Ingram's October 2022

Drawing on a network of thousands of corporate leadership contacts, Ingram’s solicits nominations each year for 20 in Their Twenties. We ask them to identify high achievers who demonstrate attributes of entrepreneurship in their work. Here are a score of promising young executives seen as outstanding examples of that.

THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS HAS ALREADY ARRIVED

twenties in their

In 2008, Ingram’s looked at emerging in Kansas City business and determined that young entre preneurs and business executives weren’t getting the credit for superior achievement. Thus was born 20 in Their Twenties. It was fair to ask after that first class whether enough critical mass existed in that age cohort to sustain this recognition on an annual basis. Now, 15 classes into the project, it’s fair to say that these high achievers have not disappointed. The oldest members of that first class were members of Generation X, who are now in their mid-40s, and many of their names will be familiar to those who know Kansas City’s business scene. The wheels of time keep turning, and many of the Millennial generation have moved into their 30s. Already, we’re seeing members of Generation Z, the Zoomers, stepping in to fill the achievement void. And as you’re about to read, their accomplishments take a back seat to none who came before them.

by Dennis Boone

ERIC BUCKELS DIMENSIONAL INNOVATIONS

JASON CHASE MCCARTHY BUILDING COMPANIES

The vision at Dimensional Innovations, says Eric Buckels, “is to design and build the world’s best experiences.” He does that by helping identify, develop and close new projects for the Overland Park company: Since 2019, he has developed $55 million in potential opportunities and closed $6.4 million in project work.

Jason Chase grew up absorbing the con- cepts of ground-up construction from his father, who ran a development company. Even as a kid, the 26-year-old pre-construction manager for McCarthy BuildingCompanies says, hewas “curious and naïve about everything required to take an empty lot and transform it into

an integral part of the community.” But it was his first taste of entrepreneurship, he says, and it set the stage for what was to come, even if working for one of the state’s largest general contractors. “To me,” Chase says, “entrepreneurship means using creativity and a mindset of continuous improvement to create new opportunities in work you are passionate about to make a difference in your community.” That has paid off during his four years at McCarthy with a pair of promotions and work on more than 200 construction projects from New Mexico to New York, often in a lead role. Those projects ranged in construction value from $50,000 to more than $100 million.

Just for starters, you’ll find his fingerprints on more than $3 million worth of visitor experience, immersive technology, and museum space at the new single-terming Kansas City International Airport, the new practice facility and coming stadium for the Kansas City Current, and the Durham Bulls Museum—yes, for the team made famous in the Kevin Costner ’80s classic—with a $500,000 project to tell the history of the team, the sport, the movie, and the local community. Buckels, 26 this month, is an account director who also has led the improvement of DI’s prospecting strategy, integrated a newpros- pecting technology stack, and trained new sellers on the team.

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I n g r a m ’ s

Kansas City’s Business Media

October 2022