Monday, February 24, 2020

@kcbizjournal#mentoringmonday

Aviva AjmeraCEO | SOLVE KC

entrepreneurship, strategic planning, marketing, consumer productsAviva is the CEO of SoLVE KC, a Kansas City-based consulting firm. Previously,

she was a partner with The Partnering Group, worked for Accenture and was

a senior leader for Hallmark Cards. Aviva is an accredited angel investor and

serves as the executive committee chair with the Women’s Capital Connection.

She also serves on several Kansas City boards, including the Kansas City Ballet

and Children International.

Debby Ballard DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS - PRESIDENT OF THE SPRINT FOUNDATION | SPRINT CORP. nonprofits Debby is director of Community Affairs, and she serves as president of the

Sprint Foundation. In this role, she is a catalyst for positive outcomes for local

and national communities. Her efforts have led to millions of dollars invested

in positive programming in areas of K-12 education, youth development, arts &

culture, community/civic infrastructure and disaster relief.

Charlotte BarksdalePRESIDENT | LASERCYCLE INC.entrepreneurship, strategic planning, leadership, organic growthCharlotte has served as president of LaserCycle for 12 years. As a Hewlett-

Packard Premier Technology Partner, LaserCycle offers innovative IT solutions in

print, copy and the digital workplace in 40 states. She is president for the local

chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth and was a 2019 honoree of

Women Who Mean Business.

Allison BereyPRESIDENT | M:CALIBRATEmarketing and strategyAllison Berey has 25 years of experience, including six years as chief marketing

officer at Polsinelli. She now leads M:CALIBRATE, a strategic marketing

consultancy, supporting clients as a Fractional CMO in strategic planning, brand

strategy, innovation, customer experience and marketing department formation.

Allison earned an MBA from the Wharton School and an MA in International

Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. She is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.

Hailee Bland WalshOWNER, FOUNDER | CITY GYM KCentrepreneurship, branding, strategic leadership, wellness Owner and Founder of City Gym KC, executive director of Transformations

Youth Organization, write + speaker, movement guru, transformations coach,

rescue pup mom, wifey, “super auntie”

MentorsBIOGRAPHIES

Kathleen Boyle Dalen CHIEF TALENT, INTEGRATION, AND CULTURE OFFICER | EWING MARION KAUFFMAN FOUNDATIONorganizational culture, team development, growth & learning, nonprofit leadershipDr. Kathleen Boyle Dalen is chief talent, integration and culture officer at the

Kauffman Foundation. Kathleen is a psychologist with a focus on team culture,

growth and learning. She is an adjunct faculty member at Rockhurst University

and on the TEDxKC executive leadership team, where she is a champion for

intellectual curiosity, scout mindset and diversity in storytelling.

Erica BrunePRESIDENT | LEVER1entrepreneur, payroll, human resources, employee benefitsLever1 is a Kansas City-based professional employer organization providing

HR, payroll and employee benefit solutions to over 3,500 worksite employees.

Within five years of launching Lever1, Erica helped drive the company to

become Missouri’s Fastest Growing Company of 2017 — ranked No. 44 in the

nation by Inc. Magazine. Women Presidents’ Organization recently named Erica

No. 4 in The 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies 2018.

Lynn Carlton PRINCIPAL AND DIRECTOR OF PLANNING | HOK city building, strategic planning, urban designLynn Carlton has 20 years of experience in urban planning and design and

leads HOK’s Planning Group. Throughout her career, she has been involved in

a variety of planning, design and urban landscape projects. She is well-versed

in comprehensive planning for downtown corridors, mixed-use developments,

urban districts, waterfront locations, urban campuses and regional sustainability

planning. Lynn works closely with all types of stakeholders to develop common

ground, resolve barriers to implementation and inspire concerted action toward

shared goals.

Amy CastilloCEO & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | ABILITY KC health care, nonprofit, strategic leadership (mergers & acquisitions), branding & marketing An improvement-oriented leader with strong analytical and problem-

solving ability to create new opportunities. With an extensive background in

understanding the complexities of health care and nonprofits, Amy has an

impact mindset and is mission-driven. For the last three years, Amy has been

the CEO and executive director of Ability KC, bringing together two agencies,

Children’s TLC and the Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City. Amy is an alumna

of the University of Missouri, Baylor University and the University of Dallas.

MentorsBIOGRAPHIES

Kelly Carnago COO | ANDREWS MCMEEL UNIVERSAL Kelly Carnago leads the syndication editorial and operations, eCommerce,

licensing, production, demand planning and greeting cards teams and is

responsible for strategic planning. Prior to joining Andrews McMeel, Kelly was

director of Google Fiber business operations where she led local teams focused

on customer acquisition and retention, as well as community impact and

business outreach. In this role, Kelly evaluated potential expansion of Google

Fiber across the Midwest region, managed the P&L and represented the voice of

the customer and the markets in Silicon Valley headquarters meetings.

