership structure. For local impact, it’s hard to top the opening of the company’s 30th Kansas City-area store this month. 

BUYING SPREE: In April, Westlake announced today that it was entering the Maryland hardware market by acquiring a 179-year-old hardware retailer with locations in Ellicott City and Columbia. It followed that up in June with the acquisition of four more family-owned stores in the Austin area. 
OPEN-DOOR POLICY: Organic growth has also been a driver at Westlake, with new stores opening this year alone, including multiple stores in California and the 29th area store in this market, in Lee’s Summit. 
CORPORATE CITIZEN: Westlake has also teamed up with various non-profits. Among them: City of Hope, a cancer-research organization; Valley Children’s Hospital in California’s Central Valley; the Salvation Army’s summer heat-relief efforts and its disaster-relief efforts in Nebraska; the Children’s Miracle Network and many others.

Roy Jensen
Director, The University of Kansas Cancer Center

Roy Jensen has always dreamed big at KUCC, where he often meets other large-scale dreamers. “Philanthropy has driven our growth and allowed us to dream our dream for this cancer center in the 21st century,” he says. Asked about aspirations, he hopes even more people will begin to dream along with him: “How about building the best cancer center in the nation right here in Kansas City?”

COLLEGE: B.S., biology chemistry, Pittsburg State University; M.D., Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
SECTOR STRENGTH: “Cancer cases in the U.S. will top 2 million cases for the first time ever and because of demographic trends, it shows no sign of slowing down over the next 25 years.” 
INSPIRATION SOURCE: “Every patient who walks in the door.”
EFFECTS OF AI: “It is already having a major impact on image analysis in diagnosis and analysis of very large databases.”
STRESS BUSTER: “Running in the morning with my dog, Remi.”
EMPLOYEE COUNT: “Current employees, 1,350.”
STAFFING PLANS: “Adding. Cancer does not show any signs of slowing down.”

Jani Johnson
CEO, Saint Luke’s Hospital

For Jani Johnson, overseeing one of the region’s biggest medical centers is “about history, legacy, and mission for me. Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City has been serving our community for 143 years, and throughout incredible growth and change in the health care industry and in the communities we serve, we have always been mission-driven, innovative, and centered on providing extraordinary care for our patients and a great place to work our team.

PRIDE: “I’m deeply proud of the culture of kindness at Saint Luke’s Hospital and am continuously honored and inspired when we receive notes about the memorable impact our care—and caring spirit—has on patients and their loved ones. I am humbled and proud to be a part of this inspiring legacy of caring. On a personal level, I draw deep inspiration from my family.  
STRESS: “I enjoy walking outside and gardening. With walking, there’s something very centering about having your feet on the ground and a steady rhythm. It helps you put the day in perspective. And the hands-on work in the garden feels rewarding and nurturing.” 
OUTLOOK: “We plan to continue to hire. We want to be smart on who we bring in and push to be as efficient as possible in the ways we deliver care, but the demand for high-quality health care isn’t slowing down, and we need great people in roles on the front lines of care and to support our operations.”

William Johnson
General Manager, Kansas City Board of Public Utilities

Closing in on 40 years with the public utility providing power and water in Wyandotte County, Bill Johnson is an award-winning industry professional whose commitment to the community has been as strong as his performance on the job. The BPU serves approximately 67,000 electric and 53,000 water customers, mostly in Wyandotte County.

COLLEGE: B.S., Business; MBA, Ottawa University
2023 REVENUES: $389.48 million 
UP THE RANKS: From an entry-level position in 1985, he has served in various roles with the electric operation technology division.
OFF THE CLOCK: Johnson is the president of Kansas Municipal Utilities and a member of the American Public Power Association and the Rocky Mountain Electric League. On the philanthropic side, he sits on the board of the Kansas City Kansas United Way and is a past board member of the Boys & Girls Club.
HONORS: Johnson, past president of the Kansas-Missouri chapter of the American Association of Blacks in Energy, has been honored with the distinguished Black Achievers Award from the Southern Christian Leadership Council and the Black Man of Distinction Award.

Dick Jones
Chairman, Fidelity Security Life Insurance Co.

In more than half a century since he helped his father navigate the incorporation process, Dick Jones has been in leadership roles for an insurer that has paid out more than $9 billion in claims—covering 13 million policyholders—for their health care, hospitalization, prescription drugs, and eyeglasses. He returned from the Army to join the firm, assuming command at Fidelity in 1989.

2023 REVENUES: $185.3 million 
ALL IN THE FAMILY: Fidelity and its corporate kin, Forrest T. Jones—which provides group insurance plans for school districts and associations—have seen second- and third-generation members of the Jones family rise through the ranks, including Dick’s son Bryson, who serves as FSL’s president. Two other sons, Rick and Bradford, sit on the company board, with Bradford as vice chairman. 
SERVICE LINES: The company offers supplemental health plans, life and disability insurance, retirement annuities and risk management for self-funded employee benefit plans. 
LOYALTY: Across its range of partnerships with 75 organizations, 16 have been affiliated with FSL for at least 20 years, and the average relationship length for all is 13.3 years.

Jeffrey Jones
President/CEO, H&R Block

Leading the world’s biggest brand in tax-preparation services, Jeffrey Jones touches a lot of lives: Certainly, for those who come to H&R Block to navigate the complexities of tax preparation—more than 20 million a year—but also those of the 8 million who use the company’s do-it-yourself platform, and the company’s 3,800 associates and 60,000 affiliated tax professionals. 

COLLEGE: B.A., Communication, University of Dayton; Fork Union Military Academy
2023 REVENUES: $3.47 billion 
RECENT HONORS: After Fortune magazine designated the company as one of its Best Workplaces in Financial Services & Insurance for 2024, Jones said, “We strive to create an environment where every associate feels valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential. This honor reflects what is possible through a culture that prioritizes trust, collaboration, and innovation.”
INNOVATIVE CULTURE: In 2022, Jones’ team rolled out H&R Block’s Spruce mobile banking platform, designed to help people improve their financial health and well-being with tools to manage and track spending, saving, and planning, and improved its small-business service line by acquiring the Wave payment/invoicing platform in 2019.

Michael Kahn
CEO, CSTK-Velociti

In more than 20 years leading technology-solutions provider Velociti, Michael Kahn has built a nearly $290 million enterprise. After 15 years in corporate law (the firm is now Stinson, LLP), Kahn started as general counsel in 1998 and was made CEO in 2002. The company provides tech tools for manufacturers, including security controls, RFID systems, wireless systems and mobile devices.

EDUCATION: B.S.B.A., Finance and Economics, Boston University; J.D., Georgetown University Law Center
LEGAL EAGLE: Before setting out on his long stretch of corporate law, Kahn was a judicial clerk at the United States Court of Appeals – 8th Circuit. 
CORPORATE TWO-FER: Kahn is CEO at CSTK, which provides vital operational tech for the transportation industry, and after turning over the day-to-day reins at Velociti earlier this year, remains executive chairman there.
OUTSIDE THE OFFICE: Kahn is an instrument-rated private pilot who has visited more than 100 countries around the world.

Travis Kelce
Tight End, Kansas City Chiefs

Much like the other half of the combination that strikes terror into opposing NFL defenses—that would be Patrick Mahomes—Travis Kelce is a formidable business figure and investor in his own right. Evidence of that: How about the estimated $100 million deal he and his brother, former Philadelphia Eagle center Jason, signed with Amazon’s Wondery this summer for their New Heights podcast? 

COLLEGE: B.S., Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Cincinnati 
DETERMINATION: Kelce left Cincinnati before graduation and played 10 seasons in the NFL before finishing up, returning in 2022 to collect his diploma.
SAVVY ENDORSER/INVESTOR: Thanks to the work of multiple agents, Kelce has partnered with major brands that include Bud Light, Nike, Pfizer and State Farm. On the investment side, he’s put money into a Formula One racing team and lesser-known names like Hydrow, PlayersTV and RealTruck, and reportedly fared quite well when McCormick, the spice company, acquired Cholula Hot Sauce after he bought into it in 2020.
ACT II: Kelce had a supporting role in the FX horror series Grotesquerie, with the first episode premiering this month. He’s already demonstrated his comfort with the studio cameras as a past host of Saturday Night Live, and had the reality dating show Catching Kelce in 2016.

Laura Kelly
Governor, State of Kansas

The 2022 deal Kansas cut to bring Panasonic Energy’s new battery plant to De Soto is but the tip of an $18 billion economic development iceberg that Gov. Laura Kelly has set loose since winning her first term in 2019. “Our laser-sharp focus on making Kansas a good investment for businesses is delivering prosperity and creating jobs in communities across the state,” she says.

COLLEGE: B.S., Psychology, Bradley University; M.S, Therapeutic Recreation, Indiana Univ.
WINS: Panasonic drew most of the attention, but other major companies that have either come to the state or greatly expanded their footprint on her watch include Amazon, FedEx, Garmin, Goodyear, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Hostess, Honeywell, Keebler, Michelin, Russell Stover, Schwan’s, Textron Aviation, Tyson Meats, Urban Outfitters and Walmart. 
GOING PRO? Kelly and the Legislature this summer signed off on a package of incentives that would be offered to lure both the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs across the state line with new stadium deals.
BACK TO TAXPAYERS: Sitting on a $2.8 billion annual surplus, plus a $1.7 billion reserve fund, Kelly got behind a Republican-driven tax-reform plan, signing a measure that would provide nearly $2 billion in tax cuts for Kansans over the next five years.

Jonathan Kemper
Chairman Emeritus, Commerce Bank

Local members of I Tatti, The Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies, could probably convene in Jonathan Kemper’s TV room. Passionate about all things historic, he was admitted to the elite group last year. Banking was his business for more than 40 years, but a lifelong interest in history and architecture was always apparent.

COLLEGE: A.B., MBA, Harvard University 
GENERATIONAL TALENT: The long-time CEO of Commerce Bank’s Kansas City operations, Kemper is the great-great-grandson of banker Rufus Crosby. The latter’s son-in-law, William Thornton Kemper, was the patriarch of a family that has produced leaders of the region’s two biggest locally-based banks.
CIVIC COMMITMENT: In addition to his continued service on the Commerce board of directors, he has held seats on the boards of Tower Properties, the Kansas City Public Library (he was president of that board for 17 years), Pembroke Hill Country Day School, and the Hall Center for Humanities. Earlier service benefited the Federal Reserve’s Federal Advisory Council, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the National Board of the Smithsonian Institute.

Mariner Kemper
Chairman, UMB Financial Corp.

UMB thrives by spreading Kansas City values nationwide. “We are having a strong year as we continue to operate like we always have: with a focus on building long-lasting relationships with our customers, communities and each other,” said Mariner Kemper. “Operationally, that consistency allows us to grow loans and deposits faster than our peers.”

ON THE HORIZON: “UMB has a historic acquisition in the works with Heartland Financial, further building our momentum.”
SECTOR OUTLOOK: “We are seeing more of the economic levers point to a soft landing, and the fundamental performance metrics within the regional banking industry remain steady. Overall, our outlook is bright.” 
STRESS BUSTING: “Running.”
MANAGER MUST-HAVES: “The most important aspect for a candidate, to me, is a clear and authentic passion for their work, but it must be rooted in doing what’s right for the customer. I want to see that you believe in the work you do and believe in how it can create a positive impact—no matter the role.”
CURRENT HEADCOUNT: More than 3,600 associates; 1,800 in the Kansas City metro.

Sandy Kemper
Founder/CEO, C2FO

Sandy Kemper’s brainchild is working. In 2008, he launched C2FO to provide liquidity for businesses that had cash tied up in receivables. Last year, his Leawood-based firm delivered $73 billion in working capital to suppliers around the planet. And more of that is coming: This summer, C2FO became the first U.S. fintech approved to provide those services to business enterprises in India.

COLLEGE: B.A., American History, Northwestern University 
GLOBAL IMPACT: As a global fintech company, C2FO has services available in 14 languages, with early payment options in 48 currencies. Since its inception, it has provided companies with more than $300 billion in working capital.
FINANCIAL DNA: Kemper’s career has been built around financial services. His father was the legendary Crosby Kemper Jr. of the iconic banking family in the two-state region. Sandy himself served a stint as chief executive for the bank tied to his branch of the Kemper family, UMB.
FLYING HIGH: Financials are closely guarded at C2FO, but Money Inc. previously declared the firm a unicorn—a startup that has achieved at least $1 billion in valuation.

Robert Kenagy
President/CEO, Stormont Vail Health

This will be the final go-round for Robert Kenagy, who, like legions of other Baby Boom leaders, is heading for retirement soon after six years at the helm of the biggest health-care system serving northeast Kansas. When he heads out next May, he’ll leave behind an organization that has expanded its presence in Manhattan and extended its service delivery to Junction City and Emporia.

COLLEGE: BBA, Wichita State; M.D., University of Kansas Medical Center, Master of Medical Management, Tulane University
2023 REVENUES: $2.72 million 
COMING HOME: A native Kansan, he made his way back to the Sunflower State in 2016 when Stormont Vail came calling and made him chief medical officer. Before that, he was senior vice president at St. John Health Network in Tulsa. Other stops included Via Christi Health in Wichita, where he was president and CEO of Via Christi Clinic and senior vice president of physician services.
BEFORE THE C-SUITE: Kenagy spent 22 years serving as a family medicine physician. After med school, he did his family medicine residency at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.
ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE: With nearly 600 acute-care beds, Stormont Vail Hospital is a key employer in the region; its staff of 4,560 includes 275 physicians and more than 1,575 nurses. 

Scott Kincaid
President, The Kincaid Group

Last year, the Kincaid Group throttled back on its transportation footprint, selling off divisions that provided student transportation, coach service and buses/parts. It is all part of a continuing evolution for a company that began with student transportation services back in 1977 and expanded into construction materials and vehicle sales but has taken on more of a tech-oriented mission in recent years.

COLLEGE: B.S., Administration, University of Tulsa 
SLIMMING DOWN: As part of its transformation, the company sold off its State Line Nissan dealership, Kincaid Coach Lines, Midwest Bus Sales, DS Bus Service and Kincaid Ready Mix. 
ORIGINS: Scott Kincaid in recent years and his father, Don, began with a charter bus business back in 1977 in the Kansas City area, expanding to Wichita, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Amarillo, Siloam Springs, and Panama Beach, Fla.
TODAY’S KINCAID: The company has narrowed its strategic focus to IT services and security systems and managed services in marketing, accounting, human resources, and wealth management.
PHILANTHROPIC REACH: The Kincaid Group Foundation was established in 2021 with the goal of honoring its four key corporate pillars: Family, Safety, Service, and Respect. 

Jim Klausman
President/CEO, Midwest Health

Business is “baby booming” at Midwest Health as the oldest Boomers find themselves on the threshold of 80, says Jim Klausman. “This generation demands better amenities and services to meet their needs,” he says. Now at more than 80 senior-living communities in six states, Midwest Health is but one of his extensive holdings, with other interests that include in golf courses and restaurants.

COLLEGE: B.A., Political Science, Washburn University 
SECTOR OUTLOOK: “The senior-living sector continues to grow.” 
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “The retention of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals, two of our most valuable assets!”
STRESS BUSTING: “My No. 1 stress-busting activity is weekends at the Lake of the Ozarks, where my wife and I have a vacation home. We go there year-round.”
MANAGER MUST-HAVES: “We have our potential managerial candidates meet with our team as a whole, and better understand what positives they can bring to the team.”
STAFFING PLANS: “We continue to add staff as we grow.”
CURRENT HEADCOUNT: “In Kansas City among all companies, 900; throughout the organization 5,000.”

Mark Kleeman
President, Safe Haven Security Services

At this rate, Mark Kleeman is going to need a bigger trophy case—soon—at Safe Haven Security Services. This spring, at the ADT Dealer Convention in Mexico, his team at Safe Haven walked away with No. 1 among the Top 10 dealers, first place with the 2024 Sales League Award, and winner of the 2024 Circle of Champions Award. It’s the nation’s largest authorized dealer of ADT systems.

2023 REVENUES: $377.65 million
GETTING STARTED: Kleeman began operating in 1999, incorporated Safe Haven in 2002, and a decade later, he had a $10 million company on his hands. But the fuse was just being lit: By 2015, revenues had quintupled again, thrusting Safe Haven into a No. 8 finish in Ingram’s Corporate Report 100. 
DOUBLING DOWN: The growth didn’t stop there; the firm crashed through the $100 million barrier in 2019 and staked its claim among the region’s Top 100 Private Companies the following year. 
ABOUT SAFE HAVEN: Today, it has 105 office locations in 43 states, offering security and monitoring equipment and services for homes and commercial properties.

Greg Klein
CEO, Inland Truck Parts

It wasn’t double-digit growth in 2023, but it was growth, and that’s saying something in Klein’s sector: “Economic activity in the transportation sector has been slowing this year and is expected to into 2025,” he says. But Inland still added $10 million to the top line last year, up 4.89 percent. “Our growth continues to come from our capacity expansion via the construction of new, larger facilities and increasing our service shop staffing.”

2023 REVENUE: $205 million 
SOURCE OF PASSION: “As a company owned 100 percent by our employees via an ESOP, we know our future wages, benefits and retirement are all tied to the success of our company. Seeing many years of collective efforts result in our company reaching its 80-year anniversary inspires me to continue that legacy of success.”
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “Make sure we don’t lose our professional sports teams.”
STRESS-BUSTER: “Relaxing at my cabin in the Black Hills near Rapid City, S.D.”
LEADERSHIP CANDIDATE TRAITS: “Absolute honesty, even if that means they admit their mistakes and weaknesses.
EMPLOYEES: 80 in the KC area, 800 overall

Randy Klindt
CEO, Conexon Connect

The man behind the curtain for a company on a nearly unprecedented fast-growth track, Randy Klindt is both the founder of Conexon and CEO of the internet service provider it calved off in 2021, Conexon Connect. His work, and that of his team, in the electric cooperative broadband movement, is transforming rural Missouri’s and Kansas’ network of fiber-to-home connections.

2023 REVENUES: $201.1 million 
COOLING?: Randy Klindt thought 2023 was something of a catch-your-breath year for the company and wasn’t sure that 37.6 percent year-over-year growth would qualify for our annual list of fastest-growing companies. But we don’t measure year-over-year; the CR100 covers four years of performance. On that basis, Conexon placed No. 7 this year after two consecutive No. 2 finishes (2002 and 2021) and two at No. 3 (2022 and 2023). 
KANSAS OUTREACH: Conexon partnered with El Dorado, Kan.-based Butler Electric Cooperative on a $21 million project to bring fiber-to-the-home internet access to approximately 4,300 rural Kansans. The partnership marked the first electric cooperative fiber broadband network in the Sunflower State and the first Kansas project for Conexon.

Ryan Koenig
CEO, Dynamic Logistix

The leadership has changed since last year at Dynamic Logistics, but the performance of this shipping service provider is still drawing attention. Momentum from previous years helped carry Ryan Koenig and his team to another Corporate Report 100 finish this year, even as they staved off a downturn in the nation’s trucking sector in 2023. 

