The Power Book 2023
Animated publication
POWER BOOK FEATURING INGRAM’S AWARD WINNERS THE
WORLD CUP KC 2026! Kansas City Named World Cup Host City
THE GREATER KANSAS CITY 2023 EDITION BOOK OF
LEADS & LISTS
Ingrams.com A Supplement to Ingram’s 816.842.9994 n w ww.Ingrams.com
54
I n g r a m ’ s
August 2017
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ALPHABETICAL
40 Under Forty
20 40 44 35 34 88 60 62 22 51 90 78 56 66 50 45 36 37 89 30 85 82 93 83 56 57 68 46 42 49 76 54 64 32 82 6
Accounting and Consulting Firms Ad Agencies and Marketing Firms
T H E P OWE R B O O K N 2 0 2 3 E D I T I O N BY SUBJECT
Airlines Serving KCI Airports (MO-KS) Architectural Firms
I Influential Chapter Table of Contents
IV Financial Services Chapter Table of Contents
Banks (Ranked by Assets) Banks (Ranked by Branches) Best Companies to Work For Chambers of Commerce
5 6
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The Ingram’s 250 40 Under Forty
Top Area Banks (Ranked by Assets) 60 Top Area Banks (Ranked by Branches) 62 Top Area Mortgage Lenders 64 Top Area SBA Lenders 65 Top Area Credit Unions 66 Top Area Venture Capital Firms 66 Top Area Wealth Management Firms 67 Independent Insurance Agencies 68 V Education & Healthcare Chapter Table of Contents 71 Top Private Colleges & Univ. (Undergrad) 72 Top Private Colleges & Univ. (Grad) 73 Top Public Colleges & Univ. (Undergrad) 74 Top Public Colleges & Univ. (Graduate) 75 Top Area MBA Programs (MO-KS) 76 Community Colleges (MO-KS) 78 Technical Schools and Colleges 79 Top Area Public School Districts 80 Top Area Private High Schools 81 Top Area Nursing Programs 82 Top Area Health Insurance Providers 82 Hospitals & Medical Centers (Admis) 83
20 22 28
Commercial Realtors (Gross Sales) Community Colleges (MO-KS) Convention and Meeting Facilities
Best Companies to Work For Women Executives-Kansas City
Credit Unions
II Community Chapter Table of Contents
Economic Development Agencies
Digital Marketing Firms
29 30 32 34 35
Elected Officials (Area Cities)
Foundations and Charitable Trusts Top Area Non-Profit Organizations
Elected Officials (Federal, State, County) Engineering Firms (Revenues) Foundations and Charitable Trusts
Airports (MO-KS) Airlines Serving KCI
General Contractors
Elected Officials (Area Cities) 36 Elected Officials (Federal, State, County) 37
Health Insurance Providers
Home Builders
Hospitals and Med Centers (Admissions)
Hotel Meeting Space
III Business Services Chapter Table of Contents
Top Area Hotels
39 40 42 44 45 46 47 48 49 50
Independent Insurance Agencies
Accounting and Consulting Firms
Ingram’s 250
Top Area Law Firms
Largest Area Employers
Ad Agencies and Marketing Firms Top Area Digital Marketing Firms
Law Firms
Logistics Companies MBA Programs (MO-KS) Minority-Owned Businesses
Largest Area Employers Top Area Public Companies Top Area Private Companies Top Area Logistics Companies Economic Development Agencies Top Area Chambers of Commerce 51 Top Area Women-Owned Businesses 52 Top Area Minority-Owned Businesses 54 Convention and Meeting Facilities 56 Top Area Hotel Meeting Space 56 Top Area Hotels 57
Mortgage Lenders
Non-Profit Organizations
Nursing Programs
VI Construction & Real Estate Chapter Table of Contents Top Area General Contractors
Private Colleges & Universities (Graduate) 73 Private Colleges & Universities (Undergraduate) 72 Private Companies 48 Private High Schools 81 Public Colleges & Universities (Graduate) 74 Public Colleges & Universities (Undergraduate) 75 Public Companies 47 Public School Districts 80 Residential Real Estate Firms 92 SBA Lenders 65 Technical Schools and Colleges 79 Utility Companies 94 Venture Capital Firms 66 Wealth Management Firms 67 Women Executives-Kansas City 28 Women-Owned Businesses 52
85 86
Top Area Architectural Firms 88 Top Area Engineering Firms (Revenues) 89 Top Area Commercial Realtors (Sales) 90 Top Area Residential Real-Estate Firms 92 Top Area Home Builders 93 Top Area Utility Companies 94
The entire contents of this magazine are copyrighted © 2023 by Show-Me Publishing, Inc. with all rights reserved. Reproduction or use in any manner of editorial or graphic content without permission is prohibited. The magazine assumes no re- sponsibility for unsolicited manuscripts. Ingram’s reserves the right of unrestricted editing of articles. Submissions must be in writing to be considered. Ingram’s (ISSN #1046-9958) is published monthly by Show-Me Publishing, Inc. at 2049 Wyandotte, Kansas City, Missouri, 64108. Price: $44.95 for one-year, $69.95 for 2 years and $99.95 for 3 years. Back issues are $5 each. Periodical postage paid at Kansas City, Missouri, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Please email address changes to Subscriptions @ Ingrams.com, fax to 816.474.1111 or mail changes to Ingram’s Magazine at 2049 Wyandotte, Kansas City, Missouri, 64108
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Ingram’s — Kansas City’s Business Media
Doing Business? Get a Grip
Editor-in-Chief & Publisher Joe Sweeney | JSweeney @ Ingrams.com Managing Editor Dennis Boone | Editorial @ Ingrams.com Senior Editor Jack Cashill | JCashill @ Ingrams.com Director of Sales Michelle Sweeney | MSweeney @ Ingrams.com Art Director Traci Faulk | Production @ Ingrams.com Associate Staff Researcher Colin Lobdell | OnLine @ Ingrams.com
The first step to a business relationship is solid information. Here it is.
