The University of Missouri-Kansas City welcomed the National Science Foundation in January to campus for a site visit focused on the university-led Critical Materials Crossroads, a regional collaboration positioning the Kansas City area at the forefront of advanced materials innovation, regional workforce development and national security.
The site visit marked a major milestone in UMKC’s effort to lead one of the nation’s most ambitious regional strategies, bringing together more than 230 higher education, industry, government and civic partners around a shared long-term vision aiming to secure a domestic critical materials supply chain to strengthen U.S. economic and national security.
Community and civic leaders joined UMKC administrators at the site visit to demonstrate broad regional alignment and long-term commitment to the project, including:
Lana Alagha, professor at Missouri University of Science & Technology
Ronda Anderson, liaison to Missouri workforce development at Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workfoce Development
Jon Arkin, chief operating officer of Arkin Sales
Trent Armbrust, owner of Crossbow Strategic Consulting
Roy Blunt, former U.S. Senator
Lisa Bray, dean of career and techical education and additional targeted support and improvement administrator at Metropolitan Community Colleges
DeAngela Burns Wallace, president and chief executive officer of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Julie Carter, director of workforce development for Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development
Dean Chereskin, owner of MRC Midwest Electronic Recycling
Ian Colrain, president and chief executive officer of MRIGlobal and UMKC Trustee
Eric Couch, battery material program lead of Sun Chemical
Aaron Deacon, managing director of KC Digital Drive
Mario Destephen, director of reseach of development for EaglePitcher Technologies
Karen Dreiling, associate vice president of development at Great Jobs KC
Matt Evans, chief executive officer and co-founder of Julius Education
David Frankland, chief executive officer of Enterprise KC
Cesar Gonzalez, executive chairman of Bonterra Resources Inc.
Jim Grimes, chief audit and compliance officer at University of Missouri System
Ram Gupta, associate vice president for research strategy at Pittsburg State University
Nathaniel Hagedorn (BBA ’02, MBA ’04), founder and chief executive officer of NorthPoint Development
Jason Haney, innovation and growth initiatives leader for Black & Veatch IngniteX accelerator program
Mike Hargett, president of CVMR USA Inc.
Melissa Patterson Hazley (B.A. ’04, M.A. ’06), Kansas City, MO City Council, 3rd District at Large
Darren Hennen, vice president of Olsson
Paul Holewinski, chief executive officer and president of Academy Bank and Dickinson Financial Corporation and chief executive officer of Armed Forces Bank and UMKC Trustee
Mike Kehoe, Missouri governor
Richard Kim, senior director of entrepreneurship for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Yangchuan (Chad) King, professor at the University of Missouri in Columbia
Heidi Lehmann, director of strategic investments, Ligo Partners
Tom Lograsso, critical materials innovation hub director of Ames National Laboratory
Lisa McIntosh, director of KC Rising and member of the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City
Clyde McQueen, president and chief executive officer of the Full Employment Council
Greg Miller, vice president of product engineering for EaglePitcher Technologies
Aaron North, founder and principal of Northward Consulting, in consultation with Civic Council of Greater Kansas City
Dave Palmstein, managing partner for Birch Creek Partners
Jonghyun Park, professor at Missouri University of Science & Technology
Miles Sandler, director of policy and engagement of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Gurpreet Singh, professor at Kansas State University
Davi Soares, professor at Wichita State University
Tim Triplett, retired general counsel at Black & Veatch and member of the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City
Susan Wally (Ed.S. ’82), president and chief executive officer of PREP-KC
David Warm, executive director of Mid-America Regional Council
Darius Watson, assistant provost for academic innovation at Lincoln University
The work is a top priority for the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City and is formally recognized in the organization’s KC Investment Playbook, underscoring the initiative’s importance to the region’s economic future.
In addition, organizations including the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Kansas City Area Development Council and Port KC have taken a strong interest in the initiative and are among the regional partners.