COLLEGE: Augustana College; MBA, Tippe College of Business, University of Iowa
BEFORE DYNAMIC: Koenig had been chief financial officer for Polysource, a distributor of plastic resins for manufacturing companies across the nation before he came on board at DLX in June of last year. He was named CEO two months later. In that role, he oversees all of the company’s operational aspects, including corporate governance, accounting/finance, HR, IT, sales, and operating systems. 
SHAKING IT UP: The company prides itself in being a disruptor in the third-party logistics sector, one that was somewhat resistant to the adoption of shipping tech until about a decade ago. That’s where DLX found an opening with its software that helps shippers track and measure their cargo movements. 
PEAK PLAYER: The company soared to No. 1 on Ingram’s CR100 in 2019.

Ann Konecny
President/CEO, Foley Equipment Co.

She’s the third-generation leader of a company founded in 1940, but it’s unlikely that Gen1 and Gen2 could have anticipated what Ann Konecny has built: as one of the region’s leading equipment suppliers, this specialist in Caterpillar heavy construction machinery and power systems boasts an army of more than 1,400 employees in 15 locations across Kansas and northwest Missouri. 

COLLEGE: B.A., Finance and Economics, Wichita State University 
SOURCE OF INSPIRATION: “At Foley, we are inspired to be high performers, empowering the progress of our customers who quite literally build and power the world we live in.”
ASSESSING PROSPECTIVE LEADERS: “We try to get candidates to demonstrate both confidence and humility.  We want to see if they are self-aware and comfortable with direct communication.”
RARE COMPANY: At one point, Konecny was one of only two women in the world who owned a Caterpillar dealership; at last count, there were still enough to count on the fingers of one hand—five.
HIRING OUTLOOK: “We are adding with new facilities and staff in the KC metro and Chillicothe, Mo.”

Lisa Krigsten
Office Managing Partner, Dentons US

She’s seen the law from both sides: from that of a federal prosecutor pursuing evidence of a crime, and from that of clients. That has given Lisa Krigsten a sense of balance as she approaches her duties with Dentons US, a Top 10 KC law firm. In addition to her administrative duties, she represents management and boards during investigations and litigation, criminal or civil.

COLLEGE: B.A., University of Kansas; J.D., University of Iowa College of Law 
MORE DUTIES: In August, Krigsten assumed the duties of chair for the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, where she says she will focus on “research-driven, strategic leadership with inclusive prosperity as a centerpiece of our decisions.”
SOURCES OF PASSION: “It begins and ends with people; I’m motivated to help my clients and my colleagues succeed.
KC’S NEXT BIG THING? “Kansas City is thriving! Our agenda should be focused on making sure our rising tide lifts everyone in our community through a focus on inclusive prosperity.”
STRESS-BUSTER: “Baking has become one of my favorite activities. It’s fun and ends with a delicious result!”

Bill Krueger
CEO, The Andersons

On Oct. 1, this one-time grain merchant will move from COO to CEO at The Andersons, where Bill Krueger brings decades of experience in agriculture and commodities. Though it’s headquartered in Ohio, he’ll be stationed here, leading a team that includes some 200 employees in KC and 2,400 overall. He’s no stranger to the role, having led the company The Andersons acquired in 2018.

COLLEGE: B.A., Agribusiness, University of Nebraska
RECENT ECONOMIC EFFECTS: “Inflation and lower commodity prices were negative factors.” 
eSECTOR OUTLOOK: “Lukewarm, as commodity prices continue to drift lower.”
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “A clear strategy for the Chiefs’ and Royals’ future.”
STRESS BUSTER: “Listening to all types of books and podcasts while exercising.”
HIRING vs. FIRING: “Hiring. We are finding it more difficult to find new employees interested in the requirements of the agricultural industry.”
STAFFING PLANS: “Adding staff.”

Michael Kulp
President/CEO, KBP Brands

Bringing new quick-service restaurants into the fold has been at the heart of KBP’s success for twenty-five years, and it’s a recipe that keeps proving itself. “Acquisitions drive growth for KBP,” Michael told us. “This year, we had several with the addition of 41 KFCs as well as our recent expansion into a fourth brand—SONIC—with the purchase of 85 Sonic Drive-In locations.” 

SECTOR OUTLOOK: “As inflation comes down, we’re optimistic about things heating back up.” 
INSPIRATION SOURCE: “The opportunities our growth creates for our teams personally, professionally, and financially. Creating life-changing opportunities for our employees is what pushes us every day.” 
EFFECTS OF AI: “We’ve added digital menu boards and kiosks in restaurants across our network; AI is the next step. … to personalize customer service and improve efficiency in our stores and drive-throughs.”
STRESS BUSTING: “Watching my kids’ sports and activities—being a spectator of them doing what they love is the best way to decompress.”
CURRENT HEADCOUNT: “Just over 450 in KC and approximately 21,000 companywide.”

Brad Lager
Chairman/CEO, Herzog Enterprises

“The outlook for transportation funding/investment looks to be strong for the next 3-5 years,” Brad Lager says. That’s due in part to projects now being bid that are funded with federal infrastructure dollars. But “the majority of our growth,” he said, “is simply organic growth across all of our business units and the majority of our customers.”

COLLEGE: B.S., Computer/IT Administration and Management, Computer, Northwest Missouri State University
EFFECTS OF AI: “We are using AI in our data analysis and predictive modeling divisions. It is allowing us to do the same amount of work with 6 people that used to take 26.”
STRESS BUSTING: “Working at my farm.”
MANAGER MUST-HAVES: “It is all about culture. If they have the right mindset and a servant leadership perspective, we will teach and develop the skillsets for our business.”
STAFFING PLANS: “We will add approximately 300–400 people over the next 18 months (mostly in other areas of the country due to the location of the work).”
CURRENT HEADCOUNT: “Approximately 400 employees in northwest Missouri and just short of 3,000 across the country.”

Gordon Lansford III
President/CEO, JE Dunn Construction Co.

With more than $6 billion in revenue to boast about, Gordon Lansford doesn’t have to dwell very much on numbers for bragging rights. He’d much rather focus on who makes those numbers happen. “I’m passionate about the success of our employees and their families,” he says. “We also know that if we take the best care of them, they will provide an exceptional experience to our clients.”

COLLEGE: B.S., Accounting/Business, Baker University
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “I love the plan to put a cap over  I-670 connecting Downtown to the Crossroads. That would be a transformational project for KC. Our biggest civic agenda item overall should be to reduce violent crime in our community.”
STRESS BUSTING: “Exercise.”
MANAGER MUST-HAVES: “The skills assessment is usually straightforward. Do they have the experience and skills or not? The cultural fit is more important for us and a candidate has to walk the line between being confident in their abilities and being a humble servant leader.”
HIRING vs. FIRING: “Firing. We care deeply about our employees and their families, so it’s hard to let somebody go, but you have to do it in a high-performance organization.”

Mark Larrabee
Kansas City President/CEO, Arvest Bank

The 2024 harvest at Arvest is bountiful, according to Mark Larrabee—the bank should finish the year at $2 billion in assets here, a doubling over the past five years. “We have been working hard on maintaining our high customer service levels while continuing to invest in technology transformation to assure we can serve customers when, where and how they want to be served,” he says.

COLLEGE: B.S./B.A., Finance, University of Kansas; MBA, Finance, Trulaske College of Business, University of Missouri
SECTOR HEALTH: “The Fed is set to begin reducing interest rates soon. Theoretically, this should support business growth and loan demand, but they were late to the interest-rate party on inflation, and the question is whether they are late in cutting before a downturn occurs.” 
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “Downtown baseball seems to be well under way.”
STRESS BUSTER: “I have two: tennis and cooking.”
MANAGER MUST-HAVES: “I look for people with low egos and high intellectual curiosity.”

Jeff Laurendeau
Regional Director, Amazon Logistics

The logistics empire Jeff Laurendeau serves for Amazon may be getting bigger: Just this month, the Port Authority of KC authorized a 20-year tax incentive package for a 630,000-square-foot distribution center in KC 29 Logistics Park, and despite a formal announcement, indications are it will be Amazon’s latest distribution center in the metro. Project documents suggest 800 more workers will be needed when the $160 million project is completed.

COLLEGE: B.A., Criminal Justice, Norwich University 
HIRING CHAMPIONS: Within the past decade, Amazon has emerged as one of the region’s biggest private-sector employers, now with more than 6,000 workers—and more coming. 
SHOW-ME FOOTPRINT: While Kansas has seen most of the distribution facility construction for the company, Missouri recently added a 1-million-square-foot warehouse in Liberty.
BEFORE KC: Laurendeau was previously an active-duty Army officer who also spent time in the Reserves. While stationed in Iraq, he oversaw $10 million worth of equipment in a combat environment. As a scout platoon leader, he planned and executed more than 100 combat missions in the most dangerous parts of Baghdad.
BACK HOME: After working at Amazon facilities in Middletown, Del., and Windsor, Conn., he came to the KC area in 2016, and now has responsibilities covering a multistate region.

Sandra Lawrence 
Independent Corporate Director 

Sandra Lawrence’s board roles with major companies remind her of their real significance in people’s lives. Among them: “Evergy by powering our region, Sera by delivering life-saving diagnoses, Brixmor by creating built environments that enhance community, the Hall Family Foundation by funding systems of structural improvement, and the Nelson-Atkins by reminding us of the important role of art.”

COLLEGE: B.A., Psychology Statistics, Vassar College; M.A., Architecture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; MBA, Real Estate/Finance, Harvard University
ON GROWTH: “Companies prepared for growth by getting input from customers about their needs and wants, tightening cost structures, updating training programs, implementing focused technology enhancements, and building supportive cultures.” 
EFFECTS OF AI: “AI, especially generative AI, is affecting our workplaces in ways we may not even recognize. It culls usable information from volumes of data, gives our customers better tools to use when interacting with us and our products, and makes the processes of researching topics and producing written materials much more efficient. We’re creating guidelines that embrace AI and make it work for us, and that’s resulting in competitive advantages.”

Carlos Ledezma
CEO, Cable-Dahmer Automotive Group

Carlos Ledezma is a man of his word. A year ago, pondering the prospect of a recession, he told us, “If it does happen, we will be as prepared as possible. If not, we will maximize the opportunities that will be presented to us.” Did he ever: After bursting through the $800 million sales mark in 2022, his fleet of dealerships tacked on an additional 15 percent in 2023. 

2023 REVENUES: $927.91 million
STILL GROWING: Last year’s top line surged after the 2022 addition of a new dealership, then the eighth for Cable Dahmer. Adding Ed Bozarth of Topeka to the fold expanded the product line of Buick/GMC, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Jeep, and Ram, as well as Kia. 
METRO COVERAGE: The firm’s eight dealerships include four in south Kansas City, two in Independence, and one each in Lee’s Summit and Topeka.
AUTOMOTIVE FAMILY: Ledezma’s daughter, Amanda, is the platform director for Cable-Dahmer Chevrolet. His sister, Sylvia Ledezma Flores, is head of human resources.
FULL-SERVICE DEALER: From new and used vehicles to service, collision repair, parts, and even financing assistance, Ledezma has cracked the code on how to bring customers in and keep them coming back.

Brian Leitner
Managing Director/Wealth Solutions, Mariner

It’s almost like the goalposts are in constant motion for Brian Leitner: He’s responsible for multiple strategic growth initiatives for Mariner—but the acquisition strategy of his boss, Marty Bicknell, means the company is rarely the same organization from one month to the next. In the past three years, the firm’s annual additions totalled six, seven and five, with one more so far in 2024. 

COLLEGE: B.S., Business/Economics, State University of New York-Oneonta, M.S., Taxation, Fairleigh Dickinson University 
BEFORE MARINER: Leitner divided roughly a decade between stints at UBS and Ernst & Young. Once in the Mariner fold, he was chief practice management officer for 10  years before assuming the wealth-solutions leadership in 2022.
RECOGNITION: Leitner didn’t take long to make a splash in local wealth-management circles, earning a spot in Ingram’s 40 Under Forty’s Class of 2013. 
ABOUT MARINER: Founded in 2006 by Marty Bicknell, Mariner has established a national reputation; Barron’s ranked it in the top five of its best independent advisory firms from 2016 to 2023, and it now has more than $200 billion combined in assets under advisement or under management.

James Lewis
President/CEO, Security Bank of Kansas City

He likes to keep a low profile, but when you’re sitting in the lead chair at one of the region’s biggest banks, that can be hard. So even when the Kansas City, Kan., Chamber of Commerce named him its Person of the Year, the tribute video featured testimonials from two long-time employees but not the honoree himself. 

LOCAL COMMITMENT: Earlier this year, Security Bank announced that it would partner with the KC Monarchs, part of an independent professional baseball league, in a joint marketing effort.
2023 REVENUES: $176.98 million  
COMMITMENT: In the leadership ranks for nearly 35 years at the bank or its forerunners, Lewis has been part of the organization for 43 years. Before seven banks merged into the Security brand in 2016, he was president at Industrial State Bank, then Security Bank.
FOCUS: Lewis has made it a point to engage personally with the underprivileged in Wyandotte County, which is the poorest in the Kansas City region. Among other efforts, he had a long affiliation with a group that promoted literacy by inviting business figures to read to children.

Kevin Lewis
CEO, Henderson Companies

When he took the reins from Rich Smith at this Lenexa mechanical engineering firm, Lewis was just the fourth CEO in a corporate history that dates to 1972.  Lewis, a licensed professional engineer with more than 20 years of AEC-industry experience, joined the company in 2004 as a project engineer. Last year was a good one for him and the team, with revenues jumping more than 26 percent year over year.

COLLEGE: B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Kansas State University; MBA, Bloch School of Management, University of Missouri-Kansas City
2023 REVENUES: $231.2 million 
GROWING FOOTPRINT: The company opened its 14th location with an office in St. Louis.
ACCOLADES: This summer, Time magazine included three Henderson project sites among its list of the World’s Greatest 100 Places—and two of them are in Kansas City. In addition to the 3,644-room Fontainebleau Las Vegas hotel, it cited CPKC Stadium, home of the Kansas City Current, and the Rabbit hOle, a children’s museum in North Kansas City.
ABOUT HENDERSON: Now an employee-owned company, Henderson offers a wide range of building engineering services, including electrical, mechanical, plumbing, telecom, security, audio-visual, fire/safety systems, and much more.

Matt Linski
President, Bank of America Kansas City

For Matt Linski, growth is a collaborative and organic enterprise. “Our talented associates help drive growth through deepening relationships, coupled with the success of the Kansas City-based clients we support.” As those customers grow and add more Bank of America services, growth happens naturally, and it occurs with a purpose: “Access to capital for our innovative talent in KC,” Linski says.

COLLEGE: B.A., Accounting & Finance, Missouri State, Missouri 
SECTOR HEALTH: “I would say cautiously optimistic.” 
INSPIRATION SOURCE: “My family. Making connections. And the vibrant excitement in KC.”
EFFECTS OF AI: “AI has been in banking for years. Positive for the most part, but it will accelerate fraud attempts.
STRESS BUSTER: “Organizing my next family adventure.”
MANAGER MUST-HAVES: “How they balance their work and personal life and a review of their bucket list.”
STAFFING PLANS: “Adding 5 percent, at least.”
EMPLOYEE COUNT: “Kansas City 585, globally, over 208,000.”

Ronald Lockton
Chairman/CEO, Lockton Companies

When the previous CEO left the company earlier this year, Ron Lockton had a choice to make with the leadership of the world’s largest privately held, independent insurance brokerage. The next person in that critical role, he decided, was … Ron Lockton. The former CEO is once again at the helm of this brokerage and benefits consultancy founded by his father, Jack, in 1966. 

COLLEGE: B.A., Economics, University of Kansas
2023 REVENUES: $3.09 billion 
NEW WINGMAN: A company this big, of course, isn’t all about a one leadership figure, and this summer, Lockton turned to longtime company exec Tim Ryan to serve as president of the U.S. region, the company’s largest, accounting for about 80 percent of revenues.
GROWTH CHAMPION: In one of the more remarkable long-term performance metrics in American business, the firm has recorded year-over-year growth every year it’s been in business. Last year’s mark was a 13.43 percent pop over revenues in 2022.
NOTHING GIFTED: After college, Lockton started working right away in the business—but not for his father. He spent just over a year as an underwriter for Aetna.
EMPLOYEES: More than 12,000 worldwide, 1,600 of them in the Kansas City area.

Angie Long
Owner, KC Current

Angie Long is probably best known as co-owner of the KC Current women’s pro soccer team because that’s what’s been generating most of the headlines this past year. She and her husband, Chris, are majority owners which garnered widespread attention with the opening of CPKC Stadium, a privately funded $120 million stadium that was the world’s first designed specifically for women’s play.

COLLEGE: B.A., Economics, Princeton University
DAY JOB: Long is chief investment officer for Palmer Square Capital and affiliated wealth-management units with $30 billion in assets under management in the U.S. and Europe. 
RARE TANDEM: She’s married to another Ingram’s 250 honoree, Chris Long, who’s also the CEO at Palmer Square and her partner in the Current ownership. Until this year, only one other power couple in the Kansas City region made the i250 concurrently.
INFLUENTIAL PARTNERS: The Current’s ownership group also includes Brittany Mahomes, a co-founding partner, and now her husband, Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs.
EYES ON KC: This summer, the Current announced that CPKC Stadium would host November’s National Women’s Soccer Championship. “We are so excited to host the world at our home,” Long said. “CPKC Stadium is the first stadium built for moments like these.”

Chris Long
Chairman/CEO/Portfolio Manager/Co-Owner, Palmer Square Capital/KC Current

He has a long title because he’s a very busy guy. The past year even brought Chris Long to the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, where his team rang the opening bell to celebrate a new Palmer Square IPO venture. Over at the new CPKC Stadium, he and his wife Angie are watching women’s soccer thrive under their joint ownership.

COLLEGE: A.B., Economics, Princeton University; MBA, Harvard Business School 
SECTOR OUTLOOK: “We anticipate that the Fed will begin to cut rates at a measured pace in Q3. While the economy has slowed, growth forecasts still call for 2-2.5 percent growth for the rest of the year.”
SOCCER OUTLOOK: “For the KC Current, the biggest thing that drove our company’s growth this year was the opening of CPKC Stadium, the first stadium in the world purpose-built for a women’s professional team.”
SOURCE OF INSPIRATION: “It’s all about impact, whether for the community, investors, women’s sports. Ultimately, our goal is achieving excellence and being a blueprint for others to follow so they too can have a substantial impact.”
STRESS BUSTING: “Running marathons and watching my kids (pursue) their passions.”

Greg Maday
CEO, SpecChem

Concrete may not be top of mind for everybody, but the importance of maintaining its quality is undeniable. At SpecChem, Greg Maday and his team ensure the highest standards of integrity in concrete formulas, playing a critical role in building infrastructure. “Our industry may not be glamorous,” says Maday, “but the impact we have on building the world is truly remarkable.” 

COLLEGE: B.S./B.A., Finance, University of Missouri-Columbia; Young Presidents’ Organization, Harvard Business School
GROWTH DRIVERS: “Years of establishing the brand with owners, architects, engineers, and contractors, coupled with solid relationships with our distributors.” 
SECTOR HEALTH: “Lukewarm. Construction as a whole is flat to down nationwide.”
INSPIRATION SOURCE: “Working with my team to build an organization that delivers meaningful results.”
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “Would love a Downtown baseball stadium.”
EFFECTS OF AI: “Somewhat helpful, but not yet a disruptive force.”
STRESS BUSTER: “Exercise. I can’t start the day without a little work on the Peloton.”
STAFFING PLANS: “Definitely adding more” to the 75 here and 160 overall.

