Ingram’s September 2022

Ashley McClellan PRESIDENT/CEO, RESEARCH MEDICAL CENTER

Laura McConnell Perin CEO, LABCONCO

She’s not just influential; she’s a bridge between generations: Ashley McClellan pulls off the rare feat of earning a spot on the Ingram’s 250 in the same year she was included in our 40 Under Forty awards for rising young executives. A native of Overland Park, she runs the largest medical center for the company with the largest market share—measured by hospital beds—in the Kansas City region, HCA Midwest Health.

At the helm of a nearly century-old Kansas City company that produces the vital infrastructure of research, Laura McConnell Perin says two of the main traits she brings to that leadership task are persistence and discipline. She became CEO there after more than 20 years in sales and managerial roles in the lab- supply space. The south Kansas City company manufactures a wide range of sophisticated laboratory equipment.

COLLEGE: B.A., Spanish, MBA/MHA, Texas Woman’s University FLAGSHIP DUTIES: McClellan returned to this market in 2019 after previously leading the 400 bed Woman’s Hospital of Texas. Research is half again larger, just shy of 600 beds, and admits more than 20,000 patients each year, generating north of $3 billion in annual revenue. IMPACT: From its campus east of Brookside, Research plays a key role in providing health care services within the urban core. It also has key programs in organ transplantation and the treat ment of stroke and cardiovascular diseases. The hospital counts more than 600 physicians and 600 nurses among its providers. HONORS: The American College of Healthcare Executives, which counts McClellan as one of its fellows, recognized her in 2018 with its Robert S. Hudgens Memorial Award for young health care executive of the year.

COLLEGE: B.S., Biology, and B.A., dance, Denison University BEFORE SALES: Perin, in an earlier phase of her career exercised, her passion for ballet, dancing professionally in Chicago. AT LABCONCO: Her late father had been the long-time chief executive at the company, and she joined its board in 2016. LEARNING EARLY: Board service with the company was not her introduction to it; even as a child, she would accompany Dad to the office on weekend mornings, and the business was frequently a topic of family dinner conversations. “Every dinner,” she once told us, “was an executive MBA session in the McConnell household.” HONORS: Her company ranked No. 3 last year on Ingram’s list of the Top Women-Owned Businesses in the Kansas City region, and she was one of our 50 Kansans You Should Know in 2021.

Madeleine McDonough CHAIR, SHOOK, HARDY & BACON

Marc McEver MANAGING PRINCIPAL, OLATHE FORD

Now firmly fixed in her second five-year term as chair of the big gest firm—by lawyer count—in the Kansas City region, Madeleine McDonough commands a small legal army of 538 lawyers in 18 lo cations nationwide. She’s been with the firm for 32 years, working her way up from associate in the pharmaceutical/medical-device practice to chairing or co-chairing three separate practice groups before taking the helm.

Olathe Ford started years ago with 30 people and has grown to more than 300. And Marc McEver credits every one of them with helping the dealership win the title of #1 Commercial Dealer in America for Ford Motor Company over the past year. McEver’s pride in his team is obvious when addressing their COVID response: “Even when some of our people could not even sleep in their normal beds at night, they kept coming in. We will be forever grateful.”

COLLEGE: B.S., UMKC School of Pharmacy; J.D., University of Kansas School of Law; LLM, Global Health Law, Georgetown University Law Center SUBJECT-MATTER: McDonough is a pharmacist by training, and before law, she was a clinical pharmacist at a teaching and research hospital. She has applied that knowledge to serve corpora tions in the pharmaceutical, animal health, medical device, food, cosmetics, and beverage sectors. BROAD CLIENT BASE: Each of the world’s 10 biggest pharmaceutical companies worldwide has come calling on Shook for legal services at some point, in large part because of McDonough’s work in developing strong practice groups. HONORS: She previously won the Women, Influence & Power in Law Award for Innovative Leader ship from Corporate Counsel/In-House Counsel magazine, and she was in the inaugural class of the National Law Journal’s list of the nation’s Top 50 Litigation Trailblazers & Pioneers.

ON TALENT: “We have enhanced our benefits package in a few ways, including the cost of health insurance and PTO. Like everyone, we raised our starting pay for ALL positions some as much as 20 percent.” ON COVID CHALLENGES: “We made a lot of internal operational changes, and some are still in place today. The Zoom Room has to be considered the biggest of all. It is truly amazing how many we have daily.” KC’S NEXT BIG THING: “Landing the Panasonic plant has to be at the top of the list. This is huge for the entire area!!! Congrats to all the people involved in this effort.” CHIEFS PREDICTION: “I, as much as anyone, hope I am wrong, but given the past four years and the new, improved competition, I think it’s going to be very tough. 10 and 7.”

Mike Merriman PRESIDENT, FINANCIAL HOLDING CORP.

Trey Meyer PRESIDENT, MIDWAY FORD TRUCK CENTER

With nearly $8 billion in assets, Americo Life is one of the larg est independent, privately held insurance groups in the United States. It boasts $6.0 billion in assets, close to 660,000 insurance policies under administration, and more than $43.2 billion of life insurance in force. Big? You bet. But it’s just one piece of the Financial Holding Corp. empire controlled by the Merriman family, with Michael Merriman holding the largest ownership interest.

Trey Meyer learned about accountability the hard way—in high school geometry. “I hadn’t done the required homework” throughout the semester, and the impact of that course grade on his GPA was significant. He learned, he said, “an invaluable life lesson about personal responsibility. I still reflect on that lesson at times.” It seems to be working: Midway is one of the nation’s most successful Ford dealerships.

COLLEGE: B.A., Business Administration, Southern Methodist University BROAD REACH: Americo Life is the parent of various insurance companies and an affiliate list that includes Great Southern, United Fidelity, National Farmers Union, and Investors Life Insur ance Co. of North America. Also part of the Financial Holding family are Americo Services and Americo Investment Advisors. RESPECT: Ratings agency A.M. Best scores Americo with a high-performance “A” rating. SPREADING THE WEALTH: Americo has a long list of philanthropic organizations it supports in the Kansas City Area, including Habitat for Humanity, The United Way, the Salvation Army Angel Tree project, the Kansas City Corporate Challenge, Ronald McDonald House, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Harvester’s-The Community Food Network, and the American Cancer Society.

CHILDHOOD HEROES: “I was a STEM kid, so my heroes were technology innovators (Edison, Bell, Gates, etc.).” PET PERSON?: “I am a dog person. Cats just seem untrustworthy.” ON INEQUITY: “My parents taught me that I could accomplish anything I wanted. That belief carried me through college and into my career. Somewhere along the way, I noticed others who did not have such a fortunate upbringing. Due to no fault of their own, they struggled—not due to a lack of intelligence or creativity, but rather due to a lack of self-confidence and opportunity. I think that is when I started realizing life wasn’t fair.” HOWWOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?: “Even—meaning I do my best to maintain a positive, optimistic, and productive mental state. A wise person once told me to only get angry if it serves my purpose. I think my friends might agree.” SOURCES OF PRIDE: “I am most proud of my two sons. Both Eagle Scouts.”

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September 2022

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