Klassie Alcine, aka Political Glamour Gal, has worked on many national, state and local campaigns. As a seasoned campaigner, Klassie says, “I believe in every citizen’s right for free speech and voting power. I am passionate about community development, urban renewal, civic engagement, women in leadership and early childhood education”. Klassie is a Board Member for the Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus, Entrepreneur, Pforzheimer Fellow for the National Civic League, and Co-Chair for the Student Government Committee for the Kansas City, Missouri School District. Klassie works with homeless teens and families in crisis as a Youth Advocate. Klassie received her B.A in Political Science and Criminal Justice at UMKC. Also, Master of Public Administration (MPA) with an emphasis in Urban Administration from UMKC. Klassie is driven, dedicated to helping others and shows humility. Klassie's charity of choice is Synergy Services. Synergy Services provides many integrated programs which include crisis hotlines, emergency shelter, transitional housing, therapeutic services, advocacy, mentoring and violence prevention programs for thousands of families and individuals throughout Greater Kansas City.

Dwayne Bowe is a young wide receiver with the Kansas City Chiefs who has been making a difference in the community since joining the club. The Dwayne Bowe Foundation...unBOWElievable, established in 2009, is dedicated to addressing and meeting the needs of under-acknowledged grandparents who are raising their grandchildren as well as improving the confidence level of the children in America. Dwayne's goal is to emphasize the importance of education and hard work by touching the lives of both young and old and showing them first hand that with a lot of hard work and determination all of your dreams will come true. Bowe wants to not only be remembered by his accomplishments on the football field but also his accomplishments throughout the community. Bowe along with some of his teammates hosted a free football camp for the youth of Kansas City at a local high school in 2010. He ran the children through different training and conditioning stations, teaching them football techniques at each stop. He has also attended numerous other camps throughout the country. Through his foundation, Bowe has established the Bowe’s Bunch Program. The program serves as an incentive for grandchildren to raise their grades, have a better attitude and improve the overall outlook of their life. The children get to attend a Chiefs game and ride on a bus filled with pizza, snacks, drinks and music as part of the program. Bowe has not forgotten his hometown of Miami, Fla. He hosts an annual community weekend with all the proceeds going to the Raising Grandparents Foundation in Miami. As somebody raised by his grandparents, Bowe’s community weekend features carnival rides, food, face painting, flag football games as well as appearances by numerous NFL players. Bowe has selected The Dwayne Bowe Foundation…unBOWElievable as his charity. Everything will be earmarked for the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program at Children’s Mercy Hospital. Bowe would like to be known as much for his contributions to the community as he would for his accomplishments on the field.

Austin Brown loves the following things: Hurrdat Social Media, Twitter, Facebook, Kansas City, University of Kansas, cool graphic designs, Cool Runnings, Ipad, Macbook Air, Apple inc., Apples (Granny Smiths), Blue, Cheese (not Bleu-Cheese), Classic watches, Woodworking, DIY projects, Basketball, Ben Folds, Summer Weather, Jeep Wranglers, Leisure-diving, and Chipotle… obviously. Austin works at Hurrdat as Chief Marketing Officer. Hurrdat Social Media, LLC works with businesses to develop and implement strategies for marketing on social media. They write and distribute content, monitor conversations and provide monthly analytics. In addition to management services, Hurrdat works with more than 90 professional athletes to create endorsement opportunities for local businesses via Twitter. Austin’s role in the company is to generate new business, maintain client relationships, and implement marketing strategies for future growth. Austin’s charity of choice is Big Brothers Big Sisters. They rock.

Some people just aren't satisfied sitting back in their communities, instead they give back by working to make life better in their communities. Chris Cardinal has always been this type. Cardinal has worked for two governors, been a senior strategist on over a dozen campaigns in half a dozen states supporting environmental awareness, veterans’ advocacy, child poverty eradication, human rights, and open government. Cardinal is set to launch in the coming weeks his newest project aimed at connecting citizens and their elected officials, www.findmyrep.org. An active volunteer and supporter of civic life in Kansas City, Cardinal has been a leader in his field for over eight years. His work is defined by a combination of experience and boldness, ever in search of opportunities where new technologies and civic engagement meet. This attitude led him to develop a groundbreaking statewide model of campaigning, rolled out in all fifty-states by a national party in 2005. Today, his model is widely used by organizations across the country. As a partner at the Kansas City based firm Huddle Strategic Relations, LLC., Cardinal now employs the same traits that built his bright career in helping businesses, non-profits, and advocacy groups develop, grow, and succeed. Chris's charity of choice is Operation Breakthrough. The mission of Operation Breakthrough is to help children who are living in poverty develop to their fullest potential by providing them a safe, loving and educational environment. About 25% of the children are homeless or near homeless, living in battered women's or homeless shelters or transitional living programs. Often they sleep on the sofas of friends or relatives, sometimes even living in cars, rundown hotels or abandoned buildings. Another 25% of our children are in foster care or other placements due to abuse, neglect or other family crises.

Adam Coomes is a serial entreprenuer with a passion for technology. Coomes co-founded Infegy, an enterprise software company with flagship product Social Radar, an application that has revolutionized social market research. Starting as a two-person company, Coomes helped turn Infegy into an organically grown million dollar corporation with clients such as Sprint, Land Rover, MTV, Walgreens, Sony and many more. Adam is also known as one of the first members of Zaarly, a hyper-local marketplace for buyers. Adam helped Zaarly evolve from a 3-day project into one of the most valuable and fastest moving early-stage companies in history. Currently, Adam is Founder and CEO of Keymash, a company he calls his "personal playground for fun projects". He's also a member of Startup Weekend, a non-profit organization created to inspire entrepreneurship. Coomes supports and contributes to the local and global startup movement, facilitating Startup Weekends and other events, as well as building and connecting the entrepreneurs and dealmakers in Kansas City. Adam was named as one of Bloomberg BusinessWeek's "Best Young Tech Entrepreneurs" and a "Top 20 In Their Twenties" by Ingram's Magazine. Adam's charity of choice is Cancer Research Institute.

