Today, Mayor Sly James announced his appointments to four important boards and commissions that will help move Kansas City forward and protect its most cherished assets. Adding knowledge and talent to the key economic development advisory groups, the Mayor appointed members to the Industrial Development Authority and City Planning Commission. Also announced were appointments to the City’s Employee Retirement Board and The Board of Trustees for City Trust.
“I am once again pleased to announce a group of Kansas Citians who have agreed to volunteer their time, energy and talents toward making our city a better place to call home. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all who have served our community in the past and to each of these new appointments. These leaders represent north and south of the river, east and west of Troost. They come from business, non-profits and have both deep experience and new fresh ideas. In this group are citizens who have served our city for decades and young leaders who will be appointed to serve for the first time. It is an exciting time to be in Kansas City, and these residents will help lead us to even more success,” said Mayor James.
The Mayor has appointed the following residents of Kansas City, Missouri to serve our community:
City Planning Commission:
Babette Macy is the owner of Macy Consulting, a provider of public relations, business development and marketing services in the metro area.
Bobbi Baker-Hughes is a real estate broker and a member the Missouri Board of Realtors and currently serves as president of the Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.
Enrique Gutierrez is the owner of Teocali Mexican Restaurant and Cantina, located on Hospital Hill, and serves on the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and on the Board of Visitors for UMKC School of Medicine.
Jeff Krum is Chief Financial Officer for Boulevard Brewing Company since 1994. He is also a co-founder and principal of Ripple Glass and has for nearly 30 years engaged in the restoration and reuse of historic buildings in and around downtown Kansas City.
Margaret May is Executive Director of the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council (INC) where, over the past 10 years, she has worked alongside grassroots neighborhood leaders/residents in bringing about an exciting, inspiring renaissance in the neighborhood.
Rev. Stan Archie is the Senior Pastor of Christian Fellowship Baptist Church and serves as the Area Director for the National Association of School Boards of Education. Rev. Archie currently serves as Vice President on the Missouri State Board of Education.
Tim Van Zandt is the Senior Director, Public Affairs, for the Saint Luke’s Health System. Previously, Mr. Van Zandt served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 1995 – 2002.
Patricia Martin recently retired after nearly 30 years of service in the field of engineering. Mrs. Martin currently serves as president of the Kansas City Neighborhood Advisory Council, a member of the Clay County Industrial Development Authority, and a board member of Northland Neighborhoods, Inc.
City Employee Retirement System Board:
Allison Bergman is a partner at the law firm of Lathrop & Gage LLP and is a serving her second elected term on the firm’s executive committee. She currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, is the President of Sheffield Place.
Erika Brice is the principal of the si12 Group, a consulting firm she founded to focus on the real estate & economic development needs of low to moderate income communities. She currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the Blue Hills Community Services Board of Directors.
Clifford Jones retired after 42 years of service with the United States Postal Service. He served as Local President of the Greater Kansas City Metro Area Local #67, American Postal Workers Union, AFL – CIO and currently serves as Chair of the Paseo Baptist Church Deacon Board.
Bill Skaggs served as Mayor Pro Tem of Kansas City serving the First District. Prior to his service on the Council, he served for twenty years in the Missouri House of Representatives. While in the Missouri House, he was also employed by General Motors and also served as Chairman of the Missouri State Employees Retirement System.
W. Patrick Sterner served as Senior Vice President and Fixed Income Portfolio Manager for Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company prior to his retirement. Prior to his work at Waddell & Reed, Mr. Sterner served as Executive Vice President, Chief Investment Officer for The Merchants Bank. He served as President and Director for the Kansas City Society of Financial Analysts.
Industrial Development Authority:
Aaron Berger is a Project Director at United Biosource Corporation where he is responsible for the execution and delivery of clinical research, risk management, and pharmacovigilance programs for the pharmaceutical industry.
Chuck Gatson is the Principal/Owner of the Prairie Dog Development Company, LLC, an urban orientated development firm specializing in community based and community serving urban redevelopment initiatives.
Denise E. Gilmore is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Jazz District Redevelopment Corporation. Mrs. Gilmore serves on the Kansas City, Missouri Parking and Transportation Commission and the Greater Downtown Area Plan Implementation Committee.
Elizabeth Fast is a partner at Spencer Fane Britt & Browne where she focuses her legal practice on financial services and real estate transactions. Mrs. Fast is a member of the Missouri State Banking Board, appointed by the Governor.
Frederick H. Riesmeyer, II is a director and President of Spradley & Riesmeyer, PC., a Kansas City law firm representing businesses and individuals, primarily in business matters. Mr. Riesmeyer has served on the boards of the Environmental Improvement and Energy Resources Authority, Economic Development Corporation for Kansas City, Truman Medical Centers, Family Health Partners and the Sherwood Center for the Exceptional Child.
Jane Kieffer is a Certified Public Accountant with the accounting practice, Growney Kieffer CPA providing accounting and tax consultation primarily to small businesses and individuals in the Kansas City area.
Ricardo Lopez is an independent insurance agent with Mike Keith Insurance, Inc. He has served as board member for Coleman Highland’s Home Assn., Mattie Rhodes Counseling Center, Redemptorist Grade School and the Pan-American Golf Assn. of GKC.
Board of Trustees for City Trust:
DaRon McGee is the Coordinator of Drug Prevention with United Inner City Services. He serves as Chair of the Urban Summit –Young Professionals. Mr. McGee served as a congressional fellow in the Office of Senator Claire McCaskill.
George Blackwood is an attorney at Blackwood, Langworthy, and Tyson, L.C. He previously served on the Kansas City City Council as the Councilman-at-Large for the Sixth District. Mr. Blackwood has served on the boards of the Kansas City Regional Council for Higher Education, National League of Cities, and the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Kansas City.
Cameron Brookfield is a manager at Brookfield’s Great Water Inc. Prior to working with Brookfield’s, he worked as a Sales & Marketing Coordinator for Sustainable Community Development also known as SCD Probiotics in Kansas City, Missouri.
Jared Campbell is currently a Producer with Signature Personal Insurance. Currently, Mr. Campbell serves on the Encore Marketing Committee and the Committee for the Mayors’ Prayer Breakfast. He is a 2009 graduate of the Greater Kansas City Chamber’s Centurions program.
Carl DiCapo is a long time civic volunteer and champion of Kansas City. A restaurateur, Mr. DiCapo has served on countless boards and commissions including Kansas City’s Parks and Recreation Board, Kansas City Crime Commission and President of the Liberty Memorial Association. Mr. DiCapo has been named to the Missouri Hall of Fame.
John Dillingham is the President of Dillingham Enterprises and JoDill Inc. He has served on a number of the city’s boards and commissions throughout the years, and is the current president of both the Liberty Memorial Association and the Kansas City Municipal Assistance Corporation.
Patricia Macdonald is Assistant Vice President of Donor Relations and Education for the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation (GKCCF) where she also serves as Executive Director of the Black Community Fund. She has served as Executive Vice President of the UMKC Alumni Association and President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Mid America Chapter.
Helen McClellan has been a Community Support Specialist with Swope Parkway Health Services for 17 years. She is responsible for encouraging and training people with mental disabilities. Helen has been a member of Bethel AME Church for well over 40 years and has served in the capacities of Trustee Board, Stewardess Board, Women Missionary Society, and in many choir groups.