Diana Chaloux – LaCerte OWNER | HITCH FIT entrepreneurship, marketing, health, fitnessDiana Chaloux-LaCerte is an entrepreneur, co-founder and co-owner of Hitch Fit

Online Personal Training and Hitch Fit Gyms. She is a health and fitness expert,

two-time World Champion athlete, published author and motivational speaker

with a passion for leading others to strength in mind, body and spirit. Diana is a

2015 Women Who Mean Business honoree.

Thalia CherryFOUNDER & CEO | CHERRY entrepreneurship, education, leveraging, networkingThalia Cherry is the founder and CEO of Cherry, a national licensed clothing

company established in 2012. Headquartered in Kansas City, the company

holds 18 collegiate and professional team licenses. The company is dedicated to

community impact: 10% of its annual revenues support education and athletic

endeavors. Recent expansion includes the New York City market.

Audra ClarkEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | CITY YEAR KANSAS CITYAudra Clark is the Founding Executive Director of City Year Kansas City. Audra’s

nonprofit career began with a year of service as an AmeriCorps VISTA in San

Antonio, Texas. She then joined City Year Washington, DC as a staff member in

the fundraising department. For 11 years, Audra held many fundraising positions

with City Year Washington, DC, including serving four years as the Development

Director. In that role, she was responsible for all areas of fundraising for a $5

million budget and helped the site triple in size from 55 to 160 AmeriCorps

members.

MentorsBIOGRAPHIES

Karrie Clinkinbeard MANAGING ATTORNEY | ARMSTRONG TEASDALE LLPlegal, management, business development, mentorship/sponsorship Karrie is the office managing attorney of Armstrong Teasdale’s Kansas

City office and has been with the firm for more than 20 years. She focuses

on fire, explosion and electrocution and product liability litigation. She is

one of few attorneys in the U.S. to receive a Certified Fire and Explosion

Investigator credential and has taught courses across the country related to

fire investigation. Karrie is a member of the firm’s Compensation and Executive

Committees and works with other firm leaders on strategic direction, business

development and overall management of the partnership.

Joni Cobb FOUNDING CEO | PIPELINEentrepreneurship, strategy, communications, board Serving as the founding president & CEO of Pipeline entrepreneurs for the past

13 years, Joni delivers a winning combination of strategy, creativity, alliance-

building and detailed execution. Joni has taken on challenging responsibilities

at every level of the organization – driving real economic results that have

garnered national accolades and strategic partnerships. As CEO, Joni has led

the development of every aspect of the organization, including the curriculum

build-out, pivoting the business model, building a national advisory board,

launching an angel investor group, securing multi-state partners and raising

more than $12 million in outside funding.

Allison CoxSVP, MARKET LEADER – WEALTH MANAGEMENT | BANK OF BLUE VALLEYAllison oversees all wealth management lines of business, including private

client, private banking, and brokerage. Allison joined Bank of Blue Valley in 2017

and has an extensive background in estate planning and trust administration.

Having more than 20 years of experience in the wealth management industry,

Allison has a strong practical knowledge base in developing and offering

innovative financial solutions. She holds a Juris Doctor from University

of Missouri – Kansas City and has a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor

certification from Northwestern University.

Sara CrokePRESIDENT | WEATHER OR NOT INC.Sara Croke is a highly-respected thought leader, national speaker and author in

the business of weather. As founder and president of Weather or Not Inc., the

Midwest’s leading meteorological consulting firm, Croke helps her clients save

money and improve safety to mitigate the impacts of weather on their business.

Sara is founder and president of Weather or Not Inc., a leader in weather risk

management since 1986.

MentorsBIOGRAPHIES

Essie DavisFOUNDER, EDUCATOR, COACH, CONSULTANT | E2D PERFORMANCE LLCEssie has more than 30 years of corporate business experience where she spent

her first 20 years in a variety of executive finance leadership roles at General

Dynamics and Sprint. Her last 10 plus years were spent in senior HR positions at

both EMBARQ and Ascend Learning. Essie is known for her strategic approach,

creativity, the ability to attract, develop and lead great talent while building

high performing cultures. She has a passion for health and wellbeing and

how it can be a catalyst for high performance. In 2015, she took that passion

and developed an education, coaching and consulting business focused on

executive wellbeing.

Lina Dickinson CO-OWNER | MER-SEA & CO.entrepreneurship, consumer productsLina Dickinson is one of the founders and owners of Mer-Sea, a travel lifestyle

brand sold in over 1,200 retailers across the U.S., as well as Canada, EU and

Australia. Mer-Sea was listed as #279 on the INC 5000 list of fastest-growing

companies in 2018. In 2019, Mer-Sea attained an official Women’s Owned

Business designation by the WBENC. Lina primarily focuses on product

development, vendor relations, and digital sales. She has four kids and loves

traveling with her family.

Katie Dunn Fitzgerald PRINCIPAL, SENIOR WEALTH CONSULTANT| MARINER WEALTH ADVISORSfinancial planningAs a principal and senior wealth consultant, Katie focuses on relationship

management and new business development. She works primarily with business

owners and senior-level executives, helping them formulate and implement

financial plans. She also works with nonprofits, foundations and institutions. She

has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from TCU, has passed the

Series 7 and 66 exams, and holds insurance licenses in Kansas and Missouri.

