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CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS :: 1991-2016
SMART COMPANIES THINKING BIGGER®
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What’s Inside
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04 | Business Storytellers
14 | Kansas City Installers
09 | Wrenn Inc.
14 | Leopold Gallery and Art Consulting
10 | AnswerPro
14 | Women’s Employment Network
11 | Curtis & Associates Inc.
15 | Wagner Logistics
12 | CareStaf
15 | J.M. Neil & Associates
13 | Heartland Seating
15 | Veracity Consulting
14 | WomenSpirit
15 | DIVVYHQ
THINKING BIGGER BUSINESS
Thank You for 25 Years! PRODUCED BY
Thinking Bigger Business Media Inc. ADMINISTRATIVE
Kelly Scanlon Publisher Megan Scanlon Operations and Events Manager EDITORIAL
James Hart Managing Editor SALES + MARKETING
Mary McKenna Business Development PRODUCTION & GRAPHICS
Carolyn Addington Production and Traffic Manager Jen Ross Graphic Designer Kevin Fullerton Design Consultant Dan Videtich Photography Photographer RADIO
Mary McKenna Executive Producer P.O. Box 754, Shawnee Mission, KS 66201-0754 (913) 432-6690 // (888) 432-6444 // editor@ithinkbigger.com sales@ithinkbigger.com iThinkBigger.com A WBENC-Certified Women’s Business Enterprise See our SRDS listing at www.SRDS.com FOR ARTICLE REPRINTS
Contact ReprintPros // Jeremy Ellis (949) 702-5390 or www.reprintpros.com Copyright © 2016, Thinking Bigger Business Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The information gathered and opinions expressed by the authors are intended to communicate information and are not necessarily the views of this publication. The intent of this publication is to provide business professionals with informative and interesting articles and news. These articles, and any opinions expressed in them, are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or business. Appropriate legal, accounting, financial or medical advice or other expert assistance should always be sought from a competent professional. We are not responsible for the content of any paid advertisements. Reproduction or use, without permission, of editorial or graphic content, in any manner is prohibited. Thinking Bigger Business(ISSN 1068-2422) is published 12 times a year by Thinking Bigger Business Media, Inc. Subscriptions are $24.99 per year. This amount includes varying sales taxes, which are contingent upon the location in which the publication is sold. Standard Mail Postage Paid at Shawnee Mission, KS.
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ometimes the simplest words carry the strongest message. I can’t think of better words than “thank you” to convey my gratitude for all who have been part of the journey of Thinking Bigger Business Media these past 25 years.
Our staff is small, like those of the businesses we serve, so we rely on many others to help us with our work. Throughout, so many in the community have lent assistance, ideas, advice, financial support and friendship. To all of you, and there are many, thank you. It goes without saying that we couldn’t have survived 25 years without our advertisers, sponsors and others who have invested financially. By providing the financial foundation that has allowed us to tell the stories of Kansas City’s small businesses for a quarter of a century, you have also supported the small business community itself, investing in a platform that gives these businesses both visibility and a voice. Thank you. We also are grateful for the relationships we have with our friends in the business development organizations who over the years have provided tips and leads that have shaped our coverage of business topics, and who have been instrumental in providing services to our small business audience. Thank you. Many others in the community have lent their time, ideas and expertise to writing articles, assisting with events and serving in advisory roles for the company. You help us to think bigger, reach broadly and accomplish more. Thank you. To the people who have been part of the Thinking Bigger Business Media staff over the years, a huge thank-you. You are among the most dedicated and resourceful people I know. Seeing your dedication to the small business community we serve energizes me every day. Thank you. Finally, to the small businesses in Kansas City, thank you for the vision, the passion, the focus and the effort you put in day in and day out to grow your businesses, create jobs and make Kansas City a better place. You leave a legacy in Kansas City by choosing to be a business owner. In the following pages, you’ll see stories and messages from some of those business owners who are celebrating milestone anniversaries just like we are. Their success is inspiring. We hope you will join us for the first-ever citywide Business Anniversary Bash at Boulevard Brewery on Oct. 25. We’ll be celebrating with other companies who are enjoying anniversaries, and we would like the business community to join us in toasting the future of Kansas City business!
