Influencers' presence on social media helps companies' brands directly reach consumers, and they offer groups of impressionable networks, not just star power. We take a look at two influencers in the Kansas City area.

The Olathe company builds on its aviation, GPS and innovative roots with a revolutionary new product that can land a plane if the pilot is incapacitated

With the company's founding mission of digitizing health records largely accomplished, CEO Brent Shafer guides Cerner as it adjusts to a mature market and looks for the next big opportunities. The road ahead is broad, but the choices less obvious.

Paul Kempinski, who took the helm in November, brings a data and administrative acumen that masks a humble person and devoted family man.

Given the dearth of research on the use of medical marijuana — which voters recently approved for Missouri — what are Kansas City-area medical schools teaching future doctors? One educator says the schools are "walking a fine line" because of the lack of critical assessment about the drug's use.

That describes the transition of taking an idea from the lab to the marketplace. These KC-area health care startups, with help from a UMKC program, are working to navigate that stretch.