Melissa EgglestonCHIEF DEPOSIT OFFICER | NBKC BANKbanking, leadership, team building, fintechMelissa Eggleston joined NBKC bank in 2016 to lead the creation and execution

of a nationwide digital banking platform for consumers and small businesses. As

part of NBKC’s executive team, Eggleston works to form strategic partnerships

and investment opportunities with a variety of fintechs across the country.

She has spent more than 16 years in community banking, serving in various

leadership roles focused on strategy, customer service, business development

and team building.

MentorsBIOGRAPHIES

Anissa ElseyVP, CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER | NAZDARhuman resources, strategy, succession planning, employee engagementAnissa earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from MU and a master’s

degree in I/O psychology from TU. She has two HR certifications: SPHR and

SHRM-SCP. Anissa co-founded a nonprofit called In the Name of GRACE.

“GRACE” stands for Giving Recovering Addicts a Chance to Evolve and has a

mission to raise money to fund outreach operations for Oxford HousesTM (sober

living) in KCMO. Anissa is a 2014 member of Women Who Mean.

Linda EndecottMANAGING DIRECTOR EXECUTIVE MBA | HELZBERG SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT, ROCKHURST UNIVERSITYalliance building, leadership development, strategic planning, networking connections, defining market focus and value propositionsLinda Endecott is an alliance builder who works with leaders and organizations

to plan and implement bold value-creating change. She has worked in senior

executive and development roles and served as a board member and volunteer

for numerous philanthropic and civic organizations. She helps emerging leaders

broaden their experience, skills and perspectives in service to themselves,

organizations and communities.

Aaron Fulk CEO/FOUNDER | LILLIAN JAMES CREATIVE marketing, entrepreneurship, public speaking, linkedIn In 2016, as a single mom without a college degree, Aaron founded Lillian

James Creative. With more than 17,000 LinkedIn followers, Aaron strategically

leveraged her online platforms to build her network, expanded her influence

and grew her company. Aaron produces her own podcast (The Cocktail Hour

Podcast), her own LinkedIn Live weekly business show (Above The Fray), and is

a published writer and national public speaker.

Ann GaffiganCONSULTANT | GAZELLE INC.entrepreneurship, technology, sportsAnn Gaffigan has over 15 years of experience in business and technology. After

running her own software consulting company for 12 years, she became partner

and chief technology officer at National Land Realty. Gaffigan developed

industry-leading ways to showcase land and streamline operations. A former

professional athlete, Gaffigan won the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2004

Olympic Trials, setting an American record.

MentorsBIOGRAPHIES

Sonia GarapatyCEO | FSC INC. CONSULTING ENGINEERS engineering Sonia is the CEO of FSC, a multi-disciplinary engineering company providing

services in the U.S. and internationally. Her responsibilities include operations,

HR, M&A, client relations and strategy for FSC and its five subsidiaries. She

holds a master’s degree in E.E. Since joining the company 15 years ago, she’s

grown FSC’s employees, services and locations. Sonia also serves on various

nonprofit, governmental and university boards.

Katie GarciaACCOUNT MANAGER | STURGES WORD COMMUNICATIONSmarketing, social media management, content development, PR Katie’s mission as a marketer is to help brands tell their stories in an authentic

way that elevates them. She believes all brands can shine as long as strategic,

creative thinking is developed and implemented. Katie is a Centurion and

received the KCBJ NextGen Leader Award in 2016.

Angie Grant ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OF TALENT ACQUISITION & DEVELOPMENT | HENDERSON ENGINEERS engineering, talent development, recruiting, leadership Whether she’s setting our internal strategy to further personal and professional

growth, schooling her coworkers on the golf course, or cheering on her alma

mater, the Kansas Jayhawks, Angie Grant does it all with passion, positivity

and determination. As Henderson Engineers’ associate vice president for talent

acquisition and development, she’s constantly striving to implement or improve

continuous learning that aligns with the company’s vision, purpose, business

goals and desired leadership behaviors.

Kimberly Green-Kerr SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT | SPRINT BUSINESSsales, strategy, executive leadership, mentorship As senior vice president of Sprint Business Solutions, Kimberly leads

commercial sales for Sprint Business. Under her leadership, Sprint Business has

seen record-setting growth as she implements its mission to be the preeminent

trusted adviser to small, mid- and enterprise businesses and federal, state and

local government agencies as they enable their operations with innovative

communication and collaboration solutions.

MentorsBIOGRAPHIES

Stephanie GuerinCEO | THE PLANNED APPROACH INC. finance, business strategy, risk management, work life balance Stephanie Guerin is the CEO and wealth manager at The Planned Approach Inc.,

a successful boutique firm working with a small group of high net worth women

and their families in Kansas City. She is also a writer, community volunteer,

mother of two independent kids and a beautiful but evil beagle. She has been

married to Larry Jacob, a brilliant hottie, for almost 20 years.