Born and raised in the KC area, this jock turned personal trainer graduated with an Exercise Science degree from KU where he worked in Strength and Conditioning before doing the same for the Colorado Rockies baseball organization. He returned home to start his own training business, which morphed into his current position as fitness director for Level5Motorsports. Tim spent the last four years working in his true passion; lending his strength training expertise and coaching high-school football for the Saints of St. Thomas Aquinas before travel obligations with Level 5 forced him to take a sabbatical for this season. Tim trains at Sylvester Powell Community Center where he works with all kinds of athletes including special needs clients from The Mission Project, soccer moms and older populations. In 2006 along with a team from his AMIA Christian Church, Tim traveled to Rwanda to assist in a Youth Camp teaching on reconciliation and forgiveness to teens who lived through the 1994 genocide. Tim has used his fitness training gifts to assist with programming for The Kansas School for the Blind and currently volunteers with the mentoring program for Freedom Fire Urban Ministries. Tim resides with his wife Jenna in Prairie Village as they anxiously await the birth of their first child in January. Tim's charity of choice is the Mission Project.

“The issues of global poverty, child labor, women’s rights and AIDS had never seemed real to me until I fell in love with the children they were affecting.” -Amanda Dye, Executive Director of Energy of Hope At the age of 22, Amanda Dye, a graduate of Liberty High School and William Jewell College, founded a non profit orphanage in Zambia, Africa. Beginning with 6 beneficiaries in 2007, Energy of Hope has grown to serve nearly 60 beneficiaries in Africa, working hard to “empower orphans and vulnerable children to become agents of positive global change.” In addition to the creation and implementation of programs designed to provide lasting assistance to vulnerable children in Africa, Amanda has also created an educational progam in the United States to educate interested parties about the issues that children face in third world countries, which has been shared with thousands of people. Amanda has been recognized for her work by many different organizations, some of the most recent being provided a substantial scholarship from the American Humanics Foundation, as the first Kansas Citian to be featured on KCTV5’s endeavor, “Faces of Kansas City” and also being surpised as the recipient for a midwestern-regional Sertoma “Service to Mankind Award for 2010.” Her achievements in Africa have also been featured in Achieve Magazine, the Kansas City Star, and various other media outlets. However, she feels that her greatest blessing is reflected more in the positive difference her organization is able to make in the lives of the children that she is able to help, and by witnessing the kindness of the people who have supported her cause. Amanda continues to hold the position of executive director of Energy of Hope, and presides over operations in both Africa and the United States, and is intensely focused on changing the lives of vulnerable children in poverty, in Africa and around the world. If she were chosen to receive the donation from this event, she would use the proceeds to further help children through Energy of Hope to provide real and lasting help for vulnerable children in Africa. (Photo Caption: Amanda in action, attending to the needs of a five year old child left on the porch of her facility in Zambia in 2009.) Amanda’s charity of choice is Energy of Hope.

Looking for a fresh perspective on decimals, stocks and insurance? Greg combines traditional values with an uncommon approach to help his clients achieve financial peace of mind. As Vice President of Stewardship Capital, Greg handles business development, creating financial plans and developing specific solutions for clients including investment management and insurance services. He attended Wheaton College (Illinois) where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English/Literature and a minor in Bible. He worked briefly with Stewardship Capital 2001-2002 as Director of Administration before returning in August 2004. Currently, Greg is working on coursework towards achieving the Certified Financial Planner designation through Missouri Southern State University. Among his recent achievements, Greg was recognized, January 2011, in the KC Business Magazine as a Distinguished Wealth Manager. As a respected businessman and steward of the community, Greg volunteers his time and efforts to many local groups. As a life-long resident of Independence, Missouri, his connections to his roots are strong. Greg regularly volunteers his time and resources to the school district through Independence School District Foundation. He serves on the Citizens’ Advisory Council and as a YouthFriend, working one-on-one with students. Greg serves as a volunteer, member and/or board member for organizations across the community. He is actively involved with the Independence Chamber of Commerce, Independence Rotary Club, Evening Optimist Club, Truman Heartland Community Foundation, to name a few. Greg’s charity of choice is the Independence School District Foundation.

Jillian is one-third of Q104’s Morning Drive. She grew up in the rural areas just outside Kansas City and remains there with her husband and two children. Her radio career began as an intern at Q104 fifteen years ago. For some, family or work would take priority over anything else but not for this gal. Faith comes first and because of that, everything that follows gets Jillian’s best…in order to achieve His best. A job on the radio allows Jillian to give back in ways most cannot…through the airwaves of Kansas City’s #1 country music station! Through her work and personal endeavors, she enjoys helping various charities and organizations such as Hope House, Children’s Mercy, Susan G. Komen, Lee’s Summit Community Church and more. So as you can imagine, it was hard to choose one charity to whom her votes would go. But one it had to be. It is Kansas City Rescue Mission, “a Christ-centered community offering freedom and hope to the poor and homeless, empowering them to reach their full potential”. www.kcrm.org

Desarae Harrah has been a litigation attorney with Martin, Leigh, Laws & Fritzlen, P.C. since 2006. Her practice focuses primarily on real estate, commercial, and construction litigation. Desarae is a Kansas City native and graduate from the University of Kansas, where she earned her Political Science and Business Administration degrees. She is also a graduate from the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Law. As a downtown resident, Desarae is dedicated to the continued revitalization of the Kansas City downtown area where she actively volunteers with numerous civic and community organizations. She is a current member of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Centurions Leadership Program, Class of 2012, where she actively serves on its Steering Committee. Through the Centurions Leadership Program, which is committed to preparing the community’s emerging leaders for their role in shaping the future of greater Kansas City, she has had been able to explore the various opportunities and issues facing the Kansas City metropolitan area. Her charity of choice, with which she actively volunteers, is Community LINC. Community LINC provides transitional housing for homeless families in the Kansas City area. Its mission is to develop self-sufficient families and communities through its Supportive Housing Program.

