HIGHER M-PACT - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Gras has worked with The Navigators, an international multicultural Christian organization, for 37 years. Since 1990, he has directed a Navigator Business and Professional Ministry in Kansas City. He provides one-on-one mentoring when he leads conferences and programs to help business people integrate faith and business. Gras and his wife Susan have four adult children and two grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
As a co-founder of the firm, Dave was instrumental in the early growth of the firm from just a couple of employees. The firm's unique bonus structure and administrative policies were originated under his leadership. Dave has also served as managing partner during a majority of the years of the firm's existence. A Certified Public Accountant since 1978, his experience includes four years with an international accounting firm where he served on the audit and tax departments. Throughout his career he has provided tax and financial services to individuals, trusts, partnerships and corporations. Working with company owners, Dave coordinates and analyzes clients' financial information, provides tax-planning services with an emphasis on the minimization of income taxes and has extensive experience with succession and estate planning. His education includes a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Kansas State University, where he graduated magna cum laude, and hundreds of continuing education hours in accounting and taxation. Dave is a member of the Kansas Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Institute of Certified Financial Planners. Dave has also earned the designation of Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Certified Specialist in Estate Planning (CSEP). He serves on the Board of Higher M-Pact - an organization whose mission is to transform high risk urban youth into tomorrow's leaders. He is also active in Corporate Resource Alliance - an organization dedicated to helping the business owner run his/her company more profitably. Dave and his wife Teresa have three children and reside in Overland Park, Kansas.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
- Senior Vice President of Sales
David Embry David Embry is currently the Senior Vice President of Sales, Client Service and Marketing responsible for leading the SelectQuote Benefit Solutions' team in the management of client relationships, acquisition of new clients and building strategic partnerships. SelectQuote Benefit Solutions provides institutions, their employees, members, or retirees with exchange services for Medicare complimentary insurance products, Auto & Home and Term Life. Prior to joining SelectQuote Benefit Solutions, Embry spent 20 years at JPMorgan Chase. Most recently his role was the Managing Director of Client Service, Sales and Marketing for JPMorgan Retirement Plan Services unit and was a member of the organization's Operating Committee. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Southwest Baptist University and a master's of business administration in finance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. David is registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) with Series 6, 7, 24 and 63 licenses and holds a Life & Health Insurance License.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Drew Hiss launched his outsourced payroll and HR technology solutions company, Checkdate Solutions, in 1994. The entrepreneurial dream, Drew experienced much success, but not without many failures. He bootstrapped the company to incredible heights. One of Kansas City's fastest growing companies, his firm was named one of the Greater KC Chamber of Commerce Best Businesses not once, but twice. Additionally, Checkdate Solutions ranked as one of KC's top 100 fastest growing companies for nine consecutive years and was in the top 25 nationally in its industry.
Today's workplace culture tends to compartmentalize personal virtues from commerce, creating siloes between business, family, community and values. But as a CEO, Drew and his company grew when he decompartmentalized: on his journey, he learned to integrate his life of commerce and his life of faith, family and values. Drew merged Checkdate Solutions with payroll industry leader Paycor, stepping away from the company in 2008 and serving on its board for eight years. Drew remains an owner in the firm. Today, Drew's heart for virtuous business leadership is at the core of Acumen. Acumen is a catalytic iron-sharpening-iron environment and this is Drew's passion.
Drew has a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology and a Master of Business Administration degree, both from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS. Drew is involved with Young Life Kaw Valley, a Christian outreach to middle and high school students in the Basehor-Linwood, DeSoto, Lansing/Leavenworth, Mill Valley and Bonner Springs, KS areas and currently serves as its Board Chair. Drew is also the past Chair of the Board for Higher M-Pact. Hiss previously served as a board member for the National Christian Foundation - Heartland and City Union Mission.
