Ingrams September 2023

Mark Dohnalek PRESIDENT/CEO, PIVOT INTERNATIONAL

Mark Donovan PRESIDENT, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Mark Dohnalek is excited about the recent Pivot performance in pro viding collaborative product development, design, and manufacturing services to companies worldwide. What’s the headline? “Being able to achieve a total tracking of highly volatile inflation by capturing those challenges and holding proper pricing/margin controls,” he said. He added, “Additionally, we set a record for new products designed that transitioned into manufacturing, which totaled 14 new launches.”

Mark Donovan’s day job centers on pro football operations, but he sure has some impressive overnight guests from the world of music. Just this summer, it was Taylor Swift in July, then Billy Joel and Ste vie Nicks in August, with Beyonce on tap this month. All have been drawn to the stage at Arrowhead Stadium, where Donovan oversees the business side of the NFL champions. His management of the physical assets and the brand drives revenues for the team.

COLLEGE: B.S., Economic, Cornell University; MBA, Kellogg School of Business, Northwestern University RECESSION ODDS: “I would say we’ll modestly tip into a slight recession in late Q2 or early Q3, but come out of it after two quarters, which is the shortest to still be able to technically define it as a reces sion. All bets are off if the Fed keeps raising; if they do, risks climb higher for more severe and longer.” ON THE NEW KCI: “It’s outstanding. Could add a few other types of food, although I love BBQ. Could use one or two other options. However, very impressed. Without question, it was criminal how far behind we were, at least 15 years, and the cost of that was tremendous to the city fundamentally.” SALUTING A MENTOR: “I regard one individual as that person. The key trait is that business is typically broken down into a few key drivers—focus on those, and all other details will fall into place. That was the best advice I received. Far too often, typically in large organizations, measurements get too elaborate, and key tractions get lost in all the noise.” MOST-ADMIRED: “I would say, years ago, when Lee Iacocca turned around Chrysler in the 1980s during tremendously difficult circumstances.

COLLEGE: B.S., Organizational Behavior and Management/Political Science, Brown University MORE TO COME: Weekend musical acts are one thing, but Donovan is also tasked with prepping the crown jewel of Kansas City sports infrastructure for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Arrowhead will share host-city playing field duties with Children’s Mercy Park when teams from around the world show up to compete. The World Cup prep by itself is expected to cost $50 million. CONSTANT UPKEEP: Gee, has it really been, what—13 years since the $375 million renovation at Arrowhead? It sure has, which means Donovan is hip-deep in the team’s efforts to chart the next iteration of life there. One consideration: How to leverage potential space that might be freed up if the next-door neighbors at Kauffman Stadium bolt for a Downtown venue. CENTER STAGE: Donovan was key in securing and executing KC’s host-city efforts for the 2023 NFL Draft. The event drew a head-count of 312,000 visitors, with a $164.3 mil. economic impact for the region.

Case Dorman OWNER, FIORELLA’S JACK STACK BARBECUE

Dan Duffy CEO, UNITED REAL ESTATE GROUP

Case Dorman cites Jack Fiorella—the “Jack” of “Jack Stack”—as a great mentor who “really instilled in me the need for a passion for excellence and the importance of continuous improvement.” Of course, he was more than that—Fiorella was Dorman’s father-in-law. We’re certain those lessons came into play as Dorman and company navigat ed recent times. Over the past year, Dorman says, he’s proud of “Find ing our new normal post-Covid and continuing to add new business.”

One of the rare exceptions in business who gets it with growth funda mentals—really gets it—is Dan Duffy. Master your space, he has fre quently said, then look around you and see what spaces are touching yours: Those are your opportunities. He’s lived out that philosophy by turning United into a holding company with divisions in single-family residential, country estates and rural properties, realty IT services, relocation services, and more.

RECESSION ODDS: “I think that we are already seeing an economic slowdown in retail.” KC’S NEXT BIG THING: “The Royals building a Downtown stadium will be huge for the city.” ON THE NEW KCI: “The airport is a huge improvement. How could it not be?” MORNING READ: “ Conversations with God .” DREAM CHARITY MISSION: “Feeding and caring for the least fortunate in Kansas City. This is currently our giving mission, and we work through many great groups in town to support their efforts.” EMPLOYEES: Currently 900, he says, and “we have growth plans for 2024 that include adding new team members.”

2022 REVENUES: $563.66 million COLLEGE: BBA, Indiana University; MBA, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University BOOM: Last year, United’s agents and team produced an astonishing $35 billion in sales. Consider that for a moment, especially in light of where residential home-buying has gone since the Fed started raising rates in early 2022. HIGHER AND HIGHER: That performance pushed United up to No. 6 among the nation’s largest real estate brokerages. STRATEGIC MOVE: Helping drive United’s numbers was last year’s acquisition of Platinum Realty, which, in a 15-year span, went from concept to becoming the region’s second-largest residential realty firm in terms of sales volume.

Rachel Dwiggins MANAGING PARTNER KANSAS CITY, FORVIS

Warren Erdman EXECUTIVE ADVISOR/STRATEGIC PROJECTS, CPKC

Rachel Dwiggins reports good news since the 2022 merger that created FORVIS. “At the end of our first year as FORVIS,” she said, “we experienced significant growth, a decrease in our turnover rate, and grew our head count across the firm by almost 600 people.” In addition to her significant professional accomplishments in her field, she is a leader in the company’s DEI efforts.

Even when the company was sold, there’s no letting loose of what Warren Erdman brings to a rail-shipping enterprise. The longtime government-relations executive with Kansas City Southern is one of a handful from those leadership ranks to carry over with the newly formed Canadian Pacific Kansas City, and for good reason: He has lived in the nexus of transportation, business, and public policy for decades.

KC’S NEXT BIG THING: “We hosted a successful NFL Draft and have the World Cup to look forward to—maybe next is the Super Bowl?” ON THE NEW KCI: “I’ve used it multiple times and think it is wonderful. We’ve been able to host more people from around our firm in Kansas City, and all have commented on how great the new airport is.” SALUTING MENTORS: “I have had too many mentors to name, and each one has taught me something different. I think it is important to learn from everyone who crosses your path in a meaningful way. Sometimes you learn ways to be better or think differently, and sometimes you learn what not to do.” LEADERSHIP HIRE PRIORITIES: “A positive attitude and the ability to see the bigger picture and pivot when necessary.” EMPLOYEES: “We have close to 6,000 firmwide and about 300 here in Kansas City,” she says, adding: “We plan to grow our staff levels over the next year.”

COLLEGE: B.A., Westminster College RESPECT: The plaudits come locally and nationally. Most recently, Erdman was named the 2022 Kansas City’s Idealist of the Year by City Year, and on a national scale, he’s been tabbed as one of the 10 most influential people in the railroad industry by Railway Age magazine. OFF THE CLOCK: When he’s not advocating for his employer, you might find Erdman taking a seat with the executive committee and board of directors of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission, or Kansas City’s Downtown Council. CAREER PATH: With KC Southern, Erdman was the longtime executive vice president for administra tion and corporate affairs, meaning he had frequent flyer miles to Washington and would have been well-served with his own dedicated lane on Interstate 70 to Jefferson City. BEFORE RIDING THE RAILS: Erdman previously was chief of staff for Sen. Kit Bond, and his Jeff City service included stints for Gov. John Ashcroft, before the U.S. Senate called Bond.

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I n g r am ’ s

September 2023

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