Committees
KC Rising’s Committee Members, Task Forces and Volunteers are made up of a collective of local professionals from a diverse range of industries. Together we ensure that our initiatives are met.
Steering Committee
The KC Rising Steering Committee is the governing body for the KC Rising initiative and is composed of business and community volunteers from across the metropolitan area who are committed to regional collaboration. The Steering Committee:
- Guides overall direction, ensures integration of strategies, and is accountable for accomplishing the KC Rising goals. Key performance indicators in support of the overarching goals are established by each KC Rising initiative, committee and teams, to be monitored and reviewed by the KC Rising Steering Committee on a regular basis.
- Maintains strategic focus on the aggressive pursuit of the KC Rising goals.
- Evaluates the strategies and activities of KC Rising committees and teams.
- Seeks out best practices in other metropolitan areas and national trends relevant to KC Rising strategies and goals.
- Reports progress annually to the KC region.
President Dentsu DTC Vice President, Community Engagement CBIZ Chancellor University of Missouri - Kansas City Chancellor Metropolitan Community College Mayor City of Lenexa Superintendent Piper School District Community Development Director City of Riverside, MO Chairman & CEO Black & Veatch Vice President, Entrepreneurship Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Senior Executive Director, Chief Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officer Cerner CEO StoneHill Firm Director, Charitable Trusts & Foundations Commerce Bank President William Jewell College Executive Director UMKC Innovation Center Chairman and Chief Optimist U.S Engineering President Overland Park Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Bank of Blue Valley President & CEO BioNexus KC President - Emeritus Henderson Engineers President & CEO Health Forward Foundation Columnist, National Affairs & Politics The Washington Post Vice President, Marketing Manager Arvest Bank Mayor City of Independence Chief People Officer Bardavon Health Innovations Executive Director Hispanic Economic Development CorporationLeadership
Neal Sharma (Co-Chair)
Carolyn Watley (Co-Chair)
C. Mauli Agrawal
Dr. Kimberly Beatty
Michael Boehm
Jessica Dain
Michael Duffy
Steve Edwards
Philip Gaskin
Andrea Hendricks, Ph.D
Cokethea Hill, Ph.D
Charlotte Kemper Black
Elizabeth MacLeod Walls
Maria Meyers
Tyler Nottberg
Tracey Osborne Oltjen
Bob Regnier
Dennis Ridenour
Rich Smith
Qiana Thomason
David Von Drehle
Shalea Walter
Eileen Weir
Fred Wise
Pedro Zamora
People Driving Committee
The People Driving Committee exists to ensure the Kansas City metro region can develop, attract and retain the diverse talent necessary to grow the region’s economic competitiveness.
Founder Sunflower Talent Strategies Vice President, Human Resources McCownGordon Chief, Talent Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Director, Recruiting Cerner Vice Chancellor, Instruction Metropolitan Community College Principal Henderson Engineering Senior Community Development Advisor Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Director, Vice Provost, Extended Studies University of Central Missouri Director, Investor Relations KCADC Vice President of Total Rewards H&R Block Secretary, Business Manager Greater Kansas City Buildings and Construction Trade Councils Chief Academic Officer Johnson County Community College Chief Executive Officer Full Employment Council President Kansas City Kansas Community College STEM, Diversity and Recruitment Specialist Garmin President Aligned Executive Director Workforce Partnerhips Senior Vice President, Unit Leader Lockton Vice President, Programs and Partnership Operations Kansas Manufacturing Solutions Chief Financial Officer FishTech Senior Director Strategy & Planning, Advanced & Emerging Technologies T-Mobile Senior Director Strategy & Planning, Advanced & Emerging Technologies T-Mobile Manager, Stackable Credits Program KC Scholars Human Resource Project Manager Evergy Director, Community Investment and Impact Health Forward Foundation Chief People Officer C2FOLeadership