Mike Maddox
President/CEO, CrossFirst Bank

A stellar record at CrossFirst Bank means Mike Maddox is about to make a change to his business card: President and Executive Vice Chairman of First Busey and CEO of Busey Bank. The CrossFirst/Busey merger announced this summer is valued at about $916 million and creates a company with about $20 billion in total assets, $17 billion in deposits and $13 billion in wealth-management assets.

COLLEGE: B.A., Business, University of Kansas; J.D., KU School of Law
ON GROWTH: “Despite the numerous challenges that have impacted the banking industry over the past few years, CrossFirst has achieved consistent year-over-year growth. This success stems from our innovative business model and our focus on hiring experienced bankers who are dedicated to delivering extraordinary service to our clients.
CROSSFIRST AND CULTURE: “We firmly believe that when employees feel valued and are equipped with the right tools, success naturally follows.”
STRESS BUSTING: “Listening to music is a vital part of my routine for stress relief and mental clarity. Immersing myself in lyrics offers a unique escape, allowing me to unwind and find inspiration. Whether it’s Taylor Swift, Luke Combs, or Whitney Houston, an energizing beat or soothing melody is an indispensable tool for managing stress.”

Patrick Mahomes
Quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs

It’s really unfair to pigeonhole Patrick Mahomes based on the role for which he’s most famous—calling signals for back-to-back Super Bowl champions. But there’s a business component to him—at 29—that can’t be overlooked. That $500 million, 10-year contract extension he inked in 2020 has allowed him to flex his entrepreneurial muscles far and wide across the metro and beyond.

COLLEGE: Texas Tech University
INVESTMENT TSUNAMI: Mahomes’ contract—supplemented by a reported $20 million last year in commercial endorsements—has allowed him to buy an ownership stake in the Royals, and a piece of the Kansas City Current. It has prompted a local building spree for his home-state favorite, Whataburger and more. Much more. 
SPOKESMAN SUPREME: Among the companies you’ve likely seen him boosting on TV are Adidas, Coors Light, State Farm, Subway, BOSS, T-Mobile, and Walmart, and on a local level, GEHA, CommunityAmerica Credit Union, and The University of Kansas Health System.
ON THE FIELD: Earlier this month, he passed the legendary Len Dawson in all-time passing yards for the Chiefs.

Peter Mallouk
President/CEO, Creative Planning

Having people’s financial health in your hands is humbling, and Peter Mallouk is grateful for that trust. “Our clients do more than anyone to fuel our growth,” he says. “Their introductions to friends, family and business colleagues have been the key drivers of our growth.” Creative Planning expects 2025 to be its best year ever and has built out excess capacity to help accommodate the growth.

COLLEGE: B.A., University of Kansas; MBA, J.D., University of Kansas 
INSPIRATION SOURCE: “We believe we are making a difference in the lives of our clients. It’s a privilege to help someone accomplish their goals and realize their dreams.” 
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “18th and Vine is a city landmark that has so much more potential. A little bit of coordination and it could become a national destination.”
STRESS BUSTER: “Travel. Getting away is always a good way to recharge.”
MANAGER MUST-HAVES: “A servant mentality, team-first mentality is essential. Hard to find, but when you find it, it’s gold.”
STAFFING PLANS: “We just posted over a hundred job openings and expect to add another 100 jobs next year.
EMPLOYEE COUNT: “Kansas City 750, overall 2,400.”

Matt Malott
CEO, Multivac USA

Matt Malott has been with this Northland packaging systems manufacturer for nearly 25 years and has been running the show since 2018. He’s a Kansas City area product who started as regional sales manager with Multivac in 1988 and now oversees the production of systems that serve the food industry, as well as the production of medical and pharmaceutical products. 

COLLEGE: B.S., Marketing Management, Park University 
GLOBAL FOOTPRINT: The U.S. operating unit is part of a $5 billion global conglomerate based in Germany, with more than 7,000 employees worldwide. Roughly 225 of them work at the company’s Northland headquarters. 
ABOUT MULTIVAC: The German parent provides industrial packaging systems for companies around the world, food-production sites in particular. The Kansas City site is its only North American production facility, but the company has regional offices throughout the U.S. Early last year, the company decided to pull all of its global subsidiaries under one banner—Multivac Group.
FAMILY VALUES: Despite its enormous size and global reach, the company remains family-owned.

Korb Maxwell
Partner, Polsinelli

Korb Maxwell has carved out a reputation as a go-to for legal guidance on major projects. He is representing the Chiefs in the club’s exploration of possible alternate sites should it decide to relocate from Arrowhead Stadium when the lease expires. He leads the Polsinelli Opportunity Zones practice group, which focuses on long-term investments through the placement of highly tax-advantaged capital.

COLLEGE: B.A., University of Kansas; J.D., University of Texas
GETTING RESULTS: Maxwell also represented the owners of Sporting Kansas City in last year’s negotiations with the state of Kansas which produced a $7 million settlement funding various community projects. The issue stemmed from Cerner’s abandonment of its Wyandotte County campus site in 2021, triggering penalties related to job-creation incentives there.  
IN THE ZONES: Maxwell’s history of work in the development-incentives space prompted him to take the lead in the firm’s creation of his practice area. The Opportunity Zones tax incentive was established to lure investor capital to historically overlooked communities across the U.S.
ACCOLADES: Maxwell was a 2015 selection for Ingram’s 40 Under Forty, spotlighting young executive talent in the Kansas City area. He also was named among the nation’s Top 25 Opportunity Zone Influencers by Opportunity Zone Magazine.

John McCarthy
Owner, McCarthy Auto Group

With 10 vehicle dealerships in the Kansas City region, stretching from Lawrence to Sedalia, it’s not hard to connect with John McCarthy’s auto empire. The company offers new and used cars and trucks in popular brands like Chevrolet, GMC, Hyundai, Subaru, Honda, Toyota, Dodge, Chrysler, Ram and Jeep, with parts, maintenance, financing and collision-damage services. 

FAMILY TRADITION: Ryan McCarthy, John’s son, came to work with the group in 2000 and has joined Dad in the ownership.
THE BRANDS: The company’s dealerships include Chevrolet sites in Olathe, Lee’s Summit and  Overland Park, Honda in Overland Park, Nissan in Lawrence and Olathe, Hyundai in Olathe and Blue Springs, Subaru in Lawrence, and Toyota in Sedalia.  
PHILANTHROPIC: The auto group has a deep history of philanthropy, providing funding for scholarships to more than five dozen organizations, from school districts and private schools to organizations like the Boys and Girls Club, Jadon’s Hope Bug Run and the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge. It has also provided financial backing for healthcare causes and medical research, student athletics, public safety, the arts, and more. 
GIVING: In 2017 the firm established the McCarthy Family Foundation as the organization’s charitable arm, providing a more structured philanthropic strategy.
EMPLOYEES: About 700

Ken McClain
Partner, Humphrey, Farrington & McClain

Over the course of more than 30 years, Ken McClain has carved out a national reputation as a personal-injury trial lawyer with the Independence firm Humphrey, Farrington & McClain. He has argued and won numerous cases that have produced multi-million dollar verdicts, earning him repeat honors on the National Law Journal’s annual Top 100 Verdicts list. All told, he has produced verdicts and negotiated settlements topping $1 billion.

COLLEGE: B.A., Graceland College; J.D., University of Michigan Law School
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION: McClain’s biggest successes have come through litigation against asbestos suppliers, the tobacco industry, and makers of artificial butter flavoring for microwave popcorn. The latter has yielded more than $100 million in verdicts for workers exposed to the flavoring chemical diacetyl. 
DAVID vs. GOLIATH: In one of his most significant trial cases, McClain was lead counsel for a Nevada couple who sued HMS Holdings, a health-care tech giant that had acquired their software firm and its unique program to identify fraudulent medical claims, but failed to fulfill its financial commitment. A New York jury awarded the couple $60 million.

Laura McConnell Perin
Chairman/CEO, LabConCo Corp.

Once upon a time, Laura McConnell Perin was a professional ballet dancer in Chicago. These days, she’s calling the tunes in her native KC at Labconco, among the city’s biggest women-owned businesses and one that will celebrate its centennial next year. She logged more than 20 years in sales and managerial roles at this national supplier of laboratory equipment, succeeding her late father as CEO. 

2023 REVENUES: $134.3 million 
COLLEGE: B.S., Biology, and B.A., dance, Denison University 
CAREER PATH: Before coming back to Labconco, she held positions at VWR International, The Stowers Institute, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Arrowhead Scientific and was the VP for research and academic health care at E&I Cooperative Services.
OFF THE CLOCK: She has seats on the board for MRIGlobal, Commerce Bank KC’s advisory council, Civic Council, BioNexus KC, and the board of advisers at her alma mater.
HONORS: In addition to its recent ranking at the top of Ingram’s list of the Top Women-Owned Businesses in the KC region, she was one of our 50 Kansans You Should Know in 2021.
LEARNING EARLY: Even as a child, she would accompany Dad to the office on weekend mornings, and the business was frequently a topic of family dinner conversations. 

Madeleine McDonough
Chair, Shook, Hardy & Bacon

The first woman to chair KC’s biggest law firm, measured by number of lawyers here, is now halfway through her second five-year term in that role. But that’s not the extent of her impact there; she’s also co-chaired Shook’s Environmental, Social and Governance practice, and she previously co-chaired its Agribusiness and Food Safety and Life Sciences and Biotechnology practice groups. She also served four three-year terms on the firm’s executive committee.

COLLEGE: B.S., UMKC School of Pharmacy, J.D., University of Kansas Law School, LLM, Global Health La, Georgetown University Law Center
QUALIFIED-PLUS: In representing multinational companies in a range of industries—pharmaceutical, animal health, medical device, food, cosmetics and beverage—McDonough brings a level of expertise that few in the profession can claim: in a previous life, she was a clinical pharmacist. 
RECOGNITION: To a career filled with awards for her legal acumen, McDonough added another accolade as Missouri Lawyers Weekly’s Woman of the Year for 2024. She’s been a regular fixture in Ingram’s 250 since assuming leadership of the firm in 2017 and has previously made the National Law Journal’s list of 50 Top Litigation Trailblazers & Pioneers.

Marc McEver
Dealer Principal, Olathe Ford

Marc McEver says Olathe Ford has been growing by investing more and more in people. “This is a people and numbers business. The more GREAT people, the more opportunities they can get in front of,” he said. “We also added a new dedicated Commercial Service Building (Ford Pro Elite Service Center) with 24 bays and 12 technicians. Our commercial service customers love it.”

SECTOR OUTLOOK: “WARM. Vehicle production is back! Here come incentives. It’s a great time to buy again!”
INSPIRATION SOURCE: “I love working with people, customers and employees. ALL the different divisions and companies keep what I do new and exciting every day.” 
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “I think we need to continue to increase public transportation in the suburbs. We need good options outside of the city as well.”
EFFECTS OF AI: “Options for AI are just starting to come in the form of customer contact calls/texts. Not a fan yet and may never be. Ha, ha!”
MANAGER MUST-HAVES: “We call it the Olathe Way—a strong customer focus and an easy, honest attitude.”
CURRENT HEADCOUNT: “Total, 370. in KC, 369.”

Ryan McMonagle
CEO, Custom Truck One Source

The past year hasn’t been kind to many construction services companies, but Custom Truck One Source isn’t your average provider of heavy equipment. In an otherwise turbulent sector, it enjoyed a record year, tacking on nearly $300 million in revenues, up more than 18.5 percent from 2022. Not bad for Ryan McMonagle in his first year after assuming the leadership duties from co-founder Fred Ross.

COLLEGE: B.A., Finance, Southern Methodist University; MBA, Harvard Business School
2023 REVENUES: $1.87 billion 
TALENT ADDITION: When the private-equity giant Blackstone acquired a majority interest in CTOS back in 2015, the deal included more than a check: McMonagle came on board as CFO, took on the COO duties two years later, then was named president in 2021. 
THE ROAD TO CTOS: He previously served as CFO of Sound United and DEI Holdings, a holding of Boston-based Charlesbank Capital Partners. There, he led efforts to integrate multiple acquisitions, including Polk Audio, Definitive Technology, and Directed Electronics. Before that, he was CFO and Chief Development Officer for Denver-based Smashburger.
BUSY: Among other duties, McMonagle expanded the CTOS footprint in New York by snapping up A&D Maintenance and Repair and opened a new facility in Utah. 

Kirsty Melville
CEO, Andrews McMeel Universal

The torch has passed at Andrews McMeel Universal, the world’s largest independently owned feature syndicate, and carrying the flame is native Australian Kirsty Melville. She’s just the third person to lead the 54-year-old publishing industry leader, where she oversees all AMU operations and retains her previous duties as president and publisher of the Andrews McMeel Publishing unit.

COLLEGE: B.A., Political Science & Government, French, University of Western Australia
BEFORE KC: Melville was the founding publisher of Simon & Schuster Australia, and she came to America in 1994 as vice president and publisher for Ten Speed Press in San Francisco. AMU founder Hugh Andrews recruited her to Kansas City in 2005. 
RETOOLING: Her arrival with the publishing unit quickly produced efforts to streamline workflows, enhance productivity, and increase sales in North America and internationally as she initiated process changes in the editorial, sales, marketing, and production units.
ABOUT AMU: Founded in 1970, it specializes in comics, illustrated humor, and inspirational content through various channels: syndication, books, calendars and greeting card publishing, digital consumer experiences, and entertainment licensing.

Michael Merriman
President, Financial Holding Corp.

The extensive business lines of Michael Merriman’s Financial Holding Corp. will test the design limits of a standard 2×3½-inch business card: In addition to serving as president of the parent company, he’s chairman of Americo Life (reportedly he owns 18.5 percent of it), which has multiple subsidiaries in asset management, investments, mortgages, and benefits, among others.

COLLEGE: B.A., Business Administration, Southern Methodist University
LOW PROFILE: FHC has long flown under the radar of regional business, but its local impact is undeniable. One tangible example: It teamed with Burns & McDonnell to develop what is now 1400KC, the $148 million office tower where Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Kansas City is moving its headquarters next year.
BUILDING DOWNTOWN: Americo Life is also partnering with Canadian Pacific Kansas City to redevelop a 13-story residential tower at 13th and Broadway into 255 apartments, retail space and a pocket park.
ACCOLADES: Americo was named to the 2024 Forbes list of Best Life Insurance Companies.

Trey Meyer
President, Midway Ford Truck Center

Unless you work at a tech company, IT isn’t the traditional pathway to senior leadership, but Trey Meyer pulled off that trick at Midway Ford, which has surpassed $1 billion in annual sales on his watch. Driving that surge the past few years has been the economic rebound in demand for trucks as American commerce ground to a halt early in the 2020 pandemic.

COLLEGE: B.S., Computer Science, University of Kansas
2023 REVENUES: $1.07 billion 
LEADER: Meyer started as a programmer in 1991 and reached leadership ranks in 2009. 
EARLY ADOPTER: Meyer’s arrival came a decade after Midway embraced employee ownership; it was the first Ford dealership to make the move when it launched its ESOP in 1982.
STICKING WITH IT: One key to the company’s success has been its employee retention rate. More than 60 percent of the workforce, nearly 270 strong, have been with Midway for at least 10 years. 
HONORS: For 10 years running, Midway Ford has received Ford’s President’s Award, the highest form of dealer recognition from the vehicle maker. It’s given only to the top 10 percent of Ford dealers.

Bill Miller
Chairman/CEO, WellSky

When your company’s fate is tied to the fiscal health of the health-care sector—you can expect a bumpy ride. But Bill Miller and the team at WellSky navigated the minefield last year, racking up nearly 20 percent revenue growth. It serves more than 20,000 clients worldwide, including hospital systems, blood banks, government agencies, human services organizations, home health providers and hospice agencies. 

2023 REVENUES: $732 million 
COLLEGE: B.A., Economics; M.A., Urban Planning/Public Policy, University of Kansas 
THE ROAD TO WELLSKY: He joined WellSky in 2017 after serving as CEO of a UnitedHealth Group subsidiary, and before that, was senior VP of technologies at Cerner, with global responsibility for its managed services, outsourcing, and technology services units.
CHANGE AGENT: When he came on board, the company was known as Mediware Information Systems. Miller led the rebranding to WellSky, then oversaw structural changes that have more nearly tripled revenues since his first year there. He also has overseen the acquisition of more than 14 companies during his tenure there.
ABOUT WELLSKY: It was founded in 1980 with a staff of just two, producing clinical software in blood and pharmacy management solutions. After going public in 1991, it resumed its private-company status in 2012.

Jonathan Mize
Chairman/CEO, Blish-Mize Company

That saying about old dogs and new tricks? Jonathan Mize is here to prove the exception. He’s the fifth-generation leader of a 153-year-old hardware wholesaler, and just this month, his team rolled out enhanced ordering technology to streamline purchasing logistics for buyers right on their smartphones. Being a hometown product, he went to work for the Atchison family enterprise in 1990.

COLLEGE: University of Kansas 
ROOTS: Three brothers-in-law—David Blish, Edward Mize, and Jack Silliman—founded the company in 1871. They started by outfitting wagon trains and today, the company is a full-service hardware distributor providing more than 50,000 products to stores across 13 states. 
JOBS PILLAR: Blish-Mize is one of the biggest private enterprises in Atchison. There, it has a 500,000-square-foot warehouse rigged with radio frequency ID technology to track, prepare, ship and deliver its orders. 
SUPPORT STRATEGY: Blish-Mize succeeds when its retailers succeed, so it provides profit management and marketing tools for smaller-scale retailers competing in a world of big-box hardware centers. Those programs cover growth and profitability, product and assortment planning, pricing strategy, store design and presentation, advertising, computer technology for sales, and customer service.

Todd Muenstermann
President/CEO, Durvet

Our contention for years has been that Durvet, with fewer than 60 on staff, punches farther above its weight than any other local company of its size. Todd Muenstermann and team demonstrated that again last year, belting out a massive 24.75 percent revenue increase over the previous year. This Blue Springs maker of animal health/nutrition products is a key player in the regional Animal Health Corridor.

COLLEGE: B.S./B.A., Marketing/Management, University of Central Missouri
2023 REVENUES: $340.9 million  
TARGET AUDIENCE: Durvet’s products provide care for domestic pets and horses, farm animals and ranch livestock across the nation, both with nutritional supplements and products used by veterinarians for cases like mite and parasite treatment and prevention.
PUPPY LOVE: Well, you can throw in cats, hamsters, turtles and pet iguanas here, too, but Durvet offers a range of products that help connect people and pets, particularly around Valentine’s Day and Christmas. Can a collaboration with Hallmark be in the offing at some point?
MODEL: Durvet’s products are wholesaled to nearly 70 distributor members coast to coast.
MEANT TO BE: Our award for best surname matched to mission goes to one of Durvet’s sales directors … John Moose.

