Where Do All These Great Young People Come From?
Each year, just when we are certain we have seen all the best and brightest and most generous under-40s in Kansas City, a new wave of applications roll in. This year, we reviewed more qualified applicants than we have ever seen before. We have seen so many, in fact, that we could accept only one out of every ten young people from an already highly self-selecting field. Those who question whether Kansas City is hip enough to recruit and retain qualified younger professionals need only join us in our annual review. What they see will, we are sure, surprise them. If they can find a better class of young recruits anywhere, we’ll move there ourselves. It’s not going to happen.
One recognizes an obvious pattern in those selected—their ambition, their shared work ethic, their commitment to family, and their dedication to community. This class of 40-under-Forty is exactly the kind upon which a city can build a future. We are proud to know them and pleased to share their stories on the pages that follow.
Next year we will meet many more great applicants still. If you know of a good one, please make sure that we do too. Enjoy getting to know this year’s class of 40 Under Forty.