Jean Hansen COO | UMBRELLA-MANAGED SYSTEMS health care management, general business operations As current COO of Umbrella Managed Systems and former CEO of two large

Kansas City physician practices, Jean brings years of health care leadership

experience to daily operations. Jean is a member of the 2012 class of Women

Who Mean Business and received the Ingram’s Magazine “WeKC” Women’s

Executive-Kansas City Award for positive executive leadership and significant

contributions to the Kansas City region.

Marsha HoffmanPRINCIPAL | SFS ARCHITECTUREarchitecture, design, planningMarsha has 35 years of comprehensive architectural experience. She has

provided leadership and oversight on several high-profile projects, including the

renovation of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Reynolds Journalism

Institute at the University of Missouri, the Christopher S. Bond U.S. Courthouse

and the adaptive reuse of the iconic King Louie Building to create the Johnson

County Arts and Heritage Center.

Karen HoganBUSINESS MANAGER | TURNER CONSTRUCTION construction, sales, personnel, financial managementAs business manager, Karen is responsible for the leadership and direction

of Turner’s Kansas City office. This includes sales, operations, personnel and

financial management. Karen has a diverse background in field operations and

office management experience. She is also involved in numerous community

and professional organizations and enjoys spending time with her daughter, 10,

and son, 6.

MentorsBIOGRAPHIES

Jayne Holland CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER | NIC INC.legal, technology, securityJayne Friedland Holland manages NIC Inc’s legal, policy and technology

practices to ensure security of public sector digital government services. She

oversees enterprise-wide Payment Card Industry compliance and performs

internal infrastructure security reviews. Ms. Holland frequently writes and

speaks on security trends, building effective security management programs, as

well as incident response planning to protect personal identifiable information

and privacy data.

Kathy HunterSENIOR VICE PRESIDENT | SIMMONS BANKcommercial banking, finance, economic development, entrepreneurshipKathy is a 35+ year-executive with expertise in commercial/small business

banking solutions that add value, promote economic development and support

the success of the community. In 2017, she joined the KC leadership team for

Simmons Bank, one of the fastest-growing companies in the nation, to expand

its presence in Kansas City.

Courtney KounkelCO-FOUNDER AND PARTNER | MONARCH BUILD entrepreneurshipCourtney is a construction industry executive and entrepreneur, having founded,

grown and successfully sold several companies. Currently she is a managing

partner and co-founder of MONARCH BUILD, a commercial construction

company in the greater Kansas City area.

Denise KruseCEO | ADAMSGABBERT

Entrepreneurship, “Me, Inc.” i.e. being CEO of your own career, Rapid business growth, Creating a unique culture AdamsGabbert delivers on its promises and helps companies execute their

strategies through staffing, technology and advisory services. Denise acquired

the company eight years ago, and it has grown to five times the size. Denise is

passionate about helping make the community better and emerging leaders

become their best. Her multiple honors include being a 2006 honoree of

Women Who Mean Business. She has served on many boards and is currently

the Board Chair for Make-A-Wish in Missouri and Kansas.

MentorsBIOGRAPHIES

Mary LeonidaCEO | TRACK CONSULTINGglobal entrepreneurship, leadership, strategy, corporate education, mentoring, change management, non profit leadership and managementA serial entrepreneur, Mary is CEO of Track Consulting, a regional consulting

and investment firm specializing in commercial real estate, strategic planning,

leadership development and entrepreneurial management. Mary is a 2001

recipient of the Women Who Mean Business award and serves as the United

States Ambassador for the G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance.

Ali Mahaffy CO-CEO | SIGNAL THEORY

branding, marketing, leadership, advertising Ali has worked in the marketing industry for more than 25 years, with experience

on the both the agency and client sides of the business. She believes that strong

relationships (internally and with her clients) built on trust produce the very best

work (and the best life).

Amber ManningCHIEF SERVICE OFFICER | THE MILLER GROUPinsurance, operations, strategyAmber is responsible for all agency service team associates. She manages the

overall client experience, helping to meet retention metrics higher than industry

norms. Her responsibilities include fostering good carrier/vendor relationships

and developing product/service offerings to ensure The Miller Group is the

compelling choice for our clients. Amber serves as a member of the executive

leadership team, providing strategic direction for the agency.

Michele Markham PRESIDENT | EAG ADVERTISING & MARKETINGleadership, employee development and coaching, marketing and advertising, business developmentThroughout my career in advertising/marketing, I have presided over two

agencies and worked with hundreds of small businesses, large multi-unit

organizations, franchise brands and dealer networks in various industries

nationwide. I find it highly rewarding to use the knowledge I’ve gained and

learned from the people I’ve worked with throughout my career to find solutions

to problems and help others.

