Cretcher Heartland leaders featured on KC Business Radio KMBZ 1660 am
On the air: Steve Nicholson and Chandler Cullor in the KMBZ 1660 studio
Steve Nicholson and Chandler Cullor were the featured guests on the May 1st broadcast of Kansas City Business Secrets: Live with Rink and Marko, a regular weekly segment on KC’s all-new business radio station, KMBZ 1660 am. The show airs every Tuesday from 1:00 to 2:00 pm and is hosted by Ryan Rink and Marko Ungashick, the principles of Two West Advisors, a Cretcher Heartland partner company.
If you missed it, listen to selected audio clips here or download an MP3 of the Cretcher Heartland segment and listen at your leisure. The show is a lively, fast-moving format that we’re sure you will find entertaining!
Full May 1, 2012 Segment: Guests Steve Nicholson, CEO, and Chandler Cullor, President, Cretcher Heartland
Live with Rink and Marko: Kansas City Business Secrets on KMBZ 1660 Business Channel
Listen below, or Download the full segment (mp3: 37 minutes, 35mb)
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Audio Clip: Competing and Differentiating Steve Nicholson and Chandler Cullor discuss with Rink and Marko the competitive Kansas City marketplace, how Cretcher Heartland is different and why understanding the client’s business is critical.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Audio Clip: History, Origins and Partnership Nicholson and Cullor share the beginnings of their partnership, the company’s origins and long ties in the construction business.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Audio Clip: Cretcher Lynch-Heartland Benefits Merger Nicholson and Cullor talk about the strategic and cultural match in the 2008 Cretcher-Heartland Benefits merger and what makes a good strategic alliance for the company and its clients.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Audio Clip: Cretcher Heartland’s Vision and Future Growth Rink and Marko ask Nicholson and Cullor about their vision for the future of the company, organic growth, mergers and acquisitions, building sales and expanding operations.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Audio Clip: Recruiting and Mentoring People Nicholson and Cullor discuss how Cretcher Heartland finds, develops and retains talented and high-performing professionals.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Cretcher Heartland Helps Harvesters With “De-Canstruction”
The Cretcher Heartland "De-Canstruction" team included (left to right) Dan Williams, Karra McGreevy, Jennifer Davis and Mark Nauser
With nearly 39,000 cans of food and eleven structures, the 2012 Harvesters’ Canstruction event took some effort to build…AND take down! A team of Cretcher Heartland Associates was pleased to help out.
The CH team, led by Chairman of the Board Mark Nauser, pitched in to “de-canstruct” and quickly get this food on its way to those who desperately need it. This included removing countless pieces of duct tape, wood, cardboard and other “structural” elements that held the cans in position.
The eleven structures entered in the Harvesters’ 2012 Canstruction event translate into about 22,000 meals for the hungry. Added together, Harvesters’ Canstruction has provided more than 309,000 pounds of food—more than 237,000 meals—since its inception. Great job to everyone who participated and made this great end result possible!
Chandler Cullor named to KC’s 40 under Forty 2012
Photo from Ingram's Magazine 40 under Forty, April 2012 issue
Cretcher Heartland President Chandler Cullor has been recognized as one of Kansas City’s most influential young leaders in the Ingram’s Magazine annual 40 Under Forty feature. Now in its 14th year, 40 under Forty honors business leaders who are making significant contributions to their profession, their organization, their colleagues and their communities. (Fun fact: Cretcher Heartland CEO Steve Nicholson was a 40 Under Forty honoree in 2008!)
Congratulations, Chandler, and to all of the 40 under Forty Class of 2012!
Read the rest of the Ingram’s 40 Under Forty article on Chandler here.
Updated May 9, 2012: This photo was taken at a gala May 2nd event held at Kansas City’s beautiful Union Station. At the event, the 40 Under Forty Class of 2012 was honored and presented with a commemorative plaque…sure to be a great memento of the event, and as Chandler said, “the great people I’ve had the opportunity to meet because of this award.”
Chandler Cullor at the Ingram's magazine "40 under Forty" event held May 2 at Union Station.
