The 2025 Ingram’s 250: The Most Powerful Business Leaders in Greater Kansas City

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER, 2025

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Rob Adams
Partner, Shook, Hardy & Bacon

Another year, another wagonload of recognition for Rob Adams of Shook, Hardy & Bacon, one of Kansas City’s biggest law firms. Adams continues to earn widespread recognition for his exceptional legal prowess, with an impressive streak of accolades over the past year to solidify his status as a leading litigator. His recent honors reflect his powerful advocacy in high-stakes business defense and complex litigation

COLLEGE: B.A., University of Kansas; J.D., University of Missouri School of Law
2024 REVENUES: The firm edged past half a billion dollars in billings last year—$500.98 million—up more than 9 percent over 2023.
RECENT HONORS: Chambers USA included him among its ranking of litigators in product liability and mass torts; Lawdragon recognized him as one of the 500 leading litigators in complex civil cases; he made Missouri Lawyers Media 2025 POWER List for business defense, and was among Best Lawyers in America’s best for personal-injury defense.
FIRM LEADERSHIP: Adams is a member of Shook’s executive committee and is co-chair of its general liability litigation practice group.
SPECIALTIES: His corporate clients come from all sectors: automotive, insurance/reinsurance, pharmaceutical, medical devices, design and construction firms, and others.

Raghu Adiga
President/CEO, Liberty Hospital

Adiga calls Liberty Hospital’s integration into The University of Kansas Health System its defining achievement of the past year. He says the partnership ensures services and jobs remain in place while bringing advanced care directly to the Northland, including a new KU Cancer Center on campus. With Clay and Platte counties among the fastest growing, he sees population growth as a key driver.

COLLEGE: Bangalore Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka State, India
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: Integration into The University of Kansas Health System strengthened services and brought KU Cancer Center to Liberty’s campus.
BOOMER EXODUS: Liberty is working to attract, train, and support the next generation.
TARIFFS: Policies that increase costs or disrupt supply lines add pressure to healthcare.
KC OUTLOOK: Adiga points to workforce shortages and rising violence toward healthcare workers as serious challenges to regional growth.
LESSONS LEARNED: Failed initiatives should be assessed for accuracy, planning, or timing to extract meaningful lessons.
EMBRACING AI: Already using AI in breast imaging, Liberty now benefits from KU Health System’s broader research and innovations.

Mauli Agrawal
Chancellor, University of Missouri-Kansas City

Almost upon arrival at UMKC in 2018, Mauli Agrawal vowed to make growth of the engineering program there a top priority, and he delivered: The new $32 million research center opened on campus in 2021. But arguably his greatest impact is in  health care education, with the $145 million expansion of the health sciences campus overlooking Downtown from Hospital Hill.

COLLEGE: B.A., Technology, Indian Institute of Technology; M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University; Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Duke University
BREAKTHROUGH: In May, UMKC celebrated its hard-won designation as a Carnegie Research 1 (R1) institution. It joins an elite group: Only 6 percent of the nation’s universities—just 187 now—can claim that status. In the two-state area, R1 universities include Washington University and Saint Louis University, along with the Missouri University of Science and Technology, as well as the two largest Regents schools in Kansas: the University of Kansas and Kansas State University.
ARTS DRIVER: Agrawal has spearheaded fund-raising for a $60 million expansion of the Olson Performing Arts Center. That project includes a 35,000-square-foot addition and renovation of existing facilities, paving the way for increased enrollment in those disciplines.

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

The past year, Matt All says, was marked by both bold vision and meaningful action for the biggest health insurer in Kansas. The launch of Vision 2030 set ambitious goals for the years ahead, while reentering Kansas’ Medicaid program for the first time in two decades expanded the company’s ability to serve. 

COLLEGE: B.A., Political Science, University of Kansas; J.D., Yale Law School
GROWTH OUTLOOK: He emphasizes growth will be focused on reaching more Kansans—especially seniors—while managing cost pressures and strengthening affordability across the health system. Plans call for reaching more Kansans, particularly seniors, even as the organization already serves more than 1 million statewide.
BOOMER EXODUS: Retiring Baby Boomers are making way for Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z, whose fresh ideas are already shaping the organization, he says.
TARIFF IMPACT: Broader cost pressures have hit pharmaceuticals, devices, and tech, all of which affect affordability, though the company is somewhat insulated from tariffs themselves.
KC OUTLOOK: All cites work-force health and talent shortages as major concerns.

Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado
President/Chief Science Officer, Stowers Institute

In a quarter-century, the Stowers Institute has helped elevate the KC region’s status as a life sciences center of excellence, and steering the boat for this biomedical research entity is Alejandro Sanchez Alvarado. He came on board in 2011, took the helm in 2021, and oversees a crew of 500 researchers and support personnel, 20 independent research programs, and more than a dozen technology centers.

COLLEGE: B.S., Molecular Biology & Chemistry, Vanderbilt University; Ph.D., Pharmacology & Cell Biophysics, University of Cincinnati School of Medicine
BEFORE STOWERS: Sánchez Alvarado relocated here after nearly 15 years at the University of Utah School of Medicine, where he served as a faculty member in neurobiology and anatomy.
HOME-GROWN: The Stowers Institute for Medical Research was a project of the late Jim and Virginia Stowers, both survived cancer and committed the family fortune—roughly $2 billion—to cancer research. Jim Stowers was the founder of American Century Investments, one of the region’s biggest wealth-management enterprises.
MISSION: Originally grounded in cancer research, the institute’s mission has evolved to encompass a broader range of diseases in pursuit of causes, treatment, and prevention.

Damon Anderson
CEO, Tallgrass Freight

Tallgrass Freight has traveled a long road since Damon Anderson co-founded the logistics company in his Leavenworth farmhouse in 2013. Anderson spent 5½ years in sales in the high-growth regional shipping sector. His strategy of consistently exceeding sales targets and systematically raising them was instrumental in scaling his own enterprise.

COLLEGE: Kansas City, Kansas Community College
2024 REVENUES: $145,000,000
POINT OF PRIDE: Anderson places a high value on knowing the names and stories of everyone working at Tallgrass Freight—nearly 50 of them in all—because he considers them the heart of the company.
SERVICE LINES: Tallgrass provides transportation services in less-than-truckload and truckload, refrigerated and expedited shipping, and rail transport.
OUTLOOK: The company sees further opportunities ahead in the freight market during the second half of 2025, building on solid load counts and volumes it saw as 2024 wound down.

Adam Aron
Chairman/CEO, AMC Entertainment

His birthday isn’t until the end of this month, but it’s hard to imagine that Adam Aron will get a bigger present than last month’s merger of Paramount Global’s merger with Skydance Media. The new entity’s leadership has vowed to scale back production of films for streaming and boost theatrical releases by 150%. That’s good news for AMC, which survived the pandemic due to his ability to restructure debt.

COLLEGE: B.A., Harvard University; MBA (with distinction), Harvard Business School
2024 REVENUES: $4.64 billion
TRUE BELIEVER: Aron puts his money where his mouth is as the leader of a public company: By some estimates, he owned nearly a million shares of the company stock—975,310—as of last month.
AFTER THE MEME: AMC became a darling of retail investors in 2021, when their assault on short-sellers of the company’s stock briefly drove the price from single digits to more than $261 a share. It has since retreated to under $3 a share.
SEASONED CEO: Before joining AMC in January 2016, he served as CEO of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, as well as a company he founded, World Leisure Partners. As co-owner, he was also CEO of the Philadelphia 76ers from 2011 to 2013. 

Marco Assis
CEO, Propio Language Services

After blowing the roof off revenues at this global translation-services firm in recent years, how big can Marco Assis dream? Tomedes.com this year ranked Propio No. 4 among U.S. interpretation companies, continuing the firm’s rise to prominence under Assis, who came on board as CFO in 2017, became CEO two years later, and led growth and acquisitions to propel it forward.

2024 REVENUES: $329,965,676
BOOM: Last year’s record revenues represented a nearly 10-fold increase since 2021. As recently as 2010, Propio was barely over the $1 million threshold to qualify for consideration on the Ingram’s 100 list of the region’s fastest-growing companies.
RECOGNITION: In addition to building one of the region’s fastest growing companies, and one of its largest (Propio was also No. 75 on the Ingram’s 100 this year), Assis was recognized with EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year U.S. Services award in 2024.
AMERICAN DREAMER: He’s a native of Brazil who came to the States in 2016, capitalizing on both his business acumen and his own linguistic skills: In addition to his native Portugese, he’s professionally fluent in both Spanish and English.

Mario Azar
President/CEO, Black & Veatch

For years, Black & Veatch was the biggest engineering firm in KC, but it went through a stretch of flat-lined revenues until 2022. That was the year Mario Azar was named CEO. Things took a dramatic turn and since the year before he took charge, the firm’s top line has surged by nearly 55 percent. Engineering News-Record took note of that with this year’s Top 500 Design Firms list, slotting B&V at No. 13.

COLLEGE: B.S., Electrical Engineering, University of North Carolina-Charlotte
2024 REVENUES: $5.1 billion
A TOP-10 TALENT: ENR’s more granular look at the design world ranked Black & Veatch No. 4 among firms in the power segment and No. 8 in water.
SHINING BRIGHT: B&V fares even better in rankings for solar design—No. 1—by virtue of installing more than 50 gigawatts of renewable solar projects globally last year. That’s more than 41 times the generating capacity of the Wolf Creek nuclear plant in Kansas. The firm ranked No. 2 in both the design of hydrogen facilities and battery-storage systems.
SHARPENED FOCUS: Last year’s sale of the firm’s public carrier wireless infrastructure business netted $150 million; it was part of a broader strategy to increase the company’s presence in sustainable-energy work.

Rick Baden
EVP/Chief Financial Officer, Watco

Rick Baden says this rail operator’s success rests on a foundation of people, customers, and culture. He emphasizes the firm’s resilience through changing market conditions and its ability to grow in both challenging and strong cycles. “That is something we are very proud of at Watco. Over the years, we have illustrated that we have the ability to grow in both challenging and flourishing economic cycles.”

COLLEGE: B.S., Accounting, Missouri State University; MBA, Rockhurst University
ACHIEVEMENT: Watco assumed full ownership of six industrial rail sites serving Dow Chemical and others, expanding teams and strengthening client relations.
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Increased demand from onshoring and reshoring is expected to expand business across rail, port, and logistics operations, he says.
BOOMER EXODUS: Development programs, he says, ensure knowledge transfer and smooth transitions as retirements occur.
REWARDING EXCELLENCE: The “Be the Difference” program celebrates employees quarterly, supplemented by local recognition and performance-based increases.
STADIUM STANCE: He supports exploring Kansas incentives, noting that a dome over Arrowhead could bring global events here.

David Ball
CEO, Ball’s Food Stores

As Balls Food Stores wrapped up its first century of operations, third-generation David Ball announced that ownership of the company would pass to employees with a new stock-ownership plan. Though revenues for the 25 stores aren’t disclosed, they represent a large slice of the regional grocery market, operating as Hen House, Sun Fresh, Payless and a dozen Price Choppers.

ROOTS: Sidney and Molly Ball, (grandparents), opened their first store in 1923 in KCK. Leadership passed to Fred Ball for 25 years, until the reins turned to David in 2000.
SWEET SAVIOR: Diners who recall the era of Tippin’s—the company went under back in 2003—are grateful to Ball for stepping in to acquire the pie-baking operation. It turns out hundreds of thousands each year, allowing the pie brand to live on at Balls stores.
AS AN EMPLOYER: Trade publications say Balls Food Stores has roughly 2,600 employees in the Kansas City region.
CHARITABLE INTEREST: Earlier this summer, Ball concluded a long run on the board of KVC Health Systems, where he’d most recently been chairman. His mother, JoAnn Ball, was one of the founding mothers of the behavioral services nonprofit. As part of that commitment, Ball and his family supported KVC’s capital campaigns and led the creation of the Ball’s Charity Golf Classic fundraiser.

Kevin Barth
CEO, Commerce Bank Kansas City

Commerce continues its evolution from a regional to a national bank with its recent $585 million acquisition of FineMark National Bank & Trust, adding $4 billion in assets and 13 branches in Florida, Arizona, and South Carolina. Coupled with record-setting results in 2025, Kevin Barth says, “Our growth reflects the loyalty of our customers and the strength of our model.”

COLLEGE: B.S., Business Adm, University of Missouri-Columbia. Masters, Rockhurst
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Six straight quarters of rising net-interest income and expanding non-interest businesses, including wealth management and treasury services, show that the bank continues to expand its reach.
BOOMER EXODUS: Succession planning prepares Commerce to manage upcoming retirements without disruption, Barth says.
TARIFF IMPACT: Tariff uncertainty is felt mainly through customers, with Commerce working to help minimize negative effects.
OUTLOOK: Labor supply remains the top challenge, along with economic caution.
LESSON: Learning what caused the initiative to fail and how we can avoid similar failures in the future—without stifling innovation—are always valuable takeaways.

Michael Bartkoski
CEO, nbkc bank

Northland native Michael Bartkoski spent more than eight years in banking before Brian Unruh, then CEO at nbkc, set the hook in 2009: “I knew from my first conversation” with him, says Bartkoski, “that this was the right home for me.” He leads a Leawood-based bank known for its embrace of fintech, with nearly $1.5 billion in assets and more than $890 million in deposits.

COLLEGE: B.A., Accounting, Rockhurst University; Stonier Graduate School of Banking; Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina
2024 REVENUES: $147,185,000
THE LADDER: After 12 years as COO, Bartkoski succeeded Unruh as CEO in 2022.
WHY nbkc: “I could see how open and creative the organization was, and it was obvious that if I was willing to roll up my sleeves, I could be an impact player.  I wanted to be at a bank where I could be surrounded by smart, engaged, and creative people.
THE KC FACTOR: “Kansas City is a highly competitive market for banking talent, which makes maintaining a strong workplace culture critical,” he says. “You can have the best strategy in the world, but without the right talent, it will never succeed. We have been fortunate to attract remarkable talent both from within and outside the industry.” 

Marion Battaglia
President, Soave Automotive Group

The past year has seen Marion Battaglia orchestrating a fine-tuning of the Aristocrat Motors brand, pushing ahead with expansion of its Merriam campus, and preparing for the addition of a Porsche service center at its south Kansas City site. All of this on top of selling top-end luxury cars, including Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Land Rover, Maserati, Porsche, and Alfa Romeo.

2024 REVENUES: $527,891,000
UPDATED IMAGE: Aristocrat Motors unveiled an updated brand with a new logo and tagline, along with a marketing campaign developed by hometown Trozzolo Communications.
OUTSIDE THE OFFICE: Battaglia has been a board member for the Automobile Dealers Assn. of Greater KC 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.

Jamie Battmer
Chief Investment Officer, Creative Planning

At one of the region’s biggest wealth-management firms, Jamie Battmer oversees strategy during a period of record momentum. He says the firm’s most significant achievement is its industry-leading organic growth rate, driven by clients’ trust and referrals. “I can’t think of a better achievement,” Battmer says, “because it shows we are executing at an exceptional level on behalf of our clients.”

2024 ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT: $350 billion
COLLEGE: B.A., University of Montana; M.S., Economics and Economic History, London School of Economics and Political Science
STRATEGIC IMPACT: Acquisitions have fueled expansion while strengthening investment strategies. Battmer says growth reduces costs, improves access to private markets, and creates tax advantages for concentrated stock positions. “Saving money is the easiest form of making money on behalf of our clients,” he says, while emphasizing that quality is never sacrificed.
KC OUTLOOK: He credits the region’s “Midwestern values” as a competitive advantage. Thousands of clients outside the region, he notes, choose Creative Planning over Wall Street firms because “they know what they see is what they get.”

Brad Batz
President/CEO, Fike Corp.

It started in a basement, with an idea—a rupture disc designed as a pressure-release mechanism. Three generations later, Fike is a global factor in industrial safety, under the leadership of Les Fike’s grandson, Brad Batz. He’s been with the enterprise for more than 20 years, serving in various roles before stepping into leadership as president in 2014 and then CEO in 2017.

COLLEGE: B.S., Business Administration, University of Florida; M.S., Lean Operations, Cardiff University, Wales
2024 REVENUES: $384,894,377
SAFETY FIRST: The company’s initial breakthroughs in rupture disc technologies served as a platform for growth in adjacent industrial safety processes: explosion protection, fire alarms and fire-suppression systems, all aimed at helping manufacturers eliminate the risk of catastrophic loss of life or assets.
BLUE SPRINGS ANCHOR: With nearly 500 employees, the company has a major presence in this Kansas City suburb, one reason Batz was recognized by the Truman Heartland Community Foundation as Blue Springs Citizen of the Year for 2025. Overall, Fike has more than 1,200 on staff. Batz was also an EY Heartland Entrepreneur of the Year in 2024.

Chase Bean
President/CEO, Tnemec

Behind his desk in Kansas City or on a national stage as vice chairman of the American Coatings Association—yes, it’s a thing—Chase Bean is advancing the interests of this fourth-generation family business. The company has staked its position in a construction sector niche, producing high-performance coatings that protect buildings and surfaces from corrosion and wear.

COLLEGE: B.A., English, University of the South; EMBA, University of Missouri-Kansas City
2024 REVENUES: $202,643,325
GLOBAL REACH: Founded in 1921 by Albert Bean (Chase’s great-grandfather), Tnemec has become a power player in its sector, with its work on projects nationwide, and as it proclaims, on surfaces from “Shanghai to San Juan.” It has manufacturing sites here and in Baltimore domestically, and overseas in China, with distribution facilities in Atlanta, Dallas, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Seattle and Compton, Calif.
ON A ROLL: Under Bean’s leadership, the company crossed the $200 mil. revenue threshold.
DIVERSIFIED LINES: With more than 100 different compounds, the company’s products are go-to solutions for building exteriors, water towers, handrails, floors and most any high-traffic areas such as arenas, stadiums or schools.

Kimberly Beatty
Chancellor, Metropolitan Community College

With Beatty at the helm, MCC continues to shake off the effects of the pandemic—last fall’s enrollment was a post-COVID high. She came to KC in 2018, and oversees a cog in the region’s mechanism for producing skilled workers. Her empire includes the Penn Valley campus, the Blue River campus in Independence, MCC-Longview in Lee’s Summit, and MCC-Maple Woods in the Northland.

COLLEGE: B.A., M.A. English; Ed.D., Higher Education, Morgan State University
ECONOMIC DRIVER: With more than 120 degree and certificate programs, MCC is a vital resource for regional employers who need workers trained sooner than those pursuing four-year degrees. In addition, community colleges are significantly more flexible with program modifications and curriculum adjustments relative to the pace of public university systems in Missouri and Kansas.
LOCATION, LOCATION: One factor working in MCC’s favor is accessibility with its four campuses: In addition to the main Penn Valley campus just south of the Downtown, home to the Health Science Institute the Advanced Technical Skills Institute, the system includes the Blue River campus in Independence, MCC-Longview in Lee’s Summit, and MCC-Maple Woods in the Northland. 

Smitty Belcher
CEO, BCTS-Best In Class Technology Services

More than 40 years ago, Smitty Belcher brought his family to Lawrence to chase his dream of business ownership, acquiring a small electrical engineering firm with $4 million in revenue. That was the genesis of what would become P1 Group, which he built into one of the region’s biggest in that space, with $249 million in revenues before a 2020 merger to create BCTS.

COLLEGE: B.S., MBA, University of Toledo
STRATEGIC SPLIT: The move to create BCTS came as P1 was divided into a pair of separate operating units: P1 Service, a single-source shop for HVAC and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing facility maintenance needs, and P1 Construction, offering commercial electrical construction services.
THE LONG VIEW: When P1 Group formed its partnership with firms in Ohio and Alabama to create BCTS, Belcher noted that the combined service of those firms was nearly 300 years. “This partnership,” he said then, “helps ensure our legacy and prosperity for the next 100 years.”
WORDS TO LIVE BY: A favorite aphorism of Belcher’s is, “Don’t let anyone tell you what you can or can’t do. You can do anything you set your mind to.”

Brad Bergman
Chairman/CEO, MTC Holding Corp.

Brad Bergman has guided MTC Holding Corp.—you may know it as Midwest Trust—through a year marked by market volatility, rising interest rates, and shifting client needs. Rather than retreat, the firm expanded, opening offices in five states by the end of 2025 and strengthening its role in trust administration.

COLLEGE: B.S., Illinois State; J.D., Washburn University School of Law
STEADY HAND: Bergman credits success to steady execution and a philosophy that avoids chasing fads. “In investing and in business,” he says, “boring often wins.”
OUTLOOK: Strong client relationships and disciplined strategy fuel continued expansion.
BOOMER EXODUS: Senior retirements bring fresh talent, but Bergman notes, “When you reach your 60s, that’s just when you start to hit your stride.”
TARIFF IMPACT: Minimal disruption thanks to foresight and preparation.
OUTLOOK: Retaining talent and building homegrown firms are essential to keep KC competitive.
LESSONS LEARNED: “You never lose until you quit trying to win.”
REWARDS: As an employee-owned, privately held company, MTC offers associates the opportunity to build generational wealth—a compelling incentive to work together.

Bill Berkley
President/CEO, Tension Corp.

Bill Berkley leads this 138-year-old, family-owned company with more than 900 associates and operations across the U.S. and internationally. Under his leadership, Tension has diversified into three divisions: Envelope and Print, Packaging & Automation, and International. He says the company continues to strengthen its footprint, particularly in packaging and automation, where new technologies and software are driving deeper market penetration alongside expanded print and envelope offerings.

COLLEGE: B.A., Colorado College; MBA, Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College
2024 REVENUES: $289,500,000
TARIFF IMPACT: With facilities in Taiwan and China, tariffs remain a challenge for the business.
ASSESSING INFLATION: “Inflation is not reined in,” Berkley says.
EMBRACING AI: The company expects AI use to grow internally and in customer offerings, especially within its automation division.

Steve Bernstein
CEO, Bernstein-Rein

The past year was about progress at Bernstein-Rein, as the independent, family-owned ad agency continued modernizing while honoring its 61-year heritage. Bernstein points to deepened client partnerships, expanded retail media capabilities, and data-driven marketing as signs of an evolving agency that remains grounded in creativity.

COLLEGE: B.S./BPA, University of Arizona; J.D., University of Missouri–Kansas City; MBA, Henry W. Bloch School of Management, UMKC
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: Bernstein cites updating the agency for the future—expanding services, enhancing retail media expertise, and delivering measurable results—while staying true to its cultural foundation.
KC OUTLOOK: He also sees opportunity in Kansas City’s momentum, from redevelopment projects to the upcoming World Cup in 2026, and stresses the need to ensure growth benefits the whole community. Talent attraction and retention remain Kansas City’s biggest hurdle, making workforce investment essential to sustaining long-term growth.
EMBRACING AI: BR has embraced AI for research, insights, and production support, but Bernstein emphasizes that great advertising remains rooted in human emotion.

Marty Bicknell
President/CEO, Mariner 

This has been a big year for many companies in this region. It’s hard to argue that any have had a bigger year than Marty Bicknell at Mariner. At the start of the year, his Overland Park wealth-management behemoth absolutely rocked the industry by closing the acquisition of Cardinal Investments—with $292 billion in assets under management. That immediately made Mariner the region’s biggest wealth manager; the firm and its affiliates now advise on over $577 billion in assets.

COLLEGE: B.S., Pittsburg State University
ACTIVE BUYER: The Cardinal deal didn’t exactly have a pig-in-a-python dynamic, and Mariner needed little time to digest the deal before feeding again. Just last month, it added $1.7 billion in AUM by picking up firms in New York and Arizona. It added $1.4 billion in June, another New York firm.
EXPANDED REACH: Mariner also launched an institutional division last year with additional acquisitions that expanded into that space and paved the way for the Cardinal deal.
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. He’s well on the way, at just over 2,000 this summer.

Kenneth Block
Managing Principal, Block Real Estate Services

In Kansas City real estate circles, one name looms large: Block. Ken Block spent decades driving growth at the  commercial real-estate firm founded by his father and uncle after World War II, split off with brothers Stephen and Michael to found BRES, then began a charge that would make their full-service firm the region’s biggest commercial real-estate enterprise.

COLLEGE: B.S., Business, Michigan State University
2024 REVENUES: $1.28 billion
ASSESSING TALENT: “If you can look me in the eye and show confidence in yourself and your answers, those are strong indicators of a good fit,” Block says. “I can usually tell within just a few minutes of meeting someone whether they’re the right person for a position at my company.”
MASSIVE FOOTPRINT: In terms of space, no firm came close to Block’s performance last year: 45.8 million square feet, more than twice the No. 2 and 3 firms, combined.
DIVERSE: BRES’ success is not limited to brokering sales and leases of properties, or managing them. It manages key elements of its own construction line-up, has an investment division (Block Funds), and has a capital-markets team.

David Brain
Founder, Enfinite Capital

Amid a shifting financial and political landscape, David Brain continues to seek out long-term investment opportunities. Over the past year, his team monetized a major investment in hyperscale data center development, while preparing for growth tied to electric vehicle charging infrastructure as federal subsidies decline. 

COLLEGE: B.A., Economics, MBA, Tulane University
EMBRACING AI: Brain uses AI as a research tool, finding it more conclusive and better summarized than standard search options.
STADIUM STANCE: He supports keeping both the Chiefs and Royals in the metro, regardless of whether they play in Missouri or Kansas.
LESSON: For Brain, a failed initiative offers its greatest value in the humility it teaches.
TARIFF IMPACT: He describes tariff policy as a highly visible part of what he calls the administration’s “chaos”—a condition that he says is never good for progress.
BOOMER EXODUS: While demographic shifts have not yet had much impact on his organization, he remains alert to potential future effects.
KC OUTLOOK: He warns against short-term thinking tied to temporary boosts like the World Cup, urging Kansas City to focus on sustained growth strategies.

Mark Brandmeyer
CEO, Brandmeyer Enterprises / KC Monarchs

Mark Brandmeyer is steering the Kansas City Monarchs toward growth on and off the field. With baseball ticket sales climbing and community events expanding, he says the real drivers ahead will be television broadcasts, special partnerships, and creating full-scale experiences at Legends Field. “Fans want more than a ballgame,” he says. “They want food, music, story, and community all in one night.”

COLLEGE: Business studies, University of Kansas
OUTLOOK: Ticket sales and group outings are increasing, but the largest gains are expected to come from KCTV-5 and KSMO broadcasts, as well as partnerships and events.
ASSESSING INFLATION: Costs for concessions, construction, and utilities remain high. “Washington may say it’s under control, but small and mid-sized businesses still feel it every day.”
TARIFF IMPACT: While tariffs don’t directly affect baseballs and beer, the ripple effects hit stadium upgrades, supplies, and food costs, raising expenses across the board.
KC OUTLOOK: Work-force shortages and government fragmentation remain obstacles. “If we want growth, we’ve got to make it easier for businesses instead of fighting constant battles with utilities and the Unified Government.”
LESSONS LEARNED: Failure is tuition, Brandmeyer says. The lesson is to learn quickly, pivot, and move forward without losing momentum.

Rob Bratcher
President, Commerce Bank of Kansas City

Commerce marked its 160th anniv. with record second-quarter earnings, underscoring its enduring role as a trusted financial partner. Bratcher credits loyal clients and a commitment to innovation for the milestone, while emphasizing KC’s momentum as a dynamic, unified region. “Our success reflects the loyalty of our customers and our ongoing commitment to improving KC and other markets we serve.”

COLLEGE: B.A., Business Administration, University of Missouri-Columbia
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Commerce expects continued growth, driven by diverse clients and expanding payment automation solutions.
INFLATION: Inflation remains unsettled without clear trade terms, he says, but Commerce Bank focuses on guiding clients through cycles.
TARIFF IMPACT: Shifting policies create uncertainty, but collaboration with clients helps mitigate effects.
KC OUTLOOK: Bratcher points to billions in new investments and Fiserv’s relocation as proof of the region’s strength.
LESSONS LEARNED: “Maintaining open feedback empowers your team to adapt and learn from setbacks,” Bratcher says.

Pamela Breuckmann
Chief Financial Officer, Ferrell Capital

You know the Ferrell name for propane, but there’s another aspect to the enterprise Jim Ferrell has led for 60 years, and Pamela Breuckmann is the linchpin. In leading Ferrell Capital, she’s responsible for managing the financial, business and personal affairs of the Ferrell family and safeguarding its legacy, all flowing from one of Kansas City’s iconic public companies.

COLLEGE: B.S., Business Administration and Accounting, University of Kansas; M.A., Accounting and Information Systems, University of Kansas
DOUBLE DUTY: Breuckmann has been with the capital-management unit since 2007, and also has a seat on the propane operation’s board of directors.
BEHIND THE SCENES: The capital division’s assets derive from Ferrellgas Partners, one of the first master limited partnerships in the propane industry and now the nation’s second-largest propane retailer. The propane operation reported revenues of more than $1.84 billion in 2024.
BEFORE FERRELL: She holds a CPA designation, and her career included stops at Deloitte, in an auditing role, and KC Life Insurance, where she served as Accounting Director.
HONORS: Breuckmann was honored as one of Ingram’s Women Executives-KC in 2016.

Katie Briscoe
CEO, MMGY Global

Leading the world’s largest travel-marketing company, Katie Briscoe oversees a team with a presence in more than 150 countries. Her focus is on equipping clients to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market while ensuring MMGY remains future-proof in a highly interconnected world.

COLLEGE: B.S., Journalism/Mass Communication, University of Kansas
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: Expansion into Asia-Pacific through the acquisition of Think Strawberries, a leading south Asian travel-marketing firm. The move strengthens MMGY’s platform as outbound travel from India.
GLOBAL SCALE: “With 600 teammates in 16 offices worldwide, we’re positioned to help clients win globally while acting locally,” Briscoe says.
EMBRACING AI: Briscoe says AI is amplifying—not replacing—creativity and strategy in travel marketing. MMGY launched an employee-driven AI Expertise Hub to train staff on responsible use and expanded EurekA!, its AI-powered travel intelligence platform. By combining human expertise with data-driven insights, the firm delivers more personalized campaigns, anticipates traveler shifts, and provides measurable value for clients.

Bucky Brooks
Principal, Copaken Brooks

Bucky Brooks is part of the leadership triumvirate guiding Copaken Brooks with a focus on advancing projects that shape Kansas City’s future while deepening the firm’s legacy as a leading regional developer. He says new opportunities ahead will be driven by both growth in the market and the company’s ability to adapt to evolving client needs. 

COLLEGE: BBA, Real Estate/Regional Science, Southern Methodist University; A.M.D., Real Estate, Harvard Graduate School of Design
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: Delivering a slate of “placemaking” projects across the Kansas City area, including mixed-use, multifamily, retail, higher education, sports, and self-storage developments.
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Brooks expects continued expansion fueled by new development, acquisitions, and owner’s representation. With an eye on talent, innovation, and civic progress, he emphasizes the importance of aligning business success with community impact.
BOOMER EXODUS: The firm is co-developing its first 55+ active adult apartment home community at Lenexa City Center.

Rob Broomfield
CEO, UnitedHealthcare of Iowa, Kansas & Nebraska

As the chief executive of the regional division for this national powerhouse, Broomfield is touching a lot of lives. UnitedHealthcare is one of three managed care organizations that administer KanCare, the Medicaid program for Kansas. Though that’s just one piece of his team’s coverage mission, KanCare alone serves more than 300,000 residents of the state—nearly 10 percent of the population.

COLLEGE: B.A., Finance, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Wharton School Executive-Development Program, University of Pennsylvania 
REGIONAL REACH: More than 22,000 health-care providers and nearly 150 hospitals are affiliated with Broomfield’s division.
STAYING PUT: Broomfield has now logged 20 years with UnitedHealthcare, working his way up the ranks from sales and account management to regional vice president and national practice leader for local-markets pharmacy before taking on his current role in 2017.
THE ROAD TO UNITED: His earlier career stops were with Principal Financial Group, Marsh and Mercer, working in employee benefits and retirement plan administration.
CIVIC-MINDED: He’s chairman of the board for the American Diabetes Association’s Heartland Region, and a board member for the KC Area Development Council.