Molly Weaver (Co-Chair)
Brandi Riggs
Kathleen Boyle Dalen
Maria Gibbs
Suzanne Goochis
Angie Grant
Jeremy Hegle
Laurel Hogue
Angela Kennedy
Lindsey Lanzisero
Alise Martiny
Mickey McCloud
Clyde McQueen
Greg Mosier
Kelly O'Connor
Toree Pederson
Keely Schneider
Megan Remley
Danica Rome
Ryan Shreve
Amanda Todd
Brenda Thomas
Eric Thompson
Tiffany Wheeler
Angelique "Angie" Williams
Krissy Young
Traded Sectors Driving Committee
The Traded Sectors Driving Committee was created in 2020 to review industry data to determine the region’s industry strengths. The committee will monitor economic disruptions and select an industry where the region has existing strength that is sooner to recover due to KC being uniquely positioned. The committee will help determine a now and next sector, as well as help in the selection strategy for said sectors.
President & CEO Vice President, Human Resources American International College CEO Associate General Counsel Executive Director, Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority President & CEO Senior Program Officer, Entrepreneurship President Senior Managing Director CEO / Founder President & CEO Chief Strategy Officer Kansas Department of Commerce Chancellor University of Missouri - Kansas City Vice President, Population Health Saint Luke's Hospital Future Talent Program Specialist Merck Chief Executive Officer Attentive Science Vice President, Research Operations MRI Global Senior Vice President, Executive Director, Chief Scientific Officer Children's Mercy Associate Provost, Diversity & Inclusion Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences Senior Director, Business Development, Midwest Region CRB Manager, Regional Engagement Division Missouri Department of Economic Development Senior Executive Director, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer Cerner Director, Workforce Development MARC Head of Pharm Sciences Argenta Global Assistant Vice Chancellor University of Missouri Executive Director KC STEM Alliance Executive Director PRA Bioanalytical Labortory Professor, Medicine and Population Health University of Kansas School of Medicine Executive Area Business Manager Rare KC Chief Operating Officer & Founder Likarda President & Chief Executive Office BioNexus KC Senior Program Officer, Entrepreneurship Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Director, Engagement, Public Affairs Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Manager, Drug Development Services CritiTech Regional Sales Manager Ellab Chief Executive Officer ELIAS Animal Health Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer Clara Biotech Vice Chair, Research, Department of Anesthesiology The University of Kansas Leadership
Sonia Hall (Co- Chair)
BioKansasBarbara Bichelmeyer (Co-Chair)
University of KansasRebecca Baumgartner
Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Hubert Benitez
PresidentJeff Bloemker
HCA Physician Services GroupKatherine Carttar
Unified Government of Wyandotte / Kansas City, KSAlan Cobb
Kansas ChamberWesley Fields
Bryan CaveCathleen Flournoy
Missouri PartnershipDavid Frankland
Novation iQNathaniel Hagedon
NorthpointeNathan Hermiston
Visit KCJolie Justus
University HealthDan Moye
EDCKCNeelima Parasker
SnapIT Solutions Megan Remley
LocktonDennis Ridenour
BioNexus KCMelissa Roberts
Ewing Marion Kauffman FoundationAllison Schmitt
DI BuildMegan Segura
KCADCNick Suarez
Newark Grubb ZimmerJoshua Taimoor Nana
MTARMichelle Weigand
HoneywellBiologics Taskforce
Sonia Hall (Co-Chair)
BioKansasTrent Armbrust
C. Mauli Agrawal
Daphne Bascom
Karl Binns
Alf Botchway
Robert Conklin
Tom Curran
Kenneth Durgans
Eric Danielson
Pam Harris
Andrea Hendricks Ph.D.
Beth Heslowitz
Ben Isaacs
Lisa Lorenzen
Martha McCabe
Jason Neat
Dr. Akinlolu Ojo
Kelly Ranallo
Karthik Ramachandran
Dennis Ridenour
Melissa Roberts
Miles Sandler
Jake Sittenauer
Clay Stafford
Tammie Wahaus
Jim West
Doug Wright
IDEAS Driving Committee
The Innovation & Entrepreneurship Driving Committee exists to build innovation capacity in the Kansas City metro region to increase the region’s prosperity. Capacity is built through building bridges between early-stage companies and corporations, fully develop a capital continuum, recruiting talent, moving ideas to market, and telling the story of entrepreneurship in Kansas City.
