We are a group of non-partisan Lee’s Summit citizens who have devoted many decades of community service to our city. We, typically, meet on a monthly basis, but oftentimes meet more frequently when elections or topics of concern come forward.
A quick look at the experience and backgrounds of our committee members confirms over six decades of loyal, unwavering community leadership. We enthusiastically do our homework and conduct appropriate research before making decisions. Our members regularly meet to discuss, deliberate, and sometimes passionately debate important issues we care deeply about. We respectfully listen to each other and almost always reach a meaningful consensus because we “listen to understand, instead of listening to respond.”
Mike Atcheson, Chairman
Mike is the founder and co-owner of CEAH Realtors, a full-service real estate company. A 29-year Lee’s Summit resident, he is the managing partner in more than 50 real estate projects, with a specialization in acquiring and developing shopping centers, business parks, residential developments and golf courses.
Mike is also the founder and CEO of Atcheson Lawn & Landscape, Capital Construction Services and chairman of Major Saver Holdings.
Among his civic involvement, Mike is a member of the Lee’s Summit Board of Zoning Adjustments, past chairman of the Lee’s Summit TIF Commission, chairman of the Lee’s Summit Educational Foundation, past vice-chair of the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council and chairman of the Strother Road Interchange Transportation Development District, the Park Ridge Community Improvement District and was a Commissioner out of District 3 for the 2016 City Charter Review Commission.
Mike, 52, is married to Mary, has two children and four grandchildren.
Dr. Fred Grogan, Vice Chairman
Dr. Fred Grogan was the president of Metropolitan Community College-Longview from 1998-2013. Grogan also served in roles as the the vice chancellor of student development and dean of student development and support services.
Grogan is the current chair of the board for the Lee’s Summit Historical Society and a member of the John Knox Village Foundation Board of Directors. He also currently sits on the ReDiscover Mental Health Foundation and Lee’s Summit Parks & Recreation Foundation boards. Grogan is a past board member for the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce, Lee’s Summit Symphony and an active member of the Rotary Club of Lee’s Summit.
Grogan and his wife, Julie, have lived and worked in Lee’s Summit for 32 years. They have two grown daughters, Sarah and Rachel, and are the proud grandparents of Ella and Addison.
Julia E. Hampton, Treasurer
Businesswoman Julia Hampton has owned Julia E. Hampton, CPA, PC, in Lee’s Summit for more than 15 years. Her firm was named the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year in 2014 for companies under 5 employees.
A 1988 University of Missouri graduate, Julia received her Certified Public Accountant license in 1991. She’s a member of the American Institute of CPA’s and the Missouri Society of CPA’s. Around Lee’s Summit, Julia is involved in the Chamber’s Ambassador Committee, Lee’s Summit Cares, Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street’s Piccadilly and Economic Enhancement committees, with the Truman Heartland Community Foundation Advisory Board, Lee’s Summit Rotary and with the Velocity entrepreneurial group.
Robert Handley, Secretary
Attorney Robert Handley has lived in Lee’s Summit since 2001, when he served as the City Attorney until his retirement in 2008.
He has been civically engaged as general counsel to the Lee’s Summit Industrial Development Authority and serves on the board of directors of the LSIDA. A U.S. Army veteran, his professional career has been committed to advancing responsibility in local government. His wife, Debora, is a retired R-7 teacher and they have four children and nine grandchildren.
Nancy Bruns
The longtime Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce president recently retired from the position she held for nearly 16 years, helping build the organization up to 1,000 members and national accreditation.
Prior to Lee’s Summit, Nancy worked at the Independence and Raytown chambers of commerce. She’s a founding board member for the Eastland Giving Circle and has served on the Eastland Community Foundation for three years, including as president in 2016.
Nancy is active in city and civic issues and causes and is currently serving on the John Knox Village Foundation Board and JKV Premier Life Board
Carl Chinnery
Carl is founder of Chinnery, Evans & Nail law firm in Lee’s Summit and a well-known community, philanthropy and education advocate in Lee’s Summit. He’s the past president of the board for the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District, the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce and Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council. He also has a daily passion for the Rotary Club of Lee’s Summit and Rotary District 6040 where he served as District Governor in 2002-03.
Recently, Carl was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from Lee’s Summit CARES.