Many people have a passion for what they do, be it a their job, a hobby, family or their spirituality. Stan's passions are his family, barbecue and helping people. Stan works for a major insurance company as a Director of Personal Lines Sales during the week and is a competition barbecue cook on the weekends. His family makes up his team, County Line Smokers (www.countylinesmokers.com) and his children are involved in cooking kids competitions as well. Below is how Operation BBQ Relief, Inc. was born. The Story - In the wake of the EF5 tornado that devastated Joplin, Missouri on May 22, 2011, the barbecue community came together to help feed victims and first responders in Joplin. Stan was encouraged by his wife Amy to go to Joplin and help by cooking barbecue. Stan called good friend and competition barbecue cook Jeff Stith about going to Joplin. That morning after, Jeff had also been thinking that the barbecue community should somehow get involved. Stan and Jeff set out to try and get food to cook, find a location to set up and get their friends to come help. The word was quickly spread to the barbecue community and masses through Facebook and the news media. With assistance from Kookers Kare, another great barbecue organization that helped raise money and from other companies like Sam's Club, Farmers Insurance, OK Foods and many more Stan, Jeff and their barbecue friends were quickly up and running in Joplin and cooking food by Tuesday evening. Over the next eleven days in Joplin, the group cooked over 55,000 pounds of food or more than 120,000 meals. There is something comforting about barbecue shared with friends and family and in Joplin, the barbecue community came together like a big family. Stan has many new friends from his time in Joplin and he will never forget the feeling of helping those families in need of a good meal. Because Stan is passionate about helping others in need, working to build a new non-profit relief organization fits right in to his purpose in life. You can learn more about Operation BBQ Relief at: www.OperationBBQRelief.org or www.facebook.com/operationbbqrelief. Please visit the Web site and register on the registration tab if you are interested in volunteering. You can also donate to the organization on the Web site.

A native of Kansas City and proud to be in the original “green industry,” Anastasia Hermes is part of the third generation of leadership at Hermes Landscaping, Inc. She graduated from Emory University in Atlanta in 2008 with degrees in History and Spanish and has since returned to her hometown to join the family business in its mission to connect people to beautiful outdoor environments. Hermes Landscaping has been serving Kansas City since 1965 and was recently voted “KC’s Best Landscape Design Firm” in 2011. Stasia currently supports the sales, business development and marketing efforts at Hermes. She is passionate about sustainability and excited to earn her LEED accreditation later this fall. When she’s not working, she loves playing tennis, cooking, cheering on Jayhawk basketball and exploring Kansas City! Inspired by the work of Richard Louv and his book Last Child in the Woods, Stasia has chosen the Children & Nature Network for her fundraising efforts. The children and nature movement is fueled by the idea that the child in nature is an endangered species, and the health of children and the health of the Earth are inseparable. C&NN works to reconnect children with the joys and lessons of the outdoor world through research, education, policy work, grassroots outreach programs and much more.

Personal Financial Group, Inc. Chanel has ten years experience managing professional offices in a variety of business environments in the medical, legal, and financial industries. She is a graduate of the Olathe Chamber of Commerces Leadership Olathe program. Graduates of this program go on to work in organizations that range in size from small to large businesses, operating in both public and non-profit sectors. Other alumni from this program include Governor Mark Parkinson, Kansas Senator Karin Brownlee, and other prominent figures in business and government. Chanel also has obtained a Business Plan Certification through Johnson County Community College. In 2011, she was an Industry Champion in the McGraw- Hill/Irwin, Inc. Best Strategy Invitational international competition called Glo-Bus: Developing Winning Competitive Strategies. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Management and Human Relations from MidAmerica Nazarene University and she holds the Master of Science in Management from Baker University. Chanel and her family are active in the local community through participation in charitable events for the March of Dimes and Kansas Childrens Mercy Hospital. She enjoys motorcycles, reading and traveling. Chanel's charity of choice is The Thomas P. O’Sullivan IV Foundation, founded by family and friends of this special man in celebration of his life’s work of harmonizing mind, heart, soul and body, was established as a nonprofit organization to provide funding for research, education, advocacy, prevention, and early detection of colorectal cancer. The benefactor(s) of the Foundation are typically groups that perform leading-edge research and groups who help patients suffering from colorectal cancer. In 2008-9, the recipient of the proceeds for various fund raising activities was the University of Kansas Cancer Center.

Adam Kaleikau, the creative force behind Angryape Clothing and Graphics and Communications Manager at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City (BBBSKC). BBBSKC is a nonprofit organization that matches volunteers (Bigs) with children from single parent or non-traditional families (Littles). The program provides positive adult mentors in the lives of children who need it the most. When Adam is not working at BBBSKC, he can be found designing new concepts for his urban t-shirt line, Angryape Clothing. Adam started Angryape during his senior year of college at Graceland University. After graduating, Adam moved to Kansas City and put his dream of starting a clothing line on the back burner while he tried to find a full time graphic design job. After searching for a full time job for a couple of years with no luck, Adam worked various jobs to make extra cash, including cleaning and bussing tables at a local restaurant. Adam realized this was not the career path he had envisioned for himself which motivated him to start working toward his dream again. He quit his job at the restaurant, cleared out his savings, and started working day and night to get his business off the ground and running. A year later, Adam launched his clothing brand which sells online (www.angryapeclothing.com) and at Method, a men’s boutique located in downtown Kansas City. Adam is also in talks with other area stores to start carrying the Angryape brand. Angryape has been featured in Spaces KC, INK, and various online fashion blogs. Adam also attributes Angryape to helping him land his job at BBBSKC. He feels as though BBBSKC allows him the design freedom to bring his Angryape branding style in to a non-profit organization. Adam’s charity of choice is Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City.

