In honor of International Women’s Day on March 8, we speak to some of the visionaries shaping Kansas City’s design future.
Words
Jen Moore
@misses.moore
n high school, few of us females saw builder or architect listed on the career-day poster as real options for us. Maybe teacher, nurse, accountant—but rarely contractor or designer of record.
That’s changing: Across Kansas City, women are not only entering the design–build industry, they’re running it.
From concept to construction, women now lead firms, manage multi-million-dollar projects, and redefine craftsmanship through empathy, collaboration, and curiosity. We make up nearly 11% of the construction workforce and 27% of licensed architects, a record high. Among new architects, almost 43% are women—proof that the pipeline is finally widening. But numbers tell only part of the story. The rest is written in the determination, mentorship, and creative energy of women who are building, designing, and leading right here in Kansas City.
The Builder’s Mindset
Chris Ragland | Homes by Chris
For more than twenty years, Chris Ragland and her husband, Roy, have built some of the Northland’s most recognized homes through their company, Homes by Chris. She holds an economics degree from the University of Missouri, an MBA from Rockhurst, and spent two decades in corporate project management before joining Roy in the building business.
“I came from a corporate world where everything was about timelines, budgets, and keeping teams aligned,” she says. “Those skills translate perfectly to homebuilding—every house is its own project plan.”
Chris manages the business side while Roy oversees construction, a balance that’s helped the company thrive. “There’s just always so much going on,” she says. “Kids, clients, projects—it’s nonstop. You learn to keep things moving and not get stuck on the small stuff.”
That calm practicality defines her leadership. “At the end of the day, it’s about taking care of people,” she says. “If we can do that well, everything else falls into place.”
Building with Belief
Angie Beerup | Elevate Design + Build
Angie Beerup spent more than a decade in the medical field before discovering her true calling in homebuilding. In 2017, she founded Elevate Design + Build, bringing an operational mindset and a heart for people to an industry she quickly fell in love with.
Her company has since grown from its Jackson County roots into neighboring Johnson County, Kansas—an expansion that reflects both ambition and care. “I love the process,” she says. “Watching families step into their finished homes never gets old.”
Beerup’s leadership blends business acumen with compassion, a combination she believes the industry needs more of. “We can build smarter and lead better when we care about the people behind every decision,” she says.
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Leading with Purpose
Robyn Schmitz | High Prairie, Outdoors & Pools
For Robyn Schmitz, entrepreneurship started with a Jeep, a trailer, and a shovel. Today, her company, High Prairie Outdoors & Pools, is a local go-to for luxury outdoor living. A published author and educator, she’s passionate about sharing knowledge with others in the industry.
“My job is to elevate the standard,” she says. “That means showing what excellence looks like—and helping others rise to it.”
Schmitz teaches both students and professionals, blending horticultural science with artistry. Her story proves that craftsmanship, leadership, and education can all be acts of generosity.
Grace Under Pressure
Lauren Browne | Grace & Nell Homes
Lauren Browne is a third-generation homebuilder and the founder of Grace & Nell Homes, a company she started to make the building process more transparent and personal. Before launching her firm, she served as Chief Operating Officer for one of Kansas City’s largest homebuilders, overseeing multiple communities and large-scale operations.
“I started my company to give people something I didn’t see enough of—honesty and grace in the building process,” she says. “Whether it’s a remodel or a new build, it should feel human. The goal is to create homes that feel like they were always meant to be.”
Her background in healthcare IT and corporate leadership taught her to manage complexity, but it’s her people-first approach that defines her work. “It’s about relationships,” she says. “If you can communicate clearly, stay calm, and keep your word, everything else follows.”
Designing for Belonging
Christina Franklin | Generator Studio
Christina Franklin is Director of Interior Design at Generator Studio, where she brings a hospitality-forward approach to every project. A former boutique hotel designer, she knows how to make spaces both functional and emotionally resonant.
“I’ve learned that listening is everything,” she says. “Every project starts with understanding how people want to live and how they want to feel in a space.”
That philosophy guided her work on the Kansas City Current Stadium, the first stadium in the world built specifically for a women’s professional sports team. “It was about creating an environment that celebrates women athletes and welcomes everyone who walks through the doors,” she says.
Franklin believes design is most powerful when it serves people. “It’s not just about how something looks,” she says. “It’s about how it makes you feel and the kind of connection it creates.”
Intuitive
Karin Ross | Karin Ross Designs
Belgian-born designer Karin Ross built her namesake firm on craftsmanship and collaboration. Her remodeling projects pair Old-World technique with modern sensibility—a balance shaped by her formal design training in Belgium and Italy.
Even after decades in the field, Ross still encounters people who assume the business owner must be a man. She smiles at it now. “It happens all the time,” she says. “People don’t expect the woman to be in charge, but they remember when she is.”
Ross believes women bring an intuition and sensitivity that strengthen every project. “You can’t design in isolation,” she says. “You have to understand the process, the craftsmanship, and the people who bring it to life.”
The Story We’re Building
Each of these women took a path that wasn’t paved for them. They entered boardrooms, job sites, and drafting studios once dominated by men—and didn’t just find a place, they made one.
Together, they’re proof that design–build isn’t just a career. It’s a calling to create, collaborate, and bring beauty into form.
And for the next generation—the girls who still don’t see builder or architect on the poster—these women are already rewriting the list.
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