New to Kansas City in recent years, executives from some of its most prominent companies reflect on what has surprised them most about this place, how they leverage its assets to strengthen their companies, and the elements to take this region to the next level.
Michel Comes,
CEO, SPRINT CORP.
“I quickly discovered a welcoming Sprint family that has a lot of pride for working for a hometown company. It didn’t take me long to feed off of that energy. … It seems very fitting that a French guy like me would end up in the Paris of the Plains.
I discovered it is not exactly Paris—but fortunately, there are a few French restaurants in Kansas City, which is cool. My wife is a concert pianist in Europe, so we were also pleasantly surprised by the vibrant arts and culture scene here. … Kansas City is brimming with startups and disruptors, people who have a strong work ethic.
Until people visit or live here, they aren’t always convinced about everything it has to offer, nor the high level of talent we have. I am anxious to see KC roll out a new brand identity for the city that attracts more talent, especially young people.”
Jeffrey Jones II
PRESIDENT & CEO, H&R BLOCK
“Every time my guests leave Kansas City after visiting, they say, “I had no idea!” There is so much happening here from urban revitalization and start-ups to great arts and food (beyond BBQ)! There is also a local pride here that rivals anything I’ve seen in the major cities around the world.
“We love telling the Kansas City story to prospective associates and enabling our team to help make our community better through the many organizations we support financially and through volunteerism. It also helps that our world headquarters is located in the heart of the Power & Light District.
“We have a great foundation in place. It’s important, as leaders and as a community, to not rest on our laurels. We must continually move forward and improve, recognizing other great places are not standing still.”
Ashley McClellan
PRESIDENT & CEO, RESEARCH MEDICAL CENTER
“Kansas City is a great place to raise a family, which is not necessarily a surprise since I was raised here. It’s great to return to excellent public schools, more access to high-quality health care, and easy-to-navigate streets and highways.
“HCA Midwest Health and Research Medical Center work with many local schools and universities to recruit our skilled work force. We also offer advanced education for employees through tuition reimbursement for Research College of Nursing and other programs offering higher education. Because Research is a referral destination for some of the most specialized care in the region, retaining top-tier physicians and nurses is a top priority.
“There’s no doubt we need an updated, more convenient airport. It’s great to see this is already happening.”
Jeron Ravin CEO
SWOPE HEALTH SERVICES
“One of the most important insights for me is that Kansas City is a very welcoming city with lots of great institutions. These days, younger providers want to do clinical work as well as research, and that affords us that opportunity to grow a provider work force that is keeping in line with trends in health care. It gives them opportunities to see patients and work with institutions like UMKC, KU Med and others.
“The quality-of-life factors you want as a young professional are all here: It’s inexpensive, has a lot of great communities like Brookside, Waldo, the Crossroads and Downtown; the transportation is good, college towns are close if you want to catch a game, it has great arts, great cuisine.
“These are things any young professional is looking for.”
Andy Sareyan
PRESIDENT & CEO, ANDREWS MCMEEL UNIVERSAL
“I’d expected it to feel a little small after a lifetime in New York. But the overriding sense I’ve had since the moment I arrived has been a place with tons to do and a great mix of culture, arts, sports, neighborhoods, food, architecture, and maybe most importantly, music. Layer onto that how welcoming the city is to outsiders and how easy it is for transplants to engage with business owners big and small, civic leaders, or the neighborhood dog walker. It combines the energy of a big town with uncommon friendliness and easy access. Last, though not least, my 60-second commute after a lifetime of east coast traffic and trains feels like a daily miracle. … The city and all it has to offer actually make recruiting that much easier. I would still say Kansas City isn’t well known or understood on the coasts, so some externally facing PR could only help. But there’s a switch that gets flipped when people come and experience the lifestyle in person. … For all Kansas City has to offer, it could still use a little more fizz. And of course, a more diverse and more integrated international community would only enhance the mix here.”
Daniel Beckley
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, KANSAS CITY SYMPHONY
“My wife and I have been surprised by the level of civic ambition in Kansas City, and by the richness of the arts and cultural offerings here. … I was attracted by the Symphony from another market (Indianapolis), and what put me over the top was the fact that the arts scene in Kansas City is among the strongest per capita of any American city.
“We have a strong culture of engagement and philanthropy here that can truly power our ambitions to become a Symphony and a city of greater national significance. … Kansas City has a branding problem, no doubt about it.
“We need a 30-year vision for the city and a brand to support it. People don’t understand how great this city is until they spend some time here, and attracting talent means establishing a special perception of the city before they come.”
Paul Kempinski
PRESIDENT & CEO, CHILDREN’S MERCY KANSAS CITY
“I describe Kansas City as large enough to be sophisticated but small enough to be manageable. What surprised me was the breadth and depth of the community in terms of arts, culture, sports, and the restaurant scene, and the people are amazing. And the level of collaboration among the businesses and community leaders. In some cases, these businesses are competing with each other, but people are still coming together in very collaborative ways to improve the community. “The key (to attracting talent) is to get them here. Honestly, that’s challenging, but once we do, we think we have a great story to tell here. When we are able to show what Kansas City has to offer, then the story resonates pretty easily and quickly. As I tell people with my own experience, you sort of had me at “hello.” … Thank goodness they are working on KCI; the other thing is a brand. Kansas City needs a brand it can rally around and create resonance throughout the country.”
Jeffrey Jones II
Ashley McClellan
Jeron Ravin CEO
Andy Sareyan
Daniel Beckley
Paul Kempinski