Made in KC owners selected for Junior Achievement hall of fame alongside trio of business leaders

The entrepreneurs behind Kansas City’s local-first retail chain Made in KC have already earned their spot among some of the region’s most iconic legacy builders, Junior Achievement said Wednesday, announcing a new slate of hall of fame laureates that also includes leaders from creative, sports, and financial industries.

“These outstanding leaders have not only shaped our region through their work, but they’re also setting a powerful example for the next generation,” said Megan Sturges, president and CEO of Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City, a non-profit that prepares young people for the workforce and economic success.

For more than 25 years, Junior Achievement’s Business Hall of Fame has recognized inspirational business leaders who embody the spirit of entrepreneurism and civic engagement across the Kansas City region, she added, noting this year’s laureates continue a legacy of sharing their gifts through innovation, service, and dedication.

“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,” Sturges said.

Made in KC — helmed by Keith Bradley, Tyler Enders, and Thomas McIntyre — 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.

More than 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.

Tucker Trotter, Dimensional Innovations

Kathy Nelson, Kansas City Sports Commission, Visit KC

Marty Bicknell, Mariner

The co-owners’ fellow 2026 hall of fame laureates include:

• Tucker Trotter, CEO of Dimensional Innovations — Has helped develop Overland Park-based Dimensional Innovations into a global leader in creating immersive, technology-driven experiences for brands, teams and institutions. 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; as well as co-founding the Dimensional Innovations Foundation and Parade of Hearts.
• Kathy Nelson, president and CEO of Kansas City Sports Commission and Visit KC — 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. In 2025, she was named Kansas Citian of the Year, the latest of many accolades throughout her career.

RELATED: How the 2025 Kansas Citians of the Year proved ‘KC Made’ could compete against the world

• Marty Bicknell, president and CEO of Mariner Wealth — Has driven the strategic direction for the firm since its founding in 2006. In addition to serving as a mentor for other entrepreneurs, Bicknell has proven his commitment to the 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.

The 2026 class is expected to be formally inducted into the Business Hall of Fame later this fall at a private induction dinner, convening past laureates to celebrate their enduring legacy in the Kansas City region.

Past hall of fame honorees notably include such business leaders as Ewing Marion Kauffman, Henry Bloch, Joyce Hall, Barnett and Shirley Helzberg, Peter Mallouk, Chris and Angie Long, Chase McAnulty, and Vu Radley.

Click here to read more about the 2025 Junior Achievement hall of fame laureates.