Allison Murdock
Managing Partner, Stinson

As the world turns, legal gears turn along with it. “Stinson had a great 2023,” Allison Murdock says. “Driven primarily by increased demand for litigation, regulatory, labor and employment, IP patent prosecution and antitrust work.” All that activity positioned Stinson to make significant investments in the firm’s future. “We opened a new Tampa office and welcomed 62 new attorneys across the firm,” she added.

COLLEGE: B.A., Communication Arts and J.D., UMKC
GROWTH PLANS: “We continue to explore strategic growth opportunities that will expand our geographic footprint and deepen our bench.” 
SECTOR OUTLOOK: “Demand for counter-cyclical legal services has remained strong, and this trend is expected to continue. At the same time, the legal sector is seeing improvement in the M&A outlook.”
EFFECTS OF AI: “We field questions about data privacy and security every day, and we have an AI task force to help clients navigate these concerns. Every practice area has been impacted by the rapid advancement of this technology.”
STAFFING PLANS: “Stinson has been and remains in strategic growth mode.
CURRENT HEADCOUNT: “Kansas City, 130 attorneys and 158 operational personnel. Firm-wide, 450 attorneys and 408 operation personnel across 13 offices in 10 states.”

Timothy Murphy
President & Shareholder, Murphy-Hoffman Co.

What is a thought leader? In business, it’s someone whose opinion and insights are valued by other execs. Tim Murphy is the very picture of one. Not only has he helped build the largest privately owned heavy and medium-duty truck dealer in North America, his guidance is sought out by the likes of UMB Financial Corp.’s board of directors and the Federal Reserve Bank’s Economic Advisory Council, among others.

COLLEGE: B.A., Business, Spring Hill College 
OTHER INFLUENCE: Murphy has served on numerous supplier councils to the trucking industry, including two terms as chairman of the North American Kenworth Dealer Council. He also has nine years of service on the Board of Trustees at his alma mater. 
ABOUT MHC: The company has 125 locations in 19 states, selling new and used heavy and medium-duty trucks, with service, parts, leasing and financing operations. Its roots run to Springfield, Mo., where it was founded in 1975 as Ozark Kenworth.
GROWING FOOTPRINT: This past year, MHC entered its 19th state by opening MHC Kenworth-Charlotte in suburban Fort Mill, S.C.
EMPLOYEES: More than 3,700 employees

Kathy Nelson
President/CEO, KC Sports Commission & Foundation

“The spotlight on Kansas City is shining bright,” says Kathy. “Millions of people around the world are wanting to know more about the Heart of America.” While such things as winning teams and the 2026 FIFA World Cup have made quite the splash, adding attractiveness for vacations and conventions, Kathy says, “What has really driven growth for our tourism industry is our people and our true Kansas City heart.”

KC’S DRAW: “Experiences matter for meeting planners, convention attendees and casual tourists. Our hotels, attractions, restaurants, streetcar, airport, etc., all add to that.”
SECTOR GROWTH: “Tourism, both leisure and business, continues to experience tremendous growth.” 
INSPIRATION SOURCE: “Introducing people to Kansas City. Igniting global passion for our community is why our team comes to work. Igniting that passion happens through tourism, sports, events, and experiences.”
STRESS BUSTING: “Sleeping! I never seem to have enough hours in my day for a solid eight hours, so when I need to relieve stress, I find a place to close my eyes and rest.”
STAFFING PLANS: “In preparation for the World Cup we will evaluate needs from marketing to event support to understand positions needed at both the Sports Commission and Visit KC.”

Joe Neuberger
President/CEO, Kornitzer Capital Management

More than 5,000 account holders count on Joe Neuberger and his team at Kornitzer Capital to safely steer their investment portfolios through financial seas that can, at times, be quite choppy. He took the leadership baton at KCM from founder John Kornitzer and runs the mission-based firm that has more than $7.2 billion in assets under management. 

COLLEGE: B.A., Accounting, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 
BEFORE KCM: Over a 28-year span, Neuberger held various leadership roles with U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, six of them as president. He also logged 10 years with the former Arthur Andersen accounting firm, where he served as tax manager in the capital markets group. 
AT KCM: Neuberger has day-to-day management duties at KCM, overseeing the firm’s long-term growth strategy.
CLIENT DIVERSITY: The firm says clients include foundations, pensions, trusts, family offices, endowment funds, small businesses, and Fortune 500 companies.
ELITE INVESTOR CLIENTS: Within those 5,000-plus accounts are 10 high-net-worth investors whose holdings account for nearly 60 percent of assets under management, roughly $4.26 billion.

Rex Newcomer
President/CEO, DH Pace

As progress and opportunity open doors for people and industry, DH Pace is there with the products and systems to keep those entry points secure. “The key for us,” says Rex Newcomer, “is recognizing change and adapting to retain or achieve status as a preferred provider to customers.” It’s that kind of focus that fuels his desire to build “an organization that stands the test of time.”

COLLEGE: The University of Kansas
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “Keeping the Chiefs and Royals in Kansas City.” 
EFFECTS OF AI: “As with most technology it is a double-edged sword. It will enable huge productivity gains, enable more effective training programs, and free employees up from many routine tasks. It will also displace worker roles in some industries, create significant junk message traffic, and be used to cheat or steal from the unwary.”
STRESS BUSTING: “Exercise and reading.”
MANAGER MUST-HAVES: “Their passion for life, commitment to achieving goals, and a heartfelt respect for others.”
STAFFING PLANS: “We are hiring.” 
CURRENT HEADCOUNT: “900 in KC and 3,500 companywide.”

Michael Norsworthy
President, 54th Street/KRM

Mike Norsworthy is a fighter. He and the team at 54th Street, the restaurant, shook off the pandemic, began the recovery, even expanded. Now, they’re lacing up the gloves again: “Economic downturn starting in Q3 2023 made us slow down a bit,” he says. “Inflation is squeezing guests and the free COVID money has dried up.” Still, he’s opening a 33rd location this month. Like we said: Fighter.

2023 REVENUES: $182 million 
SOURCE OF PASSION: ”I love what I do, so the passion is organic.”
KC’S NEXT BIG THING? “So many great things are going on right now in the city, which is great for our current citizens living here and should attract businesses.”
HIRING vs. FIRING: “Hiring is harder; we typically fire because of lack of performance. If someone isn’t doing their job effectively, it is easy to fire them.”
AI IMPACT:: “Very early on in this cycle, but will be exciting to see what restaurant tech comes out of it.”
LEADERSHIP TRAITS SOUGHT: “I like people that have played sports in their youth. Helps them understand competition, discipline, and struggles.”
STRESS-BUSTER: “Gym six days a week.”  
EMPLOYEES: “In KC, 800; overall, 3,200.”

Tyler Nottberg
CEO, U.S. Engineering

The vision pays off for Tyler Nottberg: “Our recent growth is a direct result of strategic decisions made a decade ago,” he says. “It’s incredibly gratifying to see the success of choices that, while challenging to execute, were made with conviction.” So the firm is well-positioned, he says, in a sector with a strong outlook for data centers (thanks, AI!), on-shored manufacturing, and hospital construction. 

COLLEGE: B.A., Middlebury College  
2023 REVENUES: $444.94 million
SOURCES OF INSPIRATION: “I’m inspired every day by our team members at U.S. Engineering. Seeing our projects come to life, knowing they contribute to essential infrastructure like hospitals and data centers, drives our organization to push for excellence.”
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “The development of a Downtown baseball stadium. I believe that bringing the Royals downtown is not just a possibility, but an inevitability.”
IMPACT OF AI: “As AI began gaining traction a few years ago, our organization embraced it. We invested in tools that augmented our human capabilities rather than trying to use AI to replace people. Today, AI is integrated into daily operations, enhancing some tasks while pushing our Team Members to unleash their unique talents on our business.”

Tom O’Grady
President, HNTB

More than 30 years after he came on board at HNTB as a civil engineer in its Dallas office, Tom O’Grady presides over an engineering powerhouse in transportation infrastructure. This employee-owned Kansas City company turned 110 years old this year and now has offices in nearly 80 cities nationwide. O’Grady reached the C-suite in 2008, amid the Great Recession, and has helped steer its recovery.

COLLEGE: B.S., M.S., Civil Engineering, Vanderbilt University 
2023 REVENUES: $1.91 billion 
BANNER YEAR: The Kansas City area’s Big Four engineering firms—those with at least $1 billion in revenue—saw the top line jump in 2023, but none of the others came close to the 22.65 percent surge at HNTB.
LOCAL SUCCESS: HNTB landed a key role in the University of Kansas’ $450 million Gateway District project in the heart of Lawrence. It includes $350 million in upgrades to Memorial Stadium and a remodeling of the Anderson Family Football Complex on campus. 
BREADTH OF SERVICE: HNTB helps clients address issues of financing, legislation, design, construction, community outreach and ongoing operations. 
HOMETOWN RECOGNITION: HNTB again secured a spot in the Top 25 of this year’s Ingram’s 100, our annual ranking of the largest private companies in the region.

John Olander
COO, Burns & McDonnell

We all count on public and private infrastructure every day and that’s where John Olander sees opportunity. “Addressing aging infrastructure, the path to a cleaner energy future, government investment programs, renewed growth in energy demand to support data centers and electrification all contributed to growth in the industries we support,” he says.

COLLEGE: B.S., Electrical Engineering, North Dakota State; MBA, University of Kansas  
SECTOR OUTLOOK: “Election years are always tricky, this one has already provided more surprises than a typical cycle, and there will be more to come. While our sales are strong, we know we will need to be ready to pivot to keep it that way.”
SOURCE OF INSPIRATION: “I am blessed to work with extremely caring and passionate people. This carries through in their work, families, and friendships. Supporting them as they move our company forward has been incredibly rewarding.
EFFECTS OF AI: “Industry growth has driven business in our mission-critical business and, being energy intensive, in our power generation and delivery practices. Internally, we are increasingly deploying machine learning, large language models, and data analytics and have established teams to advance these emerging capabilities.”

John Owen
CEO, Airshare

His flight path included layovers at prominent financial-services brands like Accenture, KPMG, Mariner and CBIZ, but things really took off for John Owen when he became CFO at Airshare. The Overland Park company offers fractional jet ownership for an upscale clientele of business owners, corporate executives and high-net-worth individuals. Two years into that role, he assumed duties as chief executive.

COLLEGE: B.A., Business Administration-Information Systems; M.A., Accounting, University of Kansas
2023 REVENUES: $210.15 million 
AIR CAPITAL LAUNCH: It was a natural fit when Airshare was founded in 2000 in Wichita, where more general-aviation aircraft are produced than in any other city on the planet. 
KC LANDING: It moved operations to Kansas City in 2004 and, on Owen’s watch, has embarked on multiple expansions, starting in 2019. It seized opportunities in the Midwest with sites in Chicago, Louisville, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, and Indianapolis.
MORE GROWTH: Last year, Owen prepped Airshare for national expansion with the acquisition of Wheels Up’s private jet management arm. That extends the reach across the U.S. and into Central America.

Gayle Packer
President/CEO, Terracon

To Gayle Packer’s robust roster of college degrees—two bachelor’s, a master’s, a law degree, and an advanced legal degree—perhaps we should add a Doctorate of Acquisitions. Her work on the rise to the C-suite brought dozens of small engineering firms nationwide under the Terracon umbrella, and the Olathe company continues to add—and grow—on her watch.

COLLEGE: B.A., Political Science, B.S., International Studies, M.S., Agricultural Economics, The Ohio State University; J.D., University of Minnesota Law School; LLM, Agricultural Law, University of Arkansas Law School
2023 REVENUES: $1.15 billion   
NATIONAL POWER: The firm was founded in 1965 with a single office that provided geotechnical services. Fast-forward 60 years, and Terracon has claimed its place among the 20 biggest design firms in the United States in the annual rankings by Engineering News-Record.
STAFFING SURGE: Last year, Packer told us the head count at Terracon was headed north. She wasn’t kidding: It went from just over 5,400 employees in 2022 to more than 6,400 last year.

Bob Page
President/CEO, The University of Kansas Health System

Two factors are fueling growth at The University of Kansas Health System, Bob Page says. For one, “we have specialists and subspecialists right here in Kansas City who can diagnose and treat complex health care needs,” he says. “Our growth is also fueled by hospitals continuing to seek our partnership.”

ON GROWTH: “By expanding across the region, we can keep care close to home while offering access to specialized treatment options at 39th and Rainbow, not found anywhere else in the region. And we do it with a patient-first approach.
SECTOR OUTLOOK: “It is a difficult time in health care. As our population ages, we are caring for more people than ever while at the same time, insurance providers are paying us less, and the cost to us to provide this care has gone up. Simultaneously, we have doctors, nurses and other clinicians retiring or leaving the industry in greater numbers than are entering.”
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “Kansas City has an opportunity to become a destination for health care, while continuing to provide much-needed care to those who already live and work in our communities. We have the talent and ability to recruit even more talent.”

Roshann Parris
Founder/President, Parris Communications

Nothing gets into Roshann Parris’ calendar quite like an election year, so she and the team at Parris Communications are barreling toward November with a full slate of clients seeking office—in addition to those who turn to her firm for strategic business guidance and content. A counselor to presidents, senators and foreign dignitaries, she started her firm in 1988, specializing in strategic corporate communications, media relations, public affairs, and crisis communications.

COLLEGE: B.A. Indiana University; MBA, University of Kansas School of Business 
FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES: Parris is tasked by the White House as advance lead on overseas trips, leading teams to summits for NATO, G7 nations and the European Union, as well as diplomatic missions to the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.
FOUR LEGS: She’s also founding board chair for the KC Campus for Animal Care, billing herself as “Godmother to over 17,000 4-legged citizens of Kansas City in The House That Love Built.”
D.C. CONNECTED: Her work with national political figures dates back to the Mondale-Ferraro Democratic ticket in the 1984 presidential election, and she’s since been on speed dial for Hillary Clinton as well as Barack and Michelle Obama.

Tim Paulson
CO-CEO, Emery Sapp & Sons

Tim Paulson has no quarrel with D.C. these days. “The construction industry is red hot,” he says, with federal infrastructure funding up and an increase expected at the state level. It all adds up to good news for Emery Sapp’s employee-owners. “When employee ownership is aligned with great business practices,” Paulson says, “it makes work even more rewarding.”

COLLEGE: Math and Bible studies, Evangel University; applied math, Washington University in St. Louis
OUTLOOK: “The housing sector has been weak in recent history, but there is a housing shortage, and mortgage interest rates are coming down, so health is returning. 
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “It’s fun to be a member of the Kansas City metro right now. We’re seeing advancements in amenities and infrastructure, plus our sports teams are winning. … The next big civic-agenda item will be the Royals and Chiefs future home.”
STRESS BUSTER: “Being on the water is my No. 1 stress reliever. Water sports, fly fishing and boating are my go-to activities.”
STAFFING PLANS: “I’m looking forward to our organization continuing to grow organically over the next year as a result of healthy infrastructure markets.”

Lenora Payne
President, TGS

The company Lenora Payne co-founded in 2005 as Technology Group Solution is the biggest in the Kansas City region that can claim status as both a woman-owned and minority-owned enterprise. The past couple of years have seen its profile raised after becoming a corporate partner of the Kansas City Chiefs, exposing its full suite of IT services to a large TV audience.

2023 REVENUES: $69.9 million
TECH ROOTS: She’s been in the IT world for more than 30 years, going back to her days working with word-processing data equipment. Working for such big brands as GE Capital Information Technology Solutions, MicroAge Computer Center, and other IT resellers, she massed a skills toolkit covering operations management, employee training, sales support, and human resources before taking the ownership plunge with TGS. 
ABOUT TGS: Microsoft, Dell, HP, Cisco, Hitachi—if you can think of an IT company, it’s likely to be on the roster of nearly 75 authorized TGS partners. That allows TGS to deliver cloud services, data-center design, IT consulting, office cabling, VoiP and other lines of IT work.
HONORS: In 2013, Payne was recognized by Ingram’s in its Women Executives-Kansas City awards.

Cliff Pemble
President/CEO, Garmin International

Cliff Pemble was a young software engineer for AlliedSignal when opportunity came knocking. On the other side of the door were Min Kao and Gary Burrell, who brought him on board as one of their first employees at their fledgling ProNav. You don’t know that company, but you know its successor as one of the biggest in the region: Garmin. The Olathe firm serves five primary markets: fitness, outdoor, aviation, marine, and auto.

COLLEGE: B.S., Mathematics and Computer Science, MidAmerica Nazarene University
2023 REVENUE: $5.23 billion 
UP THE RANKS: Pemble became chief operating officer in 2007, then was named CEO in 2012. He has helped direct the company’s pivot from its original focus on GPS systems for vehicles to industry leader in smartwatches, wearable tech, and other devices that operate with satellite connections.
GLOBAL IMPACT: Since the first GPS units came out 35 years ago, Garmin has shipped more than 282 million products to customers worldwide—16 million of them last year.
RECOGNITION: Over the past year, Forbes ranked Garmin No. 2 on its list of America’s Best Large Employers. Garmin also came in at No. 1 in customer support—for the 20th consecutive year—by both Professional Pilot and Aviation International News.

Stephen Penn
Managing Partner, KPMG

The Kansas City region is well-known for the level of civic and philanthropic engagement practiced by its executive community, and Stephen Penn is one reason why. In addition to managing the local office for global accounting firm KPMG, he has compiled a record of service with the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, Catholic Charities, the United Way, the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City and on the board of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.

COLLEGE: B.S., Accountancy, Western Illinois University
AUDIT PRO: That’s been Penn’s pathway in accounting/consulting services, and over the course of more than 30 years, it has taken him to Detroit, St. Louis and Kansas City. He was named office managing partner here in 2019. 
ABOUT KPMG: Based in London, England, KPMG has subsidiary firms operating in 155 countries and territories across the globe, offering audit, tax and advisory services.
STILL STANDING: Once upon a time, the sector was ruled by what were known as Big Eight accounting firms; consolidations have trimmed that down to the Big Four, and within them, KPMG boasts annual revenues of roughly $36 billion.

Mike Perry
President/CEO, Hallmark Cards

Contrary to folklore, Hallmark has never invented a holiday. But Mike Perry’s team does invent experiences, and he’s very excited over one about to launch: Hallmark Movies Now streaming is becoming Hallmark+, with new, exclusive Hallmark movies, original series and other feel-good content. “It is the very best of Hallmark, all in one place,” he declares.

COLLEGE: B.A., Business Administration, University of Missouri–Kansas City
ON GROWTH: “As in years past, we’ve continued to grow and innovate our businesses. This year, we have the privilege to bring one of the most recognizable brands in the world to life in new, exciting ways for our shoppers and viewers, including brand experiences and the launch of our new streaming and membership program—Hallmark+. Both will become a key pillar to our brand strategy going forward.” 
SOURCE OF INSPIRATION: “J.C. Hall’s aspiration to build a purpose-driven brand that helps people make a meaningful difference in the lives of those they most care about ignites my passion for Hallmark. Leading an organization filled with likeminded individuals living our purpose through our culture and bringing it to life through our products and services is truly a gift.”

