The University of Missouri-Kansas City Henry W. Bloch School of Management opened its doors to some of the region’s most respected executives at the CEO Academy.
The program, founded by former chief executive officers Bill Zollars of YRC Worldwide, Greg Graves of Burns & McDonnell and Dan Hesse of Sprint, is designed to mentor and prepare Kansas City’s next generation of business leaders, and builds on the Bloch School’s longstanding commitment to leadership development and executive education.
“Bill, Greg and Dan created this academy with support from the Bloch School to pay forward the kind of support they once received from Kansas City’s business community,” said Brian Klaas, dean of the Bloch School. “The program is an extension of our mission to develop leaders who not only succeed in business but also invest in their communities.”
This year’s faculty featured returning founders alongside new voices:
- Maggie Wilderotter, a veteran executive and board leader who served as CEO of Frontier Communications and on more than 35 public company boards, explored how executives can strengthen their boards to better serve their companies.
- Paget Alves, chairman and CEO of Sorenson Communications and longtime Sprint executive, spoke on lessons learned from the boardroom to the C-suite.
- Pam Kramer, CEO of KC2026, offered a behind-the-scenes look at how Kansas City secured FIFA World Cup matches and what it takes to prepare for the world’s largest sporting event.
“This is about understanding what the World Cup is going to do for the region, and the opportunity we have to really transform Kansas City,” Kramer said. “Let's use sports to show them everything we love about living here, working here, investing here and starting a business here.”
Each session gave participants practical tools and candid advice from leaders who have navigated the highest levels of corporate leadership. Attendees praised the accessibility of the program.
“I chose CEO Academy because the day-and-a-half format fit my schedule, the speakers have outstanding reputations across diverse industries and the local setting made it even more relevant,” said Jack Beal, senior vice president of Cancer Center and system chief administrative officer of The University of Kansas Health System. “But what sealed it was the cultural fit — excellence is a core value at my company, and it’s a central theme throughout the program.”
Attendees also benefited from the deep engagement of the faculty.
“I thought they’d give a talk and head out, but they stayed involved,” said Kyle Van Slyke, chief operating officer at Musselman & Hall Contractors. “It was inspiring to see Kansas City’s top leaders so committed to mentoring and sharing their time.”
The CEO Academy continues to balance individual leadership development with community impact. Faculty members donate their time, and proceeds support scholarships and programs at the Bloch School.
Joining founders Bill Zollars, Greg Graves and Dan Hesse, this year's returning faculty members include:
- Mark Donovan, president of the Kansas City Chiefs
- Beryl Raff, retired CEO of Helzberg Diamonds
- Dave Dillon, retired CEO of Kroger
“We are so grateful for our amazing CEO Academy faculty," Klaas said. "They all taught on a pro-bono basis, meaning that the CEO Academy generated funds for scholarships designed to make college more accessible. This program reflects Kansas City’s culture of leaders coming together to help this community.”