Cretcher Heartland is a finalist for Kansas City’s 2012 Small Business of the Year
Thanks to our great staff, clients, leaders and partners, Cretcher Heartland has been named as a top ten finalist for the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce 2012 Small Business of the Year. (See below for the Chamber’s full press release.)
Steve Nicholson, left, and Chandler Cullor, right, at the March, 2012 Business After Hours Small Business Candidate Showcase
This is exciting news and an important milestone for us. We’re grateful to all of our clients who have trusted us with their business, and to the many Cretcher Heartland associates who have worked so hard to support our growth and goals. You have made this possible!
We look forward to the finale event on Wednesday, May 23rd, when the finalists will be honored and the “Mr. K” Award for the Small Business of the Year will be announced. (The venue is the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center. Small Business Celebration overall event sponsors are the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, and the media sponsors are The Kansas City Star and News Radio 980 KMBZ. There’s more information about the Small Business Celebration at www.kcchamber.com.)
Steve Nicholson, CEO
Chandler Cullor, President
As announced by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce:
THE 2012 TOP 10 SMALL BUSINESSES ARE…
Companies from all over the Greater Kansas City region have submitted applications for the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s 26th Annual Small Business of the Year award, and the judges have narrowed the candidates down to the Top 10.
This year’s honorees are:
- Arsalon Technologies, LLC; Lenexa, Kansas; Provides enterprise class hosting solutions including co-location, dedicated server, virtual server, and managed services.
- Boulevard Brewing Co.; Kansas City, Missouri; Largest specialty brewer in the Midwest.
- Cretcher Heartland, LLC; Overland Park, Kansas; Insurance and employee benefits consultants.
- encompas; Kansas City, Missouri; Provides design-forward office furniture and office workplace products.
- John Beal Construction, Inc.; Kansas City, Missouri; Home improvement company specializing in construction and roofing.
- Meers Advertising; Kansas City, Missouri; Full-service digital marketing/advertising agency.
- sys-tek; Blue Springs, Missouri; Offers mechanical, electrical, plumbing consulting engineer and commissioning services.
- Travois Holdings; Kansas City, Missouri; American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian housing and economic development financing firm.
- TK Architects, Inc.; Kansas City, Missouri; Worldwide theatre design company.
- Validity Screening Solutions; Overland Park, Kansas; Provides employment screening and drug testing.
Old Republic Surety: Our 2011 Surety Partner of the Year
Cretcher Heartland is pleased to announce that Old Republic Surety Company has been awarded their 2011 Surety Partner of the Year Award. A presentation of the award took place in Cretcher Heartland’s Overland Park offices on February 8, 2012.
The Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based company, with local offices in Overland Park, has received the honor for the second consecutive year. In addition to premium writing and growth, Cretcher Heartland associates and clients cite Old Republic Surety’s overall high service levels, strong relationships, responsiveness, professionalism, staff continuity and commercial surety support as factors leading to the 2011 distinction.
Erle Benton, Cretcher Heartland Bond Manager, said, “We are fortunate to have great relationships and exceptional service from all of our key surety partners, but during the last two years, Old Republic Surety has continued to exceed our expectations. Day after day, they provide the very best level of service we could ask for.”
Cretcher Heartland’s Surety Partner of the Year award was established in 2007 and past winners include Zurich N.A., CNA Surety/Western Surety, United Fire & Casualty Company, and Merchants Bonding Company.
Congratulations to Old Republic Surety, and to everyone on their high-performing service team!
L to R: Margaret Carey, ORSC Commercial Surety Manager; Mike Sanders, ORSC Vice President; Sam Perschau, ORSC General Manager–Midwest Region; Gerry Leach, ORSC President; Erle Benton, CH Bond Manager; Omar Guerra, ORSC Kansas City Bond Manager
A custom-fit program for your business: Initial and ongoing needs analysis and risk assessments for your total business operations
A process that matches you with the markets best suited to support your business goals. (And we've got ready access to hundreds of top-quality carriers.)
A specific written service plan with set checkpoints and ongoing progress reports, all year long.
A full suite of specialized services, including expert claims management, advanced certificate management, global markets, innovative risk solutions, and more.
Quality, character and ethics are the bedrock of our company, and we prove it by committing to the CH Associates Pledge. Every single one of us.