Contact: Kiva Donahue

Kansas City Tomorrow

kdonahue@kcciviccouncil.org

816-221-2263

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 2024

Twenty-eight Area Executives Named to 2024 - 2025 Kansas City Tomorrow Leadership Class

The Civic Council of Greater Kansas City has announced its 46th Kansas City Tomorrow (KCT) leadership class.

Twenty-eight business, non-profit and public sector executives will begin the ten-month program on August 22, 2024, and complete the experience in June 2025. KCT’s curriculum focuses on the region’s most pressing issues - education, economic development, advocacy and policy, diversity and inclusion, and the KC Rising initiative.

For over 46 years, the Civic Council has engaged rising executives on the key challenges and opportunities facing our region, through KCT. Upon completion of the program many participants take leadership roles that include serving on appointed boards, commissions or elected office, joining a non-profit board or community task force, or stepping up in other ways in our region after completing the KCT program.

KCT is co-facilitated by Kansas City’s most influential business leaders and industry experts.

John Murphy, of J. Murphy Strategies: As a long-time member of the Civic Council, John brings an innate perspective regarding the organization’s strategic plan for regional growth through a shared vision of prosperity for all. John has dedicated four years to leading the KCT program and will relinquish is role as co-facilitator in November 2024.

Dr. Cokethea Hill, CEO and Founder of Blaque KC: Dr. Cokethea Hill, an alumnus of KCT, brings a wealth of experience in the public sector with a strong focus on education and the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Judge Jon Gray (Ret.), Gray Legal Strategies KC, LLC: Judge Gray, another alumnus of KCT, brings insights from a legal career that includes government service, private law practice, a judicial career spanning more than 20 years and a career as a partner at Shook Hardy and Bacon, LLP.

KCT has over 1200 alumni that continue their civic engagement journey through the KCT Alumni Association. In addition, the Civic Council provides opportunities for civic engagement through various committees, leadership groups and task forces within KC Rising and the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City.

Welcome! We are eager to engage with such an outstanding group of professionals and we look forward to working alongside each of the cohort members during this program year.

For more information, visit www.kansascitytomorrow.org

KANSAS CITY TOMORROW (KCT) 46th CLASS 2024-2025

Carlton Abner, Associate Provost, Campus Health & Wellness - Kansas City University

Catherine Adorno, CEO & Founder, LeanLab Education

Olatunji Ajani, Executive Director for 1 Million Cups and Fasttrac - Kauffman Foundation

Matthew Banks, Vice President, National Procurement Director - JE Dunn Construction

Courtney Brooks, President & CEO, Global Ties KC

Quinn Damon, EVP, Producer Lockton

Valerie Escobar, Sr. Wealth Advisor, BMG Advisors

Daniel Ferguson, Senior Marketing Communications Manager, Associate Vice President, HNTB Corporation

LeAna Flores, Director of Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging, H&R Block

Kaitlin Gallen, Shareholder Polsinelli, PC

Sobha George, Sr. Director Risk Management, Evergy

Chad Grittman, Vice President, Strategy & Partnerships, BioNexus KC

Timothy Hadachek, Associate, Lathrop GPM

Stacey Howe, VP, Global Licensing & Business Development Hallmark Cards

LaTasha Jacobs, Executive Director, Pathway Financial Education

Chase Johnson, Senior Development Manager, Port KC

Brice Kenfack, Partner, Shook, Hardy & Bacon

Zachary Lang, Vice President, Finance, McCownGordon Construction

Adrian Lewis, Founder/CEO, Path to Vision

Hillary Martel, Partner, Spencer Fane

Luke Meyers, Chief Operating Officer, Advata

Laura Neff, ENT Physician; Medical Director for Care Management & Patient Family Services  (CMPFS), Children's Mercy Hospital

Marty Rice, Partner, Dentons US LLP

Katherine Sachse, Managing Director, Client Partnership, Global Prairie

Carrie Sherer, Government Relations Officer, Kansas City National Security Campus

Mary Spangler, Executive Director, Kansas City Kansas Community College Foundation

Daniel Tesfay, Senior Program Officer & Interim Leader, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

Emily West, SVP, Head of Wealth Planning, FCI Advisors (Midwest Trust)