UMKC Entrepreneur of the Year: How Populous designed a legacy, built to go global

Kansas City-built design firm Populous brought to reality more than just great venues, Tom Bloch shared; it developed great experiences for a worldwide audience.

Dennis Wellner, Populous, speaks on behalf the Populous founding team after being honored with the Henry W. Bloch International Entrepreneur of the Year award; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

“From its start here in Kansas City as HOK Sport in 1983 until now, Populous has set an unmatched standard for stadiums, convention centers, and event spaces,” Bloch told the crowd Thursday night at the 38th University of Missouri-Kansas City Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. “This team has mastered the art of design in a way that goes beyond architecture and engineering, they create places where people come together and make memories that last a lifetime.”

The founders of Populous — represented by Chris Carver, Ron Labinski (posthumously), Earl Santee, Joe Spear, and Dennis Wellner — received the Henry W. Bloch International Entrepreneurs of the Year award at the event and were inducted into UMKC’s Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. 

Winners of this global impact award have not only built a company but have transformed their industry and significantly contributed to the economic and cultural development of many throughout the world, according to the university.

“I don’t think we envisioned this,” said Wellner, who spoke on behalf of the founders, including Lee Labinski, who represented her late husband. “I don’t think it was a goal, objective, or anything else. But seeing what has been reflected about us and our clients is tremendously rewarding.”

Click here to explore Populous’ portfolio of work across the globe.

Also during the event, McCownGordon Construction co-founders Pat McCown and Brett Gordon were named the Kansas City Entrepreneurs of the Year and inducted into the Entrepreneur Hall of Fame; Pawsperity founder and CEO Natasha Herdman received the Marion and John Kreamer Award for Social Entrepreneurship; and Grace Kertz was named the Student Entrepreneur of the Year.

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“All of our honorees embody an inspiring combination of creativity, resilience, and impact,” explained Brian Klaas, dean of the Bloch school at UMKC. “Populous is transforming how the world experiences sport and entertainment. McCownGordon Construction has built some of Kansas City’s most iconic spaces, and Natasha Herdman of Pawperity is creating life-changing experiences for program participants. These are ventures that are shaping lives and transforming communities.”

McCownGordon founders Brett Gordon and Pat McCown speak after being honored as UMKC's Kansas City Entrepreneurs of the Year and
Bloch Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame Inductees; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Natasha Herdman, founder and CEO of Pawsperity, speaks after being named winner of UMKC's Marion and John Kreamer Award for Social Entrepreneurship; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Grace Kertz, Sensory Sync, speaks from the spotlight at the Copaken Stage at H&R Block World Headquarters after being named UMKC's Student Entrepreneur of the Year; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

UMKC Chancellor C. Mauli Agrawal speaks during the 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards at Copaken Stage at H&R Block World Headquarters; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

“Each one of them demonstrates the power of translating vision into reality, no matter the challenges,” added UMKC Chancellor C. Mauli Agrawal.

Populous — with 30 offices globally — is known for its hand in creating iconic spaces like the Las Vegas Sphere, London’s Wembley Stadium, Lusail Stadium in Qatar, plus, locally, Children’s Mercy Park and the modernizations of Kauffman and Arrowhead Stadiums.

“The team has redefined how fans feel, see, and connect within these spaces,” noted Tom Bloch, son of Henry Bloch and former CEO of H&R Block. “They make sure that every detail — from sight lines to soundscapes — enriches the experience, pulling people together in ways that resonate long after the event is over. It’s a commitment to innovation and it’s a commitment to excellence.”

ICYMI: This urban designer from Populous pioneered the modern MLB stadium (and he has the bats to prove it)

When the founders started, Wellner said, they shared backgrounds in architecture and an idea for what interested them most.

“So how do you bring architecture to what many considered just structural solutions to hosting sporting events?” he continued. “We wanted to bring more to it than that. Joe (Spear) had done a minor league ballpark facility in Buffalo, New York, and sort of set the tone for how we might look at these buildings, from circular multi-purpose stadiums to something that was more unique.”

Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs; image courtesy of Populous

Populous and its predecessors have long been involved with architecture at Arrowhead Stadium, going back to the original construction of the stadium in 1972, shared Clark Hunt — chairman and CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs — in a video tribute to the design firm. His father — Lamar Hunt, the late Chiefs owner  — had a special relationship with Populous co-founder Ron Labinski.

“Back in the late 1960s when the process started for the construction of Arrowhead, my dad had a real specific vision for what he was looking for,” Clark Hunt explained. “First of all, it would be a football-only stadium, which was one of the first in that regard. But he wanted a place that would be special from an architectural standpoint and also from a fan experience standpoint and Ron was really able to bring that vision to life.”

“So it was only natural that when we got to the major renovation of the stadium, that we would select Populous,” he added.

Click here to learn more about Populous’ role in the 2010 Arrowhead renovation.

Members of the Populous founding team are honored with the Henry W. Bloch International Entrepreneur of the Year award during the 2024 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards at Copaken Stage at H&R Block World Headquarters; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

For the Populous co-founders, it was always about the work, noted Wellner, known for his design of NFL stadiums.

“It was always about showing up every day and doing your best,” he said. “And over time, I think that continued to drive us through all of the projects we did.”

Click here to see examples of Populous’ work with NFL stadiums.