Executive Director Procurement Director Deputy District Director Vice President, Technical Operations Senior Community Development Advisor Vice President & General Manager - Missouri West Spire Vice President & General Manager - Missouri West Spire Founder & Manager Chief Financial Officer Executive Director, Small Business Capital Access Program Officer - Entrepreneurship Chief Information Officer Executive Director President Deputy District Director President Executive Director Director, Economic Development Owner Chief Financial Officer Managing Principal Senior Community Development Advisor Business & Program Development Consultant Founder Executive Director Senior Program Officer Chief Financial Officer Managing Partner Founder
Griffin Riley Property Group Executive Director, Assistant City Manager Small Business Capital Access Program Officer - Entrepreneurship Executive Director Chief Information Officer H&R Block Executive Director UMKC Innovation Center CEO STARTLAND President & CEO Index Lingua Owner Fresh Approach Cleaning Professionals LLC Diversity Manager JE Dunn Senior Manager, Supplier Diversity Sprint VP of Technical Operations MRI Global CEO Custom Engineering Owner & President DiverseID LLC Senior Vice President, Global Operations C2FO Vice President, Supply Chain Children's Mercy Vice President, Commercial Lending First Business CEO Kong Telecom LLC Program Coordinator, Supplier Diversity Metropolitan Community College Corporate Relations and Business Development Manager Mountain Plains Minority Supplier Development Council Commercial Lending Business Development Officer Bank of Labor Co-Founder & CEO Backstitch HR Manager Garmin CEO/President Heartland Black Chamber Procurement Officer Unified Government of Wyandotte County Assistant, Director for Small Business + Entrepreneurship KC Bizcare Office -City of Kansas City Chief Customer Officer MSTS Founder Connectus Worldwide Environmental Consultant Mustardseed Cultural and Environment Services, LLC Supply Chain Manager Cerner Founder Women's Business Center, Enterprise Center of Johnson County President BVA LLC Lead Supplier Diversity Manager EvergyLeadership
Maria Meyers (Co-Chair)
UMKC Innovation CenterJason Banks (Co- Chair)
JE Dunn Construction Adam Arredondo
STARTLANDT.J. Berry
KC Region SBARobert Conklin
MRI GlobalSimone Curls
Prospect Business Association Dell Gines
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas CityJim Erickson
Stephen Mills
Tina Peterson
T-Mobile AcceleratorJohn Rochelle
University of Kansas Health SystemTim Saracini
Community AmericaSherry Turner
Women's Business Center, Enterprise Center of Johnson County Theodis Watson
Central Bank Midwest Shakia Webb
Ewing Marion Kauffman FoundationCapital Access Taskforce
Alan Lowden (Co-Chair)
H&R BlockMaria Meyers (Co-Chair)
UMKC Innovation CenterKlassie Alcine
KC Common GoodRuben Alonso
Alt-CapT.J. Berry
KC Region SBAChris Bornheimer
Lead BankRob Bratcher
Commerce Bank - Kansas CityBrandon Calloway
Generating Income For Tomorrow Katherine Carttar
Unified Government of Wyandotte County / Kansas City, KSJean-Paul Chaurand
H&R Block Foundation Isaac Collins
YogurtiniSimone Curls
Prospect Business Association Bill Dana
Central Bank KC Jason Dehaemers
Trust Neighborhoods Daniel Edwards
Digital Builders Dell Gines
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas CityRebecca Gubbels
Missouri Small Business Development CenterDonald Hawkins
TenthGeoff Jolley
LISCMark Larrabee
Arvest BankAjia Morris
Greenline InitiativeDenise St. Omer
Greater Kansas City Community FoundationStacy Purvis
PNCMelissa Roberts
Ewing Marion Kauffman FoundationJoshua Rowland
Lead BankTim Saracini
Community AmericaBryan Shannon
MSTSAmy Slattery
OdimoMatt Tapp
Sherry Turner
Women's Business Center, Enterprise Center of Johnson CountyKerrie Tyndall
City of KCMOTheodis Watson
Central Bank Midwest Shakia Webb
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation AnnMarie Wills
Leverage LabPedro Zamora
Hispanic Economic Development CorporationSupplier Diversity Taskforce
