Lee's Summit Economic Development Council

Lee’s Summit Economic development council 

Annual Report 

FY 2006–2007

When I began my term as Chairman of the Lee’s Summit Economic 

Development Council (LSEDC), I announced that my guiding principles 

would be balance and communication. 

I strongly believe that ours is a community that thrives and grows when these 

principles are followed, and I am pleased to announce that by following these 

principles your LSEDC enjoyed another successful year. 

As always, we focused our energies on our four strategic goals: 

1. Increase community competitiveness through product improvement. 

2. Retain and expand existing businesses. 

3. Attract targeted, higher paying industry. 

4. Generate a positive community image. 

Within each of these goals significant progress was made this year. Highlights include: 

Nancy Blackwell 

Chairman, 2006/2007 

• Assistance to new and expanding firms which have projected 302 new jobs in 296,500 sf with a 

projected investment of $43,000,000 in plant and equipment. 

• Collaboration with the Better Safer Roads Committee to help renew the half-cent transportation sales 

tax for new and improved roads and bicycle paths; 

• Completion of 64 interviews with local CEOs and publication of the 2006 Business Expansion and 

Retention Report, now on our website. 

• Collaboration with the City, the developer and the community on Legoland’s proposal to become a 

regional attraction. 

• Working with Senator Bond’s office to secure $6,000,000 in funding for a new local manufacturer, 

Kokam America. 

• Increasing the LSEDC investor base from 134 to 152. 

• Achieving our long-sought goal of funding LSEDC on a 50% city/50% other sources basis; a true 

public/private partnership. 

• Completion of our fourth direct mail postcard campaign to regional business leaders showcasing Lee’s 

Summit entrepreneurs. (You will see examples of the campaign throughout this annual report as we 

recognize these forward-thinking business people). 

• A successful retreat dealing with significant issues such as: growth and development, diversity, 

leadership development, business retention and expansion, and implementing the new community 

brand: “There’s More Here: Lee’s Summit.” 

• A revamped, content rich website including: 

- a 27% increase in “visits” over last year 

- a new web tool bar for entrepreneurs, small and minority businesses 

- regular updates of available sites and buildings listings 

- new trade area demographics for retail site seekers

Throughout the 2006/2007 Fiscal Year the LSEDC also hosted programs, including several sold out 

Quarterly Investor Meetings, and we cultivated relationships with metro area media to secure positive 

coverage for our community’s business image. 

As I pass the baton to a new leadership team, I want to express my sincere appreciation to the investors, 

the board and advisory board, and staff of the LSEDC. Together, through balance and cooperation, we are 

all making Lee’s Summit a stronger community for generations to come. 

Sincerely, 

Nancy Blackwell 

Chairman, 2006/2007 

Our MissiON 

To attract and retain business by partnering with allies to create 

and market a high quality-of-life, pro-business community.

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Over the last decade, our research has shown 

Lee’s Summit’s image has evolved from a sleepy, 

near-rural community on the outskirts of Kansas City to one of a vibrant, high-quality-of-life community 

with great amenities, a motivated workforce, excellent schools and more. Promoting and enhancing 

that image is a major focus for the LSEDC. But why? Before outlining some of our accomplishments 

in 2006–2007, it is instructive to read the words of nationally recognized Fortune 500 site selection 

consultant Bob Ady, who writes: 

“How exactly is community image measured? There is no simple answer. It is 

difficult to identify and even more difficult to quantify. Currently, it represents a mix 

of traditional factors and new factors. Among the traditional factors are quality of 

education, crime rates, and various lifestyle considerations. Newer evaluative yardsticks 

include the physical appearance of the community, after-hour activities, and ease of 

newcomer assimilation, especially foreign nationals. 

In addition, image is now being more closely evaluated at the corporate level. The 

image that a community projects is intrinsically linked to the image that the company 

projects. This also drives the increasing importance of image as a site location factor. 

Never discount the importance of ‘community image’ in the site selection process. It is 

increasingly the tie-breaker among finalist locations.” 

ENtrEprENEurs iN YOur MailBOx 

In March 2006 we launched the fourth direct mail campaign about Lee’s Summit. The postcards are 

reproduced and featured throughout this annual report. 

Our newest campaign’s goal is to showcase Lee’s Summit as a growing, vibrant and pro-business 

community that welcomes new ideas. We are featuring eight Lee’s Summit-based entrepreneurial ventures. 

The 8-month direct mail campaign to 2,500 regional decision and opinion makers highlights some bright, 

successful business men and women who see Lee’s Summit as a great place to build and run a company. 

The postcards feature pictures of the entrepreneurs in their places of business and a brief overview of their 

companies.

Those featured include: 

• Acceleration: Keith Koehler, Gary Schmitt and Robert Pendland 

• Adams-Gabbert & Associates: Jo Anne Gabbert 

• Bard’s Beer: Craig Belser 

• DVA Enterprises, Inc.: Diane Seif 

• Kokam America: Don Nissanka 

• R&D Tool & Engineering: Rex Luchtel, Rick Lantefield, Dean Rohr and David Wescoat 

• Ultrax: Brian and Chris Lincoln 

• ViraCor Laboratories: Phillip “Flip” Short, Patti Aspenleiter and John Martin 

The LSEDC is proud to showcase these and other entrepreneurs. In the realm of economic development, 

it is a generally accepted rule of thumb that existing companies create 80% of all jobs in a community. 

Therefore, it makes sense for LSEDC and its investors to do all within our power to encourage the 

establishment and growth of new companies in our community. 

Lee’s Summit Entrepreneurs 

Chief Executive Officer Keith Koehler, Chief Scientific Officer Gary Schmitt and Chief Information Officer Robert 

Pendland use the entrepreneurial philosophies of Ewing Kauffman to guide their drug testing company’s growth. 

PEOPLE COME FIRST AT 

ACCELERATION 

lsedc_postcards_2007.indd 1 2/16/07 10:47:37 AM 

Ewing Kauffman’s entrepreneurial spirit 

is alive and well at Lee’s Summit-based 

drug-testing lab Acceleration. 

The renowned founder of Marion 

Laboratories helped his associates 

become millionaires because of his 

belief and policies that people come 

first, profits are shared and the company 

gives back to those in need, says CEO 

Keith Koehler. “It’s the right thing to do 

and it works.” 

Apparently so. In its 4 years of 

operation, the contract research and 

drug testing company has experienced 

zero turnover while its competitors 

normally lose a third of their workforce 

annually. This translates into stability, 

reliability and dependability for 

Acceleration clients, who are among the 

world’s largest pharmaceutical giants. 

For more information visit www. 

accelerationkc.com. 

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MOviN’ ON up 

National recognition is becoming par for the course in Lee’s Summit. Two years ago CNN/Money Magazine 

added Lee’s Summit to the country’s Top 100 communities by placing us at number 76. 

In 2006 we made the Top 100 again, moving 

further up the rankings to number 44. 

From median home prices to student test 

scores; from job growth to household income 

Lee’s Summit ranks in the top ten nationally 

and regionally. 

These are the results of a “slicing and dicing” 

exercise your LSEDC completed using the 

statistics compiled by CNN/Money Magazine. 

We took their statistics a step further. We 

compared Lee’s Summit to the magazine’s 

Top 10 communities. We also cross-tabbed 

Lee’s Summit with ten leading communities 

in Greater Kansas City. In both cases, Lee’s 

Summit stacked up quite well. Check out the 

facts on our website in the Data Center tab’s 

studies subsection. 

Lee’s Summit Jumps from 70th to 44th 

on CNN/Money Magazine Survey 

of Best Places to Live in the U.S. 

The Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council 

Is Proud to Be a Partner in Our Community’s 

Growth & High Quality of Life 

Jim Devine, President and CEO 

Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council 

218 SE Main Street • Lee’s Summit, MO 64063 • 816-525-6617 

jdevine@leessummit.org • www.leessummit.org

BusiNEss rEtENtiON EffOrts EarN lsEDC NatiONal awarD 

On October 6, 2006, in Chicago, the LSEDC was recognized for its efforts to retain and expand existing 

employers in the community. The LSEDC took top honors among over 450 economic development 

organizations in the U.S. and Canada participating in the Annual Synchronist Users’ Forum, hosted by 

Blane Canada Ltd. in Chicago. 

LSEDC Vice President Teresa Evans received the 

award on behalf of LSEDC. 

“Existing employers generate between 74 

percent and 86 percent of the new jobs and 

capital investment by businesses in their home 

communities,” said Eric P. Canada, Principal, Blane 

Canada, Ltd. “This award acknowledges the superior 

job the LSEDC is doing to retain and increase the 

number of jobs generated by employers in Lee’s 

Summit.” 

In announcing the award, Blane Canada said, “... 

global business pressures have never been greater. 

