Ingrams September 2023

Smitty Belcher CEO, P1 GROUP

Caroline Belmont GLOBAL INNOVATION CHIEF, BIV

P1 handled a lot of facility systems for customers over the past year, but Smitty Belcher says the big highlight happened right at headquarters. “P1 had to transition to a new Enterprise Resource Planning accounting system while still hitting all targets on clos ing our financials in a timely fashion,” he says. “As anyone can attest, disruptions to accounting can cause a ripple of challenges. It wasn’t easy, but our team worked together to make it happen.”

Her title is a long one, which befits someone with a very big set of duties: Caroline Belmont is head of U.S. Global Innovation and U.S. Regulatory Affairs for Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, the global pharmaceutical giant with a major operations plant in St. Joseph. She entered the profession in 1990 and has done two stints with BIV, the current one dating back to 2003. The company is a key player in the regional Animal Health Corridor.

2022 REVENUES: $393 million COLLEGE: B.S., MBA, University of Toledo RECESSION: “Regionally, we have seen a strong construction market recently, and I expect the construc- tion market to stay strong through the next two years. However, there is a possibility of a slight recession.” NEXT BIG THING: “One of the biggest things on the minds of Kansas Citians is the relocation of the Royals baseball stadium. The location choice will affect a lot of people and associated businesses.” MENTOR: “I had a trade foreman teach me that how you treat people and the culture you establish is far more important than individual skill. He taught me to treat everyone I work with as an equal and don’t underestimate the value of a company culture that makes people WANT to come to work every day.” MORNING READ: “I don’t typically start my morning off reading. Weather permitting, I enjoy sitting out back to gather my thoughts and think about what I am thankful for and what I have to look forward to that day.” LEADERSHIP: “Empathy. A leader with high EQ—emotional intelligence—goes far in all aspects of business.

COLLEGE: B.S., Agricultural Biochemistry & Nutrition, Newcastle University ROLE MODEL: Belmont was one of 12 women featured earlier this year in a book called Hidden Lives of Women in STEM. “I shared my story so that my experiences will act as a roadmap for other women to pursue and stay in STEM careers,” she says. WORK-RELATED PASSION: “One of my most favorite activities each year is speaking to and learning from veterinary students who participated in Boehringer Ingelheim’s Veterinary Scholars Program,” Belmont writes. “This year, more than 550 students presented their summer’s work in poster sessions. These students will soon be on the front lines of monitoring and protecting animals and humans from tomorrow’s emerging dis eases, and it is so exciting and rewarding to experience the dedication and passion they bring to their work!” ABOUT BIV: It’s not just an animal health operation; this German powerhouse, founded in 1885 and family- owned, has more than 53,000 employees in 130 markets and is a major player in human pharmaceutical R&D.

Brad Bergman CHAIRMAN/CEO, MTC HOLDING CORP.

Bill Berkley PRESIDENT/CEO, TENSION CORP.

What, exactly, can Brad Bergman not do? Over the course of a 30-year career, he’s done plenty. He currently leads a holding company with eight affiliated enterprises managing trust-related activities; he has worked as a commercial banker, he’s been a law firm partner, and he’s even tak en a turn teaching law classes. He knows his way around a vineyard, too (more on that in a moment). MTC’s holdings collectively advise clients from the educational, health-care, and historical-preservation spheres.

See if this ever happens again: One family with three members to be recognized as Kansas Citian of the Year by the area’s Chamber of Com merce? Bill Berkley completed the family trifecta last fall, following in the footsteps of his father, Bert (who won in 1971), and cousin, Dick (also a former mayor of Kansas City, 1994). Since 1988, he’s led fam ily-owned Tension Corp.’s growth into a global manufacturing concern. Bill represents the fourth generation of a company founded here in 1886.

COLLEGE: B.S., Illinois State; J.D., Washburn University School of Law CHEERS!: Bergman’s other passion? He’s a vintner. Since 2018, Bergman and fellow Kansas Citian Doug Frost have operated Echolands Winery in Washington State’s Walla Walla Valley. Those vines produce Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Grenache varietals. OFF THE CLOCK: In addition to being a member of the Kansas City Estate Planning Society, Bergman sits on the board of the Johnson County Community College Foundation (he previously served as chairman) and on the board of trustees for the National World War I Museum. For his contributions to JCCC, the former Carlsen Center on campus was renamed The Midwest Trust Center. NOT YOUR TYPICAL HOBBYIST: Long before wine-making became a prime interest, Bergman had a propensity for collecting … cast-iron soldiers.

