Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City (JAKC) is proud to announce the 2025 class of laureates for the 25th Annual JA Business Hall of Fame, marking a significant milestone in celebrating Kansas City’s most inspiring business leaders.
For a quarter of a century, this event has honored business leaders and entrepreneurs who exemplify leadership, visionary thinking, integrity and a deep commitment to community involvement. This year’s laureates continue this legacy, sharing their gifts through philanthropy, service, and dedication to the region’s economic growth and vitality.
This year’s class of laureates joins a league of outstanding individuals, including Peter Mallouk, Barnett & Shirley Helzberg, Henry Bloch, Joyce Hall, Ewing Marion Kauffman, Chris and Angie Long, Lisa Ginter, Tyler Nottberg, Vu Radley, and many others.
Visit the 2025 JAKC Business Hall of Fame event page to learn more about how to become a sponsor for this event, purchase tickets, or sign up for volunteer opportunities.
Wiley Curran, CPC
Wiley Curran is a Principal and co-founder of CPC. Prior to forming CPC, he led the asset consolidation of the Curran family umbrella of businesses, creating Curran Companies, a family office with a buy, build, and hold strategy. As President, Wiley has led Curran Companies in investments in 14 businesses in a variety of different industries. Today, these businesses employ nearly 3,000 people across the US and touch industries, including aerospace, manufacturing, industrial field services, and professional sports. Wiley serves on the boards of Clore Automotive, Brado, Airshare, Pearce Services, Precision Aerospace, Studentreasures, and Heartland Fasteners.
Wiley graduated from Miami University of Ohio and earned a MBA from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University in Texas.
He now lives in Kansas City with his wife, Caroline, and two children, Freya and Smith. Wiley’s an avid (but average) golfer and runner, and a huge rescue dog lover (Grace and Grover).
Dave Johnson, Chicken N Pickle
David L. Johnson is a lifelong Kansas Citian and a 1978 graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia. Upon graduation, he joined the international accounting firm of Arthur Andersen where he served as tax manager, specializing in structuring real estate transactions for clients, and was a member of the firm’s national real estate team.
In 1988, Johnson left to pursue a career in the acquisition and management of commercial and multi-family real estate projects. Since its inception in 1988, Johnson has served as Chairman of Maxus Realty Trust, Inc. a real estate investment trust that engages in the acquisition, investment, ownership, development, and lease of real estate properties. Its portfolio includes approximately 12,500 apartment units and 1.2M+ square feet of retail and commercial properties. Johnson has served as a Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer since 2004, and is a licensed real estate broker and a certified public accountant in the state of Missouri.
In 2016, Johnson founded Chicken N Pickle, a family-friendly sports and games venue with a casual, chef-driven restaurant, bar with craft cocktails and local brews, pickleball courts and indoor/outdoor games for all ages and abilities in an atmosphere that fosters fun, friendship and community. Chicken N Pickle currently operates 10 locations across Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Arizona. Three additional locations are under construction, and a public commitment to a total of 16 stores has been made. Chicken N Pickle employs more than 2,000 team members. Staying true to its tagline, Our Hearts Are Local, the company has worked with more than 5,000 local charitable organizations and has donated over $5 million through give-backs, in-kind donations and meals provided to those in need.
Under Johnson’s leadership, Chicken N Pickle was inducted into the Kansas City Business Journal’s Hall of Champions, an honor bestowed upon organizations that are three-time finalists for the Champions of Business award. He was the 2022 recipient of the coveted Mr. K Small Business of the Year Award, an annual honor granted by the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and named for entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Kauffman. Other awards for Johnson and the growing concept have included Breakout Retailer of the Year (2024), Journal Record Beacon Award-Oklahoma City (2021, 2022), and the Marion and John Kreamer Award for Social Entrepreneurship (2023), among others.
Johnson has served on the Boards of numerous local organizations, including the Kansas City Crime Commission, University of Missouri’s Trulaske Business School Dean’s Advisory, Verimore Bank, and the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.
Lenora Payne, Technology Group Solutions
Lenora Payne established Technology Group Solutions, LLC (TGS) in 2005, based on her belief in providing a full spectrum of information technology infrastructure solutions with integrity, honesty, dependability, and a customer-centric philosophy.
Lenora began her career in IT over 35 years ago in the work processing data equipment field. Her background includes operations management, employee training, sales support, and human resources. Prior to her founding TGS, Lenora held positions at GE Capital Information Technology Solutions, MicroAge Computer Center, and other IT resellers, in various senior positions.
TGS provides superior customer service and unmatched value due in part to their strong relationships and strategic partnerships. Under Lenora’s leadership, TGS has been recognized and has received many consecutive awards.
- Top Women Owned Business
- 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies World-Wide
- Top Area Minority-Owned Business,
- Fastest-Growing Area Business
- Top Small Business
- Entrepreneur of the Year
- Women Executives-Kansas City
- Diverse Small Business of the Year
- Supplier of Year
- MBE Supplier of the Year
- Kansas Woman-Business
- 25 Under 25
Lenora is a member of the KCBJ Women Who Mean Business, class of 2021. She attended the Kellogg School of Management, Kauffman FastTrac Growth Venture and has received multiple sales and technical certifications in the field of information technology.
Lenora and her Team at TGS infuse their work with a sense of respect for themselves, their clients, and the community around them.
Jose Luis Valdez, Palacana
Jose Luis Valdez is the Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Palacana along with his wife Lucia Fonseca. They are Mexican immigrants who came to this country seeking a better lifestyle and this is their story.
It all began in the Summer of 2004, when Jose and his family decided to open an ice cream shop and start this dream in the historic Westside in Kansas City with a unique concept of artisan ice cream in the style of Michoacán.
Palacana, formerly Paleterias Tropicana, didn’t stop there! In addition to authentic ice cream and popsicles, Palacana now offers a food menu.
Today they have six locations located in Kansas City, KS; Kansas City, MO; Olathe, KS; Independence, MO; and Wichita, KS. In addition, they operate their own factory where they make ice cream and popsicles with the highest quality controls to ensure their freshness and quality.
Palacana has been recognized by the community on numerous occasions for its contributions to non-profit organizations, schools, and churches.
Since 2023, they have had the opportunity to work with the Kansas City Royals and have a concession stand within Kauffman Stadium offering their products. Jose and his family are truly happy to continue working on this dream, but they are also very proud to be the first Latino franchise in the city of Kansas to have great collaborations with organizations like the Royals.
Palacana remains committed to making their ice cream with the best available ingredients using traditional recipes and always keeping their products fresh and enjoyable.