Without aggressive, proactive work to support your 

existing local businesses, jobs can easily be lost. 

The LSEDC’s proactive efforts on behalf of existing 

businesses show how communities must work to 

maximize their homegrown economic future.” 

Valued Industry Program (VIP) 

Business Retention & Expansion 

RepORt 

May 2007 

Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council 

218 S.E. Main Street • Lee’s Summit, MO 64063 

www.leessummit.org 

The award showcased how LSEDC used its 

computerized Synchronist company database to 

mine for companies eligible for the newly announced incentive: The Missouri Quality Jobs Program. 

LSEDC’s proactive use of the database and excellent working relations with existing companies allowed 

LSEDC, under the direction of Teresa Evans, to file for Quality Jobs incentives. In all, LSEDC-assisted 

companies earned $4,425,403 in benefits and announced the creation of 556 new jobs. These awards— 

excluding Kansas City and St Louis—totaled 16% of all the state incentive awards for last year, 18% of all 

new jobs announced, and 17% all out state companies receiving the Quality Jobs Incentive from the state. 

We still are not done! There are at least three local companies in the pipeline who could together qualify 

for $4,000,000 in incentives for the creation of nearly 400 new jobs! 

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BaskiNg iN thE glOw 

It is exciting when LSEDC Investors make news themselves. 2006–2007 saw many of our local businesses 

receive well-deserved recognition from their peers, regional, state and national organizations. A few 

examples are highlighted here: 

Greater Kansas City Chamber Small Businesses of the Year 

Three Lee’s Summit businesses received 2007 Top 10 Small Business of the Year honors from the Greater 

Kansas City Chamber of Commerce: 

• Bennett Packaging of K.C. Inc., Kathy L. Bennett, CEO & President. 

• First Community Bank, Jack T. Fields, President & CEO and Mary Carol Schriefer, 

Executive Vice President/Manager, Residential Real Estate Division. 

• ViraCor Laboratories, Phillip Short, Founder 

ViraCor Laboratories received the Greater Kansas City Chamber’s Outstanding Small Business of the Year 

and the accompanying “Mr.K” Award on May 24th at the Muehlebach Hotel in downtown Kansas City. 

Named after entrepreneur Ewing Kauffman, the Mr. K Award goes to the company which has strong 

growth, community service and outstanding employee relations. ViraCor performs diagnostic tests that 

help reduce infection in transplant patients. 

In 2006, Lee’s Summit EDC Investor Hoefer Wysocki was named Small Business of the Year. Among the 

finalists that year were Bennett Packaging, First Community Bank and McCown Gordon. 


ViraCor Laboratories’ CEO and Founder Phillip “Flip” Short, CFO/Vice President John Martin, 

President Patti Aspenleiter and their company mascot, a reliable Lab. 

Saving Lives 

of the Most Vulnerable 


Lee’s Summit-based ViraCor serves 

a patient population that has been 

basically ignored by the large 

laboratories…patients with suppressed 

immune systems. These patients may be 

fighting cancer, have severe burns or in 

other ways are not healthy enough to 

fight off infections and viruses. 

That’s why every day, medical specimens 

from critically ill patients around the 

country arrive at ViraCor’s Lee’s Summit 

laboratory. These patients don’t have 4 

or 5 days to wait for their test results. 

Their lives depends on the 24-hour turn 

around that ViraCor provides. 

ViraCor started in 2000 with one test, 

two client hospitals and averaged three 

diagnoses a day. Today they run 7,000 

tests a month for over 100 hospitals. “If 

you take care of the patient, everything 

else will come,” founder Flip Short says. 

Learn more at www.viracor.com.

NatiONal ChairMaN 

David R. Meyer, founding partner of The Meyer Companies and brother of LSEDC Executive Committee 

member Roger Meyer, was recently sworn in as 2007 National Chairman of the Associated Builders and 

Contractors Association at the group’s convention in Nashville, TN. The 24,000 member organization 

represents contractors nationwide. 

aDaMs-gaBBErt & assOCiatEs, iNC.: 2006 awarDs 

Each year, Adams-Gabbert & Associates regularly wins regional and statewide awards, partly because their 

core values position them for excellence. By serving its associates, clients, and community with integrity, 

respect, and compassion and by contributing time, talent, and treasure, the organization believes that its 

associates are able to improve the communities in which they live and work. 

Executives and staff serve on over nine governance boards and contribute to over 20 organizations. In 

2006, Adams-Gabbert & Associates, Inc. was recognized with the following awards. 

• Ingram’s Magazine, Top 100 Fastest Growing Company 

• United Way Circle of Caring Award 

• Top 25 Woman-owned Business in Missouri 

• Top Small Business in Missouri 


Jo Anne Gabbert of Adams-Gabbert & Associates takes consulting to a new level. 

At the Top of 

THEIR GAME 


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Lessons learned in her youth help 

JoAnne Gabbert lead her skilled team of 

consultants. “Just like sports, business 

is about competition and team play. 

You need great team members, working 

together, to win,” JoAnne says. 

Adams-Gabbert provides resources 

and solutions that can help support any 

business’ goal to win. Since opening the 

Adams-Gabbert operations management 

consulting company in 1999, JoAnne 

and her team of project managers and 

business consultants have built a $5 

million company in Lee’s Summit. 

Jo Anne believes her consultants bring 

real-life experience and innovative 

solutions to their clients. “We provide 

highly trained Project Managers and 

Business Analysts to support and 

enhance your operations. In short, we 

bring our clients Right Solutions and 

Right Talent and best of all We’re Right 

Here!” 

If you need help fixing your business’ 

operations, visit www.adamsgabbert. 

com or give them a call at 816-347-0077.

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MissOuri ChaMBEr Of COMMErCE fast traCk awarD 

Kids aren’t the only ones playing on a fast track at Paradise Park. Congratulations go to Jon Ellis, 

President & CEO of Paradise Park and Vice Chairman of LSEDC for receiving the 2006 Fast Track Award 

from the Missouri Chamber of Commerce at its November 16 meeting in St. Louis. The award is given to 

some of the state’s fastest growing companies. 

KC Business Journal awarDs 

Lee’s Summit Businesses were well represented in three 2006 Award categories from the Kansas City 

Business Journal. 

The Capstone Award for architectural and design excellence honored Longview Elementary School, 

designed by the Hollis and Miller Group; New Longview developed by Gale Communities, Inc.; and the 

new McCown Gordon company headquarters 

Patti Aspenleiter, former Vice President of ViraCor Laboratories and Vicki Henderson, Senior Vice 

President of Summit Bank of Kansas City were among the Business Journal’s 2006 Twenty-Five Women 

Who Mean Business. Previous Lee’s Summit recipients of the award are Kathy Bennett, CEO of Bennett 

Packaging; Diane Seif, President of DVA Enterprises, Inc.; and Jo Anne Gabbert of Adams-Gabbert & 

Associates. 

R&D Tool and Engineering, Inc., has broken into the Business Journal’s Top 25 Area Manufacturers. The 

ranking is based on number of employees, of which R&D has 225 locally and 300 worldwide. CEO Rex 

Luchtel’s firm manufactures tools and blow molds for the plastics-packaging industry. 

Associated General Contractors honored several projects managed by LSEDC investors Turner 

Construction, Co.; JE Dunn Construction; Walton Construction; A.L. Huber General Contractors, Fogel 

Anderson Construction Co. and Haren Laughlin Construction. 

Locally, The Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year award went to LSEDC’s Vice 

Chair Jon Ellis’ company Paradise Park. LSEDC investor Bank of Lee’s Summit was one of the five finalists. 

Over 100 regional developers, brokers, 

community leaders and economic development 

allies teed off at Adams Dairy Farm Golf Club in 

September for another successful golf outing. 

Participants enjoyed the opportunity for relaxed, 

one-on-one time to enjoy the outdoors and 

discuss the emergence of Eastern Jackson 

County as a prime economic development 

region. LSEDC’s Jim Devine serves as chairman 

of the Eastern Jackson County Marketing 

Alliance which sponsors the annual golf 

invitational.

galE COMMuNitiEs ClaiMs MaNY awarDs 

Lee’s Summit developer Gale Communities, Inc. is known throughout the Midwest for its superior 

ability to create and enhance great communities with lasting value. The company’s New Longview (www. 

newlongview.com) project has been particularly acclaimed in the past 4 years garnering a multitude of 

awards from local and national organizations. 

This project is a result of Gale Communities’ 2001 purchase of the remaining 260 acres of historic 

Longview Farm including 11 historic structures on the National Historic registry. 

Longview Farm Elementary plays a significant role in creating a sense of place within the neo-traditional 

community of New Longview, a walkable neighborhood designed to include over 1,100 homes and 

600,000 sf of office and retail space. The school occupies an adaptively reused indoor show horse arena 

built in 1914 as the home for lumber baron R. A. Long’s daughter’s world renowned horses. 