Successful business isn’t just about having the best product at the best price, or superior services. Long before you get to the point of sale, some strategic thinking is in order regarding the end user: Who’s my buyer? Who needs the service I provide? The next step to success invariably starts with access. And that means identifying the right companies to target, understanding their business models and their business needs and—this is key—knowing the right person to receive your marketing message. The information you need to discern each of those goals is very neatly packaged in Ingram’s annual Power Book, with our Book of Leads & Lists, which you hold in your hand. We like to think of this publication, among all the others we produce each year, as The Sales Bible. Each page, each business sector, covers chapter and verse the leading enterprises in a thriv ing regional market comprising more than 75,000 businesses in the Kansas City region alone, serving the needs of 2.2 million consumers. Most of these lists are ranking sets derived from specific metrics— annual revenues, enrollments, employment levels and the like; in a few instances where metrics aren’t available, we offer rosters of key companies working in given sectors. What’s the value of business intelligence? Depends on how you apply it. But the organizational fundamentals that economist Vilfredo Pareto codified into the principle that bears his name tell us that 80 percent of almost any group’s measurables are controlled by 20 percent of the pop- ulation base being measured. There’s a reason why the biggest organiza- tions listed herein are potential success factors for your own interests. They make the market in their respective business sectors. This information in much greater abundance, depth and breadth is available through Ingram’s . We can deliver data digitally without the con straints of a printed page’s dimensions. That will mean even more access, even more potential connections, and, we hope, even more success for your own organization. Ingram’s researchers are in the process of expanding our ranking lists, industry directories and contact records throughout both states of Missouri and Kansas. We’re confident that you and your colleagues will benefit by accessing this first-hand updated and compiled data. Consider this the starting point for expanding your client and prospect strategic list. Then go out there and start shaking hands.
POWER BOOK FEATURING INGRAM’S AWARD WINNERS THE
WORLD CUP KC 2026! Kansas City Named World Cup Host City
THE GREATER KANSAS CITY 2023 EDITION BOOK OF
LEADS & LISTS
Ingrams.com A Supplement to Ingram’s 816.842.9994 n w ww.Ingrams.com
54
I n g r a m ’ s
August 2017
2023 Cover ideas.indd 54
1/19/23 9:38 AM
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President Joe Sweeney | JSweeney @ Ingrams.com Senior Vice President Michelle H. Sweeney | MSweeney @ Ingrams.com
2049 Wyandotte Kansas City, Missouri 64108 816.842.9994 Fax: 816.474.1111
Ingrams.com MISSOURI’S AND KANSAS’ DIGITAL BUSINESS MEDIA The entire contents of this publication are copyrighted © 2023 by Show-Me Publishing, Inc. with all rights reserved. Reproduction or use in any manner of editorial or graphic content without permission is prohibited. The magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts. Ingram’s reserves the right of unrestricted editing of articles. Submissions must be in writing to be considered. Ingram’s (ISSN #1046 9958) is published monthly by Show-Me Publishing, Inc. at 2049 Wyandotte, Kansas City, Missouri, 64108. Price: $44.95 for one-year, $69.95 for 2 years and $99.95 for 3 years. Back issues are $5 each. Periodical postage paid at Kansas City, Missouri, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Please email address changes to JRyan @ Ingrams.com, fax to 816.474.1111 or mail changes to Ingram’s Magazine at 2049 Wyandotte Kansas City, Missouri, 64108.
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CHAPTER 1
Ingram’s 250 Honorees
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40 Under Forty
20 22 28
Best Companies to Work For
INFLUENTIAL
Women Executives-Kansas City (WeKC)
DID YOU KNOW? • Ingram’s set the standard for health-care recognition programs with its first class of Top Doctors in 1998. • That health-care focus expanded in 2004 with Heroes in Healthcare, which searches out exceptional individuals in the medical communi ty and celebrates their contributions to the region’s quality of life. • Taking a lead role in promoting women in executive roles, Ingram’s Women Executives–Kansas City, or WeKC, program, dates back more than 22 years • The region’s most influential executives are profiled each year with the Ingram’s 250; in 2022, we celebrated our seventh installment of this popular feature. • In April 2023, Ingram’s 40 Under Forty will celebrate its 25th class of honorees. That will bring to an even 1,000 the ranks of this im- pressive alumni group since the first class was announced in 1998.
Ingram’s Industry Lists Online
Ingram’s Competitions and Recognition Awards 40 Under Forty Best Companies to Work For Women Executives-Kansas City (WeKC) ingrams . com includes access to accurate rankings of companies and organizations, plus contact information for executives and marketing/communications pros.
Corporate Report 100 Power Breakfast Series Best of Business Kansas City Top Doctors Heroes in Healthcare
Icons of Education Family Businesses 50 Missourians/Kansans You Should Know Family-Owned Businesses Corporate Champions/Local Heroes The Ingram’s 100: Private Companies Ingram’s 250 20 in Their Twenties Executive of the Year & C-Suite Awards
Philanthropist of the Year Ingram’s Community Cares
INGRAM’S
Kansas City’s Business Leadership: A Combination of Influence and Power
The Ingram’s 250 is an annual compilation of the most pow erful, effective and talented executives in the 22-county region, spanning the distance from Topeka to Sedalia. Each year, Ingram’s sets this prestigious field by starting with our editors’ best as- sessments of the financial throw-weight each executive has in his or her professional arsenal. But how to apply objectivity to an otherwise subjective process? First, start with scale: Executives from the largest organizations clearly wield more commercial influence than those at small businesses and startups. But corporate reve nues, C-suite salaries or employee payroll totals alone don’t really define what it takes to make this select field. We assess the broader influence that these leaders have on regional commerce, on public policy, on civic initiatives and on phil anthropic ventures. Large employers in the region, almost by definition, could be
included. But we also consider profitability, which is why some large-company execs one might think of as natural choices might not show up here, especially given the business conditions of 2020 and 2021, which inflicted heavy tolls on certain business sectors, including hospitality and travel. Influence, of course, is not merely a function of the executive office. Y0u can see it being wielded down the ranks of organiza tions in different ways. And that shows up in other recognition programs like 40 Under Forty , spotlighting the achievements of rising talent; Women-Executives Kansas City , showcasing the leadership skills of executives who refuse to let glass ceilings limit their contributions to business and commerce; and even the Best Companies to Work For and the Corporate Report 100, which shows that influence can be leveraged on an organiza tional scale for employers who dare to set new standards for performance.