Michael Brown
Chairman/CEO, Euronet Worldwide

Can you put a price on a talent for strategic growth and innovation? Why yes you can: In the case of Michael Brown, $3.99 billion. That’s what Euronet Worldwide recorded in 2024 revenues, making the global digital payments processor one of the region’s biggest public companies. That was a pop of more than 8 percent year-over-year, continuing a long streak of annual growth for the Leawood-based firm.

COLLEGE: B.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Missouri-Columbia; M.S. in molecular and cellular biology, University of Missouri-Kansas City
THEY’RE EVERYWHERE: With a mix of ATMs, point of sale services, credit/debit card services, currency exchange and other electronic financial services and payments software, Euronet is connecting people and money around the planet. It boasts an impressive network of more than 55,000 ATMs and an estimated 340,000 EFT point-of-sale terminals in 200 nations.
FAST-GROWTH ZEN: Before Euronet, Brown formed and sold Innovative Software, which in 1987 reached No. 1 on Ingram’s Corporate Report 100 ranking.  
AGAIN: Five years after founding Euronet, the firm had 450 employees and reached No. 2 on the CR 100. That makes Brown the only CEO who has led two firms to the top two spots.

Owen Buckley
President, LANE4 Development

Buckley points to a signature milestone for LANE4: the opening of Green Street in downtown Lee’s Summit, a project shaped by strong civic leadership and community partnership. With market activity beginning to pick up again, he sees reasons for optimism in the year ahead. At the same time, he acknowledges broader regional challenges that could shape Kansas City’s long-term economic trajectory.

COLLEGE: B.A., M.A., University of Kansas
GROWTH OUTLOOK: He anticipates steady opportunities ahead as reawakened demand fuels new projects across the market.
KC OUTLOOK: Buckley points to political and economic divides along the state line as key barriers to regional expansion.
STADIUM STANCE: He supports any move that keeps teams in the region, noting a downtown Royals stadium could solidify momentum for downtown.
ASSESSING INFLATION: Inflation continues to influence decisions, though he is encouraged by recent signs of easing.
EMBRACING AI: LANE4 is beginning to leverage AI in decision-making, a tool Buckley sees as transformative for the industry’s future.

Michael Bukaty
Chairman/CEO, Bukaty Companies

Mike Bukaty credits his company’s momentum to a culture of shared ownership and accountability. The addition of 10 new shareholders this year underscored that philosophy, giving more leaders a stake in guiding the benefits-brokerage’s future. He says the model helps build loyalty and ensures the next generation of leaders is ready to take the company forward.

COLLEGE: University of Kansas
GROWTH OUTLOOK:  The  Overland Park firm aims to double in size within the next five years, driven by what Bukaty calls “good people and processes” to support sustainable expansion.
KC OUTLOOK: Bukaty points to the need for younger employees to be more engaged in workplace culture as a challenge for Kansas City employers.
REWARDING EXCELLENCE: Exceptional performers are recognized with bonus dollars and trip incentives.
EMBRACING AI: An early adopter of AI, Bukaty Companies continues to push boundaries with new technologies: “The more we use it, the better it has become,” he says.

David Burkhart
CEO, Garney Construction

Think of it like trying to change drivers in a car going 100 miles an hour: David Burkhart succeeded Mike Heitmann at Garney Construction in late 2023, and without missing a beat, steered the water-systems giant to another record revenue year. He’s been with the company since 2005 and forged a reputation for executing some of the largest projects in its pipeline.

COLLEGE: B.S., Civil Engineering, University of Kansas
2024 REVENUES: $1,988,199,637
BACK TO KC: Burkhart spent a decade running point for Garney in the Texas market, returning to Kansas City in 2022. His leadership style in the Lone Star State was defined by successful collaborative projects, and today, 85 percent of its work is built through such delivery methods, including design-build and construction manager-at-risk.
CLOSE TO HIS ROOTS: He’s a native of western Kansas who brings a farming work ethic to his job, but it doesn’t stop at the office. He keeps close to that lifestyle—and its values—with a small farm and ranch operation outside of Kansas City.
ABOUT GARNEY: Garney has been 100 percent employee-owned since 1995, and Burkhart served for several years as a trustee for the ESOP.

DeAngela Burns-Wallace
President/CEO, Kauffman Foundation

At the nexus of entrepreneurship, public policy, higher education and workforce development in this region—and far beyond—is DeAngela Burns-Wallace, who has led the iconic Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation for the past two years. It’s a nationally-regarded foundation with a mission to help people achieve financial stability, upward mobility, and economic prosperity.

COLLEGE: B.A., International Relations and African/African-American Studies, Stanford University; EdD, Higher Education Management, University of Pennsylvania
2024 ASSETS: $2.99 billion
FOCUS ON THE FUTURE: She hit the ground running at the region’s second-largest philanthropic foundation, directing a comprehensive community-engagement process to sharpen its focus on improving college access and completion, workforce and career development, and entrepreneurship.
DATA: Executive roles at the University of Missouri and the University of Kansas, then the governor’s office in Topeka, have informed her use of data to derive policy solutions.
WORTH NOTING: Burns-Wallace held two cabinet positions under Gov. Laura Kelly, and was the first African American to serve as Chief IT Officer and Secretary of Administration.

David Callanan
CEO, AE Wealth Management

Building the nation’s leading independent marketing organization for independent financial advisers is no small task. Building out another enterprise at the same time, and turning it into a $37 billion powerhouse in wealth management, is what really makes David Callanan stand out. Those twin roles might make him the most influential figure in Topeka, inside or outside of politics.

COLLEGE: B.A., Management and Marketing, Washburn University
THE AE EDGE: Roughly 550 offices from across the top wealth-advisory firms in the U.S. rely on Advisors Excel’s tools in wealth management, broker-dealer divisions, annuity, life insurance, Medicare insurance, operations support, and creative services.
NATIONAL: One of the region’s biggest, AE Wealth, manages more than 111,000 client accounts. The vast majority of those (101,708) belong to individuals below the high-net-worth designation, with an average portfolio of less than $242,000.
PHILANTHROPIC: Both firms  embrace philanthropic commitment. AE, for instance, contributed 10,500 hours to volunteer at dozens of non-profits that address hunger and poverty, education and improve financial literacy. They unite on a national level in support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Folds of Honor and St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

David Campbell
CEO/President, Evergy

Kansas City is emerging as a major hub for data centers, but the man who might be most critical to their success isn’t building them—he’s directing the company that will power them. David Campbell—educated at Yale, Harvard and Oxford—came to Evergy in 2021, and now leads an electric utility serving 1.7 million customers in Missouri and Kansas.

COLLEGE: Yale; J.D., Harvard Law School; Masters, International Relations, Oxford University (Rhodes Scholar)
2024 REVENUES: $5.85 billion
POWER PLAYER: In the truest sense of the word. He’s the current vice chair for the Edison Electric Institute and sits on the board for the Electric Power Research Institute. He’s also on the board for Esco Technologies, which provides filtration and fluid control products for military and aerospace applications, among other things.
CIVIC: He’s also a member of the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, the Kansas City Area Development Council and the Truman Library Institute. In addition to those roles, he’s on the Leadership Council for the Yale School of the Environment.
BEFORE EVERGY: He was in leadership roles at the largest power company in Texas.

Scott Campbell
CEO, University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus

The Kansas City region’s health-care ecosystem is dominated by public health authorities, for-profit hospital systems and non-profit providers. Scott Campbell leads a rare exception: The health system operating the former St. Francis Regional Medical Center partnered with for-profit Ardent Health to acquire the struggling facility in 2017. 

COLLEGE: B.A., Virginia Commonwealth; M.A., Health-Care Admin, Medical College of Virginia
2024 REVENUES: $1.186 billion
BOOMER IMPACT: “The growing Baby Boomer population will significantly increase demand for hospital services, particularly in areas like orthopedics, cardiology, oncology, and chronic disease management,” Campbell says. “As this generation ages, we can expect higher utilization of inpatient, outpatient, and surgical care, requiring us to expand capacity, innovate in care delivery, and strengthen our focus on patient experience. Their expectations for quality, convenience, and advanced treatments will also shape how we adapt and evolve our services in the years ahead.”
ANCHOR: As one of two large health systems in the capital city, the St. Francis campus is also a major employer—more than 1,000 people work for this 264-bed acute-care facility. 

Shelly Cannon
CEO, UTXL

Kansas City, Kan., native Shelly Cannon has led UTXL, a third-party logistics provider, to year-over-year growth in load count and revenue despite freight market declines. “This success is a testament to our high service standards—including on-time pickups and deliveries—as well as our commitment to exceptional customer service,” Cannon says.

COLLEGE: A.A., business, accounting and business management, Kansas City Kansas Community College; B.S., human resources management, Upper Iowa University
GROWTH OUTLOOK: She expects continued gains in 2025 driven by exceptional customer service.
TARIFF IMPACT: While the current administration’s tariff policies have brought both opportunities and challenges, Cannon says it’s unclear if recent market gains are sustainable or driven by pre-tariff demand surges.
REGIONAL ADVANTAGE: Kansas City’s lower cost of living fuels business appeal, she says.
LESSON LEARNED: Adaptability and corrective planning turn failures into progress.
AI FUTURE: UTXL is exploring transportation-focused AI for rollout by 2026.

Faruk Capan
CEO, Eversana Intouch

The late 1990s and early years of the 21st century were rife with opportunities to excel in the emerging field of digital marketing, and few in this region had the vision and the execution that Faruk Capan possessed. He launched Intouch Solutions in 1999, hit nearly $5 million in revenues by 2004, and was on his way with one of the region’s fastest-growing companies over the next decade.

COLLEGE: Marmara University, Istanbul; MBA, University of Central Missouri
BOOM: In late 2021, he reached a deal with Chicago-based Eversana to sell Intouch in a deal reportedly worth $950 million. He has stayed on with what is now Eversana Intouch and serves as chief innovation officer for the parent company.
STARTING EARLY: A native of Turkey, he began his first business at age nine and went on to create an online community, the first of its kind, for people living with multiple sclerosis.
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.

Mitzi Cardenas
Chief Administrative Officer, University Health

As she prepares to retire in October, Mitzi Cardenas reflects on a career marked by commitment to quality, efficiency, and fiscal responsibility. Over the past year, she has been especially proud of leading efforts to provide exceptional care while maintaining positive margins, all with a focus on improving patient outcomes and ensuring University Health remains strong for the future.

COLLEGE: B.B.A., University of Texas–Arlington; M.S., Troy State University
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Cardenas expects growth in outpatient services as specialty care gains broader recognition.
KC OUTLOOK: Addressing work-force needs, she says, starts with education: “We’re using that opportunity to talk to high schools about the skills we need.”
LESSONS LEARNED: “Every failed initiative is a learning opportunity, allowing leaders to apply those lessons to future decisions.”
REWARDING EXCELLENCE: Recognition comes through public shout-outs in monthly meetings and personal handwritten notes.
STADIUM STANCE: “As long as the KC Chiefs remain our Chiefs, I’ll be rooting for them!”
EMBRACING AI: University Health is exploring AI across the enterprise to improve efficiency and advance patient well-being.

Jeff Carson
President, Kansas City & Texas Region, Enterprise Bank & Trust

Jeff Carson has guided regional operations through a year of innovation and expansion, highlighted by the launch of Enterprise Games, a unique fundraising event benefiting local non-profits. The bank strengthened its market position with steady growth and a pending acquisition of Kansas branches of First Interstate Bank, reinforcing its commitment to KC.

COLLEGE: B.S., Business Administration, Kansas State University
OUTLOOK: “Given changes and consolidation within our local banking landscape, fewer institutions are as focused on KC’s small and medium-sized businesses as Enterprise is.” 
BOOMER EXODUS: Succession planning has prepared Enterprise for retirements, creating leadership opportunities for the next generation.
INFLATION OUTLOOK: Inflation is nearing a range that balances growth with stability, supporting margins and credit quality. 
KC OUTLOOK: Kansas City’s greatest challenge is attracting and retaining top talent while investing in housing and infrastructure to sustain growth.
LESSONS LEARNED: “Some level of failure is inevitable and is only costly if we fail to learn,” Carson says.

Melissa Cather
President, ProActive Solutions 

After sharpening her tech-world sales skills peddling hardware, software, and other services, Melissa Cather took the entrepreneurial plunge in 1996 by founding ProActive Solutions. In doing so, she positioned her enterprise for success in the still-emerging world of business IT services. Cather is the majority owner of a WBE enterprise that ranked No. 5 on this year’s list of the region’s biggest women-owned businesses.

COLLEGE: B.A., General Studies, Wichita State University
2024 REVENUES: $61,858,231
AT PROACTIVE: She oversees the operation’s finances, key partnerships, contracting, marketing, sales support, and public relations.
ABOUT THE COMPANY: The company, based in Mission, is an IBM Premier Business Partner and VMWARE Partner, offering services, storage, software, technical services and business-intelligence consulting, with key clients in the health care and higher-education spaces.
INGRAM’S HONORS: Cather was a member of Ingram’s Women Executives-Kansas City class of 2010.

Ramin Cherafat
CEO, McCownGordon Construction

Ramin Cherafat’s leadership blends resilience, detail, and vision. After guiding McCownGordon through its founders’ transition, he has scaled it into Kansas City’s second-largest hometown general contractor. His approach reflects both a deep operational knowledge of the industry and a belief that culture and civic involvement are as vital as execution on the job site.

COLLEGE: B.S., Construction Science, Kansas State University; MBA, UMKC
2024 REVENUES: $769,189,372
GROWTH OUTLOOK: He forecasts continued expansion, saying, “Our team is excited about the future, and we’re proud that our culture remains strong as we grow.”
TARIFF IMPACT: Policies have created “more anxiety than anything,” Cherafat says, but have not yet caused major disruption. Ideally, tariffs would lead to one-time adjustments rather than ongoing cost increases.
LESSONS LEARNED: “Hope is not a strategy,” Cherafat says. “Leaders must be willing to identify root causes of failure, accept them quickly, and move forward with the right people at the table.”

William Clarkson Jr.
CEO, Clarkson Construction Co.

Bill Clarkson Jr. leads one of Kansas City’s most influential heavy-construction firms, a legacy player shaping the region’s infrastructure landscape. The company has been instrumental in delivering marquee projects like the $1.25 billion KCI terminal and the Johnson County Gateway highway expansion, and it has major projects ahead with the Downtown South Loop Park and the I-70 expansion in Missouri.

LEGACY COMPANY: The company is a true Kansas City commercial legacy, with a history that stretches 145 years to its founding in 1880.
EXCELLENCE: Clarkson carries on the tradition of his late father, Bill Clarkson Sr., who was recognized by The American Road and Transportation Builders Association as one of its “Top 100 Transportation Construction Professionals” of the 20th century.
PIPELINE: The company is part of a joint venture on Missouri’s $237 million Improve I-70 KC initiative, a critical safety and modernization effort spanning Paseo to U.S. 40. Bridge replacements, lane expansions, pedestrian upgrades, with completion slated for 2028.
PARK PARTNER: For its engagement with the South Loop Park, announced last fall, Clarkson is partnering with JE Dunn Construction to construct the cap park over I-670, creating a visionary urban greenspace project enhancing Downtown connectivity.

Jeff Cloud
President/CEO, IBT Industrial Solutions

Jeff Cloud leads IBT with an eye on resilience in a shifting industrial landscape. From supply chain volatility to work-force shortages, he says the key is staying nimble while keeping customer needs front and center. “We’ve been in business for more than 70 years because we adapt quickly,” Cloud says, “and that remains our mindset as we look ahead.”

COLLEGE: Gen. Studies, University of Kansas; AOS, Culinary Arts, New England Culinary Institute
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: IBT has completed a company-wide ERP conversion, streamlining systems to boost efficiency and enhance customer service.
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Cloud anticipates modest expansion ahead, driven largely by acquiring new customers rather than deeper penetration with existing ones.
BOOMER EXODUS: Retirements have opened opportunities to bring in employees with fresh skills and perspectives.
TARIFF IMPACT: Tariffs remain a drag on operations, creating uncertainty and complicating long-term planning.
KC OUTLOOK: Hiring qualified employees is the biggest challenge for businesses in the region, Cloud says, citing work-force availability as a persistent obstacle.

Scott Colangelo
Chairman/Managing Partner, Prime Capital Financial

Scott Colangelo’s wealth-management epiphany came when he realized that informed client engagement was a missing piece of the portfolio-building puzzle. From that came the intellectual seed for Qualified Plan Advisors, part of the PCF service line. Absent that guidance, Colangelo says, “this left a nation of workers to manage their retirement planning and investing without the knowledge to do so.”

COLLEGE: B.S., Finance (minor in Marketing), Kansas State University
TWIN FOCUS: Prime itself is laser-focused on assisting individual investors and families; QPA works with organizations to design retirement plans that help them meet their benefits-plan goals.  
IMPACT: Prime Capital Financial ranks among the Top 10 firms in the Kansas City region. It had $24.6 billion in assets under management at the end of 2024, covering more than 30,600 client accounts.
GROWTH HISTORY: The original founders set up shop in 1984, and Colangelo joined with other leadership figures to acquire ownership in 2017. That set the stage for fourfold growth in assets under management—even after adjusting for inflation.

Matt Condon
Founder, Bardavon Health Innovations

Before turning over the reins at the company he founded in 2013, Matt Condon became one of Kansas City’s rising young entrepreneurial stars. He credited the Kansas City ecosystem for part of that success: “This community has been amazing to us, proving that we could raise capital, build a compassionate, care-centric business, and execute a national mission,” he said.

COLLEGE: B.S., Kinesiology, Iowa State University; JD/MBA, University of Toledo
BEFORE BARDAVON: Condon had previously made a splash with ARC Physical Therapy, which he sold before launching the new venture.
SPREADING OUT: Bardavon, which provides workers’ compensation solutions for employers, found immediate success. As he turned the leadership reins over to Alex Benson, Condon noted that “We have even expanded our reach beyond the U.S. borders, serving clients in Australia. It’s been a big vision, and we’ve made it a reality because of the support of this great city.”
BUSINESS PRODIGY: He has previously served as chairman of the board for the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, the youngest person to serve in that role in the organization’s nearly 140-year history.

Jon Cook
Global CEO, VML

VML has become a global powerhouse under Jon Cook’s leadership, blending a deep creative legacy with tech-driven innovation. With 26,000 people in more than 50 markets, the Kansas City-based agency leverages diverse perspectives to fuel client success and community impact.

COLLEGE: B.A., Journalism, University of Missouri
CULTURAL CORE: “Our culture is built on the belief that connecting these viewpoints is the most powerful driver of creativity and innovation,” Cook says.
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: VML was chosen as the primary advertising partner for National Vision Holdings, operator of America’s Best, Eyeglass World, and Vista Opticals. The agency will lead creative, CRM, social strategy, and brand identity. “This is about so much more than just advertising; it’s about creativity and enhancing the entire experience,” Cook says.
EMBRACING AI: VML is using AI to spark ideas, streamline operations and support client campaigns. “AI is helping us move faster and smarter, giving our teams more bandwidth to focus on high-impact creativity,” Cook says.

John Cosentino
Vice President, Cosentino’s Food Stores

John Cosentino carries on the proud tradition of an iconic family name in the Kansas City region, helping steer this Prairie Village-based enterprise that operates more than 30 locations sprawling from Ottawa, Kan., to St. Joseph, Mo. Most of those fly the familiar Price Chopper flag, but others represent the Apple Market and Sun Fresh flags, as well as the proprietary Cosentino’s Market locations.

EMPLOYEES: More than 4,000.
FAMILY TIES: The family patriarch arrived from Italy in 1919, and his three sons turned a single-location fruit stand on Blue Ridge Boulevard into a small grocery empire with the help of the succeeding generation. John’s Gen2 partners would eventually include Jamie, Donnie, David, Victor and Jimmy Cosentino. And three of his own sons are part of the Gen3 Cosentino cadre.
NEXTGEN BOOM: More than two dozen members of the extended family now lead or work at the company’s stores. 
CHANGING FOOTPRINT: Just this summer, the company added a key Kansas City location by acquiring the Marsh’s Sun Fresh site in Westport.

Fred Coulson
Founder/Managing Partner, Five Elms Capital

It’s been another milestone year for Fred Coulson and team at Five Elms Capital, the growth-equity firm that focuses on promising software ventures. Earlier this year, it announced the closing of Five Elms VI, the largest fund in the firm’s history, with a total of $1.1 billion in commitments. 

COLLEGE: B.S., Business Administration, University of Kansas
MORE ON VI: The latest closed fund extends Five Elms’ base of global investors, and increases the Kansas City firm’s total assets under management to more than $3 billion.
QUOTABLE: “Since 2006, we’ve partnered with founders who have built strong products and distinct company cultures to help them scale into category leaders,” Coulson says. “Our team is purpose-built to support that transition and is ready to roll up their sleeves alongside our partners.”
ABOUT FIVE ELMS: Coulson led a team of more than 80 professionals steering investments in more than 70 software platforms worldwide. It will typically invest between $15 million and $150 million in a founder-owned business, whether it takes a majority or minority ownership stake.

Scott Coup
President, Security Bank of Kansas City

Scott Coup joined the senior leadership team at one of the region’s 10 biggest banks this summer, assuming duties held for 34 years by Jim Lewis, who remains at Security Bank as CEO and chairman. Coup, with extensive experience in regional banking, came on board to eventually replace Lewis, who has overseen the rise of Security to nearly $3.6 billion in assets and 36 branches.

COLLEGE: Kansas State University; Graduate School of Banking,  University of Wisconsin
2024 REVENUES: $188,716,000
BEFORE SECURITY: Coup made the leap to Security in 2021 from his position as chief commercial banking officer at Enterprise Bank & Trust, where he’d worked for more than a decade, including two years as president of its Kansas City region and nearly five years as president of business banking for the Kansas City and St. Louis regions.
STABILITY: In the bank’s 125-year history, Coup is just its fourth president.
THE LEWIS LEGACY: Coup’s predecessor was at the controls when the family-owned network of seven banks consolidated under the Security brand in 2016.
DEEP ROOTS: The parent company of Security Bank is Valley View Bancshares, a holding company owned by the families of the late Sherman Dreiseszun and Frank Morgan.

Tim Cowden
President/CEO, Kansas City Area Development Council

The Kansas City Area Development Council capped a milestone year with two transformative wins: Merck Animal Health’s nearly $1 billion expansion and the recruitment of fintech giant Fiserv, bringing 2,000 jobs to the region. Tim Cowden says Kansas City’s growth is rooted in collaboration across its 18-county, two-state footprint. 

COLLEGE: B.S., Journalism, Missouri State University
GROWTH OUTLOOK: “Our region is on a positive roll,” he says. “The greatest challenge is complacency—we haven’t arrived; there’s so much more yet to accomplish.”
BOOMERS: Balancing seasoned pros’ knowledge with talent is shaping the work force.
TARIFF IMPACT: “The economy never remains static,” he notes. “Today it’s tariffs; tomorrow it will be something else. Deal with change or die.”
LESSONS LEARNED: “If the failure didn’t mortally injure your operation, pick yourself up and get back at it. Business and life are our greatest teachers.”
EXCELLENCE: KCADC emphasizes a supportive work environment and work-life balance.
STADIUM STANCE: The council supports keeping the Chiefs and Royals anywhere in the region.

David Cummings
Founder/Owner/Chairman, Tradebot Systems

Dave Cummings is a man of his word. His high-frequency stock-trading enterprise proudly declares that it is “Beating Wall Street from Kansas City.” It backs up that claim—not boast—with more than $1 billion in trading profits since he took the leap in 1999. Back then, it was a $10,000 investment and operating space in a spare bedroom; today, it’s a market-shaking game-changer in global equities trading.

COLLEGE: B.S., Computer and Electrical Engineering, Purdue University
BROADER IMPACT: Cummings was also the vision behind BATS Global Markets (Better Alternative Trading System) when it launched in 2005. Its reach grew with offices in New York, Chicago, London and Singapore, eventually leapfrogging the iconic NASDAQ to become the second-largest trading platform in the U.S.
CHA-CHING!: BATS, trading more than a billion shares per day at its peak, was acquired in 2017 by CBOE Holdings of Chicago for a nifty $3.2 billion in a cash-and-stock deal.
LOCAL PRODUCT: Cummings is a prime example of what can happen when a Midwestern city overcomes the dreaded Brain Drain of young talent; before he headed off to West Lafayette, Ind., for college, he was a graduate of Park Hill High School and came back home after his time at Purdue.

Wiley Curran
President/Chairman, CPC

A word of advice: Do not get into a debate with Wiley Curran over who has a more packed schedule. In addition to overseeing the equity-investment enterprise he co-founded, he serves on the boards of Clore Automotive and Heartland Fasteners in the Kansas City area, marketing agency Brado (St. Louis), Pearce Services (Paso Robles, Calif.), Precision Aerospace (Phoenix), Studentreasures Publishing (Topeka).

COLLEGE: B.A., Finance, Miami of Ohio; MBA/Accounting, Cox School of Business, Southern Methodist University
CHANGING UP: The firm made its mark with a strategy of buy, build and hold, but departed from that last year by selling off its majority stake in AirShare, the private jet fractional-ownership company based in Overland Park.
DIVERSE INTERESTS: CPC has ownership stakes in more than a dozen companies, from aerospace and manufacturing to supply chain management and professional sports. Combined, those companies employ nearly 3,000 people.
THE STRATEGY: The firm operates by zeroing in on five key business traits that drive each acquisition: people/talent, operational systems, execution capabilities, customer intimacy and product leadership.

Dennis Curtin
Owner, RE/MAX Regional Services

Dennis Curtin expanded his footprint this past year, adding Iowa and Nebraska to RE/MAX Regional Services. The move brings the network to 85 offices and 1,200 sales associates. He says the new states provide growth opportunities in both franchise sales and agent recruitment. “Expansion is about giving our associates more opportunity, and that’s what fuels success,” Curtin says.

GROWTH OUTLOOK: Additional team members and the addition of two new states are expected to drive growth in 2025.
BOOMERS: Several longtime employees have retired, creating space for new talent.
KC OUTLOOK: Attracting motivated employees remains the region’s top challenge.
LESSONS LEARNED: “Failures give us the opportunity to be a Monday-morning quarterback. Learn from it and don’t repeat it.”
REWARDING EXCELLENCE: Incentive bonuses and unscheduled time off are used to recognize standout performance.
STADIUM STANCE: Curtin supports keeping both teams in their current arrangement.
ASSESSING INFLATION: Dining costs have surged, and in real estate, low-interest-rate loans have tightened the supply, driving record-high housing prices.

Tim Danker
CEO, SelectQuote

At the helm of one of the nation’s largest brokers and distributors of Medicare Advantage, with approximately 10,000 seniors aging into Medicare each day, Tim Danker and his team focus on guiding older adults through the complexities of Medicare. The company matches consumers with coverage that fits their needs and value-added services that promote healthier, more independent lives.

COLLEGE: B.A., business administration, University of Missouri; MBA, University of Kansas
STRATEGIC INVESTMENT: In February, SelectQuote secured a $350 million strategic investment to recapitalize, reduce debt service, provide liquidity, and increase flexibility to fund growth. Danker calls it “the financing we need to capitalize on robust growth opportunities in senior health insurance and healthcare services marketplaces.”
HEALTH-CARE: SelectRx, the company’s patient-centered pharmacy, is approaching $750 million in revenue. It helps chronically ill patients better adhere to prescriptions, improving outcomes and lowering health-care costs.
BACKGROUND: CEO since 2017; joined SelectQuote in 2012 after co-founding Spring Venture Group; earlier role with Cerner Corp. 
AI: Danker says AI has enhanced service quality, lead generation, and workflow automation.

Brian DeFrain
President, D&L Transport

Brian DeFrain leads an agent-first model at D&L Transport that has guided the freight brokerage since its founding in 2005. “Agent support and success are our primary focus,” he says. “And we’re better at it than anyone else.” That approach has built a reputation for reliability, integrity, and service that rivals Fortune 500 brokerages while maintaining the responsiveness of a family-run company.

COLLEGE: B.B.A., Finance, Baylor University; J.D., University of Missouri School of Law
2024 REVENUES: $311,750,000
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: D&L has grown into a national leader by providing resources, contacts, and competitive pricing alongside attentive service. The company has earned respect for financial strength, ethics, and exceeding customer expectations.
EXPANDING: The company now operates with 270 employees across 26 offices.
INVESTING: DeFrain has also partnered in Ace Pickleball, in Olathe, which recently opened as an indoor, membership-based club, the first of its kind in this region.
INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP: Backed by a management team with more than 75 years of combined experience and in-house legal counsel specializing in transportation law, D&L is member of the Transportation Intermediaries Association.

John Dicus
Chairman/CEO, Capitol Federal Financial  

John Dicus highlights strong momentum in Capitol Federal’s commercial lending portfolio as a key achievement of the past year, with growth spanning all regions and industries. Looking forward, he says the bank is focused on adding value with customer-driven products and services that deliver full-service financial solutions for families and businesses.

2024 REVENUES: $406,328,000
COLLEGE: B.A., Business; MBA, University of Kansas
BOOMER EXODUS: Retirements mark the close of an era while opening opportunities for new ideas and vision.
KC OUTLOOK: Economic uncertainty and fluctuating prices remain challenges for businesses and households across the region.
LESSONS LEARNED: Dicus says the key is “staying true to your word.” Even in unexpected outcomes, he notes, honest and consistent communication ensures customers can rely on Capitol Federal’s proven reputation and trust.
EMBRACING AI: Capitol Federal has begun adopting select AI tools to improve services, advancing cautiously to safeguard customers.

Mark Dohnalek
President/CEO, Pivot International

He operates out of a Lenexa base, but Mark Dohnalek’s reach extends to the other side of the world, with locations in the United Kingdom and Taiwan. The company is about as close to one-stop shopping as someone with a product idea can get, offering engineering and design services, manufacturing, contract manufacturing, supply-chain support and assistance with regulatory compliance.

COLLEGE: B.S., Economics/Business, Cornell College; MBA, Keller Graduate School of Management, DeVry University
2024 REVENUES: $114,334,520
ABOUT PIVOT: In a world of corporate specialization, Pivot stands out as a fully integrated firm controlling all segments of the product development and manufacturing process, whether the underlying technologies stem from electrical or battery power, rely on touchscreen or wireless tech, or have other mechanical applications.
GROWTH HISTORY: He has demonstrated a keen eye for identifying opportunities in both adjacent industries and in fields that expand Pivot’s service line. Since 2012, Pivot has expanded its international footprint and acquired nine new companies. At its growth peak, compounded annual revenues shot up more than 100 percent.

Mark Donovan
President, Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs keep winning on the field, but even at its busiest, that venue sees 12 football games a season. Part of Mark Donovan’s job is putting it to use on many of the other 353 days of the year. No arguing with his track record: From mega concert performances like Taylor Swift to monster events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup to college football showdown games, Donovan drives the top line on non-football operations.

COLLEGE: B.S., Organizational Behavior and Management/Political Science, Brown University
POWER: Donovan oversees all aspects of the team’s business operations, including facility use, maintenance, upgrades and most recently, a seat at the table in discussions about whether to renovate the stadium again or find a new home, possibly on the Kansas side.
BIG SHOW: Donovan has a lead role in preparations for the World Cup, with Arrowhead temporarily rebranded as “Kansas City Stadium” for those contests. It 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.
PHILLY INFLUENCE: Last year’s Super Bowl outcome was crushing for Chiefs fans, but perhaps only bittersweet for Donovan: He’d been with the Eagles until Clark Hunt snagged him in 2009.

Ed Dowling
CEO, Compass Minerals

Last year, one of this region’s largest public companies underwent a leadership change with the appointment of Ed Dowling Jr., a seasoned executive with a three-decade track record of steering mining giants through volatile global markets. A board member at Compass Minerals since 2022, Dowling stepped into an operational leadership role at a pivotal time for the essential minerals producer.