Significant among the awards are: 2007 

Missouri Preservation Honor Award - 

Longview Farm Elementary; 2007 Best New 

Home Community - Kansas City Homes 

and Gardens magazine; 2007 Excellence 

in Development Award – Urban Land 

Institute (ULI) Kansas City; 2007 Historic 

Preservation Award – Historic Kansas City 

Foundation; 2006 Kansas City Business 

Journal Capstone Award - First Place 

Community Impact; 2006 Kansas City 

Business Journal Capstone Award - First 

Place Master Planned Community; 2005 

Midwest Living magazine Idea Homes; 2005 

Merit Citation for Planning Excellence - Missouri Chapter of the American Planning Association; 2003 

Proactive Preservation Award - Historic Kansas City Foundation. 

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thErE MOrE hErE. lEE’s suMMit 

The LSEDC has been a proud partner in the research, development and roll out of the community’s 

new brand. 

“There More Here. Lee’s Summit” is more than a tag line and logo. It’s meant to convey the abundance 

of high-quality-of-life amenities in our community such as: 

• Great schools 

• Quality housing 

• Skilled workers 

• Plentiful job opportunities 

• Outstanding businesses 

• Easy access 

• Abundant recreation and cultural activities 

• Historic charm, and more 

To support the community brand, you will see it on all LSEDC publications. Currently, it’s included 

in our successful direct mail postcard campaign, our most recent Business Retention Report and in 

this year’s Annual Report. 

Together with the City, Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Lee’s Summit, the R-7 School district 

and others we hope to make the entire community aware that “There More Here. Lee’s Summit.”

lsEDC aCtivElY sEEks CustOMEr fEEDBaCk 

In community site selection, reality is partly perception. During the fiscal year 2006-2007, LSEDC 

was mentioned 70 times (vs 56 times for FY 05-06) in articles whose column inches would have 

cost $82,651 (vs $27,090 for FY 05-06) had the articles been placed as advertising. Using the 

industry standard of 5-1 pass along ratio, these articles generated $413,258 in public relations value 

(vs. $135,457 for FY 05-06). LSEDC Board and Quarterly Meetings receive high ratings from an average 

attendance of over 130 investors and guests. Educational content, networking and keeping pace with 

trends and development are frequently mentioned as plusses for these events. 

LSEDC actively seeks to insure that it is meeting investor, ally and customer needs. The surveys below 

indicate that LSEDC maintains a high degree of customer satisfaction rating over 90% “good” or “excellent.” 

Overall LSEDC Investor Satisfaction 

% ‘00-01 ‘01-02 ‘02-03 ‘03-04 ‘04-05 ‘05-06 ‘06-07 

Excellent 28 30 67 61 60 59 50 

Good 57 60 24 33 40 35 43 

LSEDC Staff Rating 

% ‘00-01 ‘01-02 ‘02-03 ‘03-04 ‘04-05 ‘05-06 ‘06-07 

Excellent 69 62 78 74 67 65 73 

Good 28 33 13 22 32 31 18 

Another indication of satisfaction with LSEDC is its annual growth of investors. It has been increasing. 

According to a 2007 survey of 13 EDC’s in the metro area, with the exception of Platte Co with 175 

investors. LSEDC ranked second with 153 investors. Lee’s Summit ranked highest in non-city funding at 

$201,000. 

CY 2000 CY 2001 CY 2002 CY 2003 CY 2004 CY 2005 CY 2006 CY 2007 

Investors 69 91 118 125 138 147 143 153 

CUSTOMER 

QUOTE 

“The best run, organized and presented 

suburban EDC in the metro area.” 

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New Business

New business 

New business attraction is as much art as it is 

science. Finding companies that are a good fit 

is essential in today’s era of “not in my backyard” attitudes. That’s why two opportunities now before 

Lee’s Summit are so exciting. Certainly there may be a few detractors, but in large measure the business 

community views LEGOLAND as a quality operation that could bring significant benefit to our 

community. As of this writing, the city and the state were doing due diligence and return on investment 

analysis to insure LEGOLAND is a true win-win for all parties. 

Likewise, Kokam America’s plans for an ultra high-tech lithium battery manufacturing facility in Lee’s 

Summit presents us with the opportunity to be at the forefront of the burgeoning “green economy.” 

Moreover, Kokam’s operation can compete with lower cost offshore locations such as China. Kokam 

America will truly be a “made in America” success story. 


Don Nissanka is leading Kokam America’s emergence as a top U.S. manufacturer 

of highly efficient, rechargeable batteries. 

Charged for 

Growth 


How far can you go on a third of a tank 

of gasoline? How about from Kansas 

City to Chicago. That’s what a plug-in 

hybrid car powered by a Kokam America 

superior lithium polymer battery the size 

of a notebook computer could do. 

As the U.S. President of the global South 

Korea-based company, Lee’s Summit’s 

Don Nissanka may make Lee’s Summit 

a major player in the global energy 

industry. Nissanka and his partners plan 

to open a clean-room manufacturing 

facility in the Lee’s Summit area soon. 

The company could be generating $100 

million plus within 5 years. 

Senator Kit Bond is a big supporter. He 

has helped arrange a multi-million dollar 

federal grant while private investors are 

getting on board. 

Meanwhile, Nissanka has landed large 

federal and corporate contracts to place 

the lightweight batteries in fighter jets, 

helicopters and commercial airliners. 

Life-sustaining medical devices are 

another huge market. 

For more information visit 

www.Kokam America.com.

lEE’s suMMit ON thE fOrEfrONt Of ENErgY iNDEpENDENCE EffOrts 

Lee’s Summit could well be a beach head on the war for energy independence with the opening of a major 

lithium battery manufacturing facility. Attracting the company, Kokam America, to Lee’s Summit was a 

textbook case in opportunistic economic development. 

In January 2006, the Mayor’s Office received a call from a citizen lamenting the fact that a local 

entrepreneur was going to relocate to Indiana because of incentives. LSEDC was informed and met with 

Don Nissanka, President of Kokam America, and a Lee’s Summit resident. Don is a former executive of a 

large battery manufacturer and a Central Missouri State University Alumnus of the Year. 

Don explained that Indiana was collaborating to give his lithium ion battery company millions of dollars, 

free space and other congressional support to help him jump start his business. Kokam America is the 

U.S. arm of a South Korean company that produces the next generation of lithium batteries that could 

literally help solve some of the energy crisis. The highly efficient, rechargeable batteries can power 

everything from miniature medical devices to fighter jets. A hybrid car operating with Kokam batteries the 

size of a notebook computer could go from Kansas City to Chicago on a third of a tank of gasoline. 

As the LSEDC learned more about this new technology, it became apparent that Kokam America could 

become an industry leader, and that Lee’s Summit could be home to this great advancement. To help 

persuade Don and his company to remain in our area, LSEDC introduced him to local investors, as 

well as state and regional economic development leaders including the Kansas City Area Development 

Council, the Missouri Department of Economic Development, Lee’s Summit bankers, and most 

importantly, Senator Kit Bond. 

After learning about the defense applications made possible by Kokam America’s technology, Dr. Bud 

Hertzog, former LSEDC Chair, offered to host a meeting with Senator Bond’s local liaison. This meeting 

led to Kokam America receiving a $6,000,000 federal grant for defense department related products. 

Through this collaborative, creative process it is exciting to know that Kokam will stay in Lee’s Summit 

with plans to: 

• Employ 200 people 

• Invest $23,000,000 for new manufacturing equipment 

• Occupy 60,0000 sf in Lee’s Summit 

• Pay an average wage of $40,000 

• Build a $100,000,000 company within 5 years and possibly much much more, depending on 

acceptance of its revolutionary battery technology. 

New Business

New business 

lsEDC 1st ENtrEprNEurs’ shOwCasE 

With three Lee’s Summit Businesses Scoring in the Greater Kansas City’s Top 10 Small Businesses of the 

Year, we again realize the existing businesses are the sparkplugs for job growth. Drilling down further into 

entrepreneurship assistance is a logical next step. Entrepreneurs’ needs require additional LSEDC staff skill 

sets: business plan reviews or development; filling in the business plan holes with introductions to the 

LSEDC network of bankers, “angel investors,” consultants, developers, and brokers; and most important, 

relationship management to gain trust to help understand the client’s perspectives on their business. 

In May 2007, we hosted three entrepreneurs in different stages of development: Bard’s Beer, Kokam 

America, and Revtek Corp. Their needs range from equity financing, to working capital to equipment 

financing. Since they all needed some sort of financing, we invited our LSEDC investor banks, local 

“angel investors,” and others with an extensive network of high net worth people looking for investment 

opportunities. We are pleased to announce that each of the start ups are having extended discussion with 

some of the attendees. 