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe participated in the site visit, expressing strong support for the initiative. Governor Kehoe has previously spoken with President Donald Trump about the urgent need for this project, citing its importance to U.S. competitiveness and national security.
The initiative is one of only 15 finalists nationwide for the National Science Foundation Regional Engines award. If selected, Critical Materials Crossroads could receive up to $160 million over 10 years, the largest grant in UMKC history. Awardees will be notified this year.
Critical Materials Crossroads is projected to generate 10,000 jobs and add $17 billion in economic growth to the Kansas City region.
UMKC leaders who participated in the site visit were Anthony Caruso, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and principal investigator; UMKC Chancellor Mauli Agrawal; Mostafizur Rahman, associate professor and co-principal investigator; Maria Meyers, vice chancellor of commercialization and entrepreneurship and co-principal investigator; Nathan Mauck, professor and co-principal investigator; Sumeet Dua, vice chancellor for research and innovation; William Highsmith, senior director of program operations; Jamie Andes, senior director of program operations; Anthony Weiss, senior director of program operations; Jeff Blackwood, director of commercialization; Darran Cairns, associate teaching professor; Eric Anderson, director of technology transfer; and Jill Meyer, senior director of technology venture studio.
This past fall, UMKC Chancellor Agrawal convened a group of UMKC Trustees and Kansas City civic leaders to advise on the best path forward for developing the Critical Materials Crossroads regional strategy. These leaders provided guidance across four key areas essential to long-term success: real estate, finance, government engagement and legal issues. They include:
Ramin Cherafat (MBA ’02), chairman and chief executive officer of McCownGordon Construction and UMKC Trustee
Ian Colrain, president and chief executive officer of MRIGlobal and UMKC Trustee
Tim Dunn (MBA ’12), chairman and chief investment officer of JE Dunn Construction and UMKC Trustee
Warren Erdman, retired executive vice president of Kansas City Southern Railway
Dave Frantze (J.D. ’81), partner at Stinson
Cameron Garrison, managing partner at Lathrop GPM, member of the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City and UMKC Trustee
Nathaniel Hagedorn (BBA ’02, MBA ’04), founder and chief executive officer of NorthPoint Development
Dave Harrison, president of VanTrust Real Estate and UMKC Trustee
Paul Holewinski, chief executive officer and president of Academy Bank and Dickinson Financial Corporation and chief executive officer of Armed Forces Bank and UMKC Trustee
Reachel Jennings Beichley, experienced executive and general counsel and UMKC Trustee
Jolie Justus (J.D. ’98), chief legal officer and general counsel for University Health and UMKC Trustee
Mark Long, president and chief executive officer of Newmark Zimmer
John Parry, member of the Missouri Development Finance Board and founder of the Parry Group
Charlie Shields, president and chief executive officer of University Health and UMKC Trustee
Tim Triplett, retired general counsel at Black & Veatch and member of the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City
Don Wagner, private investor and general partner of Wagner Investments
Michael Woods (EMBA ’11), senior vice president at Lockton Companies and UMKC Trustee
UMKC leaders who oversaw working groups are Troy Bruun, vice chancellor of finance and administration; Sheri Gormley, chief of staff in the chancellor’s office; Curt Crespino, vice chancellor of external relations and constituent engagement; and Troy Lillebo, associate vice chancellor of external relations and constituent engagement.
In the News
- Critical Materials Crossroads team advances as finalist for NSF award of up to $160M over a decade | Kansas Geological Survey – University of Kansas | October 2025
- UMKC project foresees big campus, 3,000 jobs, $17B impact - Kansas City Business Journal – Kansas City Business Journal | July 2025
- Ingram'sUMKC Team Enters Next Step Into Building Energy Materials Campus - Ingram's – Ingram’s | January 2025
- Stakeholders meet to transform Kansas City region into hub for electronics – KSHB 41 | December 2023
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