KANSAS CITY, Kan. (May 20, 2026) – Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City (JAKC) announced today the six distinguished leaders selected as the 2026 laureates of the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame.
Since 2001, the JA Business Hall of Fame has recognized inspirational business leaders who embody the spirit of entrepreneurism and civic engagement across the Kansas City region. This year’s laureates continue a legacy of sharing their gifts through innovation, service, and dedication.
“We are honored to welcome this new class of laureates as we celebrate the 26th year of the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame,” said Megan Sturges, President and CEO of JAKC. “These outstanding leaders have not only shaped our region through their work, but they’re also setting a powerful example for the next generation. Their stories show the thousands of students we serve each year what’s possible, inspiring them to chase their passions and become the positive change they envision for their communities.”
The 2026 JA Business Hall of Fame laureates are:
Marty Bicknell, President & CEO of Mariner
As the CEO and president of Mariner, Bicknell drives the strategic direction for the firm. As a recognized leader in wealth management, he devises innovative solutions to help meet the needs of his clients. He has extensive experience with family businesses and their unique complexities, and he often serves as a mentor for other entrepreneurs. Bicknell, along with seven colleagues, founded Mariner in 2006 with the goal of keeping the client at the center of all they do. Bicknell is a leader in the Kansas City community through his charitable and philanthropic efforts, championing nonprofits that promote opportunities for youth, including Halo, City Year, Junior Achievement, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. He also advocates for organizations that produce progress and advancement of the community, such as GreenLight Fund and Center for Financial Planning.
Kathy Nelson, President & CEO of Kansas City Sports Commission and Visit KC
A native Kansas Citian, Kathy Nelson serves as President & CEO of the Kansas City Sports Commission and Visit KC. She has guided collaborative efforts to secure and facilitate some of the most high-profile events in Kansas City’s history, most recently leading the successful endeavor to establish Kansas City as a FIFA World Cup 2026™ host city. Nelson has held board or advisory leadership roles for the Sports Events & Tourism Association, U.S. Travel Association and Destinations International. In 2025, she was named Kansas Citian of the Year, the latest of many accolades throughout her career.
Tucker Trotter, CEO of Dimensional Innovations
For more than 30 years, Tucker Trotter has helped develop Dimensional Innovations to be nationally recognized for creating immersive, technology-driven experiences for brands, teams and institutions around the globe. The employee-owned firm is based in Overland Park, Kansas, specializing in experience design, build, and technology. Most recently, Trotter co-founded Atlas9, an immersive destination in Kansas City, Kansas that transforms a fictional 1990s movie theater into a cinematic universe of installations and live performances. Trotter is known for turning complex client goals into remarkable experiences, with work including the Kansas City Public Library’s giant book façade, David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, University of Kansas Welcome Center, and more. A multiple patent holder, serial entrepreneur and community advocate, Tucker co-founded the Dimensional Innovations Foundation and Parade of Hearts. He serves as the Co-Chair of the University of Kansas School of Architecture & Design Board, reflecting his commitment to the next generation of designers and creative leaders. Additionally, Trotter co-authored “Go Big or Go Home” with Diana Kander.
Co-Founders of Made in KC
Keith Bradley
A Made in KC Co-Founder and current Co-Owner, Keith Bradley and his business partners have been active in growing and celebrating Kansas City’s artisan and maker community by giving them a robust platform for selling local goods over the last 11 years. Bradley is passionate about all things Kansas City, including its civic and nonprofit communities. He is a Kansas City Tomorrow Alum and currently serves on the board of both Jackson County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) and Habitat For Humanity. Bradley is married with four kids and resides in Kansas City’s Brookside neighborhood.
Tyler Enders
Tyler Enders is a Co-Founder and current Co-Owner of Made in KC, which launched in 2015 as a pop-up and now collaborates with more than 250 local artists, makers, and small business owners at a dozen locations throughout the metropolitan area, including the airport. Over 90 cents of every dollar spent at Made in KC is directly recirculated back into the local economy. Other concepts he helped create under the Made in KC umbrella include local independent bookstore Rainy Day Books, the Front Range Cafes, and Outta the Blue Cafe. Enders grew up in the KC metro, graduated from the University of Kansas, and currently resides in the Plaza neighborhood. He serves as a city planning commissioner and a municipal arts commissioner for Kansas City, Missouri. He sits on the board for the Plaza District Council, KCT Alumni Association, and Visit KC. Enders was named a 2022 Champion of Business and a 2021 NextGen Leader by the Kansas City Business Journal.
Thomas McIntyre
Truman State University graduate Thomas McIntyre began his entrepreneurial journey in high school, launching his first business detailing cars. In 2011, he earned his master’s degree in accounting before beginning his career as a certified public accountant with BKD LLP, where he worked from 2011 to 2014. McIntyre co-founded Made in KC in 2015, helping to advance the brand until he became CEO of Sandlot Goods in 2022, where he leads the company’s continued growth in American-made apparel and accessories. Outside of work, he is the proud father of three children, Tucker, Maggie, and Charlie, and is married to Jessica McIntyre.
The 2026 cohort joins a league of exceptional individuals, including Peter Mallouk, Barnett & Shirley Helzberg, Henry Bloch, Joyce Hall, Ewing Marion Kauffman, Chris and Angie Long, Lisa Ginter, Tyler Nottberg, Chase McAnulty, Vu Radley, and more.
The 2026 class will be formally inducted later this fall at a private induction dinner, convening past laureates to celebrate their enduring legacy in the Kansas City region.
For full laureate bios and headshots, please email JAKC.
About Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City:
Since 1955, Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City (JAKC) has partnered with school districts, employers, and community leaders to impact more than 925,000 students across the region, connecting classroom learning to authentic, relevant experiences. As the region’s leading provider of experiential, career-connected learning, JAKC addresses the root causes that limit educational attainment and workforce access, including student disengagement, lack of relevance, and inequitable exposure to careers and financial knowledge. Guided by a long-term strategic vision focused on scale, sustainability, and systems change, JAKC deploys a continuum of proven solutions that equip young people with the skills, mindsets, and credentials needed for postsecondary success and meaningful employment to shift trajectories, strengthen the regional talent pipeline, and advance economic mobility for generations to come. Learn more at jagkc.org.