Pictured exchanging business cards are 

Pat Case of Summit Bank of Kansas 

City, Don Nissanka, CEO of Kokam 

America and Jeff Kostos COO of 

Kokam America. 

Pictured seated are all 3 presenting 

entrepreneurs from left to right: 

Jeff Kostos and Don Nissanka of 

Kokam America; Nedra Barr, CEO 

of Revtek and Brian Kovalchuk, 

CEO of Bard’s Beer.

Business Retention

Business Retention 

0 

vOluNtEEr BrigaDE gaugEs grOwth & rEtENtiON plaNs iN lEE’s suMMit 

There is an 80-20 rule in economic development just like there is in so many industries. In the realm of 

economic development, our rule of thumb is that 80% of all new jobs created within a community will 

come from existing businesses. 

That’s right. Most new jobs are not created by a new mega-company moving into town. Most lasting, 

well-paid jobs - and the tax revenues they generate - come from the businesses that are already operating 

in Lee’s Summit. 

That is why it is so important that the LSEDC takes the pulse of these businesses from time to time. 

We did so in 2005. With the help of “Synchronist” software, funded in part by Aquila, the LSEDC staff 

called on 61 Lee’s Summit businesses. The software synthesizes interviews into a comprehensive executive 

summary report which provides a snapshot of companies’ perspectives on the local, national and 

international business climate. What we found was startling in the range of positive impacts they have on 

our community. 

2005 BusiNEss iNtErviEw fiNDiNgs 

• 512,957 sf of space was added between 2002 and 2005 

• 1,263 new jobs were forecast to be created in the next 3 years 

• 768,525 sf of new space was needed to meet demand 

In 2007, with the help of a brigade of volunteers from our Board, Advisory Board and investor banks, we 

completed 64 business interviews. 

LSEDC Vice President Teresa Evans spearheaded the effort. LSEDC investor companies participating in 

the interview process included: Bank Midwest, Bank of Lee’s Summit, Bank of the West, Bank Liberty, 

Commerce Bank, First National Bank of Missouri, Saint Luke’s East - Lee’s Summit, Summit Bank of 

Kansas City, Union Bank and Aquila. 

To help defray some costs, LSEDC received a $15,000 grant from the State of Missouri Department 

of Economic Development. The 2005 and 2007 reports are online at www.leessummit.org under the 

Studies tab.

2007 BusiNEss iNtErviEw fiNDiNgs 

• 88% of local companies introduced new products in the last 5 years 

• 87% plan to introduce new products in the next 5 years 

• 77% had increasing sales 

• 71% had increasing market share 

• 70% were planning to expand in the next 3 years 

• 714 new jobs will be created 

• 989,472 additional sf will be needed 

• Lee’s Summit business climate is good to excellent. 

• Community strengths include our quality of life, workforce location and 

community growth 


• Community weaknesses include perceived high costs and taxes, transportation 

and infrastructure 

• Community services receiving highest marks were our Public Schools (K-12), 

Fire Protection, Community College, Police Protection and Health Care Services 

Volunteers from a wide range of area 

banks gathered the data. Pictured are: 

Row One - Keri Mathew, First National 

Bank of Missouri; Teresa Evans, LSEDC; 

Row Two - Klara Parrish, Bank of Lee’s 

Summit; Pat Case, Summit Bank of 

Kansas City; Todd Harris, Bank of the 

West; Row Three - Dan Kauffman, Bank 

of Lee’s Summit; Mark Dawson, Aquila; 

Charlie Hill, Bank of Lee’s Summit; Row 

Four- Jeff Blendick, Bank Midwest; Larry 

Hillier, Union Bank; Jess Adams, Union 

Bank; Tom Earley, Bank of Lee’s Summit; 

Not Pictured - Cindy Stokes, Bank 

of Lee’s Summit; Kathy Myers, Bank 

Liberty; Dina Canseco, Commerce Bank; 

Jim Devine, LSEDC; and Dr. George 

Pagels, Saint Lukes East Lee’s Summit.


rEtaiNiNg COMpaNiEs & JOBs iN EastErN JaCksON COuNtY 

Based on the success of the Lee’s Summit Business Retention efforts, the LSEDC received a $15,000 grant 

from the Missouri Department of Economic Development and the Full Employment Council (FEC) to 

take business retention to the next level. 

LSEDC President & CEO Jim Devine and John Engelmann of Aquila have been elected Co-Chairmen of 

the Regional Business Retention Council. The council—comprised of ten area economic development 

professionals, Full Employment Council staff, utility professionals and other allies—meets monthly in a 

collaborative effort on a regional basis to identify existing businesses at risk for closing or relocating, and 

to leverage resources to avert layoffs and closings. The targeted region encompasses five counties (Jackson, 

Cass, Clay, Platte and Ray). 

The goal of this pilot program is to provide a collaborative, innovative yet systematic approach to working 

with existing employers that will help them survive and grow in the greater Kansas City area. 

Objectives include: 

• To detect early warning signs of issues that might cause employers to leave 

• To identify and address concerns and barriers facing existing businesses 

• To identify at-risk industries/employers and leverage resources to avert layoffs 

• To identify and facilitate opportunities for expansion 

wOrkfOrCE traiNiNg is priOritY Of EJC wOrkfOrCE CONsOrtiuM 

Since 2002, companies from Lee’s Summit and other area communities have improved their workforces 

while saving considerable training dollars thanks to the Eastern Jackson County Workforce Consortium. 

Offering training in everything from welding to effective leadership, classes are held at the Metropolitan 

Community College Business Technology Campus. There, instructors meet with employees of Lee’s 

Summit companies Billy Goat Industries, Fabtech and Pavestone, as well as companies headquartered 

in Grandview, Greenwood, Independence and Grain Valley. By bundling these training programs, these 

employers—who provide jobs to over 3,000 people—save up to two-thirds on their average employee 

training costs. To date, nearly 600 employees have taken at least one class through the consortium. 

The State of Missouri helps fund the program with grants from the Division of Workforce Development 

and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Member companies pay a one-time $500 

membership fee. 

The LSEDC developed the idea of the consortium, which was expanded to include other regional 

partners. It helps show local businesses how much we value their contributions to our communities and 

how important we feel training is to their ongoing success.

EastErN JaCksON COuNtY wagE aND BENfit survEY 

In 2007, LSEDC again was the staff project manager for the third round of the Eastern Jackson County 

Wage and Benefit Survey. This survey included 41 companies from Lee’s Summit, Independence, Grain 

Valley, Grandview, Oak Grove, Blue Springs and Sugar Creek. 

The firms employed over 9,500 people and together had a net increase of 192 jobs in the last 12 month 

period. Twenty one firms project an employment increase of 200 in the next 12 month for a net increase 

among all firms of 185 new employees. 

The survey contains 70 job titles with low, average and high 

entry and average wage data. The study is on the LSEDC 

website: www.leessummit.org. This data is particularly useful 

because it is Eastern Jackson County-specific and supplies site 

seekers with an important recruitment tool. 

“As we continue to experience dramatic growth in Eastern 

Jackson County, it is critical that local corporate leaders utilize 

every tool available to attract and retain talented employees,” 

said Daren Fristoe, President, The Fristoe Group. “One of 

those tools is certainly the 2007 Eastern Jackson County 

Wage and Benefit Survey. The data taken from this survey 

allows hiring managers and human resource professionals 

to target their staffing practices, focus on ‘hiring smart,’ and 

remain competitive in the employment marketplace.” 

Daren fristoe 


The LSEDC, along with the Eastern Jackson County 

Development Alliance, hosted several meetings and initiated quarterly meetings of the Eastern Jackson 

County Realtors Roundtable at Chapel Ridge Banquet Center. At one meeting, the group heard a 

presentation about LEGOLAND and visited with newly-elected Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders.


sMall BusiNEss aND ENtrEprENEur assistaNCE 

The LSEDC stepped gingerly into introducing local entrepreneurs to potential investors this year. In our 

first Entrepreneur Showcase, we brought three local business people to the attention of local bankers 

and investors who may be seeking investment 

opportunities. 

Firms participating in the first showcase were: 

• Kokam America, discussed elsewhere in this 

annual report. CEO Don Nissanka is seeking 

$10 million in equity and working capital 

to finance his lithium ion battery company’s 

business plan, including production for the 

Department of Defense and commercial 

applications. 

• Bard’s Beer. Founder Craig Belser of Lee’s 

Summit has developed a gluten-free beer 

that appeals to those with certain allergies. Already distributed in 19 states, Craig was seeking $1.5 

million to help the company move its product into national distribution. 

