The Kansas City Business Journal is deep into its search to unearth hidden treasure for our annual one-of-a-kind collection of data on the region's most influential private companies. Every time we publish this List, we find at least a handful of companies that not a single reporter or editor has heard of — a fast-growing technology company, an up-and-coming financial services firm, a suburban real estate business — there's no "norm" for what kind of company might appear on the Top 150 List. So,…

A St. Joseph company that has been in business for more than 140 years owes much of its success to one iconic candy treat. According to KMBZ, Chase Candy Co. created the first Cherry Mash in 1918. The candy is manufactured only in Missouri. In fact, it's the only item that the Chase Candy Co. makes at its factory in St. Joseph. To mark its 100th anniversary, the company launched a new website that shows how Cherry Mash is made. Chase Candy is led by CEO Barry Yantis, who has worked for the company…

Following the unexpected resignation of its top executive and a six-month search, the Shawnee Mission School District has picked its new superintendent. According to KCUR, the school board has hired Michael Fulton, who has been superintendent of the Pattonville School District for the last 11 years. Fulton has worked for the St. Louis-area school district for 23 years. According to the Pattonville School District website, Fulton has worked in education for more than 32 years and was named Missouri…

Less than a year after Kate Spade & Co. sold to Coach Inc. in a deal valued at $2.4 billion, the high-end fashion brand — and product of a former Kansas Citian — will open a second store in the area. Kate Spade, which currently has a retail store on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, plans to open an outlet store at the Legends Outlet Kansas City in Kansas City, Kan. The Plaza location opened in 2011. According to a release, the designer outlet store is expected to open in mid-March. It…

Editor's Note: This story was reported by Josh Heck, a reporter at the Wichita Business Journal. Kevin Kunz, founder and CEO of Sleeptopia Inc., signed a lease Tuesday for an office in the Kansas City area, the Wichita Business Journal reports. The business initially will employ two people at the site, a total that could grow to around 15 people. Sleeptopia specializes in at-home diagnostic testing for sleep studies, which have become more common in recent years as a way to diagnose and address…

Sporting Kansas City survived an early goal, overtime and penalty kicks Wednesday to advance to the 104th final of the U.S. Open Cup. A crowd of more than 16,000 watched Sporting KC defeat the San Jose Earthquakes during a six-round penalty shootout ( WATCH). Goalkeeper Tim Melia saved two penalty kicks during the shootout, which ended with a score of 5-4. The team, which lost one of its five owners days before its July quarterfinal match, is chasing what's formally called the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open…