Laura Maver WardFOUNDER & CEO | KINGSBRIDGE CAPITAL PARTNERSmergers, acquisitions, strategic planning, exit planning, board serviceLaura Maver Ward is Founder and CEO of Kingsbridge Capital Partners, a lower

middle market Mergers & Acquisitions firm. She has more than 40 years of

experience advising hundreds of business owners in mergers and acquisitions,

exit planning, succession planning, management consulting and executive

coaching. Ward earned 10 certifications in mergers & acquisitions, exit planning,

and business coaching.

MentorsBIOGRAPHIES

Ashley McDonaldCAMPUS ADMINISTRATOR | ADVENTHEALTH SOUTH OVERLAND PARKbusiness development, operations, community outreach, strategic planningAshley is responsible for day-to-day oversight of existing services, collaborating

with hospital leadership. She oversees interdepartmental coordination and

is responsible for the strategy and vision for future services at AdventHealth

South Overland Park. Ashley is the past board chair for the NEJC Chamber, a

member of the KU Alumni Association – KC Network Board of Directors and

Wonderscope.

Jenny MillerSENIOR DIRECTOR OF ECOSYSTEM DEVELOPMENT | KCSOURCELINK entrepreneurship, collaborationJenny develops and executes strategies and projects to make Kansas City

America’s most entrepreneurial city. She focuses on civic engagements,

relationship-building and community partnerships to promote a resource

network of 240+ partners across the Kansas City metro, creating a well-

connected startup metro not seen elsewhere.

Marquita Miller-Joshua BUSINESS STRATEGIST/CEO | FIVE STAR TAX & BUSINESS SOLUTIONSentrepreneurship, speaking and financeMarquita helps people realize, embrace, and succeed in business and life.

Marquita provides practical and savvy insight that is easy to understand and

apply. Marquita is a motivational powerhouse! She is CEO of Five Star Tax &

Business Solutions. You can catch her on Fox 4 as “Your Business Coach” or

KCTV5 on the “Your Money Matters” segment.

Erika MoodyPRINCIPAL, OWNER | HELIX ARCHITECTURE + DESIGNErika Moody is a principal and owner at Helix Architecture + Design. She

oversees strategic direction and planning and attracts top talent to the firm.

Moody was honored in the Women Who Mean Business program in 2017.

Alana Muller FOUNDER, CEO | COFFEE LUNCH COFFEEnetworking, relationship buildingAlana Muller is a Networking speaker, workshop facilitator, coach and author of

the book “Coffee Lunch Coffee: A Practical Field Guide for Master Networking”

and a companion blog, CoffeeLunchCoffee.com. Coffee Lunch Coffee provides

an accessible, relevant, immediately actionable approach to professional

networking for those interested in connecting with others, getting involved

in their community, seeking to advance their career or looking to build social

relationships.

MentorsBIOGRAPHIES

Anita NewtonCHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER | COMMUNITYAMERICA CREDIT UNIONentrepreneurship, innovation, product marketing, side hustlesAnita Newton is Chief Innovation Officer of CommunityAmerica. Newton spent

her career helping large (P&G and Sprint) and small (Zave Networks, which

was acquired by Google), companies grow. She is co-founder of Mighty Good

Solutions, maker of products sold in Walmart and Target. Newton serves as

co-chair of STARTLAND, KU Liberal Arts, and Rose Brooks Cabaret. She was the

2018 Athena Award recipient and is a graduate of KU and Harvard. She lives in

Prairie Village with her husband and two children.

Sarah OsborneCHIEF ACTUARY & ANALYTICS OFFICER | GEHA

actuarial, analytics, finance, insuranceAt GEHA, Sarah leads the Analytics Center of Excellence, Enterprise Project

Management, and Enterprise Business Process Improvement, driving enterprise

strategies and delivering analytic capabilities to support an insight-driven

and efficient organization. She also spent two years as CFO while building out

actuarial services for the company. Sarah also enjoys serving on the board of

directors for Phoenix Family, volunteering for the Society of Actuaries and

spending time with her husband and four children.

Neelima Parasker CEO/PRESIDENT | SNAPIT SOLUTIONS LLCentrepreneurship, training, information technology, workforce developmentNeelima Parasker, CEO/President of SnapIT Solutions LLC, an innovative

technology solutions and services company, has 18+ years of experience in

IT and has held leadership positions with Fortune 500 companies. Neelima

is a board member of the Kansas State Workforce Board, was recognized as

an Innovator in Residence with Kauffman Foundation and is the recipient of

numerous local and national awards.

Patti PhillipsCEO | WOMEN LEADERS IN COLLEGE SPORTSPatti is a sports executive, speaker and an industry leader on women’s career

advancement. She has worked in the sports industry in various capacities for

more than 30 years, first as a collegiate volleyball and basketball coach, then at

the NCAA, the Kansas City Sport Commission leading WIN for KC, and for the

last 10 years at Women Leaders in College Sports. She has dedicated her career

to coaching, mentoring, and inspiring women at all levels, in all industries. As the

CEO of Women Leaders in College Sports—the nation’s premier organization

that develops, connects and advances women working in collegiate athletics—

she uses insight she’s gathered from her relationships with search firms, hiring

committees and university presidents to coach women and help them grow in

their careers.