Alan Lowden (Co-Chair)
Maria Meyers (Co-Chair)
Adam Arredondo
Maria Antonia Pérez-Andújar
Sharon Auck
Nakisha Bausby
Joyce Christanio
Robert Conklin
Joe Davis
Martina Derra
Alexandra Donnelly
Gena Fitzgerald
Todd Fitzpatrick
Debashis Haldar
Chris Kelly
Marvin Lyman
Sandra Olivas
Jordan Warzecha
Jennifer Pozzuolu
Kim Randolph
Sharon Reed
Nia Richardson
Martha Salinas
Mary Shannon
Timberlyn Smith
Oliver Trejo
Sherry Turner
Betsy Villarreal
Valerie Coyazo
Data & Analysis Resource Team
The Data & Analysis Resource Team exists to support KC Rising in creating and maintaining a metrics framework to measure progress toward goals, enable community action and provide data for decision-making. Regular reports will be provided to the steering committee and annually to the community at large regarding Horizon Goals, system and strategy metrics. In addition, the DART will support driving and enabling committees in finding data to inform activities and provide data analysis and visualization to tell the story of committee work.
Director, Division of Neurology Children's Mercy Professor Emeritus, Department of Economics University of Missouri-Kansas City Director, Strategy, Bioscience and Technology Kansas Department of Commerce Director, Public Policy KC Chamber of Commerce Deputy Performance Officer City of Kansas City, Missouri Director, Customer Experience Capabilities H&R Block Senior Data Analyst WSP Executive Director University of Kansas City - Missouri, Urban Education Research Center President County Economic Research Institute, Inc. (CERI) Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Evergy Senior Population Health Scientist Kansas City Health Department Director, Data Services Kansas City Life Insurance Company Director, Community Research, Training and Evaluation University of Missouri - Kansas City Director, Strategy & Transformation Honeywell FM&T Chief Community Engagement Officer United Way of Greater Kansas City KC Area Research Liaison MO Department of Higher Education Senior Director Evaluation, Learning & Impact Stories Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Assistant Vice President and Community Affairs Officer Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Program Analyst Hispanic Economic Development Corporation Director, Economic Research MO Department of Economic Development Senior Director DeBruce Foundation Senior Data Analyst mySideWalk Finance Analyst MO Department of Economic Development Director, Communications and Public Affairs Mid - America Regional Council Director, Division of Neurology Children's Mercy Professor Emeritus - Department of Economics UMKC Director, Strategy, Biosciences & Technology Kansas Department of Commerce Solutions Architect mySidewalk President Johnson County Economic Research Institute (CERI) Senior Policy Advisor Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Assistant Commissioner Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development Director Economic Research Missouri Department of Economic Development Director, Special Projects KCADCLeadership
Ahmed Abdelmoity (Co-Chair)
Peter Eaton (Co-Chair)
Trent Armbrust
Kaitlin Bast
Kate Bender
Jared Benesh
Josh Boehm
Karin Chang
Doug Davidson
Silas Dulan
Alex Francisco
Lauren Frazell
Melissa Hazley
Jim Jamieson
Todd Jordan
Laura Lester
Jessica Mindnich
Teesha Miller
Megan Mooers
Jeff Pinkerton
Robin Smith
Drew Stiehl
Kaitlyn Thomas
Kristin Johnson - Waggoner
Economic Modeling Team
Ahmed Abdelmoity (Co-Chair)
Peter Eaton (Co-Chair)
Trent Armbrust
Josh Boehm
Doug Davidson
Alison Felix
Veronica Gielazuskas
Jeff Pinkerton
Megan Segura
Communication & Engagement Resource Team
The Communication & Engagement Resource Team exists to support KC Rising in creating and maintaining a comprehensive communication strategy to engage corporate businesses, stakeholders in education, elected leaders, nonprofits and disconnected communities, and to promote community action toward the KC Rising shared vision pillars of prosperity. The CERT will provide strategic guidance to staff in oversight of the contracted public relations and marketing firm, support an interactive online presence through social media, help plan events, coordinate an ongoing communications strategy, and create regular marketing collateral to tell the KC Rising story.
