By Leslie Collins  – Staff Writer, Kansas City Business Journal

Lever1 has added two “heavy hitters” to its leadership team to ensure sustainable and scalable growth, President Erica Brune said in a release.

The Kansas City-based professional employer organization already has pulled the lever on growth, landing three consecutive years on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. Last year, it generated $116.6 million in revenue. Its three-year revenue growth rate is 368%, according to Inc.

Both of its new hires bring “years of fast-paced growth under their respective belts,” and the right skill sets to manage Lever1’s continued climb, Brune said in the release.

Lever 1’s new leadership additions are Allan Ehlers, controller, and Chad Braymer, director of operations.

Ehlers built a career at VT Inc., a company formed by the late Cecil Van Tuyl that was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway in 2015. Ehlers worked at VT Inc. for 25 years and most recently was a controller for risk management and employee benefits.

Braymer has held a variety of roles in the professional services industry and is adept at creating scalable operational processes and cohesive work teams. For more than 25 years, he worked at Mission-based SkillPath, where he most recently was interim CEO.

Lever1 has grown to 25 employees and helps companies outsource the management of human resources, benefits, office management, accounting and payroll. Earlier this year, the company was named a Top 10 Small Business by the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.

It also ranks No. 12 on the Kansas City Business Journal’s Fast 50 list.