Laura Lake has been involved in the interactive and traditional marketing industry since 1998. She brings a user-centered perspective to marketing that promotes mutual benefits for both businesses and consumers. Marketing is her passion. She is the author of Consumer Behavior for Dummies and marketing columnist for About.com, a New York Times Company. She works as Vice President of Client and Interactive Services at EAG Advertising. Lake’s success in the marketing world comes from her understanding of the challenges company face. She got her marketing chops the old fashioned way. She earned them. She has helped companies in the development of their marketing plans, understand their consumers, create a brand identity, assist in public relations, help in the utilization of internet marketing, social media and more. Her specialty is the development and creation of successful campaigns and strategies that utilize the knowledge of consumer behavior and turn those potential consumers into lifelong customers that increase the bottom line of businesses all over the world. She knows that effective marketing raises your bottom line revenues, lowers customer acquisition cost, increases customer retention and profitability. Through years of experience in the marketing industry, Lake has helped thousands of business owners and marketing professionals with her down-to-earth writing, consulting and lectures. Her fresh perspective allows even small companies to benefit from marketing power without spending thousands of dollars. Laura's charity of choice is Hope House, a comprehensive agency providing safety, support and hope for families affected by domestic violence in the Kansas City area.

David was born in Seoul, Korea and raised by a family of educators in the Midwest. He was a corporate and securities attorney at Husch Blackwell Sanders law firm for 2 years. Currently David is the owner and founder of Method Men's Clothing Boutique, Legal Compliance officer of UMB Bank, and a part-time professor at UMKC Bloch Business School. He is on the Board of the Asian American Bar Association of KC. David was also recently appointed to the City Liquor Control Board as attorney. David’s charity of choice is Holt Adoption Agency, the same adoption agency he and 2 of his siblings were adopted through. David also currently volunteers his time to Holt.

Dorota Lopez is the founder and owner of Dorota Corporation, a business consulting group that specializes in business strategies for growth-driven companies. Dorota Corporation specializes in consulting with design and construction firms, but caters to all types of businesses. Dorota’s work is inspired by the inherent potential of companies and individuals alike. And, thus, through focused systems and growth plans, Dorota and her staff are able help these entities see their potential and ultimately achieve such previously unimaginable possibilities. In 2005, Dorota graduated from the University of Miami with a Masters in Architecture. Her thesis work focused primarily on Merging Marketing & Architecture, which laid the ground work for her company’s service of ‘Marketing Through Architecture, a marketing approach, which utilizes architecture and interior design to ultimately complete a company's branding image. Moreover, in 2010-2011, Dorota served as the Director of Women in Design – Kansas City, wherein her leadership vision was built upon the theme of “Empowerment.” A highlight of her directorial year was the launching of a brand new scholarship fund as well as the hosting of the organization’s inaugural ‘Ignite’ Gala, which raised significant proceeds to fuel the next generation of design. Dorota remains very much involved with several organizations in an effort to give back to the local community; and is, as a result, pleased to announce that her charity of choice is Eco Abet, a Kansas City-based not-for-profit organization, whose mission is to provide design and architectural services to impoverished, underserved, and traumatized communities both locally and globally.

After his graduation from the University of Kansas in 2007, Ashton transitioned his love for nightlife into a job managing a popular dance club in Lawrence, Kansas. There, under the critical eyes of DJ B-Stee and DJ Archie, he began creating his own style and fine-tuning his skills as a DJ. In 2008, Ashton made the move to Kansas City and began the extensive process of making a name for himself in the scene and establishing relationships within the community of local DJs. His commitment to constantly evolving his musical repertoire and improving his technique are invaluable traits that keep Ashton in high demand. Ask any of his devoted following and they will tell you, “Ashton definitely plays what we want to hear and many things that we didn’t even know we wanted to hear.” The party atmosphere that Ashton brings to his gigs keeps energy high and people on the dance floor all night. Ashton's charity of choice is the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.

Jason McAninch is a young entrepreneur and leader of the community. In 1999, at age 13, he started J-TEK, a computer consulting and IT support business. Today, many know it as the premier computer and IT support for Johnson County and surrounding areas. The company has become successful and stood out to many because of his and his staff’s unique, friendly personality and ability to help clients of all levels use technology. Growing up, Jason learned the importance of giving back to the community and helping others. As an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America, Jason became a leader in his community by helping and serving the needs of others. It was this same importance of giving back to others that gave him the drive to create a way to give back to the community with his business. In 2010, Jason launched the J-TEK Foundation, a non-profit corporation geared towards raising money for area schools by hosting recycling drives for used, discarded technology equipment. Each fundraiser’s proceeds go directly to the school that hosts the recycling drive. Since the fall of 2010, J-TEK and the J-TEK Foundation have predominantly focused its efforts in raising money for the organization KidsTLC, an Olathe, Kansas non-profit organization. He received his undergraduate degree in Management from Ottawa University in 2009. While his formal education provided invaluable knowledge, the majority of his talents and abilities are self-taught. His humble personality is what family and friends admire most. They say that he will go out of his way to help anyone. He has a passion for entrepreneurship and has a natural ability to lead and inspire others. Jason’s charity of choice is KidsTLC, located in Olathe, Kansas. KidsTLC works to provide a place for children who had been abused, abandoned or neglected as well as children who need a safe, temporary, loving home. They also work with teens and young adults to keep them off the streets and help give them the tools and skills they need to succeed. www.kidstlc.org KidsTLC works to transform lives in crisis.