Drew and his wife Sarah have been married for 27 years and have four children ranging in age from 23 to 17. He is a member of Westside Family Church and a raving-fan distance congregant of Flatirons Community Church in Lafayette, CO. Drew enjoys snowboarding, hunting, cycling and a variety of outdoor activities including running with his four dogs.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
- Senior Associate
Ellis Ingram, MD, is senior associate dean for diversity and inclusion at the University of Missouri School of Medicine. He has served on the pathology faculty at MU for more than 30 years. Dr. Ingram was born and raised in Detroit and received his medical degree from the University of Michigan. He completed a residency in pathology at MU in 1978. Dr. Ingram leads several outreach and pipeline programs. He and his wife, Pamela, founded Granny's House, an afterschool program that provides a safe and encouraging environment and a hot meal to children. Dr. Ingram is also the founder of CALEB - The Science Club, which sparks students' interest in science, medicine, legal professions, education and more through field trips and hands-on experiences. He also founded the Excellence in Learning program, which brings St. Louis area high school students to MU each year to experience medical education. Dr. Ingram received a U.S. Presidential Award for Excellence in Mentoring. The Ingrams were also recognized with the Donna Crocket Memorial Award from Coyote Hill Children's Home for their efforts to serve children and the community. In 2010, Dr. Ingram received MU's Inclusive Excellence Award.
Carnes is the CEO and founder of Willowbrook Partners, an Internet marketing company focused on subprime credit as well as debit products. Carnes is also founder and CEO of Blitztrade LLC, a high frequency stock trading company.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Shelley has over 22 years of commercial real estate experience with specialization in property management. She has lead property management teams responsible for over 11 million square feet of office space. Additionally, she supervised new account transition teams including coordinating new staffing, operations and process mapping for five new clients totaling over 1.2 million square feet of space. Jane also develops and implements formal customer service surveying programs and measurement plans to gauge customer service satisfaction and metrics.
Job Titles:
- Owner and President of CBIZ Cottonwood
Thompson is an owner and President of CBIZ Cottonwood. She leads the firm's defined contribution practice and specializes in the design and administration of corporate retirement plans. She also serves as client relationship manager for many of the firm's defined benefit and defined contribution clients. Janet earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Welfare from the University of Minnesota. She also founded and chaired the Diversity in Leadership committee for Palmer & Cay and is a board member of Awesome Ambitions, a not-for-profit organization mentoring young women in the Kansas City Missouri School District. Janet is married to Ed Thompson and has three children, Brandon, Stephanie and Sydney. She and her family have been active in the Shawnee community and schools for the past 30 years.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Over the past 25 years, Joe has delivered more than 2,500 client experiences to more than 500 different clients, providing the tools and guidance needed to improve performance and results. Joe's proven business growth process has been utilized by companies such as Jack Stack Barbecue, Checkdate Solutions, General Electric and Burns & McDonnell. As a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), designated through the National Speakers Association, Joe serves as a catalyst for business growth, leadership development, and higher performance. Joe 's entertaining, educational and motivational style creates a positive learning environment that facilitates personal and organizational growth. Joe was the most requested and highest rated speaker with Covey Leadership Center in the 1990's. In addition to helping start more than 20 new business ventures, he has authored three breakthrough books, Prioritize!, On the Same Page, and The 1 Hour Plan for Growth. Joe lives in Kansas City, Missouri with his wife, Diane.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Simpson is a Partner and the chair of the Tax Practice Group at Shook Hardy & Bacon, LLP. He has substantial experience in tax planning and tax controversy work; developing strategies for corporate acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, reorganizations and restructurings; state income, sales and property tax law; and representing telecommunications businesses with respect to state and local tax matters. Jay has represented clients before the Missouri Administrative Hearing Commission, the Kansas Board (now Court) of Tax Appeals, the Missouri Supreme Court, and the Kansas Supreme Court.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Larry Ryan started Ryan Lawn & Tree in 1987. From day one, Larry's goal has been to set the standard in customer service. Larry has a degree in forestry, but it was the 10 years he spent in the restaurant business that taught him to deliver high quality products and hire a staff that truly puts the customer first. RYAN partners with our customers to maintain their lawn, trees, shrubs and irrigation systems with high quality service at an affordable price.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Prior to joining The Miller Group in 1986, Matt worked as a manager in the construction field. That expertise translated into a special focus in property and casualty sales. Matt has served on the board of the Associated Builders and Contractors and other trade organizations which help him better assist his clients. Today, Matt's primary responsibility is in Business Development. For the past 20 years, he has helped the firm grow in excess of 20% each year, doubling in size about every three years. Matt was a tennis player at Regis University, where he earned a BS/BA in Business and Philosophy. He is a graduate of Rockhurst High School and the father of six children.
