About Us

The Independence Council for Economic Development is a non-profit, public/private partnership, which was established in 1983 for the purpose of supporting and enhancing the economic growth of Independence. 

The Board of Directors oversees the establishment of policy for the organization with initiatives carried out by professional staff.  ICED contracts with the City of Independence and the Independence Chamber of Commerce to perform economic development services.  60+ private sector investors also provide financial support to allow ICED to carry out the mission statement of the organization.

 

 Our Focus

• Recruit and expand higher wage job opportunities
• Promote and encourage private capital investment
• High level of support for existing core employers through business retention program
• Increase the growth and expansion of small business with support of entrepreneurial efforts
• Promote and leverage investment in economically distressed areas of Independence

 

 

Become an Investor in ICED

As part of the public/private partnership, our strength is in our private sector investors who support ICED.  Over 65+ companies have partnered with ICED to support the economic growth of Independence and the surrounding area.  We have established a multi-level investor program which allows for various levels of participation based on the level of investment.  Complete details are availablein our Investor Prospectus

Download the 2008-2010 Investor Prospectus

Sign up online to become an ICED investor

 

All investors receive the following benefits:

· Weekly “For Your Information” e-newsletter from the President which highlights project activity and information on economic development activity in    Independence

· Free subscription to the “Independence Business Barometer” publication

· Investor luncheons and annual meeting registrations at reduced rate

· Networking events and receptions

· Recognition on ICED web site

· Access to information from various research and real estate databases

· Business referrals

· Advance project announcements

· Opportunity to serve on ICED committees

· Availability of speaker’s bureau on topics relating to Independence and          economic development

· Recognition in annual report

· Opportunity to make a difference in Independence by uniting efforts with other prominent business leaders

 

 

Platinum Level                                                          $5,000.00

                 4 complimentary attendees at quarterly luncheon and breakfast events

                 1st opportunity at event and luncheon sponsorships

                 Opportunity to participate in external corporate visitation program

                 Recognition at all ICED events

                 Logo & link on front page of ICED web site

 

Gold Level                                                                   $2,500.00

                2 complimentary attendees at quarterly luncheons and breakfast events

              

 

Silver Level                                                                  $1,000.00

                1 complimentary attendee at quarterly luncheon and breakfast events

 

Bronze Level                                                                 $500.00

 

Small Business & Not-for-Profit Organizations      $300.00

            (Small business defined as companies with 5 employees or less)

 

Regardless of the amount of investment, each investor makes a significant and positive impact through their commitment and leadership.

 

 

 

2009-10 ICED OFFICERS

Dr. Jim Hinson - Chairman

David Edwards - Vice Chairman

Jim Schultz - Secretary

Brian Mundy - Treasurer

Bill Moore - Immediate Past Chairman

 

2009-2010 ICED BOARD OF DIRECTORS & MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE Alliant Tech Systems (ATK) **Jack Figg PO Box 1000 Independence, MO 64051  (816) 796-5244  Jack.figg@atk.com   AT&T Mike Chambers 500 E. 8th St., Room 1324 Kansas City, MO 64106  (816) 275-0111  mc6722@att.com   Blue Ridge Bank & Trust Company David Kyle 4200 Little Blue Parkway Independence, MO 64057  (816)795-4068  Dkyle@blueridgebank.net   Blue Springs R-IV School District Kim Brightwell 1801 W. Vesper Blue Springs, MO 64015  (816) 224-1487  kbrightwell@bssd.net   Bryan Cave LLP Steve Mauer 1200 Main Street Kansas City, MO 64141 (816) 374-3244 smauer@bryancave.com   Candid Sara Freetly-Grubb 229 S.E. Douglas Lee's Summit, MO 64063 (816) 554-3608 sara@justbecandid.com   CEAH Realtors **David Edwards 3215 NE Carnegie Drive, Ste 200 Lee’s Summit, MO 64064  (816) 795-8100  dedwards@ceahrealtors.com Centerpoint Medical Center Carolyn Caldwell 19600 E. 39th Street Independence, MO 64057  (816) 698-7000  carolyn.caldwell@hcamidwest.com   City of Independence Robert Heacock 111 E. Maple Street Independence, MO 64050  (816) 325-7170  lcrook@indepmo.org   City of Independence **Jim Schultz 218 Maple Ave. Independence, MO 64050  (816) 252-1100  onelaw3@swbell.net   Community of Christ Larry Norris PO Box 1059 Independence, MO 64051  (816) 833-1000  lnorris@cofchrist.org   Emery Sapp and Sons, Inc. **Brian Johanning 140 Walnut Kansas City, MO 64106  (816) 221-3500  bjohanning@emerysapp.com   Fogel-Anderson Construction Company Phil Bartolotta 1212 E. Eighth Street Kansas City, MO 64106 (816) 842-6914 p-bartolotta@fogel-anderson.com   Fort Osage R-1 School District Dr. Mark Enderle 2101 N. Twyman Road Independence, MO 64058  (816) 650-7000  menderle@fortosage.net   Great Western Bank **Steve Hunter 10307 Metcalf Avenue Overland Park, KS 66212  (816) 385-1000 steve.hunter@greatwesternbank.com       **Names with an asterisk serve on the Management Committee  EX-OFFICIO’S  City of Independence Jennifer Clark Director of Community Development 111 E. Maple Street Independence, MO 64050  (816) 325-7415  jclark@indepmo.org   City of Independence/IP&L Leon Daggett 21500 E. Truman Road Independence, MO 64051  (816) 325-7437  ldaggett@indepmo.org   City of Independence John Pinch 111 E. Maple Street Independence, MO 64050  (816) 325-7758  jpinch@indepmo.org

