Ingram's October 2023

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20 in Their Twenties

20 in Their Twenties Assembly Report

What’s Top of Mind for the Emerging Work Force If extending our annual 20 in Their Twenties awards to a 16th year has taught us anything, it’s that Kansas City has no shortage of young, talented and promising executives and entrepreneurs. We see that again with the Class of 2023, most of whom were able to gather at Ingram’s on Oct. 16 to meet each other, engage in some informative discussion about issues of greatest relevance to their age cohort, and— now that they’re all past carding age—share an adult beverage. About that age cohort: We don’t necessarily agree with the social scientists who are trying to define recent generations in 15-year increments, but here we are. That renders the composition of those who are between 20 and 29 years old as about 60 percent Gen Z, and 40 percent late-stage Millennials. As a practical matter, though, the interests of each group largely coincide. That covers a lot of ground: among them, workplace dynamics in the post-pandem ic era, home ownership and affordability, features that draw young workers to this region, and concerns about what’s missing. While several of this year’s honorees were unable to attend the roundtable, all were invited to weigh in on those issues. What they had to say should be of note to civic leaders and business executives who might still be trying to understand how young workers might not see job and career the same way their predecessors did.

(front row, left to right) Rosie Hollis, Blue KC Ashley Crisafulli, Stinson LLP Juliana Alvey, CBIZ Lakyn Boltz, Sporting Kansas City Emilie Lei, Notre Dame de Sion High School Kamillia Scott, Dentons Kendal Schmidt, Spring Venture Group (back row, left to right) Christian Wead, Block Real Estate Services Brice Shamberger, CBRE Luke Eckley, Apollo Insurance Group Zach Fischer, Peoples National Bank John Faur, Newmark Zimmer Collin Thompson, Country Club Bank Jenna TeKolste, Commerce Bank Not Pictured: Nathan Brinker, NorthPoint Development Richard Chaves, Parking Company of America Kelsey Farwell, Commerce Bank