2022 REVENUES: $303.5 million COLLEGE: B.A., Colorado College; MBA, Tuck School of Bus, Dartmouth SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT: “Continued growth and expansion of our products and services in our en velope and print, and packaging and automation divisions.” RECESSION ODDS: “The odds of a recession have been meaningfully reduced, though it is still a challenging economic environment.” KC’S NEXT BIG THING: “Deeper commitment and expansion of Early Childhood Education in the region.” ON THE NEW KCI: “A great gateway to Kansas City, making a wonderful first and last impression of our region, and a pleasure to travel in and out of.” EMPLOYEES: Currently at 950, with plans to “stay at roughly the same level.” GLOBAL FOOTPRINT: With nearly 30 U.S. locations and production facilities in both China and Tai wan, Tension is one of the world’s largest producers of envelopes, printed products, equipment and services. Its facilities crank out envelopes by the billions each year.

Marty Bicknell PRESIDENT/CEO, MARINER WEALTH ADVISORS

Kenneth Block MANAGING PRINCIPAL, BLOCK REAL ESTATE SERVICES Kenneth Block and his team have made a lot happen over the past year and a half. They’ve completed some significant real estate proj ects, including Residences at Galleria at 112th & Nall, The Clearing at 128 multifamily project, CityPlace Corporate Centre IV for the expansion of WellSky, and the relocation of IMA Life Insurance. In addition, they’ve promoted a significant number of the company’s high achievers.

The distinction between assets under management and assets under advisement is slightly more than semantic; what really matters is the punch Marty Bicknell’s team packs in wealth management, and thanks to a continuing series of acquisitions, that punch now tops $110 billion. And it’s going to get stronger: Bicknell has already declared that, by 2027, the ranks of advisers he has on staff will swell from 1,450 to 5,000. Doing the math suggests an AUM/AUA of close to $350 million by then.

COLLEGE: B.S., Political Science, Pittsburg State University FAMILY TRADITION: The Bicknell family is no stranger to entrepreneurship; Marty’s dad, Gene, founded a Pittsburg-based company that would go on to become the nation’s largest Pizza Hut franchisee. KEEPING IT SIMPLE: Bicknell’s Ironclad Law of Success incorporates three commandments: “Cli ents first; no exception. Associates second. Shareholders last.” HIGH PRAISE: For seven straight years, starting in 2016, Barron’s magazine has included Mariner among the nation’s top five wealth-management firms. ON A TEAR: Fewer than a dozen Kansas City-area firms have a total AUM of $8 billion; in just one acquisition alone last year, Bicknell added that much to Mariner’s total by snapping up Heber Fuger Wendin Investment Advisors of Bloomfield Hills, Mich. After making nine acquisitions in 2022, Mariner already has added more than $523 billion to its AUM with additional pickups this year.

RECESSION ODDS: “For the last year and a half, there has been evidence that a recession is on the horizon. The Federal Reserve is implementing numerous techniques to ‘stick’ a soft landing and avoid a prolonged recession. However, enormous spending at the Federal Government level continues to cause record-breaking recession, and as they attempt to lower inflation, the recession risk rises and becomes more likely. I feel we have at least a 60 percent chance of recession in 2024, but we also have a continuing risk of high inflation.” NEXT BIG THING?: “Of course, the relocation of the Kansas City Royals baseball stadium. That decision will determine the future of KC in terms of how we and others view our city, and in particular, how we view a baseball stadium as part of a creative downtown urban setting. Equally exciting, is the opening of KC Current stadium in Spring 2024, becoming the first dedicated women’s soccer stadium in the country. And, of course, the development potential around both stadiums is extremely exciting.” MENTORS: “Allen J. Block was my main mentor in the early stages of my career. But I’ve had so many others that have been long-time investors, business associates, and friends, all of which have provided me with knowledge, hands-on experience, and life experiences, all of which gave me skills to be a better leader.

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September 2023

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