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Joe Greene is a true marketing heavyweight whose career spans both the client and agency worlds. From launching groundbreaking mortgage campaigns at Dreyfus to helping American Express dig out of a $300 million-hole, Joe has been at the center of some of marketing’s biggest challenges and boldest transformations. And when he landed in Kansas City, he brought that same vision and precision to American Century Investments, where he built out powerful, data-driven strategies.

What sets Joe apart is his rare ability to merge analytical precision with creative thinking — always with the customer front and center. Joe was a pioneer and early champion of data-driven marketing. He will talk about what it takes to lead lasting change in large organizations, and the lessons he's learned crossing the bridge between agency life and corporate leadership.

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Today, we’ll hear the inspiring journey of Siobhan Lesley — one of the forces behind the success of Valentine Radford, one of Kansas City’s legendary agencies, where she rose all the way to President. Siobhan’s story is rooted in leadership, purpose, and a deep passion for people. We’ll dive into her work on iconic accounts like Pizza Hut, and how that path eventually led her to another great KC agency — Walz Tetrick — followed by her move to Gilda’s Club, a lifeline for those impacted by cancer. And if you’ve ever wondered whether this wild industry is the right fit for you, stick around — Siobhan shares a piece of advice that just might help you figure it out.

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From the cockpit to the boardroom, Al Eidson’s career is a masterclass in leadership and reinvention. He started out flying C-141 cargo planes across the Pacific in the Air Force, then moved into the corporate world at Procter & Gamble, helping launch new products. Eventually, he brought it all together — co-founding agencies like Eidson Spear and Eidson & Partners, where he blended his military mindset with a sharp eye for business. In our conversation, Al talks about how his time in the Air Force shaped the way he leads, solves problems, and builds teams.

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Season Two kicks off with the trailblazing Ann Willoughby, founder of Willoughby Design. Her story begins in the aisles of a small department store in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where she sketched fashion illustrations that would mark the start of a remarkable career.

After relocating to Kansas City, Ann didn’t just launch a design firm—she built a creative powerhouse and became a pioneer for women entrepreneurs in an era when even opening a bank account required a male co-signer. In this episode, Ann reflects on the uphill climb of securing clients, building a business against the odds, and the deeper purpose at the heart of design.

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Welcome to Season Two of Kansas City Marketing Legends!

After the incredible energy and inspiring conversations of Season One, we knew we had to come back for more. This season, we’re diving even deeper into the stories and insights of the people who have helped make Kansas City a marketing powerhouse.

A special shoutout to our friends at Evolution Audio — we’re thrilled to have recorded every episode live in their studios. Big thanks as well to Springboard Creative for making us look sharp, and to our other amazing sponsors, the Kansas City Ad Club and Greater Kansas City PRSA, for their continued support. So sit back and listen to the people who made the marketing magic happen in Kansas City.

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As they say, it's a wrap! Season One of Kansas City Marketing Legends is in the books. We are extremely grateful to all of you who have listened to our conversations with the legends of Season One and look forward to offering up more legends when we launch Season Two in early 2025.

This final episode of our first season gives us a chance to remember some of the high points of our first season and provide you with a glimpse of a few of our Season Two legends.

As always, a loud shout out to our sponsors, evolution Audio, Springboard Creative, The Kansas City Ad Club and Greater KC PRSA. And a big thanks to all of you who are enjoying our podcast. Enjoy this final episode of Season One of the Kansas City Marketing Legends!

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Becky Blades is the ultimate startist. Her second book is titled Start More Than You Can Finish. That certainly describes Becky to a tee.

As you will hear into this episode of Kansas City Marketing Legends, Becky not only started a lot of things, but she finished a few as well. And how well she did finish. But as you will hear, after starting her own PR Firm and then deciding to sell it, Becky was only beginning to become a true legend in Kansas City and beyond.

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So, three ad guys are sitting around in one of their homes one summer talking about how to create a new approach in the marketing business. No this is not the start of a joke. It’s exactly how the world’s largest agency was born right here in Kansas City.

Scott McCormick and his founding partners, John Valentine, and Craig Ligabel, left one firm in Kansas City and started what they hoped would be an early adaptation of a virtual agency with maybe 25 employees and lots of contractors. On this episode of Kansas City Marketing Legends, Scott will tell us why that plan didn’t quite work out the way they envisioned. Instead, that agency, VML, is a global powerhouse that turned Kansas City’s original downtown airport into their world headquarters.

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