Dexter McCluster is a two-year veteran of the National Football League whose success on the field is matched by his desire to have an impact in both Kansas City, and his hometown of Largo, Fla. As a member of the Chiefs Rookie Club in 2010, McCluster was part of numerous community appearances and initiatives in and around the Kansas City area. McCluster’s entrepreneurial spirit has also led him to recent new business ventures as well. During his first campaign in the NFL, McCluster jumped right in with both feet. At Operation Breakthrough, he read stories and played games in classrooms before joining children on the playground. McCluster also visited troops and families of deployed soldiers at Fort Riley, Kansas. Among other activities Dexter participated in were the fifth-annual Chiefs Sport Camp, a partnership with the National Sports Center for the Disabled, allowing youth with physical and/or mental limitations to experience the game of football with Chiefs players and ‘Shop with a Jock,’ an event where he and other players paired with local foster children from the Love Fund and assisted them in selecting gifts to ensure they had presents for the holidays. McCluster has also appeared rapping in PSAs, warning against the dangers of texting and driving. Growing up in Largo, McCluster has a lot of pride for his hometown. That’s why he was overjoyed on May 4, 2010 when the mayor of Largo presented him with the key to the city in recognition of his varied accomplishments. Recently, McCluster and his family have opened Deuces Sports Bar and Grill in his hometown, a collaborative effort that will see the NFL running back making appearances at the restaurant when he’s back in the area. A football standout at the University of Mississippi, McCluster majored in journalism. Recognizing the importance of a quality education, he is taking the initiative to complete his college degree while playing in the NFL. McCluster spent his prep years at Largo High School where he was not only an accomplished football player, but also a letterwinner in basketball and track. When not on the field, McCluster enjoys spending time with his daughter, DaKayla. McCluster’s charity of choice is The Children’s Place, located in Kansas City, Mo. The Children’s Place nurtures and promotes the healthy development of young children who have survived abuse, neglect and trauma by providing specialized services and family support, within a safe and caring environment. Visit The Children’s Place at http://www.tcpkc.org/index.htm.

Seth Meinzen is a native of most of the Midwest, as his father Steve worked for John Deere and moved the family every three years to a different community and thereby cornfield. The constant moving and change made Seth comfortable with meeting new people and dealing with change. This evolution helped when Seth was recruited to the East Coast to row for Marietta College and past graduation with a double major in marketing and business, continued to row internationally. Seth's international rowing career ended when he met his wife Claire in 2003, and like every great man in history, moved to be with his dream girl, which just so happened to be Kansas City. Once in KC, Seth Started to follow a new passion based off his past experiences, called entrepreneurialism. Over the next 8 years Seth would go on to found 8 companies and 1 non-profit, as well as hosted over 25 events designed to help entrepreneurs and businesses find capital, exposure, and success. Over 20 companies did find funding and hundreds have found greater success from these events and from the non-profit incubators services. Seth is now a partner at EVIS Consulting that continues the work of helping businesses find success through consulting how to increase the effectiveness of marketing and achieving higher revenues. In addition, Seth is the CEO of StartKC.com, which is an online portal that provides a suite of services to help new and existing businesses accelerate growth, find capital, and gain valuable exposure through a suite of events. In his free time, Seth values his relationship with God, his family time and loves spending time with his wife, and dog Bo. Seth also enjoys playing sand volleyball and working out. Seth's charity of choice is Heifer International, which provides farm animals to people who live rurally in 3rd world countries as a way to feed them and provide their family a means of income.

The first time she saw the Faith No More “Epic” video, Sarah, an Iowa native and graduate of the University of Iowa School of Journalism, knew her purpose was to be a voice for those who don’t have one – the animals. Since then, Sarah has worked with the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation, Friends of Parkville Animal Shelter, Northland Animal Welfare Society, the Northland Pet Pantry, and the ASPCA. Additionally, Sarah has been involved with protesting the Ringling Bros Barnum and Bailey circus and has gone on multiple relief trips including a trip to hurricane-devastated Louisiana in 2005 and most recently, to flood-ravaged Cauthersville, Missouri. Sarah authors Kansas City Animal Advocacy Column on the Examiner.com and continues to work with Chain of Hope, headed by Kate Quigley, which is a grass-roots animal outreach organization and Sarah’s charity of choice. Her main goal is to educate people to the importance of spaying or neutering your pet, the atrocities involved with animals in entertainment and to bring about stricter penalties for animal cruelty including dog fighting, and along with those stricter penalties, better enforcement and regulation. Sarah works as a legal assistant at Shook Hardy & Bacon and lives with her two rescue “kids” Stella, an 85-lb Great Dane/Pitbull mix and Max, an Australian Shepherd mix. Sarah's charity of choice is Chain of Hope.

Gabriel Muñoz is the Director of Sales for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City where he is responsible for promoting the Chamber and its’ members, developing and maintaining relationships with current and future chamber members, and assisting business start-ups with consulting and business planning. Mr. Muñoz is also the founder of the Young Latino Professionals (YLP). YLP is a network of over 600 professionally-minded Latino professionals between the ages of 21 and 39 in the Kansas City area. YLP develops, engages, and connects the next generation of leaders through professional networking, personal and professional development, and community and civic service. Gabriel currently serves on the Power Relations committee for the Kansas City Power & Light District, the minority mentor recruitment advisory committee for Big Brother Big Sisters, and mentors 2 young men through the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). Gabriel volunteers frequently through the YLP Philantrophy committee, having volunteered at Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, Harvestors, and many more non-profits. Mr. Muñoz also regularly speaks to Hispanic student organizations at high schools and colleges across the state. In his freetime, Gabriel enjoys playing soccer in Topeka with the team and league he helped start while in high school. He also plays soccer at All-American Sports in Lenexa, KS. Gabriel and his wife, Julia, along with their 3 children, Devin, Diego, and Daisy, live in Overland Park, Kansas. They can typically be found participating and supporting many of the local 5K races and organizations in KC. Gabriel Muñoz, the 2nd oldest of 9 children, was born and raised in Topeka, Kansas to Eulalio and Anna Muñoz. He is the first-generation in his family to attend college. Gabriel holds an associate’s degree from Allen County Community College, where he graduated summa cum laude and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in finance and entrepreneurship from Washburn University, where he graduated magna cum laude. Gabriel's charity of choice is the Greater Kansas City Hispanic Collaborative, a 501 (C) 3 nonprofit agency organized for charitable and education purposes. It provides comprehensive assistance to the growth, evolution, professional and social advancement of Hispanics and other minorities and individuals in the Greater Kansas City area by collaborating with mutual assistance organizations/associations and businesses.