Executive Director, Marketing and Communication University of Kansas Health System CEO Morningstar Communications Director of Communications Diocese of Kansas City-St.Joseph Director, Communications & Public Affairs Mid - America Regional Council Senior Vice President, Marketing Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce President + Creative Director Yoodle Vice President, Marketing & Public Relations KCADC Director, Policy & Engagement Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Founder & Creative Lead Segura Marketing & Media Solutions President Dentsu DTC Program Leader, Communications & Engagement Kauffman Foundation Community Engagement Manager Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Vice President, Marketing Manager Arvest Bank President & Chief Executive Officer PREP - KC Vice President, Community Engagement CBIZLeadership
Laura McCarthy (Co-Chair)
Eric Morgenstern (Co-Chair)
Ashlie Hand
Kristin Johnson Waggoner
Melanie Mattes
Tim McCoy
Jessica Palm
Miles Sandler
Nicholas Segura
Neal Sharma
Angee Simmons
Kiona Sinks
Shalea Walter
Susan Wally
Carolyn Watley
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee
Our region continues to experience significant economic disparities by ethnicity and race. Initiated in 2018, the KC Rising Steering Committee created a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee to ensure that KC Rising is inclusive of diverse backgrounds and community stakeholders, in both its volunteer participation and public outreach and strategies.
Director of Donor and Volunteer Engagement Jackson County CASA Chief Executive Officer & Founder REFEHR Chief People Officer Academy Bank Project Engineer Zahner Director, Head Start Program Mid - America Regional Council President & Co-Founder Connection Coach KC Vice President of Grantmaking and Inclusion Initiatives Greater Kansas City Community Foundation Executive Director Workforce Partnership - Kansas Founder & Creative Lead Segura Marketing & Media Solutions Vice President, Access and Engagement William Jewell College Director of Diversity & Inclusion Greater KC Chamber of Commerce Director, Education Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Director KCPS Education Foundation Senior Advisory Consultant University HealthLeadership
Tahir Atwater (Co-Chair)
Kelly Reed (Co-Chair)
Teresa Ascencio
Abdulmajeed Baba Ahmed
Steven Lewis
Nicole Jacobs Silvey
Denise St. Omer
Keely Schneider
Nicholas Segura
Rodney Smith
Greg Valdovino
Sherman Whites
Nicole Collier White
Susan Wilson
Place Advisory Commitee
The Place Advisory Committee (PLAC) exists to advance the shared vision of regional prosperity in relation to the Connectivity and Neighborhoods Pillars. The PLAC will focus on attainable housing and effective, accessible transportation and internet options to allow people to build better futures and open doors to economic mobility.
Leadership

Gretchen Ivy (Co-Chair)
Vice President, Transportation Planning and Policy Project Director
HNTB

Madeline Romious (Co- Chair)
Regional Vice President
AT&T

David Bower
Principal, Business Development, and Design Management
Marc Taylor Inc.

Michael Collins
Managing Director & Global Trustee and Americas Executive Committee
JE Dunn & Urban Land Institute

Carrie Coogan
Deputy Director
Kansas City Public Library & Coalition for Digital Inclusion

Steven Howland
Associate Economist
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

Jodi Krantz
Senior Vice President
Independence EDC

Anthony Luppino
Professor of Law and Director of Entrepreneurship Programs
University of Missouri - Kansas City

McClain Bryant Macklin
Director, Policy
Health Forward Foundation

Scott McCullough
Planning Director
City of Lenexa

Joel Mendez
Assistant Professor
University of Kansas

Rachel Merlo
Government & Community Affairs Manager
Google Fiber

Steve Miller
Founding Partner
Miller Schirger LLC

Agnes Otto
Transportation Director
Burns & McDonnell

Graham Smith
Associate Principal
Gould Evans

Chris Wally
President
Wally & Company

George White
Director, Business Development
GMLV