Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce announces 2011 Centurions class

Date: Monday, July 27, 2009
CONTACT: Pam Whiting, (816) 374-5481; e-mail pamw@kcchamber.com
Kendra Kemp, (816) 374-5465; e-mail kemp@kcchamber.com

CHAMBER ANNOUNCES 2011 CENTURIONS CLASS

A total of 39 Kansas Citians got great news last week – they’ve been accepted into the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Centurions Leadership program. Centurions is an intensive, two-year leadership development program focused on preparing Greater Kansas City’s future leaders.

The 2011 Centurions are a diverse group from businesses large and small, as well as area nonprofit organizations: They are:

Kate Allen Blue Valley School District
Andrea Allison-Putman QC Holdings Companies
Andy Anand Karats Jewelers
Rachel Benben Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City
Trey Bowen Superior Bowen Asphalt Co., LLC
Scott Burditt Two West, Inc.
Josh Christie Indicia Design, Inc.
Matthew Clark US Bank at 87th Street (OPBC)
Sharon Cleaver Bayer HealthCare LLC, Animal Health Division
Dan Cranshaw Lathrop & Gage LLP
Justin Dean Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
Geoffrey Fasel Polsinelli Shughart PC
Scott Fillmore Lockton Companies
Kristen Fisher The American Institute of Architects, Kansas City
Phil Frerker Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Valerie Frye BNIM Architects
Brandon Gainey Gould Evans Associates
Matt Gunter Sprint
Chad Harris FarmHouse Fraternity
Anne Johnston Prep KC
Jermee Jones INTRUST Bank
Heather A. Jones Seigfreid, Bingham, Levy, Selzer & Gee, P.C.
Adam LaBoda Spencer Fane Britt & Browne LLP
Kyle McCurry Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP
Clara Miller Morningstar Communications
Kate Morehead Sullinger Enterprise Bank & Trust
Hilary Murray Copaken, White & Blitt
Lucinda Noches Talbert Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center
Tom Pickert Logan Logan & Watson, L.C., Attorneys
Joe Reichmuth Adams-Gabbert & Associates, LLC
Ryan Reid Mazuma Credit Union
Jeromy Rutledge Walton Construction Company, LLC
Meyer Sosland Sosland Companies, Inc.
Andy Stith Cristo Rey Kansas City, Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth High School
Hank Stratemeier United BioSource Corporation
Stephen Swymeler United Way of Greater Kansas City, Inc.
Nick Warren Commerce Bank, N.A.
Matt Weaver Power Group
Aaron Wiechman M&I Bank

Centurions spend their two years immersed in the study of critical area issues and initiatives such as poverty, crime, education, biosciences, alternative energy, arts, and entrepreneurship. They are also urged to give of their time to local charitable organizations. (Centurions this past year contributed 3200 hours in assisting area nonprofits.) And each spring, the group travels to another metropolitan area to learn how that community is dealing with issues Kansas City also faces.

The Centurions Leadership program is the region’s oldest, founded in 1976. Alumni include CEOs, judges, chiefs of police, and other area leaders.

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