MentorsBIOGRAPHIES

Heather Physioc GROUP CONNECTIONS DIRECTOR, DISCOVERABILITY | VMLY&Rmarketing, digital, public speaking, leadership, coaching, professional development, integrationHeather Physioc is group director of discoverability at VMLY&R, including

the organic search, paid search and performance content teams. Heather is

a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, with a bachelor’s degree

in strategic communication. She holds an Executive MBA from Rockhurst

University. She is an adjunct professor of digital marketing at the master’s level

at the University of Kansas.

Rosana Privitera BiondoPRESIDENT | MARK ONE ELECTRIC COMPANY INC. Biondo has been an owner and president of Mark One, a specialty electrical

contracting firm, since 1994. Mark One has been the go-to company for Kansas

City’s biggest and most prominent projects, including the streetcar, Cerner’s

Innovations Campus, Sprint Center, Arrowhead Stadium, the Nelson-Atkins

Museum of Art and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

Mary A. RedmondCHIEF NEGOTIATOR | FEARLESS NEGOTIATOR LLCnegotiations, body language, professional speakingMary A. Redmond is an International speaker, author, negotiator and body

language expert. She speaks, trains and inspires Corporate Audiences

Professional Associations and Organizations. Most requested programs are: Be

a FearLess Negotiator: Ask for More!, Listen Care-Fully to be Brilliant!, and Read

Body Language to See What’s Said. As an 11-year active member of the National

Speakers Association, she is a past president of the NSA-Kansas City chapter

and member of the year.

Jennifer Regas CFO | RETAIL SUCCESSfinance, strategic growth, acquisitions, entrepreneurshipJen Regas is the CFO for Retail Success, a software company. She has more

than 20 years of multi-industry experience driving financial results. She has

a passion for working with entrepreneurs and creating strategies to realize

maximum enterprise value. Jen is passionate about giving back and serves as a

board member for nonprofits.

Wendy ReynoldsPRESIDENT | BANK OF BLUE VALLEYWendy Reynolds joined Heartland Financial in 2011 and has nearly 25 years of

consumer and commercial banking experience. Since joining Heartland, Wendy

has served in positions of increasing responsibility including: Branch President,

Senior Vice President & Senior Lending Officer, and Executive Vice President &

Commercial Banking Manager. In 2019, Wendy was named President of Bank of

Blue Valley. Wendy lives in Overland Park with her husband Jon and daughters

Maya and Hannah.

MentorsBIOGRAPHIES

Mary RickettsPRESIDENT & CEO | TURNING POINT TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT LLCMary leads her company, Turning Point Training & Development, with over

20 years of leadership, management, sales and training experience. She is

a passionate and effective business coach, entrepreneur and networking

connector. Whether she is teaching a class, keynote speaker or leading a

mastermind group you will learn, laugh and leave with tools to impact you, your

company and community.

Michelle RobinCHIEF WELLNESS OFFICER | YOUR WELLNESS CONNECTION wellbeing, health, relationships I am a chiropractor, author, teacher, holistic healer, podcast host, unshakable

optimist, speaker and the founder of Your Wellness Connection.

Julie Robinson EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT CLIENT SERVICES | TROZZOLO marketing, advertising, branding, strategyJulie is an experienced marketing communications professional and executive

leader. She spent more than 20 years at Kuhn & Wittenborn Advertising,

where she was a partner and Chief Operating Officer. In Julie’s current role as

executive vice president of client services at Trozzolo, she works with clients

and account teams to solve business challenges through telling stories, sharing

information and engaging in conversation. Julie and her team develop programs

across the integrated marketing communications spectrum: advertising, public

relations, branding and digital.

Stacy RoseCOO | ADAMSGABBERTentrepreneurship, technology, operations, strategy, leadershipStacy is the Chief Operating Officer at AdamsGabbert. AdamsGabbert helps

companies execute on their strategies through staffing, technology and

advisory services. A true operational leader, Stacy brings a proven record of

successful business strategies and innovative processes that deliver explosive

growth in revenue and profitability. She is credited with playing a significant

role in growing AdamsGabbert from a 10-employee company to over 200

employees in a 4-year span. Stacy is pursuing her Executive MBA from

Rockhurst University and serves on the Board of Directors for the Overland Park

Chamber.

MentorsBIOGRAPHIES

Angie SalmonSENIOR VICE PRESIDENT | CBIZ/EFL ASSOCIATES

board/executive search, recruiting/retention, total rewards, network building Angie possesses significant expertise in board of directors and executive search,

having completed more than 400 search engagements since she joined EFL

Associates/CBIZ. Her role has since expanded to include employee benefits,

retirement plan advisory, compensation and commercial insurance in addition

to executive/board search. As such, Salmon coordinates the technical expertise

across 5,000 CBIZ associates to support clients in recruiting and retaining

talent and managing risk.