K el ly Sc an l o n
// Publisher // kscanlon@iThinkBigger.com
SMART COMPANIES THINKING BIGGER®
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Business Storytellers ... Thinking Bigger Business is celebrating 25 years of telling the stories of Kansas City’s entrepreneurs.
L ( by James Hart )
Looking back, it’s a little wild to see just how much has changed since Fall 1991.
The Soviet Union was on its last legs, and the U.S. presi-
dential campaign was gearing up—billionaire H. Ross Perot was just a few months away from announcing his campaign for president on “Larry King Live.” Most people had no idea what the internet was, much less how it would transform society over the coming decades. And, in Kansas City, John Holsen and David Byrne were
preparing to unveil the first-ever issue of Kansas City Small Business Monthly. They incorporated in 1991 and published the first issue in February 1992. It eventually evolved from a small, monthly tabloid publication to what is now Thinking Bigger Business Media, which incorporates multiple print and digital platforms as well as live events to develop and distribute information for growth-minded business owners who want to take their businesses to the next level. The company is celebrating 25 years of providing useful information to Kansas City’s community of entrepreneurs.
SMART COMPANIES THINKING BIGGER®
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RISKY OPPORTUNITY
The new venture was a risk during a recession. But Holsen and Byrne decided to proceed with their plans anyway. Today, the average American can research practically any topic imaginable with nothing more than a smartphone— another invention that would have blown minds in 1992. Back then, there were only a few national publications dedicated to entrepreneurship, and they didn’t delve into unglamorous but necessary topics like employee reviews, office leases and more. Byrne and Holsen, both in their 20s, saw a major opportunity. “I felt there was too much business news in Kansas City,” Holsen said, “but not enough business how-to.” They collected practical, real-world advice that enabled readers to start and run their own businesses—helping them to avoid catastrophic mistakes and seize sizable new opportunities. They later added profiles of successful Kansas City companies and shared advice from those entrepreneurs. After incorporating in 1991 and months of planning, the first issue debuted in February
it sounded like a good idea, but you never know if they’re just being nice.” His fears were allayed once the magazine made its way to its intended audience. “After the launch, we knew we were on the right track because we actually got letters from readers congratulating us on what they considered a great concept,” he said. “I had a business owner walk
“Our communities couldn’t survive without the jobs, tax revenue and civic contributions that our smallest small businesses deliver. They are the backbone of our nation.” Kelly Scanlon // owner, Thinking Bigger Business Media Inc.
up to me at a trade show and tell me that our publication helped save his failing business.” To build up their audience, Holsen and Byrne offered a deal for new subscribers: a lifetime subscription for $1. Brooke Morehead, the owner of Prairiebrooke Arts, was one of the first to sign up, and she’s been a loyal reader ever since. Morehead, who launched Prairiebrooke in 1990, said the publication has been a vital resource for her and other small business owners. “I think it validates experiences and connects us with others who are experiencing the same,” she said. “It says we’re on the right track and gives us resources so that we don’t have to reinvent everything.” TIME TO THINK BIGGER
1992 with a quote from dairy store magnate Stew Leonard on the cover: “If you want to start a fire, you’ve got to strike a match.” Holsen and Byrne believed they had just lit a flame that would help light the way for Kansas City small business owners. “Before the actual launch, you don’t really know if you’ve created a winner,” Holsen said. “The business owners I talked to said 6
THINKING BIGGER BUSINESS
But she said every time she sat down to close out the business, she was overwhelmed by the notion that it was the wrong decision, even though the publication was losing money. Scanlon, an editor by training, decided that, as the publisher, she would become the salesperson and hire a freelance editor. “I believed that if I could not sell with the
Like all small businesses, the publication has evolved over the years. Byrne and Holsen left the business in 1995. The current publisher and owner, Kelly Scanlon, eventually purchased the name of the business and the distribution list with two partners and, within a year, was the sole owner. But Scanlon, who had spent nearly two decades in book publishing, had to learn the magazine publishing business. “I nearly closed the publication after one year of going solo,” recalled Scanlon.