COLLEGE: B.S., Mining Engineering and Mineral Processing, M.S., Mineral Processing, Ph.D., Mineral Processing, Penn State University
2024 REVENUES: $1.12 billion
EXPERIENCE: Dowling brings to the C-suite a rare depth of international mining expertise and a proven history of building shareholder value across a diverse portfolio of hard rock and mineral assets. His career reads like a roadmap of the global mining sector’s top-tier.
BEFORE: Dowling’s most notable previous command was as president/CEO of SSR Mining, where he orchestrated a transformative merger with Alacer Gold Corp. and later served as chair for seven years. His executive resume includes the corner offices of Meridian Gold and senior leadership at industry titans De Beers S.A., where he oversaw global mining and exploration, and Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., where he was responsible for operations as EVP.

Dan Duffy
CEO, United Real Estate Holdings

The venue is real estate, but at his core, Dan Duffy is an architect—of tech disruption. As chairman and CEO of United Real Estate, Duffy has designed and built one of the nation’s fastest-growing real estate powerhouses in the U.S. He has engineered United’s relentless expansion by executing a clear mandate: to build a formidable enterprise that delivers an unbeatable competitive edge.

COLLEGE: BBA, Indiana University; MBA, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
2024 REVENUES: $534,395,538
PATH TO UNITED: Duffy’s blueprint for growth was forged in the fire of high-stakes global business, leading a Microsoft solutions partner that he scaled the firm into a global titan, with 25 offices across three continents and 12,000 clients worldwide. Previously, he was with Ernst & Young’s Center for Strategic Transactions, where he advised Fortune 100 companies on critical M&A and financial strategies.
BROAD REACH: The parent company operates in five distinct markets including United Country Real Estate (rural), United Real Estate (single-family residential), United PRD International Real Estate, United Country Auction Services and United Marketing Services.
ALIGNED: Duffy invested in fast-growing Platinum Real Estate, in 2022.

Leslie Duke
Chair/CEO, Burns & McDonnell

If you think of leadership at Kansas City’s biggest engineering/construction firm as a relay race, Leslie Duke is maintaining a torrid pace on the latest anchor leg. She took over leadership at the start of 2024, and the employee-owned firm delivered a near-record top-line performance, earning its eighth consecutive Top 10 ranking among U.S. firms by Engineering News-Record, while retaining its No. 7 ranking.

COLLEGE: B.S., Civil/Structural Engineering, Texas Tech University
2024 REVENUES: $7.2 billion
ON LEADERSHIP: “Everyone wants a leader who stands up for them,” Duke says. “I am a leader who has my team’s back, both for furthering their careers and defending their decisions. Leaders do not take the credit when things go well, knowing it is always a team effort. However, good leaders take 100 percent of the blame if something goes wrong. This is a leadership trait creating loyalty, alignment and traction.”
OUTLOOK: “Two key growth drivers for Burns & McDonnell are data centers and infrastructure. As AI helps drive demand for data centers, power availability continues to challenge.” As infrastructure projects transition from planning to reality through the trillions of dollars of investment in the U.S., she says, the firm expects growth in roads, bridges, power and water.

Terry Dunn
Founder, DD Ranch Leawood

Terry Dunn sees investing as a hands-on, full-time commitment focused on building value and driving improvement. “Businesses that make up a large part of my investment portfolio have focused on execution, value creation, and continuous improvement,” he says. His expectation for the year ahead: stay in “continuous improvement growth mode.”

COLLEGE: B.S., Business Administration, Rockhurst University; MBA, University of Missouri–Kansas City
GROWTH: “Succession planning, managing turnover, and recruiting are extremely important.”
POLICY IMPACT: “New government policies and higher tariffs have created havoc and concern. This unstable environment puts unique pressure on businesses.”
COMMUNITY: “Crime, murder, and violence are a problematic brand for Greater KC. We must unite strong public and private leaders to address it. KC Common Good is working to solve a holistic environmental problem, and we need to focus as a community.”
LESSON: “Discern and learn. Everyone will get humbled. Learn from our mistakes.”
REWARDING SUCCESS: “Develop a culture of sharing success.”
ECONOMIC: “Inflation and deficit spending are two major monetary and fiscal risks in the U.S.”

Tim Dunn
Chairman/CIO, JE Dunn Construction

As a fourth-generation leader, Tim Dunn carries on the family legacy within employee-owned J.E. Dunn Construction, driving its growth and deepening its Kansas City roots. The company, founded in 1924, has grown into one of the largest contractors in the U.S., generating $7.4 billion in revenue with more than 5,000 employees across two dozen offices nationwide.

COLLEGE: B.S.B.A., Accounting, University of Richmond; M.A., Entrepreneurial Real Estate, UMKC
BOOMER EXODUS: Retirements have had a major impact, he says, but succession planning, mentoring, and leadership development help mitigate the impact.
STADIUM STANCE: Dunn supports keeping the Chiefs and Royals in the metro, adding, “Downtown baseball is my preference to boost the entire region and strengthen the core.”
LESSONS LEARNED: “Failure and adversity make you stronger,” Dunn says. “Review why it failed, and course correct next time.”
ASSESSING INFLATION: Dunn says inflation is not under control, pointing to excessive government spending and calling for targeted investment in areas of growth.
EMBRACING AI: Adopted across the firm, AI is expected to drive major efficiency and innovation breakthroughs in the coming years.

Rachel Dwiggins
Managing Partner, Forvis Mazars

The organization has changed around her—from a Springfield-based accounting firm to a Top 10 accounting firm to part of an international accounting, audit, tax and advisory firm. Amid that sweeping change, much of it in the past three  years, Rachel Dwiggins brings stability to what is now the Kansas City office of Forvis Mazars, the region’s biggest in that space.

COLLEGE: B.S., Accounting, Missouri State University
AREAS OF FOCUS: Much of her career focused on audit and consulting services for higher education, non-profits and public-sector organizations. 
UP THE LADDER: She was named managing partner for the Kansas City office of what was then BKD, LLP, in October 2019. She now oversees a team of more than 200, setting the stage for growth initiatives, workplace culture, quality control, and staff development.
OFF THE CLOCK: A graduate of the KC Tomorrow leadership program, she’s on the board of the Kansas City Area Development Council and is past chair for the board of directors of the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Matt England
CEO, Triumph Foods

In Kansas City, especially, where spare ribs, pulled pork and bacon could form their own food pyramid, Matt England touches a lot of lives—and tables—from his perch at this St. Joseph pork processor. There, his workforce of more than 2,500 constitutes one of northwest Missouri’s largest private-sector employers, processing more than 5 million hogs annually.

COLLEGE: B.A., Business Administration, University of Nebraska
2024 REVENUES: $1.8 billion
PRODUCER ROOTS: In 2003, five large independently owned pork producers aligned to create Triumph, opening  their 800,000-square-foot facility in 2006. Even after a generation, the plant is considered one of the most technologically advanced pork-production sites in the country, producing pork for local sale and distribution around the globe under various brands.
WHAT’S FOR DINNER: In a YouTube video prepared by Ceva, the animal-products company, England noted that while pork is No. 3 in terms of protein sources consumed in America, it’s No. 1 worldwide, demonstrating the company’s potential for increasing its reach. 

Warren Erdman
MO Highways and Transportation Commission

His long career in the rail industry has reached the final depot, but Warren Erdman isn’t stepping off the Influence Train. Following the completed merger of KC Southern Railway and Canadian Pacific in 2023, he stayed on as special adviser to the CEO during the transition. Now, among other interests, he’s flexing decades worth of government-affairs expertise as a member of the state’s highway commission.

COLLEGE: B.A., Westminster College 
MORE AWARDS: Erdman has a trophy case filled with various professional recognitions over the years, culminating in a final corporate honor last fall. He was on hand to receive the Project of the Year award from the economic development agency in Laredo, Texas, for an international bridge the company had completed there.
CAREER: Following over 25 years with Kansas City Southern, his final role with the company was VP of Administration and Corporate Affairs. He started with KCS in 1997.
SERVICE: Erdman served as chief of staff to Kit Bond in the U.S. Senate from 1987 to 1997. He worked under Bond during the latter’s stint as governor and under Gov. John Ashcroft.
EDUCATION CHAMPION: Erdman served on the University of Missouri Board of Curators and as chairman of the UMKC Trustees and former Vice Chair of the UMKC Foundation. 

Jason Evelyn
CEO, Cerris

When Jason Evelyn became chief executive of the former MMC Corp in May 2024, he hit the ground running: Barely a month into those new duties, the parent of four construction-services divisions rebranded as Cerris, and shortly after opened new locations in Alabama and Arizona, while also expanding with the acquisition of an Omaha-based electrical construction contractor.

COLLEGE: B.S., Construction Management, Texas A&M  University
2024 REVENUES: $1.4 billion (up 13.82 percent year-over-year)
STAYING PUT: Evelyn has been with the firm for nearly 30 years, starting as a project engineer and moving up the ladder to become president of the construction division in 2011, before being appointed CEO last year.
EMPLOYER: 800 employees in the KC region, and roughly 2,000 at 16 offices across the U.S.
EMPLOYEE-OWNED: Three brothers founded the company in 1932, and it took the first steps to employee ownership in 2000. Two years to complete 100 percent employee ownership.
ABOUT CERRIS: It now comprises three operating units: Cerris Builders, Cerris Systems and Emerging Solutions. The brands cover services for general construction, mechanical-electrical-plumbing construction, and innovation.

Bill Ferguson
President/CEO, Central Bank of the Midwest

Ferguson leads Central Bank of the Midwest with a focus on client relationships, talent development, and community impact across its 47 branches. The bank continues to build momentum by leaning on core strengths and expanding opportunities. Recognized nationally for its performance and culture, the organization is positioned for continued growth as businesses and individuals seek reliable financial partners.

COLLEGE: B.S., Finance, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Executive MBA, Entrepreneurship/Finance, University of Missouri–Kansas City
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: For the 17th consecutive year, Central Bank was named one of America’s Best Banks by Forbes, currently ranked No. 10.
OUTLOOK: Ferguson expects expansion from experienced relationship managers working with local businesses and individuals.
BOOMER EXODUS: The bank prepares for retirements by prioritizing knowledge transfer and recruiting Millennials and Gen Z leaders.
TARIFF IMPACT: Ongoing tariff uncertainty challenges the industry, with ripple effects on inflation and interest rates.   
LESSONS LEARNED: Failures should inform strategies that prevent repeat mistakes and improve the odds of future success.

James Ferrell
Chairman, Ferrellgas Partners

If he’s not the undisputed dean of regional business leaders, he’s close: This year, Jim Ferrell celebrates his 60th anniversary with the propane company he pulled back from the brink when he came on board in 1965 to assist his father’s enterprise. From that humble beginning, he built the nation’s second-largest propane company and one of the region’s biggest public companies.

COLLEGE: B.A., Business, University of Kansas
2024 REVENUES: $1.84 billion
“OVERNIGHT” SUCCESS: Ferrell received a hardship discharge from the Air Force when his father’s health was failing, and spent nearly 30 years positioning the company for an initial public offering in 1994. He would go on to build a customer base of more than 1 million people across all 50 states.
IRONY AT WORK: Ferrell’s initial plan was to stabilize the company’s finances, then help his father position it for sale. “Because the last thing I wanted to do was be a small, little propane retailer,” he has said. Instead, he became a big, big propane retailer.
INDUSTRY CHOPS: Ferrell is a past president of the World LP Gas Association, having served two terms in that role, and a former chairman of the Propane Vehicle Council.

Wesley Fields
Office Managing Partner, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

Wesley Fields was an early honoree in Ingram’s 40 Under Forty way back in 2000, just its second year, but there’s no question that he made good on his promise as a leadership figure. He has been an impact player through the firm’s evolution to Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, an AmLaw 100 firm that generated $869,603,000 in revenues last year.

COLLEGE: B.S., Political Science and African-American Studies, Yale University; J.D., University of Virginia
DEAL-MAKER: Over the course of his career, Fields has participated in structuring and documenting more than 100 development and public infrastructure projects in the metro area, with a combined value of more than $5 billion.
EXPERTISE: Fields specializes in public finance, corporate transactions and general business matters, handling joint ventures, mergers, consolidations, acquisitions and stock/asset sales. 
HONORS: Just last year, he was ranked in Lawdragon’s list of the world’s 500 leading real estate lawyers, and earned a second straight mention in Chambers’ real estate lineup, as well as a second straight year as Top Managing Partner by Missouri Lawyers Media (2023, 2024). He was the KC Metropolitan Bar Association’s Young Lawyer of the Year in 2006.

Dave Flickinger
EVP-Power Constructors, Kiewit Corp.

Omaha-based Kiewit Corp., one of the nation’s biggest construction/engineering concerns, notched nearly $17 billion in 2024 revenues, and Dave Flickinger’s team at the power division in Lenexa is a big reason why: Their work produced a pop of better than 55 percent over the previous year. That figure is even more impressive when you factor in the nearly 33 percent surge recorded from 2022 to 2023.

COLLEGE: B.S., Civil Engineering, Pennsylvania State University 
2024 REVENUES: $4,690,803,790
POWER: His team is working in Pennsylvania on a data center power plant near Pittsburgh with 4.5 gigawatts of generating capacity, will be the largest natural-gas plant in the U.S.
POWERING THE POWER GRID: In addition to renewable energy and power delivery, the Lenexa division specializes in energy storage, gas/hydrogen generation, nuclear power and retrofitting coal-fired plants around the world.
AS A BUILDER: The corporation ranked No. 15 nationwide in Engineering News-Record’s 2025 list of the Top 400 Contractors in the United States.
GOING UP: As an anchor, Kiewit played an important part in Lenexa’s effort to remake its Downtown from the ground up as Lenexa City Center. This year, it’s adding a fourth building.

Julie Francis
CEO, MGP INGREDIENTS

Julie Francis takes a bow among the region’s executive elites, assuming the mantle at MGP Ingredients earlier this summer. The Atchison-based public company landed a career professional in the food and beverage industry, and she said from the get-go that her priorities would be to “build upon this excellent platform to grow our brands, deepen consumer connections, and create value for all stakeholders.”

2024 REVENUES: $703.63 million
COLLEGE: B.S., Business Administration, Alfred University
THE PATH: She most recently was COO for frozen-food producer Schwan’s and held exec roles with Constellation Brands’ Total Beverage Alcohol platform and the Coca-Cola Co.
OFF THE CLOCK: Francis currently is a member of the Board of Directors of Ascend Wellness Holdings and has also served as a board advisory director for Nottingham Spirk, a Cleveland company that develops disruptive technologies serving multiple industries, including food service, packaging and consumer products—all fall within MGP’s domain.
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.

Michael Frazier
President/CEO, ReeceNichols

His team at ReeceNichols uses the word “fearless” to describe Mike Frazier’s leadership style, and just so: One must have nerves of steel to make a living in the grind of residential real estate in this climate. But after a tough 2023, he steered sales back up more than $275 million last year, solidifying the firm’s hold on No. 1 among regional firms.

COLLEGE: B.A., William Jewell College
2024 SALES: $4,799,066,106
BY THE NUMBERS: Frazier leads a small army of roughly 1,925 agents who combined to sell 10,635 homes in 2024. Average sale price: $451,252.
MARKET MOVEMENT: While the homes sold numbers have trended down in recent years, ReeceNichols has leveraged the national spike in values to keep its top line on an upward arc. Even after a tough 2023 in terms of deals brokered, the average home price rose more than 5 percent, then 5.7 percent more last year.
ON HIS WORK: “I spend my days ensuring the long-term health of all our companies by assisting our team of managers, agents and employees with business issues, ensuring we are innovative and progressive, and creating our vision for the future.”

Dan Funk
CEO, Associated Wholesale Grocers

Steady work? Sure: People are always going to eat. Dan Funk’s challenge is getting them to procure their groceries from AWG’s network of 1,100 member grocers in 3,500 locations across 33 states. It’s a tall order, but his team has responded over the past year by rolling out new products to mesh with evolving consumer preferences.

COLLEGE: B.A., Marketing, University of North Dakota; Cornell University
2024 REVENUES: $11.5 billion
PRIVATE-SECTOR POWER: For more than a decade, AWG has cemented its position as the second-largest private-sector enterprise in the Kansas City region.
INFLATION: Since the onset of the 2022 inflation spike, those evolving consumer preferences are markedly more price-sensitive. AWG offers consumers alternatives to higher-cost brands with its lines of Always Save, Best Choice and other value-based products.
SHARING THE WEALTH: Funk’s responsibilities go beyond keeping shelves stocked for consumers; the cooperative’s members must succeed, too: “Despite headwinds such as pressure on unit volumes, decreased pharmacy sales, and ongoing supply chain disruptions in key product categories, we delivered exceptional results for our members.

Cameron Garrison
Managing Partner, Lathrop GPM

In the competitive landscape of legal services, Cameron Garrison’s team at LathropGMP saw their 2024 billings crack the $200 million threshold for the first time, another milestone for a firm that traces its history to 1873 and a heritage that makes it the oldest continuously operating firm west of the Mississippi River. It’s an AmLaw 200 firm that had more than $200 million in 2024 revenues.

COLLEGE: B.A., Government & History, University of Virginia; J.D., Washington and Lee School of Law
VOTE OF CONFIDENCE: In January, Garrison was reappointed by the firm’s board to a second three-year term as managing partner. His term runs through June 30, 2028.
AWARDS/HONORS I: The firm has racked up some impressive wins over the past year. Start with the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, which included 135 of its 350 firm-wide attorneys, and put 46 more on its “Ones to Watch” list.
AWARDS/HONORS II: The prestigious Chambers USA Rankings included 44 of the firm’s attorneys—working in 21 practice areas—in its rankings last year. Among them were key players in the vital business-law fields of corporate/M&A, real estate, and labor and employment, who were also ranked.

Bill Gautreaux
Managing Director, MLP Holdings

Businessman, arts patron, servant-leader, philanthropist—Bill Gautreaux is the whole package, a model emulated by many in KC’s executive community. His career in the energy sector continues with Mission Woods-based MLP in midstream infrastructure. He signed on with former partner John Sherman to join the Royals ownership, and along with his wife, Christy, owns one of the region’s top private art collections.

OFF THE CLOCK: As a board member for William Jewell College, he helped lead the Reimagine Jewell initiative that “right sized and modernized our academics and athletics and innovated on our programmatic offering … balancing our budget and enhancing our value proposition.”
FOSTERING KC GROWTH: “Increasing collaboration and alignment about the highest priorities for the region. This requires strong cooperative leadership between our cities, counties, and both states, as well as partnerships … public, private, civic.”
CIVIC: “Address disparities in outcomes that limit work-force potential and life expectancy. Include some big bets like the Economic Playbook being shepherded at the Civic Council.”
LESSONS: “Expect the worst and hope for the best. Never see something as done as its never really done. Don’t move with speed until you’re ready, but be decisive and urgent. 

Brian Gay
Executive Director, Merck Animal Health

Few people were involved in deals as big as the one Brian Gay helped orchestrate this year for Merck Animal Health. It committed to an $895 million expansion of its research and development site in De Soto, where he serves as site manager. It’s a big win for the region’s Animal Health Corridor, for Merck and De Soto, which already is booming with the $4 billion plant producing electric-vehicle batteries for Panasonic Energy.

COLLEGE: B.S., Molecular Biology, Salisbury University; M.S., Biology, Delaware State University; MBA, Wilmington University  
2024 REVENUES: $5.9 billion (firmwide)
AT MERCK: Gay has been with the company for 20 years in various operations oversight roles and relocated to the Kansas City area in 2023. He’ll oversee the massive expansion project at Merck’s existing biologics site in De Soto.
WHAT’S COMING: The bulk of the large project, $860 million, will be invested the 200,000-square-foot manufacturing facility itself, with $35 million for expansion of research and development laboratories. When completed, it will expand the filling and freeze-drying capacity for large-molecule vaccines and biologic products.
IMPACT: Site preparation and facility design will yield 2,500 construction jobs, and more than 200 full-time positions will be created when commercial manufacturing begins in 2030.

Bill George
CEO, WHC Worldwide

Bill George’s WHC Worldwide isn’t just keeping pace with change—it’s steering it. The company made a major move last year into the Las Vegas market, acquiring the second-largest cab company and adding more than 500 vehicles to its fleet. “We continue to forecast aggressive growth, both organically and by acquisition,” George said, noting expansion is fueled by a strong team, smart technology and a clear vision.

COLLEGE: B.S., business administration, University of Kansas
AGING: The non-emergency medical transportation sector is rising in all 40 markets with an aging population, creating long-term demand for reliable mobility solutions.
POLICY WATCH: Tariff policies currently have no impact on operations, he says, allowing the company to focus on market growth and service improvements.
REGIONAL: George calls for stronger bi-state cooperation to unlock KC’s collective potential.
LESSON: The takeaway from failure is identifying “what we missed when we developed the plan.
RECOGNIZING ACHIEVEMENT: Rewards tailored to what resonates most with each team member, ensuring appreciation feels genuine.
COMMUNITY LOYALTY: “As long as the team names start with ‘Kansas City,’ I’m supportive of whatever they decide to remain competitive,” George says.

Lisa Ginter
CEO, CommunityAmerica Credit Union

Yes, the past year was a good one for Lisa Ginter and her CACU team: Revenues popped an astounding 86.64 percent for the Lenexa-based credit union. Not only is it the dominant player in that space regionally—its assets are nearly five times larger than its closest competitor, but it’s making waves nationally among U.S. credit unions ranked by Forbes.

COLLEGE: B.S./B.A., Accounting, Rockhurst University 
2024 REVENUES: $440,458,820
BUILDING: She joined CACU in 1995 and rose through the ranks for 20 years before becoming CEO. On her watch, the asset has grown from $1.5 billion to more than $5 billion.
RECOGNITION: She was inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame last year for her leadership and impact on the business, civic, and philanthropic community.
OFF THE CLOCK: Her civic-service resume includes serving as chair of the Greater KC Chamber of Commerce and its executive committee, the board of the KC Area Development Council, and across the state, with the executive committee of Greater St. Louis Inc.
FAITH IN ACTION: A native of Independence who attended the former St. Mary’s High School, she also kept ties to faith-based education with service on the board of trustees at Rockhurst University and St. Michael the Archangel High School.

Douglas Girod
Chancellor, University of Kansas

Doug Girod has been showing off some new Lawrence digs for about 42,000 weekend visitors lately, thanks to significant progress on the upgrading of David Booth Memorial Stadium on the Lawrence campus. It’s the crown jewel in the massive, $800 million Gateway District project, but only one piece of the change Girod is overseeing at the state’s largest public university, serving 22,000 undergrad and 7,000 grad students.

COLLEGE: B.A., University of California-Davis; M.D., University of California-San Francisco, surgical residency, University of Washington
HEALTH HEAVYWEIGHT: Girod, a physician specializing in otolaryngology, entered the administrative ranks first at KU’s School of Medicine in Kansas City in 2013 as executive vice chancellor. He took the university’s top job in 2017.
CONSTRUCTION: As impressive as the Gateway District is in scope, a transformational capital expense is unfolding at the Med Center. When finished, the $450 mil home of cancer treatment and research will consolidate resources in multiple cancer-care disciplines.
DONOR APPEAL: Under Girod’s leadership, KU has recorded its highest overall enrollment in university history, increased research expenditures for nine straight years, and launched a $2.5 billion fundraising campaign to support student and faculty success.

John Goodbrake
CEO, Master’s Transportation

The growth boom continues for John Goodbrake’s team at Master’s, which just this month took the wrappings off a new headquarters—actually, closer to a campus than a HQ building. It includes a 252,000-square-foot production facility, 36,000 square feet of office space, and a sprawling space for bus parking, covering 1 million square feet.

2024 REVENUES: $232,587,000
ON LEADERSHIP: “One of the best things about Master’s is the leadership team,” he says. “We have been together for a long time and have been able to navigate a significant number of issues over the years. There is no overnight success in this company, but there is a resilient energy and a positive can-do attitude.”
THE PATH TO KC: He acquired the Nebraska-based company founded by his father, moved it to the Kansas City area and a longtime home in Belton, then began the rise up the ranks of the region’s biggest companies.
PERFORMANCE: Not many companies can crack the lists of the Ingram’s 100 (biggest firms) and Corporate Report 100 (fastest-growing), but Master’s did it this year. It ranked 31st on the CR100 for growth (including 33 percent year-over-year), and No. 92 for its top line.

Sean Goodman
CFO, AMC Entertainment

A driving force behind one of the world’s most recognizable entertainment brands, Sean Goodman wears multiple hats as he helps steer the global strategy for AMC Entertainment: executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer. He directly oversees critical pillars of international expansion, information technology infrastructure, and global procurement.

COLLEGE: B.S., University of Cape Town, South Africa; MBA, Harvard Business School
2024 REVENUES: $4.64 billion
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE: Goodman’s career trek has included stops on four continents. He previously held financial leadership roles at companies in Europe, Africa and Asia before making his way to North America.
DUTIES: Goodman is on the board of Hycroft Mining Holding Corp., which operates a mine producing silver and gold. Why? AMC is an investor in the Nevada-based company.
CAREER: CEO Adam Aron brought Goodman on board at AMC in 2019; he’d previously served as CFO for Asbury Automotive Group, a Fortune 500 automotive retailer. Before that, he was CFO and chief accounting officer for Unifi, Inc.; CFO of the Americas for energy-management solutions provider Landis+Gyr Group AG, and The Home Depot.

Bill Grant III
COO, SelectQuote

In 2010, five years after the $934 million sale of LabOne to Quest Diagnostics, Kansas City’s Grant family made a significant investment in SelectQuote Insurance Services, and Bill Grant III came on board and launched the senior division, where he led the marketing unit. After working his way up to CMO, he became COO in 2019 and now oversees operations for one of the region’s biggest public companies. 

COLLEGE: B.A., History, University of Kansas
2024 REVENUES: $1.32 billion
BEFORE SELECTQUOTE: He joined LabOne in 1998, rising to VP of Sales for four years, until its sale in 2005. In that role, he drove revenues from $170 million to more than $500 million. Earnings, meanwhile, shot up from $10 million to $75 million, in large part because of his contributions to product development and organic growth initiatives in the clinical division.
IMPACT: At SelectQuote, he founded the senior division with impeccable timing: the first Baby Boomers would turn 65 within just a year. That venture took off immediately, and within three years, it was one of the biggest revenue producers for the firm.
HONORS: He was a member of the 2013 class of Ingram’s 40 Under Forty.

Bob Grant
President, SelectQuote

If there’s one thing the Grant family of Kansas City knows, it’s insurance, and Bob Grant carries on a sector legacy staked out by three generations that preceded him, going back to his great-grandfather, founder of the former Business Men’s Assurance. Today, the younger Grant serves as president of a public company that offers online insurance-shopping tools for consumers nationwide.

COLLEGE: B.A., Finance, University of Kansas  
WHY INSURANCE?: “I have a passion for helping underserved communities buy lower-cost insurance and help them understand health care’s complex waters,” he told us. “I also take great pride in providing high-paying jobs in a complex job market. Lastly, I have a passion for assisting entrepreneurs within the Kansas City community reach their goals and do this through our family office partnership, Edgehill Capital Partners.”
IMPACT: After working with Spring Venture Group, he joined SelectQuote in 2010, when it had 300 associates. He was instrumental in the explosive growth that followed over the next decade, when it expanded to a more than 4,000 and surpassed $500 million.
RANKS: In 2013, he became director of sales and operations for the firm’s senior division, then served as VP of Sales in the life division before becoming chief revenue officer in 2017. 

Greg Graves
Former CEO, Burns & McDonnell

Good luck trying to match Greg Graves’ civic commitment and resume: Now that he’s “retired”, he has more time to devote to board service. That includes at Barstow School, where he was just named vice chair and will become chair next summer. A fierce proponent of employee ownership in business—he recently spoke in Washington on the subject—and he’s also a best-selling author.

COLLEGE: B.S., Mechanical Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines
KC AGENDA: “The biggest challenge to broad business growth in the KC Region is going to be the availability of a skilled labor force,” he says.
LESSONS LEARNED: “There’s not one member of Ingram’s 250 who hasn’t failed at least once in their career,” he says. “The best thing to learn from it is to constantly remind myself that I don’t know everything, that I shouldn’t know everything, and that if I would just be a better listener, my outcomes will almost certainly improve.”
STADIUMS: “Personally, I think the Royals and Chiefs would be better off if they separated to different locations and further, I believe they should relocate to whatever location best serves the teams themselves. … I would dream of the day the Chiefs played under a dome and where Kansas City could host even more mega events right here in Big KC.”

Nathaniel Hagedorn
President/CEO, NorthPoint Development Co.

Nathaniel Hagedorn is a master of capital and concrete. The founder and CEO of NorthPoint Development cut his teeth for over a decade at Briarcliff Development Co., mastering the full development lifecycle. Driven by an entrepreneurial vision to independently control the entire process—from capital raising to leasing—he created NorthPoint, and the rest is commercial realty history on a national scale.

BUILDING NORTHPOINT: After consolidating full ownership of Briarcliff Development by 2011 and rebranding it as NorthPoint, Hagedorn has been nothing short of transformative at both the enterprise and industry levels. The Kansas City-based powerhouse has since raised over $250 million in capital, forging key partnerships with local high-net-worth families and institutional giants such as Northwestern Mutual.
WHY IT SOARS: NorthPoint’s distinct edge is its full-service, partnership-driven approach, providing clients with architectural consultation to ongoing construction management. Specializing in Class A industrial and multi-family assets.
COMPANY: NorthPoint Development doesn’t disclose revenues, but the KC-based commercial real estate company has had a profound impact on the sector nationwide with a strategy to develop, acquire, lease, and manage Class A industrial space, data centers and multi-family communities.

Marc Hahn
President/CEO, Kansas City University

Under Marc Hahn’s leadership since 2013, Kansas City University has cemented its role as one of the nation’s fastest-growing health-sciences universities, and one of its biggest. KCU is home to the country’s fourth-largest medical school, and osteopathic-medicine model that leads in training primary-care doctors and providers serving rural and underserved areas.

COLLEGE: B.S., Syracuse University; D.O., Des Moines University
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: KCU again earned recognition as a top producer of physicians in Missouri and Kansas.
OUTLOOK: Shortages in the health-care work force will drive expansion. The new Anesthesiologist Assistant program, launching in 2026 within KCU’s College of Health Professions, will help meet the nation’s growing demand for anesthesia providers.
LESSONS LEARNED: “Always let your mission serve as your North Star,” Hahn says. “Our mission is improving the well-being of the communities we serve.”
EMBRACING AI: KCU integrates AI across medicine, dentistry, and clinical psychology to enhance efficiency, reduce errors, and support personalized care. Faculty also pioneered a first-in-the-nation model integrating point-of-care ultrasound into the medical school curriculum.

Donald Hall, Jr.
Executive Chairman of the Board, Hallmark Cards

Throughout the century-long rise of Hallmark from a KC start-up to global pre-eminence in the personal expressions industry, an unshakable value has been civic commitment. Don Hall Jr. continues to do so with various board and non-profit leadership roles. Just this past year, that included serving on the search committee that led to the appointment of Alejandro Quiroga as the new CEO of Children’s Mercy.

COLLEGE: B.A., Economics/Literature, Claremont-McKenna University; MBA, University of Kansas
2024 REVENUES: $3.5 billion
CIVIC CHAMPION: In addition to his work on behalf of Children’s Mercy, Hall has seats on the boards of the region’s elite civic and non-profit institutions and organizations. Among them are the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, MRIGlobal, the University of Kansas School of Business, and the Kansas City Civic Council.
BUILDING HALLMARK: Hall joined the company in 1971 as a member of the third generation of its leadership. He became CEO in 2002, having labored in multiple divisions—manufacturing, customer service, product development, and sales—and led day-to-day operations until 2019.

Brad Hampton
CEO, Helzberg Diamonds

Running the show for one of Kansas City’s truly iconic brands is Brad Hampton, who took the leadership reins at Helzberg in 2022. His hire was an interesting departure for the Berkshire Hathaway owners, who stepped out of the retail space to select a business executive with deep roots in the telecommunications and aerospace sectors.

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 chief financial officer. There, he had P&L responsibility for the $25 billion post-paid business unit. Before that, he spent seven years with aviation powerhouse Lockheed Martin.
NATIONAL REACH: After three generations in the Helzberg family, the chain was acquired by Warren Buffett in 1995 and now has more than 200 stores nationwide. Seven of those are in Kansas City, generally within a short distance from Interstate 435.
SERVICE: Hampton’s service includes board memberships for Make-a-Wish Missouri & Kansas and president of the board for Center Place Restoration School in Independence.