Tammy Peterman
President, The University of Kansas Health System

The growth formula, says Tammy Peterman, sounds simple but is grounded in careful thought and planning. “We focus on quality, service and people,” she says. “If we provide the very best patient care and support our employees in the best and right way, we will continue to grow. This has driven our culture and our growth for decades and will continue to do so.”

LOCAL OUTLOOK: “We anticipate we will continue to care for more patients, year-over-year, as we have for the last 20 years.”
SECTOR OUTLOOK: “Health care continues to be challenged by rising supply and labor costs; at the same time, reimbursements from insurance providers remain the same or are declining. This comes at the same time our aging population needs more care, while more and more providers are leaving the industry.” 
INSPIRATION SOURCE: “The commitment of our teams to our patients and their families inspires me every day.
STRESS BUSTING: “Spending time with family and friends and attending sporting events. Grandkids make everything in life better.”
CURRENT HEADCOUNT: 18,388 overall, 17,916 in the Kansas City area.

Tim Petty
Market President/Kansas City-Oklahoma, U.S. Bank 

Tim Petty understands the essential human element in growth. “We did see good growth in loans, deposits, and fee-based business,” he said. “Keeping our people in place is the most important factor; we have very talented people who are the owners of our culture. … They have a genuine fondness for each other and that has led to the longevity we have enjoyed.”

SECTOR OUTLOOK: “Technology advancements are being integrated into everything we do. That area of the industry is red hot; M&A was slow at the first of the year, picked up in the middle of it, and has remained steady. We expect a similar outcome for 2025.”
INSPIRATION SOURCE: “Watching our clients and associates realize their dreams.” 
EFFECTS OF AI: “We are using AI … to solve problems, improve experiences, and enhance operations. There is still a lot to learn about artificial intelligence and machine learning and their promise for the future of banking.”
STRESS BUSTING: “Trusting that God is in control of everything. Spending time to pray for our country, clients, friends and family and leaving it up to Him to do His will.”
CURRENT HEADCOUNT: “Overall: 70,000. Kansas City Core Based Statistical Area: 2,000.”

Mike Poore
CEO, Mosaic Life Care

For Mike Poore, the potential transformation of health care through artificial intelligence serves two key constituencies: patients, of course, who would benefit from care delivered more efficiently, but also staffers who could be freed from what he calls “pajama time” duties that come from cumbersome tasks being performed after-hours and allowing more, and more meaningful, patient engagement.

COLLEGE: B.S., Health Services Administration, Auburn University; MBA, Business Administration and Management, University of South Alabama 
2023 REVENUES: $1.71 billion 
MORE ON AI: “We are utilizing AI to enhance revenue cycle management, improve financial efficiency, and support continuous quality improvement to elevate patient care. Ultimately, our vision is to create a world-class, seamless experience for both patients and caregivers, making access to care efficient and exceptional at every touchpoint.”
ABOUT MOSAIC: The largest employer in St. Joseph, the health system’s reach goes well beyond the city limits: It serves 35 counties in northwest Missouri, northeast Kansas, southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa. 
EMPLOYEES: “We employ 4,100 caregivers in my organization, and in many instances, those caregivers’ whole family works for our organization,” Poore says. 

Jeanette Prenger
CEO, ECCO Select

The good news? Quadrennial election years are leaner, but this season is almost over. “Typically, after a presidential election, we see demand increase within four to six months,” says Jeanette Prenger. “We choose to retain our associates because we anticipate the growth and want to ensure we’re ready when it arises.”

COLLEGE: B.S., Management Information Systems, Park University 
SOURCES OF INSPIRATION: “The ability to provide value, create jobs, and give back to our community.”
NEXT BIG THING?: “Our crime and homelessness are an embarrassment. We’ve also neglected to invest in early education, which has been proven to reduce generational crime and violence.” 
AI IMPACT: “We use it in-house to streamline some of our processes. Our clients have also had us integrate AI within their technology projects across various domains.”
STRESS-BUSTER: “Working out.”
LEADERSHIP CANDIDATE TRAITS: “Having someone with high EQ and a willingness to admit to failures and understanding lessons learned. I appreciate someone who has humility but  is also proud of success built on challenges.”
EMPLOYEES: “A little over 200 in KC; overall, almost 400.”

Kent Price
Partner, Price Brothers

Billion-dollar development projects are few and far between, and sometimes, the initial vision isn’t realized. But Kent Price and team are delivering on the promise with Bluhawk, a sprawling, 300-acre mixed-use project that includes retail, restaurants, hotel, entertainment, multifamily, single-family, office, and an AdventHealth Hospital. It’s the capstone project for a firm that celebrated a century in business in 2022.

COMING UP: This month, the firm will unveil its AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk, the premier anchor of the development. The multisport complex includes an NHL-regulated sized ice rink, eight basketball courts that can be turned into 16 courts for volleyball, a 40,000 square foot turf field, locker rooms, training area, café, bar, grill, and more.
MULTIFAMILY MAGNATES: The firm manages properties with more than 13,000 apartment units across Kansas City, Nashville, Denver, and Dallas and has investments in office, retail, and land. 
AREAS OF FOCUS: Price Brothers deals with site selection and acquisition, financing, construction, management and other related functions.
OTHER WORK: The firm is also behind the 281-unit Sky on Main apartment project at 10th and Main, and on the industrial side was responsible for the 600,000-square-foot JCT Warehouse near Kansas City International Airport.

Rosana Privitera Biondo
President, Mark One Electric Co.

One of the biggest women-owned enterprises in the region is led by Rosana Privitera Biondo, with assistance from siblings Joe, Carl, and Tony. They carry on a family legacy started by their parents, Red and Josephine, in 1974, and Rosie was installed in the leadership when the folks bowed out in 1994. On her watch, it has attained status as one of the region’s biggest women-owned enterprises.

ABOUT MARK ONE: It provides electrical services and components to general contractors, developers, facility managers, and business owners across the Midwest. 
ENGAGED-PLUS: Her leadership of the company is informed by an understanding that if you don’t help set the civic agenda, the agenda could become a challenge. At various times, she’s held board roles for local organizations like the KCADC, the Economic Development Corp. of KC and many others. 
NATIONAL REACH: She has also served on the board for the Women Construction Owners & Executives—and has even testified in Congress on matters involving women in construction. 
FOOTPRINT: Mark One’s body of work reads like a Who’s Who of KC construction projects: Ameristar Casino, Kansas Speedway, Ford’s Claycomo plant, Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, Nebraska Furniture Mart, IRS regional offices, JE Dunn’s HQ, KCI, Ingram’s and more.

Julie Quirin
President, BJC Health System West Region

It’s been a year of big change in Julie Quirin’s leadership at Saint Luke’s Health System: Just as she was being elevated to replace CEO Melinda Estes, the hospital system merged into St. Louis-based BJC Health. Quirin now leads the combined system’s west region for a statewide health-care provider with a combined $10 billion in revenue, 44,000 employees and 24 hospitals.

COLLEGE: B.A., Business/Corporate Communications, Buena Vista Univ; M.A., Organizational Communication, University of Kansas 
2024 CHANGE: “Physician recruitment has been a big focus for us in the last year and something we will continue to pursue in the next cycle.” 
PASSION: “We’re all care-givers. That means while not all of us are patient-facing, it takes all of us to create the culture and environment for our patient-facing providers to be their best.”
LEADERS: “We are looking for candidates to demonstrate they understand the vital importance of the work we do, and the legacy of service that drives us. They need to understand that our mission to provide excellent care comes from all team members, not just those who are in patient-facing roles. It includes business managers who shape policy, IT professionals who enable life-saving technology, people who keep facilities safe and clean, and everyone in between.”

Mike Rainen
President, Rainen Companies

From apartments to condominiums and industrial properties, Mike Rainen has a decades-long reputation as someone with an eye for sound investments. But he knows as much about what should be inside a building, too: One of his previous ventures, Mid Continent Office Distributors, at one point was the largest independent office-furniture wholesaler in the United States.

SHIFT: Rainen got into the multifamily world with three apartment complexes he bought from Resolution Trust Corp., the entity to sort out the saving-and-loan sector crisis of the 80s.
IN DEVELOPMENT: His success on the real-estate front prompted the founding of Rainen Companies in 1992, setting him on a path for award-winning property development.
HOME RUN: A Rainen partnership achieved a condominium conversion project that ranks among the most successful in the region. It came with the acquisition of the Sulgrave and Regency House apartments in 2001, a site transformed into luxury living accommodations.
NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Rainen’s team won an Urban Land Institute Development of Distinction award with its redevelopment of Northgate Village. They also tackled a 318-unit senior complex called Gardens at Northgate Village, which won the Northland Clay County EDC’s Keystone Award. Another venture in that region was the 246-unit CityView Apartments.

Joe Reardon
President/CEO, Greater KC Chamber of Commerce

Since 2016, Joe Reardon has had the potentially cat-herding challenge of giving a unified voice to the region’s business community as CEO for the Chamber. But if there’s anyone with consensus-building skills, it’s Reardon, who hails from a politically iconic Wyandotte County family and is a former mayor of KCK. At the Chamber, he serves 2,250 companies, with 300,000 employees, in a 15-county region. 

COLLEGE: B.S., Political Science, Rockhurst Univ.; J.D., Univ. of Kansas School of Law 
MAYORAL RECORD: While serving as the CEO of Wyandotte County’s Unified Government, he helped land a massive win for the community when Google Fiber included it in the rollout of its first ultra-high-speed internet delivery. Also during his tenure, Sporting Kansas City saw a new stadium open in Village West, not far from the new $300 million Hollywood Casino. 
MORE WINNING: Reardon was also in office when General Motors invested $600 million in plant upgrades at the Fairfax assembly plant in KCK.
FAMILY TRADITION: Public service runs deep within the Reardon clan. His father, Jack, served as mayor of the city before its unification with Wyandotte County. His uncle, Bill, served in the Kansas Legislature for more than 30 years, representing a district in KCK. 
PATH TO POLITICS: Reardon started his law career with McAnany, Van Cleave & Phillips.

Randy Reed
President, Reed Automotive

Randy Reed runs the show for six vehicle dealerships—four in Missouri, two in Kansas—with lines from Chevrolet, GMC, Jeep, Hyundai, Buick, Chrysler, Dodge, and Ram. Over the past year, he’s altered the footprint of this family-owned, veteran-owned business with a new dealership site in St. Joseph while bringing on new product lines with Chevrolet. The other sites are in Merriam, one in the Northland, two in St. Joseph.

COLLEGE: B.S., U.S. Air Force Academy; MBA, Troy University 
EARLY EXPOSURE: Reed is an Iowa native who learned a few things about selling cars from his father, who started a dealership when Randy was still a teen.  
FLYING HIGH: After graduating from the Air Force Academy, he flew F-15s and served as an instructor and flight examiner, experiences he credits to his leadership skills.
CARS AND COUNTRY: Reed’s partners in the company include sons Tyler and Trevin, both of whom followed their father into the military, though by different paths. While Dad did his tours in the Air Force, Tyler is an Army vet, and Trevin signed on with the Marines.
FULL-SERVICE APPROACH: In addition to new vehicles, the dealerships sell used cars and trucks, with parts, service and financing available.

Steve Reintjes
President & CEO, North Kansas City Hospital

The awards have been coming in bunches for Steve Reintjes and his team of nearly 2,900 at North Kansas City Hospital, including the sought-after recognition by U.S. News & World Report for High-Performing status in seven areas of care. Not surprising, given the hospital’s status as one of the region’s five largest, admitting roughly 17,500 patients a year.

COLLEGE: B.S., Georgetown University; M.A., Philosophy, M.D., KU School of Medicine
2023 REVENUES: $2.71 billion 
MORE HONORS: The U.S. News rankings came on the heels of what Reintjes considers perhaps a more prestigious distinction—sustaining NKCH’s Magnet designation. “For us to achieve this through the struggles of the pandemic is amazing. We initially earned this designation in 2018, and this second recognition, which is highly sought after and rarely awarded, confirms our team’s ongoing commitment to our patients, community and mission.”
MORNING READ: “I make it a goal each morning to read Google News. The coverage helps me stay up to date with what’s going on locally, nationally and internationally.”
SECTOR TRENDS: “The national shortage of health-care workers will continue to be a threat and challenge us to do things differently.”

Ora Reynolds
President/CEO, Hunt Midwest

This year’s report on growth, Ora Reynolds says, includes expansion of the company’s industrial, multifamily, and climate-controlled self-storage platforms, with a focus on industrial build-to-suits or spec-to-suit in KC and beyond. Also on the list of accomplishments, completing major infrastructure improvements in preparation for industrial mega-sites at KCI 29 Logistics Park and Hunt Midwest Business Center.

COLLEGE: B.S., Finance, Indiana University
SECTOR OUTLOOK: “The real-estate sector is impacted by interest rates, construction costs, consumer demand, available talent, and critical infrastructure—much of which is outside of our control—but I am cautiously optimistic.” 
MANAGER MUST-HAVES: “At Hunt Midwest, you need to be intelligent, work hard, build relationships, collaborate, and ask the right questions to ‘connect the dots’ for our clients, our stakeholders, and our overall team.”
GAME-CHANGING: Her team’s work in the logistics sector is about to have profound implications for the regional logistics sector: The KCI 29 Logistics Park, at build-out, will sit on 3,300 acres of land,  and with 20 million square feet of distribution and warehousing space, will be the largest site of its kind in Missouri.

Michael Riggs
CEO, Jack Cooper Transport Co.

Michael Riggs oversees the day-to-day tasks at Jack Cooper, which hauls finished cars and trucks from assembly plant to dealership, with a client history that includes Ford, GM, Toyota and others. He structured the deal to acquire a nearly bankrupt company in 2009 and has overseen its transformation into an award-winning supplier to the automotive sector.

COLLEGE: MBA, Harvard University
FAMILY-OWNED WBE: While Riggs was the one who orchestrated the acquisition, the company also has attained women-owned certification through its executive chair, Michael’s daughter, Sarah Riggs Amico. 
LOCAL ROOTS: The company was founded in 1928 as a carrier for vehicles produced by General Motors at its Leeds Assembly Plant in Kansas City.
HONORS: Jack Cooper is a two-time winner of GM’s Global Supplier of the Year award, which is saying something: The competition includes 25,000 organizations in GM’s worldwide supplier network.  It’s also a two-time winner of Toyota’s Presidents Award.
PERSONAL ACCOLADES: He won Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Midwest Region in 2013 and the Global Outstanding Achievement Award from Automotive Supply Chain Magazine in 2015.

Greg Righter
President/CEO, Berkel & Co. Contractors

In just over 25 years with Berkel & Co., Greg Righter has run the career gamut from field engineer project manager to assistant regional manager, vice president of operations, and, since 2017, the lead role. He took the day-to-day role of chief executive in 2017 and oversees a company ranked by Engineering News-Record last year as the nation’s 12th-largest concrete specialty contractor.

COLLEGE: B.S., Pre-Engineering, Furman University; B.S., Civil Engineering, Clemson University; M.S., Geotechnical Engineering, Georgia Tech 
REVENUES: The most recent disclosure was for 2022, at $309 million, according to ENR. 
ESOP: Charles Berkel, who founded the company in 1959, established the employee-ownership model there in 1976, not long after Congress passed the law that established a legal framework for ESOPs. The construction sector decades to follow that lead. 
NATIONAL FOOTPRINT: The company has a work portfolio that goes well beyond infrastructure projects like deep foundations, power plants, and heavy construction. It includes notable sites across America—sports stadiums and other large entertainment complexes, the Pentagon and World Trade Center site, hospitality venues like resorts and casinos, high-rise buildings, and more.

Jim Rine
President/CEO, UMB Bank

UMB has long prided itself on outperforming the industry in loan and deposit growth through all economic cycles. “This past year has been no different,” said Jim Rine. “Our Institutional business, particularly corporate trust and UMB Fund Services, continues to outpace the industry and helps contribute to our outsized fee income, which is unique to a regional bank.”

SECTOR OUTLOOK: “Financial services is in the ‘in-between, category. We’re continuing to monitor the interest rate environment, and the economy continues to be surprisingly strong, but not on fire. From a UMB perspective, the vast majority of our customers are cautiously optimistic and continue to perform extremely well. Given our diversified model and continued performance, we feel well-positioned for the future.”
STRESS BUSTING: “Golf.”  
STAFFING PLANS: “With the pending acquisition of HTLF [Heartland Financial], we will be adding some great talent who will bring outstanding expertise and experience, along with an expanded geographic footprint.”
CURRENT HEADCOUNT: “We currently have more than 3,600 associates, approximately 1,800 of whom are located in the Kansas City metro.”

Keith Roberts
Principal Owner, Roberts Auto Group

As the nation’s automotive sector continues to throw off the financial shackles from the pandemic, Keith Roberts’ team notched a healthy 10 percent pop in year-over-year revenues for 2023. The family name is synonymous with Chevrolet vehicle sales in Kansas City’s Northland region: The company’s four dealerships are in Liberty and Platte City, with two in Excelsior Springs.

2023 REVENUES: $307.13 million
IMPACT: Roberts Auto Group has recorded a consistent presence on the annual Ingram’s 100 list of the region’s largest privately held companies since it was first published in 2011. 
MORE THAN CHEVY: The combined new-car inventory for his dealerships also includes Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram, along with Chevy’s affiliated GMC.
MORE THAN WHEELS: In addition to new and used vehicles, the dealerships offer parts, service and financing assistance.

Kimberly Rock
Office Managing Partner, EY

Kim Rock is not joking: “Something I greatly enjoy and helps me unwind after a long day is lifting heaving objects. Whether training with weights, lifting household items, or something functional, it is an instant stress reliever for me.” She carries a load during the day as an office managing partner for the global accounting giant EY, which has about 275 employees here and 380,000 worldwide.

COLLEGE: B.A., Accounting, John Carroll University
IMPACT OF AI: “Our use of AI has driven significant growth. Over the past year, EY launched two platforms around AI. EY.ai is now used by over 60,000 clients, and EY’s own Large Language Model, EYQ, has received over 20 million prompts since September 2023.”
SOURCE OF INSPIRATION: “Inextricably tied to both professional and personal facets, my driving force lies in creating a positive impact” both at work and at home.
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “There should be an emphasis on continuing to recruit and retain organizations to do business in our city to support a strong and vibrant local business community. We have amazing talent and community infrastructure to make Kansas City a great place to do business. We should continue to play up our strengths.”

Tim Rock
Co-President, Gannett Fleming TranSystems

It’s been a transformative year for Tim Rock and the crew at longtime Kansas City engineering firm TranSystems—the biggest change being its merger to form Gannett Fleming TranSystems. First, Rock was named CEO at TranSystems in February, and by August, he had completed the deal with Pennsylvania-based Gannett Fleming.

2023 REVENUES: $414.95 million (pre-merger)
DRIVEN TO DESIGN: TranSystems was founded in 1945 and specializes in the engineering of transportation infrastructure projects. Heading into the Gannett Fleming union, it had offices in 70 cities around the country, with nearly 1,650 employees (123 in the Crown Center headquarters). 
COMPETENCIES: The firm is at home working on projects involving highways, airports, ports and other marine facilities, with services that range from project onset—planning and site acquisition—to design and construction.
IN THE BEGINNING: Herbert Johnson, Gerald Brickell, and Edward Mulcahy formed JBM Associates Engineers and Planners in 1966 as traffic experts to help the KC area adapt to its growing transportation demands. It adopted the TranSystems brand after a merger in 1995. 