vision that I had for the business, then I couldn’t ask anyone else to sell. We closed down for a month to retool, and during that time, only one person called to ask where the publication was. That didn’t help my confidence that I’d made the right decision to stay in business. But I hit the phones and the pavement and started selling. The result was more advertising than the publication had seen before.” At a pivotal point, she convinced a major national advertiser in the technology industry to commit to a long-term run. “I had hounded that poor marketing person to death,” Scanlon said. “When she finally called me back and invited me for an impromptu meeting because she had 15 spare minutes, I hurried over to her office. She took one cursory look at the publication and asked me why she should advertise in ‘that.’ I told her I didn’t want her to advertise in ‘that,’ I wanted her to advertise in ‘this,’ and I described my vision of what the publication could become and other ideas I had for serving the small business community.” After securing that contract, Scanlon never looked back. She concentrated on integrating the editorial and operational focus of Small Business Monthly within the community it reported on and expanding its reach. In 2008, the company changed its name to Thinking Bigger Business Media, and the monthly publication eventually became Thinking Bigger Business, morphing
munity, overlooked by traditional awards programs. The 25 Under 25® Awards give those entrepreneurs their proper recognition. “Our communities couldn’t survive without the jobs, tax revenue and civic contributions that our smallest small businesses deliver,” Scanlon said. “They’re the backbone of our nation, but unless you work for them or do business with them, you might not realize all the good they do.” Since 2002, the 25 Under 25® Awards have recognized 375 successful local businesses. “25 Under 25® began with our 10th anniversary,” said Scanlon. “We used the live event to celebrate our anniversary and highlight the businesses we serve.” The awards have “given us a platform, another platform to stand out in the business community,” said Prairiebrooke’s Morehead, an alumnus from 2005. Most recently, Thinking Bigger Business Media has introduced Thinking Bigger Business Solutions to assist companies with their publication needs. Companies can turn to Thinking Bigger for assistance with newsletters and other publications they may produce for their associates or clients. PART OF THE COMMUNITY
from a free newspaper available at local stores to a glossy magazine mailed directly to subscribers’ offices. While the publication still offers plenty of how-to information, it adopted a new focus of helping readers to “think bigger” so they could grow bigger. Long before the name change, Scanlon understood that the publication needed other channels to reach its audience. After all, technology over the past 25 years has significantly changed how media is consumed and how businesses communicate. “It was evident that a monthly print presence wasn’t enough,” said Scanlon. Kansas City Small Business Monthly developed a web presence in the mid‘90s. The site offered a searchable archive of business articles, links to business resources, directories and more. Today, the current site (www.ithinkbigger.com) is an online hub for content as well as other facets of Thinking Bigger’s media resources, such as podcasts.
A weekly email newsletter followed soon after, offering more timely information such as breaking news on local companies, legislation, upcoming events and more. Scanlon also hosts two online radio shows where she interviews successful entrepreneurs from across the country as well as business thought leaders. Thinking Bigger Business’s Smart Companies Radio now employs a full-time radio producer and offers a full lineup of shows on various business topics. The company regularly presents popular live events like the BIG Breakfast and Brew :30, both quarterly events. The most significant addition was probably the creation of the 25 Under 25® Awards, the only local program that celebrates small businesses with fewer than 25 employees. Nationally, 86 percent of businesses have fewer than 19 employees, but despite their contributions, they’re often invisible in their own com-
Scanlon said Thinking Bigger is a small business like the businesses they serve, and therefore she and the Thinking Bigger staff understand how small businesses operate and the challenges they face. To ingrain the company in the community early on, Scanlon began to attend trade shows, sponsored business events, served on boards and formed relationships with small business development organizations. The publication sponsored the local chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners and other organizations. Doing so enabled the publication “to work firsthand with business owners, get to know them and become familiar with their companies and concerns.” “To reach small business owners, you have to be personally visible to them,” said Scanlon. “I realized very quickly that you can’t just sit in an office dealing with the day-to-day issues of publishing. You have to be involved in the small business community and immerse yourself in their issues and understand their concerns.” SMART COMPANIES THINKING BIGGER®
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In addition to being an information resource, Scanlon considers Thinking Bigger Business Media to be an advocate for small business owners, too. Scanlon herself has devoted considerable time to advocating on behalf of women business owners and served on the national board of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) for five years, including a term in 2010 as national chair. She continues to work with the national organization on several initiatives.
