23 KCRAR REALTORS® graduated Wednesday from the University of Missouri Kansas City REALTOR® Leadership Academy, a seven-month program where students studied advanced industry principles, leadership development and business management practices.
Students in the program worked on team-based assignments throughout the term, and on Wednesday, the teams presented their capstone projects. Each team project explored a different topic, from wealth and equity in homeownership to artificial intelligence in real estate and more.
“The marketing and communication skills I gained will be particularly valuable for my business growth and interactions with clients and colleagues,” said Marian Coast, 2025 graduate. “As an independent REALTOR®, I don’t often collaborate on group projects, so the capstone project was eye-opening. It required give-and-take, and I learned to appreciate different perspectives.”
This year’s UMKC REALTOR® Leadership Academy graduates are:
- Calista Barham
- George Barth
- Jasmine Benibo
- Katie Billups
- Shelee Brim
- Marian Coast
- Tracy Coughlin
- Naudia Fields
- Crystal Gatewood
- Jourdan Gundersen
- Angela Harvey
- Ram Lakkireddy
- Maureen Mitchell
- Wendy Morris
- Cortney Myers
- Humphrey Nzoka
- Ntichelle Oliver
- Melissa Phillips
- Jameilla Robinson
- Doug Shafer
- Carol Tran Reynolds
- James Watts
- Angel Williams
The UMKC REALTOR® Leadership Academy is a program designed by the UMKC Henry W. Bloch School of Management in partnership with KCRAR specifically for REALTORS® to gain new skills and knowledge specific to the business of real estate. Each graduate of the UMKC REALTOR® Leadership Academy earns alumni status at the Henry W. Bloch School of Management.
Applications are currently open for the 2025-2026 UMKC REALTOR® Leadership Academy session at kcrar.com/leadershipacademy. Prospective students who would like to learn more about the program can register to attend an informational luncheon on June 10.