• RevTek is a startup software company that has developed a product to speed the processing of 

insurance applications. It was seeking $3 million to develop and finance its proprietary software. 

LSEDC is mindful of its primary role as a facilitator and convenor. We strive to not be perceived as an 

advocate for any particular company’s business plan or financing requirements. While helping companies 

raise money is a sensitive area, LSEDC believes it is our responsibility to expose relatively seasoned 

entrepreneurs to our regional network of advisors, LSEDC investors and high net worth “angel investors.” 

Brewing 

Healthy Success 

Craig Belser with a glass of gluten free Bard’s Tale Beer. 



Lee’s Summit’s Craig Belser wasn’t about 

to let an allergy keep him from enjoying 

a good brew. 

When his celiac disease reappeared a 

few years ago, Belser’s allergic reaction 

to gluten put 80% of grocery store 

shelves off limits—including the beer 

cooler. Like Craig, one-percent of the 

American public can’t consume wheat, 

barley, rye or oats. 

Starting in his garage, Belser began 

testing different recipes eventually 

settling on sorghum as a substitute 

for the grains. Today, Bards Beer 

is manufactured in California and 

distributed in 19 states. It consistently 

wins head-to-head taste tests and is a 

featured product in major health food 

stores. 

Belser’s goal is to be in all 50 states 

and Canada within a few years, and 

to build a food company based on the 

same technology. Learn more at www. 

bardsbeer.com.

EsOurCEs fOr lOCal EMplOYErs 

Business retention and expansion is an art, not a science. Each company’s needs are unique, but 

fortunately, there are increasing resources in the KC Metro area to tap into. 

A few services that LSEDC has accessed to date include: Missouri Enterprise, Mid-America Trade 

Adjustment Center, KCSourcelink, and Kauffman Foundation’s FastTrac just to name a few. 


We have had considerable success with Missouri Enterprise. Four Lee’s Summit companies—American 

Foodservice, Creative Blow Mold Tooling, R & D Tool and Engineering Group and Venture Industrial—have 

initially qualified for a combined total of $29,200 of grant monies with the potential of more to come. 

Missouri Enterprise provides a variety of services to business/industry at either no cost or reduced costs 

through matching funds as a result of federal and state grants they have been awarded. Their management 

consulting and engineering assistance helps grow and retain companies that are being faced with a myriad 

of changes either internally or in their industry. Companies qualifying for this grant receive $7,300 of 

initial assessment services with benchmarking of their company against other companies in the same 

industry, an extensive “walk through” of their company and written feedback on potential areas for 

improvement. 

Using this information, Missouri Enterprise is then in position coordinate needed services, training and 

other potential grant monies to assist the companies in making the recommended improvements to set 

them more firmly on course for continued growth and success. 

For more information about these and other available resources, check out the newest addition to our 

website, Small Business Resources. (http://www.leessummit.org/sbr1ent.asp). 


U.S. military pilots rely on Chris & Brian Lincoln’s Lee’s Summit-based Ultrax, Inc. 

to keep their helicopters and jets safe and flight ready. 

Keeping our troops 

in the air 


Our troops defending us around the 

globe can thank two Lee’s Summit 

entrepreneurs and their 22 employees 

for keeping their aircraft safe and flight 

worthy. 

Ultrax, Inc. manufactures aircraft 

component testing equipment for 

the U.S. military and our allies. Their 

UX Validator is a portable unit that 

checks auto flight control systems on 

Blackhawk and other helicopters in 

theater. Ultrax also tests F-15 Fighter 

Jet communications equipment in their 

Lee’s Summit plant. 

The brothers combined their talents in 

electronics and software development to 

start the business in 1995. Today they’re 

proud to support our troops while 

providing quality jobs for their highly 

trained and skilled associates. 

Learn more at www.ultraxinc.com.

Community Product 

Improvement

Community Product Improvement 

This fiscal year saw the initiation of some projects, 

progress on some and completion of others, as well. 

All, however, have or will make a major impact on our community’s ability to compete for new businesses. 

BEttEr safEr rOaDs 

The LSEDC took an active role in efforts to 

renew the half-cent city sales tax for roads in 

April 2007. By assistance with fundraising, 

public education and passage of a unanimous 

resolution of endorsement, the LSEDC 

took seriously the importance of a quality 

transportation infrastructure in our community. 

In the approved resolution of support, the 

LSEDC said, “(we) recognize the importance 

of the city’s transportation infrastructure as an 

integral component in supporting and fostering 

a vibrant economy, ensuring the safety of its 

citizens and providing for an improved quality 

of life.” 

Former Assistant City Administrator Shelly 

Temple-Kneuvean and Allan S. Gray of LSEDC 

member firm Truman Medical Center- Lakewood 

served as co-chairs of the Better Safer Roads 

Campaign Committee. Many other LSEDC 

investors lent their name and contributions 

to the effort. The Lee’s Summit Chamber of 

Commerce and the newly-created and LSEDC 

staffed Southern Gateway Business Alliance 

joined in passing resolutions of their own. 

The Better, Safer Roads Committee 

Improve Chipman Road to View High 

Improve Lee’s Summit Road (in our city limits) 

Improve Ward Road (south of M-150 to Raintree Parkway) 

Better, safer roads protect you and your family, and they help our police, fire, 

ambulance and school bus drivers do their jobs. Vote Yes to extend the existing 

half cent sales tax for roads with NO TAX INCREASE. The tax is monitored by a 

Citizens Oversight Committee to ensure accountability and sunsets in 10 years. 

Help ensure Lee’s Summit’s high quality of life. VOTE YES, ApRIl 3Rd! 

For more information about the road plan visit www.lees-summit.mo.us/ 

Paid for by Better Safer Roads Committee, Gene Gamber, Treasurer

The sales tax extension passed by a 66% to 33% 

margin. It will help finance new or continuing 

improvements to Bailey, Chipman Road to View 

High, Hook, Lee’s Summit Road within the 

city limits, Ward Road from M-150 to Raintree 

Parkway, and Jefferson Street over the next 

10 years. Also included in these projects are 

sidewalks and multi-use bike paths. 

Prior to the election, the LSEDC was invited to 

join the citizen-based Thoroughfare Masterplan 

Committee and was successful in convincing 

the group to incorporate economic development 

as a new third factor in evaluating which roads 

should be included in the transportation sales 

tax extension. The other deciding factors had 

been safety and cost. 

sOuthErN gatEwaY BusiNEss alliaNCE 


The Better Safer Roads Committee launched its campaign 

at the intersection of Todd George Parkway and Scruggs 

Road, one of the projects completed during the first 

10-Year Road Plan. 

The LSEDC played an integral role in the founding of a new, informal group of business executives with 

operations south of 50 Highway. 

The mission of the group is to encourage, promote and initiate collaborative business and community 

improvements that enhance member businesses and the Lee’s Summit’s business environment in general. 

Member companies employ over 1,000 people. 

The SGBA meets regularly to learn what is happening in the city and share issues and concerns in areas 

of workforce development and transportation. One of the group’s first sessions was a briefing by city staff 

on the projects proposed in the half-cent transportation sales tax continuation. Of special interest were 

the proposed improvements to Bailey Road, Jefferson Street and Lee’s Summit Road. The alliance passed a 

resolution supporting the half-cent sales tax continuation. 

Alliance members include: Plastics Enterprises Co., Inc; Toys R Us; Metcraft Industries; American Food 

Service; R&D Tool & Engineering; Billy Goat Industries; GE Energy; KC Moving; Issco; Beacon Press; JCI 

Industries; CK Enterprises; Hi Tech Industrial; Venture Industrial and Geiger Ready Mix. 

Plastic Enterprises President & CEO Chuck Koester serves as the informal chairman of the group.


0 

suMMit fair 

On the heels of its very successful SummitWoods Crossing Power Center, RED Development Co., received 

its necessary approvals in 2006-2007 and began work on its newest Lee’s Summit project, Summit Fair. 

The 550,000 sf, open-air lifestyle center, will serve the growing, affluent southeast Jackson County area 

of the Kansas City metropolitan area. The new upscale center, anchored by a department store, will also 

include home furnishings stores, men’s and women’s fashion, fast-casual eateries, sit-down restaurants and 

specialty retailers. 

Conveniently located on the southeast corner of Interstate 470 & Highway 50, the new shopping center 

is just east of SummitWoods. The synergy of new shops and restaurants, combined with SummitWoods 

Crossing’s stores, SuperTarget, Best Buy, Borders, Kohl’s and Old Navy, will make this a shopping 

destination for southeast Jackson County. 

The design of Summit Fair will feature a Main Street shopping area with beautiful landscaping and 

pedestrian walkways. 