Happy 25th Anniversar y
STICKING TO OUR STORIES
Through its Entrepreneurial Legacy Award, the 25 Under 25® program also has thanked local entrepreneurship legends like Henry Bloch, Ewing Kauffman, Barnett Helzberg Jr., Robert Bernstein, Sherry Turner and others who have made lasting contributions to Kansas City. One of those Legacy Award winners is Patricia Brown-Dixon, the Region VII administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration. Brown-Dixon, who oversees SBA programs in four states, is also the founder of the long-running Kansas City Small Business Networking Event, which has led to a slew of local companies winning big contracts. Today, there are a wealth of resources available to entrepreneurs who are just starting out—from websites and books to in-person coaching available at the SBAbacked Small Business Development Centers and Women Business Centers. But one of the most powerful things you can give an aspiring entrepreneur is an example. That’s why Brown-Dixon likes seeing and sharing the stories of small business success like the ones that can be found in each issue of Thinking Bigger Business magazine. “Because people will respond to other people’s experiences,” Brown-Dixon said. “People learn from other people’s experiences. We can relate to them. We’re inspired by them. We’re motivated by stories of people who overcame challenges in business, and we think we can do it, too.” Nobody knows what the next 25 years will bring for Thinking Bigger Business, but Scanlon is committed to keeping the focus on small business owners—to telling their stories and, in so doing, inspiring and educating the next up-and-coming entrepreneur. “Many of our stories are on companies that haven’t really burst onto the business scene yet in a big way, such as John McDonald of Boulevard Brewing and Danny O’Neill of The Roasterie. Both of them were established but not major businesses yet when they appeared on our cover. Everything we do here ultimately goes back to the business owners—individuals with larger visions and the courage to pursue them,” Scanlon said. “We’re proud to tell their stories.” James Hart is the managing editor of Thinking Bigger Business Media. (913) 432-6690 // jhart@ithinkbigger.com
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A big, bodacious
thank you from each of us for all you do for small business every year!
Great
Ideas
Endure. Established in 1896 by J R Wrenn in Marceline, Missouri, Wrenn Insurance passed from father to son over four generations. Each generation added to the culture of “possibility thinking� that became a hallmark of Wrenn Insurance. Change is inevitable. The culture of innovation established 120 years ago by J R Wrenn has enabled our industry leading companies, now under the banner of Affinity Enterprise Group, to lead meaningful change in the insurance industry today. Our companies have become the hub for education, information, and best practices for real estate investors and entrepreneurs. From Wrenn Insurance to Affinity Group Management and National Real Estate Insurance Group, now REI Guard and Affinity Enterprise Group, we say, Thank You Great Granddad.
Great
ideas
endure.
wrenninsurance.com
affinityeg.com
HOW IT ALL BEGAN :: 2016 C U R T I S & A S S O C I AT E S
Curtis & Associates: 50 Years of Growing Community Wealth T
here have been many life-changing events, breakthrough technology advancements and major shifts in consumer regulations since Curtis & Associates Inc. began doing business in Kansas City more than 50 years ago. But one thing hasn’t changed: the company’s commitment to growing and preserving clients’ wealth.
to financial planning and risk management for families and businesses. Curtis & Associates understands that their clients—successful families and the businesses they founded—value a clearly defined path to help them grow their wealth today and help them preserve it over future generations. They help their clients through the complex planning process, distilling the process down to achievable objectives, flexible strategies, efficient implementation and proactive management.
BUILDING A FOUNDATION
When Tom Curtis laid the foundation for an insurance and investment advisory practice, he understood the importance of the community as a whole, and the direct relationship that the growth and prosperity of families and businesses in the community shared. Fifty years later, Curtis & Associates continues to serve Kansas City and beyond by building on that understanding and ability to seek value for the ever-changing needs of communities. Now a privately owned, second-generation firm located in Prairie Village, current owners Jeff Curtis, Gerald Rappold and Mike Kimbell have expanded upon that early foundation. They have added to the company’s services to include a more comprehensive approach
INVESTING IN THE COMPANY’S FUTURE
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3515 W. 75th St., Ste. 102 Prairie Village, KS 66208 913-319-8990 www.curtis-associatesinc.com Securities offered through Lion Street Financial, LLC (LSF), member FINRA & SIPC. Investment Advisory Services offered through Lion Street Advisors, LLC (LSA) LSF & LSA are not affiliated with Curtis & Associates, Inc.
