Andrea Chase  
In a legal specialty where outcomes often hinge on navigating complexity under pressure, Andrea Chase has built her reputation on bringing clarity to moments that rarely offer it. Her work in bankruptcy and insolvency law places her at the center of high-stakes financial restructurings, where businesses, creditors and communities are all affected by the path forward. At the Spencer Fane law firm, she has emerged as a trusted adviser in those environments, helping clients find resolution in situations that can stretch for years. One such case involved water and wastewater facilities that had remained in receivership for more than a decade; Chase helped develop a strategy that ultimately led to a successful sale and long-awaited stability. That ability to pair technical precision with practical problem-solving has defined her rise within the firm, where she became one of the youngest partners in its history after earning that role in 2022, at just 34. “I help clients maximize recoveries to achieve business needs and goals, frequently during stressful and challenging circumstances,” she says. The work requires not just legal expertise, but patience and perspective—qualities she traces back to her upbringing on a South Dakota dairy farm, where long hours and shared responsibility were constants. Today, she and her husband, Nathan, are raising two children, Lydia and Isaiah, and she views that balance as central to the way she approaches both leadership and life. Whether in the courtroom or in the community, Chase’s work reflects a steady commitment to outcomes that endure. 

Ryan Humphrey
Ryan Humphrey, 39, measures success less by individual milestones than by the strength of the teams he helps build. As senior vice president and manager of corporate banking for BOK Financial—with more than $53 billion, one of the region’s biggest banks—he has led his group through a period of significant expansion, including record performance in 2023 and continued growth across Kansas and Missouri. But ask him what stands out, and the answer shifts quickly: “What I am most proud of…is the success of my team.” That perspective has shaped both his leadership style and his career trajectory, which began in an analyst role and evolved into managing complex client relationships and, ultimately, leading the team responsible for them. His connection to the Kansas City community runs just as deep. Humphrey has been involved with the YMCA of Greater Kansas City since 2016, rising to board member and treasurer, where he has helped guide financial strategies that support long-term sustainability. “Healthy individuals create healthy communities and healthy workplaces,” he says, a belief that ties directly to both his civic work and his approach to leadership. At home, that same philosophy plays out in a different setting. He and his wife, Leah, are raising two young daughters, Iva and Faye, and he describes his role as a “girl dad” as both grounding and energizing. Whether at the park, traveling, or simply present for everyday moments with them, those experiences reinforce a broader perspective—one that informs the way he leads, invests his time, and defines impact both inside and outside the office

Tim Ockinga
For Tim Ockinga, the built environment is more than a collection of projects—it’s a long-term investment in the communities those projects serve. Over the course of his career with JE Dunn Construction, Kansas City’s biggest hometown general contractor, he has contributed to more than $1 billion in projects across the region, ranging from schools and civic buildings to large-scale residential developments. Most recently, as a project executive, he helped secure and lead a $500 million corporate project, reflecting both the scale of his work and the trust placed in his leadership. But Ockinga is quick to shift the focus away from numbers alone. “Those numbers matter, but what matters more is knowing these projects will serve our community for generations,” he says, emphasizing the lasting impact of the work. Inside the company, he has taken on a mentorship role, guiding teams and helping refine processes that improve consistency and performance across complex builds. His involvement as a senior sponsor for the firm’s young professionals group reflects a commitment to developing future leaders. At 39, Ockinga balances those responsibilities with a deeply rooted family life alongside his wife, Abbey, and their three children, Jacob, Elsie and Mabel. Much of his time outside of work is spent coaching youth sports and serving in his church, where he teaches and mentors young people. Those roles mirror his professional approach: investing in others, building strong foundations and focusing on outcomes that extend well beyond the present moment

Casey Rhoads

Growth in health care can be measured in numbers, but for Casey Rhoads, it is ultimately defined by trust. As co-owner of Honey Bee Pediatric Dental Co., she has helped build a practice that combines rapid expansion with a deeply personal approach to care. Since launching in 2022, the business has grown from a single location into three practices across the Kansas City area, supported by a team of more than 40 professionals and continuing to expand. The numbers reflect that trajectory: from treating 5,800 patients in its first year to more than 12,000 by year three, with production roughly doubling, and on track for an other 20 percent pop this year. But Rhoads is quick to emphasize what sits beneath that growth. “Transparency, trustworthiness, and individualized care remain the foundation of how we serve families,” she says, describing a philosophy shaped in part by her training at Memphis-based St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and her academic achievements, including graduating at the top of her class. Her work extends beyond the practice into community service, where she and her team regularly close the office to volunteer with local organizations, reinforcing a culture built on giving back. At 37, she and her husband, R.J., are raising three young children—Ryann, Trey and Ty—and she describes family as the foundation that informs every decision she makes. Whether expanding a business or caring for patients, her leadership reflects a consistent priority: creating environments where people feel seen, supported and valued