In his spare time, Carl has built two sailboats and two canoes by hand and even has a nature trail at Unity Village World Headquarters named after him!
Brad Cox
Philanthropist and business owner Brad Cox and wife Sandy Langsford Cox have owned Langsford Funeral Home since 1999, own and operate Five Petals Floral Design, the Emaline Ballroom and Langsford Development and are involved in many facets of Lee’s Summit.
Brad is a member of the St. Luke’s East Executive Advisory Board, the Lee’s Summit Medical Center Board of Trustees, the John Knox Foundation Board and is president of the Lee’s Summit Municipal Building Authority. He also gives his time to the Lee’s Summit Rotary Club and is past-chairman of the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council.
And when he’s not in the office or in meetings, Brad relaxes with his grandchildren and still enjoys his “vice” of playing and singing in local bands.
Brad Culbertson
Brad Culbertson has been a downtown champion, business owner and building owner in Lee’s Summit for nearly 30 years.
Brad and his wife, Carole, purchased their first building in the downtown core in the early 1990s. As a skilled builder, Brad was able to renovate and rejuvenate many downtown Lee’s Summit buildings while also helping bring business back to the city’s core. He has been a member of the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce since 1988 and served on the board of directors in many capacities for Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street for 25 years. Brad is currently the chair of the Downtown Community Improvement District Board.
Vicky Cundiff
Vicky Cundiff founded Turf’s Up Lawn Service more than 30 years ago in Lee’s Summit with her husband, Jon. They now own operations here as well as in Des Moines, Iowa, Fort Worth, Texas and in Springfield, Mo.
A 33-year resident of Lee’s Summit, Vicky has been deeply involved around her community. She is a past chairman of the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce Board and her other involvement includes the R-7 School District, Lee’s Summit EDC, Woods Chapel United Methodist Church and with the City of Lee’s Summit as part of the 360-visioning process. It was her work with LS 360 in 2010 that earned her Lee’s Summit Citizen of the Year honors. Vicky has also been honored with the Lee’s Summit Rotary’s “Service Above Self” award, the Missouri Municipal League’s Outstanding Leadership award for service to Lee’s Summit and Weed Man’s Community Service Award.
Vicky was named to the Kansas City Business Journal’s Class of 2015 “Women Who Mean Business” and The Examiner’s Class of 2016 “Women of Distinction.”
Tim Denker
Tim Denker is an attorney at Denker Law Firm and co-owner of LexLaunch.com.
Denker is a business owner and board member for Velocity Lee’s Summit. He also sits on the board of directors for the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce and on the advisory board for the Lee’s Summit Educational Foundation. Tim received his Juris Doctor from UMKC in 2005.
Tim is married with two children under 4 years old with a four-legged companion, Harrison, a Great Dane.
Paula Derks
Paula Derks is president/CEO of Aircraft Electronics Association in Lee’s Summit, the international trade organization that provides legislative representation, training and services to 1,300 general aviation electronics entities around the world.
A member of the Aviation Accreditation Board of Trustees, Paula is a charter member of the Women of Aviation and serves on the Aviation Advisory Council. Locally, she is a St. Luke’s East board member and on the Public Relations Council for the University of Central Missouri, having also served on the board for the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council and as a Commissioner of the 2016 City Charter Review Commission.
A member of the UCM Public Relations Hall of Fame, Derks and her husband, Bruce, live in Lee’s Summit.
Will Gibson
Will is the founder of Down to Earth Services, a company that is dedicated to the preservations and restoration of native plant communities. The company designs, builds and maintains landscapes working with native plants and sustainable solutions. Will also co-owns Green Thumb Gardens, a retail nursery supplying nataive plants to the Kansas City region. Will ‘s background and education are in environmental history and political science. After receiving a dual degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia, he returned to the KC region and started his path as an entrepreneur. Will serves on several committees around Lee’s Summit including the Chamber of Commerce’s Governmental Relations, Legislative, Young Professionals and Oktoberfest committeess
Donna Gordon
Donna is a longtime Lee’s Summit resident. She is the owner of Investment Resources and a graduate of the University of Central Missouri.
Donna is a current member of the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority. She has served on various other boards and committees giving her time around Lee’s Summit, including the City’s Truly 150 steering committee and the 2015 Downtown Master Plan Task Force. She is also a graduate of the City’s Leadership Academy and worked on future visioning with the Lee’s Summit 360 work group in 2008-09.