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THE POWER BOOK
Rob Adams PARTNER SHOOK, HARDY & BACON
Raghu Adiga PRESIDENT AND CEO LIBERTY HOSPITAL
Mauli Agrawal CHANCELLOR, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY
Damon Anderson CEO TALLGRASS FREIGHT
Don Armacost CHAIRMAN PETERSON MANUFACTURING
Matt All PRESIDENT/CEO, BLUE CROSS & BLUE SHIELD OF KANSAS
Adam Aron PRESIDENT/CEO AMC ENTERTAINMENT
Jeff Auslander PRESIDENT/CEO DYNAMIC LOGISTIX
Mario Azar ENERGY & PROCESS PRESIDENT BLACK & VEATCH
Jim Bartimus FOUNDER, BARTIMUS, FRICKLETON, ROBERTSON & RADER
David Ball CHAIRMAN/PRESIDENT/CEO BALL’S FOOD STORES
Kevin Barth CHAIRMAN/CEO, KC REGION COMMERCE BANK
Marion Battaglia PRESIDENT SOAVE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP
Brad Batz PRESIDENT/CEO FIKE CORPORATION
Kim Beatty CHANCELLOR, METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Smitty Belcher CEO/OWNER P1 GROUP
Mark Benz KC MARKET CEO PRIME HEALTHCARE SERVICES
Brad Bergman CEO/CHAIRMAN MIDWEST TRUST CO.
William Berkley PRESIDENT/CEO TENSION CORP.
Marty Bicknell PRESIDENT/CEO MARINER HOLDINGS
Brent Blake OWNER/CEO ACENDAS
Ken Block MANAGING PRINCIPAL BLOCK REAL ESTATE SERVICES
Mike Boehm MAYOR LENEXA, KANSAS
Tony Bowen CFO H&R BLOCK
Andrew Bowne CHANCELLOR, JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
David Brain CEO ENFINITE CAPITAL
Mark Brandmeyer PRINCIPAL BRANDMEYER ENTERPRISES
Rob Bratcher KANSAS CITY PRESIDENT COMMERCE BANK
Pamela Breuckmann CEO FERRELL CAPITAL
Robin Broder Gibson CHAIRMAN/CMO HENDERSON ENGINEERS
Rob Broomfield KANSAS CITY MARKET CEO UNITEDHEALTHCARE
Mike Brown CHAIRMAN/PRESIDENT/CEO EURONET WORLDWIDE
Kevin Bryant EVP/COO EVERGY
Owen Buckley FOUNDER LANE4 PROPERTY GROUP
Mike Bukaty CHAIRMAN/PRESIDENT/CEO BUKATY COMPANIES
Andy Callahan PRESIDENT/CEO HOSTESS
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Ingram’s — Kansas City’s Business Media
OUR FAMILY SERVING YOUR FAMILY SINCE 1923
HEN HOUSE MARKETS PRICE CHOPPER SUN FRESH MARKETS PAYLESS FOODS HARRY’S LIQUOR YOUR LOCAL STORES:
years
years
centenni c r i centenni c r i
David Callanan CEO AE WEALTH, ADVISORS EXCEL
David Campbell PRESIDENT/CEO EVERGY
Scott Campbell CEO, KANSAS HEALTH SYSTEMS- ST. FRANCIS
Faruk Capan CEO EVERSANA INTOUCH
Mitzi Cardenas CAO UNIVERSITY HEALTH
Tim Chadwick PRESIDENT/CEO MMC CORP.
Ramin Cherafat CEO MCCOWNGORDON CONSTRUCTION
Bill Clarkson, Jr. CEO CLARKSON CONSTRUCTION
Jeff Cloud PRESIDENT/CEO IBT INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS
Peter Clune CEO LOCKTON COMPANIES
Scott Colangelo MANAGING PARTNER, PRIME CAPITAL INVESTMENT ADVISERS
Abe Cole COO FORVIS
Dave Colo PRESIDENT/CEO MGP INGREDIENTS
Matt Condon CEO BARDAVON HEALTH INNOVATIONS
Jon Cook GLOBAL CEO VMLY&R
Jon Copaken PRINCIPAL COPAKEN BROOKS
John Cosentino VICE PRESIDENT COSENTINO FOOD STORES
Fred Coulson FOUNDER/MANAGING PARTNER FIVE ELMS CAPITAL
Tim Cowden PRESIDENT/CEO KC AREA DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Kevin Crutchfield PRESIDENT/CEO COMPASS MINERALS
Dave Cummings FOUNDER TRADEBOT SYSTEMS
Wiley Curran PARTNER CPC MANAGEMENT
Dennis Curtin REGIONAL OWNER RE/MAX MID-STATES & DIXIE REGION
Tim Danker PRESIDENT/CEO SELECTQUOTE INSURANCE SERVICES
Brian DeFrain PRESIDENT D&L TRANSPORT
John Dicus PRESIDENT/CEO CAPITOL FEDERAL
Mark Dohnalek PRESIDENT/CEO PIVOT INTERNATIONAL
Mark Donovan PRESIDENT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Case Dorman PRESIDENT FIORELLA’S JACK STACK BARBECUE
Dan Duffy CEO UNITED REAL ESTATE GROUP
Peggy Dunn MAYOR LEAWOOD, KANSAS
Terry Dunn CHAIRMAN KC COMMON GOOD
Tim Dunn CHAIRMAN JE DUNN CONSTRUCTION CO.
Rachel Dwiggins MANAGING PARTNER FORVIS
Steve Edwards CHAIRMAN/PRESIDENT/CEO BLACK & VEATCH
Warren Erdman EXEC. VP, ADMIN. & CORPORATE AFFAIRS KC SOUTHERN
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SHAPING THE KANSAS CITY SKYLINE FOR 100 YEARS Bill Crandall, Principal 2023 2022 Established in 1922, Copaken Brooks is a full-service commercial real estate firm headquartered in Kansas City and serving national clients, tenants and investors. COPAKEN BROOKS WELCOMES BILL CRANDALL! “Bill brings a wealth of real estate consulting and development experience, complimenting Copaken Brooks 100-year history in development and property management in all facets of commercial real estate.” - Jon Copaken
WWW.COPAKEN-BROOKS.COM
816.701.5000
As a globally recognized leader in process and safety solutions, Fike has been protecting life and critical assets around the world since 1945. Generations of Fike employees have called Kansas City home over these 77 years and we are proud to be a part of the continued growth of our city and region. CONGRATULATIONS, BRAD On behalf of our thousands of skilled engineers and manufacturers, sales and corporate employees, we congratulate Brad Batz for being recognized as one of Ingram’s 250 Most Powerful Business Leaders in Kansas City.