Brad Hardin
President, Diode Ventures

Brad Hardin is as much a pioneer as he is a business leader, trailblazing a data-center revolution from the Heartland. As President of Diode Ventures, he embodies a unique fusion of entrepreneur, author, teacher, construction executive, and lifelong learner, and he’s using those skills to reshape the Midwest into a premier hub for data-center innovation with a global reach.

COLLEGE: B.A., Architecture, Kansas State University; metal sculpture, Kansas City Art Institute
COLLABORATION: Under his leadership, Diode Ventures leverages global networks and deep expertise in renewable energy, telecommunications, and distributed infrastructure to turn visionary projects into a reality.
CHANGE AGENT: Hardin’s strategic focus on geographic and economic advantages has propelled landmark projects such as the Golden Plains Technology Park in Kansas City, MO. This hyperscale data center campus, developed in collaboration with Meta, exemplifies its disruptive business models and commitment to community impact.
BEYOND: Hardin’s vision extends globally, with projects in Taiwan, Canada, Japan, Idaho, Texas, and Virginia. His advocacy for the Midwest highlights its geographic security, access to renewable energy, and cost-effectiveness.

Dave Harrison
President, VanTrust Real Estate

Impact? Dave Harrison has it by the boatload: An aggregate $8 billion in office, industrial and multifamily projects since he founded VanTrust in 2010 in partnership with the late, great auto magnate, Cecil Van Tuyl. Now, Harrison is adding a new civic-service dimension of sorts to the plan: Driven Development, dedicated to easing the crippling shortage of affordable housing.

COLLEGE: B.S., Business Administration, Rockhurst University
ABOUT DRIVEN: The formal title is the Greater Kansas City Home Ownership Initiative, and it is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Its mission is to build and preserve affordable housing, where the market needs an estimated 64,000 units to close the gap in need. He’ll have fertile ground nationwide, as well, where a shortage of  7.1 million units is confounding potential buyers and renters by driving up costs.
THE MISSION: The full-service development firm has a broad service line that includes acquisition, disposition, development services, plus asset management for clients and owners.
WHERE THEY WORK: Nationwide. Harrison has assembled a multi-talented team with expertise in diverse projects spanning 71 communities nationwide, with office, industrial, multifamily, retail, hospitality, science and technology, and recreational work.

Jason Hendricks
President/CEO, Performance Contracting

The hits just keep on coming at PCI, where Jason Hendricks steered the construction-services giant to record revenues last year. His journey to CEO began on the baseball diamond as a standout scholar-athlete at the Univ. of Arizona, where he mastered the balance of high-performance pressure and academic rigor, earning Academic All-American honors before being drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1998.

COLLEGE: B.S., Finance, University of Arizona
2024 REVENUES: $3.2 billion
QUOTABLE: ”The game teaches you that no individual, no matter how talented, succeeds alone,” Hendricks says. “Victory is always a team statistic.”
AT PERFORMANCE: After two seasons in the minor leagues, he joined the company in 2003 as branch controller in the Los Angeles office. Over the succeeding 20-plus years, his financial acumen helped the company expand its national footprint.
TAKING THE REINS: Hendricks was named president in 2019 and added CEO to his title a year later. In that role, he provides the strategic leadership for the entire PCG family of businesses, establishing the long-term goals that will define the company’s next chapter.

Josh Herron
CEO, Southwind

Josh Herron has scaled Southwind into a true national platform while staying anchored to its mission of developing people. The home-services company expanded into new markets, launched technology initiatives that transformed service delivery, and promoted dozens of frontline leaders into key roles—proving Herron’s philosophy of “building the person before the company” continues to drive sustainable growth.

GROWTH OUTLOOK: Herron expects disciplined market expansion, technology adoption, and leadership development to fuel growth. “We see significant tailwinds in home services, and we’re building the talent pipeline and operational systems to capture them,” he says.
BOOMER EXODUS: Retirements have created a knowledge gap in skilled trades, but they have also accelerated training programs to attract younger talent.
KC OUTLOOK: Work-force availability remains the region’s biggest hurdle, alongside infrastructure and housing affordability.
LESSONS LEARNED: “Failure is feedback,” Herron says. “The goal isn’t to avoid failure—it’s to fail fast, learn deeply, and create a stronger playbook for the next attempt.”

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

Brad Hewlett continues to expand Bob Allen Ford and City Rent-a-Truck through major investments in service, fleet, and customer amenities. Over the past year, the dealership added a 26-bay service operation, opened a state-of-the-art Fleet Center with 14 bays, launched a Quick Lane with 12 bays plus a drive-thru alignment machine and Broadway Car Wash, and expanded the Body Shop.

GROWTH OUTLOOK: Sales are also climbing, Hewlett says, with new-car volume up 22 percent and used-car sales up 51 percent through August. He expects that growth to continue, fueled by expanded service operations and a focus on new, pre-owned, and fleet sales.
LESSONS LEARNED: “Keep trying. Don’t be afraid to fail. Failure is part of everyday life and business.”
STADIUM STANCE: A loyal fan of both the Chiefs and the Royals, Hewlett is agnostic regarding discussions about stadium siting. “I support whatever decision they make. No matter where the stadiums end up, as long as they are in KC, I will be a huge supporter and fan!”

Adam Hill
President/CEO, Scarbrough Global

Adam Hill has guided Scarbrough Global into new territory, completing the acquisition of a Dutch freight-forwarding company and opening its first European office. “It has long been our goal to create a truly global footprint,” Hill says. The move strengthens reach, adds service options, and reflects Scarbrough’s commitment to thoughtful, value-driven growth.

COLLEGE: B.A., William Jewell College; MBA, University of Memphis
OUTLOOK: Hill is cautious about forecasts but is focused on adapting to support its customers.
BOOMER IMPACT: Scarbrough hasn’t seen much internal effect, but customer retirements have shifted dynamics. “With new leaders come new ideas, new expectations, and new relationships, noting it’s opened opportunities while changing long-standing ties.”
TARIFFS & POLICY: Tariff uncertainty made this one of the firm’s most challenging years, while also proving its flexibility and customer focus.
LESSONS LEARNED: Hill views failure as a chance to grow, not a setback.
REWARDING EXCELLENCE: Celebrations, recognition programs, and benefits underscore Scarbrough’s people-first culture.
INFLATION OUTLOOK: Tariff-driven inflation remains a concern as import volumes rise.

Michael Hoehn
President/CEO, ASI

Michael Hoehn leads ASI at a time when U.S. auto manufacturers are reshoring production and modernizing their facilities. The KC firm plays a critical role in building and modifying assembly plants, and 2025 has been a strong year of growth. Hoehn expects that momentum to continue in 2026 as manufacturers expand operations across North America and rely on ASI’s expertise to deliver large-scale projects.

COLLEGE: Georgetown University; Young Presidents Program, Harvard Business School
2024 REVENUES: $310,082,965
BOOMER EXODUS: Retirements create opportunities for growth, as each departure prompts a step-up in responsibility and development across the organization, from interns to senior leaders. “It’s a reminder that no one’s role or contributions are static,” he says. “We should all be growing and learning, because every senior leader was a junior role player, and not that long ago.
REWARDING EXCELLENCE: Hoehn points to the steady progress of his team, where each member grows into new responsibilities as the company scales.
KC OUTLOOK: Kansas City’s manufacturing base remains vital, and Hoehn says reshoring projects are bringing opportunity and long-term investment to the region.

Karen Hogan
VP & General Manager, Turner Construction Co.

Like a python digesting a boar—a big one—Turner Construction will soon wind down work on the defining project of its presence in Kansas City, Panasonic Energy’s $4 billion electric-vehicle battery plant coming online in De Soto. That doesn’t mean the pipeline is empty for Karen Hogan and her team: Turner is the general contractor for the World Cup makeover of Arrowhead Stadium heading into next year’s games.

COLLEGE: B.S., Engineering Management, Missouri University of Science & Technology
2024 REVENUES: $1.2 billion (in the Kansas City market)
AT TURNER: She’s been with the New York-based firm since 2003, starting out as a field engineer, and after working in project management, was named business manager for the Kansas City office in 2020, and took the reins that same year.
NO. 1: The parent company is a national powerhouse in the contracting industry. Again this year, it ranked No. 1 on Engineering News-Record’s list of the nation’s biggest contractors, with a whopping $20.2 billion in revenue.
OFF THE CLOCK: In addition to chairing the company’s annual Turner KC Charity golf tournament, she has served on the board of the Kansas City Area Development Council and, to support the sector, was chapter president for the Design Build Institute of America.

Paul Holewinski
President/CEO, Dickinson Financial/Academy Bank

Academy Bank is moving aggressively into new markets under Paul Holewinski’s leadership. This year alone, it plans to open five new branches across Arkansas, Missouri, Colorado and Arizona, while strengthening digital platforms and building fintech partnerships. These steps are designed to make banking simpler and faster for clients, expanding the reach of the KC–based institution.

COLLEGE: B.S., Finance, Saint Louis University; J.D., MBA, Saint Louis University School of Law; Colorado School of Banking
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Academy Bank expects continued growth from retail expansion, lending across all channels, and fintech collaborations, he says.
BOOMER IMPACT: Retirements are reshaping the banking industry, with customers shifting toward low-risk investments. Academy is responding with competitive rates, digital engagement, and relationship banking to retain assets.
OUTLOOK: Governance fragmentation, work-force gaps and infrastructure remain challenges, but logistics, tech, defense and manufacturing position KC for strong growth.
LESSONS LEARNED: Failure is a chance to learn quickly, recalibrate and move forward with smarter decisions, he says.

Jason Hooper
President/CEO, KVC Health Systems

Hooper leads KVC’s rapid expansion in children’s mental health and family well-being. Over the past year, KVC has formed a joint venture with Children’s Mercy, a 72-bed mental wellness campus in Olathe that has already served more than 1,500 individuals. The organization also expanded its therapeutic K-12 schools and added services across its network, reflecting rising demand for behavioral health nationwide.

COLLEGE: B.S., Psychology/Sociology, Baker Univ; M.S., Social Work, University of Kansas
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: KVC opened the Children’s Mercy + Camber Mental Health campus in Olathe and expanded K-12 therapeutic schools.
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Employment is expected to surpass 3,000 by 2026, with more than 200 hires planned for a new behavioral health hospital in St. Louis.
LESSONS LEARNED: Hooper says failed initiatives should be embraced as rallying points that drive team and organizational growth.
REWARDING EXCELLENCE: Achievements are tied to KVC’s mission, celebrating wins that improve outcomes for children and families.
EMBRACING AI: KVC is using AI for clinical data mining, recruitment, and security, with eight new AI projects underway to improve efficiency and care.

Grant Hromas
VP-Development, SomeraRoad

New York-based SomeraRoad has designated Grant Hromas as the point man for one of the biggest redevelopment projects unfolding in Kansas City: the $527 million makeover of Kansas City’s West Bottoms. His task: overseeing a transformative series of 13 projects aimed at revitalizing the underused area with new storefronts, office space, a hotel, and more than 1,200 apartment units.

COLLEGE: B.A., Architecture, University of Oklahoma; Master of Urban Design, Washington University in St. Louis; M.S. Real Estate, DePaul University
BEFORE THE BOTTOMS: His career path has wended from Oklahoma City to Seattle to Chicago. He came to KC in 2019 to work in commercial real estate for NorthPoint Development. He started as a development manager before becoming VP of Development.
TASK AHEAD: Hromas is tasked with implementing a long-term project: Over the next 15 years, the company plans to phase in construction of 168,000 square feet of offices, 100,000 square feet of retail space for local and national retail tenants, 50 boutique hotel rooms and other community gathering areas, in addition to 1,200 apartment units.
FIRST UP: Before any of the glitter goes up, the company is currently at work upgrading infrastructure in the neighborhood to accommodate new construction that will follow. 

Yvonne Hsu
President, Hill’s Pet Nutrition

It’s been a long climb since Yvonne Hsu hit the first rung of the ladder at Colgate-Palmolive—as a brand manager for the toothbrush unit back in 2000—but she made it to the top last month at the company’s Hill’s Pet Nutrition division, succeeding John Hazlin as U.S. president. She assumed command there less than a year after the company headquarters relocated from Topeka to Overland Park.

COLLEGE: B.S., Psychology; MBA, Cornell University
2024 REVENUES: $4.48 billion
UP THE LADDER: She was EVP of global innovation and growth for the pet-products maker and led the overall strategy of Hill’s brands, innovation, digital transformation, and analytics. Hsu also played an integral role in the company’s 2025 strategic plan. She joined Hill’s from the parent company in 2018 as the marketing director.
INNOVATIONS: The company has launched new products in its Prescription Diet line, but it also pays tribute to sustainability issues with its new LEED Gold-certified plant in Topeka.
MORE THAN CHOW: As it strives to build stronger connections to pet lovers, Hill’s produces a State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report, and this past year, it partnered with The Street Dog Coalition to aid unhoused people and their pets.

Sam Huenergardt
CEO, AdventHealth Mid-America Region

Sam Huenergardt leads AdventHealth Mid-America with a focus on expanding access to whole-person care across the region. Over the past year, the system announced the return of labor and delivery at AdventHealth Ottawa, expanded neurosurgery services and added new primary care clinics in Missouri and Lenexa City Center. The opening of a hospital in Lenexa reflects the team’s commitment to service.

COLLEGE: B.A., Business Administration, Union College; MBA, Baker University
2024 HOSPITAL REVENUE: $4,574,495,000
GROWTH OUTLOOK: A new partnership with UChicago Medicine Cancer Network strengthens AdventHealth Cancer Institute with nationally recognized expertise, while the Lenexa hospital further drives growth.
LESSONS LEARNED: “It’s a matter of win or learn. Whenever something doesn’t work out the way you plan, there’s always something to learn from it.”
STADIUM STANCE: “These two teams are part of the fabric of Kansas City. I believe we should focus on making sure they stay in our community.”
AI: AI supports dictation in clinics and powers Smart Rooms in the Lenexa City Center site, where patients benefit from personalized education, discharge planning, digital engagement.

Clark Hunt
Owner/Chair, Kansas City Chiefs

OK, so Clark Hunt’s Chiefs didn’t bring home the coveted ThreePeat of Super Bowl title this past year. But let’s focus on what matters: They have played in five of the past six NFL championship games. No other team—none—in Super Bowl history has made the big game with that frequency. So Hunt’s ownership is already historic. As KC tries for six out of seven, he’s also weighing the team’s future at Arrowhead Stadium.

COLLEGE: B.A., Business Administration/Finance, Southern Methodist University
BOOM: Since becoming the president in 2010, he’s led the team with the most NFL victories: 162. Last year’s 15-2 regular season pushed the team past the storied New England Patriots as the hottest franchise  during his leadership tenure.
STAY OR GO: Hunt will address the long-running speculation about whether the Chiefs would renovate the home they’ve had since 1972, or jump the state line for a new stadium. The team, he said, has “two great options between building a new stadium in Kansas and remaining in Missouri.” He added that any changes to Arrowhead would involve a comprehensive makeover, rather than building a new one at the Truman Sports Complex. 
SPEAKING OF STREAKS: The Chiefs have appeared in six of the past seven AFC Championships, going 5-1. 

Marco Ilardi
Managing Partner, V2 Ventures

Marco Ilardi joined Kansas City-based Adknowledge in 2010 as Chief Strategy Officer, became President less than two years later, and led its digital strategies in mobile advertising, performance-based marketing, audience development, and product development. In March 2017, as the company morphed into V2, he took the reins and expanded its reach into venture capital.

COLLEGE: B.S., Truman State University
ABOUT V2: The company’s portfolio consists of enterprises in mobile advertising, industrial technology and robotics, space technology and production of natural resources key to digital infrastructure, such as nickel, lithium, iron ore, coal, and copper.
DISRUPTOR: V2’s portfolio companies typically address significant market needs with innovative solutions that have potential for industry transformation, such as cloud storage infrastructure and AI-powered online student tutoring.
SOPHISTICATED MODEL: V2 Ventures combines sector diversification, stage flexibility, and deep operational support to create sustainable competitive advantages in the venture capital sector, especially through technology innovation and mastery of digital transformation trends.

Cliff Illig
Partner, TIFEC, LLC

The accolades that came between Eagle Scout and entry into the Kansas City Business Hall of Fame are not merely decorations for Cliff Illig: They are acknowledgments of a lifetime of building companies, careers, and communities. He built a tech giant from the ground up, and is now using the same principles to build up his city—one company, one charity, and one goal at a time.

COLLEGE: B.A., Accounting/Business Administration, University of Kansas
FAME: Illig is best known as the co-founder of Cerner Corp., the health-care IT titan he built with the late Neal Patterson and Paul Gorup from a startup into a global powerhouse.
REACH: Illig’s fierce interest in professional sports first showed up as part of the OnGoal partnership that purchased the Kansas City Wizards from the late Lamar Hunt, rebranded it as Sporting KC, then pushed to help establish this region as a soccer hub. The throughline from that to FIFA 2026 World Cup host-city status for KC runs right through his resume.
ANGELIC PRESENCE: Illig has leveraged his Cerner fortune into a role as an active angel investor and a sought-after advisor for the next generation of entrepreneurs. His investments span commercial real estate, life sciences commercialization, and golf courses, among others, reflecting a diversified yet always strategic approach to growth.

Chris Isaacson
Executive VP/COO, Cboe

It’s been a landmark year of growth and innovation for the Cboe team, where Chris Isaacson reports that the exchange recorded 13% revenue growth and 15% earnings in the first half of 2025. It also completed two major technology migrations under its Cboe Titanium platform. With a new office opened in Overland Park, he credits preparation and investment for sustaining performance through record trading volumes.

COLLEGE: B.S., Information Systems/Computer Science, Nebraska Wesleyan University; MBA, Computer Science and Management, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
STADIUM STANCE: “Any decision on the Chiefs and Royals should consider the full economic and community impact,” Isaacson says, noting parallels to Cboe’s own relocation to Overland Park.
BOOMER EXODUS: While not greatly affecting Cboe internally, he says the coming wealth transfer will reshape markets, making access and investor education essential.
LESSONS LEARNED: “Failure demands humility and resilience,” Isaacson says. “It teaches leaders to adapt quickly and come back stronger.”
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Cboe continues to expand its global footprint and technology capabilities, positioning for long-term strength amid market volatility.

Joe Jeffries
President/CEO, Ace Retail Holdings

AI? At hardware stores? Joe Jeffries can tell you that, yes, it’s a thing. At his national chain of hardware stores, he says, “AI is being investigated across all functions, and current efforts focused within our supply-chain operations.” In combination with new store openings and recent acquisitions, he says, that will be a recipe for continued growth in both retail and commercial divisions.

2024 Revenues: $637,241,767
ON TARIFFS: “Any cost of goods pressure is never good for us as a company or the end consumer,” Jeffries says.
LESSONS LEARNED: “Never underestimate failure as an opportunity to learn, re-set and grow. Do not let that opportunity pass by.”
ADDING ON: Under Jeffries, has followed a measured acquisition strategy; it now has more than 250 stores nationwide operating under various brands.
OPEN-DOOR POLICY: Organic growth has also been a driver at Westlake, with higher sales per unit and new stores opening.
CORPORATE CITIZEN: The company has also teamed up with various non-profits as part of a robust philanthropic mission. 

Roy Jensen
Director, The University of Kansas Cancer Center

Roy Jensen is leading a game-changing project for The University of Kansas Cancer Center—construction of a new facility on the medical center’s campus near Midtown. The state-of-the-art facility will elevate research, expand care, and reshape the campus. It’s a milestone that underscores his influence and vision as one of Kansas City’s most respected healthcare executives.

COLLEGE: B.S., Biology and Chemistry, Pittsburg State University; M.D., Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
GROWTH OUTLOOK: “We expect to grow in the coming year with the opening of several new practice locations and the recruitment of key faculty.”
AI: “AI is transforming medical care and research. One example is Dr. Prateek Sharma’s work incorporating AI analysis into endoscopy procedures—the benefits are enormous.”
BOOMERS: “We have devoted considerable effort in planning of the future of the cancer center, and this includes horizon planning for the cancer center’s senior leadership.”
LESSON FROM FAILURE: “An honest and forthright autopsy of the reasons that led to the failure can be the most useful business exercise you ever experience,” Jensen says.

Dana Jermain
Kansas City Managing Partner, Deloitte

Dana Jermain leads Deloitte’s Kansas City office with a focus on helping clients and the community navigate a rapidly changing business environment. She points to resilience and innovation as central themes of the past year, as the firm delivered transformative solutions to address complex challenges while strengthening its commitment to the region.

COLLEGE: B.S., Accounting, Northwest Missouri State University
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Jermain anticipates continued expansion, driven by client relationships, investment in talent and technology, and the firm’s ability to adapt to evolving market needs.
REWARDING EXCELLENCE: Deloitte supports high-performing professionals by offering leadership opportunities, professional development, and projects that help them reach their full potential, she says.
EMBRACING AI: The firm continues to adopt AI both internally and for clients, with Jermain noting Deloitte’s commitment to responsible use of the technology and to equipping teams with the skills to thrive in a digital world.

Jani Johnson
President, Saint Luke’s Central Region

Johnson leads Saint Luke’s Hospital with a focus on quality and compassionate care. Under her leadership, the hospital was ranked No. 2 in Missouri by Newsweek and No. 6 in the state by U.S. News & World Report. Saint Luke’s also earned American Heart Association Gold Plus recognition for stroke and cardiovascular programs and is among 50 hospitals worldwide to achieve five consecutive Magnet nursing designations.

COLLEGE: BSN, Methodist School of Nursing in Omaha; MSN, UMKC School of Nursing
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Johnson says demand will increase with population growth and aging adults. The integration with BJC HealthCare positions the system to expand specialty programs in cardiology, oncology, and neurosciences while attracting top talent.
BOOMER imPACT: Retirements have reinforced succession planning and recruitment, though she says a strong culture has inspired some team members to stay for decades.
LESSONS LEARNED: “Failure is just one step on the path toward success,” she says. “A failure is only wasted if we don’t learn from it.”
REWARDING EXCELLENCE: Leadership personally recognizes departments praised by patients, sharing thank-you notes in person. Johnson also highlights “Mission Moments” each Friday to celebrate staff who exemplify Saint Luke’s values.

Jeffrey Jones
President & CEO, H&R Block

Unless he steps into another leadership role in town, this will be the final go-round for Jeffrey Jones, who has announced his retirement after eight years of leading one of KC’s iconic names in business, H&R Block. When he came on board in 2017, he infused a measure of stability at a company whose leadership had seen marked change as it grappled with the advent of on-line tax-preparation services.

2024 REVENUES: $3.6 billion
BACK ON TRACK: Jones has overseen an impressive recovery for the company. Last year’s revenue figure was the highest since the company’s 2010 peak, but more important, it was the fifth straight year of top-line growth.
POINT OF PRIDE: In his retirement announcement, Jones declared that the turn-around was the result of “bold bets to drive growth, the creation of an extraordinary culture and more recently by embracing the potential of AI to augment the human help for which we are known.” In doing, so, he said, “we have elevated the brand’s relevance and created significant shareholder value.”
ON DECK: When Jones hangs it up at the end of this year, command will transfer to Curtis Campbell, currently the firm’s President of Global Consumer Tax and Chief Product Officer.

Michael Kahn
Chairman, CSTK

After more than 13 years in his original legal-career track—law—Michael Kahn signed on with his father, who had co-founded transportation solutions provider Central States Thermo King, in 1975. The company’s roots in early refrigerated trucking, however, date back nearly a century, and today, it’s a dealer for Thermo King products, offering parts, service, installation, and repairs for the transportation sector.

COLLEGE: B.S./B.A., Finance and Economics, Questrom School of Business, Boston University; J.D., Georgetown University Law Center
BEFORE CSTK: Kahn was a lawyer at the law firm that is now Stinson LLP, where he developed his skills in corporate governance and strategic planning.
LEADERSHIP TRACK: For most of his time in business, he led CSTK and sister company Velociti, combining to provide tech tools for manufacturers, including security controls, RFID systems, wireless systems and mobile devices. The organizational structure underwent a change several years ago, as those entities became independent of each other.
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.
AIRBORNE: An instrument-rated pilot, Kahn has visited more than 100 countries.

Travis Kelce
Tight End, Kansas City Chiefs

Speculation says his playing days are winding down, but as a business figure, Travis Kelce is settling in for the long haul. He and his on-field wingman, Patrick Mahomes, just opened a high-end steakhouse in Kansas City, the latest in a series of ventures that include a top-rated podcast with brother Jason, co-ownership of a beer company and putting his name on Kelce Jam, a music festival, among others.

COLLEGE: B.A., Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Cincinnati
FIELD VALUE: He signed a two-year contract with the Chiefs last year, for more than $34 million, sending his estimated career earnings past the $111 million mark.
OTHER VENTURES: He has also invested in a number of brands, including Alpine F1, Cholula, Hydrow, and RealTruck, launched his own clothing brand, Tru Kolors, and co-founded Hilo Nutrition. His New Heights podcast reportedly rivals his career football earnings: a $100 million deal with Amazon’s Wondery.
RECORDS: No tight end in NFL history surpassed 10,000 receiving yards faster than Kelce, who had 14,276 total—more than 8 miles’ worth. He holds league records for most career playoff receptions, most consecutive and overall seasons with 1,000 receiving yards as a tight end, most 100-yard games in the postseason, and most consecutive seasons with at least 100 receptions.

Laura Kelly
Governor, State of Kansas

Folks in suburban De Soto might have wondered what Gov. Laura Kelly was going to do to follow up after landing the biggest development project in state history in 2022—the $4 billion Panasonic Energy EV battery plant that’s now ramping up. How’s this for second acts: The second-largest project ever. And, by chance, also in De Soto. It’s the $895 million expansion of Merck Animal Health’s plant there.

COLLEGE: B.S., Psychology, Bradley University; M.S, Therapeutic Recreation, Indiana University
BREAKING THE MOLD: Kelly, a Democrat, proudly touts her pro-business credentials: driving economic growth, balancing the state budget, fully funding schools and rebuilding critical infrastructure. On her watch, the Legislature also slashed grocery taxes in the state.
RECOGNITION: $8.6 billion has been invested in new business initiatives during her two terms, resulting in the creation and retention of over 41,000 jobs, as well as the development of more than 425 new infrastructure projects, including roads, bridges, and Internet access in rural communities. CNBC named Kansas the “Comeback State of 2019,” and in 2021, Kansas received the “Golden Shovel” award for excellence in economic development. She also earned the “Governor’s Cup” from Site Selection Magazine for record economic growth in 2021—ranking Kansas first in the nation for economic development investment per capita.

Jonathan Kemper
Chairman Emeritus, Commerce Bank

“Good bankers,” Jonathan Kemper was fond of saying, “don’t like surprises.” And dollar by boring dollar, he helped build Commerce into the biggest hometown bank before retiring as vice chairman in 2018. He became CEO in 1991, saw the bank’s assets increase better than 10-fold during his leadership, and has embraced civic and philanthropic causes in the years since.

COLLEGE: A.B., MBA, Harvard University
EARLY ADOPTER: While working on his MBA, he interacted with peers who would transform global business as digital wizards. The experience, he says, “made me understand how important tech would apply to business,” Kemper says. “It has revolutionized finance, allowed us to do modeling, and allowed markets to be created. No one could see the full extent in the beginning, but I was watching intently.
STEADY: Kemper had a front-row seat to see upheavals taking place in the banking sector, and he was taking notes during swings in economic cycles. “Each time, we know we’re going to come out of it, but in the depths of one, it’s hard to see how. It’s hard to have the wisdom to be patient and the capacity to not have to make precipitous moves that end up doing harm, and trusting the value of your culture.  I’ve always believed that success is more about hitting singles and doubles than swinging for the fences.”

Mariner Kemper
Chairman/CEO, UMB Financial Corp.

UMB marked a historic milestone this year with its acquisition of Heartland Financial, expanding from eight to 13 states and boosting assets to $71.8 billion. Mariner Kemper, leading the parent of UMB Bank, calls the deal “finding a unicorn”—an ideal partner that broadened UMB’s reach while strengthening its financial and cultural foundation.

COLLEGE: B.S., Political Science, University of Puget Sound
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Kemper points to UMB’s hybrid model—pairing the services of a national bank with the personalized attention of a community bank—as its biggest differentiator. “Our goal is to take local national,” he says.
LESSONS LEARNED: He stresses the importance of taking measured risks and “failing fast” to minimize setbacks. “It’s often the mistakes that help us better manage and overcome obstacles; they make us smarter and enable us to withstand future challenges.”

Sandy Kemper
CEO, C2FO

His personal penchant for disruptive technologies struck gold in 2008, with the founding of C2FO, a digital platform that allows companies to access capital by selling their accounts receivable at a slight discount. The first transaction occurred in 2010, and now it handles nearly  50 million a day for more than 2 million businesses worldwide.

COLLEGE: B.A., American History, Northwestern University
GLOBAL IMPACT: Worldwide, C2FO has facilitated over $333 billion in transactions since its inception. The firm says that has translated into more than $1.3 billion in EBITDA for enterprise buyer customers and $2.2 billion in estimated new earnings for supplier customers.
IT WORKS: His experience as a tech entrepreneur inspired a vision for a single platform by which businesses could access working capital without having to borrow, and without prohibitive interest rates and fees, paperwork, collateral and exclusionary application requirements.
BEFORE TECH: As part of the legendary Kemper banking family in Kansas City, he took his turn at UMB, joining the bank right out of college and rising to become CEO before resigning in 2000 to pursue his entrepreneurial goals.

Scott Kincaid
President, Kincaid Group

The company began with his parents’ building a school-bus system from the ground up, and today, Scott Kincaid oversees a family-owned group of businesses that includes holdings in digital security, managed services and information technology. Its nine enterprises employ nearly 2,000 people in nine states from New Mexico and Colorado to Louisiana and Illinois.

COLLEGE: B.S., Administration, University of Tulsa
LEADING THE PIVOT: The company has sharpened its focus on tech advances, moving away from its roots in transportation after selling off the motor coach, bus services, auto dealership, and ready-mix divisions.
THE NEED: As the 2020 pandemic was upending school classrooms, the company created Kincaid IT to support the K-12 virtual environment. It later shifted those IT customers and proprietary assets to Trafera, a St. Paul, Minn., company specializing in K-12 technology.
PHILANTHROPIC LEGACY: Kincaid’s parents, Don and Patty, have been key supporters of various non-profit causes, and with a particular soft spot for The Children’s Place. They helped raise $2.3 million by organizing Chiefs Charity Games starting in 2015, and were recognized with the non-profit’s Legacy Award earlier this year.

Jim Klausman
CEO, Midwest Health Management

Jim Klausman was in his mid-20s—this was back in 1977—when the vision appeared: his Baby Boom cohort wouldn’t be forever young. This was the inspiration for Midwest Health and its first senior-living center, now a small empire of more than 80 such communities in six states. He helped pioneer a new concept for retirement living by introducing amenities and services that made the “old folks home” a thing of the past.

COLLEGE: B.A., Political Science, Washburn University
VENTURES: Klausman has leveraged Midwest Health’s success into extensive portfolio of holdings, encompassing golf courses, restaurants, residential, commercial redevelopments.
BETTING ON TOPEKA: Klausman stepped up to revive the long-stalled Lauren’s Bay redevelopment project in south Topeka, recently securing city approval to resolve decades-old property tax delinquencies accrued under a previous developer.
FORE!: In 2022, he and his team engineered a merger to create GreatLIFE Golf, which provides turnkey management and financial services for courses around the country. It also provides guidance for course owners looking to buy or sell their properties.
HONORS: Klausman and his Midwest Health co-founder, Butch Eaton, are inductees to the Topeka Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame.

Mark Kleeman
President, Safe Haven Security Systems

After riding a fast-growth wave in the run-up to the pandemic, Safe Haven Security Systems under Mark Kleeman has consolidated its gains and forged a consistent stream of revenues that approaches $400 million annually. That impressive performance has made this North Kansas City company the nation’s largest ADT security-systems authorized dealer. 