For nearly a decade, Brandon Noone, a.k.a. “DJ Highnoone” has been mixing some of the most paramount mixes to hit the Midwest - and he is comparatively one of the best in the area. He plays an amazingly eclectic mix of music and beats of yesterday and today and it is obvious that Highnoone does his homework. He spins with the greatest of ease and the swarm of club goers only reflects his ability as a true mix master. Under his belt, Highnoone carries an array of experience. He has worked as the official DJ for Kansas City’s MLS soccer team, the KC Wizards and held a two-and-a-half year sponsorship from Go Fast Energy Drink , Ciroc Vodka. Highnoone also earned the opportunity to DJ for Two of MTV’s “True Life Stories” parties. Noone has been a resident DJ all over the Kansas City area, including clubs like Blonde, Raoul’s Velvet Room, Mosaic. He also held down a resident spot at Club Indigo in Wichita, Kansas for 4 Yrs and at Smashboxx in Scottsdale Arizona for 6 months. His borders do not stop in Kansas or Missouri. He appears nationwide as a guest DJ, more recently in: Las Vegas, San Diego, L.A, Miami,Denver, Chicago, Scottsdale, Albuquerque and Seattle. In many such cases, Noone has had the opportunity to share the stage with numerous top DJ’s and Artist such as DJ’s Scene, Fashion, Scooter, OB1, Nathan Scott, Dj 2nd Nature, 311 , Sublime and many more. With these influences and a vast spectrum of experience, it is no wonder that DJ Highnoone has quickly become one of KC’s top turntabalists, Touring djs. Highnoone is one of the most sought after Djs in the Midwest. He aims to please and will not disappoint. Dj Highnoone hopes to bring his innovative sound and style to your city soon. Brandon's charity of choice is American Diabetes Association.

Jason Nowlin began acquiring and renovating properties while obtaining a Bachelors Degree in Political Science from the University of Missouri Columbia. After graduating, he immediately received his real estate license and soon designed and built his first property. His real estate business, NowlinRE, was soon established to assist buyers and sellers navigate their individual transactions with financial clarity, candor and effective results. Jason is a member of the Kansas City International Visitors Council, Environmental Excellence Business Network, Heart of the Healer Foundation and Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors and has enjoyed supporting the Roots for Refugees CSA, Oceana, the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging, KCUR and the Colbert Super Pac. With a passion for environmental consciousness and preservation, his future vision is to renovate and build energy efficient properties all over the world, increasing awareness of our interconnectedness to each other and our environment. Jason Nowlin’s charity of choice is Oceana. Oceana is the largest international organization working solely to protect the world’s oceans, earth’s lifeblood. Oceana wins policy victories for the oceans using science-based campaigns. Since 2001, Oceana has protected over 1.2 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea turtles, sharks, dolphins and other sea creatures. Global in scope, Oceana has offices in North, South and Central America and Europe.”

Jenn Nussbeck, Proprietress of First In Class Concierge KC, provides personal assisting for individuals, families and businesses. Coupled with tackling the day to day "to-do" list for the busy professional, Concierge KC has an every growing event management team. Jenn loves Kansas City, especially when it comes to raising money for local charities. As the oldest of 6 entrepreneurial children, her strength and persevering spirit comes from her Mother. She loves to spend time with her dogs and continues a personal mission of challenging the community for increased awareness in animal welfare. Jenn's extended family is comprised of several philanthropic boards as well as a member of the Executive Committee for Shadow Buddies Foundation, which is her charity of choice for 40 Under Forty.

Leonard Pope is a six-year veteran of the National Football League who strives to be the best on the field, but also wants to make difference in people’s lives off the field. He established the “Leonard Pope C.H.A.M.P. Foundation” (Creating Hope and Making Progress) in 2008. His foundation promotes programs that enhance the quality of life for children and families by teaching them leadership skills, assisting in community revitalization, education awareness and providing roles models for underprivileged youth. In April of 2010, Pope held the fifth-annual Kids Day in his hometown of Americus, Ga. He led a group of 200 kids in a health walk from Staley Middle School to Sumter County Fairgrounds where he led those kids through drills. Through a partnership with Phoebe Sumter Medical Center, the NFL veteran was able to support the league’s NFL Play 60 innitives and show the children the importance of exercising for 60 minutes. He was also joined by the Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders who led the girls in attendance through routines. At a family summer gathering this past off-season, Pope dove into a swimming pool to rescue a drowning boy. Pope has begun incorporating water safety into his foundation and will host a water safety event and pool party this November. After the Sumter Regional Hospital in Americus, Ga. was devastated by a tornado in March of 2007, Pope led the efforts to raise money to rebuild the hospital. Pope majored in consumer economics at Georgia after prepping at Americus High School. He takes as much satisfaction out of helping youth in the community as he does catching touchdown passes on Sundays. He is continually searching ways for ways to use his platform as an NFL player to better both the Kansas City and Americus communities. The soft-spoken Georgia native has a passion for his foundation and its programs. Pope’s charity of choice is the Leonard Pope C.H.A.M.P. Foundation. All proceeds will be earmarked for the Kansas City-area programs and initiatives.

