Alumni

The Executive Ascent was developed to support aspiring CEOs on their leadership journey to the top. This member directory allows participants to use the program’s momentum to further propel them through networking, mentoring and sharing their experiences.

Spring 2021

Libby Allman
Libby AllmanCOO
Worcester Investments
Rachel Arnett
Rachel ArnettVice President, Sales
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Kansas City
Rosie Berkemeier
Rosie BerkemeierVP of Finance
Yellow
Kelly Calvert
Kelly CalvertTalent & Culture
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Cliff Cate
Cliff CateDirector - Water & Wastewater
Burns & McDonnell
Lori Cohee
Lori CoheeCFO
Smart Warehousing
Graciela Couchonnal
Graciela CouchonnalVice President, Programs
Health Forward Foundation
Davin Gordon
Davin GordonProgram Officer
Hall Family Foundation
Angie Grant
Angie GrantPrincipal, Director of Talent Acquisition & Development
Henderson Engineers Inc.
Mohamad Ibrawish
Mohamad IbrawishGeotechnical Department Manager
Terracon Consultants Inc.
Sharon Latimer
Sharon LatimerChief Financial Officer
Village Shalom, Inc
Jason Lehtinen
Jason LehtinenOperating Partner
Four Pillars Investors 
Amanda Thomley Marsh
Amanda Thomley MarshVice President, Sales
DEMDACO
Jodi Schade
Jodi SchadeChief Marketing Officer
VinSolutions LLC
John Taylor
John TaylorClient Success Team Manager
Betterment

Fall 2020

Simone Curls
Simone CurlsFounder & CEO
Prospect Business Association
Precious Stargell Cushman
Precious Stargell CushmanCEO
Community LINC
Taylor Dunn
Taylor DunnExecutive Director, Commercial Banker
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Anné Erickson
Anné EricksonOffice Broker
JLL
Sheri Gonzales
Sheri GonzalesVice President & KC Rising Director
Civic Council of Greater KC
Jennifer Ingraham
Jennifer IngrahamVice President of Philanthropy and Alumni Relations
Kansas City University
Kelly Jeffcote
Kelly JeffcoteVice President, Procurement
Burns & McDonnell
Quentin Jennings
Quentin JenningsPartner
Polsinelli
Nia Richardson
Nia RichardsonAssistant to the Director of Small Business
City of Kansas City
Alan Salts
Alan SaltsCFO
KBP Foods
David Seay
David SeayPartner
KPMG
Elijah Sharpe
Elijah SharpeCo-founder & CEO
Smart Dxs
Craig Sizemore
Craig SizemoreManaging Director - Service Director
DEG
Dan Smith
Dan SmithCEO
Porter House KC
Hank Stratemeier
Hank StratemeierSVP, COO/CTO
Examinetics

Spring 2020

Trese Booze
Trese BoozeProgram Officer & Talent Chair
LISC
Andy Butler
Andy ButlerDirector
C3 Capital Partners
Deanna Diebolt
Deanna DieboltManager of Human Resources
DEMDACO
Ronda Freeman
Ronda FreemanPrincipal; Director of Procurement and Payables
Terracon Consultants Inc.
Nikkie Freeman
Nikkie FreemanChief Commercial Officer
Stouse Inc.
Rusty Gallagher
Rusty GallagherSenior Wealth Advisor
Mariner Holdings
Amy Grothaus
Amy GrothausVice President
CommunityAmerica Credit Union
Jen Gulvik
Jen GulvikFractional Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)
Contract CMO for multiple companies
Christie Hughes
Christie HughesSenior Vice President, Development
KBP Foods
Rosemary Martin
Rosemary MartinAssociate Vice Chancellor and Chief Human Resources Officer
Metropolitan Community College
Jason Moxness
Jason MoxnessFounder & Chief Funding Officer
BizCapital
Dave Nispel
Dave NispelBusiness Development
Burns & McDonnell
Mark Nuss
Mark NussMarket President
Simmons Bank
John O'Connor
John O'ConnorPresident & CEO
Cristo Rey Kansas City
Gwen Obermeyer
Gwen ObermeyerCo-Founder and Owner
AD ASTRA RESTAURANT GROUP, LLC
Andrew Peck
Andrew PeckCFO
PBI Gordon
Melissa Roberts
Melissa RobertsEntrepreneurship Senior Program Officer
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Jeff Rohr
Jeff RohrCIO
Essense of Australia
Ryan Shreve
Ryan ShreveCFO
Fishtech Group
Melinda Tiffany
Melinda TiffanyVice President, Finance
Examinetics
Shanelle Varone
Shanelle VaroneSenior Administrative Director of Philanthropy
Children’s Mercy

Fall 2019

Clay Davis
Clay DavisPresident and CEO
Stouse
Katie Fitzgerald
Katie FitzgeraldVice President
Mariner Holdings
Todd Fitzpatrick
Todd FitzpatrickManaging Director
C.S. Carey
Sandra Garcia
Sandra GarciaChief Legal Officer
Metropolitan Community College
Brad Hampton
Brad HamptonCFO
Helzberg Diamonds
Mary Jane Judy
Mary Jane JudyCo-Leader Kansas City & Shareholder
Polsinelli
Jason Kephart
Jason KephartChief Information Officer
Terracon Consultants Inc.
Raelene Knolla
Raelene KnollaDepartment VP, Senior Medical Director
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Kansas City
Scott Kokotan
Scott KokotanChief Financial Officer
GlynnDevins
Crystal Lynn
Crystal LynnChief Operating Officer Transaction Liability
Lockton Companies
Kate McKinney
Kate McKinneyAttorney & Head of Business Development
Martin Pringle
Rob Persaud
Rob PersaudVice President of Marketing & Brand Strategy
CO-OP Financial Services Full-time
Ted Place
Ted PlaceSenior Vice President & Chief Development Officer
KCPT Public Television
Dorothy Riviere
Dorothy RiviereSenior Vice President, Business Services
Bardavon Health Innovations
Zoraya Rowlands
Zoraya RowlandsDiversity, Equity & Inclusion
JE Dunn
Miles Sandler
Miles SandlerDirector of Engagement
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
John Stauffer
John StaufferManaging Director of Strategic Planning and Channel Strategy
DEG
Lee Stiegemeier
Lee StiegemeierCo-founder
Circle Sideways
Mark Swanson
Mark SwansonVice President, Business Development Director - Oil, Gas & Chemical
Burns & McDonnell
Jodi Vickery
Jodi VickeryEVP - Director of Military Consumer Lending
Armed Forces Bank
Scott Wagner
Scott WagnerFormer City Councilman & Mayor Protem
City of Kansas City
Vernon Williams
Vernon WilliamsChief People Officer
Dimensional Innovations