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Just as the firm has spent decades preserving the financial interests of clients, Curtis & Associates is investing in its own future by adding services. In addition to investment strategies, Curtis & Associates now also offers employee benefits, insurance and a wider range of personal and corporate financial planning services. The Employee Benefits division, started more than 30 years ago, was one of the first additions. The only thing constant since the division’s launch has been “change.” Today, consulting on the Affordable Care Act is the most recent “change” Curtis & Associates has helped clients adapt to. Services include corporate health plans, short- and long-term disability, dental, vision and voluntary benefits, ACA consulting and human resources consulting. The company’s Financial Planning Services division encompasses both personal and corporate. The company has direct access to multiple carrier underwriters, which helps them find competitive ratings for their clients. Their ownership in Lion Street Financial provides this access and allows them to build longterm client relationships with underwriters. This division includes personal life products,
corporate insurance services and investment advisory services (individual, trust and corporate investment advisory) and retirement plans (401k, 403B, profit-sharing plans and defined benefit plans). The most recent addition to Curtis & Associates is its Property and Casualty division. The company partners directly with several of the highest-rated insurance carriers in the industry and has access to hundreds of additional carriers through local wholesale firms. Products include personal insurance such as home, auto and umbrella insurance as well as commercial insurance products such as commercial property, general liability, professional liability and workers’ compensation. In both the insurance and the investment services industries, competition is saturated. Companies are always looking for ways to differentiate themselves, and every company prides itself on customer service. As a small business, you continuously face the challenges of resource management, regulatory compliance, increased competition, customer loyalty and many other hurdles that can significantly affect the bottom line of the business on an annual basis. One of the key differentiators that has separated Curtis & Associates from its competitors is resourcefulness, the ability to skillfully and creatively solve problems and overcome difficulties. And that resourcefulness has contributed to the longevity of the firm. As Curtis & Associates pivots into the 21st century, a focus on resourcefulness has allowed the company to help families and businesses sustain growth and prosperity—by offering competitive solutions on a large scale, while maintaining a personalized boutique image. SMART COMPANIES THINKING BIGGER®
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HOW IT ALL BEGAN :: 2016 C A R E S TA F
Commitment to Quality Care Defines CareStaf’s Quarter Century F
“And on the first ring,” Peggy added, “we always sounded like we were wide awake.”
rom the first day of CareStaf, owners Dennis and Peggy Brown were committed to the new venture they had created and the clients they serve. Dennis said, “In this industry, it’s 24/7, and you have to be ‘all in.’” The company launched in 1991 to offer three types of services using nursing personnel: home health care, private duty and medical staffing.
GROWTH, STABILITY AND QUALITY
The rest of CareStaf’s 25-year story has been one of steady growth, stable employees and quality care. From Day 1, the Browns committed to high clinical standards. That commitment
KANSAS CITY, HERE WE COME
CareStaf’s story actually began when the Browns chose Kansas City to launch the new company. With staffing being such an employee-dependent industry, the Browns were looking for an environment that was employer-friendly, that could deliver a large pool of employee candidates with a strong work ethic. Kansas City fit the bill. The Browns moved here with their 2-year-old and opened their doors in a 1,000-square-foot office at 75th and Mission Road. “For the first 14 months, Peggy and I were on call,” Dennis said. “We worked with our office staff Monday-Friday, 8-5, then we would forward our phones to home to handle calls around the clock, whether at midnight or 5 a.m., whenever it rang.”
