CEO Series
Kansas City‘s business leaders are managing their companies through the deepest recession in modern times. The immensely popular CEO Series brings nine presidents and CEOs to The Central Exchange over the year to share how they‘re adapting to the economic downturn, and how they‘re positioning their organizations to be successful in the new economy ahead.
“Leading Through Unprecedented Times” is the theme for the 2009-2010 series, which is sponsored by Right Management.
“This series gives CX members and their guests a close look into leadership at the top of some very successful Kansas City companies,” said Denise Kruse, executive vice-president Right Management, Heartland, Midland & Rocky Mountain Markets.
All programs are from 11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at The CX Downtown.
Non-members are welcome with advanced registration and payment of $35.
These programs fill up quickly, so please register well in advance.
Gerardo “Gerry” Lopez
CEO, AMC Entertainment Inc.
February 24, 2010
The movie business is evolving. More movies are being delivered by mail, viewed online or rented at one location and returned to another. AMC is changing with the times. Once thought of as a company with movie theaters nationwide, under new CEO Gerardo Lopez, AMC now defines itself as being in the exhibition business, with a leadership role in the entertainment arena.
Lopez is only the fourth CEO in AMC’s almost 90-year history. His understanding of brands, guests, and their experiences and interaction were paramount in his decision to join AMC in March of 2009. Previously, Lopez served as executive vice president of Starbucks Coffee Company. He was also president of its Global Consumer Products, Seattle’s Best Coffee and Foodservice divisions. In these roles, he led the strategy to support Starbucks’ growth and expansion of consumer product offerings worldwide.
In his more than 25-year career, he has served in executive management positions with Frito-Lay, Pepsi-Cola, and the Procter & Gamble Company.
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David Gentile
CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield Kansas City
March 31, 2010
Next to the economic meltdown, much of the attention of the U.S. Congress over the past year has focused on health care. No company in the area has a higher stake in the discussion than Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City.
As the initial votes took place in the House and Senate, the company elevated a long-time member of management to the CEO post. David Gentile joined BCBSKC in 1991, and over his almost 20-year career has provided leadership in marketing and managed care, as well as information technology and customer service.
Gentile was named Executive Vice President of Blue KC in 2005, with responsibility for claims and customer service, operations performance improvement, and the company’s subsidiaries. He coordinates the company’s strategic planning activities, ensuring that a full array of quality and timely services are available to members of Blue KC. Gentile also is involved with the company’s e-Commerce strategic business activities as well as web development.
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Stephen E. Corbeil
President, HCA Midwest Division
Wednesday, April 7
Steve Corbeil finds hospital administration is a good way to combine his interest in business and medicine. Now, with more than 20 years experience and a proven track record with hospitals and multi-facility settings, he leads HCA Midwest Health System as Division President.
Corbeil is no newcomer to HCA, a for-profit hospital corporation. He previously operated the HCA Medical Center Dallas Hospital from 1996-2000, serving as president.
Between his two stints at HCA, Corbeil worked for Tenet Healthcare and served as Senior Vice-President of Operations for three separate divisions beginning in 2000. While at Tenet, the company considered purchasing the Health Midwest facilities, and Corbeil led the team considering whether to make that bid. The process gave Corbeil a close-up view of the operations before he came to Kansas City to run the division.
Co-workers say Corbeil’s management style is approachable. He asks people what they think, and then he listens when they have suggestions.
He is involved with the Missouri Association Board of Directors, and he serves as the Alumni President of the University of Iowa Hospital Administration. He is also a Fellow, Foundation of American College of Health Care Executives.
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Pat McCown
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, McCownGordon Construction
Wednesday, May 12
In just over a decade of business, McCownGordon has established a strong presence in the Kansas City community, and has made a name for itself nationwide.
Co-founder Pat McCown has built his construction company by focusing on high quality projects—and people. Since moving downtown and rehabbing a building on Admiral Boulevard, his company has been consistently listed as one of the city’s best places to work.
As part of McCown’s community involvement, he directs at least 10 percent of the company’s profits to local philanthropic projects, including the City Union Mission and the Kansas City Art Institute. McCown serves on the boards of UMB Bank, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and Ronald McDonald House Charities. He is also co-chair of the Kansas City Area Development Council.
The company emphasizes environmentally friendly practices, and is completing construction of a $43 million “green” school in Greensburg, the central Kansas community nearly leveled by a tornado in 2007.
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Bernadette Gray-Little
Chancellor, University of Kansas
Wednesday, June 16
Bernadette Gray-Little brings a background of instruction, research and administration to her new position as Chancellor of the University of Kansas. She joined KU in August of last year, becoming only the 17th chancellor in the university’s history.
Gray-Little oversees campuses in Lawrence, Kansas City, Overland Park and Wichita. She also administers research educational centers in Topeka, Hutchinson, Parsons and elsewhere in the state.
Gray-Little has identified three initial goals for the university: enhance undergraduate education, raise KU’s already high scholarly profile, and secure the resources needed for students and the university to succeed.
Prior to coming to KU, Gray-Little served as executive vice chancellor and provost at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. She began her tenure at UNC as a professor of psychology and rose through the administrative ranks.
Gray-Little earned a Ph.D. and M.S. in psychology from St. Louis University and an A.B. from Marywood College in Pennsylvania. She has received numerous honors and awards including the Distinguished Service Award from the UNC General Alumni Association, the National Research Council – Ford Foundation Senior Fellow, and a Fulbright Fellowship to the University of Copenhagen.
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