Prior to joining B12 Capital Partners Mike spent 17 years in various sales and marketing roles for Premier Pneumatics, Inc., a leading design engineering firm and manufacturer of material handling and pneumatic conveying equipment. As Vice-President of Sales & Marketing, he was instrumental in redirecting the company's sales and marketing efforts; resulting in significantly higher revenues, higher margins and a successful exit strategy for the company's owners through the sale of Premier in October of 2006. Prior to Premier Pneumatics, Mike spent seven years with Eldorado Motor Corporation, a manufacturer of recreational vehicles, ending his tenure as Vice-President of Sales for the traditional RV product group. Mike is a board member of the Association for Corporate Growth in Kansas City and brings hands on knowledge and operational experience to the growth objectives of B12 Capital Partners. Mike is a 1983 graduate of Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas where he majored in Economics and Business Administration.
Job Titles:
- Energy Consultant for Kansas City Power
Michael Jackson is an Energy Consultant for Kansas City Power and Light (KCP&L). His business segments include both Industrial and Automotive customers and as such, assists several large businesses in KCP&L's Metro and North District. Jackson has been with the company 18 years and has worked in several capacities to include Operations Supervisor in Meter Reading/Field Services, Dispatching and is currently an Energy Consultant. In these roles, Jackson has worked in locations ranging Raytown, Lee's Summit, Front Street and KCP&L's Downtown facilities. Jackson has been a volunteer with numerous programs, Christmas In October, Habitat for Humanity, One Good Meal and the Quindaro Ruins cleanup project. Jackson holds a B.S and M. B. A. in Business Management from Friends University Wichita Kansas.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Williams represents employers in arbitrations and is an experienced litigator of discrimination and retaliation claims. Mr. Williams counsels business clients regarding human resource, workers' compensation and employment issues. He is an experienced speaker to employees, management and human resource officers on various employment law topics. Mr. Williams is also a requested presenter at employment law seminars for continuing legal education and human resource professional organizations. Mr. Williams is very active in the Kansas City community as a mentor for disadvantaged youth. He is chair of both the Diversity Committee for the firm and the Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
- Chief Integration Officer at VML
Yardley is the Chief Integration Officer at VML, a full-service digital marketing agency. He oversees VML's 30-person media and digital content distribution discipline, as well as the eCRM discipline, which is responsible for email marketing. Mike also provides strategic and account leadership for some of VML's largest global client partnerships including Colgate-Palmolive, YRC Worldwide, Giant Eagle and Fannie Mae. In his spare time, Yardley enjoys spending time with his family, serving in the community and reading a good book.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
- President of Kessinger / Hunter & Company
McGannon is President of Kessinger/Hunter & Company, a full-service real estate firm, handling 25 million square feet in 23 states and internationally. He currently oversees an industrial department that handles the leasing and sales of over nine million square feet of industrial properties in the Greater Kansas City area.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
- Missouri Director
BA (1968), Marist College JD (1979), University of Missouri Director Bailey joined the Law School in 1979. He left full-time employment at the Law School from 1983-87 to serve as Municipal Judge for the City of Columbia, while continuing to work at the Law School part-time. In 1987 he returned full-time to the Law School and now serves as Director, Assistant Dean, and CSDR Senior Fellow. He continued to serve as Associate Municipal Judge until June 2005. He teaches Arbitration, Life Skills Seminar, and Lawyering and Dispute Resolution. Dean Bailey has an active arbitration practice serving on several arbitration panels including Major League Baseball's Salary Arbitration Panel. He is on the FMCS and AAA Labor Arbitration Panels. He serves on the Governing Board of the National Academy of Arbitrators and has been or is Chair of the Audit, Nominations, and New Member Orientation Committees, and is the Academy's parliamentarian. Dean Bailey is also very involved in University and community projects and has served as chair or a member on the boards of numerous community organizations, for which he has received numerous honors. Dean Bailey serves as chair of the Athletic Department's Strategic Planning Committee and the Professional Sports Counsel Panel. He is also vice-chair of the Health Science's Institutional Review Board and a member of the University's Conflict of Interest Committee. He is a Commissioner with the National Conference on Uniform State Laws. He chairs or has chaired the Boone Family Resource Center, the Family Health Center, the Central Missouri Food Bank, the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network, and the Industrial Development Authority. He is active with the NCAA and has served as an accreditor at several Division I universities and has conducted strategic planning for the Division I Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Bob is married to Sharon, a retired kindergarten teacher extraordinaire. They have two children, Tara and Jessica, and four grandchildren, Caden, Bryson, Nathan, and Sadie Jane.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