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office and field staff. A number of them have been with the company for more than 20 years. Looking back on some of the early employment interviews, Dennis said that at the time they didn’t grasp the long-term significance. But now, he says, he sees the impact of those people every day. “It makes life so much easier for us to have such good supervisors and caregivers working with our clients,” he said. “We realize that we have a responsibility of the utmost consequence—and we carry that out with full commitment to quality care.”
has made CareStaf a recognized leader in supplemental staffing and home health care, a first-choice agency for many area hospitals, nursing homes, social workers, case managers and physicians. In the beginning, medical staffing saw the most growth. Today, home care and private duty account for the largest part of their business. Offering medical staffing—RNs, LPNs and their CNAs—sets CareStaf apart from others in the industry. “Our ability to administer medications and IVs makes CareStaf a more comprehensive service,” Dennis said. The company’s current office staff stands at 20, and Dennis is proud of the fact that they issue W-2s each year to a field staff that numbers more than 500. Peggy said her proudest accomplishment is the longevity of their
Reflecting on the last 25 years, both agreed that technology has played a big role in changing their industry. Scheduling is now done electronically rather than manually, and the company has a paperless office so they no longer have to store physical copies of documents. Still, the Browns nostalgically remember Fridays during CareStaf’s early days. “Fridays were full of energy because our field staff would stop in for paychecks and to deliver documentation,” Peggy said. “We no longer get to see them every week.” Besides technology, the Browns must keep up with legislation, too. “The challenge for small business is staying on top of the things that can change your business, like technology, legislation and other forces,” Dennis said. “It takes a team to manage that.” As CareStaf moves forward with its next chapter, the Browns remain committed to carrying out their promise of quality care. “We treat our patients like our own family members,” Dennis said. “We’re not just trying to grow, we’re always striving to do an even better job,” Peggy said. “Any time someone walks in our office or calls us, we have to remember that this is our home, and we have to make them feel welcome in our home.”
HOW IT ALL BEGAN :: 2016 H E A R T L A N D S E AT I N G
Every Seat Tells Heartland Seating’s Story W
a little town, Kathy said, the smaller communities hold a special place in her heart. “That’s what those small towns do,” she said. “They meet there. You go to the high school auditorium, and you’ve got grandparents watching grandkids at a band concert or the high school musical or whatever it is, and then the high school gym is the same way. “Those are all the places we are, and that, to me, is cool. That’s a community. That’s my favorite part about it.”
hen Kathy Peterson reflected on her fondest memory of 25 years in business, she couldn’t pick just one—she has thousands of them. You see, Kathy and her husband, Brad, co-own Heartland Seating, a company that sells bleachers, theater chairs and other spectator seating across the Midwest. They help make Friday night lights, Little League games and band concerts possible. They provide the seating in venues where memories are made, where communities come together, where applause rings, tears flow and cheers roar. They specialize in what they call spectator seating: gym bleachers, stadium seats, grandstands—anywhere people sit down together. They’ve also developed a strong business in maintaining, repairing and renovating seating. The Petersons do a lot of work in the larger cities like Kansas City, Wichita and Omaha. But as someone who grew up in
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Brad Peterson is a second-generation owner, following in the footsteps of his parents, Mike and Arliss, who operated Heartland Seating for several years. Not only have Brad and Kathy upheld the family’s tradition of excellence, they have grown the company during a time when its primary clients, schools and cities, face tight budgets. Since the Petersons took ownership of the company, Heartland Seating’s annual sales volume has swelled from $3 million to $15 million. Brad Peterson had always wanted to own his own business. He just never thought it would be the one that his parents started. His parents got involved in spectator seating back in the early 1980s, selling bleachers for a manufacturer. For years, the company operated as a thriving homebased business. It wasn’t incorporated as Heartland Seating until 1991. A SECOND-GENERATION VISION
(913) 268-0069 heartlandseating.com
When his dad announced his desire to sell the company, he asked if Brad was interested. Brad, who had a career in sales and marketing and had thought about starting a
