Community Voices

His path has not been a typical one. As a teen he’s had a goal to own and operate his own business. Well, actually not one business, but several. He’s been a day trader. He’s worked in software development. He’s worked as a business consultant. He hauls junk. He is one of many entrepreneurs in the Lee’s Summit community. This is Seth Kakuske.

They both started as band musicians. Neither planned to become teachers. They are a generation apart and first came together as teacher and student. Both spent a career conducting orchestras in the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District and the Kansas City Youth Symphony. This year, as the Lee’s Summit Symphony opens its 16th season, the two are united yet again — this time as co-conductors. This is Russ Berlin and Kirt Mosier.

Before moving to the world of Chambers of Commerce, he spent 20 years in higher education. The marketing and economic development work on behalf of a university helped prepare him for his second career as an advocate and resource-builder for the business community. And as of August of this year, he is the new President of the Lee’s Summit Chamber. This is Dr. Blake Fry.

He's a painter, singer, producer and songwriter. He's president of a Kansas City-based indie record label — Russian Winter Records. And he's probably a familiar face for those frequenting downtown Lee's Summit's Farmers Market and Fourth Friday Art Walk events. This is Ric Gordon.

He's been a self-proclaimed audio/video nerd since his teenage years. He's a local videographer, filmmaker and documentarian. Whether working working for a client or chasing down a pet project of his own, its a passion for storytelling that drives him toward success. He is the owner of BrainRoot Light & Sound. This is Chris Cook.

She was a business teacher, a grant writer, a district administrator and a principal. She spent more than 30 years inside the Lee's Summit R-7 School District before retiring after the 2017-2018 school year. Her retirement did not last long. Today, she is the new executive director of the Lee's Summit-based Pro Deo Youth Center. This is Elaine Metcalf.

He was a star basketball player at Lee's Summit High School. He went on to become a teacher, and then an administrator in his home school district. His story, however is not as stereotypical as one might think. In fact, he says, we need to discard that stereotype altogether. Now, he uses his story to better connect with students and create new and improved paths to graduation and success. This is Andy Campbell.

He is an entrepreneur. He is a mentor and president of growing local bank. His plan for success combines a passion for community with an analytical approach to business. For him, strategy sessions and financial planning go hand-in-hand with relationship building. And when it comes to getting involved in the community, he offers this advice — Do it with purpose and passion so the organization will truly benefit from your involvement. This is Rick Viar.

About a decade ago they exploded onto the national BBQ stage. The invention of the now infamous Bacon Explosion put Burnt Finger BBQ into an industry, media and internet spotlight. Since then, the Lee's Summit couple has lived life in the fast lane of BBQ competitions and media appearances across the nation. Last week, downtown Lee's Summit-based restaurant and bar, Stuey McBrew's hosted a special watch party for the premier of the couple's segment on Food Network's 'The Kitchen.' This is Megan and Jason Day.

She discovered art in her youth. As an adult, she found the passion and path for applying art to both her personal and professional life. For her, helping others find joy and purpose in the creative process has not only led her to personal gratification, but also to professional success as an entrepreneur. This is Jaime Lyon.

A former collegiate All-American football player at NCAA D-II powerhouse Northwest Missouri State, he says the routines and disciplines learned as an athlete drive him in pursuit of his professional passion. Weight training and fitness began as just part of his routine, now it's something he both practices and preaches as local business owner and personal trainer. And in a matter of weeks, his business will move into a newer, bigger space in the heart of downtown Lee's Summit. This is Ryan Waters.

They come from different towns and different school districts. They have differing interests and motivations but all share passion for storytelling, filmmaking and the digital media course at Summit Technology Academy. Last month, four members of the class received honors and awards from the eMagine Film Festival hosted by Olathe Northwest High School.

The piano was her first instrument. But it was the violin that became her first love and before she knew it she was enrolled in a performing arts high school in her southern Virginia public school district. Her love of the arts and performances has driven her to a career managing and promoting the arts to communities. Today, she is the new Cultural Arts Manager for the City of Lee's Summit where she will work with the Lee's Summit Arts Council and other programs to promote and drive engagement with Lee's Summit's burgeoning arts community. This is Glenda Masters.

For more than 30 years he was a relentless force in the community. Whether a cause sponsored by the Lee's Summit Chamber, the Lee's Summit R-7 School District, or even the City itself, he found a way to rally others around any cause he believed was for the betterment of his community. He picked the causes he picked and chose the fights he did, his friends say, for a very simple reason — it was the right thing to do for the people of the community. An icon of the Lee's Summit community, he passed away almost a month ago, on March 7. Last week, three of his Lee's Summit friends and colleagues sat down with Link 2 Lee's Summit's Nick Parker to reminisce and pay tribute. This was Gene Gamber.

Like so many of us, the great recession of 10 years ago forced him to make a change in his career path. The architecture industry was hit particularly hard during the economic downturn, and when things at his previous firm slowed down he saw an opportunity to split off and move out on his own. Now, Land 3 Studios is one of the premiere landscape architecture firms in the region with several large-scale projects under its belt. This is Bob Bushyhead.

She defies a few stereotypes. She's a woman in a heavily male-dominated industry. Her downtown Lee's Summit store caters to a niche market, but that doesn't stop her from participating in, or promoting, as many of the downtown events as is possible. For her, the business is about nostalgia. It's about building relationships, both person and professional. The business, she says, is about family. This is Cassie Rogers.

He has a full time job. He and his wife own and operate two businesses in downtown Lee's Summit. Somewhere along the way though, he found the time to take on another project. As the self-proclaimed historian and genealogist of his family he decided to not only record the passed-down stories of his family, but also pen a new series of historical fiction based on his family's involvement in the American Civil War. This is Randy Walker.

She's a state champion head coach. She's spent most of her career at the helm of a Lee's Summit North girls basketball program she's built into a perennial local and state power house. And this season, she garnered the 400th win of her career. But victories are not where she keeps tally. For her, the past 25 years, and the years to come, have been marked by relationships. Connections she's made with both players and coaches. This is Tricia Lillygren.

When he graduated college he thought he was set to begin a long and glorious career as a strength and conditioning coach. Time in the gym was his favorite thing. He wasn't going to have a career. He was going to get paid to do what he loved. Then a funny thing happened. The thing he loved became a job...

He was recently named 2018 Missouri High School Principal of the Year by the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals. And while he is proud of the award and recognition from his peers, he is also quick to point out the award speaks more to the staff, students and culture at Lee's Summit North High School.