Brad Batz President & CEO
FIKE.COM
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Melinda Estes PRESIDENT/CEO SAINT LUKE’S HEALTH SYSTEM
David Feinberg CHAIRMAN ORACLE CERNER
Bill Ferguson PRESIDENT/CEO CENTRAL BANK OF THE MIDWEST
Jim Ferrell PRESIDENT/CEO FERRELLGAS
Spencer Fields KC OFFICE LEADER WILLIS TOWERS WATSON
Wesley Fields MANAGING PARTNER BRYAN CAVE LEIGHTON PAISNER
Dave Flickinger PRESIDENT KIEWIT POWER CONSTRUCTORS
Mike Frazier PRESIDENT/CEO REECENICHOLS REAL ESTATE
Cameron Garrison MANAGING PARTNER LATHROP GPM
Bill Gautreaux PARTNER MLP HOLDINGS/KC ROYALS
Brent Giles PRESIDENT/CEO BANK OF BLUE VALLEY
Lisa Ginter CEO COMMUNITYAMERICA CREDIT UNION
Douglas Girod CHANCELLOR THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Greg Graves LEAD DIRECTOR UMB FINANCIAL
Don Greenwell PRESIDENT THE BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION
Nathaniel Hagedorn PRESIDENT/CEO NORTHPOINT DEVELOPMENT CO.
Marc Hahn PRESIDENT/CEO KANSAS CITY UNIVERSITY
Donald Hall, Jr. EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN HALLMARK
Adam Hamilton FOUNDER/PASTOR CHURCH OF THE RESURRECTION
Brad Hampton CEO HELZBERG DIAMONDS
Dave Harrison PRESIDENT VANTRUST REAL ESTATE
Bob Hayworth MARKET PRESIDENT HUMANA
Mike Heitmann PRESIDENT/CEO GARNEY CONSTRUCTION
Jason Hendricks PRESIDENT/CEO PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING GROUP INC.
Brad Hewlett DEALER PRINCIPAL BOB ALLEN FORD
Michael Hoehn CEO AUTOMATIC SYSTEMS, INC.
Karen Hogan VICE PRESIDENT/GENERAL MANAGER TURNER CONSTRUCTION CO.
Paul Holewinski PRESIDENT/CEO ACADEMY BANK
Stan Holm PRESIDENT/CEO OLATHE HEALTH
Carlos Holwell CLAYCOMO PLANT MANAGER FORD MOTOR CO.
Jason Hooper PRESIDENT/CEO KVC HEALTH SYSTEMS
Sam Huenergardt CEO, ADVENTHEALTH MID-AMERICA REGION
Clark Hunt CHAIRMAN/CEO KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Marco Ilardi MANAGING PARTNER V2 VENTURES
Chris Isaacson EVP/COO CBOE GLOBAL MARKETS
Bob Jacaway PRESIDENT/CEO MAX MOTORS DEALERSHIPS
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Ingram’s — Kansas City’s Business Media
LEADING KC BY SERV ING
70
7
DOWNTOWN
70
70
435
169
BLUE SPRINGS
BROOKS IDE
470
40
435
35
7
7
71
OVERLAND PARK
49
470
435
OLATHE (WEST )
35
69
Resurrection is a church that serves others throughout the Kansas City Metro. We welcome all to join us at one of our six locations, online, and on television as together we commit to loving all our neighbors and striving to spread justice and kindness throughout the community.
LEAWOOD
FIND OUT MORE AT COR.ORG
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Joe Jeffries PRESIDENT/CEO WESTLAKE ACE HARDWARE
Roy Jensen DIRECTOR KU CANCER CENTER
Bill Johnson GENERAL MANAGER, KANSAS CITY BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES
Jani Johnson CEO SAINT LUKE’S HOSPITAL
Russell Johnson PRESIDENT/CEO LMH HEALTH
Jeff Jones PRESIDENT/CEO H&R BLOCK
Richard Jones FOUNDER, FIDELITY SECURITY LIFE INSURANCE
Mark Jorgenson BOARD MEMBER, RETIRED BANKING EXECUTIVE
Gov. Laura Kelly GOVERNOR KANSAS
Jonathan Kemper CHAIRMAN EMERITUS COMMERCE BANK
Mariner Kemper CHAIRMAN/CEO UMB FINANCIAL CORP.
Sandy Kemper CEO C2FO
Paul Kempinski PRESIDENT/CEO CHILDREN’S MERCY
Robert Kenagy PRESIDENT/CEO STORMONT VAIL HEALTH
Scott Kincaid PRESIDENT KINCAID GROUP HOLDINGS
Jim Klausman OWNER GREATLIFE GOLF
Mark Kleeman PRESIDENT SAFE HAVEN SECURITY SERVICES
Greg Klein PRESIDENT INLAND TRUCK PARTS
Tim Klein CEO NATIONAL BEEF PACKING
Ann Konecny CEO FOLEY EQUIPMENT
John Kornitzer PRESIDENT KORNITZER CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
Ray Kowalik CHAIRMAN/CEO BURNS & MCDONNELL
Kevin Kramer MARKET PRESIDENT BOK FINANCIAL
Lisa Krigsten KC MANAGING PARTNER DENTONS
Bill Krueger PRESIDENT, TRADE AND PROCESSING THE ANDERSONS
Craig Kuckelman MANAGING PARTNER DELOITTE TAX LLP
Michael Kulp PRESIDENT/CEO KBP BRANDS
Brad Lager CHAIRMAN/CEO HERZOG ENTERPRISES
Gordon Lansford PRESIDENT/CEO JE DUNN CONSTRUCTION CO.
