Ten Years In: What the Ingram’s 250 Means

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 2025

Anyone familiar with our content over the years knows we’re big on milestones here at Ingram’s.  There are good reasons for that.  In our coverage of business, for example, companies that go from startup to anniversaries of five years (about half won’t make it that far), a decade (70 percent failure rate), or 25 years (only 12 percent reach that span) … well, they stand for something. And that something changes as the companies age.

In the beginning, single-digit milestones represent survival. As the number grows, those dates stand for stability. Beyond a decade, they represent success. And into new generations of owners and customers, they define “legacy.”

Being in business that long is a silent but powerful promise: “We were here for your grandparents, we’re here for you, and we’ll be here for your grandchildren.” That is a competitive advantage that money cannot buy.

It works that way with individuals, too. That’s an especially relevant thought as we present our 10^th installment of the Ingram’s 250. We launched it in 2016 as a way to tell outsiders—the nation, the world—what Kansas City had going for it with its executive community.

When we finished the heated in-house deliberations for that first class—some furniture was broken mid-discussion, as I recall—we took a measure of pride in being able to share the stories, in some small way, of those 250 influential individuals.

And we do it again this year, but with important distinctions: As of 2025, more than two-thirds of the original 250 are not in the pages that follow this. Retirement, relocation, even death itself have wrought their changes in the ranks of this region’s power players of commerce. From that original class, only 82 (not quite 33 percent), made it into this year’s 250.

That means something, too. The stability within that core group sends a message to the rest of the region: Many of the corporate pillars in these parts are still in place today. Their contributions to business, civic and philanthropic life boost our morale, foster a sense of shared accomplishment, and build momentum for continuing growth.

Their endurance, and that of their companies, tells us what has worked, what didn’t, and through their observations, what can be improved for the next phase—both within their own organizations, and outside of them.

Their continuing presence creates a sense of credibility and trust—with their employees, with vendors, clients and customers, with all of us who share residency here. They send a signal that this is a good place to be, to live, to raise a family, to make a career. They’re in it for the long haul.

And by virtue of their stability and business success, they help attract investment that produces broader blessings. From their experiences, and those of their organizations, outsiders can come to see that this region has the essential players to withstand recessions, inflation, booms and busts.  Their longevity is prima facie evidence that their companies—heck, even their leadership itself—are not merely fads. They have mastered the art of adaptation while holding onto core values.

So, no, the Ingram’s 250 is not merely about chest-thumping for those who made the field. It’s about success—what it looks like at the organizational level, what it means to those touched by it.

These businesses, and the men and women who lead them, often become woven into the fabric of this community. They are pillars of local employment, supporters of community events, and living history. Their closure would be seen as a community loss, not just a business failure.

We’re incredibly humbled to be able to connect with so many talented leaders within such an incredible range of business sectors—health care, the law, insurance, construction, animal sciences, higher education, agribusiness, advanced manufacturing and many more. To be able to tap into their thought leadership and insights on everything from economic trends to pressing civic agenda items of the day.

Their stories offer inspiration for us to do precisely what they do every day: Go to work, do your best, make a difference.

We hope the grace from that inspiration shines on all of you, as well.