business, admitted that up until then, he hadn’t considered ownership of the family business. But he started to see the potential for expanding Heartland Seating. “I had a vision that I could make it more than a mom-and-pop business,” he said. The Petersons formally started the buyout process in 2007. That’s when Kathy officially joined the company. “I was only supposed to be here two years,” she said. “’09 has come and gone, but I’m still here.” After taking over the business, Brad moved it out of his parents’ basement and into its own space. He and Kathy added sales staff, and sales took off. Moving into the new building is another of Kathy’s fond memories. “It meant really having a place for the business to call home. It meant that we were here to stay,” she said. NEXT CHAPTER
The Petersons credit the manufacturers they represent as giving them a strong base. “We can sell with confidence because of their support, integrity and commitment to excellence,” Kathy said. The same is true of the company’s staff, Brad and Kathy said, noting that “without them, we wouldn’t be here.” They extend those kudos to the business partners they have cultivated to advise, support and direct them. “We were bold enough to think this could work,” Kathy said. And although the plans, sacrifices and hard work have paid off, it also signals that she and Brad need to look for what’s next. “When you realize that you’ve checked off a large number of items on your wish list,” she said, “it’s gratifying, but also a bit scary to have to once again evaluate your goals and direction.” Meanwhile, the team at Heartland Seating focuses on doing what they do best—providing attractive, safe and durable seating. “School gymnasiums, auditoriums and outdoor stadiums are the public faces of most communities. It is where everyday people gather. Their comfort and especially their safety is our responsibility,” Brad said. SMART COMPANIES THINKING BIGGER®
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HOW IT ALL BEGAN :: 2016
www.kcofficeinstallers.com
KANSAS CITY INSTALLERS INC. OFFICE FURNITURE & EQUIPMENT SPECIALISTS
THANKS TO ALL OUR EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS AND THE YEARS TO COME! Owners: Bryan Waitley, Clint Waitley, Derek Waitley, Travis Trower and Ronnie Smith
Congratulations!
816.756.261 | 3117 Holmes St, Kansas City, Mo 64109
Recognizing the staff of WomenSpirit, who for over twenty years have been creating vestments for women, designed to fit both body and spirit.
INSPIRING
25 Under 25® class of 2016
KANSAS CITY FOR 25 YEARS
324 W 63RD ST | KCMO 64113 | P 816.333.3111 | email@leopoldgallery.com
www.womenspirit.com
Some stories are meant to be rewritten WEN has been helping women in the Kansas City area rewrite their stories and change their futures for 30 years Proud partner of
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Learn more at kcwen.org or call (816) 822-8083
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WAGNER LOGISTICS
J.M. NEIL & ASSOCIATES
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Year Founded: 1946
Year Founded: 1986
Owner: John P. Wagner Jr.
Owner: Colleen Ellis
Address: 1201 E. 12th Ave.
Address: 9734 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64114
North Kansas City, MO 64116
ARS
Phone Number: 816-941-4997
Phone Number: 816-421-3520
Website: www.jmneil.com
Website: www.wagnerlogistics.com Wagner Logistics (est. 1946), a Top 100 3PL for 16 consecutive years, offers warehousing, transportation and packaging in 14 locations with 4,500,000 sq. ft. Exceptional customer service and superior onboarding processes make transitions seamless. We produce innovative solutions to lower supply chain costs while increasing speed-to-market.
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DIVVYHQ
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Year Founded: 2006
Co-Founders: Brock Stechman, Brody Dorland
Address: 15621 W. 87th St. #195 Lenexa, KS 66219
Address: 117 W. 20th St., Ste. 202
Website: www.engageveracity.com Veracity specializes in improving business performance through management consulting and enhanced technology solutions. We are about innovation and creating tangible results through the use and implementation of technology. Veracity’s leadership team cultivates an organizational culture that drives purpose, passion, and an entrepreneurial spirit to all our client engagements.
ARS
Year Founded: 2011
Owner: Angela Hurt
Phone Number: 913-945-1912
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J.M. Neil & Associates is celebrating their 30th birthday in a big way! They garnered a national “WBE’s Who Rock” honor and the “Missouri Governor’s Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year” Award. Colleen Ellis and her team partner with federal and commercial clients to provide high-level professional search, workforce management and outsourced project solutions.
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VERACITY CONSULTING
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Kansas City, MO 64108 Phone Number: 877-573-4889 Website: DivvyHQ.com DivvyHQ is the leading content planning and workflow platform that makes it easy for global marketing teams to get organized, plan, produce and publish high-quality content more efficiently. DivvyHQ is trusted by the top content marketing teams around the world and was recently voted the #1 content creation, workflow and experience platform.
SMART COMPANIES THINKING BIGGER®
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We’ll provide the tools, strategies and connections so you can make your dreams come true. 16
(913) 432-6690 | www.iThinkBigger.com THINKING BIGGER BUSINESS