William F. Lawson, Regional Director
104 West 9th Street, Suite 10
Kansas City, MO 64105
Tel:
(816) 842-1778
Mobile: (913) 488-4549
wlawson@bens.org
Introduction
"On behalf of the members of Business Executives for National Security in Kansas City, we cordially invite you to consider joining us in support of the 'Business Voice' for national security.
"BENS Midwest represents and supports a bipartisan membership of over 60 business leaders and executives. Kansas City members are dedicated to expanding BENS' uniqueness by serving on "citizen oversight" for preservation and protection of our national security apparatus. We have become actively involved in Kansas City by integrating the BENS business component in Homeland Security coordination at the local, state, and federal levels."
Landon H. Rowland,
Chairman, Business Executives for National Security
Kansas City
If you have questions or would like additional information of any kind, contact William F. Lawson at 816-842-1778 or wlawson@bens.org.
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Regional Executive Committee
Mr. Landon H. Rowland *
Chairman, President & CEO, Everglades Financial
Mr. Thomas H. Holcom*
President & CEO, Pioneer Financial Services
Mr. David G. Beaham *
Prisident & CEO, Faultless Starch - Bon Ami Company
Mr. Stephen Dees
Attorney-at-Law, Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP
Ms. Cathleen Dodson Macauley
Chairman, Dodson Holding Group
*Also a member of the BENS Board of Directors
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MidAmerica Regional Council - Homeland Security Coordinating Council
The Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) is an association of city and county governments and is the metropolitan planning organization for the bistate Kansas City region. Through MARC's leadership, area jurisdictions and diverse community interests address the region's problems and identify the opportunities for cooperative solutions. BENS is a partnership leader with MARC and is the only business organization that participates on the Homeland Security Coordinating Council to address regional solutions to terrorist threats. Within MARC, BENS has created a Business Preparedness and Response Committee to involve the private sector in addressing homeland security issues that are of interest to businesses.
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Command and General Staff College Industry Partnership Program
A tremendous success story for BENS-Kansas City, the Industry Partnership Program has been the model program with the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC). This program continues our efforts of membership engagement between the civilian and military communities of Kansas City. Under the CGSC-Industry Partnership Program, a student team of U.S. and Allied officers select an Independent Research Project under the direction of a college advisor and the sponsoring Business Leader. Each project has a real-world research focus defined by the company. The student team works within the company and learns about corporate operations while producing a scholarly paper or monograph. The companies provide the leadership to train and coach the young officers. Participating companies have included Kansas City Southern, TRW/Northrop Grumman, Armed Forces Bank, Faultless Starch, and The Dodson Group. This program benefits the students, participating companies, and most certainly BENS.
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Committees
Kansas City members are dedicated to expanding BENS' mission by serving as “citizen oversight” for preservation and protection of our national security apparatus. We have become actively involved in Kansas City by integrating the BENS business component in Homeland Security coordination at local, and state levels. We have continued to build a strong regional presence, and concentrated on strengthening our senior membership involvement. Specific committees that BENS actively participates in include:
- Infragard/FBI Infrastructure Security Committee
- United States Attorneys Anti-Terrorism Advisory Committee (ATAC) for Western District of Missouri and Eastern District of Kansas
- MARC Regional Homeland Security Coordinating Council
- Senator Roberts State Advisory Committee on Science and Technology. Chair, Homeland Security Task Force
- Partnership with State of Missouri on Homeland Security
- Partnership with State of Kansas on Homeland Security
- Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region VII, Regional Interagency Steering Committee
- Missouri State Citizen’s Corps Advisory Committee
- FBI – Kansas City Citizens Academy
Past Speakers
Former U.S. Comptroller General David Walker
Missouri Governor Bob Holden
General Ralph Eberhart
General Richard Myers
For a recap, see "Generally Speaking" in the May 2004 BENS Update.
Congressman Ike Skelton
See May 2009 BENS Update and February 2004 BENS Update
General Charles Boyd (ret), President and CEO of BENS
Lieutenant General Scott Wallace
Dr. Jamie Metzl
Kansas Homeland Security Conference, supported by BENS Kansas City
Congressman Dennis Moore
Senator Pat Roberts
VIP Visit To Fort Leavenworth
Ambassador David Lambertson
Rebecca Grant
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