Mark Larrabee MARKET PRESIDENT ARVEST BANK
Jeff Laurendeau REGIONAL MANAGER AMAZON
Sandra Lawrence INDEPENDENT/ CORPORATE DIRECTOR
Carlos Ledezma OWNER, CABLE DAHMER AUTOMOTIVE GROUP
Brian Leitner MANAGING DIRECTOR MARINER WEALTH ADVISORS
Jim Lewis PRESIDENT/CEO SECURITY BANK OF KANSAS CITY
Matt Linski KC MARKET PRESIDENT BANK OF AMERICA
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Ingram’s — Kansas City’s Business Media
Focused on client success
Photo: KSCA
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Patrick Mahomes QB/INVESTOR KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Ron Lockton EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN LOCKTON
Chris Long CHAIRMAN/CEO, PALMER SQUARE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
Greg Maday CEO SPECCHEM
Mike Maddox PRESIDENT/CEO CROSSFIRST BANKSHARES
Paul Malir PRESIDENT/COO TRANSYSTEMS
Peter Mallouk CEO CREATIVE PLANNING
Matt Malott PRESIDENT/CEO MULTIVAC U.S.
Mark Mathes EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN VANGUARD PACKAGING
John McCarthy FOUNDER MCCARTHY AUTO GROUP
Ken McClain PARTNER, HUMPHREY, FARRINGTON & MCCLAIN
Ashley McClellan PRESIDENT/CEO RESEARCH MEDICAL CENTER
Marc McEver MANAGING PRINCIPAL OLATHE FORD
Mike Merriman PRESIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDING CORP.
Laura McConnell Perin CEO LABCONCO
Madeleine McDonough CHAIR SHOOK, HARDY & BACON
John Meara INVESTOR
Trey Meyer PRESIDENT MIDWAY FORD TRUCK CENTER
Bruce Miller MANAGING PRINCIPAL POPULOUS
Jonathan Mize PRESIDENT/CEO BLISH-MIZE CO.
Dayton Moore PRESIDENT KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Todd Muenstermann PRESIDENT DURVET
Allison Murdock MANAGING PARTNER STINSON LLP
Bill Miller CHAIRMAN/CEO WELLSKY
Tim Murphy EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN MURPHY-HOFFMAN CO.
Kathy Nelson PRESIDENT/CEO, KC SPORTS COMMISSION & FOUNDATION
Rex Newcomer CEO D.H. PACE CO.
Jesper Nordengaard PRESIDENT HILL’S PET NUTRITION
Tyler Nottberg CHAIRMAN/CEO U.S. ENGINEERING
Tom O’Grady PRESIDENT HNTB CORPORATION
John Olander COO BURNS & MCDONNELL
Patrick Ottensmeyer PRESIDENT/CEO KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN RAILWAY
Gayle Packer PRESIDENT/CEO TERRACON
Bob Page PRESIDENT/CEO, THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HEALTH SYSTEM
Roshann Parris FOUNDER/CEO PARRIS COMMUNICATIONS
Lenora Payne CEO/FOUNDER TGS
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Ingram’s — Kansas City’s Business Media
Congratulations mike maddox
2022 Ingram’s 250
crossfirstbank.com MEMBER FDIC
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Mike Norsworthy PRESIDENT, KELLAN RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT
Clifton Pemble PRESIDENT/CEO GARMIN
Stephen Penn MANAGING PARTNER KPMG
Mike Perry CEO HALLMARK CARDS
Tammy Peterman KC PRESIDENT, THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HEALTH SYSTEM
Tim Petty KC MARKET PRESIDENT US BANK
Jeanette Hernandez- Prenger CHAIRMAN/PRESIDENT/CEO, ECCO SELECT
Rosana Privitera Biondo PRESIDENT MARK ONE ELECTRIC
Julie Quirin COO SAINT LUKE’S HEALTH SYSTEM
Mike Rainen PRESIDENT RAINEN COMPANIES
Joe Reardon PRESIDENT/CEO, GREATER KANSAS CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Mike Poore CEO MOSAIC LIFE CARE
Randy Reed OWNER REED AUTOMOTIVE GROUP
Clayton Reid CEO MMGY GLOBAL
Steve Reintjes PRESIDENT/CEO NORTH KANSAS CITY HOSPITAL
Charles Renner PARTNER HUSCH BLACKWELL
Ora Reynolds PRESIDENT/CEO HUNT MIDWEST
Michael Riggs CEO JACK COOPER TRANSPORT CO.
Greg Righter PRESIDENT/CEO BERKELEYS & CO. CONTRACTORS
Jim Rine PRESIDENT/CEO UMB BANK
Kimberly Rock KC MANAGING PARTNER EY
Dennis Rodenbaugh PRESIDENT/CEO DAIRY FARMERS OF AMERICA
Frank Ross PARTNER AND PRACTICE CHAIR POLSINELLI
Fred Ross CEO CUSTOM TRUCK ONE SOURCE
Chris Rosson CEO, UNITED WAY OF GREATER KANSAS CITY
Andy Sareyan PRESIDENT/CEO ANDREWS MCMEEL UNIVERSAL
Philip Sarnecki CEO/MANAGING PARTNER RPS FINANCIAL GROUP
Paul Schultz CEO UTXL
Neal Sharma PRESIDENT DENTSUDTC
John Sherman PRINCIPAL OWNER KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Charlie Shields PRESIDENT/CEO UNIVERSITY HEALTH
Gregory Silvers PRESIDENT/CEO EPR PROPERTIES
Chase Simmons CHAIRMAN/CEO POLSINELLI
Jeff Simon OFFICE MANAGING PARTNER HUSCH BLACKWELL
Brad Skinner PRESIDENT MILBANK MANUFACTURING
David Smith PRESIDENT/CEO, ASSOCIATED WHOLESALE GROCERS
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Zona Rosa location • just remodeled with pickleball, golf bays, yard games + 12 foot garage doors opening to an outdoor patio space
OUR PEOPLE MAKE IT POSSIBLE. We exist to ensure the success and prosperity of our member retailers. We fulfill our purpose through our employee teammates; and we are collectively defined by our core values: humility, accountability, transparency, and serving.
AWG is the nation’s largest cooperative food wholesaler to independently owned supermarkets, serving over 1,100 member companies and over 3,400 locations throughout 31 states from 9 wholesale Divisions.
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Brian Sloan CEO WACHTER
Pete Smith CHAIRMAN, MCDOWELL RICE SMITH & BUCHANAN
Jeff Spencer SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT HOLMES MURPHY
Tom Spencer SENIOR VP-BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SE2
Brad Sprong U.S. TAX PRACTICE LEADER KPMG
David Squyres PLANT MANAGER GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER
Anne St. Peter CO-FOUNDER GLOBAL PRAIRIE
Robert Steer CEO SEABOARD CORP.
