John Ehlert raised the stakes for his Minnesota team last year when he announced the Duluth-Superior Dukes would relocate to Kansas City. The move came after the Dukes had established themselves for 10 years in the Minnesota area. But after Ehlert made the announcement last fall he started plans to build a $12-million stadium. The deal was sealed and the Dukes became the T-Bones.

While Ehlert serves as president and CEO of Ashton Management Corp., owner of the T-Bones, his son, Adam Ehlert, works as general manager for the team. By moving the baseball team to the Kansas City area Ehlert has helped contribute to the growing Wyandotte County Tourism District. Right off the bat, Ehlert said the 4,450-seat stadium could be used to organize other family fun-filled activities, such as fairs, concerts, shows and other community events.

As a native of Sauk Centre, Minn., Ehlert began his business career by graduating from St. Mary's University in Winona, Minn., and later from the Owner/Management program at Harvard University's Graduate School of Business. Meanwhile, Ehlert founded Ehlert Publishing Group, Inc., based in Maple Grove, Minn. Ehlert's pub-lishing company releases 22 consumer and business magazines in various recreation interests. He currently serves as Chairman Emeritus of the company.

Ehlert is also a member of various boards of directors, including Affinity Group, Inc., Beacon Center, Center of the American Experiment, the National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum, the Northern League, and St. Mary's University of Minnesota.

Ehlert is also chairman and CEO of Fanball Interactive, an Internet sports site that lets fans pick their "fantasy" sports team in baseball, basketball, football and racing.

Ehlert further used his investment knowledge as a member of the city council in Minnetonka Beach, Minn., and later as his term as mayor for the city. He also worked on the national finance committee for the Elizabeth Dole for President campaign.

Roshann Parris, founder and president of Kansas City-based Parris Communica-tions, graduated with honors from Indiana University and is now being honored as this year's Central Exchange Woman of the Year. This award comes after a number of professional accomplishments.

"I've always subscribed to the notion that life is much more about the journey than the destination," says Parris. "If you can climb out of bed in the morning squarely focused on meeting--and then exceeding--the expectations you have for yourself, I believe that short-term excellence will, almost by default, guide everything else you set out to achieve."

This driving philosophy has proven to work for Parris. Early on in her career Parris worked with U.S. Senator Walter D. Huddleston (D-Ky), which lead her to coordinate and accompany the senator on an official intelligence mission to the Middle East during the 1992 invasion of Lebanon. Two years later Parris worked with the vice chancellor of the University of Kansas while earning her Masters in Business Administration. It was not until 1988 that Parris decided to form Parris Communications, and even then she continued her public sector involvement. Parris was the Lead Advanceperson for Kitty Dukakis on the Dukakis-Bentsen presidential campaign. Her participation in this campaign lead Parris to joined the Clinton/Gore campaign in 1992.

Parris' work as a member of the White House Transition Team for Clinton made it possible for her to work as the Lead Advanceperson on the White House Presidential Advance Team. For eight years Parris traveled around the world with former President Clinton and the First Lady. Her job as one of Clinton's right hand personnel took Parris to Greece for the Olympic Torch lighting, London for Princess Diana's funeral, and Calcutta, India for the funeral of Mother Teresa.

But this public relations and strategic marketing communications person has more to offer than just her 20 years experience in PR, she has a long list of charitable works to add to her profile. Her philanthropic efforts are so many Parris was awarded the Small Business Philanthropic Person of the Year for this year, as presented by the Council on Philanthropy.

"One of my favorite quotes is the one that says 'having seen the sun set on the other side of the earth, I shall never be the same again'," says Parris. "Having traveled to virtually every part of this earth, it has never been more the case that there's no place like home in Kansas City."