Nearly twenty of Kansas City area financial institution executives, venture capitalists and civic and community leaders convened on Friday, October 31 for a highly productive and progressive discussion on the financial community's role in the growth and prosperity of economic development and the regional economy.
This Industry Outlook forum was part of Ingram's Magazine ongoing effort to highlight relevant issues in the Kansas City metropolitan area, and a provocative forum it most certainly was.
Kevin Barth, President of Commerce Bank, hosted the event at the bank's executive boardroom in Downtown Kansas City. Adding a useful perspective to the event were, among others, Wayne Cauthen, Kansas City's new city manager, and Bob Marcusse, head of the Kansas City Area Development Council.
The Vision Thing
Not afraid to tackle big issues, participants freely discussed what UMB Bank President Jim Sangster called Kansas City's "vision." Sangster expressed the opinion that Kansas City not only has a vision, but that it also has the other two criteria necessary to bring the vision to life--"resources" and "leadership."
"I feel like we have all three in Kansas City," said Sangster.
(front row left to right)
Matt Webster, Oppenheimer & Co.
Gary Sherrer, Gold Bank
Tom Cohen, GMAC Commercial Mortgage
(second row left to right)
John Hense, Jr., Christenberry & Collett
Greg Gaeddert, Capital For Business, Inc.
Bob Regnier, Bank of Blue Valley
(third row left to right)
Tom Turner, Collateral Mortgage
Bob Litan, Kauffman Foundation
Frank Pikus, Veritas Partners
(back row left to right)
Barry Sullivan, First National Bank
Bob Marcusse, Kansas City Area Development Council
Jim Sangster, UMB Bank
Kevin Barth, Commerce Bank
Wayne Cauthen, City of Kansas City, Missouri
Mike Maddox, INTRUST Bank
Michelle Sweeney, Ingram’s Magazine
Laura McKnight, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation
Esther George, Federal Reserve Bank
(not shown in photo)
Jack Cashill, Ingram’s Magazine (Moderator)
Joe Sweeney, Ingram’s Magazine (Program Host)