inducted 2011

E. Frank Ellis is Founder, Chairman and CEO of Swope Health Services, Swope Community Builders, Applied Urban Research Institute, and Swope Community Enterprises.  Founded FirstGuard in 1996 with an investment of $5 million and grew to annual revenue of over $250 million.  Sold FirstGuard to Centene Corporation, December 2004 for $123 million.

He received local and national recognition for his impact as a social entrepreneur—effectively applying business principles and practices to address the total health and economic well being of the indigent and working poor.  He has successfully fostered public-private partnerships resulting in investments in some of Kansas City’s most blighted and depressed neighborhoods, transforming them with new housing, office, and retail space, resulting in new jobs, social services, economic growth, and a restored sense of pride.

E. Frank Ellis serves on the boards of the Heart of America Boy Scouts, United Missouri Bank, Rockhurst University, UMKC Trustees, Midwest Research Institute Board of Trustees and is the 2012 Chair of the Board for Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.  He is a former Chairman of the Board of Brush Creek Community Partners.

He graduated from the University of Michigan with a Master of Science degree in Public Health, and has performed postgraduate work at Harvard University School of Business.

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