Ingrams September 2023

Philip Sarnecki CEO/MANAGING PARTNER, RPS FINANCIAL GROUP

Edward Schatz, Jr. FOUNDER/CEO, HEARTLAND, LLC

A highlight of the past year, says Philip Sarnecki, is that his finan cial-services firm was listed among Ingram’s Best Companies to Work For. As someone who most definitely keeps a finger on the nation’s economic pulse, he has an interesting take on where the na tion’s economy currently sits: “I think we’ve been in a mild recession for probably 18 months,” he says.

Before there was the “green” industry we’re familiar with today, Ed ward Schatz was knee-deep in the original stuff: The kind that grows. His Heartland, LLC is an emerging force in commercial landscaping, providing grounds maintenance and winter services to more than 9,000 properties nationwide. In recent years, the top line has soared to make it not just one of the region’s biggest companies, but one of the fastest-growing.

COLLEGE: B.A., Finance, University of Illinois ON THE NEW KCI: “I’ve been there to pick someone up but haven’t used it yet.” SALUTING A MENTOR: “John Wright: You can’t lead others until you learn to lead yourself first.” MORNING READ: “It should be my Bible, but more often than not, I scroll through texts and emails first.” LEADERSHIP HIRE TRAIT: “Self-awareness.” EMPLOYEES: “With all of our companies, over 800 now,” he says, summing up the near-term hiring plan in a single word: “Add.” LITTLE-KNOWN FACT: Sarnecki has both feet firmly planted in financial services, but has had at least one toe dipped in the entertainment world since 2010. He’s been executive producer on a dozen films, most recently the 2021 release “Powered by Light.”

2022 REVENUES: $434 million COLLEGE: B.S., Finance and Real Estate, Florida State University

FROM ROOT TO BLOSSOM: Its commercial service line includes landscape design and installation, irrigation maintenance, tree and shrub care, turf maintenance and weed control, and seasonal floral placement and care. GROWING REACH: HeartLand comprises 15 local operating companies in 23 states that run from the intermountain west to the Atlantic coast. MORE THAN TRIMMERS: The world of tech has not left landscaping behind; HeartLand draws on the latest in business intelligence solutions for real-time analytics, data tracking and insights, including weather forecasting, geo-enabled apps and reporting dashboards.

Neal Sharma PRESIDENT, DENTSU DTC

John Sherman MAJORITY OWNER, KANSAS CITY ROYALS

The startup digital marketing agency Neal Shama helped found is now part of the Merkle customer-experience brand under the larger Dentsu Aegis umbrella, but he still has his hand in the company. He’s keeping plenty busy elsewhere, as well. He can be found on the fiduciary boards of Evergy and MRIGlobal, on civic boards such as KC World Cup Host Committee, Truman Library, KC Rising, and YPO, and startup boards for companies in which he has invested.

John Sherman might still surprise us by concluding that an upgrade of Kauffman Stadium is the best long-term option for the Royals, but there are plenty of indications that a Downtown site, or a North Kansas City alternative, is in the cards. Four years after assembling the leadership group that laid down a cool $1 billion to buy the team, Sherman is trying to chart a course for financial success—and just maybe, success on the field will follow.

RECESSION ODDS: “The Fed’s interest rate moves seem clearly intended to inflict some sort of economic destruction in their effort to tame inflation, both real and perceived. As such, I think a recession is inevitable. That said, I anticipate that the recession will be mild and short-lived, as I believe the Fed will shift to rate-cutting in 2024, consumers will continue to spend (albeit in new areas), and American businesses will continue to thrive, especially in export markets as the dollar weakens from its historic highs.” KC’S NEXT BIG THING: “The 2026 World Cup will be the largest event humanity has ever held, with 48 teams competing in 16 cities in North America to over a billion viewers worldwide—and Kansas City literally and figuratively in the middle of it all. The scale of this event promises to have an impact on Kansas City not only in 2026 but for years afterward. It is my hope and focus that Kansas City is able to showcase on a global stage our vibrant economy, rich culture, and most importantly, the welcoming character of our people.”

COLLEGE: Ottawa University A SPORTING DNA: Sherman, in his youth, was no stranger to on-field competition; he played for his alma mater, the Ottawa University Braves. But on the football team, where he was quarterback. ENERGETIC PAST: Sherman made his fortune in the energy sector with a pair of companies he launched and eventually sold to much bigger players. The first was LPG Services, which was acquired by Dynergy; the second was Inergy LP, which was acquired by Crestwood Equity Partners, which itself was acquired just this year in a $7.1 billion deal. No word on whether Sherman’s role with that com pany’s board produced a windfall that might finance a remade pitching staff at The K …

Charlie Shields PRESIDENT/CEO, UNIVERSITY HEALTH

Brad Skinner PRESIDENT/CEO, MILBANK MANUFACTURING CO.

Charlie Shields is proud of his organization’s survival skills. “Sur viving financially post-COVID has been extremely difficult for most safety-net health systems,” he said, pointing out the difficulties of dealing with staff and supply issues without the margins of most for-profit hospitals. He added, “Our leaders buckled down, brain stormed, and did the hard work to cut expenses so we were not one of the health systems making headlines.”

Family owned, nearly 100 years old and led by Brad Skinner since 2016, Milbank Manufacturing in Kansas City’s East Bottoms is, ap propriately, a power player in the power industry. It designs, engineers and manufactures electrical meter sockets, controls, commercial en closures and related products. He’s the second Skinner to lead the company; his father, Duane, also served as president and CEO.

2022 REVENUES: $1.23 billion COLLEGE: B.A., Marketing, MBA, University of Missouri RECESSION ODDS: “I think a slowdown will continue as businesses continue to deal with staffing issues, but see a soft landing rather than a recession.” KC’S NEXT BIG THING: “Should be the Health Sciences District. Health care is already 20 percent of GDP; let’s make it a regional priority.” ON THE NEW KCI: “Used it. Loved it. It’s extremely well thought-out. I especially appreciate the local flavor (no pun intended).” MENTOR SALUTE: “Lowell Kruse, former CEO of what was then Heartland Health in Saint Joseph, Mo. He taught me to think in 5- to 10-year time frames, and to never forget the positive impact a health-care system can have on the community.” IMPORTANT SKILL FOR LEADERS: “The ability to work together as a team.”

COLLEGE: Park University WELL-ROUNDED: Skinner started with the company in 1983, and his journey there has taken him through sales strategy development and deployment, operational and organizational planning, and negotiating private-label ventures with original equipment manufacturers. He also drove expansion into renewable-energy arena products. QUOTABLE: “There’s a lot of good people out in our factories, and I was fortunate that they educated me about Milbank and our culture” at the outset of his career, he says. EXTENDING THE REACH: Skinner also helped the company establish operations outside the U.S.; it now has facilities or offices in three dozen countries. BIG FOOTPRINT: Milbank remains a family-owned company, with three American manufacturing facilities and multiple warehouses that serve a robust list of more than 4,000 distributors.

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September 2023

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