Ingrams September 2023

Brad Hewlett DEALER PRINCIPAL, BOB ALLEN FORD

Karen Hogan VICE PRESIDENT/GENERAL MANAGER, TURNER CONSTRUCTION CO. It’s “grow time” at Turner Construction. Says Karen Hogan: “Over the past year, we have almost doubled our Turner staff in Kansas City. We knew it was going to be imperative to our success as a company that we maintain our unique culture.” She added, “This was a challenge with such rapid growth, but we always kept that goal at the forefront with every hire and through onboarding and beyond. I’m proud to say that, while we are actively working on this goal daily, we have achieved it.”

Good times are rolling for Brad Hewlett and the team at Bob Allen Ford, where they’re in the process of building two new service facilities, and the dealership’s spin-off enterprise, City Rent a Truck, which has expanding operations to include Houston, Texas, and another location to be named in the com ing weeks.

NEXT BIG THING FOR KC: “Full-Time sports team in T-Mobile Center.” ON THE NEW KCI: “The airport is great. The convenience of the old airport with all the new amenities.” SALUTING A MENTOR: “My father, Bob Hewlett, taught me to work hard, stay positive and lead by example.” DREAM CHARITY MISSION: “Anything that supports children. My wife Rebecca is on the board of Alex’s Lemonade Stand, which supports childhood cancer.” EMPLOYEES: “Employee headcount is a little over 200. We plan to hire over the next year. We are currently expanding our service organization. We are building a fleet center and a quick lane. We are adding 30 service bays. We will be hiring technicians and support staff.”

2022 KC MARKET REVENUES: $517 million RECESSION ODDS: “In KC, not very likely. We have a lot of great development and opportunities in the forecast.” KC’S NEXT BIG THING: “New Downtown baseball of course!” ON THE NEW KCI: “The new KCI is a welcomed addition to Kansas City. What a great way to showcase all the things Kansas City has to offer to people upon arrival.” BEST BUSINESS BOOK: “ What Got You Here Won’t Get You There , by Marshall Goldsmith.” LEADERSHIP HIRE TRAITS: “Humility and agility.” EMPLOYEES: “225,” she says, and “over the coming year, we are actively hiring for all levels and departments.”

Paul Holewinski PRESIDENT/CEO, DICKINSON FINANCIAL CORP/ACADEMY BANK Academy Bank is one of the region’s 20 largest in terms of assets, but it’s just one piece of the financial-services enterprise under the watch of Paul Holewinski. The other is Armed Forces Bank—also a regional leader—and both operate under the corporate umbrella of Dickinson Financial Group. Together, they pack a $3.7 billion punch with their combined assets. DFC is one of the few banking enterprises of that scale that remains family-owned.

Carlos Holwell PLANT MANAGER, FORD MOTOR CO.

If you think you’ve got a full plate, just be grateful you’re not dealing with the month Carlos Holwell has been having. The go-to guy for Ford Motor Co. spent a fair chunk of September addressing the po tential that more than 7,000 members will walk off the assembly line in an increasingly heated fight between the United Auto Workers and company leadership over contract negotiations.

COLLEGE: BBA, University of Central Missouri TITANS OF TRUCKS: The Claycomo assembly plant is one of Ford’s most productive. Workers there produce the Ford 150-series pickup truck, the most popular vehicle in the country, as well as Ford Transit work vans in both gas-powered and electric configurations. PAYROLL PULL: One reason other business figures are eyeing developments in the Ford union nego tiations is because of the trickle-down impact of having 6,900 union workers with reduced incomes while they might be out, receiving only reduced strike benefits from the UAW. MORE UPGRADES: Ford has invested well north of $1 billion in the Claycomo plant over the past decade, much of it related to moving production of the Escort crossover SUV to another location to accommodate the introduction of the Transit lines.

B.S. Finance, Saint Louis Univ; J.D., MBA, Saint Louis Univ/SLU School of Law; Colorado School of Banking LENDING TRENDS: “For the last couple of months, we’ve seen a downturn in demand especially in commercial real estate,” Holewinski said earlier this year. “I think the reasons are fast-rising rates and a really unprecedented number of rate hikes. Up to 525 basis points, if I’m doing the math.” CRE CONCERNS: “The commercial real-estate deals just aren’t penciling as they did a year ago. So, it takes more equity to get projects done. Maybe not as many willing buyers and sellers. I think that certainly has contributed to the downturn.” CONSERVATIVE: “We’ve been insulated from peaks and valleys; things just don’t go up or down as much as they do on the coasts. So that has been an impact on how we approach our business. We don’t ramp up or down really too quickly, both in good times and bad. It keeps us more of an even keel. I think we tend to focus on operations and efficiencies, generally more than banks outside of KC.”

Sam Huenergardt CEO, ADVENTHEALTH MID-AMERICA REGION

Clark Hunt CHAIRMAN/CEO, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

When Sam Huenergardt talks about a time of building for his orga nization, he means it. “In the last year, we broke ground on our new AdventHealth Shawnee Mission Cancer Institute, opening Summer 2024,” he said, “and our new hospital, AdventHealth Lenexa City Center, opening Spring 2025.” So, it’s no wonder he responded to our question about staffing plans with, “Add, and fast!”

His father set standards of excellence in NFL ownership. Clark Hunt is eclipsing even those. February’s thrilling Super Bowl LVII victory over the Philadelphia Eagles was the younger Hunt’s second Lombardi Trophy, so he has doubled up on Lamar’s 1970 title. It was also the Chiefs third trip to the big game in four years, one more than the club’s founder enjoyed. By any statistical measure, the team’s on-field suc cess over the past decade outshines any other period in Chiefs history.

ON AN UPCOMING RECESSION: “I thought it was likely we’d have entered a recession by now, but things seem to be stabilizing. Still a possibility that the business community is preparing for.” WHAT NEXT FOR KC: “As a lifelong Royals fan, I’m in support of a downtown Royals Sports District! I’d also like to see us invest more in the technology innovation talent we have here in KC.” ON THE NEW KCI: “I love the new KCI. Highlights are the glass jetways, but that comes second to the new Delta Sky Club!” SALUTING A MENTOR: “Pete Weber, an old boss, showed me a very candid, transparent, and authentic leadership style. Speak the truth and be authentic!” MORNING READING: “Wordle gets my mind awake.” LEADERSHIP: “I want to know what is their motivation for being in leadership. That often is a great way to gain insight into the kind of leader they will be. I also want someone who is driven to take action.” CURRENT EMPLOYEE HEADCOUNT: “Almost 4,000 in Kansas.”

COLLEGE: B.A., Business Administration/Finance, Southern Methodist University QUOTABLE: After winning it all in 2020—half a century after his father’s team did it—but falling short in 2021 and 2022, Hunt offered this bit of humility in addressing the victory parade hordes: “I’m glad,” he said, “it didn’t take another 50 years.” CHECK THE RECORD: The law of averages catches up with almost every sports franchise over the course of time, and the Chiefs, in fact, had a winning percentage of .522 before Hunt became CEO in 2010. Since then? They’re 64.8 percent, nearly two out of three in the win column. The Chiefs have increased their winning percentage to 75% over the last three seasons. Much of the credit goes to Hunt’s hiring acumen, especially bringing Andy Reid on as head coach.

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September 2023

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