KC RISING - Key Persons

C.J. Charbonneau supports KC Rising as the Program Manager. Before joining the KC Rising team, C.J. served in a variety of roles in the Kansas City arts and nonprofit communities, as an arts writer, curator, administrator, organizer, and advocate, with a focus on issues affecting women and folks with disabilities. C.J. holds a BSBA in Organizational Development from Southeast Missouri State University, and an MA in Art History from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Carolyn Watley

Job Titles:

Chairman of the Steering Committee
Member of the Leadership Team
Co - Chair ) Vice President, Community Engagement

Charlotte Kemper Black

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Director, Charitable Trusts & Foundations / Commerce Bank

Christine Murray

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Director of Workforce Initiatives / KC Tech Council

Cindy Brittain

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Senior Director, Research / Kansas City Area Development Council

Clyde McQueen

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
CEO / Full Employment Council

Consuelo Ross

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Director of Finance / Civic Council of Greater KC

Dan Kennedy - VP

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Vice President

Danielle Hilton

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Managing Director, Team KC

David Frankland

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Principal

David W. Frantze

Job Titles:

Chairman of the Steering Committee
Member of the Leadership Team
Co - Chair ) Partner / Stinson

Delano Sheffield

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Employer Engagement Manager

Denise St. Omer

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Vice President of Grantmaking and Inclusion Initiatives / Greater Kansas City Community Foundation

Dennis Ridenour - CEO, President

Job Titles:

CEO
Member of the Steering Committee
President

Doug Davidson

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
President / County Economic Research Institute, Inc.

Dr. Greg Mosier

Job Titles:

Chairman of the Steering Committee
President of the Steering Committee
Co - Chair )

Dr. Kenny Southwick

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Executive Director / Cooperating School

Dr. Scott Balog

Job Titles:

Chairman of the Steering Committee
Member of the Leadership Team
Co - Chair ) Executive Vice President Kansas City Kansas Community College

Dr. Tyjaun Lee

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
President - Penn Valley Campus

Drew Stiehl

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Senior Data Analyst

Elizabeth MacLeod Walls

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
President / William Jewell College

Eric Mooney

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Pillar Leader

Eric Morgenstern

Job Titles:

Chairman of the Steering Committee
Co - Chair )

Eric Young - President

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Operations Manager
President

Erin Christensen

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
COO / KC Tech Council

Frank Lenk

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Director of Research Services / Mid - America Regional Council

Fred Wise - CHRO

Job Titles:

Chief People Officer
Consultant
Member of the Steering Committee

Geoff Jolley

Job Titles:

Member of the Leadership Team
Member of the Steering Committee

Gould Evans

Job Titles:

Member of the Leadership Team
Member of the Steering Committee

Graham Smith

Job Titles:

Chairman of the Steering Committee
Member of the Leadership Team
Co - Chair ) Associate Principal

Greg Kindle

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
President / Wyandotte Economic Development Council

Gretchen Ivy

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Central States Office Leader

HR Block

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee

Jackie Foy

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Health Principal

Jacqueline Camargo

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Segura Marketing

Jamee Rodgers

Job Titles:

Member of the Leadership Team
Member of the Steering Committee

JE Dunn

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee

Jeff Blaesing

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Vice President of the Steering Committee

Jeff Pinkerton

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Director, Economic Research

Jennifer Lundgren

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor / University of Missouri - Kansas City

Jennifer Tidwell

Job Titles:

Member of the Leadership Team
Member of the Steering Committee

Jessica Dain

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Superintendent / Piper School

Jessica Palm

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Vice President, Marketing & Public Relations

Jim Erickson

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Director of Strategic Initiatives

Jodi Krantz - VP

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Vice President

Joe Massman

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
CFO, COO / Kansas City University

John Hutzenbular - CHRO

Job Titles:

HR Director
Member of the Steering Committee

Josh Akers

Job Titles:

Member of the Leadership Team
Member of the Steering Committee
Research Manager

Julie Pierce

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Community Sector Executive / Principal

Karin Chang

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Executive Director / University of Kansas

Kate Bender - Founder

Job Titles:

Co - Founder
Member of the Steering Committee

Kate Crockett

Job Titles:

Communications Manager
Member of the Steering Committee

Katherine Carttar

Job Titles:

Executive Director
Member of the Steering Committee

Katie Killen

Job Titles:

Member of the Leadership Team
Member of the Steering Committee

Keely Schneider

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Executive Director / Workforce Partnership

Keith Smith

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Executive Director of Legal Services

Kelly O'Connor

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee

Kelly Williams

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Product Manager

Kim Randolph

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
CEO / Heartland Black Chamber

Kristin Johnson Waggoner

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Director, Communications & Public Affairs

Larry Jacob

Job Titles:

Chairman of the Steering Committee
Member of the Leadership Team
Co - Chair ) Consultant / Kauffman Foundation
Consultant / Kauffman Foundation

Laura McCarthy

Job Titles:

Chairman of the Steering Committee
Co - Chair )

Laura McConnell - CEO

Job Titles:

CEO
Chairman of the Steering Committee

Laurel Hogue

Job Titles:

Member of the Steering Committee
Vice Provost, Online Learning and Engagement / University of Central Missouri

Lauren Conaway - CEO, Founder

Job Titles:

CEO
Founder
Member of the Steering Committee

Leah FitzGerald

Job Titles:

Chairman of the Steering Committee
Co - Chair

Lia McIntosh

Job Titles:

Director

Lia is the Director of KC Rising and a member of the Civic Council's senior management team. She has 25 years of experience, including as a Program Officer at the Kauffman Foundation and a pastor of four congregations. Lia is an ICF certified coach, Gallup certified CliftonStrengths coach, and author of three books. She holds MBA and M.DIV degrees from the University of Missouri and Saint Paul School of Theology, respectively, and previously worked in corporate marketing at Procter & Gamble.

Maddy Johnson

Job Titles:

Communications Manager

Maddy is the Communications Manager at KC Rising and the Civic Council. She has marketing experience in construction and engineering firms, and holds a degree in Urban Planning and Design from the University of Missouri - Kansas City. Maddy has a background in advocating for equitable planning through community outreach, and uses her skills to effectively communicate the story of KC Rising and the Civic Council.