Ingram's May 2024

BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF KANSAS Year Founded: 1942 Headquarters: Topeka, Kan. Sector: Insurance Number of Employees: 1,757

BLUE KC Year Founded: 1938 Headquarters: Kansas City, Mo. Sector: Insurance Number of Employees: 1,531

In all but two counties in the Sunflower State, the first name in health insurance is Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Topeka. With more than 925,000 Kansans covered, this non profit is the largest insurer in the state, offering plans for individuals, employers and services for health-care providers. “We were started by providers in 1942,” says Matt All, the current president and CEO. “Providers who wanted to develop a health-care system where members could focus on getting the care they need without going bankrupt.” Reflective of the changes in health-care delivery in more than 80 years since its inception, BCBSKS covers not just hands-on provider care, but dental services, prescription drugs, mental health and wellness-management services that behavioral health, disease management, workplace wellness, telehealth and other services, and offers disability and travel-insurance plans, as well as traditional Medicare coverage.

The roots go back to 1938, but the company we know today as Blue KC was formed in 1983 with the union of Blue Cross of Kansas City and the separate entity formed in 1943, Blue Shield of Kansas City. That set the stage for a health-insurance heavyweight—the not-for-profit Blue KC easily outranks all other challengers, including the biggest for-profit companies, in the number of clients served and revenues in the Kansas City market. Yes, it’s a major player in a vital business sector, but its influence goes well beyond being a major employer (a staff of more than 1,530); it’s also a vital presence in the Downtown business district, having recently leased headquarters space in the new, 18-story 1400KC tower. The history of its corporate leadership includes Tom Bowser, David Gentile, Danette Wilson and, since 2019, the first woman to hold the role of president and CEO, Erin Stucky.

BANK OF AMERICA Year Founded: 1847 Boatmen’s Bank /

BURNS & MCDONNELL Year Founded: 1898

1886 First National Bank of Kansas City

Headquarters: St. Louis / Kansas City Sector: Financial Services Number of Employees: 212,000

Headquarters: Kansas City, Mo. Sector: Engineering/Design/Build Number of Employees: 15,900

Since its predecessor banks first opened doors over 200 years ago, many banks have merged to become Bank of America as it is known today. At its zenith, St. Louis-based Boatmen’s Bank wasn’t just the biggest bank in Missouri, it was the 30th largest in the nation. Its acquisition of First National Bank of Kansas City in 1985 had given it a foothold on the western side of the state. So, it was a very big deal when Charlotte-based NationsBank came calling in 1996 with a $9.5 billion buyout. Continuing westward, NationsBank in 1998 acquired California-based Bank of America, ultimately taking the name for the combined company. Today Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. Throughout its history, the bank has worked to provide the resources that have helped make financial opportunity a reality for all. It has remained exceedingly local supporting impactful sponsorships and providing charitable funding that helps make Kansas City a great place to live and work.

Even after 125 years, Kansas City’s biggest engineering/ construction/design firm is still mighty spry: It has more than doubled staffing levels in the past six years and now boasts 5,000 employees in the Kansas City area. Last year it produced record revenues of $7.4 billion for a company that is also a model corporate citizen in markets across a global footprint. It’s a model employer, as well: 100 percent employee-owned. Burns & Mac is a full-service engineering firm specializing in infrastructure at every level: aviation, industrial, data centers, power, telecom, transportation, water, and now an emerging power in business analytics and consulting. One of the most significant developments in firm history came when CEO Dave Ruf led the effort with board members to buy the firm from Armco Steel, then charted a course for the ESOP. He’s been succeeded by a high-power lineup of Greg Graves, Ray Kowalik and since January of this year, Leslie Duke, the first woman in the CEO’s chair.

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May 2024

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