Councilman Jermaine Reed first planted his political roots as an advocate of the underserved citizens in Kansas City, Missouri as a young teen. Now he’s strongly rooted and committed to the struggle of equalizing economic opportunities for citizens in Kansas City. The University of Missouri-Columbia graduate is the youngest member on the City Council; however, his political experience has prepared him to accomplish his campaign platform to “Energize and Restore the Third District.” He currently serves on the Transportation & Infrastructure, Neighborhoods & Healthy Communities, and the Public Safety & Emergency Services Committees. He's also a member of the Special Committee for Small Business. He was recently appointed as the primary liaison from the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee to the Jackson County Commuter Corridor Alternative Analysis program. His first major task in office was to urge the city council to pull the 2006 Violent Crime Commission Report off the shelf and put its recommendations in action to reduce violent crime in the urban core. The mayor has since appointed the implementation board, which was recommended in the Violent Crime Report. The implementation board members will look at ways to put the suggestions in the report into action. Councilman Reed recently introduced an ordinance which will provide green jobs and job training for more than 400 young, unemployed Kansas City residents. The Green Retrofit Employment and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Jobs Program will use locally trained workers to weatherize homes. Councilman Reed serves on the Board of Directors of the Ad-Hoc Group Against Crime, which is committed to reducing crime in Kansas City, Missouri. He’s also on the board of the American Jazz Museum, the Jazz District Redevelopment Corporation, and he’s a member of the National Forum of Black Public Administrators and several other community organizations. The councilman also served as Ombudsman for Congressman Emanuel Cleaver’s Green Impact Zone of Missouri from 2009-2010. Councilman Reed is committed to empowering the citizens of Kansas City, Missouri. He is the second oldest of four boys. He enjoys reading, travel and spending time with his nieces and nephew. Councilman Jermaine Reed's charity of choice is CommunityLinc.

Chris Riebschlager is a web designer and developer currently working as a Senior Art Director at VML. His body of work includes digital touchscreen installations for the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art as well as Webby Award-nominated humor websites. Chris' blog the816.com was recently named by The Pitch as Best Comedy Blog in the 2011 Best of Kansas City issue. Chris's charity of choice is Turning Point.

Chris Routh is a successful entrepreneur, marketer, and technology expert in the Kansas City area. Chris is currently responsible for online marketing and technology for the PKD Foundation, a health based non-profit dedicated to the treatment and cure for Polycystic Kidney Disease. Prior to this, Chris started a variety of companies including BRKZ, a ten person web and software development agency as well as FreshlyBranded, an international marketing firm. Chris is a Kansas PIPELINE Innovator and named a Top 20 in Their Twenties by Ingram's Magazine. Chris's charity of choice is the PKD Foundation.

Brad Sandt is President and CEO of k12 ITC, Inc., a technology services firm delivering a specialized mix of onsite and cloud computing solutions to K-12 school districts. Sandt also serves as Director of Technology at Park Hill School District in Kansas City, Mo. Sandt has been active in K-12 technology design, implementation and support for more than 15 years. He has extensive experience in networking, storage, servers, voice, wireless, complex technology integrations and IT process improvement. At Park Hill School District, Sandt is setting the trend in education technology through innovation and leadership. As Director of Technology, Brad Sandt has been focused on continuous improvement for more than 10 years at Park Hill School District. He has implemented process changes that include self-service software deployments, a service agreement to improve and clarify service for technology users in the district and a process for upgrading and replacing district technology. Sandt also has implemented a centralized network to enhance efficiencies and consolidate infrastructure. However, most notably, Sandt’s design of the centralized network has extended access to school resources to students and staff at home. In 2010, Brad Sandt received KC Business magazine’s “Rising Star” award and was selected by the National School Board Association’s “20 to Watch”. He serves as a member of the Cisco Public Sector PSTX advisory board, the Citrix customer reference program and formerly served on Dell’s K-12 Platinum Advisory Board. Sandt’s work has been the focus of multiple webinars, case studies and videos for companies such as Cisco, Citrix, Konica Minolta, Unite Private Networks (UPN), UK-based 1E and Kansas City-based Alexander Open Systems (AOS). Additionally, multiple publications including THE Journal and Ed Tech have featured Park Hill’s infrastructure deployment. Sandt was also featured on the cover of CDW Solutions magazine. Sandt received his Bachelors degree in Management/Computer Information Systems from Park University. He holds training and certifications from Cisco Systems, Microsoft, EMC, Citrix, VMware and SAP Business Objects. Brad's charity of choice is Harvesters.

Luke Sassano, 26, has been with Sporting Kansas City since January of 2011. The California native has Italian roots and has a sandwich named after him (The Sassano) at Pandolfi’s Deli. His girlfriend Kaila Packett was named one of the hottest girlfriends in the soccer world by The Bleacher Report. Luke is one of the nicest guys on the team. He is also very active in the community. He is a partner with YMCA and their “Athletes for Hope” program. He collects athletic equipment/apparel for auction and charity to benefit children in the community. Luke's charity of choice is Athletes for Hope.

Anthony Spino was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. He has been in the restaurant business as long as he can remember. Anthony and his brother Vito run Anthony’s Restaurant and Lounge. Their grandparents started this tradition in the early 60’s with a small restaurant called ‘The Soup Kitchen’. In 1978 his parents opened Anthony’s Restaurant and Lounge around The Original Soup Kitchen, which is now their banquet room and holds up to 35 guests. Through the years Anthony has helped with different charities. He sat on the board for a group called Taking Care of Kansas City from 2001-2007. Taking Care of Kansas City helped local groups celebrate Christmas when things were not good for them. They helped families who lost their jobs because of the September 11th tragedy, victims from hurricane Katrina and Rita, elders, and foster children that were turning 18 and sent to live on their own. Anthony’s Restaurant feeds the kids from ReStart Inc. once a month and through the years, with the help of family and friends, have found activities for the kids. They have played Bocci and brought them to a local art program called My Arts. Anthony now sits on the board for The Kansas City Originals, which is a group of 45 restaurants that are owned and run by people of Kansas City. Today Anthony’s Restaurant has monthly wine events that help local charities raise money and awareness. Anthony’s choice for local charity is ReStart Inc. Anthony enjoys what he does and hopes the tradition that his grandparents started can carry on for many years to come.