Sunita Sanjanwala OWNER/OPERATOR | PRIMROSE SCHOOL OF OVERLAND PARK

entrepreneurship, marketing, educationSunita Sanjanwala is the co-owner of three local private preschools and is

responsible for business development, operations and marketing. Sunita

believes the key to business success is providing genuine customer service to

her clients and creating a workplace that fosters positive relationships with

clients and other employees.

Wendy SavlinDirector Hr Learning & Development | SprintWendy is currently the Director of Leadership Development and Employee

Experience at Sprint. As such, she manages a team of experts responsible for

performance and succession management, leadership development, executive

development, VP and above recruitment, executive coaching, assessments,

employee experience strategy, community management and employee

engagement survey.  Prior to her current role, Wendy has had manager roles

spanning across talent development as well as providing HR Business Partner

support at Sprint and other organizations.

Jodi SchadeHEAD OF MARKETING CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT | COX AUTOMOTIVEmarketing, branding, retail, nonprofitJodi is a business and marketing executive with brand strategy, campaign

marketing, product development, licensing, entertainment, entrepreneurship,

and sales experience. She leads campaign marketing for Cox Automotive’s

Dealer Software Solutions’ businesses. She serves on the executive board for

Goodwill, Sponsor Board for the Pure Pitch Rally supporting KC’s entrepreneurs,

and is a founder of Grand Connections networking group.

MentorsBIOGRAPHIES

Sheila SeckMANAGING PARTNER | SECK & ASSOCIATESmergers acquisitions, startups, corporate council, technology & licensingSheila focuses her practice on assisting entrepreneurs as they launch their

business and encounter change as they grow. She works closely with growing

companies, established businesses, and investors to develop solutions to the

broad range of challenges they encounter in running their businesses. She works

with clients on managing founder relationships and ownership issues, corporate

governance for new and established companies, protecting intellectual

property, financing issues, including state and federal securities laws, and

preparing business owners to sell their companies.

Rachel SextonCOO | VPRworking mother, networking, using nonprofit leadership to gain work skills, being a “lifer”Rachel’s first role at VPR was interning 23 years ago. The defining moment

of her career was co-founding VPR’s Patient Outreach Program division.

Today, VPR POP supports more than 300 patients who share their journeys

thousands of times each year to educate and inspire people living with rare

and progressive diseases. Rachel is a past president of the Junior League and a

mother of five.

Mandy ShoemakerCO-FOUNDER | PRAIRIE ELDER CAREentrepreneurship, small business, health careMandy left a 20-year career as an educator to start Prairie Elder Care with her

sister-in-law, Michala Gibson. Over the last five years, they have built a brand

regarded as the best in Kansas City for dementia care. As co-founders, they

have taken their business from a startup to one of Ingram’s top ten fastest-

growing businesses of 2018, and gone from zero to 35 full-time employees.

Shannon StitesCFO, NORTH AMERICA | HUHTAMAKIfinance, strategy, manufacturingShannon Stites is CFO for Huhtamaki’s North America segment, where she leads

finance and IT and is part of the leadership team responsible for determining

and executing strategy. Huhtamaki North America has $1.2 billion in sales

generated by 4,000 employees across 18 manufacturing locations in the U.S.

and Mexico. Prior to Huhtamaki, Shannon was a partner with Ernst & Young.

MentorsBIOGRAPHIES

Michelle SuterPRESIDENT | COMMERCIAL LAW GROUP PAentrepreneurship, business structure & organization, real estate, business management Michelle Suter is a top 50 female attorney SuperLawyer and owner of

Commercial Law Group PA in Leawood. She handles business, finance and

real estate matters for banks and businesses. Her company, The Big Brass Inc.,

provides practical resources for business by blog, podcast, classes and video.

She has three YouTube channels — Commercial Law Group, Big Brass and

FinelyRevealed.

Courtney ThomasPRESIDENT & CEO | NEWHOUSEmarketing, public relations, fundraising and operationsFollowing eight years of delivering an innovative vision and strategic focus

to significantly expand Wayside Waifs’ financial position and mission impact,

Courtney led the merger of two Kansas nonprofits to form Great Plains SPCA,

where she served as president and CEO for more than six years. As the top

executive, she set the vision and strategy for operations, marketing, fundraising

and business development, while leading agency culture, human resources and

finance activities. Before taking the helm of Newhouse, she was president and

CEO of Central Exchange.

Kristin TysonMANAGING DIRECTOR | CROSSFIRST BANKbusiness owners, health care, finance Kristin Tyson serves as the Managing Director of the Kansas City Private

Banking and the Kansas City Relationship Banking groups. Kristin brings 35

years of private banking, business banking, and retail banking expertise that

spans a variety of industries and transaction types and structures.

Carolyn WatleyVICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | CBIZ business development, community engagement, employee benefits consulting, nonprofit board leadershipReceived bachelor’s degree in business administration from Benedictine

College in Atchison, Kansas. Employed at CBIZ for 40+ years in CBIZ Benefits &

Insurance Services Group. Currently Chair of Greater KC Chamber of Commerce.