Exciting projects like Summit Fair make Lee’s Summit quality of life better in more ways than simply 

having broader alternatives for shopping. The sales taxes generated by quality retail help moderate 

residential property taxes for homeowners; a goal of the city and the LSEDC for quite some time. 

lsEDC “BuD hErtZOg lEaDErship awarD” hONOrs r-7’s tOp tEaChErs 

As a unique and annual tribute to our past 

chairman, Dr. Bud Hertzog, the 12 Lee’s Summit 

Chamber’s 2006 Excellence In Teaching Award 

winners will share a $3,000 grant from the LSEDC. 

The grants of $250 each are to supplement 

classroom supplies or other class-related purposes. 

The awards were presented at the May 2007 

Quarterly Investor Meeting as part of our salute 

to education. Bud’s heart and soul are with the 

schools as shown by his service on the R-7 School 

Board and in the many other ways he has helped 

the district over the years. Plus, the LSEDC 

appreciates the very direct connection between the quality of our schools and their impact on positive 

economic development in Lee’s Summit.

prOgrEss arOuND EvErY COrNEr 

In addition to the projects already mentioned, Lee’s Summit is growing and changing in every sector. 

$800,000,000 in commercial projects are in various stages of design, engineering or construction 

throughout the city. Below is a quick list of some of the projects. 

COMMErCial prOJECts 


• hartlEY’s BlOCk - Kurt Pycior and his partners are moving along on their $8 million project to 

renovate and add on to this downtown landmark. Eighteen new residential condos, 19,000 sf of retail/ 

restaurant and 4,500 sf of office are planned on 1.3 acres. 

• CiviC plaZa - The Meyer Brothers and their partners have a $60 million, 250,000 sf office/retail 

project planned on 27 acres at the Southwest corner of Tudor and Douglas 

• ChapEl riDgE - Mike Atcheson continues the transformation of our northwestern edge. Adding 

to the existing 600,000 sf of retail and office will be another 435,000 sf of office, 99,558 sf of retail 

and 334 multi-family units, as well as a hotel. This phase, including improvements dedicated to the 

Strother Road interchange, will cost about $194 million. 

• i-470 BusiNEss & tEChNOlOgY CENtEr - 975,000 sf of office/warehouse and 125,000 sf of retail 

are planned on 125 acres south of Strother Rd and west of I-470 for this $71 million dollar project 

planned by Wilgate Development’s Jay Burchfield and Bob LeMone. 

• suMMit tEChNOlOgY CaMpus - Nearly 95% leased, (1,000,000 sf) with over 4,500 employees, 

the remaining 50 acres could accommodate another 1 million sf of mixed use development. Count on 

Summit Tech Campus to continue to attract site seekers and decision makers to explore Lee’s Summit’s 

entire inventory. 

• highwaY 150 in south Lee’s Summit has so many commercial projects completed or in the pipeline it 

is hard to keep track of them. Suffice it to say residential development in Cass County, Greenwood and 

Lee’s Summit will make this location Main and Main for our southern gateway.


puBliC prOJECts 

• lEE’s suMMit sENiOr CENtEr - A voter-approved continuation of the parks tax is financing the 

$3,000,000 new senior center at the southwest corner of Independence and Second Street. 

• r-7 sChOOl DistriCt - At long last the district’s administrative offices—The Tony Stansberry 

Leadership Center—will move from the former school building on Mill Street to a new 30,000 sf 

facility on the Lee’s Summit North High School Campus. 

• strOthEr rOaD - A $30 million project to widen I-470, add frontage roads and construct an 

interchange is scheduled to start in 2008. 

• i-470/prYOr rOaD/BluE parkwaY - This $40 million project is in the final stages of engineering. 

Plans call for a new exit off I-470 at Pryor and a later elevated ramp east to Blue Parkway. The project 

will greatly improve traffic flow around Summit Technology Campus and other nearby projects. 

• DOwNtOwN lEE’s suMMit - The extensive $20,000,000+ infrastructure, streetscape and city hall 

project is nearing completion. Plans call for the cones and detours to be nothing but a memory by the 

beginning of the holiday shopping season. 

R&D TOOL 

BREAKING THE MOLD 

Entrepreneurs 

Summit 

R&D Tool’s leadership team gathers on the floor of its Lee’s Summit manufacturing facility. From left, 

CEO Rex Luchtel, VP of Engineering David Wescoat, CFO Rick Lantefield and VP of Manufacturing Dean Rohr. Lee’s 


Talk about being at the right place at 

the right time. 

Just as the soft drink industry was 

transitioning from glass to plastic bottles 

in the 1980s, R&D Tool was deploying 

some of the world’s most advanced 

mold manufacturing equipment in its 

Lee’s Summit plant. Today, with 250 U.S. 

employees, plus 70 more in England, 

R&D Tool is among the top mold makers 

in North America. 

“Smart, motivated, well-trained 

employees working in this great 

community has been a real secret 

to our success,” says CEO Rex Luchtel. 

Getting young people interested in 

manufacturing so they will consider it 

as a profession is a new priority. Luchtel 

takes a personal hand by sponsoring 

high school robotics competitions. Last 

year’s Lee’s Summit High School won 

honors as Top Rookie team in the U.S. 

For more information visit 

www.rdtool.com.

officers, investors & 

professional staff

Officers & Executive committee 

Nancy Blackwell, Chair 

Attorney, Chinnery Evans & Nail 

Nancy is an attorney practicing in the areas of Estate Planning, Business Law, and Real Estate 

with the law firm of Chinnery Evans & Nail, P.C. in Lee’s Summit. She is a member of the 

Missouri Bar, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce, 

Lee’s Summit Education Foundation Board, John Knox Village Board and Foundation Board 

and other organizations. Nancy is a lifetime resident of Lee’s Summit, a graduate of Lee’s 

Summit High School and was once selected Outstanding Young Woman in Lee’s Summit. 

Ted Murray, Immediate Past Chair 

CEO, Grubb & Ellis/The Winbury Group 

Ted became CEO of Grubb & Ellis/The Winbury Group in 2005 and has been president 

of its predecessor companies since their inception in 1984. He has been in the commercial 

real estate business in Kansas City since 1977, bringing a vast amount of experience in 

commercial real estate development, brokerage and consultation. Since 1984, Ted has 

developed over 1.2 million square fee of commercial property in the Kansas City area. Many 

of his projects have won prestigious awards including the Commitment to Kansas City Award 

for Twentieth Century Tower from the Kansas City Corporation for Industrial Development 

and the Cornerstone Award for the Hewlett Packard Building from the Kansas City Economic 

Development Council. Ted is a member of the International Council for Shopping Centers 

and the Urban Land Institute. He is a mentor with the Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring 

Program. Ted is a past president of the Main Street Development Corporation and has served 

on the Board of the UMKC Bloch School of Business Administration. 

Jon Ellis, Vice Chair 

PResident And CEO, paradise Park 

Jon has been President and CEO of Paradise Park, Inc., since 1991. He recently oversaw a 

38,000 sf expansion of the facility to include new attractions, activities and special event areas. 

The Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce voted Paradise Park its 1998 Small Business of the 

Year. Jon is active in numerous community organizations, having served as Chairman of the 

Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce, President of the Lee’s Summit Educational Foundation, 

Chairman of the Fundraising Committee of the International FarmHouse Foundation, and Co- 

Chair of the Powell Gardens Harvest Gardens Capital Campaign. He is also a Board Member 

of the Lee’s Summit Hospital Foundation and Jackson County Extension Service, and a 

member of the Lee’s Summit Noon Rotary Club and the Lee’s Summit Optimists Club.

Roger Meyer, Secretary 

President, Meyer Brothers Construction 


Roger Meyer has been associated with the construction industry since 1973, the last 

28 years as President of Meyer Brothers Building Company. His areas of concentration 

are administration, and sales & marketing of commercial, institutional, and industrial 

construction projects. In 1971, he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business 

Administration from Central Missouri State University. 

Dr. George Pagels, Treasurer 

President & CEO, Saint Luke’s East - Lee’s Summit; 

Senior VP and Chief Medical Officer, Saint Luke’s Health System 

George A. Pagels, M.D. joined Saint Luke’s Health System in 1998 bringing more than 20 

years of experience to his position. He serves as Chief Medical Officer for Saint Luke’s Health 

System and the Chief Executive Officer for Saint Luke’s East Lee’s Summit. Dr. Pagels holds 

a bachelor of science and medical degree from the University of Illinois and a master’s in 

business administration from the University of Minnesota. He did his internship and residency 

at Case Western Reserve. Dr. Pagels is also a member of the American College of Physicians 

and the American College of Physician Executives. 