Carl Grigsby
A lifelong educator, Carl Grigsby served 47 years in Missouri elementary, middle and high schools as a teacher, department chair, principal and administrator. He is formerly the director of the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District Transportation Department.
Carl was a professor of education for 11 years at the University of Central Missouri, and for 17 years as a tenured, associate professor of education. He retired from UCM and lives in Lee’s Summit with his wife, Merilee, who also taught in R-7 schools for 24 years. Carl has two daughters and two grand-daughters.
Gary Hawkins
Gary Hawkins is the president and founder of HSMC Companies and HSMC Orizon, LLC, in Lee’s Summit. Hawkins is the partner in charge at the Lee’s Summit location, which has grown to become one of the top 25 accounting firms as ranked in 2017 by the Kansas City Business Journal. The company was recognized in 2008 as a Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year.
Gary is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants. He’s a board member with the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council and a past board member of the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce. He also sits on the St. Luke’s East Hospital Board and the John Knox Village Board and Finance Committee.
Clint Haynes
Clint is the Founder and President of NextGen Wealth and an active member of our community.
Clint has given his volunteer time in many areas of Lee’s Summit, including on the boards of directors for the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce and Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council and the advisory board of the Lee’s Summit Educational Foundation.
Clint is married to Christa and has a side hobby that is growing in popularity – that of an amateur craft beer brewer.
Todd Haynes
Todd Haynes is the vice president of RBC Wealth Management and a 17-year Lee’s Summit resident.
Haynes has been active around Lee’s Summit for many years, most recently as a board member with the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council, a board member for ReStart, Inc. Homeless Services Shelter and as membership co-chair of the Rotary Club of Lee’s Summit. He’s a proud Eagle Scout and member of the National Eagle Scouts Association.
An alumnus of the University of Missouri-Columbia and Baker University, Haynes is married to Lora Jane and has two children.
Robert "Bud" Hertzog
Bud is a Lee’s Summit High School graduate and a respected and longstanding member of Lee’s Summit who has had a hand in many areas of leadership for the betterment of our community. Bud is a four-term member of the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District Board of Education and served four terms on the Jackson County, Missouri, Legislature.
A veterinarian of 62 years and owner of Lee’s Summit Animal Hospital, Bud has served the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce on its executive board, the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council as its chairman, co-chaired the City of Lee’s Summit Government 150-year celebration, is a board director for Summit Bank of Kansas City, has been honored as the Humanitarian of the Year by the Truman Heartland Community Foundation and is past president and a charter member of the Rotary Club of Lee’s Summit.
He’s served on countless veterinarian and animal medical association areas and boards and has been recognized as a distinguished faculty member at Mizzou.
Bud and Betty have been married 66 years, have five children, 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Lynn Hinkle
Lynn is Regional Manager for Great Southern Bank, where she has been employed for 12 years.
During her many years in Lee’s Summit, Lynn has immersed herself in this community. She is Past Chair of the Board for the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce where she also serves on many committees and as a Leadership Lee’s Summit Coordinator, Past President of the Board and current Board Member for Downtown Lee’s Summit, Board Member for Langsford House Group Home, on the Board of Trustees for Lee’s Summit Medical Center and a Partner in Education with the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District.
Candace Jennings
Candace Jennings is a Lee’s Summit resident and owner of Whistle Stop Coffee & Mercantile since 2008. Candace and her team have built up the popular downtown coffee shop into one of the busiest spots for meetings and socializing in Lee’s Summit. Whistle Stop was voted Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street’s Business of the Year in 2015 and was the recipient of Lee’s Summit Lifestyle Magazine’s Best Coffee Shop award in 2017.
Candace and her husband Tyler have two children, Amelia, 6, who attends Hazel Grove Elementary School, and Simon, 1.
Tom Lovell
Tom Lovell retired in the spring of 2017 after an illustrious 39-year career as administrator of the Lee’s Summit Parks & Recreation Department.
During his time in Lee’s Summit, the city park system grew from 150 acres to more than 1,300, while adding 26 parks, three community centers, a farm park, water park and several athletic fields. Tom is past president of the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration and Past President of the Missouri Parks and Recreation Association. Under his leadership, Lee’s Summit Parks & Recreation was awarded the prestigious National Gold Medal Award for superiority in parks and recreation management.