Serves on KCPS Foundation Board, KU Advancement Board, Kansas City Urban

Youth Academy Board, Kansas City Campus for Animal Care Board, Police

Foundation Board, KC Rising Steering Committee.

MentorsBIOGRAPHIES

Christal WatsonEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | KANSAS CITY KANSAS SCHOOL FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE INC.Prior to the appointment executive director of the Kansas City School

Foundation for Excellence, Christal served as deputy chief of staff for the

Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kan. and was president

and CEO of the Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce (a regional chamber

servicing Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas). A seasoned executive with

over 25 years of experience with organizations such as Sprint, United Way,

and Truman Medical Centers, her leadership abilities in community relations,

business process improvement and business development has garnered local

and regional recognition.

Beverly Weber ATTORNEY/SHAREHOLDER | MARTIN LEIGH PCbusiness development, chaos management, communication, law, real estate, lending, financeBeverly Weber owns Martin Leigh PC, a law firm in Missouri and Kansas, where

she manages the firm, develops business and practices in real estate, financial

lending and litigation. Beverly has been recognized in Best of the Bar and Super

Lawyers listings, received the Missouri Lawyers Weekly Rising Star Award, and

is a 2016 Woman Who Means Business.

Joan WellsCEO | WELLINGTONentrepreneurship, branding, events, community buildingJoan Wells is CEO and co-founder of Wellington. A Kansas City native, Joan

founded Wellington more than 25 years ago with a vision for a live experience

company that would create and build connections that transform with clients as

authentic partners. She and co-founder Jada Hill have consistently grown the

business over the company’s history with a focus on strategy, and a visionary

eye on transforming the industry.

Joy WheelerCEO | GIRL SCOUTS OF NE KANSAS AND NW MISSOURIexecutive leadership, business, health care, non profit, board managementJoy Wheeler provides strategic direction for the preeminent leadership

development organization for girls. She has a diverse and extensive leadership

background with career experience in public, private, government, nonprofit

organizations and board positions. Joy has a master’s in public administration

from the University of Missouri – Kansas City and a Bachelor of Science in

nursing from the University of Kansas.

MentorsBIOGRAPHIES

Colleen White PRESIDENT | STRATEGIC WORKPLACE SOLUTIONS INC. prevailing wage & related labor & MBE/WBE compliance consulting, training & project monitoring As president/owner of Strategic Workplace Solutions Inc., Colleen brings more

than 35 years of experience from business, government and labor backgrounds.

SWS helps clients manage prevailing wage and related labor, plus Minority/

Women Business Enterprise compliance risks by providing training, consulting

and construction project monitoring services to reduce or eliminate violations.

Colleen also assists business owners with obtaining women or minority

certifications.

Nancy WhitworthCHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER | MCCOWNGORDON CONSTRUCTIONHR and talent development – people strategy, total rewards, employee engagement, learning & development, leadership development, mentoring, complianceAs chief people officer, Nancy leads McCownGordon’s people strategy, human

resources, talent development, and community engagement. Nancy has more

than 30 years of business experience and her efforts have helped enhance a

distinctive company culture that sets McCownGordon apart. The company has

been named one of the Kansas City Business Journal’s “Best Places to Work” for

15 consecutive years.

Monica WilkensCHIEF MARKETING & DIGITAL OFFICER | MYLO marketing, strategy, branding, digital/ecommerceResults-driven marketing executive with 20 years of strategy, ecommerce,

customer acquisition, digital and business development experience. Received

national recognition as Insurance Business America’s Hot 100 2019, Techweek

100 Innovator 2018 and Techweek 100 Rising Startup 2017 for disrupting an

industry and driving innovation with technology. Passionate about leveraging

consumer insights to deliver significant ROI.

Bridgette WilliamsEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | HEAVY CONSTRUCTORS ASSOCIATION OF GREATER KANSAS CITYtransportation, construction, ecodevo policy, contract negotiationsBridgette is the first African American and the first female to hold the top

position in an AGC chapter in the country. The Heavy Constructors Association

has been in the forefront of transportation, public works, infrastructure issues

and campaigns in the greater Kansas City area, and in Kansas and Missouri.

The association’s members have built most of the highways, bridges, streets,

airports, dams and clean and waste water systems in Kansas and Missouri.

MentorsBIOGRAPHIES

Gail Worth OWNER | GAIL’S HARLEY-DAVIDSON branding Gail bought Gail’s Harley-Davidson at age 35. She was, and still is, one of only a

few women who own a motorcycle dealership. She attributes her success to her

abilities to set herself and her company apart from the crowd and to surround

herself with driven and passionate people who can see her vision.

Ronda ZillnerCEO | EVEREVOLVE INC.marketing; strategic planning; career and life coachingAfter 25 years as founder/CEO of a marketing, strategic planning and analytics

firm, Ronda successfully sold her firm and exited the business. The firm

developed many groundbreaking products that helped more than 200 clients

grow their businesses. One of Ronda’s most gratifying roles was coaching

team members to become leaders and expand their careers through extensive

coaching, training and hands-on experiences.

MentorsBIOGRAPHIES

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