Forest City Land Group Tim Locher 114 S. Main Street, Suite 102 Independence, MO 64050 (816) 833-8223 timlocher@forestcity.net   Heartland Business Capital David Long 12345 W. 95th Street, Ste 200 Lenexa, KS 66215  (913) 599-1717  david@hbcloans.com   Independence Chamber of Commerce Bill Esry– Blue Ridge Bank & Trust Co. 4200 Little Blue Parkway Independence, MO 64057  (816) 358-5000  wesry@blueridgebank.net   Independence Chamber of Commerce **Bob Wayman – Unilever 13000 E. 35th Street Independence, MO 64055  (816) 833-1700  Robert.Wayman@unilever.com   Independence School District **Dr. Jim Hinson 3225 S. Noland Road Independence, MO 64055  (816) 521-2742  jhinson@indep.k12.mo.us   Independence School District Blake Roberson/Ira Anders 3225 S. Noland Road Independence, MO 64055  (816) 521-2742  blake.roberson.B51Y@statefarm.com aandersira@aol.com   J. E. Dunn Construction Company David Disney, Sr. 929 Holmes Kansas City, MO 64106  (816) 391-2592  david.disney@jedunn.com   King Hershey, PC **William (Bill) Moore 2345 Grand Blvd., #2100 Kansas City, MO 64108  (816) 842-3636  wmoore@kinghershey.com   M & I Bank Matthew Brown 18811 E. Valleyview Pkwy (Eastland) Independence, MO 64055  (816) 447-3114  matthew.brown@micorp.com   MD Management Jim Harpool 5201 Johnson Drive, Ste 450 Mission, KS 66205  (913) 831-2996 jharpool@mdmgt.com   Munlake Contractors, Inc. **Brian Mundy 1551 N. Courtney Road Independence, MO 64050  (816) 254-5444  bmundy@munlake.com   Space Center of Kansas City Wes Cowan 1500 W. Geospace Drive Independence, MO 64056  (816) 257-7770  wcowan@spacecenterinc.com   Summit Bank of Kansas City Greg Singleton 1650 NE Grand, Ste 100 Lee’s Summit, MO 64086  (816) 251-9000  Greg.Singleton@summitbankofkc.com                                       City of Independence Ann Smith-Tate 111 E. Maple Street Independence, MO 64050  (816) 325-7796  asmithtate@indepmo.org    Independence Chamber of Commerce Rick Hemmingsen 210 W. Truman Road Independence, MO 64050  (816) 252-4745  rhemmingsen@independencechamber.org   Jackson County Economic Development Robbie Makinen 415 E. 12th Street, 2nd Floor Kansas City, MO 64106 (816) 881-3333 rmakinen@jacksongov.org

 

 

 

Tom Lesnak, President

Office Phone: 816.463.3510

 

Tom Lesnak became president of ICED in January 2007. Lesnak is a highly qualified economic development professional with 15 years of experience and most recently served as Senior Vice President for economic development for the St. Joseph Area Chamber of Commerce where he was responsible for business retention and community development. He also established the Northwest Regional Development Alliance, an economic development program, which serves an 18 county area. Lesnak also served as City Administrator for The City of Albany, Missouri and economic development director for the City of Bethany, Missouri. He is a graduate of Northwest Missouri State University and completed an economic development program at the Economic Development Institute, University of Oklahoma.  He was recognized as the Missouri Economic Development Council "Economic Development Professional" of the year in 2004.

Lesnak serves as a member of the Missouri Small Business Development Advisory Board, IBS Industries Board of Directors, Independence Tourism Advisory Board, and has served as a member of the Kansas City Commercial Real Estate Brokers committee of the Kansas City Area Development Council. Lesnak is also a former board member of the Missouri Economic Development Council.

Lesnak resides in Independence with his wife Maggie and their son Kyle and daughter Cassandra.

 

---

 

Jodi Krantz, Director of Business Development

Office Phone: 816.463.3512

Jodi Krantz joined ICED in February 2008 and coordinates the business retention program.  Jodi has 16 years of experience working as a project manager with the Missouri Department of Economic Development.  During that time, she coordinated programs for Missouri based companies to expand operations in the state.  She was also very involved in the development of marketing programs and aided communities throughout the state with their economic development efforts to attract new industry and create employment growth.  Jodi received her designation as a Certified Economic Developer in 2000. 

 

 

---

 

Jenni Mann, Communications Manager

Office Phone: 816.252.5777

Jenni Mann joined ICED in March 2009 and prior to her current position, she served as an intern with ICED from June 2007 to August 2008.  In addition to her responsibilities as office manager, Ms. Mann also coordinates special events, marketing and communications for the organization.  She received her degree in urban planning from UMKC in May 2009.