2024 REVENUES: $387,628,631
HONORS: Kleeman and his team aren’t just winning; they’re dominating the home security landscape. His leadership was on full display when his firm swept the ADT Dealer Convention, capturing the #1 Top Dealer spot, the 2024 Sales League Award, and the Circle of Champions Award—a trifecta of excellence for the nation’s largest authorized ADT dealer.
A HOW-TO FOR GROWTH: Safe Haven’s journey is a master class in scalable growth. From its 2002 incorporation, Safe Haven hit $10 million in revenue by 2012. Kleeman then quintupled that figure by 2015, earning a place on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list. The company shattered the $100 million barrier in 2019 and has not looked back.
REACH: Today, with 105 offices in 43 states and over 1 million clients served, Safe Haven’s success is built on a core mission: delivering peace of mind through tailored smart home security. 

Greg Klein
CEO, Inland Truck Parts

Inland Truck Parts just celebrated its 80th year in business, marking a milestone in service and evolution. Under Greg Klein’s leadership, the company continues expanding into new product offerings and store locations while addressing industry challenges such as tariffs, work-force shifts, and infrastructure needs. Tradition matters, too—especially when it comes to Kansas City’s sports identity.

COLLEGE: B.A., Business, University of Nebraska
OUTLOOK: Growth through new offerings and expanded locations to meet truck service demand.
BOOMER IMPACT: Retirements highlight the need to transfer decades of industry knowledge, he says.
TARIFF IMPACT: Uncertainty over permanence and costs remains a challenge.
KC OUTLOOK: Infrastructure investment is vital to sustain population and business growth.
LESSONS: “If you are going to grow, you need to take risks. Don’t let failure dissuade you.
REWARDING EXCELLENCE: Recognition, pay, promotions are key to valuing team members.
STADIUM STANCE: Klein supports keeping the Chiefs and Royals in Kansas City, Mo.
INFLATION: Inflation remains uncomfortably high, especially on essential goods.
EMBRACING AI: Inland is actively exploring ways to integrate AI into its technology.

Randy Klindt
Founding Partner, Conexon

Randy Klindt’s vision for pioneering, cost-efficient fiber-to-the-home design has become the industry standard for rural deployments and made Conexon, among the region’s fastest-growing companies the past six years running. In 2025, Conexon celebrated its 10th anniversary of connecting rural America, he notes, with its Internet service provider, Conexon Connect, surpassing 100,000 customers.

2024 REVENUES: $284,619,202
LESSONS LEARNED: “Failure is a chance to take what you learned and move on to try again. Just because you failed doesn’t mean the initiative is impossible—instead, it means there is probably another way to approach the problem.”
REWARDING EXCELLENCE: “Conexon continues to grow, which unlocks opportunities for those who want to enhance or expand their skills. We have found that the highest performers generally want new opportunities to grow—thus our hiring and promotion policy is overwhelmingly to hire and promote from within as new opportunities open up.
DEEPER MEANING: “We also see that exceptional employees are mission-driven and want to know they are accomplishing something meaningful,” he says.

Charlie Koch
Regional President, Bank Midwest

His first Ingram’s 250 appearance might not be his last, but it will be his last under the Bank Midwest flag. Charlie Koch has led its commercial banking operations here since 2019, but the news this month that its parent was acquiring Dallas-based Vista Bancshares for $369 million, then adopting that brand, means he’ll need new business cards.

COLLEGE: B.A., Accounting/Finance, Baker University
PROMINENT: Bank Midwest’s logo has loomed over Downtown for years, serving as a metaphor for the bank’s performance: It’s one of only nine banks to have amassed a deposit market share of more than 2 percent in a highly fragmented market.
REACH: With $1.8 billion in assets, the Kansas City operation accounted for nearly one-fourth of the Colorado-based NBH’s $8.38 billion in all markets.
COMING: Pending regulatory approval in early 2026 (the boards of both banks have signed off on the deal), the bank will assume the Vista brand in KC. It will be part of a financial-services regional force with $12.4 billion in total assets and $10.4 billion in deposits.
HONORS: Koch was recognized as one of the region’s rising young executives as part of Ingram’s 40 Under Forty Class of 2010.

Ryan Koenig
CEO, Dynamic Logistix

Ryan Koenig is behind the wheel at this former No. 1 company on our Corporate Report 100 list of fast-growth enterprises. Dynamic Logistix is, you might say, the logistical power behind other logistics concerns: It provides tech tools and solutions to help other shippers efficiently and cost-effectively transport, track and deliver their loads. He took over as CEO in late 2023 after a short stint as COO.

COLLEGE: Augustana College; MBA, Tippe College of Business, University of Iowa
2024 REVENUES: $263,281,392
THE PATH TO DLX: After about a dozen years in banking, Koenig served eight years as controller and chief financial officer for Polysource, a distributor of plastic resins for manufacturing nationwide. He leads all operational aspects at Dynamic Logistix, including corporate governance, accounting/finance, HR, IT, sales, and operating systems.
SHAKING IT UP: The company prides itself on being a disruptor in the third-party logistics sector, one that was resistant to shipping tech until about a decade ago. DLX found an opening with its software that helps shippers track and measure their cargo movements.
REACH: The company’s transportation-management services—including status updates for shippers every 15 minutes—connect with more than 10,600 carriers in the DLX network.

Ann Konecny
President/CEO, Foley Equipment Co.

Ann Konecny says safety remains her top priority. “The work we do can be hazardous,” she notes. “We are heavily invested in achieving sustained improvement. This is a relentless pursuit, and I am proud of the progress the team has made.” That commitment to people and culture continues to define Foley Equipment’s approach as it supports customers across construction and energy.

COLLEGE: B.A., Finance and Economics, Wichita State University
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Construction projects on U.S. 69 and I-70, along with the expansion of data centers, are fueling demand in both the construction and energy sectors.
LESSONS LEARNED: Success requires asking whether failure came from a bad plan or poor execution—then learning and adapting.
STADIUM STANCE: Konecny says the priority is keeping the Chiefs and Royals in the metro. “If we step back and recognize how big a loss it would be to lose one or both teams completely, then the Kansas vs. Missouri debate becomes less important.” She adds that an ideal solution would also open opportunities for more concerts and major events.
EMBRACING AI: Foley has only begun to explore AI, but Konecny sees many opportunities where it will be used in the future.

Lisa Krigsten
Managing Partner, Dentons US

At the top of her game with a global law firm and in the upper echelon of civic engagement, Lisa Krigsten oversees the Kansas City office of Dentons U.S. She’s also halfway through a two-year term as chair for the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City. She took on that role last year, vowing to focus on “research-driven, strategic leadership with inclusive prosperity as a centerpiece of our decisions.”

COLLEGE: B.A., University of Kansas; J.D., University of Iowa College of Law
MORE DUTIES: Krigsten, a former federal prosecutor, leads the office and also carries part of the load representing management and boards in criminal or civil cases as part of the White Collar and Government Investigations practice.
AT JUSTICE: She was appointed by former President George W. Bush to serve as a Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Justice Department’s Washington offices. In addition to assisting the department’s leadership with enforcement actions, she coordinated responses to congressional inquiries and played a role in drafting laws passed by Congress, as well as collaborating with various agencies on their implementation.
HONORS: Among her awards—Ingram’s Women Executives-KC in 2018—she is one of Best Lawyers in America’s and Chambers USA honorees for white-collar criminal defense. 

Bill Krueger
CEO, The Andersons

Bill Krueger is about to wrap up his first year at the CEO helm of The Andersons, the public company that acquired his former enterprise in 2018. His decades of experience in agriculture and commodities inform his leadership in a company that purchases, merchandises, stores and transports grain, food, feed ingredients and specialty grains.

COLLEGE: B.A., Agribusiness, University of Nebraska
2024 REVENUES: $11,257,548,000 (firmwide)
GROWING: Krueger and his team recently completed a significant move, dropping $425 million to acquire the 49.9 percent ownership stake that had been held in partnership with Marathon Petroleum Corp. in The Andersons Marathon Holdings. It now controls four ethanol plants with 500 million gallons of annual production capacity.
MORE THAN GRAIN: In addition to its role in the grains value chain, the company has a significant footprint in renewable energy with ethanol and biofuels production and handling, an area where its growth will increase following the Marathon deal.
STABILITY: He’s a member of an elite group that’s dwindling in numbers: top executives from the region who have been in the Ingram’s 250 for all of its 10 years to date.

Michael Kulp
President/CEO, KBP Brands

Acquisitions remain central to KBP Brands’ success. “In 2024, we integrated a fourth brand—Sonic Drive-In—while maintaining our culture and focus on operational excellence,” says Michael Kulp. “It was one of our largest expansion years with the addition of 41 KFC restaurants and 85 Sonic locations. That balance of disciplined operations and growth has kept KBP’s momentum strong for more than two decades.

COLLEGE: B.A., Economics, University of Pennsylvania
GROWTH: Strategic acquisitions combined with disciplined operations and leadership.
TARIFFS: Mostly insulated by domestic sourcing, but consumer behavior shows tariff effects.
OUTLOOK: Limited direct flights to KCI and talent recruitment create hurdles.
LESSONS: “Every loss is a learning opportunity—failure is data that guides improvement.
REWARDING: Rewards include financial incentives, expanded roles, and Top Ten program.
BOOMERS: KBP hasn’t yet felt a retirement wave, but leadership is focused on developing the next generation and creating opportunities for workers to step into bigger roles.
STADIUM STANCE: Supports keeping Chiefs and Royals local to maximize pride and impact.
EMBRACING AI: Early adoption in recruiting and scheduling to improve efficiency and candidate response times.

Brad Lager
Chairman/CEO, Herzog Enterprises

Herzog Enterprises continues to lean on discipline and focus in a competitive environment. “Our team has done a great job of finding quality work where we can provide value-added solutions, and passing on what isn’t the right fit,” says Brad Lager. With growth concentrated in rail transportation construction, operations and long-term maintenance, Herzog is positioned to build on a strong future pipeline.

COLLEGE: B.S., Computer/IT Administration & Management, Northwest Missouri State University
BOOMER EXODUS: Baby Boomer retirements reshaped Herzog several years ago; today’s younger executive team provides stability.
TARIFFS: Tariffs haven’t hit directly, but federal spending uncertainty has slowed major jobs.
KC OUTLOOK: Litigation, regulation and taxation remain top hurdles.
LESSONS LEARNED: “The best winners come from the ability to be a great loser.”
REWARDS: Internal awards highlight exceptional service and above-and-beyond effort.
STADIUM STANCE: Lager supports keeping KC’s professional teams in Missouri.
ASSESSING INFLATION: Inflation has improved but still outpaces historical norms.
EFFECTS OF AI: Early use has boosted efficiency; within 24 months, Herzog expects broad adoption to expand complex roles.

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

The region’ biggest general contractor marked a milestone year under Gordon Lansford’s leadership, hiring more than 1,000 people nationwide while continuing to strengthen its already strong employee engagement. That growth reflects not just scale but culture, as the company positions itself in the right markets to deliver results for clients while staying focused on its people-first philosophy.

COLLEGE: B.S., Accounting/Business, Baker University
2024 REVENUES: $7.4 billion
GROWTH OUTLOOK: “We continue to see significant growth in the near term,” Lansford says. “We are very well-positioned in the right geographic and vertical markets. The data-center market in particular is very robust.”
TARIFF IMPACT: Clients are cautious as they weigh cost uncertainty, he says.
KC OUTLOOK: “I love Kansas City, but I get frustrated that we’re not growing faster. We have as much or more to offer than most cities, yet we’re often slow to make bold moves,” Lansford says.
REWARDING EXCELLENCE: Recognition, financial rewards, and authentic thanks.

Jeff Laurendeau
Regional Director, Amazon

Medical centers, health-care IT companies, and transportation powerhouses are at the top of the jobs pyramid in the Kansas City region, but over the last decade, another player has crashed the party: Amazon. Jeff Laurendeau is a critical strand in that distribution web, which now boasts a dozen regional locations and more than 6,000 employees in the Kansas City region alone. 

COLLEGE: B.A., Criminal Justice, Norwich University
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.
DISTRIBUTION DISCIPLINE: Before returning to the civilian world, he honed his logistics skills as an active-duty Army officer, then a member of the Army Reserves. Deployed to 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.
IN KC: He has responsibility for a multi-state region with the nation’s biggest distribution network—Amazon last year surpassed Walmart for the first time in that category.

Carlos Ledezma
CEO, Cable Dahmer Automotive Group

Carlos Ledezma says the proudest achievement in the past year has been investing in its people. Cable Dahmer has focused on leadership development, frontline training, and strengthening its culture. “Our greatest success has been the development of our people.” Guided by the values of Integrity, Coachability, and One Team, One Plan, One Goal, we view employee growth as the foundation for lasting growth.

2024 REVENUES: $4,065,102,887
OUTLOOK: Expansion fueled by customer loyalty, training pipeline, community engagement.
BOOMERS: Retirements are opportunities to mentor young leaders and transfer knowledge.
TARIFF/INFLATION IMPACT: Tariffs create volatility and inflation pressures expenses, but “We focus on execution—always with One Plan and One Goal guiding us.”
LESSONS LEARNED: “Failure is tuition. The only mistake is failing to learn.”
KC OUTLOOK: Work-force readiness and infrastructure are key hurdles. “It will take Integrity and a One Team mindset, with both sectors aligned under one plan and goal.”
AI: Tools support CRM, service scheduling, sales follow-up while serving—not replacing.
STADIUM STANCE: “I’ve been a season-ticket holder for more than 30 years. We support whatever keeps the Royals and Chiefs in greater Kansas City.”

Brian Leitner
Managing Director, Mariner

Mariner has thrived under Brian Leitner, exceeding key performance indicators while reinforcing its mission to improve clients’ lives. “The greatest success isn’t in metrics but in the impact on families—helping them plan, protect, build legacies across generations. As the largest wealth transfer in history unfolds, Mariner is well positioned to guide clients through complexity with thoughtful, fiduciary advice.

EDUCATION: B.S., Business/Economics, State University of New York-Oneonta; M.S., Taxation, Fairleigh Dickinson University
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Leitner expects steady growth fueled by rising demand for fiduciary guidance amid unprecedented wealth transfer.
BOOMER IMPACT: “Clients are shifting from accumulation to distribution and legacy planning, while many longtime advisors are retiring. This creates both a challenge and a tremendous opportunity to serve families and develop the next generation of fiduciary leaders.”
REWARDING EXCELLENCE: Mariner recognizes exceptional associates through growth opportunities, competitive compensation, and ownership.
EMBRACING AI: The firm uses AI to save time, ensure compliance, and enhance client experience.

Kevin Lewis
CEO, Henderson Companies

Lewis led Henderson through a year of expansion with new offices in St. Louis and Washington, D.C., aimed at strengthening its aviation and data center portfolios. Henderson Building Solutions also surged, posting 82% revenue growth in two years. As Henderson finalizes its five-year strategic plan, Lewis projects 15% annual growth from 2026 to 2030, reflecting both demand and the drive of its employee-owners.

COLLEGE: B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Kansas State University; MBA, Bloch School of Management, University of Missouri-Kansas City
ASSESSING INFLATION: Lewis credits the Fed with stabilizing inflation and sees interest rate cuts as a potential growth driver. 
BOOMER IMPACT: Henderson is planning for retirements by aligning hiring with projected exits, ensuring continuity in experience and leadership.
TARIFF IMPACT: Tariffs, especially on steel, affect project scope and timelines, sometimes requiring design changes or reduced square footage.
LESSONS: Failure drives growth, sharpening execution and resilience for future initiatives.
EXCELLENCE: Recognition and a pay-for-performance model ensure employee-owners are celebrated and compensated for outstanding work.

Matt Linski
President, Bank of America Kansas City

Matt Linski credits Bank of America’s recent momentum to strategic talent development and the dedication of its Kansas City team. Several internal promotions this past year reflect a long-term focus on nurturing leaders from within. Combined with a strong economy, robust consumer confidence and rising regional activity, Linski says the foundation is set for continued growth.

COLLEGE: B.A., accounting and finance, Missouri State University
TALENT: Internal promotions validate strategic planning and leadership development.
REGIONAL OUTLOOK: Growth fueled by consumer strength and increased activity in KC.
BOOMER IMPACT: “We have been able to harness excellent partnerships and develop and invest in our talent through mentoring, collaboration and on-the-job learning. The Boomers will leave great legacies,” Linski says.
BUSINESS CHALLENGE: Ensuring that all parts of the city share in economic success.
LESSON LEARNED: “No shame in trying—reflection turns missteps into progress.”
TEAM RECOGNITION: Culture of personalized recognition to meet teammate expectations.
AI STRATEGY: More than seven years of investment to enhance customer experiences.

Ronald Lockton
Chairman/CEO, Lockton Companies

We’re in the business-news business, but it’s hardly news when Lockton, under the leadership of Ron Lockton, notches another record year on the top line. Under his leadership of the global insurance and benefits brokerage firm, his father founded in 1966, the company and its team of 12,000 associates (1,600 in Kansas City) again shattered records, surpassing $4 billion in revenue for FY 2025.

COLLEGE: B.A., Economics, University of Kansas
2024 REVENUES: $3.499 billion
EVER-EXPANDING I: Last October, Lockton received regulatory approval to acquire Arihant Insurance Broking Services, marking its entry into the Indian market. This acquisition advanced Lockton’s strategy of expanding into key emerging markets, and did so in a big way: India is now the world’s biggest market, with a population of 1.45 bil, surpassing China.
EVER-EXPANDING II: Beyond geography, the company has added a new service line with its Global Parametric Insurance Practice. The initiative brought together a team of experts to develop solutions for risks not covered by traditional insurance, such as natural disasters and supply chain disruptions.
HONORS: Recognized as Best Managed Company by Deloitte and Wall Street Journal.

Angie Long
Co-Owner/CIO, KC Current/Palmer Square Capital Management

Soccer may be her passion as co-owner of the women’s pro soccer team in town, and she joined her colleagues in opening Kansas City’s first-of-its-kind stadium last year. But that impact is local for Angie Long. She’s delivering on a global scale, too, serving clients as chief investment officer for Palmer Square Capital. The Mission Woods firm is managing $36 billion in assets for fewer than 200 client accounts.

COLLEGE: B.A., Economics, Princeton University
THE ROAD TO KC: Long spent more than a decade working on Wall Street, and turned more than a few heads in the process: She was just 29 when JPMorgan Chase & Co. named her Managing Director.
MASTER INVESTOR: At Palmer Square, she leads all investment-related activities as CIO.
PUSHING SOCCER: She’s among a small cadre of professionals who have helped advance the cause of soccer in this region, including work with the board that secured Kansas City’s role as host city for the FIFA 2026 World Cup series next summer.
OUTSIDE THE OFFICE: She’s also on the board of directors of Union Station.

Christopher Long
Chairman/CEO, Palmer Square Capital Management

Chris Long called it last year, but Fed Chairman Jerome Powell wasn’t ready—then—to follow Long’s belief that an interest-rate cut would come in Q3 2024. It finally arrived this month, a year after Long pointed out a slowing of the nation’s economy. He also nailed it by anticipating  GDP growth of 2.0-2.4 percent in that quarter. The final number? 2.4 percent. There are reasons, then, why clients are entrusting $36 billion in assets to his wealth-management firm.

COLLEGE: A.B., Economics, Princeton University; MBA, Harvard Business School
ENTREPRENEUR: He founded Palmer Square in 2009 and it’s one of the region’s biggest wealth-management firms, with clients worldwide with offices here and in London.
GETTING IT DONE: Long joined his wife and Brittany Mahomes, wife of the Chiefs’ quarterback, in announcing the Current’s founding in 2020. Just 124 days later, the team played its first match, a pace almost unheard of in professional sports.
HONORS: The Native Sons and Daughters of KC accorded him (and Angie) the 2024 Outstanding Kansas Citian award. He’s a past winner of the Bloch School of Management’s Entrepreneur of the Year award, is in the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame, and was the KC Sports Commission’s 2022 Sports Executive of the Year.

Greg Maday
CEO, SpecChem

Greg Maday emphasizes building strength from within. Over the past year, this construction-materials specialist has focused on internal investment, adding top talent across sales, operations, and manufacturing. That commitment to people and infrastructure has positioned the company to sustain momentum and meet rising demand in construction markets.

COLLEGE: B.S./B.A., Finance, University of Missouri–Columbia; Young Presidents’ Organization, Harvard Business School
OUTLOOK: He expects a rebound as interest rates decline, construction activity accelerates.
BOOMERS: Longtime employees remain active and engaged, providing valuable continuity.
TARIFFS: So far, he sees no impact from the current administration’s policies.
OUTLOOK: Talent recruitment and retention the key to sustaining KC’s growth.
LESSONS LEARNED: “Learn why you failed—idea, plan, or execution—and fix it.”
REWARDING EXCELLENCE: Public acknowledgment paired with financial rewards.
STADIUM STANCE: Supports keeping the Chiefs and Royals in the metro.
ASSESSING INFLATION: Says impact has been limited and views modest inflation as acceptable.

Mike Maddox
President/CEO, Busey Bank

The hard part for Mike Maddox was taking a 2007 startup and building it into the region’s fourth-largest bank by last year, when CrossFirst Bank had $7.2 billion in assets. The next $11 billion came faster—with the merger into First Busey Corp. of Illinois this year. That created a bank with nearly $19 billion in assets, and Maddox remains at the controls.

2024 REVENUES: $250.66 million (CrossFirst, pre-merger)
EXPANDED REACH: In addition to its Kansas City offices, Busey Bank operates in nine other states, including the major population states of Texas, Florida and its home state of Illinois.
RECOGNITION: Maddox was featured in Ingram’s January edition as our Executive of the Year for 2025.
ENGAGED: Maddox has a healthy resume of civic engagement, including service with the Johnson County Economic Development Commission, The Civic Council of Greater Kansas City and the Kansas City Area Development Council, among others.
FOREVER HAWK: He came away from KU with more than his business and law degrees; he has an NCAA tournament championship ring the 1988 basketball squad.

Patrick Mahomes
Quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs 

It’s really not fair to this 30-year-old professional athlete to pigeonhole him as a football quarterback. Mahomes has leveraged his massive contract with the Chiefs and millions more in endorsements into a series of long-term enterprises: an ownership stake in the Royals, Sporting KC and KC Current, his Whataburger franchise through KMO Burgers, his lead investment in Throne Sport Coffee, a new steakhouse venture with teammate Travis Kelce—among other interests.

COLLEGE: Texas Tech University
SERIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP: Mahomes’ flair for business also includes investing in health and fitness enterprises like Hyperice (athletic recovery products) and fitness-tracker Whoop, as well as his own production company, 2PM Productions.
ON THE FIELD: Sure, the most recent Super Bowl didn’t pan out like planned. Yet Mahomes is one of only five quarterbacks in NFL history to win three or more Super Bowls as a starter. With plenty of runway left, he already owns team records for career passing yards, touchdowns, and completions, plus single-season records for passing and total touchdowns. At the league level, he’s No. 2 all-time in passer rating for quarterbacks with at least 1,500 attempts.
DAD: He and wife Brittany have three beautiful children and you can bet they’ll be competitive. 

Peter Mallouk
CEO, Creative Planning

All this time, we thought of Peter Mallouk as a wealth manager, then a wealth-management executive. For the record, he’s also a deal-maker: Since being named our 2024 Executive of the Year, Mallouk has led an acquisition spree at Creative Planning: roughly a dozen (perhaps more) pick-ups that added not just assets under management, but retirement-planning services and behavioral-finance expertise.

COLLEGE: B.A., University of Kansas; MBA, J.D., University of Kansas
MARKET DOMINANCE: For the past few years, Creative Planning has been on a growth tear. Besides the acquisitions, organic growth has helped drive its combined assets under management or advisement past $370 billion. That had the firm at No. 1 in the region until another megadeal this year claimed the top spot.
ACCOLADES: Mallouk has consistently been ranked by Barron’s magazine as one of the top wealth managers in the U.S.
GROWTH STRATEGY: Mallouk was an early adopter of the full-service wealth management model, incorporating estate planning, philanthropic strategy guidance, will and trust services, legal and tax services, long-term care and other aspects of portfolio growth and risk management.

Matt Malott
CEO, MULTIVAC

Some business leaders spend a lot of time lamenting a lack of skilled labor; Matt Malott will let his company’s actions speak for themselves. The president of Multivac USA, part of a global industrial packaging systems maker, is tackling the skilled labor shortage head-on with its inaugural U.S. Apprenticeship class, which recently added six new technical professionals to its national service team.

COLLEGE: B.S., Marketing Management, Park University
THE BIGGER PICTURE: For Malott, a 25-year company veteran who has led the U.S. operations since 2018, the new training program is a direct investment in both customer support and the future of American manufacturing, producing graduates equipped to immediately contribute to a team known for technical excellence.
QUOTABLE: “We all recognize the urgent need for highly skilled technical professionals to sustain and grow our critical operations,” Malott said. “Multivac took that understanding and turned it into action, developing and making the investment in a structured apprenticeship program that recruits and trains emerging talent to meet the needs of our customers and, ultimately, the great markets we proudly serve.
ABOUT: Multivac USA is a N.A. production arm of $5 billion, family-owned German conglomerate.

Korb Maxwell
Partner, Polsinelli PC

Korb Maxwell played a central role in one of the region’s most high-stakes conversations this year: the future home of the Kansas City Chiefs. Working with the Hunt family, team president Mark Donovan, both governors, legislative leaders, and metro communities, he calls it “a once-in-a-generation decision” and among the most impactful projects of his career.

COLLEGE: B.A., University of Kansas; J.D., University of Texas
2024 REVENUES: $964,065,000
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: Polsinelli has been rising quickly in the Am Law 100, a trajectory that shows no signs of slowing down.
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Maxwell anticipates major expansion in real estate, pointing to renewed momentum in development projects. “We are seeing a strong resurgence in areas like multi-billion-dollar data centers, where clients need the most experienced counsel to get complex deals across the finish line,” he says. Stabilizing capital and debt markets is also giving clients the confidence to move forward in nearly every asset class.
GAME-CHANGER: Maxwell’s fingerprints are on big deals in the region, including Children’s Mercy Park, Cerner’s West Campus near the Legends and Hollywood Casino.

John McCarthy
Owner, McCarthy Auto Group

John McCarthy is the driving force behind the McCarthy Auto Group, a formidable nine-dealership network and one of the Midwest’s largest automotive retailers. His leadership extends far beyond selling cars (Chevrolet, Jeep, Ram, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai and Subaru), rooted in a profound commitment to community and a legacy of family and philanthropy.

POWER PLAYER: He serves as executive chairman of a regionally dominant auto group with 700 employees across its Kansas City-area dealerships.
GIVING BACK: He’s a community pillar whose McCarthy Family Foundation provides structured, significant support for dozens of local causes, ranging from health care and education to youth sports and public safety.
ABOUT THE AUTO GROUP: Headquartered in Olathe, the business was founded in 1981 and has become a full-service automotive empire offering sales, financing, parts, and maintenance for new and used vehicles.
GEN II: The family-led enterprise is now in its second generation with son Ryan McCarthy as a co-owner.

Kirk McCarty
CEO, Research Medical Center

When Kirk McCarty took the wheel at Research Medical Center last year, the crown jewel in HCA Midwest Health’s six-hospital system, he added additional nursing perspective to the leadership team: His formal education and advanced degree were in the field, and his health care journey started at Research, one of the region’s biggest medical centers.

COLLEGE: B.S., Nursing, Truman State Univ; M.S., Nursing, Research College of Nursing
2024 REVENUES: $4,498,260,588
QUICK TRANSITION: Brought in to fill the leadership role at Menorah Medical Center last summer, he was quickly reassigned to the flagship hospital on the Missouri side and began his tenure there last September.
BEFORE KC: He came back to his stomping grounds last year from Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree, Colo., where he’d served for a decade—four years as CEO, and six before that as COO. His tenure there marked a time of innovation, as the hospital launched a robotic surgery center and the International Center for Hip Preservation.
ABOUT RESEARCH: At 590 licensed beds, it’s the region’s second-largest medical center.

Kenneth McClain
Partner, Humphrey, Farrington & McClain

He’s a trial lawyer with a national reputation for vindicating the little guy, but Ken McClain is also a civic champion, especially in Independence, Missouri. In addition to running a highly respected firm, he’s personally poured millions into the revival of the Independence town square with investments in restaurants and retail stores.

COLLEGE: B.A., Graceland College; J.D., University of Michigan Law School
TAX FOIL: His team confronted the hot mess that is Jackson County’s property-tax apparatus earlier this year, representing the State Tax Commission. The group was challenging the county’s 2023 and 2024 levies, with a judge ruling in the commission’s favor, stating that assessments should be capped at 15 percent.
BATTLING GOLIATHS: Companies in some of the nation’s biggest business sectors have regretted facing McClain in court: Asbestos suppliers, the tobacco industry, and makers of artificial butter flavoring for microwave popcorn have all paid the price, including the $100 million verdict for the popcorn-sector workers exposed to diacetyl used in flavoring.
ANOTHER BIG WIN: McClain was lead counsel in a case that yielded a $60 million verdict for a Nevada couple. They had sued HMS Holdings, a health-care tech giant. 

Laura McConnell
Chairman/CEO, Labconco Corp.

At the helm of Labconco, Laura McConnell is the driving force behind both the strategic vision and the operational excellence of the established laboratory equipment manufacturer based in South Kansas City. In her role, she provides decisive leadership and direct oversight to the executive team, steering the company through an era of rapid innovation in the life sciences sector.

COLLEGE: B.S., Biology, and B.A., Dance, Denison University
THE LEADERSHIP PATH: Her ascent to the corner office was a deliberate and meritocratic climb. She joined the Labconco board of directors in 2016, was elevated to vice chairman in 2019, and assumed the dual role of chairman and CEO just a year later.
BEFORE LABCONCO: Prior to Labconco, she honed her expertise in a series of pivotal roles: shaping procurement strategy as head of contracting for The Stowers Institute for Medical Research, managing key alliances as a Strategic Relationship Director for Thermo Fisher Scientific, and spending more than 15 years in progressive sales and management positions at Pennsylvania-based VWR International.
BOARDS: Influence extends beyond her own firm; she’s a voice in the business and scientific communities, serving on the boards of MRIGlobal, the KC Civic Council, and BioNexus KC. 

Madeleine McDonough
Chair, Shook, Hardy & Bacon

At  the head of one of the nation’s top litigation firms is Madeleine McDonough, bringing focus to legal teams consistently delivering “A+ work” for health, science, and technology firms. She emphasizes the firm’s commitment to community, citing its nationally recognized pro bono programs. With growth on the horizon and innovation reshaping the legal landscape, McDonough says Shook is positioned to thrive.

COLLEGE: B.S., UMKC School of Pharmacy; J.D., University of Kansas Law School; LL.M., Global Health Law, Georgetown University Law Center
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: American Lawyer ranked Shook among the top 50 firms in the nation for pro bono service for the third year in a row. The firm also earned The Veterans Consortium’s Community Impact Award for its support of veterans.
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Shook is expanding its 18 offices, particularly in Los Angeles and New York, and continues to attract first-chair trial lawyers handling complex litigation nationwide. Recruiting judicial clerks and next-generation trial lawyers is a key priority.
EMBRACING AI: McDonough says Shook is helping clients design and deploy AI strategies, leveraging a cross-disciplinary team that addresses governance, IP, and data security. She calls the risks real but the opportunities “unimaginable.”

Marc McEver
Co-Owner, Olathe Ford

A great many car dealers struggled over the past year as high prices and high interest rates dampened consumer sentiment. Marc McEver’s team was not among them; his Ford and Lincoln dealerships recorded an increase of more than 34 percent in year-over-year sales. One reason is that he’s able to boast of “becoming Ford’s No. 1 volume dealer in America” for 2024.