Karen Messerli 

Mayor, City of Lee’s Summit 

Karen became the first woman Mayor of Lee’s Summit on April 4, 1994. In her more than 13 

years as Mayor, and 5 years as a City Council member, Mayor Messerli has presided over one 

of the state’s most high-growth, quality communities. She was a founding member of the Tri 

City Mayors Coalition and the Eastern Jackson County Betterment Council, President of the 

Missouri Municipal League, and an active supporter of the Eastern Jackson County United 

Way and Hope House for Battered Women. She has been named Woman of the Year for the 

State of Missouri Business and Professional Women’s Organization in 1998. In 2002 she was 

one of 60 women featured in the book, “A Power of Her Own.” In 2004 she received the 2004 

Missouri Parks and Recreation Association Public Official Achievement Award. Mayor Messerli 

is employed as Director of Volunteers/Governmental Relations for Lee’s Summit Hospital.


Steve Lewis 

City Administrator, City of Lee’s Summit 

Steve was appointed City Administrator for the City of Lee’s Summit in January 2004. Prior to 

joining the city, he was City Manager in Joplin, MO for nearly 10 years. Previously he served 

as a City Manager and Assistant City Manager in two other communities. Professionally Steve 

is a member of the International City/County Management Association and the Missouri City 

Management Association. He has completed the Senior Executive Institute program at the 

Cooper School of Public Service at the University of Virginia. Civically, Steve serves as an 

ex-officio Board member of the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce. 

Dr. David McGehee 

Superintendent, Lee’s Summit R-7 School District 

Dr. David McGehee began serving as R-7 School District superintendent in July 2006. 

He previously served as superintendent of the Raymore-Peculiar School District, as 

superintendent of the Sparta R-III School District, as high school principal in Sparta, as a 

middle-school science teacher and coach in Logan-Rogersville School District and as a science/ 

physical-education teacher and coach in the Drexel R-IV School District. In 2000, he was 

named New Superintendent of the Year by the Missouri Association of School Administrators. 

He is currently serving as president of the Kansas City Missouri Association of School 

Administrators, was selected to serve on the Missouri Commissioner’s Task Force on High 

Schools and is a member of the Kansas City Area Superintendent’s Leadership Institute. Dr. 

McGehee has a total of 19 years in education and 11 years in public education administration. 

He earned his doctorate in education leadership from St. Louis University, his specialist’s 

degree in superintendent leadership from Missouri State University, his master’s degree in 

secondary administration from Missouri State University and his bachelor’s degree in physical 

education and science education from Missouri Valley College.

BOarD Of DirECtOrs 

Board Members 

NANCY BLACKwELL | Attorney, Chinnery, Evans & Nail, P.C. 

CAROLYN CALDwELL | President/CEO, Lee’s Summit Hospital 

ViCKY CUNDiFF | Vice President & Treasurer, Weed Man/Turf’s Up, Inc. 

JON ELLiS | President and CEO, Paradise Park 

TOM FiTzSiMMONS | CEO, First National Bank 

JiM HARPOOL | Principal, President, Harpool Morgan Haney 

TOM JACKSON | President/Business Aquisitions, First National Bank 

DAViD LAMMERS | General Manager Lee’s Summit Journal 

STEVE LEwiS | City Administrator, City of Lee’s Summit 

REx LUCHTEL | CEO, R & D Tool & Engineering 

DAViD MCGEHEE | Superintendent, Lee’s Summit R-7 School District 

KAREN MESSERLi | Mayor, City of Lee’s Summit 

ROGER MEYER | President, Meyer Companies 

TED MURRAY | CEO, Grubb & Ellis/The Winbury Group 

GEORGE PAGELS | MD President & CEO, St. Luke’s East - Lee’s Summit; Sr. VP & CMO, St. Luke’s Health System 

KURT PYCiOR | President, FPC 

DAN RExROTH | President/CEO, John Knox Village 

PHiLLiP SHORT | President, ViraCor Laboratories 

aDvisOrY BOarD 

MARCY ANDERSON | Business Development Manager, Walton Construction Company, Inc. 

JAMES ANDREwS | Business Development Manager, Miller-Stauch Construction Company 

MiKE ATCHESON | Managing Partner, CEAH Realtors/Chapel Ridge 

RiCHARD BAiER | Managing Director, CB Richard Ellis, Inc. 

PHiLLiP BARTOLOTTA | President & COO, Fogel-Anderson Construction Company 

KATHY BENNETT | CEO/President, Bennett Packaging 

JEFF BLENDiCK | Assistant Vice President/Commercial Loan Officer, Bank Midwest 

JOHN BRAKE | Vice President, J.E. Dunn Construction Company 

KiM BRiGHTwELL | Chief Financial Officer, Blue Springs R-4 School District 

DAN BROMLEY | President, ABI, Inc. 

JOHN BROwN | Vice President, Hollis & Miller Group 

FRED BUCKLEY | Director of Governmental Affairs - Missouri, Home Builders Assoc. of Greater Kansas City 

JAY BURCHFiELD | Managing Member/CEO, WilGate Development, LLC 

STAN CHRiSTOPHER | Chief Operating Officer & Principal, E.T. Archer Corporation 

DON COSENTiNO | Owner, Cosentino Enterprises 

MARK DAwSON | Manager Economic Development - Missouri (south), Aquila 

EDwARD DESOiGNiE | Executive Director, Heavy Constructors Association of Greater KC 

KEiTH DORRiAN | Project Manager, A. L. Huber Construction, Inc. 

KATHiE EHRENREiCH | Chief Financial Officer, Gale Communities 

wAYNE FORGEY | President and CEO, Bank of Lee’s Summit 

JO ANNE GABBERT | President and CEO, Adams-Gabbert & Associates 

GENE GAMBER | Individual Member 

FRED GROGAN | President, Metropolitan Community College - Longview

Board Members 

aDvisOrY BOarD continued 

BOB GUNTERT | Individual Member 

BRUCE HATTiG | Vice President, Bartlett & West Engineers, Inc. 

GARY HAwKiNS | President, HSMC 

MiKE HAYNES | Regional Director - External Affairs, AT&T - SBC 

HENRY HEiMSOTH | Vice President, Great Southern Bank 

BUD HERTzOG | Veterinarian, Lee’s Summit Animal Hospital 

MARTiN HOFFEY | Director of Business Acquistions, Weitz Company 

STEVE HULL | Market President, Solutions Bank 

BRiAN HUTCHiN | Community Bank President, UMB Bank 

DAViD iRELAND | Business Manager, Kansas City Cardiology Associates, Inc. 

TONY JUSTiN | President, Garden City Bank at Chapman Farms 

KEiTH KOEHLER | CEO, Acceleration 

PAM LEVETzOw | Director Public Affairs, Missouri Gas Energy 

AARON MARCH | Attorney, White Goss Bowers March Schulte & Weisenfels 

MARK MARTiN | President, Space Center Kansas City 

DANA MATHEwS | Relationship Manager Assistant, Bank of the West 

TAYLOR MiLLER | Senior Vice President, Enterprise Bank & Trust 

BRENT MiLLER | Publisher, Lee’s Summit Journal 

DONNA MOORE | Vice President, Resource Development, Bi-County United Way 

wiLLiAM (BiLL) MOORE | Director/Partner, King Hershey Attorneys At Law 

DOUG MORRiS | Realtor, Realty Executives 

RiCHARD MULLER | Assistant Vice President, Townsend Capital, LLC 

PAUL NEiDLEiN | Business Development Engineer, Turner Construction Company 

MiCHAEL NGUYEN | Vice President, Commerce Bank 

SHiRLEY OLSON | Vice President/Banking Center Manager, Bank of America 

DON OLSON | Senior Vice President, First Community Bank 

TiM PAULSON | General Manager, Emery Sapp & Sons 

LAURENCE PRESSLY | Broker, Individual Member 

BiLL REGAN | Financial Advisor, Individual Member, Lawing Financial 

ORA REYNOLDS | Vice President & General Manager, Hunt Midwest Real Estate Development 

TOM SAUL | President, Titan Construction 

DiANE SEiF | President & CEO, DVA Enterprises, Inc. 

JiM SELzER | Practice Managing Partner - Business, Stinson, Morrison, Hecker 

BRYAN SiEBENECK | Senior Vice President, Union Bank 

HAROLD SiGLAR | CEO, Truman Medical Center Lakewood 

JACQUES SMiTH | Vice President/Commercial Lending, M & I Bank 

JEFFERY SMiTH | Senior Vice President, Hawthorn Bank 

JEFF SULLiVAN | Vice President and Banking Center Manager, Bank Midwest 

SPENCER THOMSON | Attorney, Blackwell Sanders Peper & Martin, LLP 

RiCK ViAR | President, Summit Bank of Kansas City 

RADD wAY | President, Weitz Company 

RiCK wEEDA | Vice President, Blue Ridge Bank and Trust Company 

JEFF wHiTE | Senior Estimator, McCown Gordon Construction 

KATY ziMMERMAN | Marketing Coordinator, RED Development

PACESETTER $7500+ 

CEAH Realtors/Chapel Ridge 

City of Lee’s Summit 

Lee’s Summit R-7 School District 

LEADERSHIP PARTNER $5,000 + 

Aquila 

Blue Springs R-4 School District 

CB Richard Ellis, Inc. 