Robert Pascuzzi heads Creative Planning Services, a retirement planning affiliate of Creative Planning. Creative is an independent investment company that provides unbiased assessment and management of company retirement plans company, and is dedicated to bringing a full range of retirement plan consulting services at both the plan sponsor level as well as the participant level. Our in-house investment committee, headed by one of the nation's top financial advisors, selects and monitors investments for company retirement plans. Creative is nationally recognized for its wealth management services and has been featured in Robb Report's Worth Magazine, Bloomberg Wealth Manager and Medical Economics. Creative Planning has an in-house investment committee that selects and monitors investments for company retirement plans. Since 1993, Bob has focused his expertise in both the qualified plan arena as well as providing "key employee" executive carve-out benefits. When deploying education at the participant level, Bob and his team focus on assisting employees to get "on track" to live the same standard of living in retirement. Bob grew up in Des Moines, Iowa and graduated in 1986 from Briar Cliff college in Sioux City, Iowa with a BA degree. Bob earned the CLU designation from the American College in 1998 and earned his AIF designation (Accredited Investment Fiduciary) from the Foundation for Fiduciary Studies in March, 2006. He is also involved and supports the Christian Foundation for underprivileged children. He is married to Kelly and they have three boys.
Shannon has more than 18 years of experience as a healthcare actuary pricing group health benefits. In her role at Lockton, Shannon provides actuarial expertise in the following areas: Health Reform Financial Modeling, IBNR reserve certifications, COBRA rate certifications, Actuarial value of plan design changes (including
CDHP), Analysis of stop-loss risk, Comparison of network pricing, Medicare Part D actuarial attestations, Analysis of funding options (fully insured vs.
self-insured), Detailed analysis of claims data and Budgeting in a multioption environment, accounting
for selection.
Prior to joining Lockton, Shannon was Vice President, Director of Actuarial Services for Wachovia Insurance Services (formerly Palmer & Cay), a national employee benefits consulting and brokerage firm. Prior to that, Shannon was the stop-loss actuary with Employers Reinsurance Corporation.
Shannon received a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of Mississippi and a master's degree in mathematics from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. She is an Associate in the Society of Actuaries and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
- Chairman of the Board and CEO at Clinical Reference Laboratory
Mr. Sotos is Chairman of the Board and CEO at Clinical Reference Laboratory. He has been CEO since 1995 and has been with CRL for over twenty-five years. He holds a B.S. in Economics and an M.B.A., both from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Board
- Representative With Northwestern Mutual
Tom Lipscomb has been a Financial Representative with Northwestern Mutual since 1985. Eleven times he has been among the top twenty salespeople for the company out of over 7,000 representatives. He has a Bachelor's and Master's degree from the University of Kansas. Tom and his wife, Kari, have two children, Anna (age 15) and Thomas (age 12). They live in Overland Park, Kansas. Tom plays saxophone on his church music worship team and is on the board of several local ministries. His hobbies include kids' activities, bicycling, traveling, music, and playing catch in the backyard.
Flowers is the founder and president of Higher M-Pact. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a bachelor's degree in sociology and a minor in psychology, and went on to attend the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, where he received his Juris Doctorate. While attending law school, he received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award. Formerly known as SERVANT programs, Higher M-Pact was founded in 1993, incorporated in 1998 and formally launched full-time in 2003. Flowers lives in Kansas City MO.
Williams represents employers in arbitrations and is an experienced litigator of discrimination and retaliation claims. Mr. Williams counsels business clients regarding human resource, workers' compensation and employment issues. He is an experienced speaker to employees, management and human resource officers on various employment law topics. Mr. Williams is also a requested presenter at employment law seminars for continuing legal education and human resource professional organizations. Mr. Williams is very active in the Kansas City community as a mentor for disadvantaged youth. He is chair of both the Diversity Committee for the firm and the Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair.