Ashley Renfrew is a project manager and deputy delivery manager with HNTB Corporation. She is a member of the Centurions Spring Class of 2020. Ashley serves on the projects committee and is a co-chairman of the Benchmarking Trip Task Force. Ashley has volunteered with numerous groups. Among the ones she most enjoys are HappyBottoms, Project […]

Estelle Jane Glatt Sosland is serving as the honorary chairman for this year’s Jewel Ball. She was married for 72 years to Morton Irvin Sosland who passed away on April 25th. Estelle was the chairman of The Jewel Ball in 1991, the year that her grandson Andrew Russell Brown was presented. Another highlight of that […]

Andy McDonald is one of the original ushers at The Folly Theater. Always dressed to perfection, Andy has served as an usher since 1981. He is a committed volunteer who helps to preserve The Folly’s history and share it with visitors. Also featured in the May 25, 2019 issue of The Independent  

UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance’s Crescendo will return to the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts on November 8th. Guests will gather in Brandmeyer Great Hall for cocktails and dinner to celebrate talented UMKC Conservatory students who will perform in Helzberg Hall, guided by internationally-acclaimed faculty and teachers of music and dance. After the […]

Kimberly Wilkerson is one of our Rising Stars, Class of 2015. As agency principal and vice president of Haas & Wilkerson Insurance, Kimberly co-owns and operates a privately held retail brokerage and is responsible for community outreach, culture and branding, quality and control, process and procedure, and customer service. She supports a variety of non […]

Chris Albright is a senior vice president of administration at UMB. He came to The Whole Person to volunteer for the organization’s recent Night of Independence Gala. Chris’ wife, Shari, is a physical therapist. The couple is passionate about helping people with disabilities. Chris is a newly-elected member of The Whole Person’s board of directors. […]

Monica Smith is a member of Centurions Fall Class of 2020. She serves on the Law and Justice Task Force and is a member of the projects committee for community service. Monica is a prosecutor for the City of Kansas City, Missouri. Her duties include drug court and supervising interns. Monica is a Distinguished Toastmaster. […]

Rusty Smith has been a volunteer at Wayside Waifs for three years and has been a board member of the organization since 2016. Last year, Rusty and his wife, Martha, were silent auction chairmen for the Fur Ball and this year, they are serving as co-chairmen of the Fur Ball: Woof 66, a journey to […]

Jennifer Matney is the senior vice president/director of operational risk management at UMB. She is a Rising Star, Class of 2016. Jennifer is on the ambassador board of Big Brothers Big Sisters and is a Big Sister to Aryn. Jennifer is on the community ambassador board of Firsthand Foundation and is the president-elect for the […]

Michelle Goth is a member of the Centurions Spring Class of 2020 and serves as the social co-chairman. She is the general manager of Ripple Glass. Michelle volunteers with the homeless community through Uplift and reStart. Michelle and her husband, Craig Goth, have a son, Eli. Additional information in the April 27, 2019 issue of […]

A picture is worth a thousand words: yes, Jessie McKinney loves to travel! That’s just one of the Shook, Hardy & Bacon attorney’s many interests. Jessie is a member of the Centurions Fall Class of 2019, where she is currently the co-chairman of the Kansas City History Task Force and a member of the Issues […]

Family life – with his wife, Lindsey, and their children, Kit and Hank – is much savored by Ryan Shriver, a Rising Star, Class of 2018. Ryan was a basketball player at Western Illinois University and Fort Hays State University, prior to beginning his career. In addition to his work at Haas & Wilkerson Insurance, […]

Ann Walter, who is a realtor with Re/Max Infinity, has always made it her goal to donate $25,000 to local, deserving non profits. Last year, she was at a conference, and two of her friends shared about giving circles that they had started in their respective communities. “I knew this idea would be the perfect […]

Dolly Wood, 2017 Class of Rising Stars, is an adjunct professor for the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Metropolitan Community College. She was a committee member for Champagne & Chocolate in 2018. Event proceeds supported Southwest Boulevard Family Health Care. Dolly also is a sustainer in the Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri, and was […]

Bradford Hart is a member of the Centurions Fall Class of 2019 and is co-chairman of the community leadership committee. He is the senior program officer and safety net co-lead at Health Forward Foundation. Bradford volunteers at Briarwood Elementary School, the Johnson County Drug and Alcohol Commission, and the Kansas City Substance Abuse Treatment Capacity […]

Jennifer Savner Levinson is a suicide attempt survivor who works diligently everyday to maintain a healthy quality of life. There is not a day that is not a struggle for her. It is because of her personal experiences that she is passionate about trying to help others, especially young people and their families, who have […]

In earlier years, David Powell was a Wildwood camper. He wants other young people in Our Town to have the experiences he enjoyed. David joined the board of Wildwood Outdoor Education Center in 2013. Since then, David has served as board treasurer, secretary, and president. He has provided financial savvy during a time of growth […]

Lauren Palmer is a member of Centurions Fall Class of 2019. She serves on the legacy committee and has been co-chairman of a Task Force on law and justice. Lauren is employed as the director of local government services for the Mid-America Regional Council. She serves on the advisory cabinet of Women United, which is […]

This month, Meagan Dowell  is opening her own business, On the Ball, an upscale daycare and boarding center for dogs in The Shops at Prairie Village. This is a big change for Meagan, who is a certified public accountant. Even with a daunting work schedule, the Rising Star, Class of 2017, has always found time […]

Stephanie Meyer grew up in Wichita, Kansas. From there, she went to Kansas State University, where she earned a dual bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations. Stephanie received her master’s degree in public administration from The University of Kansas. She is employed with DLR Group as an education funding specialist and also is in […]

Marilyn J. and Kenneth V. Hager met on a blind date. The person who set them up was a good judge of character – they’ve been married for 43 years now. They are serving as the honorary chairmen of the Lyric Opera Circle’s Lyric Opera Ball – For the Love of Opera.  The Hagers are […]