First National Bank of Missouri 

Gale Communities 

Hawthorn Bank 

BENEFACTOR $2,500 - $4,999 

A T & T - SBC 

A. L. Huber Construction, Inc. 

Acceleration 

Adams-Gabbert & Associates 

Bank Midwest 

Bank of America 

Bank of Lee’s Summit 

Bank of the West 

Bartlett & West Engineers, Inc. 

Bennett Packaging 

Blackwell Sanders Peper & Martin, LLP Blue 

Ridge Bank and Trust Co. 

Commerce Bank of Lee’s Summit 

Cosentino’s Price Chopper 

DVA Enterprises, Inc. 

Emery Sapp & Sons 

Enterprise Bank & Trust 

First Community Bank 

Fogel-Anderson Construction Co. 

FPC 

Garden City Bank at Chapman Farms 

Great Southern Bank 

Harpool Morgan Haney 

PATRON $1,500 - $2,499 

Block & Company, Inc. 

Grubb & Ellis/The Winbury Group 

Hoefer Wysocki Architects 

HyVee East 

HyVee West 

Industrial Development Authority 

Pfizer Global Manufacturing 

ViraCor Laboratories 

Lee’s Summit Hospital 

Meyer Companies 

Saint Luke’s East - Lee’s Summit 

Townsend Capital, LLC 

Truman Medical Center Lakewood 

Turner Construction Company 

Heavy Constructors Association of Greater KC 

HSMC 

Hunt Midwest Real Estate Development 

J.E. Dunn Construction Company 

Kansas City Cardiology Associates, Inc. 

King Hershey Attorneys At Law 

Lakewood Business Center 

LeMone-Smith Development Company 

M & I Bank 

McCown Gordon Construction 

Miller-Stauch Construction Company 

Paradise Park 

Realty Executives 

RED Development 

Solutions Bank 

Space Center Kansas City 

Summit Bank of Kansas City 

Titan Construction 

UMB Bank 

Union Bank 

Walton Construction Company, Inc. 

Weitz Company 

White Goss Bowers March Schulte & Weisenfels 

Lee’s Summit Journal 

Polytainers, Inc. 

ServiceMark Telecom 

Spaces, Inc. & evologic 

Stinson, Morrison, Hecker 

Superior Bowen Asphalt Company, LLC 

Investors

Investors 

0 

INVESTORS $750 - $1,499 

ACI/Boland, Inc. 

ADESA Kansas City 

Affinis 

American Food Service 

Ash Grove Materials 

Billy Goat Industries 

Bob Sight Ford 

Brotherhood Bank & Trust 

Chief Heating & Cooling, Inc. 

Cohen-Esrey Real Estate Services, Inc. 

Colliers Turley Martin Tucker 

Columbian Bank 

Development Initiatives 

Diodes - FabTech, Inc. 

DLR Group, Inc. 

E.T. Archer Corporation 

First American Title Insurance Company 

Fristoe Group, Inc. 

GEHA 

Geiger Ready-Mix Co., Inc. 

George Butler Associates, Inc. 

GLPM Architects, Inc. 

Grand Street Company, LLC 

Haren & Laughlin Construction Co., Inc. 

Heartland Tanning 

SPONSOR MEMBERS Up to $749 

360 Architecture 

ABI, Inc. 

Adams Auto Group 

AFC Heating & Cooling 

Atkinson Financial Services 

Bank Liberty 

Bi-County United Way 

Bill Regan 

Bob Guntert 

Cathie Bordner & Associates at Reece Nichols 

Chinnery Evans & Nail 

Construction Systems & Flooring, Inc. 

Don Kahan Chevrolet 

Gene Gamber 

John Graham, Jr. 

Hollis & Miller Group 

Home Builders Assoc. of Greater Kansas City 

John Knox Village 

L & K Realty Co. 

Labor Management Advisory Group 

Lakewood Business Park 

Land Source 

Lee’s Summit Animal Hospital 

Metcraft Industries 

Metropolitan Community College - Longview 

Missouri Gas Energy 

Musgrave Marketing & PR 

National Bank of Kansas City 

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart 

Pfeifer-King Building Corp. 

PGAV Architects 

Plastic Enterprises Co., Inc. 

R & D Tool & Engineering 

Realty Trust Group 

Scott Rice Office Works 

State Farm Insurance - Berry Jennings 

Stoney Creek Development 

Toys R’ Us 

Wachter Electric Company 

Lakewood Property Owners Association 

Laurence Pressly 

Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce 

Mock Building Company 

Plaas Associates 

Prime Commercial, LLC 

Savanna Ridge Development, LLC 

Scott DeVouton LLC 

Shafer, Kline & Warren, Inc. 

Spilker McKeone & Co., P. C. 

Taylor Kelly Construction 

Thompson Properties, LLC 

Weed Man/Turf’s Up, Inc. 

Zimmer Companies

Jim Devine 

President/CEO 

Teresa Evans 

Vice President 

Shannan Cunniffe 

Office Manager 

Professional Staff 

Jim Devine joined LSEDC in 1999. With over 30 years of experience as a consultant 

or chief executive, Jim has worked for cities, counties, states, chambers of commerce, 

management consulting and real estate firms in 22 states in the U.S.A. He has managed 

multimillion dollar marketing and public relations campaigns in the United States 

and Europe; industrial parks; labor force studies; foreign trade zones; enterprise 

zones; downtown and redevelopment programs, and strategic plans for communities 

throughout the west. He served as the chairman of Washington, DC based International 

Economic Development Council (IEDC), representing over 4,000 economic 

development professionals. Jim is a Ford Foundation Scholar, holds a Masters in Public 

Administration from Syracuse University and a BA cum laude from Wesleyan University 

in Middletown, Connecticut. He is a graduate of the Japan Business Institute, Tokyo, 

Japan; the Economic Development Institute, Norman Oklahoma; and the Institute 

for Participatory Management and Planning, Monterey, California. Jim’s wife Elayne, 

graduated from Lee’s Summit High School, is an ordained Unity minister, clinical 

psychological counselor and bronze sculptor. 

Teresa Evans joined the LSEDC staff in August 2002. Teresa came to LSEDC with 20 

years of experience in education. She was employed by the Metropolitan Community 

Colleges working in student services as an academic advisor, and more recently in 

employee development by coordinating and facilitating training needs for over 1,000 

employees. Teresa holds an Associate in Arts from Longview Community College and a 

Bachelor of Science in Social Psychology summa cum laude from Park University. Teresa 

completed the Heartland Economic Development Course through the University of 

Northern Iowa in 2003, is a graduate of Leadership Lee’s Summit 2004, and in the past 

2 years has completed variety of business-retention-based e-Synchronist courses, as well 

as training through the Missouri Economic Development Academy. Teresa’s husband 

Bob works for Lathrop & Gage as IS Project Manager. Their daughter Cara (a 2001 Lee’s 

Summit High School graduate) lives in Kansas City and is employed by The Stowers 

Institute for Medical Research. 

Shannan Cunniffe joined LSEDC in November 2004 with over 13 years of experience in 

office administration and office management. She worked for 2 years in the non-profit 

sector and for over 11 years at two local engineering firms. In those roles, she helped 

prepare, edit and distribute proposals, reports and presentations; she has experience in 

meeting planning and preparation; and has designed and created invitations for various 

events. She has applied her previous experience in her role as Office Manager for the 

LSEDC. Shannan is a 2006 graduate of Leadership Lee’s Summit and completed the 

Heartland Economic Development Course in April 2006. She has a degree in English 

from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri. Shannan and her husband Tom 

live in Independence and like to travel.

Kansas City Business JOURNAL 

July 21–27, 2006

Lee’s Summit JOURNAL 

August 16, 2006

Kansas city business JOURNAL 

September 1–7, 2006

The Examiner 

November 14, 2006


December 1, 2006

Lee’s Summit Post Tribune 

January 13, 2007


February 21, 2007

kansas City Star 

March 31, 2007

0 

KC Business Journal - Capstone Awards 

April 6, 2007

Lee’s Summit Tribune 

May 5, 2007

Kansas City Business Journal 

June 15–21, 2007

Jim Devine 

President & Chief Executive Officer 

218 SE Main Street 

Lee’s Summit, Missouri 64063 

816-525-6617 

www.leessummit.org 

jdevine@leessummit.org

Lee's Summit Economic Development Council

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