Dennis Rodenbaugh
President/CEO, Dairy Farmers of America

Dennis Rodenbaugh’s DFA is two years into a new strategy with its Emerging Technologies team, which he says will “help us incorporate the right AI-supported sys-tems that can drive greater efficiencies and productivity.” The region’s biggest private company is also part of Microsoft’s Copilot assessment project, which he credits with enhancing day-to-day productivity.

COLLEGE: B.B.A., Finance/Economics, Washburn University
ON RECENT GROWTH: M&A activity and operational performance drove growth in 2023, he says, “and we expect to again exceed that performance in 2024. Every division, business unit and department is working in unison to achieve a shared vision and outcome to most effectively leverage our position as the world’s largest supplier and marketer of milk and as the second-largest global dairy company.” 
SOURCE OF INSPIRATION: “At an early point in my career, I fell in love with dairy, the passion, commitment and grit of the U.S. dairy farm families and their way of life. As a dairyman and farmer-owner of DFA throughout its first decade, I relied upon its tremendous team across the organization to be the advocates for me and my family, to ensure that our interests were protected, that our milk was picked up, marketed, packaged and distributed to consumers around the globe.”

Fred Ross
Chairman, Custom Truck One Source

Another year, another revenue record for the company where Fred Ross is chairman of the board. CTOS, as it’s designated on the New York Stock Exchange, saw a nearly 18.7 percent surge in revenues. Closer to home, Ross’ attention is also directed to the Lake of the Ozarks, where he’s leading the development of a $300 million resort and entertainment district called Oasis at Lakeport.

2023 REVENUES: $1.87 billion 
OTHER INTERESTS: Ross also has Big Thunder Marine in Lake Ozark, specializing in the sale of powerboats. 
HUMBLE START: In 1996, Fred Ross and his siblings launched what would become the nation’s largest single-source provider of heavy-duty commercial trucks and equipment. Its vehicles are the stuff of productivity for electric utilities, telecom, heavy contractors, rail and other infrastructure-related markets. 
DEAL-MAKER: In 2015, Ross directed the sale of a majority interest in Custom Truck to the Blackstone Group, then in 2021, worked on that firm’s successful exit in structuring a $1.45 billion buyout by Nesco, which then adopted the Custom Truck brand.
ABOUT: The company assembles, sells, rents, and services trucks, cranes, and other heavy equipment—more than 10,200 vehicles in all—at nearly three dozen locations nationwide.

Chris Rosson
President/CEO, United Way of Greater Kansas City

He’s a first-generation college graduate, so Chris Rosson knows the value of education, which is good because supporting learning in all its forms is a priority for the United Way. Beyond non-profit administration, he’s been on a career path that’s involved entrepreneurship, public policy, economic policy and innovation—all skills related to the role he’s had since 2021.

COLLEGE: B.A., Business Administration & Economics, William Jewell College; Philosophy & Political Science tutorials, Oxford University (England); M.A., International Economics & International Relations, Johns Hopkins University
COMMUNITY PILLAR: The United Way’s rich history of philanthropy has benefited more than 700 non-profits over the years, reaching an estimated one in three residents with services in health, education and financial stability. 
POLICY & RESEARCH: His background includes a stint as adviser to former Governor Matt Blunt, research associate at the Kauffman Foundation, and senior analyst for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
IMPACT: Its most recent annual filing with the IRS showed more than $18 million in combined grants to various non-profit organizations in the region.

Dan Rouen
President/Founder, TFL (Tickets for Less)

With an estimated net worth north of $10 billion, Pierre Omidyar doesn’t need credit for anything more than founding eBay. But because he did, Dan Rouen is heading up TFL (formerly Tickets for Less), one of the nation’s biggest online ticket wholesale platforms. It all started in 2004 when he listed tickets for a KU basketball game on eBay and realized there was a market for this service. He was right. 

2023 REVENUES: $201.1 million
BREAKING OUT: TFL snagged its first Top 10 finish this year in Ingram’s Corporate Report 100, which ranks the Kansas City region’s fastest-growing companies. It came in at No. 6, with a three-year growth rate of nearly 700 percent. 
THE CONCEPT: Rouen differentiated his online platform by adopting a no-Web-fee, no-per-ticket fee structure, and the concept resonated with buyers.
NOT JUST SPORTS: Concerts, theaters and ticketed events are part of the listed inventory.
BRANCHING OUT: In late 2020, Tickets For Less acquired Ticket Solutions, which extended its market share in the hospitality, fan travel, corporate ticketing, and premium-experience segments.
EXPANDING: Based in Overland Park but has added offices in Omaha and Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Bill Ryan
Chairman/CEO, Shamrock Trading

For someone who majored in literature in college, Bill Ryan authored a career story with an unexpected plot twist: He started out in the trucking industry nearly 40 years ago, serving agriculture and commodity shippers, then built a transportation services behemoth. Shamrock is the parent of multiple brands, including Ryan Transportation Service, RTS Financial, RTS International and RTS Carrier Services. 

COLLEGE: B.A., Literature, M.A., Education, Emporia State University
QUOTABLE: “When one combines the right people with the right business model, the potential for success is unlimited.” 
SIGNS OF SUCCESS: The company’s performance was reflected in the construction of its new campus in Overland Park. The project cost was estimated at $260 million and the project includes a 12-story tower and two eight-story ones in the 9400 block of Metcalf. Eventually, plan is to build a pedestrian walkway over Metcalf to connect those buildings.
OPERATING UNITS: This Shamrock has five leaflets: Ryan Transportation, a third-party logistics provider; RTS Carrier Services, providing fuel and maintenance services for truckers; ProTransport, trucking software; RTS Financial, providing working capital for companies; and RTS International, focused on international financing. 

Earl Santee
CEO, Populous

In the nearly 40 years since he co-founded Populous, Earl Santee hasn’t just designed sports facilities around the world; he’s earned a global reputation as The Godfather of Stadiums. He returned to the leadership role this past year after a reorganization that followed the sale of a minority interest to a private equity firm.

COLLEGE: B.A., Architecture/Environmental Design, University of Kansas
AGENT OF CHANGE: Last fall, Santee was the subject of an extended interview with the Journal of Applied Sport Management—yes, it’s a thing—and offered this observation about the global impact of his work and that of other U.S. firms. “Quite a bit of what we’ve done here in the states has been transforming how sporting venues across the globe are perceived, so the focus these days is really city and community building.” 
ON THE ROYALS in KC: It isn’t hard to guess where Santee stands on a civic debate here: “Renovating The K going forward is just not feasible,” he said in the run-up to a sales tax vote on the stadium’s fate earlier this year. “It’s not realistic. This is the right time for this (Downtown) site.”
LICENSED TO BUILD: Santee is a registered architect in nearly three dozen states.

Philip Sarnecki 
CEO/Managing Partner, RPS Financial Group

Deflecting personal praise, Philip Sarnecki is quick to point out the reason why RPS is succeeding: “Just a lot of great talent in our organization,” he says. “Advisers doing great planning and putting their clients’ needs first.” That performance is modeled from the top, as the boss finds inspiration in “helping our clients, advisers and employees create successful, well-balanced and intentional lifestyles.”

COLLEGE: B.A., Finance, University of Illinois 
SECTOR OUTLOOK: “Outstanding!” 
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “New homes for the Chiefs and Royals. On the Kansas side!”
STRESS BUSTING: “Working out.”
MANAGER MUST-HAVES: “How they’ve handled failure.”
HIRING vs. FIRING: “Hiring. It’s more of an unknown.”
STAFFING PLANS: “Adding.”
CURRENT HEADCOUNT: “All of our companies, about 850-900 total (350 in KC).”

Ed Schatz
Founder/CEO, HeartLand

While members of his team and affiliates are busy executing their commercial landscaping/maintenance functions, Ed Schatz is designing a national powerhouse in that niche. He’s amassed a network of more than 4,500 spanning 23 states, providing four-season site solutions that range from landscape design and turf maintenance to seasonal flora, winter services, irrigation, landscape installation and more.

COLLEGE: B.S., Finance/Real Estate, Florida State University
2023 REVENUES: $501 million 
DEEP ROOTS: Schatz grew up working for, then with his father, learning the fundamentals of the business before forming Austin Outdoor in Bunnell, Fla. He launched Heartland, headquartered in Kansas City, in 2016.
HOPS & CHANGE: Schatz branched out a bit as an entrepreneur in 2017 when he opened a craft beer bar, the Brass Tap, in Palm Coast, Fla.
HEARTLAND MODEL: Schatz has built the company into a national power by acquiring other landscaping businesses, but very strategically. “There’s got to be a way to do this right without overleveraging these businesses and becoming an accounting company that mows grass,” he told Lawn & Landscape in 2020.

Jeffrey Schmid
President/CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of KC

He isn’t centered on making a profit, but what Schmid does certainly impacts the ability of companies to make a buck. He stepped into the Fed role last summer, leading a team of 2,000 for the 10th District, with offices in KC, Denver, Oklahoma City, and Omaha, but on a national plane, Schmid is part of the federal effort to help stave off a recession.  He brings more than 40 years of banking experience to the job.

COLLEGE: BBA, Finance/Economics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Banking Leadership, Southwestern Graduate School of Banking, Southern Methodist University 
THE ROAD TO KC: Schmid is a native Nebraskan whose work history includes serving as president of American National Bank in Omaha from 1989 to 2007. During that span, the bank grew from $500 million to $1.5 billion in assets.
ACADEMIC APPEAL: Schmid has also dipped his toe into higher education administration; before taking the Kansas City appointment, he spent the previous two years as president and CEO of his alma mater’s banking school at SMU. 
BOARD SERVICE: He’s logged board services for Operation Hope, the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University, and the Avenue Scholars Foundation.

Neal Sharma
Vice Chair, KC2026

Ten years ago, Inc. magazine included Neal Sharma’s DEG among its 25 Companies That Are Changing the World. With DEG’s sale in the rear-view mirror, Sharma’s focus on change is more localized. Among other civic ventures packing his calendar, he’s on the board of the effort to spotlight KC to the planet as host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which he calls “the largest event humanity has ever seen.”

COLLEGE: B.A., Communication, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government, American University; MBA, University of Kansas
ENTREPRENEUR AT HEART: Sharma co-founded Digital Evolution Group in 2001, which grew into a digital marketing/communications powerhouse with 300 employees in the run-up to its acquisition by the Japanese firm Dentsu in 2018 for a reported $150 million. 
OTHER ENGAGEMENT: Sharma also sits on the boards of Evergy and MRIGlobal, Truman Library Institute, and YPO, as well as startup boards for companies in which he has invested. He’s also a fellow with the Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program and previously had a lead role with KC Rising, the civic group formed to address business challenges facing the region, and with the Young Presidents Organization.
HONORS: Sharma has a boatload, going back to his 40 Under Forty recognition and chosen as a Central Midwest Finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award.

John Sherman
Chairman/CEO, Kansas City Royals

Five years into majority ownership of the Royals, John Sherman sees an enterprise transformed. “Two years ago, Royals General Manager J.J. Piccolo went to work,” he says. “He focused our culture on winning, brought in new people from outside the organization, and signed a number of players who have had an impact. They have helped us make record-breaking strides.” 

FORWARD FOCUSED: “We look forward to all that the future might hold, with a primary objective to be more consistent on the field—in hopes of doing something special for Kansas City.” The Royals have seen significant growth in attendance, corporate partnerships, fan engagement with merchandise, and other key barometers. 
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “Our next big civic agenda item is building a ballpark district that continually lifts up our region and its growth.”
STRESS BUSTING: “Sometimes from my office at the K, I take a walk across the bridge to the stadium, and I look down and see Bobby Witt and Salvy taking early drills, working on something to get better. Sometimes, I’ll see the visiting team doing stretching exercises. Either way, it’s a relaxing thing to look down at a Major League Baseball stadium on a beautiful Kansas City day. It’s very serene, and there’s really nothing like it.”

Charlie Shields
President/CEO, University Health

The year was not without sobering moments for Charlie Shields and his team at Kansas City’s urban-core health anchor: Many of the two dozen wounded in the Feb. 14 Chiefs celebration shootings ended up in his ER. But everyone involved responded like champions, and despite the tragic aspect, “Our health system can be proud of our role in this,” he said. “This is who we are. This is what we do.”

COLLEGE: B.A., Marketing, MBA, University of Missouri 
2023 REVENUES: $1.3 billion
BORN TO SERVE: Shields came to the former Truman Medical Centers in 2010 after a long stretch in public service. He started as COO at the Truman Lakewood medical center campus, then was named CEO of the health system in 2014.  
A BUILDER’s MENTALITY: Shields has overseen an expansion of the main campus on Hospital Hill that includes a $45 million University Health Building I and the $70 million Building II across 22nd Street from the mother ship medical center, and the hospital will be part of UMKC’s $140 million health-district expansion.
URBAN IMPACT: The Truman campus, with nearly 17,000 admissions each year, plays an oversized role in regional health care, treating the disproportionately low-income, un-insured, or under-insured.

Gregory Silvers
Chairman/CEO, EPR Properties

For Greg Silvers, no major news was a major relief in 2023, as EPR Properties put an exclamation point on its comeback from a pandemic-induced revenue plunge three years earlier. The company, with holdings in large audience venues nationwide, saw revenues plummet nearly 37 percent in 2020 but worked its way back to nearly even with pre-COVID performance, then popped 7.24 percent for a record year in 2023.

COLLEGE: B.S., from Tennessee Technological University; J.D., University of Kansas School of Law
2023 REVENUES: $705.67 million 
SHAREHOLDER RELIEF: From a low of around $18 a share during the worst of the pandemic, EPR shares have rebounded and stood at $48 and changed in late September.
LEGAL EAGLE: Silvers is a KU law school grad who worked at what is now Stinson, LLP, before coming on board a year after the firm was formed as Entertainment Properties Trust.
ABOUT EPR: It’s all about the experience with this real estate investment trust: EPR has $6.8 billion invested in 354 locations across North America, including casino resorts, museums, amusement parks, zoos, aquariums, and marinas, golf complexes, entertainment districts, concert venues, fitness centers and many others that draw people together.

Chase Simmons
Chairman & CEO, Polsinelli PC

The shock waves didn’t hit KC, but Chase Simmons was definitely near the epicenter of a noteworthy temblor in the nation’s legal sector: It opened a Philadelphia office by onboarding 47 partners and associates from Holland & Knight, the nation’s fourth-largest firm. As an AmLaw 100 firm, Polsinelli wasn’t exactly in a David-and-Goliath situation, but it was nonetheless a major coup for KC’s biggest hometown firm.

COLLEGE: B.A., Political Science, Southern Methodist University; J.D., University of Georgia Law School (cum laude)
2023 REVENUES: $856.15 million 
BEST ADVICE: To young executives, it’s “Work with and surround yourself with people you are proud to be associated with.” To aspiring entrepreneurs: “Hire a good lawyer.”
HERE AND THERE: The firm, founded with a team of three lawyers in 1973, now has nearly 1,000 at two dozen locations across the U.S. More than 225 of them are based at the mothership in Kansas City, the second-largest cohort among firms operating here.
EARLY HONORS: On his way to the C-suite, Simmons carved out a reputation as a go-to real estate development specialist, earning his place in Ingram’s 40 Under Forty in 2010.

Jeffrey Simon
KC Managing Partner, Husch Blackwell

Jeff Simon took a sledgehammer to his law firm earlier this year. Not a metaphor: He really did, ripping through drywall in a Reels video touting the remodel of the firm’s Plaza-area offices. He’s been managing partner there for a decade, overseeing nearly 140 of the firm’s 932 lawyers. More than that, he’s been a busy advocate for social justice here as board chair for KC Common Good.

COLLEGE: B.A., English, J.D., University of Missouri 
WITH COMMON GOOD: Simon has been board chair for KC Common Good since January 2023, spearheading efforts to seek solutions for reducing violent crime in Kansas City. 
WITH HUSCH: He signed on as an associate in 1993, then developed a reputation as something of a high-level litigation bulldog. His main duties involved representing Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders in trademark, trade dress, copyright, patent, and trade-secret cases, often involving valuable company assets requiring the highest level of protection.
HONORS: Simon is a St. Louis native who was in the Class of 2003 for Ingram’s 40 Under Forty awards, spotlighting rising executive talent.

Brad Skinner
President/CEO, Milbank Manufacturing

As Brad Skinner continues to steer Milbank toward a 2027 centennial, he knows that the course can’t be “steady as she goes.” This past year, he created the new role of senior VP of innovation, recognizing the urgency required to stay ahead with research and development in next-generation meter sockets and related products that are vital components of the product line. Skinner has been at the helm since 2016.

COLLEGE: Park University  
WELL-ROUNDED: Skinner, whose father, Duane, was  previous CEO, started with the firm in 1983. He’s come up the ranks through sales strategy development and deployment, operational and organizational planning, and negotiating private-label ventures with equipment manufacturers. He also drove expansion into renewable-energy arena products. 
ABOUT MILBANK: Located in KC’s East Bottoms, it is a power player in the power industry. It designs, engineers and manufactures electrical meter sockets, controls, commercial enclosures and related products.
EXTENDING THE REACH: Skinner also helped the company establish operations outside the U.S.; it now has facilities or offices in three dozen countries, three U.S. manufacturing facilities and multiple warehouses that serve more than 4,000 distributors.

Brian Sloan
CEO, Wachter

Brian Sloan says electrical and technology engineering firm Wachter is in a red-hot sector and is thriving amid a wave of innovation sweeping U.S. industry. “Year over year, Wachter is up 20 percent in revenue,” he says. “I believe it is due to our ability to scale in a market that is in high demand. … Our customers have objectives, and we continue to provide them with the solutions.”

INSPIRATION SOURCE: “Watching young workers grow into great leaders. … We are always looking for the next bright mind with the proper work ethic to lead our growth.” 
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “Making sure we keep our beloved sports teams in this city. I would love to see a baseball stadium Downtown and a football stadium designed to make our fans even louder!”
EFFECTS OF AI: “AI is one of the top drivers pushing our customers to upgrade their technology infrastructure. We are also looking to use AI internally for more of the repetitive tasks we have here.”
STAFFING PLANS: “We will be adding staff. We need as many qualified people as we can find, as well as inexperienced folks looking to start a career.”
EMPLOYEE COUNT: In Kansas City, approximately 175; nationwide, approximately 1,975.

Pete Smith
President/CEO, McDowell, Rice, Smith & Buchanan

In the Department of No Surprises: Pete Smith is still punching the clock at the same law firm he’s called home for nearly 50 years. He’s an iconic figure on the Kansas City law scene, where he has a reputation as a tenacious litigator with a long resume of successfully representing clients in business cases. And, yes, he’s still jumping on one of his bikes for his 35th annual ride to Sturgis., S.D.

COLLEGE: B.S., Accounting, University of Kansas; J.D., UMKC School of Law
PROMISING START: Smith finished first in his class at UMKC’s School of Law. 
ENTREPRENEUR AT HEART: Early in his career, he delved into computerization of legal documents and processes, eventually founding a company that would become Epiq Systems and earning a seven-figure payout when it was sold.
VENTURES: Ownership stakes in two banks and involved in real estate development.
TENACITY: The other guy may be smarter than me, but I’m always going to outwork him.”
ALL BUSINESS: Smith’s practice areas cover key aspects of business law, including banking and financial services, bankruptcy, financial restructuring, corporate and business transactions, employment, real estate, and tax law. He also handles cases of divorce and family law, as well as litigation and dispute resolution.

Kevin Sparks
Former CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Kansas

Recently wrapping up a 35-year career in health-care insurance, Kevin Sparks made his mark with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, then UnitedHealthcare. At UHC, a signature achievement was assisting the state of Kansas in reaching out to and educating nearly 100,000 Kansans accessing care via KanCare during the COVID-19 crisis. 

COLLEGE: B.A., Political Science/History, University of Kansas; M.S., Defense and Strategic Studies, Missouri State University
BEST BUSINESS BOOK: “First, Break All the Rules by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman, a fantastic read that busted the myth of the day (“focus on improving your weakness”) by turning that upside down and recommending finding a team member with strengths that offset your weakness.” 
VALUED LEADERSHIP TRAITS: “Authenticity, integrity, street smarts, and drive—the most essential skills.”
START A CHARITY: We support “Inclusion Connections,” which assists its members with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to find valuable work, to live independently, and successfully live out their lives.  We could start a different one, but this one is already up and running!”

Jeff Spencer
Sr. VP, Holmes Murphy & Associates

Turbulent times are ahead for his sector, Jeff Spencer cautions, but you wouldn’t know it from the look of things at Holmes Murphy, the insurance/benefits brokerage. They’ve had great tailwinds with rate and exposure growth in the property-casualty business, and the benefits business has rebounded to historical levels, leading to one of the best runs in the firm’s 92-year history, he says.

COLLEGE: University of Kansas 
INSPIRATION SOURCE: “Seeing others on my team develop their skills and achieve their goals.” 
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “Get the Royals Downtown and the Chiefs to Kansas.”
EFFECTS OF AI: “We are starting to see its impact, especially in the back room of our business. I anticipate that it will provide more efficiency for us over time.”
STRESS BUSTER: “Golf.”
MANAGER MUST-HAVES: “Inquisitive, talks the talk and walks the walk, good listener, anticipates issues on the horizon.”
STAFFING PLANS: “Adding.”
EMPLOYEE COUNT: “100 in Kansas City; 1,300 nationally.”

Tom Spencer
Senior Vice President, Zinnia

For two decades, Tom Spencer has been the key success factor for Topeka-based SE2 and its successor, Zinnia, where he’s head of sales. The firm created tech tools and third-party admin services for the insurance industry and was spun off from Security Benefit Corp. He was instrumental in getting the current organization off the ground, taking it from a small group of employees to more than 2,000 associates.

COLLEGE: B.A., University of Missouri-Columbia 
SHOPPING I: Zinnia made two recent key acquisitions that will drive growth. The first was Policygenius, America’s leading online insurance marketplace, which will help consumers, advisors, and insurers streamline insurance search and discovery, fulfillment and policy admin. 
SHOPPING II: It followed that up this year by acquiring a number of life and annuity solutions to expand offerings for carriers and distributors, including WinFlex, SmartOffice, AnnuityNet, LifeSpeed, The Policy Processor, and VitalSales Suite, among others.
IMPACT: Every 12 months, Zinnia says it helps launch 10-15 new products and thousands of apps, generating more than $15 billion in new premiums.
PAST: Spencer has worked with or consulted some big names, including DST, GE Insurance Solutions, UnitedHealthcare and TIAA.
STRESS-BUSTERS: Travel, hiking, fly-fishing and golf.

Brad Sprong
National Tax Leader, KPMG Private Enterprise

Helping people is what gets Brad Sprong to the office every day. It’s also the focus that led to growth this past year as he and his team leaned into what they do best. “We focused on the core of our business vs. the edges,” says Sprong, who assumed the national duties after overseeing the Kansas City office. “This allowed us to grow our base, which will fuel growth today and in the future.”

COLLEGE: B.S., Accounting, William Jewell College
SECTOR HEALTH: “Lukewarm at best, as there is a lot of uncertainty in the marketplace, which tends to drive a conservative posture when it comes to investment spending.” 
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “Retaining our major league sports franchises at a high level. This helps drive community pride and commonality among us all.”
EFFECTS OF AI: “Significant. There isn’t enough space in Ingram’s to describe the current and future impact on our opportunities, work force, deliverables and risks.”
STRESS BUSTER: “Who has stress?”
MANAGER MUST-HAVES: “Do they show real care about others, and do they live by the motto, ‘to whom much is given, much is expected?’ It’s easy to tell their specific skill level, but it’s harder to judge who they really are as a person.
STAFFING PLANS: “Increase 5 percent.”
EMPLOYEE COUNT: “KC 450; overall 35,000.”

Anne St. Peter
Co-Founder, Global Prairie

Global Prairie generates marketing solutions for brands seeking to do good in the world, and as a B Corporation, seeks to do the same. And since the need to do good will always be with us, Anne St. Peter and her colleagues are keeping busy. “Global Prairie has experienced significant year-over-year growth,” she said, “largely driven by our clients in the life-science and digital sectors.”

SECTOR OUTLOOK: “Red hot—particularly driven by healthcare and AI/digital technology.”
INSPIRATION SOURCE: “Our purpose-driven team of employee-owners (who) use our business as a force for good in the world, especially here in Kansas City.” 
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “Kansas City should lay claim to being THE leading U.S. city focused on accelerating the growth and impact of women’s sports. With the national headquarters of Women Leaders in Sports and with the KC Current and the first-ever stadium built specifically for women’s soccer, we are a powerhouse leader.”
EFFECTS OF AI: “AI has tansformed our business. Our patented AI-powered analytics tools allow our team to analyze vast amounts of data quickly and efficiently, allowing us to make data-driven decisions, optimize our marketing strategies, and deliver hyper-personalized content faster than ever before.”

Robert Steer
President/CEO/CFO, Seaboard Corp.

In the immediate aftermath of the global pandemic, Seaboard Corp. enjoyed a record revenue year, but Robert Steer’s team saw pullback on multiple fronts in 2023—mainly because of lower pork prices and higher production costs as well as milling and maritime operations declines. The good news? That still left the region’s biggest public company $9.56 billion in sales.

COLLEGE: Kansas State University 
A FORTUNE FAVORITE: Despite the decline, Seaboard retained a place on this year’s Fortune 500, ranked No. 414.
GROUNDBREAKING: Steer is the first person in the history of the company, now 105 years old, who is not a member of the Bresky family, which owns the majority of the company’s shares. He’s been with the firm for four decades, previously serving as chief financial officer.
WORK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY: One measure of the company’s role as a good corporate citizen: Earlier this year, Seaboard volunteers spent a day assisting Kanbe’s Markets with its mission to fill a void in the urban core’s so-called food desert. They sorted boxes of produce destined for landfills to harvest products that were still good, generating 4,707 pounds of food for distribution.   
EMPLOYEES: 12,847 worldwide

Phillip Straub
Managing Director-Aviation, Garmin International

Like his boss at Garmin, Cliff Pemble, Phillip Straub has been with the Olathe GPS-products giant since nearly the beginning—he came on board in 1993, just a few years after the company’s founding. As Garmin has grown into a global brand, Straub has moved up the ranks through the aviation engineering side. He oversees all aviation business activities, including engineering, marketing, sales, flight operations and customer support.

COLLEGE: B.S., Electrical Engineering (magna cum laude), University of Missouri 
BOOM!: Another year, another record in aviation group revenues under Straub. That helped the company record its best-ever sales year in 2023, at $5.23 billion. 
HIGH FLYER: Straub is a pilot with certification flying airline transport for multi-engine aircraft. He’s also a certified flight instructor for single-engine, multi-engine and instrument privileges. 
CONSISTENT EXCELLENCE: For the 20th consecutive year, Garmin achieved the top ranking in Aviation International News’ Avionics Product Support Survey.
INNOVATION: This summer, Straub’s team secured FAA certification for new technology that will alert airline crews of potential runway incursions from nearby airborne aircraft, aircraft on the ground and ground vehicles.

Erin Stucky
President/CEO, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of KC

In the hyper-competitive world of health insurance, Erin Stucky leads the non-profit that covers more people in the Kansas City market than any other, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City. Blue KC covers more than 1 million residents in the greater Kansas City area and 30 counties in northwest Missouri. Its network includes more than 7,000 regional physicians.

COLLEGE: University of Missouri 
EMPLOYEES: 1,531
IF YOU COULD START A CHARITY: “I believe we cannot underestimate the importance of access to behavioral health services. I would start a charity focused on destigmatizing conversations around behavioral health and facilitating access to behavioral health services.” 
BOXING IT UP: Moving day will be here soon for Stucky’s team, which will head out from its longtime headquarters in the Crown Center area for new digs at 1400KC, the Class A office tower originally planned as a new home for Waddell & Reed before that company was sold.
HONORS: Stucky recently received William Jewell College’s highest non-degree honor, the William F. Yates Medallion for Distinguished Service. She was in good company there: Other honorees were Ingram’s 250 colleagues Neal Sharma and Bob Page.
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: Stucky is on the Greater KC Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Women’s Leadership Council and the Civic Council, and sits on the board for Cristo Rey and MRIGlobal.

Patrick Stueve
Partner, Stueve, Siegel & Hanson

Patrick Stueve is embracing the change that is coming to the legal profession. At his Kansas City law firm, “We use AI to empower our lawyers to focus on the strategic aspects of litigation,” he says. “By implementing leading AI technology in our complex commercial cases, we can expedite the due-diligence process and isolate key documents from terabytes of data in a fraction of the time it took just five years ago.”

COLLEGE: B.A., Economics, Benedictine College; J.D., University of Kansas School of Law 
RECOGNITION: Stueve himself is considered an expert in the legal field of complex tech-related litigation, and this past year, Law360 included the firm among its Cybersecurity and Privacy Groups of the Year. Those awards spotlight firms with the biggest victories or deals of the year based on the size, complexity, and significance of the litigation.
SPECIALTIES: In addition to high-stakes cases, his expertise covers matters involving antitrust and disputes in the food and agribusiness spheres.
DIFFERENTIATOR: Rather than serve clients through the traditional law firm model of billable hours, Stueve operates on a contingency-fee basis as he pursues clients’ interests in federal and state courts, often staring down legal teams from some of the world’s biggest companies. 

Greg Swetnam
Director-Office Brokerage, Kessinger Hunter

Office slump? What office slump? “What an incredible year it’s been at Kessinger Hunter!” gushes Greg Swetnam. Leading the way: The firm’s work at 9,000-acre Astra Enterprise Park, 300 of which are home to the new Panasonic plant. And Swetnam himself brokered the Fidelity Security Life Insurance Co./Forrest T. Jones & Co. lease at Crown Center.

COLLEGE: B.A., Agriculture, University of Missouri  
WAIT; THERE’S MORE!: “Beyond these monumental projects, we’ve been busy managing and the leasing of over 20 million square feet of office and industrial space.”
OUTLOOK: “The office space market is primed for continued growth through 2024 and 2025. We’re observing a resurgence in businesses reassessing their space needs, with many making more strategic, long-term commitments rather than relying on short-term extensions.”
REALIGNMENT: “It’s clear that decision-makers are gaining clarity on employee dynamics. As work-from-home numbers decline from their peak in 2020, companies are focused on revitalizing their workplace culture. The hybrid model—balancing in-office work with remote flexibility—appears to be the way forward, but I believe that over time, CEOs will encourage a return to the office as the norm, with remote work becoming more of an exception.”

Charlie Tetrick
President/CEO, Walz Tetrick Advertising

Charlie Tetrick began leading his ad agency when he was in his 20s; that same energy fuels the operation today. “Walz Tetrick’s growth was primarily driven by new services that the agency brought in-house within the past 1-2 years,” he says. “Those include an in-house production department, organic and paid social media practice, data analytics, email and direct mail marketing, and research.”

SECTOR OUTLOOK: “We’re seeing many clients who are quite cautious about the economy, inflation, and the upcoming election. The balance of this year is tepid at best, and much of 2025 will be decided on Nov. 5.”
INSPIRATION SOURCE: “Surrounding myself with smart, passionate, collaborative, and kind people is a recipe for success and really drives my passion.” 
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “Without question, World Cup. I am thrilled to be a part of a small group of civic leaders who are organizing efforts to ‘prepare our city’ for 2026.
EFFECTS OF AI: “AI is enhancing our operations via building upon our ideas with speed. Our clients benefit from the enhanced concepting with greater speed. And it is really revamping our research capabilities.”
STRESS BUSTING: “Winding down (sometimes up) with friends and family.”
CURRENT HEADCOUNT: “120 employees; 117 locally, and 3 work remotely out-of-state.”

Jonathan Thomas
President/CEO, American Century Investments

Headwinds? No, says Jonathan Thomas, they’re “hurricane-level in our industry.” Still, the past year saw the firm’s 47 Exchange Traded Funds achieve rapid success; he says, “propelling us to be ranked top four active ETF issuer.” More than that, the firm founded by Jim Stowers Jr. has put KC on the biosciences map, donating more than 40 percent of annual profits to the Stowers Institute for Medical Research. Total since 2000? “More than $2 billion,” Thomas says. 

COLLEGE: B.A., University of Massachusetts; MBA, Boston College  
ON GROWTH: “Avantis Investors, our approach that combines financial science with expert implementation, just celebrated two huge milestones—our 5-year anniversary and crossing $50 billion in assets under management.” 
SOURCE OF INSPIRATION: “We come to work each day knowing that in addition to helping our clients achieve financial success, our daily efforts can help find cures for life-threatening diseases. We call this ‘Prosper with Purpose’ and it’s a source of pride and inspiration for every American Century employee.” 
LEADERSHIP: “We are an investment-led, client-centric, global money manager who believes in doing good by doing well. We cultivate a culture that competes to win, and we do this by being client-focused, courageous, accountable, collaborative, curious, adaptable, and driven.“

Polly Thomas
President, CBIZ Employee Benefits

Polly Thomas oversees the employee benefits division for a highly diversified business-services outfit that just increased its national footprint dramatically after an accountancy merger with New York-based Marcum, LLP. That’s expected to result in combined revenue of $2.5 billion. In people terms, that will bring CBIZ headcount from 6,000 to more than 10,000.

COLLEGE: B.S., Physical Therapy, University of Missouri-Columbia  
SOURCE OF GROWTH: “Investment in training and new positions have positioned us well this year and for the future.
SOURCE OF INSPIRATION: “Seeing those around me grow and develop and helping clients solve complex challenges.
NEXT FOCUS FOR KC: “Crime.”
EFFECTS OF AI: “We are using it to automate routine tasks and build efficiency in operations.”
STRESS BUSTING: “Cooking and drinking wine, or a good hike.”
MANAGER MUST-HAVES: “Problem-solving ability and demonstrated ability to think critically and view situations from multiple perspectives.”
STAFFING PLANS: “This will vary by division.”

Gregg Thompson
Civilian Deputy to General, Fort Leavenworth

Gregg Thompson is the right-hand man for the top leadership at Fort Leavenworth, which plays not only a key role in the nation’s defense posture but also serves as a major employer in the region—it has more than 5,400 active-duty personnel and global visitors. To that task, he brings a veteran’s perspective: He spent 30 years in the Army, with postings in Iraq, Afghanistan, Panama, Korea, Germany, and Hawaii.

COLLEGE: B.S., Economics, University of Nebraska; M.A., National-Louis University, Chicago; M.S., Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College 
STEADYING INFLUENCE: The Army rotates commanding officers through Fort Leavenworth every year or two, which means Thompson provides a steadying influence and leadership consistency at the region’s biggest military base. 
IMPACT: With 5,400 active-duty personnel and global visitors to the Command and Staff General College, the fort accounts for a huge portion of passengers coming through KCI.
JOB DUTIES: Assisting the Combined Arms Center’s commanding general with the administration of programs to advance institutional leader development at all levels. He also helps manage three major subordinate organizations, five direct reporting units, and 12 supporting agencies located at Fort Leavenworth and the Presidio of Monterey in California.

Paul Thompson
Chairman/CEO, Country Club Bank

Supply chains have been disrupted in recent years, but not the financial chain at Country Club Bank. Says Paul Thompson: “We credit our continued growth in all aspects of our business to our strong culture and consistent business delivery model. Our underwriting discipline has allowed us to sustain lending efforts in this phase of the economic cycle while many of our competitors were on the sidelines.”

COLLEGE: B.S., Finance, Creighton University; MBA, Rockhurst University 
SECTOR HEALTH: “Probably somewhere in between red hot and lukewarm. … Signs of recession have abated, and the job market has cooled, so confidence should remain solid, but not red hot.” 
INSPIRATION SOURCE: “My father and former chairman, Byron Thompson, always said, ‘Surround yourselves with great people and great things will happen!’ We have always embraced that idea, and what inspires me is giving our people that latitude and then watching them achieve great things.”
STRESS BUSTER: “I’m not a great golfer, but I enjoy the camaraderie and being outside on a beautiful golf course and (mostly) free of emails and phone calls. It’s definitely my ‘happy place’.”
EMPLOYEE COUNT: “Kansas City 444, overall 451.”

David Toland
Lt. Gov/Secretary of Commerce, State of Kansas

Young David Toland left his native Allen County, where he was a seventh-generation resident, to burnish his administrative skills on a larger stage in the nation’s capital. But he came back home to lead Thrive Allen County, the local economic development entity, and his success there put him on Laura Kelly’s radar to become secretary of commerce—and later, lieutenant governor—when she became governor in 2018. 

COLLEGE: B.A., Political Science, M.A., Public Administration, the University of Kansas
RECOGNITION: After securing the biggest economic-development deal in the state’s history the previous year, it would have been hard to notch a better 2023. No problem, according to Area Development magazine: It awarded the state its Gold Shovel Award for the fourth year in a row—something the state had never before achieved. 
BIG WIN: Toland will have a tough time bringing a bigger company to Kansas than Panasonic Energy; he played a key role in leading the public-sector team that landed the $4 billion EV battery plant in De Soto. That’s seen in manufacturing circles as critical mass that will attract other precision-manufacturing firms and suppliers pondering relocation and site selection.
GETTING IT DONE: Toland has overseen a wholesale reconstruction of in-state, domestic, and international business recruitment teams. 

Tucker Trotter 
CEO, Dimensional Innovations

Tucker Trotter and the DI team craft spectacular designs for highly trafficked venues, and they’ve been hopping with growth in key markets: museums, corporate HQs, higher-ed welcome centers, health care and sports. The key: “creating dedicated, creative project management and development teams within those markets,” he says.

