MICHAEL BIRGER
Michael Birger, 39, has made up a lot of ground in a very short time. Until 1974, Michael lived in Odessa. Not the Odessa in Lafayette County, but the Odessa in the U.S.S.R. Michael and his family moved to the U.S. when he was 10. According to Michael, his parents sacrificed "everything familiar and cherished" to give him and his sister a chance to live in a place rich in the opportunity and freedom that they might otherwise not have known. Michael made the most of both. He received a double Bachelor's degrees from Kansas University in Slavic languages and business administration. He next earned his MBA from Boston University. Today, Michael serves as vice-president-investments of Entertainment Properties Trust. In this capacity he consults often for such Fortune 100 companies as American Express and AIG and he sat on the credit committee for Drexel Burnham Lambert. These days Mike doubles as a devoted husband to his wife Julie and his very American daughters Amanda and Emily.
GINGER BLISS
You've most likely already seen Ginger Bliss' behind-the-scene work on print and TV and radio ads for the 2800-employee Shawnee Mission Medical Center (SMMC). For a while it was a one-person show, but Ginger has helped to expand the marketing, communications and planning staff to include seven others. Ginger is widely recognized throughout SMMC as a leader, innovator and a producer, particularly for her work on SMMC's strategic planning committee. Recently Ginger led the hospital through the development of a new brand and corporate image and is now leading the strategic planning efforts for the $70 million expansion of the hospital. She is also heavily engaged in the planning process for a future facility in western Lenexa. Ginger co-chairs the Blue Valley Education Foundation community relations committee and is a leadership delegate for Leadership Overland Park. The 36 year-old Bliss also somehow finds the time, along with husband Matt, to raise young Kylee, now age 7.
TAMMY BLOSSOM
Tammy Blossom is probably best known for her role as CEO & President of Kansas City's Learning Exchange, a national educational consulting and reform organization. Before the Learning Exchange, Tammy, now 38, spent four years in New York City as CEO/president of the Community Change Consortium. She worked with President Clinton and General Colin Powell to help launch America's Promise. While she was in New York, Tammy earned up her MBA at Columbia University. In addition to America's Promise, Tammy has led numerous community initiatives including a community-based effort to engage citizens in a bi-state planning process, collaboration on the creation of Bi-State Cultural Tax, and positioning Greater Kansas City as the "Child Opportunity Capital." Speaking of which, Tammy and her husband, Drew, have "two wonderful boys," Cameron, 4 and Skyler, 6.
MARGARET GOLDEN BOWKER
How does a young woman become principal of a prestigious architectural firm without becoming an architect? It's not easy. In fact, it's practically unheard of. But Margaret Golden Bowker did just that. Margaret is a principal at one of the area's most prominent architectural firms, Gould Evans. She is also one of a handful of non-architect marketing directors in the industry to be promoted to principal. And she is still just 36. When she finds time away from work, Margaret can be found attending local or national Society of Marketing Professional Services events, Kansas City Area Development Council functions, or rubbing elbows with members of the various Chamber of Commerce chapters in the metro area. Margaret is in the 11th year with the Junior League, is involved with Junior Achievement, routinely volunteers at her children's schools, and is a member of the Pi Beta Phi and Kansas Alumni Associations. Margaret has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Kansas. She and husband Jeff have two children, Reed and Claire.