Philip Straub EVP/MANAGING DIRECTOR-AVIATION GARMIN
Erin Stucky PRESIDENT/CEO BLUE KC
Patrick Stueve PARTNER STUEVE SIEGEL HANSON
Greg Swetnam OFFICE BROKERAGE DIRECTOR KESSINGER/HUNTER
Jonathan Thomas PRESIDENT/CEO AMERICAN CENTURY INVESTMENTS
Polly Thomas PRESIDENT CBIZ EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Gregg Thompson COMMAND DEPUTY FORT LEAVENWORTH
Paul Thompson CHAIRMAN/CEO COUNTRY CLUB BANK
David Toland KANSAS SECRETARY OF COMMERCE/ LT. GOV.
Tucker Trotter CEO DIMENSIONAL INNOVATIONS
Brian Unruh PRESIDENT/CEO NBKC BANK
Mike Valentine CEO NETSMART TECHNOLOGIES
Nicole Van Denabeele KC PRESIDENT BANK MIDWEST
Randy Vance PRESIDENT/COO SUNDERLAND FOUNDATION
Julie Vander Weele MANAGING PARTNER SPENCER FANE
Tom Wagers PRESIDENT/CEO NORTH AMERICAN SAVINGS BANK
Bridgette Williams EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HEAVY CON STRUCTORS ASSOCIATION OF KC
Chad Williams CHAIRMAN/CEO QTS
Debbie Wilkerson PRESIDENT/CEO, GREATER KANSAS CITY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Rick Weller CFO EURONET WORLDWIDE
Pat Whalen CHAIRMAN/MANAGING PARTNER SPENCER FANE
Marc Warrington HEAD OF FIELD SALES SUN LIFE
Submit Your Nominations: Who would you nominate for next year's Class of Ingram’s 250? Email us at Edito rial@Ingrams.com or Ingrams.com/ Nominate
Jim Williams CIO CREATIVE PLANNING
Simon Witdouck SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT TVH AMERICAS
Doug Wolff CEO SECURITY BENEFIT CORP.
Eric Wollerman PRESIDENT HONEYWELL FM&T
Keith Zimmerman CEO HCA MIDWEST HEALTH
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Ingram’s — Kansas City’s Business Media
Data Centers with a Vision and Purpose
Our mission of “empowering people and technology” is driven by a culture of service to others that emphasizes serving something greater than ourselves. QTS demonstrates this by caring for and improving the lives of current and future employees, customers, partners, investors and community members. Our stewardship of people and capital extends to the caretaking of our environment and communities.
QTSDATACENTERS.COM
CLASS of 2022
T H E L E A D E R S H I P E D I T I O N | 4 0 U N D E R F O R T Y | K A N S A S C I T Y ’ S B I O S C I E N C E B O O M
Ingrams.com | April 2022
New Leadership in a New Age
The 24th Class
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For decades, Ingram’s editors have studied what it takes to be a great leader, and we’ve been able to profile many extraordinary leaders in business and civic affairs, and share their collective wisdom with our readers. We can think of no more important initiative than to serve as stewards of Ingram's 40 Under Forty program, and to dedicate efforts each year to research as many as one thousand of the region’s most accomplished young leaders and to introduce 40 of the most impressive honorees to our readers. Like the 23 classes of 40 Under Forty who came before them, this year’s honorees are primed to do great things for regional business, and our quality of life. Please join us in saluting them. We're particularly proud to celebrate the 25th Year of Ingram's 40 Under Forty program in 2023 . Nominate the best candidates.
JESSICA CHANOS The Barstow School
SARAH CISPER 1898 & Co.
L AUREN BASCUE ECCO Select
LEANNE BRE IBY Greater Kansas City Community Foundation
JORDAN BURNS Ferrellgas
TORI BUTLER The University of Kansas Health System
AMANDA CL INE United Real Estate Group
RICH CRAY Lockton
SHELLY DEAN Associated Wholesale Grocers
STEVEN DI EDERICH Moneta
KRYSTLE DUNN Swiss Re
CHAD ESSL INGER Northwestern Mutual
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Ingram's — Kansas City's Business Media
CLASS of 2022
NICKI FL ANAGAN Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas
BETH HADEN Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
JOHN HASSLER Newmark Zimmer
JOSH HERRON Southwind
ADAM KRAUSE Krause & Kinsman Law Firm
CAROL KRSTUL IC Blue KC
BEN L INDNER Alynix
MEGHAN LEWIS Sandberg Phoenix
DANE MART IN Graves Garrett
PHI L MASON UMB Bank
ZACH L ANG McCownGordon Construction
BRANDON L AUGHRIDGE North Terrace
MAURICE MOSS Kansas City Board of Public Utilities
MARK NUSS Simmons Bank
ASHLEY McCLELL AN HCA Midwest Health
KELL I ME I L INK Husch Blackwell
NE I L MI LLER Kutak Rock
MARK MOBERLY Sunflower Development Group
STEPHANI E SIDERS Country Club Bank
ERIN NYBO HOK
JOE OL IARO Wagner Logistics
FEL ISHA PARKER McCarthy Auto Group
MOLLY SCHAAR Freightquote
JOAN SHERIDAN Franke Schultz & Mullen
Submit Your Nominations: Who would you nominate for next year's Class of 40 Under Forty? Email us at
Editorial@Ingrams.com or Ingrams.com/Nominate
JUDD TREEMAN Stinson
MICHAEL WATSON Kessinger Hunter
CHRISTOPHER SIMPSON Polsinelli
DONNY TENNYSON JE Dunn Construction
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LARGE COMPANIES
BLUE KC Tasked with providing health-care insurance for 1 million souls in this region, Blue KC boasts an environment focused on wellness and support for the whole person, with special attention on behavioral, physical and emotional health, and financial well-being. That starts with a highly competitive total rewards package, with employees eli gible for incentive plans that align their performance and achievement of company goals. From Day One, employees are eligible for health, dental and vision insurance. There is also coverage for life and acci dental death and dismemberment, and both health savings and flexible spending accounts. Other risk-management tools include voluntary group accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and prepaid legal coverage. To all of that, add coverage for short- and long-termdisability, CHILDREN’S MERCY KANSAS CITY At Children’s Mercy Kansas City, the stated vision is “to create a world of well-being for all children.” That doesn’t happen without creating a workplace of well-being for those tending their young charges. for more than 8,000 employees across 20 care sites in Missouri and Kansas, the Lean workplace culture is built upon five True North pillars: quality and safety, people, patient and family experience, delivery, and stewardship. And within the people pillar, the health system focuses on a culture that engages employees to be and perform their best. The Tuition Assistance Program, for examle, doles out more than $2.2 million a year, providing up to $5,250 per calendar year CREATIVE PLANNING If you haven’t been following the story of Creative Planning over the past 15 years, you’ve missed an opportunity to watch a large company’s culture being constructed from the ground up. CEO Peter Mallouk, who bought a boutique wealth-management firm in 2006, has turned it into a national powerhouse with nearly $135 billion in assets directly under management and more than $110 million through its acquisition of Lockton Retirement Services last year. Mallouk meets personally with every finalist for a job opening there, and that’s a lot of meetings: Creative Planning now boasts more than 1,200 employees nationwide. A team based approach to comprehensive wealth management pays off when employees earn company-paid trips for organizational success. The cam pus that opened in Overland Park in 2018 includes social spaces and ame CUSTOM TRUCK ONE SOURCE At every step from inception to its recent listing on the New York Stock Exchange, Custom Truck One Source has been defined by one enduring trait: Family. It had to be: 10 of the 12 Ross family siblings founded the company in a three-bay shop on Manchester Avenue 25 years ago. Since then, this manufacturer and supplier of vehicles used for infrastructure construction and repair has grown into a work force of nearly 2,000 employees in 37 locations across the U.S. and Canada. You can quite literally say the Ross family DNA is in Custom Truck. “Family and Custom Truck One Source have been inseparable since the beginning,” says CEO Fred Ross. “One of the reasons for our success is making sure that our culture remains intact as we rapidly
