Developing Lee's Summit: Recent Episodes
City of Lee's Summit
Dr. Kirk Nooks is president of the Metropolitan Community College-Longview campus in Lee's Summit.
Kathy Smith is Executive Director of the Historical Society of Lee's Summit & Museum and a local historian.
Developing Lee's Summit visits Automated Motion Inc, as our Made in Lee's Summit series continues. Did you know a company here in Lee's Summt makes airline oxygen masks? See how this local company contributes to our economy and job base by continuing to make things right here in Lee's Summit!
Jody Fristoe is the Executive Director and Donnie Rodgers, the Assistant Executive Director for Downtown Lee's Summit Main Street.
Mark Schaufler is the Director of Water Utilities for the City of Lee’s Summit and has worked for the City for 21 years.
Bob McKay is the Director of the Planning and Codes Administration and has been with the City of Lee’s Summit since 1999.
Attorney Jason Norbury is chairman of the City of Lee’s Summit’s Planning Commission, a member of the Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street Board of Directors and also serves on the Downtown CID Board.
Rick Viar is the past chairman of the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council and currently lead facilitator for the Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street Master Plan Task Force.
Dr. David McGehee has been Superintendent of the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District for nine years.
Developing Lee’s Summit’s first-ever video podcast, "Made in Lee’s Summit." Check out the link below to learn more about tanning manufacturer and distributor Heartland Tanning Supplies, a Lee’s Summit business that has been in operation on the north end of town for more than two decades.
District 3 Council member Diane Seif is in her first term on the Lee’s Summit City Council. She is vice-chair of the Community and Economic Development Committee.
Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council vice-chair Bill Brown is the founder and principal of Spectrum Consulting Group LLC. Brown also serves on the City’s Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority board.
Stephen Arbo has served as the City Manager for the City of Lee’s Summit since September 2008 and prior to that he served as the Interim City Manager in 2007 and Deputy City Manager from 2001-2007. Prior to Lee’s Summit, he was the City Manager in Liberty and several smaller suburbs in west St. Louis County.
Brad Cox is chairman of the board for the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council, serves on the Lee’s Summit, Missouri Municipal Building Authority and is active in many areas of philanthropy and business around Lee’s Summit.
Attorney Christine Bushyhead is on the executive boards for both Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street and the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council. She is a past member of the Lee’s Summit City Council.
Bob Johnson represents District 4 on the Lee’s Summit City Council. He is chairman of the Rules Committee and Budget & Finance Committee.
Diane Forte is in her first term representing District 1 on the Lee’s Summit City Council.
Michael VanBuskirk is a Lee’s Summit resident, member of the City of Lee’s Summit’s Tax Increment Financing Committee and a senior vice president-principal at Newmark Grubb Zimmer. VanBuskirk has been with NGZ since 1994. VanBuskirk also serves on the Advisory Board of the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council.
Councilman Allan Gray serves District 2 on the Lee’s Summit City Council. He is also Mayor Pro Tem for the City Council.
Rick McDowell joined the LSEDC as President and CEO in August of 2014. Previously, he served for two years as Executive Director at the Liberty Economic Development Corporation. McDowell has more than 27 years of experience in economic development in a career that includes the Missouri Department of Economic Development.
Lee’s Summit City Councilman Rob Binney was elected to represent District 1 in 2012. Binney is the vice-chair of the Community and Economic Development Committee and the Public Works Committee as well as serving on Solid Waste/E&NR, Budget and CDBG committees.
Jim McKenna has spent the last two years as the Community Marketing Director for Lee’s Summit. McKenna has held key management positions, including President and Chief Strategy Officer, for regional and national ad-agencies where he spearheaded marketing campaigns for numerous clients. He was recently named Advertising Person of the Year by the American Advertising Federation for his outstanding contributions in the areas of strategic planning and creative excellence. McKenna’s other awards include his work for such clients as Continental Airline, Islands of Tahiti, New Mexico Department of Tourism, United Way and Dean Foods.
Keith Asel is a Regional President for Hawthorn Bank. Keith’s civic involvement currently includes serving on the Boards of Directors for the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council and several boards within the St. Luke’s Health System. In addition, he participates in the Lee’s Summit School District’s Partners in Education program, R-7 Business Roundtable and chairs the Lee’s Summit Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority.
Council member Dave Mosby represents the 4th District in Lee’s Summit. Mosby was first elected in 2010 and re-elected to his seat in April of 2014. Mosby is the Chair of the Community and Economic Development Committee.
John Ohrazda is the Airport Manager for the City of Lee's Summit, a position he assumed in February 1984. His job responsibilities include, in addition to, the daily operations of the airport, the supervision of the personnel fueling and servicing aircraft as well as short term and long term planning of the airport facilities. Mr. Ohrazda is a member of the Lee’s Summit Public Works Department and reports directly to the Deputy Director of Public Works.
Mayor Randy Rhoads was first elected to District 2 in 1998 and served through 2010, when he was elected mayor of Lee’s Summit. Mayor Rhoads is active in many civic and community organizations.
Mark Dunning is the Development Center Director for the City of Lee’s Summit, a position he has held since January of 2014. Prior to that, Dunning was the Director of Codes Administration. He has worked for the City of Lee’s Summit since 1997 and is an acclaimed rugby player.