Ingram's April 2024

CLASS of 2024

CASSANDRA HIGGINBOTHAM Nothing about Cassandra Higgin botham’s career was gifted to her: She’s earned every bit of her success by

moving up the rank from that first grocery-store job when she was just 16 years old to district sales manager today for the region’s second-largest private company, Associated Wholesale Grocers. In a run of more than two decades through the food supply chain, “the industry has grown into a tre mendous passion of mine,” she says, and she stuck with it after earning a bachelor’s degree at KU. “Hard work, a positive attitude, and an eagerness to learn have led me to be offered numerous promotions over the years.” Among those were manager at the store level, leading a team of 600 employees, completing a year-long business-lead ership program that covered warehouse operations, pharmacy, perishables, store fessional achievement: Straight out of KU with a degree in finance, he came on board when the company was just two years old and has been The Data Guy throughout his run—at age 35— to chief analytics officer. His world embraces data mining, predictive anal- ytics, and statistical analysis, all factors that turn complex information into insights that help the leadership make better business decisions. He was tasked early on with starting and expanding the analytics team, which now at 40 members—bigger than SVG was when he started there. At each step up, he’s been the youngest to have held executive and C-suite roles in a company that now employs more than 1,000, and his work to implement machine

operations, and more. Then, after over- coming breast cancer, she says, “I started a fundraiser to help local cancer patients financially and to show them others care about them.” Just two years ago, she signed on with AWG in a specialist position with 100 assigned stores and has been promoted twice, including executive support manager. At the district level, with 34 member retailer stores, she helped the cooperative’s member stores improve sales, profits and operations and led two successful store openings. Her latest step up will entail projects working with the executive leadership team. The 39-year old has seen the possibilities, and she has a plan: “My goal,” she confidently states, “is to be the future CEO.” learning led to gains of more than 25 percent in margins and cash flow. After taking responsibility for managing the firm’s marketing budget and team, he says, “We achieved outstanding results through effective strategies: a reduction of over 10 percent in acquisition costs and a 15 percent surge in revenue,” leading to the second-most successful financial year ever. Away from work, “My personal life is vital to who I am,” he says. Along with wife Megan, “I am a proud father to two wonderful children, Lucy and Leo, who bring immense joy and purpose to my life.” To fulfill a core value of community engagement, he supports various charitable initiatives, organizing fundraisers and mentoring young professionals.

JOHNNY HILGERS The storyline of success at insurance brokerage Spring Venture Group is in lockstep with Johnny Hilgers’ pro

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April 2024

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