Ryan Anderson is an entrepreneur here in KC that has sold multiple businesses. His most significant being a 15 company merger of luxury smart home companies across the country, headquartered here in Overland Park. His main passion is his 2 children, Andi and Carson. He also helps raise 3 more kids as part of a blended family with his love, Brittany. Ryan has worked with many charities across the KC area and co-chaired and served on the board for different charities. Ryan also enjoys a passion for cars and has served as President of the Ferrari Club and Director at Large for the KC Chapter. 

From dance mom to ballroom star, Meg Burke is ready to tear up the dance floor for St. Thomas More! A Kansas City native, Meg is deeply involved and passionate about her community. She has a BSE with a minor in Special Education from Pittsburgh State University and has also earned a Master of Education with an emphasis in Special Education from Avila. 

For thirteen years she has had the privilege of being the Inclusive Education teacher at St. Thomas More. These extraordinary children are not just students to Meg, they are her kids. Their hard work and dedication have taught her more lessons than she has taught them. Her goal is to improve the special education program and help secure its future for the generations of talented kids to come. 

In her day-to-day, Meg enjoys spending time with her husband Troy and her multitalented daughter, and STM student, Amelia. She is an avid reader and loves shopping local businesses. When basketball season starts you can hear Meg cheering on her Jayhawks for miles around!  

Meg’s friends and family will tell you that she doesn’t like to lose and won’t stop hustling until she has the trophy in her hand! Meg is honored to be chosen to represent STM for this year’s Dine and Dancing with the Stars event and can’t wait to meet you on the dance floor! 

Hey there my name is Gretchen Graber McGraw. I’m the owner of FitWear Boutique. As a child I always had a love for fashion and clothes.  I also started running in middle school to help with anxiety and mental health.  Growing up I was given the opportunity and love of travel by my parents. I went on my first trip to Mexico in middle school and fell in love with the colors and vibrancy of a completely different culture. After getting my degree in Dental Hygiene at Wichita State I used it to further my cultural experience.  I went to Russia and between exploring St. Basils and the GUM in Moscow I did dental work at orphanages.  Along the way back to settling in KC I lived in New York and Detroit.  Both of those stops added another layer to my fashion and cultural experience.  

In 2012, living in Overland Park, Kansas, I asked my girlfriend if I could open a lil shop in her Pilates studio, merging two of my favorite things, my love for clothes and working out.  That was the beginning of FitWear Boutique.  My whole idea was to bring in clothes that allow working out to fit in to your lifestyle not interrupt it.  I love smaller Made in USA brands, Women owned businesses, lines that give back to their community and being comfy and cute is super important too! I travel for inspiration and to bring back things that are different than big box stores provide.  This year I had the opportunity to celebrate 8 years of being open by opening my first brick in mortar in Prairiefire!  It was definitely a pinch me moment to look around at all the people who have come in to my life since starting in the studio.  

Along with running FitWear I am a designated Uber driver for my two amazing and athletic kiddos.  My son Lawson (15) is a freshman at Blue Valley West.  He enjoys playing football and his Gym buddies crew.  My lil mini me Leighton (14) plays soccer for Sporting Blue Valley.  She is finishing middle school at Lakewood Middle. I am super excited to get to dance and be a part of the BMA foundation.  I feel blessed to be able to give back to this community that I have been a part of for the last 15 years! xo G 

Melissa Sherwood, know to family and friends as the Energizer Bunny, is a go-getter who is up for any challenge!  She is truly honored to be part of Dine and Dance with the Stars and to contribute to so many worthy charities.  As the youngest of 3 children, Melissa spent her elementary and high school years in the Blue Valley School District where she has now enjoyed 24 years teaching kindergarten.  Melissa is grateful to have the opportunity to make a difference every day in children’s lives.  At her school, Stilwell Elementary, she is a much-loved and highly respected educator. 

KU is where Melissa earned her education degree. Rock Chalk!  Her Master’s degree is from Baker University.  Melissa’s three awesome children have followed in her footsteps by valuing educational goals while achieving success in club and school soccer.   Emma (24) and Ben (22) are also both KU graduates!  Rock Chalk! Graycen (14) is a high school freshman.  Jax, the family’s golden retriever, is a trained therapy dog and has brought laughter and joy to many nursing home patients.  He patiently tolerates his pesky goldendoodle brother, Hudson. 

Melissa plunges enthusiastically into any project!  For her home, she builds furniture, lays tile and hardwood floors, does electrical work, and even some plumbing projects.  Melissa says she learned so many of these skills by tagging along as a child with her dad.  These days she says, “if you can’t figure it out, You Tube can!” Melissa plans to dance like a star for the BMA charities, counting on her childhood dance lessons to carry her through.  It is with lots of pride that she will perform in  Dine and Dance with the Stars to benefit some many charitable organizations.

My name is Holly Miriani, but many people call me Mama Holly. I earned this nickname by giving birth to six children. Also, I work for my daughter, Margaret, who is the owner and manager of Platinum Title and my other two daughters work for Platinum Title too, so many co-workers and clients call me Mama as well.

I started dancing when I was very young and I have always loved it. Dancing has always come easily for me, or so I thought that it came easy! When I attended Dine and Dance with the Stars in 2021, my daughter bid for me to dance with Artem, a Dancing with the Stars cast member. As I walked out on the dance floor with this handsome, wonderful dancer, he asked if he could spin me. Thinking that it would be only a little spin, I said sure. When we stopped, I could barely tell up from down! Artem was on one knee and I was awkwardly squatting and teetering until I fell on the floor! I was grateful that Artem tried to make it look like picking me up was part of the dance. I was a bit embarrassed but not so much that I was hooked. I knew I could do better, much better!

I asked my daughter if she would support me to dance and compete in Dine and Dance with the Stars 2023. There are some advantages to working for your daughter. How do you say no to your mother?

Having the ability to dance and raise money for The Dream Factory is a dream come true for me! I am so excited! My husband, Joe, is supportive of me training for this event and socially dancing in the KC area. That’s because we made a deal. Joe and I cycle together, which is his passion and so he has promised to come back to dance with me when we are both retired, which will be in 2024. I am looking forward to that!

When I’m dancing, nothing else exists. I am completely devoted to following my leader, moment –to-moment. We let the music take us and it all seems natural, easy and fun.
Thank you in advance for your support!

Bio coming soon!

Hi. I’m Koni Clements and I’m honored and proud to represent and sponsor TeamSmile at the upcoming Dine and Dance with the Stars. I will be paired with my dance partner, Dylan Polleiner  from the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Charlotte, NC where Dylan taught my husband and I how to dance a couple years ago.  A little about me. I’m a devout Christian mother of 4 beautiful kids, 3 grandkids …along with a husband of 35 years, I have been blessed beyond my dreams.  It is a true honor to sponsor TeamSmile.  The work they do to provide desperately needed free dental care to underserved children throughout America is so awesome.  Their unique model of combining professional and collegiate sports teams with bringing children to the dentist whom in most cases have never been to the dentist, provides a positive experience that the child will never forget.  A little about my dancing skills.  While I love to dance, I just learned 2 years ago so I’m a novice at best.  I’m honored to just have the opportunity to compete against other very talented contestants.  I will tell you this.  When I commit to something…I’m all in!  Your donation and sponsorship will not only go to a worthy cause…but I will be giving it all to represent TeamSmile and to justify your donation!  And finally… I also want to thank the BMA Foundation, Jerry, Julie and the entire board of directors on giving me the opportunity to support this very special foundation in memory of Brian.  God Bless and thank you all for your support!