Parkville, Mo.—April 23, 2025 — Jeanette Hernandez Prenger, founder and chief executive officer of Kansas City, Mo., based ECCO Select, will present the keynote address during Park University’s Kansas City Area Commencement on Saturday, May 10. The ceremony will be held at Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence, Mo., starting at 10 a.m.
The event will include 575 Park University students eligible to participate in the ceremony — 203 students are set to receive a master’s degree and/or graduate certificate, and 372 students are scheduled to receive a bachelor’s degree, associate degree and/or undergraduate certificate.
The University will also bestow Prenger, a 2009 Park graduate (Bachelor of Science degree in information management systems), with an honorary Doctorate of Human Letters degree during the ceremony in recognition of her outstanding service to humans and society. In a nomination letter submitted to Park’s Faculty Senate, it said that Prenger “exemplifies the qualities of leadership, integrity and service that align with Park University’s core values, and her lifelong contributions to her profession, community and alma mater make her a truly exceptional candidate for this prestigious recognition…Her advocacy for workforce development, educational access and cultural preservation has left an indelible mark on the Kansas City community and beyond.”
Known for her strategic insight and entrepreneurial drive, Prenger has built ECCO Select, a talent acquisition and consulting firm specializing in people, process and technology solutions into a company that helps organizations strengthen operations, profitability and competitive edge. Under her leadership since 1995, ECCO Select has grown from a single-client operation into one of the top Hispanic-owned businesses in the U.S., serving clients across North America, including Fortune 1000 companies and government agencies. In addition to its Kansas City headquarters, ECCO Select also has offices in Dallas and Washington, D.C.
Prenger and ECCO Select have received numerous accolades for contributions to the information technology industry, philanthropic endeavors and growth. Beyond her business successes, Prenger is a passionate advocate for economic growth and community development. She serves on numerous national and regional boards, including The Latino Coalition, Junior Achievement USA, Boy Scouts of America (now known as Scouting America), the Harvard Kennedy School’s Taubman Institute, Eisenhower Foundation and the Missouri Tourism Commission.
Among her local leadership roles, Prenger served on Park University’s Board of Trustees from 2011-23, including two years (2019-21) as chair and two years (2021-23) as immediate past chair. In addition, she has held leadership roles with Visit KC, Junior Achievement of Kansas City, the Systems of Care Initiative and the Greater Kansas City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
About Park University
Founded in 1875 in Parkville, Mo., a suburb of Kansas City, Park University is a nonprofit, private institution that is a national leader in higher education. In 2000, Park achieved university status and currently serves more than 5,700 students at 21 campuses in 15 states and online, including Parkville and Independence, Mo.; Gilbert, Ariz.; Barstow, Calif.; Columbus, Ohio; Austin and El Paso, Texas; and 14 military installations across the country. www.park.edu