Tom is a recognizable figure around Lee’s Summit for his work in Rotary, as a board member of Missouri Central Credit Union and an avid cyclist, golfer and pickleball player.
Jane Monroe
Raised in Lake Lotawana, Jane has always considered Lee’s Summit home with her husband Russ and four children attending Lee’s Summit schools.
Jane has a business degree in Arts Administration and has worked most her adult life in event planning, calling herself an “entrepreneur at heart.” Her company, Embrace the Grape, serves clientele around Kansas City from Cerner to St. Luke’s to Lee’s Summit Parks and Recreation.
In her volunteer time, Jane works with the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce, the Lee’s Summit Educational Foundation, Rotary and Lakeland Community Church.
Tyler Morehead
Tyler is a lifelong resident of Lee’s Summit and a graduate of Southwest Missouri State University.
He’s worked in his family business, Morehad Agency LLC, since 2006 with his father, Tim.
Tyler is currently the President of the Lee’s Summit Parks & Recreation Board of Directors and Past Chair of the Board for the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce. He also volunteers his time with the Lee’s Summit Educational Foundation, on the St. Luke’s East Medical Center Advisory Committee and is active at Our Lady of the Presentation.
Tyler is married to Brooke and has a daughter, Paige.
Randy Rhoads
Randy is the 8-year former Mayor of the City of Lee’s Summit Government and was also a District 2 Representative on the City Council for 12 years. Rhoads is a retired engineer and has been married to Mary Ann for 48 years. He sat on the original Charter Commission in 1996.
Rhoads has been active in many areas of Lee’s Summit and the Kansas City region, including Mid-America Regional Council and Rotary Club of Lee’s Summit.
Machelle Riffe
Machelle and her husband co-own Riffe Communities, specializing in lifestyle custom home communities in Missouri and Kansas. Their projects include Woodland Shores, Lee’s Summit, and Woodland Trails in Greenwood. As a real estate agent, she specializes in homes, horse, farm and recreational properties, and commercial build sites.
Machelle served as Director of Development for Summit Christian Academy leading capital and annual funding campaigns for over ten years and was a marketing rep for Proctor and Gamble.
She is founder of Fundspring Consulting serving area non-profits including Saint Luke’s East Hospital in support of oncology services and breast care prevention.
Machelle is current chair for Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council and is a member of Lee’s Summit Rotary and the Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Municipal Building Authority. She is a past Advisory Board member for Truman Heartland Community Foundation.
Machelle enjoys family, horses and time on the lake.
Kent Ruehter
Kent works at Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., and has lived in Lee’s Summit with his wife, Jeanna, for 15 years. They have two sons attending Highland Park Elementary.
Kent has worked on various local political campaigns and is on the Board of Directors for Pro Deo Youth Center. Kent has also given his time at area Lee’s Summit R-7 District schools providing guidance to students on building resumes, interviewing and landing their first jobs.
Ken Stremming
Ken spent more than 30 years working in the pharmaceutical industry in clinical research, marketing and government affairs. A 1965 graduate of Purdue University, Ken formed and operated an engineering support business, which was sold in 2007.
Around the community, Ken served two terms with the Community Advisory Committee of the Healthcare Foundation of Greater Kansas City and two terms on the Board of Directors for the Healthcare Foundation, chairing the finance and investment committees. In Lee’s Summit, Ken has been a 21-year member of the Board of Aeronautical Commissioners, active in Lee’s Summit 360 and several committees with the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce. He was also an active member of the Lee’s Summit Planning Commission.
Ken is a 40-year pilot and he and his wife are active members of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church.
Rick Viar
Rick Viar is president and CEO of Summit Bank of Kansas City, a position he’s held since 2005. A longtime Lee’s Summit resident, Rick is Vice Chairman of the John Knox Village Board of directors and chairman of the executive committee.
He also serves as president of the Lee’s Summit Industrial Development Authority and past-chairman of the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council. Rick is civically involved in the Lee’s Summit Education Foundation, Truman Medical Center Philanthropy Board and Rotary Club. In 2015, he was appointed by Mayor Randy Rhoads to serve as facilitator of the Downtown Lee’s Summit Master Plan Task Force.