2024 REVENUES: $1.475 billion
OUTLOOK: “Expectations are flat on EBITDA with a modest increase in units sold, parts, service and body shop,” he says.
TARIFFS: “The uncertainty of the tariffs just keeps all of our customers wondering. That is never good. Consumer confidence is a very important factor in the overall economy.”
LESSONS LEARNED: “Don’t ever give up!!! Keep pushing and trying new ways to win.”
REWARDING EXCELLENCE: “We work hard to ensure that all managers provide positive feedback, along with the executive team, in addition to annual increases, in some cases, biannual increases. People are EVERYTHING—keep a close eye on the stars.”
STADIUM STANCE: “I would support relocation to Kansas, but most importantly, new stadiums. By 2030, we will really need them to stay relevant in professional sports.”

Ryan McMonagle
CEO, Custom Truck One Source

The strong growth that has characterized this public company since Ryan McMonagle became president in 2021 paused—briefly—last year, but the trailing 12-month figures today show another record revenue year in the offing for this seller of heavy-construction vehicles.

2024 REVENUES: $1.8 billion
COLLEGE: B.A., Finance, Southern Methodist University; MBA, Harvard Business School
CONFIDENCE: Shares of CTOS stock came within a hair of $6 as of mid-month, flirting with 52-week highs. Analysts say the prospect of lower interest rates could trigger heavy construction activity that will require builders to supplement and update their fleets.
OUTLOOK: McMonagle credited congressional passage of the tax-cut extensions and spending bill from July as reasons for optimism. The measure “included an accelerated or bonus depreciation provision that we feel will be beneficial to Custom Truck’s business, particularly for our small and medium-sized customers,” he said.
TARIFFS: “Tariffs remain an area of focus as a result of the combo of our proactivity around inventory purchases in the first half of the year and the expectation for the tariff effect on our vendors, we feel that tariffs will have a limited direct cost impact on our business. We continue to hear about uncertainty related to equipment purchase decisions from our smaller customers.” 

Kirsty Melville
CEO, Andrews McMeel Universal

Kirsty Melville continues to guide Andrews McMeel Universal through a shifting publishing landscape. This past year, AMU diversified printing operations away from China, building relationships with partners in Europe and Asia to offset tariff pressures. The company also introduced Amen Editions and Amber Lotus, positioning itself in emerging growth areas.

EDUCATION: B.A., Political Science & Government, French, University of Western Australia
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: Successfully diversified global printing operations to mitigate tariff challenges and expand strategic partnerships worldwide.
EMBRACING AI: AMU is cautiously evaluating AI for efficiency gains, while keeping creativity, originality, and environmental impact at the center of decision-making.
BOOMER EXODUS: Seamless transitions have followed retirements, as long-tenured staff mentor rising associates to sustain continuity and culture.
LESSONS LEARNED: Melville stresses the importance of learning from failure—whether from timing or execution—and treating each setback as an opportunity.
STRESS BUSTING: Recognizing exceptional performance comes through personalized growth opportunities and development pathways tailored to each team member.
KC OUTLOOK: KC’s book culture is thriving, with new bookstores and engaged readers.

Michael Merriman
President/CEO, Americo Life Insurance

His family’s holdings in the Kansas City area—and well beyond—are extensive and varied, and Michael Merriman’s decades of leadership are the biggest reason for that reach. One otherwise nondescript element in that portfolio is a tract of land in North Kansas City that, over the past year, has emerged as a potential new home for the Kansas City Royals.

COLLEGE: B.A., Business Administration, Southern Methodist University
POWER PLAYER: Merriman is the driving force behind one of the Midwest’s most substantial—and private—family fortunes. As the architect of Financial Holdings’ expansive growth, his decades of leadership have cemented the firm as a titan in the insurance sector and a major force in Kansas City’s commercial landscape.
INSURANCE ANCHOR: A major component of the portfolio is privately held Americo Life, a holding company for various subsidiaries with assets exceeding $9.1 billion, ranking it among the nation’s largest independent life-insurance holding companies.
ABOUT AMERICO: The firm’s subsidiaries provide life insurance, annuity, and Medicare-supplement products. The roots of its family of companies date back over a century, with Americo Life being the direct holding company of several insurance subsidiaries.

Trey Meyer
President, Midway Ford Truck Center

Heading up a beast in the fleet truck-sales sector, Trey Meyer has his team focused on navigating a challenging climate for vehicle sales in the U.S. They’re doing it with prices roughly half of what you see on scare websites touting the imminent collapse of the truck market in the U.S. Midway Truck Center offers new and used vehicles, parts, service and financing.

COLLEGE: B.S., Computer Science, University of Kansas
2024 REVENUES: $939,182,426
TOUGH SLEDDING: While total unit sales nationwide increased slightly in 2024, the overall market is challenged this year with repossessions spiking, loan application denials increasing and prices for some models approaching—or topping—six figures.
LEADERSHIP TREK: Meyer has been part of the employee-owned dealership’s executive ranks since 2009; he began his career there as a programmer in 1991.
ESOP EARLY ADOPTER: Midway was the first Ford dealership to make the move to employee ownership when it launched its ESOP in 1982.
STICKING WITH IT: More than 60% of the workers at this dealer, 270 strong, have been with Midway for at least 10 years. That longevity is a big reason for the company’s success.

Bill Miller
Chairman/CEO, WellSky

Miller’s twin vision for organic growth and acquisitions paid off again for WellSky over the past year as this health-care IT powerhouse executed key pick-ups and expanded its client roster. It continues to nudge its with revenue, on track to become a billion-dollar enterprise within the next few years. He’s been in that role since joining the firm in 2017, leading its work with 20,000 clients across acute, post-acute, and community care.

COLLEGE: B.A., Economics; M.A., Urban Planning/Public Policy, University of Kansas
2024 REVENUES: $801,000,000
DEAL-MAKER: Miller is averaging better than one strategic acquisition a  year; the firm has added at least 14 companies to its portfolio on his watch.
BEFORE WELLSKY: He was previously CEO of OptumInsight, part of UnitedHealth Group’s health-services platform, and also served as senior vice president of technologies at Cerner Corp. There, he had global responsibility for the company’s managed services, outsourcing, and technology services business units.
PHILANTHROPIC: Miller helped establish the WellSky Foundation and sits on its board of directors. He’s also on the boards of two other health-care companies, Lyric and Lifestance.

Jonathan Mize
President/CEO, Blish-Mize Company

He didn’t stray far from his Atchison roots—the attraction is strong at a family enterprise in business for a century and a half—so Jonathan Mize represents the fifth generation of ownership at this hardware-distribution company. Its national reach extends to building materials dealers, lumberyards, home centers, hardware stores and paint stores, in addition to acting as a fulfillment center for online retailers.

COLLEGE: University of Kansas
JOB DRIVER: Operating out of a warehouse that sprawls across half a million square feet, Blish-Mize is one of the biggest private enterprises in Atchison. The facility is wired with radio frequency ID technology, which helps it track, prepare, ship and deliver orders.
STRATEGY: Blish-Mize succeeds when its retailers succeed—it provides profit management and marketing tools for smaller-scale retailers competing in a world of big-box centers. Programs cover growth and profitability, product and assortment planning, pricing strategy, store design/presentation, advertising, computer tech for sales, and customer service.
ROOTS: Three brothers-in-law—David Blish, Edward Mize, and Jack Silliman—founded the firm in 1871. They started by outfitting wagon trains. The company is a full-service hardware distributor providing 50,000+ products to stores across the Midwest and Rocky Mountain states.

Juan Morales
Manufacturing Director, Goodyear Topeka

For the majority of three decades, Juan Morales has been with Goodyear Tire & Rubber, starting in his native Mexico and moving through the ranks at sites in Tennessee and Ohio, with two stops in Topeka. He now leads production efforts at one of the capital city’s biggest  private-sector employers, turning out specialty tires for the biggest trucks and machines.

COLLEGE: Bachelor’s, Industrial Engineering, Instituto Politécnico Nacional
TOPEKA LINKS: He did a stint in Topeka for more than five years, starting in 2010, first as senior auditor and then business center manager. Reassigned to the headquarters in the state of Ohio for three years, he came back to Kansas in 2018 as production manager. He assumed his current title in 2022.
WELL-QUALIFIED: He’s certified as a Six Sigma-level manager, training that helps analyze manufacturing processes to reduce the probability of production error.
OUTSIDE THE PLANT: Morales is also on the board of directors for the Kansas Chamber, which represents more than 1,000 member companies in their dealings with government at the local, state and federal levels.

Todd Muenstermann
President/CEO, Durvet

The Kansas City Animal Health Corridor runs 245 miles from Manhattan, Kan., to Columbia, Mo., and at almost the midpoint of that stretch sits a company eminently well-positioned to succeed in animal-health manufacturing and distribution: Durvet. Todd Muenstermann leads this Blue Springs mighty mite, with a team of 66 here and 77 overall.

COLLEGE: B.S./B.A., Marketing/Management, University of Central Missouri
2024 REVENUES: $337,967,000
FARM/RANCH SUPPORT: Durvet’s products provide care for domestic pets and horses, as well as farm animals and ranch livestock across the nation, through nutritional supplements and products used by veterinarians for cases such as mite and parasite treatment and prevention.
IN-HOME CARE: Durvet also offers a range of products that help connect people and pets.
MODEL: Durvet’s products are wholesaled to nearly 70 distributor members coast-to-coast.

Allison Murdock
Managing Partner, Stinson

Murdock led Stinson through a landmark year, marked by the firm’s entry into the California market with three offices now established statewide. Strategic mergers and attorney recruitment remain central to the firm’s growth, ensuring clients’ needs drive expansion decisions. With succession planning in place and an eye on regulation, Murdock emphasizes adaptability as the firm continues to expand its reach and capabilities.

COLLEGE: B.A., Communication Arts, University of Missouri–Kansas City; J.D., UMKC
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Strategic mergers and lateral attorney recruitment will continue to fuel expansion across new and existing markets.
BOOMER EXODUS: Formal succession planning supports smooth client transitions while meeting the needs of retiring partners.
TARIFF IMPACT: Shifting tariff rates and deadlines add complexity for clients; Stinson advises on navigating the regulatory landscape.
LESSONS LEARNED: Murdock says failure creates opportunities to reflect, adapt, and improve future strategies.
REWARDING EXCELLENCE: Recognition is paired with career-advancing opportunities, offering clear paths for long-term success.

Timothy Murphy
Executive Chairman, Murphy-Hoffman Co.

Tim Murphy is the big wheel at the big trucking concern headquartered in Leawood, overseeing a small army of roughly 5,000 employees operating at more than 130 locations in 19 states. A 16-time Kenworth Dealer of the Year winner, MHC sells, leases and services new and used heavy-duty and medium-duty trucks that are the bedrock of America’s construction and logistics sectors. 

COLLEGE: B.A., Business, Spring Hill College
ABOUT MHC: Reed Murphy Sr. and Ken Hoffman founded the company as Ozark Kenworth from a small trailer office in Springfield, MO, in 1975, with just three employees.
LOYAL FOLLOWING: The company’s network of Kenworth dealers proudly boasts a roster of more than 50,000 customers who have engaged its full range of truck-related services.
MORE THAN WHEELS: In addition to the vehicles themselves, MHC provides trailer units, parts and body work, and it has a financing wing to serve clients.
OFF THE CLOCK: Murphy was appointed to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s Economic Advisory Council in 2021. His service resume includes the board of directors of UMB Bank and a decade on the board of trustees at his alma mater in Alabama.

Kathy Nelson 
President/CEO, Greater KC Sports Commission

It’s almost here: The biggest event in the biggest year of Kathy Nelson’s sports advocacy is bearing down with the 2026 FIFA World Cup games slated to elevate Kansas City’s presence on the world’s soccer stage. Her commission duties put her front and center in the efforts to make this a host city next year, and to prominently factor into the organization for them.

COLLEGE: Truman State University
DOUBLE DUTY: In addition to her role with the foundation/commission, she’s president and CEO of Visit KC, the one-stop-shopping site for anyone checking out upcoming events in Kansas City. Worth noting: VisitKC.com’s site has your countdown clock, to the second, marking time until the first World Cup game on June 16.
AT GKCSC: She joined the commission in 2010 and took the leadership role the following year. Before that, she held senior management roles in marketing, sales and promotions at Time Warner Cable and Metro Sports. She also knows her way around a TV newsroom, having worked at FOX 4/WDAF-TV as a creative services manager, producer, reporter and editor.
RECORD: Nelson was the first woman to win an Emmy for the production of an NFL game.

Joe Neuberger
CEO, Kornitzer Capital Management

Neuberger had big shoes to fill when he succeeded founder John Kornitzer in 2023 at the helm of this Mission-based wealth-management firm. There, he safeguards the interests of nearly $7 billion in assets for 5,000+ account holders. He came on board there from U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, where he was president. He worked for a decade with the former Arthur Andersen accounting firm capital markets group.

COLLEGE: B.A., Accounting, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
AT KCM: Neuberger has day-to-day management duties at KCM, overseeing the firm’s long-term growth strategy.
CLIENT DIVERSITY: The firm serves a diverse range of clients, including foundations, pensions, trusts, family offices, endowment funds, small businesses, and Fortune 500 companies.
ELITE INVESTORS: 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.
BUFFALO TIES: Kornitzer himself founded a family of mutual funds, Buffalo Funds, in 1994, and KCM continues to be one of its investment advisers. Its top performers in 2024 were in the blue-chip growth category, with gains of 28.87 percent for individual investors and 29.03 percent for institutional investors.

Rex Newcomer
President/CEO, D.H. Pace

D.H. Pace continues to embrace technology while relying on the strength of its people in the finished construction-materials sector. Under Rex Newcomer’s leadership, the family-owned company based in Olathe has delivered complex projects that improve efficiency and customer service, while tapping into Kansas City’s strong talent pool to sustain its growth and culture.

COLLEGE: University of Kansas
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: Teams advanced business processes through technology-driven projects that boosted quality and efficiency.
GROWTH OUTLOOK: “We continue to forecast growth, driven by our employees’ relentless focus on strong customer relationships and timely adaptation to client needs.” 
BOOMERS: Retirements have opened doors for promotions and mentorship, while new hires bring outside perspective and skills.
TARIFF IMPACT: Newcomer says current policies create uncertainty across markets, particularly about the future cost of goods.
LESSONS LEARNED: “Learn, adapt, and do whatever it takes to succeed on your second attempt,” Newcomer says.

Michael Norsworthy
CEO, Kellan Restaurant Management

The parent company’s public face has a new brand, as the 54th Street Grill concept has morphed into Five Four Restaurant and Drafthouse, starting in July. Michael Norsworthy heads the family-owned operation, which officials say has evolved over the past five years, with its nearly 100 percent made-from-scratch kitchen and craft drinks, offering a more polished yet casual vibe.

2024 REVENUES: $180 million
NAMING RIGHTS: The new name, KRM says, has long been used by loyal guests, which made for a natural transition.
GROWING: Expansion has given the company a decided southern tilt; 19 of its current 32 locations are in Texas, operating in the Austin, Dallas and San Antonio metro areas. St. Louis is home to five locations, while the Kansas City area has eight.
FAMILY AFFAIR: Norsworthy was just getting his career going when he teamed up with his father, Tom, to launch the first location in 1989. That was a bold move at a time when brands like Applebee’s, Chili’s, and TGIFriday’s were dominating the casual dining market, but one that found its niche audience.

Tyler Nottberg
CEO, U.S. Engineering

Tyler Nottberg has guided U.S. Engineering through a pivotal year, marked by a smooth leadership transition that underscored the company’s culture of planning and investment in people. As new leaders stepped forward, the company also continued advancing strategies that balance innovation, talent development, and resilience, positioning U.S. Engineering for long-term success.

COLLEGE: B.A., Middlebury College
2024 REVENUES: $537,000,000
GROWTH OUTLOOK: He anticipates continued expansion fueled by partnerships, investment, and a decade-long commitment to offsite construction, with nearly 300,000 square feet of manufacturing space and more planned.
BOOMER EXODUS: Retirement transitions highlight the value of succession planning, mentorship, and a strong talent pipeline.
KC OUTLOOK: Work-force development is the region’s biggest challenge, but growth in advanced manufacturing, data centers, and tech presents major opportunities.
LESSONS LEARNED: “The most important thing is to own the failure, reflect on it honestly, and then move forward.”

Brad Oddo
CEO, BASYS

Basys expanded its team by 20% over the past year while maintaining the culture that defines it, says Brad Oddo. It has emerged as an international player in payment processing by reselling its own products, all while sustaining top Net Promoter Scores and retention. “The real achievement is that we scaled our solutions without compromising on what sets us apart: integrity, responsiveness and long-term relationships.” 

COLLEGE: B.B.A., Business Administration and Management, University of Kansas
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Oddo says the company has rebuilt its technology stack to lead the market. “Our focus now is structured, steady expansion that protects service levels while positioning us to innovate well into the next decade.”
OUTLOOK: Oddo calls KC“a region with steady, dependable growth” but stresses the need to keep attracting top talent and investing in infrastructure to support the next phase.
INFLATION: Oddo avoids firm predictions, noting that “rates and inflation shift constantly,” but says agility and client focus matter more than the broader climate.
STADIUM STANCE: Oddo supports the Chiefs near the Kansas Speedway and the Royals Downtown, saying baseball could “take our city center to the next level.”

Tom O’Grady
President, HNTB Corporation

A decade ago, the leadership team at HNTB determined that the best way to remain a private, employee-owned design firm was to focus on transportation infrastructure, says Tom O’Grady. That has paid off in a big way, as the Kansas City firm crashed the $1 billion threshold, more than doubling that by 2024. O’Grady leads the third-largest engineering concern in a market bursting with design talent.

COLLEGE: B.S., M.S., Civil Engineering, Vanderbilt University
2024 REVENUES: $2,230,270,000
GIVING CREDIT: From his parents to teachers to mentors in engineering, O’Grady says many have contributed to his success. “I was also fortunate to have many great leaders and mentors who challenged and coached and encouraged me along the way.”
KEYS: “I knew I had to do excellent engineering work to establish my place in the profession, but was fortunate to have opportunities to expand my knowledge and expertise outside of the technical elements along the way,” he says. “I made it a point to say ‘yes’ to all opportunities and volunteer even before being offered other opportunities.”
DESIGN STRENGTHS: “We’re a competitive industry; that competitiveness makes us stronger. KC is unique in that so many of the firms have grown to great heights while remaining private.”

John Owen
President/CEO, AirShare

When we say AirShare is soaring under John Owen, we’re not just talking about aeronautics: The Kansas City-based company specializing in fractional ownership of small jet aircraft knocked out an impressive 76.96 percent year-over-year sales mark in 2024. That’s better than triple the figures from as recently as 2021.

COLLEGE: B.A., Business Admin-Information Systems; M.A., Accounting, University of Kansas
2024 REVENUES: $371,818,178
BRAND BUILDER: Owen previously worked in financial roles with Accenture, KPMG, Mariner and CBIZ. After joining AirShare in 2016 as CFO, he claimed the pilot’s seat in 2018.
SELECT MARKET: The Lenexa company offers fractional jet ownership for an upscale clientele of business owners, corporate executives and high-net-worth individuals.
AIR CAPITAL ROOTS: 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.

Gayle Packer
President/CEO, Terracon Consultants

Just three years ago, Gayle Packer and Terracon crashed the party of billion-dollar corporate elites in Kansas City. Last year, her team made an even bigger statement: More double-digit growth pushed this environmental engineering powerhouse further up the roster of the region’s biggest private companies. She took the lead role there in 2019 and continued its record of strategic acquisitions.

COLLEGE: B.A., Political Science, B.S., International Studies, M.S., Agricultural Economics, Ohio State University; J.D., University of Minnesota Law School; LLM, Agricultural Law, University of Arkansas Law School
2024 REVENUES: $1,296,672,982 
HONORS: She was named one of E&Y’s Heartland Entrepreneur of the Year winners in 2024.
NATIONAL POWER: The firm was founded in 1965 with a single office that provided geotechnical services. Forward 60 years, and Terracon has claimed its place among the 20 biggest design firms in the U.S.  in the annual rankings by Engineering News-Record.
STAFFING SURGE: The employee-owned company’s staffing headcount continues to soar; it went from more than 6,400 in 2023 to 7,223 by the end of last year.
ABOUT: Terracon specializes in environmental, facilities, geotechnical services.

Bob Page
CEO, The University of Kansas Health System

Bob Page leads the region’s largest health system with a focus on growth, innovation, and advancing academic medicine. A milestone this past year: Breaking ground on the new destination cancer center at 39th and Rainbow, designed to drive the next generation of research, care, and cures for life-altering diseases like cancer.

2024 REVENUES: $17,508,194,411
COLLEGE: B.A., Accounting, Illinois Wesleyan University; MBA, Saint Louis University
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Growth will come from expanding the health system’s capacity to support other hospitals and clinics—not through acquisition, but by strengthening structures and access that keep care close to home, he says.
BOOMER EXODUS: Many long-serving team members remain past retirement age, he says, committed to the mission of caring, teaching, healing, and discovering. As retirements occur, the focus is on passing down institutional knowledge while embracing fresh ideas from new leaders.
OUTLOOK: Broad business growth depends on supporting the spectrum of the work force with affordable housing, transportation, and opportunities for advancement. KC must also continue building a national reputation in key industries to differentiate itself from peer cities.

Roshann Parris
President/CEO, Parris Communications

In a storied strategic communications career, Roshann Parris has served U.S. presidents—pro bono—for decades, leading White House advance teams for overseas trips, but the past year has her crew with a big lift locally, as well: working with Panasonic Energy on the largest economic-development project in Kansas history, the new $4 billon EV battery plant in De Soto.

COLLEGE: B.A., Indiana University; MBA, University of Kansas School of Business
GROWTH OUTLOOK: The firm projects continued growth fueled by demand from existing businesses, new entrants seeking community engagement, and momentum tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. “We’re gratified to project an upward growth trend.”
BOOMERS: In its 37 years, Parris has seen only one Baby Boomer staffer retire, she says.
REWARDING EXCELLENCE: Beyond financial rewards, Parris offers personalized recognition—concert tickets, travel gift cards, or nonprofit support—tailored to each team member’s passions.
EMBRACING AI: The firm has adopted AI for content creation, data, monitoring, and crisis-management insights, while emphasizing that technology cannot replace the strategic thinking and relationships at the core of PR.

Tim Paulson
Co-CEO, Emery Sapp & Sons

Paulson helped guide Emery Sapp & Sons into new territory, expanding into the Western construction market with the acquisition of Monks Construction. He sees continued momentum ahead, driven by organic growth and carefully chosen acquisitions. He emphasizes that leadership is about people—ensuring teams grow stronger from challenges while recognizing and rewarding their contributions.

COLLEGE: Math and Bible studies, Evangel Univ; applied math, Washington University in St. Louis
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: Paulson highlights the company’s successful entry into the Western Region, a milestone that broadened ESSC’s geographic footprint and positioned the firm for long-term growth.
BOOMER EXODUS: The company forecasted workforce challenges almost a decade ago, launching the ESS Foundation, which provided 63 scholarships in 2025 to students pursuing careers in construction.
KC OUTLOOK: He points to adequate water and power for data centers as the region’s biggest barrier to growth.
LESSONS LEARNED: Paulson says failure isn’t about profit or loss—it’s about people, team impact, and making timely adjustments.

Clifton Pemble
President/CEO, Garmin International

He learned innovation at the knees of two true innovators—Min Kao and Gary Burrell—joining Garmin in its early corporate days. And after taking the reins from Kao as CEO in 2013, nothing about the company’s culture has changed. This past year, it has rolled out dozens of improvements to its smart-watch lineup, cementing its status as a global tech power.

COLLEGE: B.S., Mathematics and Computer Science, MidAmerica Nazarene University
2024 REVENUE: $6.3 billion
SETTING RECORDS: The 2024 revenue figure was up a whopping 20 percent year-over-year, crashing through another record barrier. Driving that: strong demand for its advanced wearables and product diversification across its key segments.
TRUE TO ITS ROOTS: The company was founded on breakthrough consumer technology in navigation products. While wearable tech has become a powerful product line, Garmin remains a global leader in navigation devices for boating, aviation, fitness, cycling, and other outdoor recreational activities.
HONORS: Pemble was one of Barron’s Top CEOs of 2025—for good reason: Since 2022, Garmin stock is up 112%: 31 percent—twice the pace of that “other” tech company, Apple.

Stephen Penn
Office Managing Partner, KPMG

When KPMG, the global accounting firm, went looking for someone to lead one of the biggest professional firms in Kansas City back in 2020, it turned to an audit-specialist veteran of nearly three decades in Stephen Penn. He’s responsible for the strategic direction and growth of the office, which entails earning the trust of leading businesses, non-profits, the public, and the broader community.

COLLEGE: B.S., Accountancy, Western Illinois University
NUMBERS GUY: While he serves a wide range of clients, he’s principally focused on those in the financial-services sector: commercial banks, thrifts, broker-dealers, investment companies, stock exchanges, commodities and futures brokerage firms, insurance brokers, insurance companies, finance companies, and credit unions.
CONNECTIONS: As a lead audit partner, Penn interfaces with many of Kansas City’s top-tier business executives, as well as the audit and risk committees of corporate/non-profit boards, executive management, internal auditors, client regulators, corporate counsel, and other senior stakeholders.
BEFORE KC: He did stints with KPMG’ offices in St. Louis and Detroit.
GIVING: Penn has compiled an extensive record of service with countless civic and non-profits.  

Mike Perry
President/CEO, Hallmark

The Hallmark Christmas Experience debuted in KC last year, drawing 100,000 visitors from all 50 states and more than 20 countries. Over four weekends, guests met Hallmark stars, joined creative workshops, and celebrated under nightly tree-lighting shows at Crown Center. Mike Perry says the event captured the heart of the brand while showcasing the creativity of Hallmark’s hometown team on a global stage.

COLLEGE: B.A., Business Administration, University of Missouri–Kansas City
2024 REVENUES: $3.5 billion
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: Beyond the Christmas Experience, Perry points to the launch of Hallmark+, a direct-to-consumer streaming and membership platform that extends the brand into new spaces while deepening customer connections.
EXCELLENCE: Perry is motivated by founder J.C. Hall’s vision of building a purpose-driven brand that helps people make meaningful differences in each other’s lives.
LESSONS LEARNED: He stresses the importance of “learning forward”—seeing setbacks as opportunities to adapt, build resilience, and shape stronger strategies for the future.
KC OUTLOOK: By leveraging Kansas City as the home for new experiences, Perry sees the city’s creative energy as central to Hallmark’s growth and enduring legacy.

Tammy Peterman
President, Kansas City Division, The University of Kansas Health System

For Tammy Peterman, growth comes from pairing compassionate care with excellence at every level. The system serves patients not just from Kansas and the metro area, but from across the nation and even overseas. Achieving top-decile patient satisfaction and consistently high-quality outcomes has been her team’s most significant accomplishment.

COLLEGE: B.S., Nursing, M.S., University of Kansas School of Medicine
LESSONS LEARNED: Peterman sees setbacks as opportunities—focus on fixing process, not people, and use missteps to drive improvement.
EMBRACING AI: The system uses AI tools to support physicians with documentation, allowing them to focus more directly on patients during visits.
BOOMER EXODUS: Low turnover has enabled many staff to stay for decades, while creative recruiting attracts the next generation committed to the mission.
REWARDING EXCELLENCE: Peterman draws inspiration from teams who consistently embody compassion, vision, and dedication to patients and families.
KC OUTLOOK: Peterman sees unprecedented momentum in Kansas City but emphasizes the need for work=force development to sustain growth and retain talent.

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

Tim Petty leads with a people-first philosophy, ensuring that clients have the support and tools they need to thrive in uncertain markets. Over the past year, his team helped businesses navigate foreign exchange fluctuations and shifting financial conditions by tailoring strategies. Looking ahead, he anticipates continued growth, driven by innovations in payments and industry-specific solutions that enhance client experiences.

COLLEGE: B.S., Accounting and Finance, Kansas State University; Graduate School of Banking, University of Colorado Boulder
EXCELLENCE: Petty emphasizes work/life balance and tailoring rewards—whether time, pay, or growth opportunities—to keep top performers engaged and empowered.
TARIFFs: His team collaborates with clients to mitigate the impacts of tariff policies, enabling them to adjust their sourcing and financial strategies to maintain efficiency and growth.
KC OUTLOOK: Petty says work-force shortages and talent retention are the biggest challenges to growth in Kansas City, limiting how quickly companies can scale despite favorable conditions.
LESSONS LEARNED: He sees every setback as a chance to adapt, learn, and build stronger teams, describing failures as “opportunities to grow, not defeat.”

Michael Poore
CEO, Mosaic Life Care

Michael Poore leads the health-care anchor for northwest Missouri, also serving patients from Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa. He’s a respected and transformative health-care executive known for strategic leadership, having built a reputation for fostering innovation, operational excellence, and expanding access to high-quality, compassionate care. The integration of cutting-edge tech has been a priority in his 3 years of leadership.

COLLEGE: B.S., Health Services Administration, Auburn University; MBA, Business Administration and Management, University of South Alabama
2024 HOSPITAL REVENUES: $2,216,798,819
THE SKILLS TOOLKIT: Poore’s path to CEO is characterized by a series of progressive leadership roles, each building upon a deep understanding of health-care operations, finance, and strategic development.
EARLY CAREER: It began in health-care administration and finance, where he developed a foundational expertise in the economic and operational mechanics of running complex medical organizations. He held several key roles within multi-specialty groups and regional health systems, honing his skills in physician practice management and strategic planning.

Jeanette Prenger
Founder/President/CEO, ECCO Select

Jeanette Prenger continues to steer ECCO Select into new markets, with growth fueled by expanded services that attracted clients nationwide. She anticipates further gains as new offerings. At the same time, Prenger is mindful of broader economic challenges, from tariff-driven client caution to inflation and interest rates, but says her focus remains on people, performance, and culture as the business evolves.

COLLEGE: B.S., Management Information Systems, Park University
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Prenger expects continued expansion in 2025, with new services complementing the firm’s core offerings.
BOOMER EXODUS: Succession planning emphasizes respect and flexibility, with options for retirement, advisory roles, or new career paths.
TARIFF IMPACT: Tariffs have indirectly pressured clients’ profits, leading to more cautious spending on services.
KC OUTLOOK: She cites the need for more large companies in high-growth sectors and stronger talent retention.
LESSONS LEARNED: Failures are opportunities to innovate, adapt, and strengthen leadership.

Kent Price
President/Partner, Price Brothers

Kent Price is a principal figure in Kansas City real estate, leading the family-founded firm Price Brothers. His career is defined by a long tenure at the company and a focus on large-scale, community-impactful developments across the region, and none of those—none—is larger or more impactful than the long-running BluHawk redevelopment in south Overland Park.

LEADERSHIP TENURE: Price spent more than 25 years with the company, left to form Price Development Group, then came back in 2019 as the pace of the BluHawk project was accelerating.
GAME-CHANGER: Bluhawk is a landmark $750 million, 277-acre mixed-use project in Overland Park. Under his leadership, the project has earned significant national and local recognition, including the AdventHealth Sports Park being named the 2025 Building of the Year by the Metal Building Contractors and Erectors Association.
STRATEGIC GROWTH: Price’s strategy involves strategic acquisitions, such as the former Paul Henson YMCA building in Prairie Village, and capitalizing on city infrastructure expansions by highlighting transit-oriented communities like Sky on Main and Piper Lofts along the KC Streetcar line.

Rosana Privitera Biondo
President, Mark One Electric Co.

Arrowhead Stadium, The K, Sporting KC’s Children’s Mercy Park, and now CPKC Stadium, home to the KC Current, all have something in common: the work of Rosana Privitera Biondo’s team at Mark One Electric. The women’s soccer stadium, which came online last  year, was the most recent feather in the cap for the biggest electrical contractor in this region.

2024 REVENUES: $140 million
BOOM: Last year’s reported revenues were up an eye-popping 52.2 percent over the 2023 mark, and represented a record year for the company.
ON RELATIONSHIPS: Rosie Privitera Biondo, in an interview with Electrical Contractor, cited the importance of relationships in helping Mark One acquire a slice of the roughly $130 million CPKC Stadium project pie. First, the company’s long-time ties to general contractor J.E. Dunn Construction, then the new ones that had to be forged with the KC Current’s leadership.
WBE: She leads not just the biggest electrical contractor in the Kansas City area, but its biggest women-owned business.
WIZARDS OF WATTS: What’s it take to rig a new stadium’s electrical system? OMG!