plus adoption benefits. Six weeks of paid paternal leave, 18 days of paid time off right out of the gate for new employees, and tuition reim bursement also provide support for that whole-person care package. To support employees’ philanthropy, there’s a paid day off each year to volunteer for a deserving cause. The 401(k) retirement plan includes both a pre-tax deferral option and a Roth deferral option. Blue KC matches 50 percent of the first 10 percent contributed to the 401(k) by the employee, and also makes discretionary contributions based on company performance. There’s free on-site parking, always a consideration for a Downtown business, and to help with the physical well-being, employees have use of the free 24/7 on-site fitness center. Access to personal trainers is provided, and employees can opt for walking workstations. There’s even on-site massage available. for an employee’s education expenses. Not surprisingly with a health-care provider, medical coverage picks up 100 percent of the cost of preventative care, and there are medical discounts for employees’ children, whether they are carried on the plan or not. Even retired employees and spouses are covered. Wellness and fitness centers areon-site, and staffmembers canaccessmore than 30,000 local and national services and products at discounted prices. A robust Employee Assistance Program provides 24/7 confidential counseling, financial guidance, legal support, and work-life solutions. Those saving for retirement can tap into the hospital-funded plan and a tax-deferred annuity plan with a 3 percent company match after 90 days of employment. nities to encourage gathering, including an on-site café and patios, where you can find beanbag tournaments or employee baby showers in progress. On the financial side, a highly competitive compensation structure took on new overtones last year when Mallouk began opening up ownership shares with equity opportunities for a portion of the staff. There’s also the company’s 401(k) retirement plan with its company match on a portion of each employee’s contributions. Staff well-being is addressed with a comprehensive suite of insurance tools, including health, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage. And there’s no shortage of staff outings, from Royals games to the American Royal barbecue, to build cohesive ness. The icing on all that is the ability to work for a firm that shares the wealth, an important consideration for younger members of the workforce who want their work to have meaning beyond the paycheck. grow.” Never has that undertaking been as important as over the past year, following a $1.475-billion merger with Nesco Holdings. Since then, and with the 25 percent bump in the employee head count, Ross and the teamhave put in programs to help the growing corporate fam ily achieve individual and organizational goals. To help develop talent, Custom Truck University offers tuition reimbursement toward any type of degree, certification, or training that prepares or advances an employee’s skills for any job at the company. In-house, CTU has thou sands of on-demand courses and learning tracks for both professional and personal development. Employees find competitive health-care coverage with plans that include dental, vision, and life insurance, as well as short- and long-term disability coverage.
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JE DUNN CONSTRUCTION CO. From the inception of this awards program in 2008, the gold stan dard of employment has been JE Dunn Construction, the largest con tractor to call Kansas City home. It’s a civic champion as much as it is a national construction-services powerhouse, and it has long set stan dards for workplace design that inspire other companies, regardless of sector. Two years after that first recognition, JE Dunn introduced its employee stock-ownership plan, putting nearly a century of family ownership into the hands of those who helped build that success. It all starts, said marketing director Traci Clatterbuck, with a vision for the future based on growth, development, and opportunities for all employee-owners. The corporate strategy is honed through rigorous business and marketing planning each year, she says, with focused per LMH HEALTH For LMH Health, one of the biggest employers in Lawrence, successful workplace design includes an intense focus on education. Competitive pay is just a starting point, and in this case, it’s grounded in the annual review of multiple markets to keep current. But for health care, in particular, education holds a special significance. With LMH, sources of instruction are both in-house and external. From the inside, managers, directors, and senior leaders experience monthly leadership training to help create an environment of support, equity, and accountability and to ingrain LMH Health’s cultural beliefs, says Colleen Browne, chief peopleofficer. Those self-explanatorypillars arePatient First, Own It/Solve It, Better Together, Innovate!, Listen/Speak Up,
formance and development discussions. “In addition, managers par ticipate in a yearlong course that teaches them the skills to serve in an individual contributor role, move into a management role and devel op into strong leaders,” she said, a tactic that dovetails with efforts to identify top talent that will carry that growth forward. There’s tuition reimbursement related to technical operations and leadership., plus a robust catalog of instruction created by in-house learning profession als to give every employee the right content via the right vehicle at the right time in the flow of project work. Employees can choose between two consumer-driven medical plans with prescription drug coverage and two dental plans, supplemented by a vision plan with an annual exam and choice of eyewear and safety glasses, plus company-paid annual wellness screening and wellness coaching. and In Joy. “Additionally, all staff are encouraged to attend monthly wellness seminars, ID&E collaborative classes, and numerous other professional-development offerings,” she says. From outside sources, she says, “our commitment to employee career growth and professional development is seen in our numerous support and education programs.” That’s built on partnerships with local technical and training colleges, through which employees can become certified in fields like phlebotomy or sterile processing, or earn certification as a medical assistant or nursing aide—at no cost to those staffers. It all adds up to a sense of cohesiveness among the system’s 1,951 employees, who serve roughly 8,000 patients admitted each year, and multiples of that in out-patient visits.