Monica Starr is the founder and Executive Director of Sleepyhead Beds, a charity providing beds to area children in need. They take gently-used unwanted beds from families in the community, sterilize them, and redistribute to the hundreds of children sleeping on the floor night after night. This innovative organization not only provides a safe, comfortable space for Kansas City kids to sleep, but also saves hundreds of bulky mattresses from entering area landfills. Starr is originally from Nebraska. It is there in her home state where she attended the University of Nebraska, studying Art Education. At 20, Monica opened her first flower shop, Abloom, in Lincoln. From there she started another floral shop in a nearby college town. With two highly successful flower shops under her belt, Monica decided to venture into the world of restaurateurs. Up until 2006, she owned and operated a hip fine dining restaurant in the heart of Nebraska’s capital. Shortly after relocating to Kansas City, Starr opened 18Flowers, providing flowers and consulting to brides and event planners. Monica volunteers for Jackson County CASA as well as Operation Breakthrough. Starr is a member of the American Institute of Floral Designers. Monica's charity of choice is Sleepyhead Beds.

Mandy Renee Stos, crafter and upcycling diva behind iamthemandy.com, is not only an artist and entrepreneur, but an inventive environmentalist as well. She combines craft with recycling, producing items that are unique, functional, and the ultimate in eco-chic. Mandy believes that upcycling a single item, can help reduce waste and create a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. Upcycling is defined as: the process of converting unwanted materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value. Her product line is designed entirely of 85-90% reused or re-purposed materials. They can be found locally, online at iamthemandy.com and in numerous handmade store across the country. She strives to help promote and encourage other citizens to upcycle or simply donate any unwanted items to local organizations. Doing so keeps landfills down, promotes green efficiency and makes you feel all giddy inside. Mandy's charity, the Parisole Arts Foundation, is a grass roots organization located in Kansas City dedicated to enriching lives with art. They believe in encouraging children and citizens to express their emotions through artistic activities in a fun creative way.

Dustin has lived in Kansas City for most of his life and is a graduate of Truman State University in Kirksville, MO. Shortly after college he found a job working as a fine art auctioneer aboard cruise ships. After working on ships for about a year and a half, Dustin came back to land and worked setting up auctions around the country as a VIP Land Associate. While he was involved in art business, he and his two business partners started up Innovation Cafe in the Crossroads district in Kansas City. Innovation Cafe is an open office coworking community fit to meet anyone's business needs. Innovation Café focuses on building business for all members and creating an effective work space for individuals and businesses. Through Innovation Café, Dustin and his business partners strive to create a comfortable business and social networking environment for all members. Dustin’s charity of choice is the Halo foundation.

The Wade Brothers are David Lindsey Wade and sibling Lyndon Wade who are each recognized as one of the top lifestyle, fashion and advertising photographers / directors in the world. They have received worldwide acclaim and exposure for their work in all forms of media. Additionally, their work appears in galleries around the world. The Wade Brothers believe development of CONTENT is the beginning of all communication. They imagine a sense of place and sensation, and create images and videos that tell a cohesive story whether film or print. The Wade Brothers' charity of choice is Higher Impact.

Carol is the owner of Bliss Photography Studio in Southern Johnson County. She specializes in portrait photography with 80% of her business from High School Seniors. She has started a second photography business, thevogueparty.com. This is her vision and direction for the future. It's a fun girls night out for women of all ages. All the guests attending the party are glammed up and each one gets a professional photo session during the party. The images are touched and a slideshow is shown to all the guests. This has been an overwhelming success for the organization. Women take with them beautiful images and feeling better about themselves. It's a win win event. The business has plans to do a couple of charity parties for Military Wives and women of breast cancer. Carol's charity of choice is Matt's Clubhouse.

I am a lifelong Kansas Citian except for a 4 year trip to Syracuse where I majored in Broadcast Journalism at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Since I was a child I always knew I wanted to talk about sports on the radio and am absolutely blessed to be able to live my dream every day, and to be able to do it in my hometown. I started at 610 KCSP the week I graduated from Syracuse back in May of 2007, and over the past four and a half years have moved from doing weekends, to doing nights, to doing middays, to where I am now, hosting, “What’s Wright with Nick Wright” every weekday afternoon from 2pm-6pm. While talking sports, and hopefully entertaining people during their work day, is fulfilling and incredibly enjoyable, I also try to talk about real life issues, especially those pertaining to Kansas City. I love my hometown, but I fear it is breaking down at its core due to an underfunded public school system without a consistent leader, rampant gun violence, and far too many fatherless and leaderless children. That’s why I am very involved in devoted to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kansas City and would ask that even if you choose to vote for one of the many other qualified nominees (I’m voting for Anthony Spino) if you could donate money, or more importantly, time to BBBSKC.org, that’d be wonderful.

Angie Zarrillo, a family and consumer sciences teacher at Truman High School in Independence, believes that leadership is learned best when taught by example. Angie teaches Leadership Development, Family Relations and other life skills classes; she is also the Student Council Adviser and Spirit Club Sponsor. At Truman, Angie works tirelessly to create opportunities that empower students and allow them to make a difference. She is helping her students grow into service-oriented individuals. From spirit week, fashion shows promoting self-esteem to Special Olympics, blood drives or disaster relief, the students at Truman are able to participate and affect positive change at school and in their community. Every year, Angie's students are among the top youth fundraisers for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life event; under her guidance, they have raised over $245,000 for the cause. Angie's relentless energy and unyielding passion extends well beyond the classroom. She frequently presents at state-wide and national education conferences and workshops. During the summer, Angie is a mentor at various youth leadership camps. She is an active member of Gudgell Park Community of Christ Church, she loves her family and volunteers with numerous other eastern Jackson County charitable organizations. Angie's unwavering commitment to make a difference continues to create exciting opportunities for her students and her community. Recently, the Truman High School Student Council was elected President of the Missouri Association of Student Councils. This spring, Truman will host the MASC State Convention where 800 high school students and advisers from across the state will have the opportunity to come to Independence and learn how to make a difference in their own communities. Angie is always willing to take on a challenge that will benefit others. Angie’s charity of choice is the Relay for Life of Eastern Jackson County Youth, in hopes that her future children and students' families won’t have to hear the words "you have cancer."