Julie Quirin
President, BJC Health System, West Region

Julie Quirin oversees Saint Luke’s as part of the newly formed BJC Health System, one of the Midwest’s largest networks, with 24 hospitals and hundreds of clinics. She says the integration, finalized early last year, has created opportunities to collaborate, adapt, and expand while maintaining a sharp focus on delivering extraordinary care to every patient.

COLLEGE: B.A., Business/Corporate Communications, Buena Vista University; M.A., Organizational Communication, University of Kansas
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Operating from a position of strength, the system is positioned to grow through deliberate, calm decision-making and the scale to seize opportunities.
BOOMER EXODUS: Retirements are balanced by a rising Generation Z work force—now nearly one in five employees—bringing fresh perspectives and collaboration styles.
KC OUTLOOK: Quirin points to Kansas City’s appeal as a place to live and work, but stresses the need for the private sector and civic leaders to share the region’s story and invest in long-term growth.
LESSONS LEARNED: “Every failure is an opportunity to learn and is often the foundation for a bigger success down the line.”

Mike Rainen
President, Rainen Companies

Retirement? Pshaw! Mike Rainen just keeps chugging along in the leadership of this multifaceted firm, operating in office, industrial, retail and multifamily. Over the course of five decades, Rainen has burnished his entrepreneurial resume as an astute investor and buyer. Rainen’s career is defined by a consistent ability to identify potential and transform properties into celebrated, high-value communities.

33 YEARS AND COUNTING: A foundational figure in Kansas City’s multi-family, condominium, and industrial property landscape, he established Rainen Companies in 1992. Today, the development firm is synonymous with award-winning properties across the metropolitan area.
BEFORE RAINEN COMPANIES: Rainen’s entry into real estate was preceded by his successful venture in commercial interiors. His founding of Rainen Business Interiors, which grew to include the nation’s largest independent office furniture wholesaler, provided the strategic foundation for future endeavors. Terrific leaders worked there too.
CAREER PIVOT: He veered into real estate development by acquiring three apartment complexes from the Resolution Trust Corp., the temporary federal entity formed to help salvage assets of the failure of savings and loans on a wide scale in the late 1980s.

Joe Reardon
President/CEO, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce

Reardon says KC’s greatest challenges are also its biggest opportunities. With the FIFA World Cup set to take place in 2026, he believes the region is well-positioned for unprecedented growth on the international stage. Preparing for that moment requires alignment across the business community, investments in infrastructure, and momentum from transformative developments already underway across the metro. “The best is still ahead for Kansas City.”

COLLEGE: B.S., Political Science, Rockhurst Univ; J.D., University of Kansas School of Law
ACHIEVEMENT: As part of a network of 330 World Trade Centers, World Trade Center Kansas City provides programs and resources to stimulate international trade. The KC Chamber is one of only three chambers in the U.S. to operate a licensed World Trade Center.
KC OUTLOOK: Reardon calls for unity in preparing for global opportunities, emphasizing infrastructure and collaboration as keys to future growth.
STADIUM STANCE: He says civic and business leaders are united around one goal: keeping the Chiefs and Royals in the region.
OUTLOOK: Workforce shortages remain the greatest hurdle, along with broader issues like education, housing, and childcare, which directly affect recruitment and retention.

Randy Reed
President, Reed Automotive

The first thing  you hear from most vehicle dealerships is a pitch about the brands they sell, the services they offer and the financing they provide. Not Randy Reed’s style. Rather, Reed Automotive Group right up front proclaims its family focus and adherence to strong Christian principles. New and used cars are the products, but under Reed’s leadership, the pillars are integrity, community involvement, and customer care.

COLLEGE: B.S., U.S. Air Force Academy; MBA, Troy University
COMING/GOING: Over the past year, the group sold its Hyundai dealership in Merriam, then became part of the Ford family by acquiring the Harrisonville dealership.
NORTHLAND TILT: Four of the company’s six dealerships are north of the river, with three in St. Joseph. The others are in Merriam on the Kansas side and down in Harrisonville.
DIVERSE BRANDS: Leading vehicle brands at his dealerships run the gamut, from Ford and Chevrolet to Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, Hyundai, Buick and Chrysler.
30,000-FOOT VIEW: His background certainly includes that; he’s an Air Force veteran who flew F-15s and served as an instructor and flight examiner.
FAMILY AFFAIR: His sons, Trevin and Tyler, have joined him in the leadership ranks at the company.

Jake Reid
CEO, Sporting KC

This coming  year is one to shine for anyone linked to Kansas City’s global exposure as a 2026 FIFA World Cup host city, and that includes Jake Reid, who has carried on the legacy of Sporting KC’s visionary founders to promote pro soccer as a quality-of-life factor here. When  he was named club president at the age of 33, he became the youngest to hold that rank in all of Major League Soccer.

COLLEGE: B.A., Marketing, Grove City College
SUCCESS FACTORS: In 2010, the year he came on board, the team ranked last in nearly every financial measure tracked by the MLS. Under Reid, that changed—fast. It is now among league leaders for season-ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, and merchandise and concession revenue.
HONORS: Reid was named MLS Executive of the Year, the league’s highest honor, in 2024.
BEFORE SOCCER: His background came in the National Basketball Association, with the New Orleans Pelicans and Charlotte Hornets, before transitioning to soccer. He spent two years in the United Kingdom, helping the Derby County Football Club draw the highest average attendance in the 2008-09 English Football Championship.

Steve Reintjes
President/CEO, NKC Health

Steve Reintjes brings the precision of a neurosurgeon to the C-suite at the newly rebranded NKC Health. He’s a nationally recognized physician who has practiced at the hospital for over three decades before taking the reins in 2020. He now steers a major regional force: with 451 beds and roughly 20,000 annual admissions, it’s the third-busiest hospital in the region.

COLLEGE: B.S., Georgetown University; M.A., Philosophy, M.D., KU School of Medicine
2024 REVENUES: $2,982,378,294
NEW FLAG: North Kansas City Hospital and Meritas Health reflagged as NKC Health.
STEEPED IN MEDICINE: Reintjes uniquely combines more than 30 years of frontline clinical experience as a neurosurgeon—a practice he shares with his son—with executive leadership, having previously served as president of the hospital’s medical staff.
STEADY HAND: He assumed the CEO role at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing stability and medical credibility during a global health crisis.
REGIONAL INFLUENCE: Reintjes extends his impact beyond the hospital system through board service at key regional health organizations, including BioNexus KC and the Midwest Transplant Network.

Ora Reynolds
President/CEO, Hunt Midwest

It’s been another busy year for Ora Reynolds and her team at Hunt Midwest: It asserted its position in the region’s burgeoning tech sector by aligning with Google on a $1 billion data center, entered the mission-critical space with the SubTropolis Technology Center and its tenant, LightEdge Solutions, entered the Texas market and ventured into multifamily development.

COLLEGE: B.S., Finance, Indiana University
GROWTH: A hallmark of her 25-year tenure has been steering the real estate company’s growth and diversifying its product types. She’s overseen the expansion of SubTropolis, the world’s largest underground business park, to more than 6 million square feet.
TECH FORAY: The new tech center is a mission-critical facility within the Hunt Midwest Business Center, which now accommodates more than 40 businesses. Among them are companies that make up Automotive Alley, a trademarked critical mass of Ford upfitters and suppliers. Roughly 500 more acres of adjacent industrial land are being developed for sale and build-to-suit opportunities.
IMPACT: Hunt Midwest was also behind the Ace Hardware Retail Support Center at KCI 29 Logistics Park, recognized for its size and role in the region’s industrial growth.

Greg Righter
President/CEO, Berkel & Co. Contractors

In a volatile sector where work volumes can swing wildly from year to year, Greg Righter has been a stabilizing figure since 2017, when he took the reins at Berkel, a national leader in the highly specialized deep foundations field of the construction sector. An engineer by training, he’s built his entire executive resume at the employee-owned company, beginning as a field engineer in 1999. 

COLLEGE: B.S., Pre-Engineering, Furman University; B.S., Civil Engineering, Clemson University; M.S., Geotechnical Engineering, Georgia Tech
2024 REVENUES: $371,000,000
ABOUT: Based in Bonner Springs, it’s a national leader in specialized deep-foundations.
UP THE LADDER: His two-decade ascent through operations and project management roles includes rungs as project manager, assistant regional manager and vice president of operations. That deep, internal operational experience is critical for leading a contractor whose projects—including drilled shafts, driven piles, and excavation support—are fundamental yet highly susceptible to the boom-and-bust cycles of heavy construction.
LEGACY: Under Righter’s leadership, Berkel maintains an employee-ownership legacy bequeathed by its late founder, Charles Berkel. This model is cited as a key differentiator.

Jim Rine
President/CEO, UMB Bank

Jim Rine leads one of Kansas City’s most prominent financial institutions, where growth and culture go hand in hand. He also has a lead role with the corporate parent, as president of UMB Financial Corp. Under his leadership, UMB has navigated acquisitions, integration, and market expansion while maintaining its reputation for responsiveness and community commitment.

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: Rine points to the Heartland Financial acquisition as a defining milestone. “We gained great talent and significantly grew our commercial, private wealth management, consumer and national businesses,” he says. Since the January close, integration has been a major focus, with associates preparing for systems and brand conversion while keeping business operations strong. “I’m extremely proud of our associates and the efforts and camaraderie that are leading us into this new chapter.”
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Rine anticipates growth through continued integration, capital investment and credit expansion across all markets. “We’re seeing ample business opportunity,” he says.
LESSONS LEARNED: “Three questions I always ask: What did we learn? How do we use that information? What’s next?”

Keith Roberts
Principal, Roberts Auto Group

You might not find a car-salesman gene in Keith Roberts’s DNA, but he certainly was primed for success in that field, given that his father had founded Ed Roberts Chevrolet. Today, Keith is president and Dealer Principal of the family-owned and -operated series of Northland dealerships. He has steered the group’s expansion and solidified its reputation with a commitment to long-term relationships over short-term gains.

COLLEGE: B.A., Business Administration
CHEVROLET+: The dealerships—Roberts Chevrolet, Heartland Chevrolet, Roberts-Robinson Chevrolet and Heartland Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram— combined new-car inventory for the group’s dealerships, which includes Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram, along with affiliated GMC.
EXPANSION-MINDED: Under his leadership, along with his late brother, Ed, Roberts Auto Group expanded from a single-point dealership to a multi-franchise group. Roberts also invested in state-of-the-art facilities and service technology, as well as robust digital retailing tools for online and in-store customers.
IN THE CULTURE: The company has a reputation for fostering a culture built on integrity, transparency, and teamwork, empowering managers and employees, and encouraging them to take ownership of their roles. 

Kimberly Rock
Office Managing Partner, EY

Kimberly Rock says the opening of EY’s new, expanded office at Corrigan Station was the most significant achievement of the past year. “It’s a testament to our investment in Kansas City and our dedication to our team,” she says. With a focus on flexible working, purposeful collaboration and well-being, Rock believes the new space embodies EY’s culture and commitment to Kansas City’s business community.

COLLEGE: B.A., Accounting, John Carroll University
KC OUTLOOK: Retaining and recruiting businesses remains Kansas City’s biggest challenge, Rock says. Promoting the city’s strengths is key to sustaining a vibrant market.
LEADERSHIP LESSON: “We are not perfect—leaders must adapt, learn from their mistakes and move forward quickly.”
EMBRACING AI: $1.4 billion over five years; EY.ai serves 60,000 clients, while EYQ has logged millions of prompts.

Tim Rock
COO, GFT

A new role and company and a new brand: It was indeed a year of transformation in the executive life of Tim Rock. After his longtime company, TranSystems, merged with Gannett Fleming a year ago, he became COO for GFT, the monogram brand adopted post-merger. Rock had been president of the Kansas City firm before the union that created a $1.4 billion powerhouse in transportation infrastructure design.

COLLEGE: B.S., Biology, Washington & Lee University; M.S., Construction Management, Texas A&M
2024 REVENUES: $1.41 billion
JOB No. 1: As COO, Rock is the executive tasked with a monumental integration. His mandate: unify two industry leaders to drive operational excellence and strategic alignment across a vast, multidisciplinary project portfolio.
CLOSING THE BOOK: Rock goes into the corporate history book as the last CEO of TranSystems. He stepped into that role in January 2024, eight months before the merger was inked. A 40-year veteran of the firm, he was a key architect behind the growth and operational performance that ultimately made it a prime merger partner.

Dennis Rodenbaugh
President/CEO, Dairy Farmers of America 

Dennis Rodenbaugh leads the region’s biggest private company, a farmer-owned, global dairy cooperative serving 10,000 American dairy farmers. The combined efforts of that nationwide team produce nearly every form, function, and flavor of nutritional dairy products, including fluid milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, dairy ingredients, and more. DFA is also the third-largest dairy company in the world. 

COLLEGE: B.B.A., Finance/Economics, Washburn University
2024 REVENUES: $23 billion
GLOBAL: Rodenbaugh oversees end-to-end operations and a global marketing network, beginning with marketing 25 percent of the U.S. milk supply produced by DFA’s farm families and extending through DFA’s 82 U.S.-based manufacturing plants and 19,000 employees.
INDUSTRY INFLUENCE: His commitment to the dairy industry extends beyond DFA, as he currently serves as chairman of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy and on the executive board of directors for the National Milk Producers Federation.

Fred Ross
Founder, Custom Truck One Source

Family and foresight helped Fred Ross build what is now Custom Truck One Source, a dominant national provider of specialty trucks and heavy equipment. It became part of a public company in a 2021 buyout for $1.45 billion, and after stepping down as chairman, Ross has turned much of his attention to the Lake of the Ozarks region as an entrepreneur and developer.

2024 REVENUES: $1.8 billion
SUCCESS TRACK: He founded Custom Truck & Equipment in 1996, along with a half-dozen siblings, transforming it into a specialty equipment sales and rental powerhouse through organic expansion and strategic market entry.
BOOM: After investment giant Blackstone acquired a majority stake in 2015, it merged with several other entities to form the current Custom Truck One Source. 
LAKE INFLUENCE: Ross has established himself as a significant commercial developer and business owner in the lake region. He’s the longtime owner of Big Thunder Marine—a local business landmark—and is part of the development team for The Oasis at Lakeport, a large mixed-use resort and amusement site expected to open next summer, followed by a hotel, conference center, and indoor water park in 2027.

Adam Rossbach
President, TFL

Adam Rossbach has a knack for aligning with winners—or maybe it’s the other way around. A former executive with the Chiefs, he’s now President of TFL (formerly Tickets For Less), a fast-growing technology company powering live event inventory distribution, pricing, and redemption via employee benefit and customer loyalty programs. There, he leads growth and operations, and under his leadership, revenues have tripled.

COLLEGE: B.S., Marketing/Finance, University of Nebraska, MBA, Marketing/Entrepreneurship, Bloch School of Management, UMKC
2024 REVENUES: $239.86 million
KEY COLLABORATOR: Under his direction, TFL has expanded partnerships across collegiate and professional sports while also growing through strategic acquisitions in the ticketing and technology space.
COLLEGE KINGS: He’s driven explosive growth through ticket sales for NCAA sports, most notably with team partners across the Big 10, Big 12, Pac 12, ACC, and SEC. As the college athletics landscape evolves, Adam has led the charge to implement new service offerings and alternative financing models that drive incremental revenue and strengthen long-term partnerships.

Bill Ryan
Chairman/CEO, Shamrock Trading

For Bill Ryan, leadership is about pairing people with opportunity. Under his guidance, Shamrock is thriving, adding a fourth tower and The Link to its Overland Park headquarters—complete with a café, coffee shop, terrace and meeting space. More than 700 new employees and 100 interns joined the company this past year, fueling momentum in transportation services and setting the stage for continued expansion.

EDUCATION: B.A., Literature, M.A., Education, Emporia State University
EMBRACING AI: “We’ve begun exploring AI in experimental use cases as part of our ongoing effort to adopt new tools and processes that drive efficiency and support our customers’ and employees’ needs,” he says.
BOOMERS: Retirement has had little impact thanks to deliberate investment in both interns and experienced professionals, keeping growth steady at 25 percent annually.
LESSONS LEARNED: Ryan says failed initiatives serve as reminders to listen more closely to customers and deliver real marketplace value.
REWARDING EXCELLENCE: Top performers are rewarded through bonuses, awards and employee ownership, reflecting the company’s merit-based philosophy that when the company grows, everyone benefits.

Earl Santee
Executive Chairman, Populous

As one of the world’s foremost sports designers, Santee has spent more than three decades masterfully leveraging stadiums and other large-scale public places as catalysts for urban revival. His award-winning portfolio defies a one-size-fits-all formula, drawing on an intuitive, community-first approach that conducts deep strategic analysis of local culture and market to create spectacular venues that draw people together.

COLLEGE: B.A., Architecture/Environmental Design, University of Kansas
2024 REVENUES: $503,000,000
CHANGING ROLES: Before moving into his current role over the past year, Santee served as global chairman and CEO of the firm he founded in 1983.
GLOBAL FOOTPRINT: Santee’s influence is measured in city skylines transformed and fan experiences redefined. His work in urban design and place-making has set new trends in sustainability and become a blueprint for the modern sports district—an authentic extension of a city’s identity.
SIGNATURE PROJECTS: He’s had a hand in high-visibility venues like Trust Park (home of the Braves) in Atlanta, Target Field (Minnesota Twins) and Yankee Stadium’s renovation, as well as college football palaces including Kyle Field at Texas A&M and McLane Stadium at Baylor.

Philip Sarnecki
CEO/Managing Partner, RPS Financial Group

Philip Sarnecki reaches the end of his run in the Ingram’s 250; he’s stepping down from his position at RPS Financial. If he makes it back here next year, it would be as governor of Kansas—he just this month announced his candidacy to succeed Laura Kelly. His goal? To “shake up the system” and “bring a business approach to government” he said in declaring his candidacy. GoManGo Philip!

COLLEGE: B.A., Finance, University of Illinois
SHARED PRAISE: Throughout his long run at RPS and with Northwestern Mutual, and in a number of other ventures, he was quick to point out the source of his success: “Just a lot of great talent in our organization,” he said. “Advisers doing great planning and putting their clients’ needs first.”
BIG-SCREEN PASSION: He’s also been producer, or executive producer, on 13 full-run movies rolled out since 2010. Most recent was last year’s “Monster Summer,” which had Mel Gibson in the a prominent role.
IMPACT: The 2024 assets under management for RPS—$13 billion—made it one of the region’s Top 25 wealth-management firms.
HONORS: He was also in our 40 Under Forty’s Class of 2010.

Ed Schatz
Founder/CEO, HeartLand LLC

He continues to build HeartLand into one of the nation’s largest providers of commercial landscaping and site services, Ed Schatz saw a milestone in 2024: The company recorded a revenue year, expanded to 26 states, and strengthened its Regional Partner model to enhance leadership and enterprise-wide efficiency. With a disciplined approach, Schatz sees HeartLand positioned for continued double-digit expansion.

COLLEGE: B.S., Finance/Real Estate, Florida State University
2024 REVENUES: $564,177,000
KC BUSINESS CLIMATE: Work-force availability, housing affordability, and infrastructure investment remain the key hurdles to long-term growth in Kansas City.
STADIUM STANCE: He believes Kansas City is strongest when teams are accessible to the entire region, and decisions should focus on unity, economics, and fan experience rather than state borders.
LESSONS LEARNED: He calls failure a “learning accelerator,” emphasizing the discipline to assess, adjust, and return with stronger execution.
TARIFF IMPACT: Tariffs have increased equipment and material costs, but HeartLand’s scale and procurement strategies have helped the company offset most of the pressures.

Jeffrey Schmid
President/CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of KC

As a voting member of the Federal Open Market Committee—one of just 12 voting members setting interest rate policy from the Federal Reserve Bank’s governing board—Jeff Schmid is in a rare position to influence U.S. economic policy. And by extension, growth. He assumed his current role in August 2023, bringing a distinct perspective forged over four decades in banking and supervision. 

COLLEGE: BBA, Finance/Economics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Banking Leadership, Southwestern Graduate School of Banking, Southern Methodist University
KEEN PERSPECTIVE: His career, spent almost entirely within the Tenth District he now serves, positions him as a pragmatist with an intimate understanding of the region’s diverse economic drivers, from agriculture and energy to community banking. His ascent to one of the most influential economic roles in the nation is built on a record of measured leadership and institution-building.
AS A BANKER: He served as president of American National Bank in Omaha, where he grew the institution’s assets from $500 million to $1.5 billion over 18 years. Later, he led Mutual of Omaha’s successful foray into banking, growing Mutual of Omaha Bank from $700 million to nearly $9 billion in assets.

Neal Sharma
Vice Chair, KC2026

Digital Architect/Civic Champion. Those wearing that mantle form an exclusive club, but Neal Sharma has earned lifetime membership in it. He’s the local entrepreneur and executive who has successfully navigated the sale of his digital agency to a global holding company and now leverages his expertise and networking to drive regional civic progress in multiple venues. 

COLLEGE: B.A., Communication, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government, American University; MBA, University of Kansas
RECOGNITION: He’s a past finalist for EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year award.
CIVIC LEADERSHIP: His focus has shifted significantly toward shaping Kansas City’s future. He is Vice Chair of KC2026, the organizing committee for the 2026 World Cup, and co-chair of the economic development initiative KC Rising.
INSIGHTS: Over the past year, Sharma’s public commentary has centered on the World Cup as a transformative catalyst for Kansas City. He also has detailed how the new “Parade of Hearts” public art campaign originated from CEO discussions about community unity, framing the global event as a moment to “demonstrate the vitality of our economy, the richness of our culture, and … the heart of our people.”

John Sherman
Chairman/CEO, Kansas City Royals

John Sherman, who acquired majority ownership of the Royals in 2019, has overseen a period of transformation marked by renewed investment on and off the field. That paid off for fans last year as the team returned to post-season play. Under his leadership, the Royals have boosted attendance, expanded corporate partnerships, and increased fan engagement.

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: Sherman acknowledges past struggles but emphasizes the shift under General Manager J.J. Picollo: “When the time is right we’re going to invest very, very significantly to win on the field.” That commitment has included a record extension for Bobby Witt Jr., major free-agent signings, and long-term pitching deals.
STADIUM STANCE: Sherman wants to build a new ballpark district in the Crossroads, designed to revitalize Downtown Kansas City. He calls it “a civic-agenda item that can continually lift up our region and its growth.”
GROWTH OUTLOOK: In 2025, the Royals added GFI Digital as their Official Business Technology partner, Allied Universal Event Management for stadium security, and Benefitbay to deliver personalized benefits to employers across the region.

Charlie Shields
President/CEO, University Health

Charlie Shields continues to lead University Health as both an academic medical center and a vital safety-net provider for Kansas City. The health system is preparing to break ground on a $300 million facility that will double inpatient behavioral health capacity—a project with sweeping community impact. Growth is also coming from higher demand in areas like labor and delivery, high-risk pregnancy, dermatology, and behavioral health services.

EDUCATION: B.A., Marketing, MBA, University of Missouri
STADIUM STANCE: Shields supports the teams’ staying in Missouri but stresses the top priority is keeping them in the Kansas City metro.
LESSONS: His leadership philosophy: fail fast and move on—turning setbacks into momentum.
TARIFF IMPACT: Supply chains and pharmaceuticals are most affected by tariff policies, though the system works to mitigate cost impacts.
BOOMER EXODUS: An aging population is fueling greater demand for services, from specialty care to inpatient treatment.
KC OUTLOOK: Work-force shortages remain the greatest hurdle, along with broader issues like education, housing, and child care that directly affect recruitment and retention.

Gregory Silvers
Chariman/CEO, EPR Properties

As chairman and CEO of EPR Properties, Greg Silvers is the architect of the company’s strategic vision. The company specializes in acquiring and holding venues that attract large crowds in entertainment, recreation and educational settings. A cornerstone of his leadership is a relentless focus on shareholder value, orchestrating investment strategies designed to deliver consistent and reliable performance.

COLLEGE: B.S., from Tennessee Technological University; J.D., University of Kansas School of Law
2024 REVENUES: $688.25 million
REBOUND: After notching record revenues in 2019, the top line cratered—hard—in the 2020 pandemic year. However, Silvers and his team responded to recover the lost ground by 2023 and hit a new peak last year.
LEADERSHIP STYLE: Silvers sets the long-term direction for the public company, working alongside the board and executive team to chart a course for growth while identifying and mitigating key risks. He cultivates an internal culture that demands excellence in both outcomes and execution, ensuring the company’s associates are empowered to succeed.

Chase Simmons
Chairman/CEO, Polsinelli PC

As a homegrown leader and a strategic visionary, Chase Simmons is orchestrating his Kansas City-based firm’s continued ascent into the top tier of national law firms. Unanimously re-elected last year as chairman and CEO of Polsinelli PC, he exhibits a leadership style defined by a focus on strategic growth and exceptional client service.

COLLEGE: B.A., Political Science, Southern Methodist University; J.D., University of Georgia Law School (cum laude)
IN THE TRENCHES: He’s a top-tier real-estate attorney, lauded by Chambers USA as a “very dynamic” lawyer and a master negotiator. He has seamlessly translated that practice-building expertise to firm-wide management.
RECOGNITION: He’s has been included in The Best Lawyers in America. At the firm level, he has led Polsinelli to consistent national recognition, including placement on the BTI Client Service A-Team 2024 and high-tier rankings in Chambers USA.
STILL GROWING: Simmons has spearheaded the firm’s strategic expansion, including the opening of a new office in Charleston, S.C., earlier this year. The firm now has 25 offices in 17 states coast to coast.

Jeffrey Simon
KC Managing Partner, Husch Blackwell

This St. Louis native leads one of Kansas City’s largest and most prominent law firms, specializing in business law. And he does that with the same commitment he brings to his adopted city as a champion of civic causes and a voice of moral clarity. Jeff Simon has led the Husch Blackwell office here since 2014, while also contributing time and talent to the Police Commission and various efforts to address crime and social inequities.

COLLEGE: B.A., English, J.D., University of Missouri
LITIGATOR AT HEART: He represents Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders, drawing on a deep background both prosecuting and defending trademark, trade dress, copyright, patent and trade secret cases. In many cases, that means defining company assets that require the highest level of protection.
LEGAL RACONTEUR: Health care cases? Check. Employee retirement issues? Check. Insurance regulations, securities fraud or software licensing? Check, check, check. He’s able to freely navigate between complex business dynamics and case specifics.
COMMUNITY CONSCIENCE: Simon also chairs the board for KC Common Good, an innovative approach to addressing some of the most intractable issues that contribute to crime and poverty in the city. 

Brad Skinner
President/CEO, Milbank Manufacturing

Milbank Manufacturing notes that, since its founding by Charlie Milbank just shy of a century ago, it has persevered through 14 recessions, five wars, the recent housing collapse, and profound technological advancements. Safe bet, then, that Brad Skinner and team aren’t quaking in their boots about interest rates, inflation or other impediments to success at this Kansas City company.

COLLEGE: Park University 
UP THE LADDER: Skinner embodies the American success story of rising through the ranks. In 2018, after 32 years with the company, he was unanimously elected CEO at Milbank, a national leader in electrical equipment and meter sockets.
COMPANY MAN: Skinner’s entire career has been forged at Milbank. His extensive, ground-up experience helped him learn the business from manufacturing to sales, culminating in his role as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. As CEO, he is charged with formulating long-term strategy, with a pronounced focus on product-driven growth and technological innovation in manufacturing.
INNOVATOR: Milbank won the 2023 Industrial Strength Innovation Award from the Kansas City Industrial Council for its new Smart Meter Socket.

Brian Sloan
CEO, Wachter

Brian Sloan is the steady hand guiding Wachter, Inc., a national leader in technology deployment and electrical solutions. A seasoned executive with over two decades at the company, Sloan ascended through the operational ranks, holding pivotal roles including chief operations officer and vice president before assuming the CEO position. His deep, internal understanding of operations management and strategic planning has been instrumental in shaping Wachter into a trusted partner for Fortune 500 clients.

2024 REVENUES: $432,513,000
EMPLOYEE COUNT: 167 in Kansas City; 1,696 company-wide.
SKILL-BASED SUCCESS: Sloan’s strategy is defined by a unique commitment to a skilled workforce. This operational choice ensures quality control and consistent outcomes for large-scale projects, a key differentiator in the industry. Under his leadership, Wachter has achieved the coveted status of a Cisco Gold Partner, specializing in advanced emerging technology projects, which signals a top-tier level of expertise and reliability to the market.
UP THE LADDER: He started as an electrician there in 1993, and over the next 20 years grew into leadership roles that included chief operating officer and vice president.  

Mark Slyter
CEO, STORMONT VAIL HEALTH

Meet Mark Slyter, new to the Ingram’s 250 and Topeka, but not Kansas: he’s a native of the Wichita area and a KU grad tasked with leading one of the region’s biggest health-care providers. At Stormont Vail Health, he leads an independent, non-profit community health-care system that primarily serves patients and communities in a 15-county area of northeast Kansas. It has more than 5,700 team members, 500 of whom are employed physicians and advanced-practice providers.

COLLEGE: B.S., Exercise Science, M.S., Health Administration, University of Kansas; Phd., Health Services Administration, University of Alabama-Birmingham
2024 REVENUES: $3,094,773,133
THE ROAD TO TOPEKA: As president and CEO of Dignity Health Arizona’s East Valley Market in Phoenix, he oversaw two academic medical centers, Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert, two specialty hospitals, two rehabilitation hospitals, and two smaller acute care facilities with a combined 1,000-plus beds, as well as outpatient services. He also did leadership stints in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and South Carolina.
ABOUT STORMONT VAIL: The health system is anchored by its nearly 600-bed medical center in Topeka, with additional clinics and centers for a wide range of medical issues, from cancer care and obstetrics/gynecology to heart and palliative care sites.

Pete Smith
Chairman, McDowell Rice Smith & Buchanan

He’s the Energizer Bunny of Kansas City legal services, a nearly legendary figure in practice for nearly half a century. Pete Smith has put those years to good use on behalf of business clients in this region, earning a reputation as a tenacious litigator. He doesn’t just understand business law; as a legal-tech entrepreneur, he was behind the founding of Epiq Systems, now a leader in that field.

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.
OTHER VENTURES: Aside from the sale of Epiq, he’s had ownership stakes in two banks and has been involved in multiple real estate development projects.
TENACITY: Our favorite Pete Smith quote: “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.

Jeff Spencer
Sr. VP, Holmes Murphy & Associates

Holmes Murphy, the insurance/benefits brokerage, is preparing for its next era of growth under Jeff Spencer’s leadership. With double-digit top-line growth over the last four years, the firm plans to add new employees through 2026 to keep pace with demand. Spencer says a tradition of internal ownership transition and deep leadership bench will ensure stability into its 94th year.

COLLEGE: University of Kansas
BOOMER EXODUS: “We are in the process of transitioning ownership from our fourth to fifth generation of owners,” he says. “Our model of willing sellers and able buyers has allowed us to perpetuate the business internally for over 93 years. With a deep bench, the handoff will be relatively seamless.
EMBRACING AI: “We are using AI to create efficiencies in contract review, the RFP process, and other manual parts of our business. I only see this expanding, but our growth will always be people- and relationship-driven. I don’t foresee AI ever replacing that.”
STADIUM STANCE: “I’d love to see the Royals in Washington Park. As for the Chiefs, I think a fresh start with a retractable roof at the Legends would be a great idea for their next stop.”

Tom Spencer
Head of Sales, Zinnia

In 2005, financial services giant Security Benefit laun-ched a new venture specializing in strategic communications, reputation management, communications audits, branding, and crisis management. The man chosen to get it off the ground: Tom Spencer, who delivered on the mandate and built the former SE2, now Zinnia, into a top-line driver for the Topeka enterprise.