EXECUTIVE Year of the C S u i t e A w a r d s
Ingram’s 2024 Executive of the Year & C-Suite Awards Nominate the Most Extraordinary and Achieved Candidates Today! The most effective executives in the Kansas City region are driving growth for their companies and organizations, bolstering employee engagement and creating workplaces that make excellence a cultural cornerstone.
Do you know someone who fits that description?
You can submit candidates for consideration in a matter of minutes at www.Ingrams.com/Nominate . Just click on the C-Suite Awards link and tell us who you believe are the best in the C-Suite.
The deadline for submission is Friday, Nov. 24, 2023
MID-SIZED COMPANIES
CROSSFIRST BANK In banking terms, it’s still a pup: CrossFirst Bank was founded in 2007, and already, it’s the third-largest bank headquartered in Kansas, with $5.6 billion in assets. A good business plan helps, but the Leawood-based bank got where it is by hand-crafting a culture “built on trust, respect and an underlying commitment to our employees,” says Meggin Nilssen, chief of staff. To a staff now 368 strong, that culture gave a unified purpose: Extraordinary service, grounded in the values of character, competence, commitment, and connection. CrossFirst picks up 60 percent of employee health-care premium costs, with high-deductible and PPO plans that can hold an individual emp- loyee’s bi-monthly health, vision, and dental costs to as little as $119. GBA COMPANIES Bury the egos. Do what needs to be done. Support each other. George Butler launched his company in 1969 by grounding its prospects for success in the simplest of terms. Hard to knock the results: From that opening-day staffing level of 10 people, GBA Companies now employs more than 400, witness to its success in branching out in related design disciplines, adding new markets across the nation, and making strategic acquisitions. Headquartered in Lenexa, it has regional offices in Colorado, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Texas and Washington state. Employees are able to choose from medical, dental, vision and life insurance coverages, along with company-paid short-term disability insurance. BASYS PROCESSING It’s not just an Aretha Franklin hit: R-E-S-P-E-C-T was at the core of workplace design from Day One at BASYS Processing. “BASYS was founded in 2002 guided by the principle of treating everyone with respect,” says marketing director Patrick Redd. “We’ve grown a lot since then, but we’re still a small business at heart; our culture and continued growth exemplify that.” That’s in large part because Brad Oddo, founder and CEO, “sees company culture as our No. 1 job,” Redd says. “With a great culture, he believes we can accomplish anything we set our minds to.” Indeed: BASYS grew more than year over year in 2021, making it one of the 20 largest card-not present payment processors in the country. This year is shaping up even better. In 2020, the firm more than tripled its workplace ALPHAPOINTE It’s hard enough to establish a high-functioning workplace under the best of circumstances. Now imagine trying it when the majority of your workforce is visually impaired, even blind. So it says something about commitment to a strong corporate culture that Alphapointe, with that workforce challenge, is thriving: Revenues have tripled over the past 15 years; they’ve doubled over the past decade. Clearly, Reinhold Mabry and his leadership team are doing something right. They set the tone for the entire organization by always focusing on the core mission of empowering people with vision loss, says Mike Vietti, marketing director. A primary operational question is always ‘How many jobs for blind people will this create and how many blind people can we serve through our rehabilitation programs?’” The answer is quite a lot.
Health savings, flexible spending, and FSA Dependent Care accounts are available, and in addition to short- and long-term disability insurance, full-timers can enroll for life and AD&D coverage that maxes out at $500,000 in protection (with voluntary insurance layered over that). Maternity leave runs to a maximum of six weeks, and the retirement savings plans in-clude a 401(k) with a robust 5 percent company match and a stock-purchase plan that provides a 15 percent discount on share prices. The bank also values strengthening relationships not just with its clients but between employees and organizations about which they are passionate. “We encourage our employees to volunteer their time and talent by serving on boards and supporting the communities where they live and work,” Nilssen said. The firm also provides a 401(k) retirement plan with both a company match and a discretionary profit-share contribution and potential performance bonuses. Vacation and sick leave, plus parental leave, bereavement leave and an employee wellness program, along with EAP, all address work-life balance. Flexible-work arrangements are available, and employee professional growth includes professional development support and tuition assistance, and the firm reimburses fees for employees to obtain and hold various technical and professional memberships. Jeans Day? Sure, on Fridays, but in this casual work environment, says marketing director Mackenzi Baum, “we wear them other days, too!” The culture at GBA, she says, is “one of the many reasons people want to work and stay at GBA.” footprint with a 54,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art headquarters, complete with a self-serve barista area with locally sourced coffee, gym, covered deck, treadmill desks, and more. Competitive pay is a baseline, upon which BASYS adds a 401(k) program with company match, flexible working arrangements, and a PTO policy that encompasses vacation and holidays, as well as maternity and parental leave, as one might expect from a family-owned business with an emphasis on work-life balance. Healthy-lifestyle discounts and they cover over 75 percent of individual employee insurance cost, and there are monthly food trucks or catered lunches, holiday celebrations, an annual employee-recognition party, and a preference for filling managerial positions from within—one reason for industry leading retention not just with employees but clients and partners. Employees churn out tens of millions of products annually, making Alphapointe one of the largest employers of the blind, as well as one of the largest providers of low-vision rehabilitation services in the U.S. The unemployment rate among the blind is typically above 70 percent and the reality, Vietti says, “is that people who are blind can do most things their sighted peers can do—they just do things differently.” Alphapointe offers positions that require different skill sets, finding the right fit for people of all levels of visual impairment as well as people with no vision loss. That means a robust training program to raise skill levels and complementary training in areas that can truly make a differ ence in people’s lives—in adaptive technology, in orientation/mobility (how to use a cane, how to use public transportation), in Braille instruc tion, and in activities of daily living, such as cooking and cleaning.
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Ingram’s — Kansas City’s Business Media
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