COLLEGE: B.A., Industrial Design, University of Kansas 
OUTLOOK: “Depends on the market, but we see growth in all of the areas, but we’re really excited about our momentum in corporate, helping companies recruit and retain people.” 
PASSION: “Trying new ventures. We’re working on an immersive-art experience that will be part of the Homefield KC development and we’re excited that it will showcase all of our greatest talents and passions in one place, it will also showcase artists we know and admire.” 
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “Preparing our city for World Cup ’26 to showcase for the world what we all know about the city we love.”
AI IMPACT: “We are embracing how we can use it to amplify our creativity and speed and ability to wow people in the experiences we create.”
STRESS: “Gravel bike rides with friends.”
EMPLOYEES: “220 KC; 240 overall, we’re hiring.”
LEADERSHIP HIRE TRAITS: “Curiosity and willingness for continuous improvement.”

Michael Valentine
CEO, Netsmart Technologies

Innovation has always been part of Mike Valentine’s DNA—as an entrepreneur, and later as COO at Cerner—and it carries through with his oversight of Netsmart. Case in point: Last fall, it announced the successful development of an AI Data Lab to serve community-based care providers. It incorporates intelligent automation, generative AI, predictive analytics, natural language processing and risk models to target improved care delivery.

COLLEGE: B.S., Industrial Engineering, Kansas State University 
2023 REVENUES: $629 million
BRINGING IT HOME: Valentine left Cerner as COO in 2010 to become CEO of New York-based Netsmart, and soon pulled up stakes there to relocate the company headquarters to Overland Park and tap into this region’s rich talent pool in health-care IT and informatics.
MASSIVE AUDIENCE: Operating in every U.S. state, Netsmart lists more than 24,000 corporate and non-profit clients with a combined user total of more than 500,000. 
ABOUT NETSMART: From behavioral health to autism, from addiction therapy to developmental disabilities, Netsmart offers tech products that help providers improve care outcomes, and it has built a solid line of business in population health and analytics.
EMPLOYEES: The Overland Park-based company recently surpassed 1,000 Kansas City-area employees for the first time, and has nearly 2,550 overall.

Randall Vance
President/COO, Sunderland Foundation

This is how a community builds momentum: last year, Vance was instrumental in the Sunderland Foundation’s $100 million lead gift to help The University of Kansas Cancer Center build a new, state-of-the-art destination cancer center. The next funding domino to fall was a $75 million authorization from the state of Kansas to build a new $250 mil. research center on the campus adjacent to Kansas City’s Midtown.

COLLEGE: B.A., Business Administration, MBA, Finance, UMKC 
MORE ON THE KUCC GIFT: That nine-figure contribution was both the largest gift ever given by the foundation and the largest ever received by The University of Kansas Health System and KU. The center will further the region’s efforts to elevate its profile as a center of excellence in cancer care and research. 
FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE: Before coming on board at the foundation in 2017, Vance was the last CEO of Ash Grove Cement, one of the region’s biggest private companies before the sale to an Irish conglomerate.
MAJOR PLAYER: The foundation itself has been around since 1945 (thanks to the visionary leadership of Lester Sunderland) and is funded through the family’s ownership of Ash Grove Cement Co. When the company sold in 2017 to an Irish construction conglomerate for $3.5 billion, the philanthropic floodgates opened. 

Julia Vander Weele
Office Managing Partner, Spencer Fane

In a tight labor market, you can bear down on hiring—or you can find a better solution to your staffing needs like Julia Vander Weele is doing at the Spence Fane law firm: “One of the key factors in our growth is not just our new hires, but our overall retention,” she says. At Spencer Fane, she leads the mothership office of the firm and does it well: She was a Missouri Lawyers Media Top Managing Partner this past year.

COLLEGE: B.A., J.D., University of Iowa 
SOURCE OF INSPIRATION: “I truly enjoy interacting with my clients and getting to know them both professionally and personally.” 
STRESS-BUSTER: “Taking a long walk with my dog.”
PATH TO LEADERSHIP: A specialist in employee-benefits law, she joined the firm in 2002 and became office managing partner in 2021. She does double-duty, handling that role and a full-time legal practice, serving employers and other benefit plan sponsors with guidance on creating competitive benefits packages to attract and retain talent.
FOCUS AREAS: She’s made her mark mastering the tax code and labor laws related to competitive tax-favored benefit packages that shield leadership from personal liability.

Tom Wagers
CEO, NASB Financial

Continuing high interest rates, particularly on home mortgages, have left their mark on revenues for NASB Financial, where Tom Wagers leads a public company that continues to hold down a Top 10 ranking in market share among locally headquartered banks. But the Grandview-based bank still had $1.5 billion in deposits as of June 30, and $2.7 billion in assets through last year.

COLLEGE: B.A., Accounting, East Tennessee State University 
2023 REVENUE: $155.6 million 
ON THE JOB: Wagers oversees mortgage and banking products and customer service with the executive and senior leadership team. He’s overseeing a workforce of more than 500 for an institution with nearly $2.5 billion in assets.
MANY HAPPY RETURNS: For most banks, a 1 percent return on assets is considered a sign of healthy financial performance; NASB exceeds that threshold by half again, according to FDIC data. 
BEFORE NASB: Wagers worked in banking leadership roles at Atlantic Coast Bank in Jacksonville, Fla., including nine years as CFO and a stint as interim CEO.
LENDER: NASB offers traditional banking and mortgage products, including conventional, FHA, and VA loans, plus non-recourse and bank-statement loans for self-employed borrowers.

Marc Warrington
SVP, Sun Life

Casting a broad net is the secret to success at Sun Life. “We have the flexibility in our portfolio to serve a wide range of employer segments,” says Marc Warrington, “from the two-person small business to the 50,000-employee Fortune 500 company.” With so many products that fit clients’ various financial protection needs, Sun Life brokers can confidently meet their needs, he says.

SECTOR OUTLOOK: “We know that employees’ ability to pay their share of benefits is a topic of discussion for many employers, especially as healthcare premiums increase. There is a lot of strain on HR budgets. That being said, the future remains bright for group insurance companies that bring a strong value proposition to employers, their employees, and their families.” 
NEXT THING FOR KC: “Please, let’s get the KC Royals Downtown! Love to see them in Washington Park directly across the street from our building.”
STRESS BUSTING: “Vacation with my family and golf with my friends.”
STAFFING PLANS: “We are always looking for talent and offer a hybrid, flexible culture that allows people to decide for themselves when they come to the office. We recognize the strong pool of talent in Kansas City in insurance, technology, and sales.”

Carl Wasinger
CEO, Smart Warehousing

This past year has been one of both organic growth and acquisition for Wasinger, whose Smart Warehousing is transforming logistics and distribution as a warehousing and fulfillment firm. He’s been at the helm of Smart Warehousing since 2001, and in April, he added Beyond Warehousing to the fold.
The company gives logistics executives a better way to store materials and push them through the nation’s supply chain.

COLLEGE: B.S., Business/Information Management, Kansas State University; Georgia Tech Supply Chain and Logistics Institute 
OVERNIGHT?: While it’s made headlines in recent years for strong growth, this company has been Wasinger’s passion since its founding in 2001. It now has nearly 40 locations and more than 10 million square feet of warehousing space nationwide.
LOGISTICS: Smart Warehousing doesn’t have products to ship or orders to fulfill; it provides high-tech space that other shippers and fulfillment centers can use to improve efficiency. 
VC BACKING: Smart Warehousing is a portfolio company of Five Elms Capital, the KC venture group that has recorded stellar successes investing in early-stage companies.
THE SMART EDGE: Smart Warehousing’s value proposition: 1-2 day shipping across 100 percent of the U.S.—with an impressive inventory-accuracy rate of 99.8 percent.

Rick Weller
EVP/CFO, Euronet Worldwide

If you’re part of a global financial services powerhouse specializing in electronic transactions, your work touches a lot of lives: Tens of millions—on any given day. Since 2002, Weller been CFO at one of this region’s biggest public companies, which had revenues of $3.7 billion last year. Roughly $129 billion changed hands through their digital payment network in 2023, and a network of more than 52,650 ATMs connected with a staggering 4.1 billion bank accounts.

COLLEGE: B.A., Accounting, University of Central Missouri  
SMALL TO LARGE: Weller has held operating and financial leadership positions with companies ranging from start-up businesses to large, multinational operations. On the small end, he was COO for Ionex, a local exchange company, while on the other end, he was a vice president in the finance operations of the former Sprint Corp.
OFF THE CLOCK: Weller has most recently been engaged as a board member for Avila University. 
NICHE: The company was founded in 1994, not long after the collapse of the Soviet Union—fertile ground for millions being exposed for the first time to the power of readily accessible capital. It offers automated teller machines, point-of-sale services for businesses, credit and debit card services, currency exchange, and other electronic financial services and payment software.

Richard Wetzel
Co-Founder, Centric

In one of the fastest startup-to-ESOP journeys ever, “The biggest growth driver for us has been our transition to an employee-owned organization,” says Richard Wetzel. For the contractor founded in 2010, the move “galvanized the team like never before! We’re excited about what the future will bring for all of our employee-owners.” Meanwhile, the rest of 2024 looks fairly even, “but we have lots lined up in 2025 and beyond.” 

COLLEGE: B.A., Architecture, University of Kansas; MBA, Bloch School of Management, UMKC 
SOURCE OF PASSION: “Employee ownership has really added a jolt of excitement. Other than that—our core values of ‘Have Fun, Make Money, Kick Ass—SAFELY’ have been the driver of our company and team since our beginning.”
KC’S NEXT BIG THING?: “DOWNTOWN BASEBALL. That’s it; that’s the tweet.”
STRESS-BUSTER: “I have three: reading, working out, and playing golf. All three help alleviate stress for me! Except when I stress myself out that I’m not doing those things enough!”
TRAITS FOR LEADERSHIP CANDIDATES: “Urgency, proactiveness, and empathy.”
EMPLOYEES: “185 in KC and overall (although some KC employees are working on out-of-town projects).”

Pat Whalen
Chair/Managing Partner, Spencer Fane 

Pat Whalen has championed the value proposition of Spencer Fane’s legal services for years, and the benefits of humility, talent, honesty, resolve, and striving to give added value are plain to see. “Demand in both the client and talent markets for our unique value proposition drove significant revenue growth,” he says. 

SECTOR OUTLOOK: “We expect demand to remain strong and the competition for talent to remain intense as clients seek legal solutions that are more holistic, sophisticated, and tailored to their business.”
MANAGER MUST-HAVES: “We put a premium on hiring people with high emotional intelligence and self-awareness, so we keep an eye out for clues like active listening, asking open-ended questions, and seeking common ground.”
CURRENT HEADCOUNT: “As of September 2024, we have a little over 230 people in the Kansas City metropolitan area and 1,000 people combined across our 27 markets.”
KC PRESENCE: The firm is among the biggest in the Kansas City market, with nearly 90 attorneys. It has about 425 in 22 offices across the nation.

Debbie Wilkerson
President/CEO, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation

Financial trends have broken favorably for the Kansas City area’s biggest charitable foundation, which, in its most recent reporting cycle, crossed the $5 billion mark in total assets. The vast majority of that financial wellspring comes from the donor-advised funds for which Wilkerson has long been a vocal proponent. She’s been with the foundation since 1998 and in the leadership role since 2012.

COLLEGE: B.A., Psychology, University of Kansas; J.D., KU School of Law  
RECOGNITION ALL AROUND: She was an early honoree in Ingram’s 40 Under Forty back in 2002—just the fourth class—and she’s done nothing but bolster her impact: Forbes recently included her among its 50 Over Fifty honorees.
GIVING KC: Annual contributions to the foundation have surpassed $1 billion.
AGENT OF CHANGE: The foundation provided more than $819.4 million in total grants in its most recent fiscal year reported.
BREADTH OF GIVING: The foundation’s work covers 6,700 separate charitable funds.
BEFORE THE FOUNDATION: Wilkerson was on staff at the Shook, Hardy & Bacon law firm before jumping to the foundation as general counsel.
STAFFING: About 100

Bridgette Williams
Executive Director, Heavy Constructors Assn.

Being first carries an element of satisfaction, but for Williams, fulfilling the mission is the main thing at an organization that advocates for 150 contractors and product and service suppliers who build and maintain public and private infrastructure. She’s the first woman and the first African-American to lead a group focused on building and improving roads, highways, bridges, airports, reservoirs, and major utility corridors. 

COLLEGE: B.A., Communication, Pittsburg State; B.A., Liberal Arts, Ottawa University; MBA, Helzberg School of Management, Rockhurst University  
PROUD HISTORY: Contractors came together in 1950 to form the association, which works to align members’ interests with projects on regional highways, roads, bridges, airports, rivers, sanitary water, and stormwater systems.
LOCAL HEART: The association is mainly comprised of local family-owned businesses that work closely with city, county, state, and federal elected officials and civic leaders to build the infrastructure that is the foundation of the metro area.
WORDS TO LIVE BY: Her organization’s motto is “Making It Better…” exemplifying the vibrant spirit of members rising to meet the challenges of improvement for Kansas City and the states of Kansas and Missouri.

Chad Williams
Chairman/CEO, QTS

You can tell a lot about the character of a leader by his company’s philanthropic footprint. And for Chad Williams, it’s big: QTS engages in global efforts involving reforestation and clean-water access, as well as local with $9.7 million in charitable donations and 37,000-plus in volunteer hours since 2012, and more than 220 causes funded. QTS operates 6 million square feet of data center space in the U.S. and Europe.

SMALL START: Drawing on previous experience in owning and operating data centers, Williams launched QTS with a 35,000-square-foot site in 2005.  
MAKING THE SALE: His QTS Realty Services affiliate commanded a $10 billion price when the investment giant Blackstone bought it in 2021.
BROAD IMPACT: He has led the strategic investment in product and asset acquisitions, site selection, design, development, and construction initiatives, among other efforts. 
BEFORE QTS: Williams brought CEO-level experience to his new venture after leading QGC, the Quality Group of Companies. The interests of that holding company included commercial real estate, design-build development, commercial interiors, and vehicle and technology leasing.  
BOARD SERVICE: He’s on the board of the U.S. Dream Academy, which focuses on issues to improve the lives of children whose parents are incarcerated.

Simon Witdouck
Senior Vice President, TVH

The fate of a company’s operations across an entire hemisphere rests in the hands of Simon Witdouck, who became senior VP for TVH in 2021, overseeing the Belgian company’s Americas divisions—North and South—and COO in 2023. The company operates locally in a massive distribution facility in Olathe, supplying parts and accessories for material handling, industrial, construction and agricultural equipment.

FAMILY INTEREST: The company was co-founded by two Belgian families in 1969, and remains 60 percent owned by the Thermote family.  
IF YOU CAN’T FIND IT HERE: With 90 branches in 180 nations, TVH boasts more than 1.12 million stocking numbers and nearly 50 million part numbers. All told it can provide parts for 1,200 different makes of industrial and farm vehicles worldwide.
CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP: TVH has been recognized by the Olathe Chamber of Commerce as Corporate Citizen of the Year, as Most Valuable Supplier by the industry’s trade association, and by the American Heart Association with its Worksite Innovation Award. And, naturally, by Ingram’s, as one of our Best Companies to Work For in 2014, and each year since 2011 in our Ingram’s 100 list of the region’s largest private companies.

Doug Wolff
CEO, Security Benefit Corp.

In the Kansas City region from Topeka to Sedalia, only four companies generated revenues above $10 billion last year, and Doug Wolff’s Security Benefit Corp. was one of them. With a massive year-over-year gain of more than 41 percent, this retirement services specialist was spot on a year ago when he projected “record or near-record” revenues in the coming cycle.

COLLEGE: B.S., Finance/Actuarial Science, University of Illinois-Champaign/Urbana 
THE MISSION: “We operate under the enduring belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to achieve financial security. To make this belief a reality, we have a differentiated and highly effective investment strategy, are constantly developing innovative new products, are focused on digital capabilities, and distribute through a select group of best-in-class organizations.”
SOURCE OF PASSION: “My 35-plus years of experience in actuarial pricing, product development, operations, financial consulting, marketing, investments, and strategy formulation have fostered my passion for data-driven decision-making and culture-building.”
STRESS-BUSTERS: “I enjoy snow skiing, running, golf, tennis, and live music. I’m also actively involved in advancing business, equity, economic opportunity, and quality of life in the beautiful city of Topeka, Kansas.”

Eric Wollerman
President, Honeywell FM&T 

Eric Wollerman’s massive plant produces essential defense sector components at the Kansas City National Security Campus. Growth at the campus, he says, “is driven by our government customers and their requirements, as our nation is undergoing a significant modernization effort. We will continue to see a strong demand signal with bipartisan support.”

COLLEGE: B.S., Industrial Engineering, M.S., Industrial & Systems Engineering, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison 
SECTOR OUTLOOK: “Being government-funded, we are expecting a continuing resolution going into the election this fall. The outcome of the election will shake things up and make it a challenging year ahead.” 
SOURCES OF INSPIRATION: “Our mission and people on being civil servants to protect the freedoms of our country is pretty inspiring.”
STRESS BUSTING: “Lately, it has been going for a run.”
STAFFING PLANS: “We ramped up our hiring to support workload demand, and we will remain stable for next year. I would imagine we will still be hiring around 500-700 new employees.” 
HEADCOUNT: “Roughly 6,400 in KC, 500 working other locations.”

Tamria Zertuche
President/CEO, Ferrellgas

Last year, longtime CEO Jim Ferrell settled on a successor at the company he’d helped build for nearly 60 years, and the task fell to Tamria Zertuche. She leads a publicly traded but still employee-owned operation with more than 4,000 employees who provide propane and services to customers nationwide. She came on board in 2001 as IT director for Blue Rhino, now the company’s retail propane unit.

COLLEGE: B.S., Computer Systems Management and Business Administration, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater; MBA and Ph.D., Organizational Learning, Performance and Change, Colorado State University  
2023 REVENUES: $1.84 billion
CELEBRATING 85: “Creating a supportive, inclusionary atmosphere is so important,” Zertuche says. “By having a diverse and empowered workforce, we are able to foster fresh perspectives, find unique solutions, adapt, and grow. Ferrellgas has done this for 85 years, and I know we will continue to believe in and rely on our committed workforce for 85 more.
TRANSFORMATIONAL: Since the company’s founding, propane gas has been at the heart of its revenue stream, but Zertuche noted earlier this year that employees there “are transforming our company into a world-class, technology-enabled propane logistics company. The exciting part is, we are only getting started.”

Keith Zimmerman
President/CEO, HCA Midwest Health

Putting health care where people can get to it is key to growth for one of the largest private-sector employers in the region. Keith Zimmerman points to two new ambulatory surgery centers, two new CareNow Urgent Care Centers, and two more coming by year’s end, saying, “We are proud we have increased access to lower-cost care options.”

SECTOR OUTLOOK: “As demand continues to increase, the health-care industry is projected to grow as fast as we can develop the staff needed to meet that demand.”
INSPIRATION SOURCE: “What inspires me the most is our people—those who are dedicated to the Care and Improvement of Human Life. That includes not only our caregivers but our deeply committed and compassionate support team, who make it possible to deliver high-quality bedside care to patients and families.”
MANAGER MUST-HAVES: “First and foremost, I looking for someone who aligns with our organizational values and our mission: Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life. This is the foundation of how we deliver high-quality, compassionate healthcare. … We are looking for leaders who treat one another with loyalty, respect, and dignity while acting with absolute honesty, integrity, and fairness.”