COLLEGE: B.A., University of Missouri-Columbia
STRATEGIC FOCUS: Spencer is positioned as a strategic communications adviser with a focus on protecting and enhancing corporate reputation.
SECTOR EXPERIENCE: His expertise is recognized across several industries, including property and development, professional services, government and non-profit organizations.
BEFORE ZINNIA: His career began in journalism before he transitioned into corporate and financial public relations. That included a senior position at a “top-tier ASX-listed corporate and financial PR firm,” where he worked with major Australian brands and corporations.

Anne St. Peter
Founder & CEO, Global Prairie

Global Prairie, the marketing consulting firm she co-founded, reached a new milestone this year, becoming the highest-scoring B Corp among more than 10,000 worldwide. The recognition, Anne St. Peter says, underscores the firm’s commitment to social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency at the highest level.

EDUCATION: B.A., Political Science, Wellesley College
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: As the highest-scoring B Corp growth has surged—69 percent last year with 33 percent more projected this year.
STADIUM STANCE: St. Peter favors keeping both teams in the region, with a preference for a Downtown baseball park to further energize Kansas City’s growth.
KC OUTLOOK: She credits Kansas City’s supportive banking community, experienced mentors, and innovative work force as key to scaling businesses in the region.
REWARDING EXCELLENCE: As an ESOP, outstanding-performance raises share value, which has risen nearly 1,000 percent since Global Prairie became employee-owned.
LESSONS LEARNED: St. Peter says setbacks are powerful teachers, offering insight into assumptions, processes, and adaptability, and should be treated as opportunities.

Robert Steer
President, CEO & CFO, Seaboard Corp.

You may know the brands—Butterball, Daily’s Premium Meats and Prairie Fresh are but a few—but do you know the leading company behind them? As the first non-Bresky family member in that role, Robert Steer leads a global workforce nearly 14,000 strong, producing pork and poultry products, milling grains, trading commodities, and shipping goods worldwide for the Merriam-based company.

COLLEGE: Kansas State University
2024 REVENUES: $9.5 billion
SOARING SHARES: It appears that investors are pleased with the way Steer is moving Seaboard ahead; at the start of September, the company’s stock price was flirting with $4,000 a share, a powerful recovery from the late-2024 dip to roughly $2,200.
STIRRING CONFIDENCE: Last year, the board authorized spending $100 million on a Share Repurchase Program Authorization, a clear sign that management considered the stock undervalued. The company has also rewarded investors with consistent $2.25 per-share dividends since just before the onset of the pandemic.
GLOBAL REACH: Seaboard has operations in more than 45 nations, including a one-time ethanol plant in Hugoton, Kan., that now produces renewable diesel fuel.

Philip Straub
Managing Director, Aviation, Garmin International

Philip Straub is a key voice in shaping aviation’s future, and not just at Garmin, where he steers innovation as executive vice president and managing director of all things aerial. In addition to his role as a global geolocation and wearable-tech expert in Olathe, he serves on the FAA’s Drone Advisory Committee, which bridges the intersection of regulation and innovation.

COLLEGE: B.S., Electrical Engineering (magna cum laude), University of Missouri
2024 REVENUES: $6.3 billion
HIS JOB: Straub brings a unique combination of engineering acumen, certified pilot skill, and proven executive leadership, making him a singular force in aerospace and ensuring that Garmin’s systems don’t just meet the market—they define it. He has full P&L responsibility for the segment.
UP THE LADDER: Straub’s ascent is a study in internal growth, having joined Garmin in 1993 as an embedded software engineer. His three-decade tenure mirrors the division’s own trajectory from a newcomer to a dominant force in avionics. His progression through the ranks was marked by a series of pivotal promotions, each building on his dual expertise as an engineer and a master pilot.

Erin Stucky
President/CEO, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City

Erin Stucky leads the region’s biggest health insurer with a focus on delivering exceptional, hometown support that exceeds industry standards. She says the recognition of the company’s award-winning customer service has been its most significant achievement of the past year, reflecting both the dedication of employees and the trust members place in the organization for timely, personalized care.

COLLEGE: B.S., Education, University of Missouri
2024 REVENUES: $3,288,224,858
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Blue KC anticipates continued growth by combining local, personalized service with the strength of the national Blue Cross and Blue Shield network. “That balance allows us to provide unmatched resources while staying deeply rooted in the community we call home,” Stucky says.
TARIFF IMPACT: While tariff policies have not directly affected core business, Stucky says the company remains attentive to shifts in trade policy and works closely with vendors to minimize disruption.
KC OUTLOOK: KC’s collaborative spirit sets it apart, she says, but work-force development and retention will be essential to ensuring long-term growth for the region.

Patrick Stueve
Partner, Stueve, Siegel & Hanson

For most firms, there are legacy moments; for Patrick Stueve, they’re closer to Another Day at The Office: A $45 million settlement favoring policyholders at Kansas City Life, a separate $32.5 million settlement involving another out-of-state insurer, and a dozen staff lawyers (including Stueve) cracking the Best Lawyers in America lineup. All that within the past year. Legacy, indeed.

COLLEGE: B.A., Economics, Benedictine College; J.D., University of Kansas School of Law
RECOGNITION: An expert in the legal field of complex tech-related litigation, Stueve has built a team that is currently exploring or has recently engaged in major cases stemming from data breaches involving companies such as Oracle Health, T-Mobile, and Freddie Mac.
SPECIALTIES: In addition to high-stakes cases, his expertise covers matters involving antitrust and disputes in the food and agribusiness spheres.
ALL-IN: Unlike firms that generate revenues from billable hours, Stueve Siegel operates on a contingency-fee basis, even while tackling legal teams from some of the world’s biggest companies in court.

Kent Sunderland
Chairman, Sunderland Foundation

One of the most active philanthropic organizations in this region over the past five years is under the watch of Kent Sunderland, who assumed that role with the family foundation after the sale of Ash Grove Cement in 2016. Since then, it has leveraged the $3.2 billion in proceeds into some of the biggest construction-supporting donations in the Kansas City area.

IMPACT: Its tax returns show that the foundation had dispersed more than $1 billion in charitable donations between 2019 and 2023; it followed that up with nearly $120 million more in 2024 giving.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Much of the giving strategy supports capital projects by non-profits in four areas. Last year, the breakdown was as follows: $78 million for hospitals and healthcare groups, $13 million for higher education, $11 million for human services, and $7 million for arts and culture.
IN THE WORKS: The University of Kansas Cancer Center has begun construction on a new facility that will house research and treatment side by side. The most significant donation to make that $450 million dream a reality came in 2023, when the Sunderland Foundation stepped up with a $100 million contribution.

Greg Swetnam
Director of Office Brokerage, Kessinger Hunter

Greg Swetnam leads Kessinger Hunter’s office brokerage practice, specializing in tenant advisory and complex, multi-year transactions. Nearly five years after the pandemic reshaped demand, he guides employers and building owners through a hybrid-driven return to the office and the churn it creates, while supporting development efforts that position Kansas City’s office market for long-term stability.

COLLEGE: B.A., Agriculture, University of Missouri
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: Finalized Fidelity Security Life’s headquarters at Crown Center’s 2600 Grand Blvd., after a five-year, pandemic-spanning advisory process, determining a long-term lease beat build-to-suit in an oversupplied market. Occupancy expected late 2025.
GROWTH OUTLOOK: “Employers are finally bringing, and in some cases convincing, employees to come back to the office,” Swetnam says, driving renewed activity—even in hybrid models—for tenants and landlords.
KC OUTLOOK: He flags cross-border dynamics: “The State Line … will continue to be the biggest challenge for our metro,” shaping everything from stadium debates to site selection.

Charlie Tetrick
CEO, Walz Tetrick Advertising

Coming off a year that his firm snag the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s, Mr. K honors as Small Business of the Year, Charlie Tetrick and his team knocked the top line out of the park again, with a year-over-year revenue bump of better than 44 percent last year. Still, he says, more growth is in the offing, particularly as AI and tech tools of the trade advance.

COLLEGE: B.A., Journalism/Advertising, University of Kansas
2024 REVENUES: $152,919,586
BOOMER IMPACT: “Our agency does quite a bit of work in both health care and senior living, so the Baby Boomer retirement bubble is always front of mind.”
REWARDING EXCELLENCE: “Culture is key. You, of course, need to have the financial piece covered, but we’ve found that most of our professional put a high premium on a great place to work, recognition for success, upward mobility and investments in tech, training and all the things to make a fun work environment.”
LESSONS LEARNED: “It’s not about placing blame, it’s about managing the circumstances. It’s also key to remove emotions and direct your energy to a strong showing next time around.”

Jonathan Thomas
President/CEO, American Century Investments

Jonathan Thomas steers one of the region’s biggest wealth management firms, which describes itself as investment-led, results-driven, and client-focused—with a simple belief: “We can do good by doing well.” Through its unique ownership model, more than 40 percent of profits support the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, totaling over $2 billion since 2000.

COLLEGE: B.A., University of Massachusetts; MBA, Boston College
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: Reached the highest assets under management in the firm’s 67-year history.
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Forty-eight ETFs helped place the firm among the top five active ETF issuers; Avantis Investors surpassed $75B AUM in under six years. Looking ahead: anticipate client needs, adapt quickly, and deliver results—“Innovation will continue to be our engine.”
ON A MISSION: “Prosper with Purpose” remains the firm’s guiding idea: deliver for clients on the wealth-management side, while funding life-saving research and advancing the founders’ legacy via the work at Stowers.

Polly Thomas
Chief Operating Officer, CBIZ Benefits and Insurance

For Polly Thomas, the defining milestone of the past year was integrating and merging two firms of equal size, a move that effectively doubled CBIZ’s size. That achievement, she says, reflects both the strength of the company’s leadership and its ability to create new opportunities for growth. Thomas says CBIZ is well-positioned for continued momentum in 2026.

COLLEGE: B.S., Physical Therapy, University of Missouri–Columbia
TARIFF IMPACT: Policies affect clients more than CBIZ; the firm helps them adapt.
KC BUSINESS CLIMATE: Attracting top talent remains a challenge.
BABY BOOMER: “The associates retiring from our organization were instrumental in training those who succeeded them, and so we feel well positioned that our next generation of leaders is ready to take us to the next level.”
LEADERSHIP LESSON: “Resilience and lessons learned from failure make the next initiative stronger.”
RECOGNITION: High performers gain expanded responsibility and leadership roles.
INFLATION IMPACT: Remains a concern for clients and business overall, she says.

Gregg Thompson
Deputy to the Commanding General, Fort Leavenworth

At the strategic heart of the U.S. Army’s intellectual center, Gregg Thompson operates as the indispensable civilian voice of modern force integration. As the long-serving civilian deputy to the commanding general at Fort Leavenworth, Thompson is the key adviser ensuring the Army Reserve and National Guard are seamlessly woven into the fabric of the Army’s premier learning institution.

COLLEGE: B.S., Economics, University of Nebraska; M.A., National-Louis University, Chicago; M.S., Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College
FIGURE OF STABILITY: For more than a decade, Thompson has been a guiding force as a cadre of generals has rotated through leadership roles at the fort, which oversees critical schools like the Command and General Staff College and doctrine-producing centers. His mandate is strategic: to advise on and champion Reserve Component readiness, ensuring curricula, leadership development, and doctrine that reflect the realities of the Total Army.
WHY HE MATTERS: In a system defined by military turnover, Thompson’s enduring tenure provides rare institutional continuity and deep expertise, serving multiple commanding generals with trusted judgment.

Paul Thompson
Chairman/CEO, Country Club Bank

Paul Thompson guides one of Kansas City’s most influential community banks, serving individuals, businesses, and civic organizations through nearly 20 branches. He  positioned the bank to navigate shifting economic cycles and secure its sale to Omaha’s FNBO. Thompson’s influence in the region’s financial sector underscores his role as a key voice in shaping Kansas City’s economic future.

COLLEGE: B.S., Finance, Creighton University; MBA, Rockhurst University
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: Thompson cites the planned merger with FNBO, a partnership that aligns culture and values while increasing resources.
OUTLOOK: The merger will increase the bank’s legal loan limit at least tenfold, enabling it to serve larger clients and expand in the Kansas City area.
TARIFF IMPACT: Country Club Bank has stress-tested loans and engaged with clients on the tariff effects, although no significant negative impacts have been seen so far.
KC OUTLOOK: Thompson identifies education and crime as key factors in attracting and retaining the skilled workforce needed for long-term growth.
LESSONS LEARNED: He says failures should be studied to determine whether the problem was misdiagnosis, flawed strategy, or poor execution.

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

Earlier this year, David Toland celebrated receiving the 2025 Excellence in Economic Development Gold Award from the International Economic Development Council, which was presented to the Kansas Department of Commerce, which he leads. With the state on an ED roll, he declared earlier this year that he would not attempt to follow Laura Kelly as governor in 2026.

COLLEGE: B.A., Political Science, M.A., Public Administration, University of Kansas
FOLLOW-UP ACTS: If the governor’s race is out, perhaps he might consider becoming mayor of De Soto. Toland was a key figure in securing Panasonic Energy’s commitment to build the $4 billion electric-vehicle battery plant now coming online in that Johnson County suburb. He followed that up by helping to secure an $875 million upgrade of the Merck Animal Health plant, also located in De Soto.
NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE: Before returning to his home state—Toland is a seventh-
generation Kansan—he racked up extensive experience in urban and rural economic development. Some of that came in the office of planning and economic development in the nation’s capital. That job set the stage for the eco-devo leadership role in his Allen County stomping grounds.

Tucker Trotter
CEO, Dimensional Innovations

Tucker Trotter points to two standout accomplishments from the past year: the storytelling work for the new KU David Booth Memorial Stadium and the launch of Atlas 9, an immersive art experience in Kansas City, Kan. “I hope everyone in this region gets out to see both of these projects soon,” he says, calling them milestones for his team and community.

COLLEGE: B.A., Industrial Design, University of Kansas
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Growth will be fueled by one of the company’s largest and most prestigious projects, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, opening in 2026.
TARIFF IMPACT: Minor issues with tech products, though raw materials were already sourced domestically, he says.
LESSONS: Preventing repeat mistakes is the key takeaway from failed initiatives.
EXCELLENCE: Recognition throughout the process, followed by a group celebration.
STADIUM STANCE: He supports Downtown baseball and a Chiefs move near the Kansas Speedway, citing opportunities for tourism and mixed-use development.
EMBRACING AI: The company, he says, is using AI to create remarkable experiences that had once seemed impossible.

Michael Valentine
CEO, Netsmart Technologies

Innovate. Acquire. Expand. That’s been a winning formula for Michael Valentine, now in his 15th year at the helm of Netsmart, a powerhouse in health-care IT for the behavioral health market. The Overland Park-based company provides Software-as-a-Service technology and services solutions, designs, builds, and delivers health informatics solutions and services.

2024 REVENUES: $682 million
BREAKTHROUGH: Just last month, Netsmart achieved designation as a Qualified Health Information Network, a critical milestone that will allow it to serve patients across the health-care spectrum. It’s the first electronic health record provider built primarily for human services and post-acute care to earn that distinction.
BROAD BASE: The company’s systems serve payers across the spectrum: commercial health plans, Medicare Advantage plans, Medicaid managed-care organizations, and state-operated Medicaid plans. At last count, more than 147 million patients have been served through Netsmart platforms and programs.
EMPLOYEES: The area work force stood at 1,068 last year, and 2,559 nationwide.

Doug Van Meter
President/CEO, GBA

Doug Van Meter has stepped into the CEO role at this AEC firm, completing a smooth transition from longtime leader Dan Abitz. He says the succession plan was well-thought-out, well-received, and is already exceeding expectations. Leading a team deeply tied to Kansas City’s growth, Van Meter emphasizes building on that momentum while carefully exploring new opportunities.

COLLEGE: B.S., Architectural Engineering, Kansas State University
2024 REVENUES: $235,878,005
REWARDING EXCELLENCE: Van Meter ensures team members feel valued through verbal praise, written recognition, and when appropriate, compensation.
STADIUM STANCE: “I would support keeping the Chiefs and Royals in the Kansas City metro, whether in Kansas or Missouri, as these teams are unifiers for our region,” Van Meter says. GBA’s engineering work on the original stadiums makes the teams’ continued presence especially meaningful.
EMBRACING AI: The firm has taken an exploratory approach to AI, with the Mission Critical team already benefiting and more projects in the pipeline. “We’re just getting started diving into AI and moving forward thoughtfully and cautiously,” Van Meter says.

Randall Vance
President/COO, Sunderland Foundation

The echoes of 2017’s sale of Ash Grove Cement continued to reverberate throughout regional philanthropy in 2024, thanks in large part to the work Randy Vance is putting in with the Sunderland Foundation. The sale netted the foundation over $1 billion, instantly thrusting it into the top tier of regional philanthropies. Vance came on board after having served as Ash Grove’s CEO.

COLLEGE: B.A., Business Administration, MBA, Finance, UMKC
2024 GRANTS: Focused in large part on construction projects for capital projects at public and non-profit educational institutions—work that helped make Ash Grove a national power in building materials—the foundation dished out more than $147 million in grants last year.
THE BIGGEST WINNER: Far and away, it was the University of Kansas Endowment Association, which received a grant totaling $100  million to fund part of the new KU Cancer Center currently being constructed.

Julia Vander Weele
Managing Partner, Spencer Fane

The business sector that has demonstrated perhaps the strongest commitment to gender equity in its leadership ranks is the law, and Julia Vander Weele is a classic example. She became managing partner of Spencer Fane in 2021, a promotion that was well-earned; she’s riding a three-year streak with Top Managing Partner honors from Missouri Lawyers Media.

COLLEGE: B.A., J.D., University of Iowa
AT SPENCER FANE: A specialist in employee-benefits law, she joined the firm in 2002. In addition to her leadership duties at the firm, she handles 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 a master of the tax code and labor laws related to competitive tax-favored benefit packages that shield leadership from personal liability.
OFF THE CLOCK: She’s also a member of the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, made up of leaders from the region’s largest private employers, and is on its Kansas City Tomorrow leadership team. That program is a year-long experience to prepare senior-level business and community leaders for future civic engagement.

Enrique Venegas
President/CEO, NASB

Enrique Venegas succeeded Tom Wagers in the lead role for NASB at the start of this year, heading up one of the region’s biggest hometown banks, with more than $2.75 billion in assets. To that task, he brings extensive banking expertise—more than 20 years in finance services, with 12 of those at the Grandview-based bank.

2024 REVENUES: $176,560,000
AT NASB: He was hired as chief credit officer in 2013, and served as executive vice president and chief lending officer before being tabbed to succeed Wagers last October.
ABOUT THE BANK: It’s a thrift holding company for North American Savings Bank, with a history dating to 1927. In addition to commercial loans, it offers personal banking and lending products, residential and commercial mortgages nationwide, checking and savings accounts, CDs and money-market accounts.
PORTFOLIO: Its lending focuses on commercial real estate, construction and development, individual retirement account lending, and investment property loans.
REACH: Multiple branches in Grandview, with others in Lee’s Summit, Independence, Harrisonville, Kansas City, Platte City, Excelsior Springs, St. Joseph, and Lexington.

Marc Warrington
Senior Vice President, Sun Life Financial

Marc Warrington works for a company that traces its origins back to the middle third of the 1800s, Sun Life Financial. In that respect, the global financial-services company is nearly as old as Kansas City itself, and a major player in the regional insurance scene. It offers life and health insurance, pension and investment tools and other financial planning services.

COLLEGE: B.A., Economics, Cornell University
STRENGTH THROUGH FLEXIBILITY: Warrington says a key to the firm’s success is the ability to serve corporate clients ranging from a two-person small business to Fortune 500 companies with 50,000 employees on the payroll.
BEFORE KC: His career began in southern California, then Houston, at Unum and Fortis Benefits before he landed with Assurant, and eventually made his way to the Kansas City office, becoming part of the Sun Life team when it acquired Assurant in 2016.
ON THE FIELD: Back in college, he played four years on Cornell’s football team, including the Ivy League championship season in 1988.
STADIUM STANCE: “Please, let’s get the KC Royals Downtown! Love to see them in Washington Park directly across the street from our building.”

Carl Wasinger
CEO, Smart Warehousing

This past year has been one of both organic growth and acquisition for Carl Wasinger, whose Smart Warehousing is transforming logistics and distribution. He’s led it since 2001, and in April, added Beyond Warehousing to the fold. The company provides logistics executives with a more efficient way to store materials and move them through the nation’s supply chain.

EDUCATION: Kansas State University
BOOMER EXODUS: Wasinger expects growth to continue as Baby Boomers reshape consumer demand, driving fresh logistics challenges and opportunities.
STADIUM STANCE: A proud Kansas Citian, he just wants to see the Chiefs and Royals succeed and stay in the Kansas City Metro.
EMBRACING AI: Integrating artificial intelligence across Smart Warehousing’s network is driving measurable gains in efficiency, accuracy and decision-making, strengthening the company’s ability to deliver advanced supply chain solutions.

Rick Weller
CFO, Euronet Worldwide

Rick Weller is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Euronet Worldwide, a leading global payments provider and one of this region’s largest public companies. Weller, who has been with Euronet for more than two decades, was elevated to the CFO role in February 2023, placing him at the center of the financial strategy for a firm that processed over 15.8 billion electronic transactions last year.

COLLEGE: B.A., Accounting, University of Central Missouri
2024 REVENUES: $3.99 billion
VITAL ROLE: Weller directs all global financial operations, from strategic planning and capital allocation to SEC compliance and risk management. He serves as the principal liaison to the investment community, articulating Euronet’s growth narrative to analysts and shareholders. He also has a pivotal role in the company’s disciplined M&A strategy, evaluating and financing acquisitions that fuel expansion.
GLOBAL REACH: Euronet’s network spans more than 190 countries.
SEASONED PRO: Weller’s ascent through the ranks demonstrates a deep, institutional knowledge of the payments industry. His background as a CPA with foundational audit experience at KPMG underpins a rigorous, disciplined approach to finance.

Richard Wetzel
Co-Founder, Centric

In the mad dash that has been Centric’s growth since its 2010 founding, high double-digit annual growth has been the norm. While 2024 may have been a pause from that, it was just a brief one. Richard Wetzel says the pipeline is flowing, with out-of-state work added to the mix for what is now one of the region’s biggest contractors.

COLLEGE: B.A., Architecture, University of Kansas; MBA, Bloch School, UMKC
2024 REVENUES: $233 million
ON THE ESOP: “In 2024, Centric completed its first full year as a 100 percent employee-owned company and experienced record revenue and profitability,” he says. “We are thrilled at those results and hope it continues into the future!  It’s gratifying to begin to turnover the company to its next generation of ownership and see it thrive.”
TARIFFS: “Tariffs have definitely raised the cost of construction materials and our clients are paying higher costs because of it.  But the bigger challenge is uncertainty.”
LESSONS LEARNED: “I think the biggest lesson is to not give up. In fact, it would be folly not to take lessons from a failed initiative into the next one, which is bound to benefit from those learnings.”

Pat Whalen
Chair/Managing Partner, Spencer Fane

Pat Whalen chairs one of the nation’s fastest-growing firms, recognized as the No. 1 law firm to work for by U.S. News & World Report and ranked among the top four nationally for attorney satisfaction by Law360. Under Whalen’s leadership, the firm has earned national attention for balancing rapid growth with a culture of autonomy, accountability, and collaboration.

COLLEGE: B.A., Economics and Political Science, University of Kansas; MBA, Accounting and Finance, University of Texas–San Antonio; J.D., University of Texas School of Law; Executive Education, Harvard Business School
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: The firm’s expansion continues, and it now has a presence in 30 markets nationwide.
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Whalen says he anticipates further expansion tied to client demand and the availability of talent in the legal profession.
LESSONS LEARNED: “This is case-by-case, but I’ve generally found that initiatives will stall or fail when we lack consensus and clear accountability,” Whalen says.

Debbie Wilkerson
Pres./CEO, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation

Kansas City’s biggest philanthropic entity marked a milestone this past year, surpassing $8 billion in total grants since its founding in 1978. Under Debbie Wilkerson’s leadership, growth continues as more donors embrace the flexibility and impact of donor-advised funds. With assets topping billions and thousands of funds under management, it’s one of the largest charitable organizations of its kind in the nation.

EDUCATION: B.A., Psychology, University of Kansas; J.D., KU School of Law
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT: Wilkerson credits the continued success to Kansas City’s generosity and the foundation’s ability to connect donors with causes they care about.
GROWTH OUTLOOK: She expects continued growth, driven by rising interest in donor-advised funds as more people learn how simple and effective they are for giving.
BOOMER EXODUS: “As more of our donors retire after successful careers, they are shifting their focus to philanthropy,” she says. “They built assets in their donor-advised funds during their income years, and now they are ready to focus on giving it away. Sometimes they engage younger generations of family members in their decisions, and we’ve seen generations connect in meaningful ways when they give together.”

Bridgette Williams
Executive Director, Heavy Constructors Assn.

Advocating for 150 contractors and suppliers, Bridgette Williams is the tip of the spear for issues related to a vital slice of the construction sector: the heavy contractors who do the heavy lifting of building roads, bridges, airports, and more. She’s the first woman and the first African American to lead the association, which was formed 75 years ago to give voice to a growing sector in post-war America.

COLLEGE: B.A., Communication, Pittsburg State; B.A., Liberal Arts, Ottawa University; MBA, Helzberg School of Management, Rockhurst University
BORN TO LEAD: Her history of breakthrough roles didn’t start with the HCA; she was also the first black female president of the local AFL-CIO. She advanced to that position from a start as a part-time receptionist for the union.
AREA OF FOCUS: Williams eagerly spreads the gospel of opportunity for those who opt for a career path not defined by a four-year college degree. “Young people are not being exposed to construction-related fields to see whether they would be interested in going into this as a career,” she said in an interview with blackenterprise.com. “Construction is one of the few industries left in which you don’t have to have a college degree. In some areas, you don’t even have to have a high school diploma.”

Chad Williams
Co-Founder, Quality Growth Companies

You thought Chad Williams would go gently into that good night after stepping down as CEO of QTS Realty Trust? Not a chance: He and his wife, Jeannie, quickly unveiled Quality Growth Companies, rebranding their family-office investment company specializing in real estate and business services, building ventures across infrastructure, energy, logistics, and technology.

TEAMING UP: Jeannie Williams will serve as president of the new entity and will lead the new philanthropic arm, The QFoundation.
THE NEW FOCUS: “This isn’t just a rebrand, it’s a realignment,” Chad Williams said in announcing the change. “We’re building companies that reflect our values and meet real needs in the market and the world. Quality remains our standard. But intentional, mission-driven growth is now our mandate.”
THE FIRST STEP: Williams said QGC would launch its first new operating business under its new brand this fall. While he held off on details of the new business, he did say it is “expected to introduce fresh innovation to an evolving sector. We’re not starting over. We’re starting forward with a team, a mission, and a vision built to last,” he said.

Simon Witdouck
President-Americas, TVH

Simon Witdouck’s leadership at this global manufacturing linchpin was rewarded this year with a new title, and he’s overseeing operations in the Western Hemisphere for Belgian-based TVH. The company, with its massive distribution center in Olathe, is the backbone of manufacturing operations with its massive supply of parts for industrial material handling.

FAMILY INTEREST: It’s in rare company as a family-controlled enterprise. One of the two co-founding families retains a 60 percent interest in TVH.
PART AND PARCEL: Its 90 branches in 180 nations manage more than 1.12 million separate 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. It’s also been on Ingram’s 100 list of the region’s largest private companies for more than a decade.

Joseph Wittrock
Chief Investment Officer, Security Benefit

How does a financial-services company surpass $10 billion in revenue? Joseph Wittrock, Chief Investment Officer at Security Benefit, says it starts with people. “Our company’s superior financial performance is due, in part, to our 100+ person, high-caliber investment team that we continue to grow across our three locations, including right here in Topeka, Kan,” he says.

COLLEGE: B.A., summa cum laude, Finance and Banking, Buena Vista University; MBA, with honors, Quantitative Finance and Strategic Management, University of Chicago Booth School of Business
2024 REVENUES: $10.22 billion
MORE THAN A BOTTOM LINE: “Expanding our workforce,” Wittrock says, “is just one way we aim to strengthen the communities in which we operate.”
AT SECURITY BENEFIT: Wittrock came on board as vice president of investments in 2014, and in less than three years was elevated to CIO. He’s ultimately responsible for a $50 billion asset portfolio and a $30 billion notional derivative portfolio.
BEFORE TOPEKA: He spent nearly a decade at Aviva USA in Des Moines, rising from securities analyst to head of research before becoming CIO there.

Doug Wolff
CEO, Security Benefit

For Doug Wolff, the achievements over the past year for this financial services giant were notable. Among them, he says, “being on the Ward’s 50 list of top-performing life insurance companies and Ingram’s own list of the Top 100 Private Companies in the KC area.” He has led this Topeka-based company since 2022, leading growth that made it the region’s fourth-largest enterprise last year.

COLLEGE: B.S., Finance/Actuarial Science, University of Illinois-Champaign/Urbana
2024 REVENUES: $10.222 billion
GROWTH OUTLOOK: “We are proud of our Kansas heritage and are committed to expanding our workforce here,” he says. “We are experiencing strong organic growth company-wide and will continue to recruit and retain high-caliber talent in northeast Kansas that will help ensure we have the right people to serve our loyal customer base.”
WHERE ALL STARTS: “Our company was built on trusting relationships to support families and communities financially,” he says, “and continues to thrive in a competitive industry.”
MAJOR EMPLOYER: With 1,200 employees there, it’s also one of the biggest employers in the capital city, and it has 2,000 overall.

Eric Wollerman
President/CEO, Honeywell FM&T

Under Eric Wollerman, the massive Kansas City National Security Campus, managed by Honeywell FM&T in south Kansas City, continues its rapid rise among leading employers in the Kansas City region: Between the main site and other locations, nearly 7,000 people on his team produce non-nuclear components that go into devices in the nation’s defense arsenal.

COLLEGE: B.S., Industrial Engineering, M.S., Industrial & Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison
UP THE LADDER: Wollerman celebrates 20 years of service with Honeywell this year. He came on board in 2005 as a test engineer for propulsion jet engines and was appointed to oversee the Kansas City operation in 2020.
OFF THE CLOCK: In addition to leading the Honeywell FM&T business, Eric supports community reinvestment with key focus areas in society, education and the environment. He has a strong partnership with the Grandview schools’ STEMM and advanced manufacturing programs. He is a board member for the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, National Security Executive Council and Strategic Deterrence Coalition.

Tamria Zertuche
President/CEO, Ferrellgas

Tamria Zertuche’s path to the C-suite was anything but traditional: her professional journey began at the age of 14, working as a library assistant. But that cultivated an early passion for organizing information, which was amplified by her computer programming studies, yielding deep technical knowledge and crucial business acumen. She’s been IT director and COO, becoming CEO in 2023.

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 
2024 REVENUES: $1.84 billion
TECH TO THE CORE: Under her operational leadership, Ferrellgas has been transformed into a technology-enabled, customer-centric logistics enterprise. She credits the company’s people for believing in this shared goal and becoming an industry role model.
ACQUISITION BONUS: When Ferrellgas acquired Blue Rhino  in 2004, it gained more than just a new service line; Zertuche was senior IT director there.
A BIG TEAM: The employee-owned operation has more than 4,000 employees who provide propane and services to customers nationwide.

Keith Zimmerman
President/CEO, HCA Midwest Health

Steering seven hospitals, hundreds of physician offices, CareNow urgent care clinics, and new access points like the ER of Independence, Keith Zimmerman says HCA Midwest Health is also investing heavily in work-force development and nursing education. Growth will follow, he says, as access to care expands across the region. He’s been leading the division here since 2022.

COLLEGE: B.S., Business Administration, University of Louisiana; MBA, Regis University
GROWTH OUTLOOK: Expanding hospitals, urgent care centers, ER access points, and work-force pipelines. “We’re building for the future by increasing access and investing in the people who deliver care,” Zimmerman says.
ASSESSING INFLATION: Leveraging HCA’s national scale to offset costs while advocating extension of ACA tax credits to ensure affordability.
KC OUTLOOK: He urges policymakers to extend the Affordable Care Act’s Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, which help 338,000 Missourians and 160,000 Kansans afford coverage. Without them, he warns, many could lose insurance, harming both personal and community health.