Ingrams September 2023

Peter Clune CEO, LOCKTON

Bill Clarkson Jr. PRESIDENT, CLARKSON CONSTRUCTION CO.

A little over three years ago, Peter Clune took the day-to-day lead ership baton at the world’s largest privately held insurance broker age—and didn’t miss a step with the pace of growth there. Corporate revenues were just shy of $1.89 billion during his first year as CEO; in the most recent fiscal year, the company surged across the $3 billion threshold for the first time, continuing an unbroken streak of every-year-is-a-record year for Lockton.

Bill Clarkson has seen his share of iconic infrastructure projects in a career that goes back four decades. But those may pale in compari son to the project that wrapped up this year north of the river: Clark son Construction was a key element of the partnership that built the $1.5 billion single-terminal remake of Kansas City International Airport, considered by many to be Kansas City’s front door to the world. Its main duties involved demolition, grading, and road re-routing.

FOUNDATIONAL: Bill Jr. is a fifth-generation leader for a company that traces its roots to his second great-grandfather, G.G. Clarkson. The company’s multi-million dollar fleet of modern-day vehicles is far removed from the mule-and-manpower days of its infancy. KC FOOTPRINT: The company has been involved in the construction of major Downtown bridges, including the Kit Bond, the Paseo, and the Chouteau Trafficway, along with the Johnson County Gateway project, the Grandview Triangle and the Kansas Speedway/Village West/Children’s Mercy Park transformation of western Wyandotte County. THE SCORECARD: The company has completed more than 800 projects, with 27 of them currently in the works. Over its history, it has set down more than 3,300 lane miles of pavement and constructed at least 825 bridges.

COLLEGE: B.A., Accounting, University of Missouri-Columbia THE ROAD TO LOCKTON: Straight out of Mizzou, Clune went to work for two years at the Robert E. Miller Group, another Kansas City-based brokerage and benefits consultancy. He moved on to Zurich Insurance before landing at Lockton in 2006. ENTREPREURIAL CULTURE: From an “office” set up in Jack Lockton’s home in 1966, the company has become a dominant fixture in the workplace benefits space. It now boasts a second global headquarters presence in London and has more than 140 locations worldwide. HIRING BOOM: During Clune’s short tenure, Lockton has gone from roughly 7,500 employees com pany-wide to more than 10,750. ORGANIC & MORE: The firm made a significant move in South America last year and added roughly 250 employees to its headcount with the acquisition of THB Brazil, creating a brokerage powerhouse there.

Scott Colangelo MANAGING PARTNER, PRIME CAPITAL INVESTMENT ADVISORS With $16.7 billion in assets under management at his firm, Scott Colangelo is at the helm of one of the 10 biggest ships in the region’s wealth-management flotilla. He’s also chairman of Prime Capital Investment Advisors and the architect of the firm’s Qualified Plan Advisors (QPA). Forward-thinking in the financial business, Scott is responsible for the strategy and growth of these companies.

David Colo PRESIDENT/CEO, MGP INGREDIENTS

David Colo had two things going for him when MGP Ingredients need ed to fill the seat of a departing chief executive in early 2020: For one, more than 30 years in various leadership roles—general manage ment, operations, and supply chain. For another, he knew the compa ny intimately as a member of its board of directors for the previous five years. And as it turned out, the one thing going against him— the pandemic onset—turned out to be an opportunity in disguise.

COLLEGE: B.S., Finance (minor in Marketing), Kansas State University GROWTH HISTORY: The original founders set up shop in 1984, and Colangelo joined with other leadership figures there to acquire ownership in 2017. That set the stage for four-fold growth in assets under management—even after adjusting for inflation. ORGANIZATIONAL PERSPECTIVE: Colangelo was the driver in the 2004 creation of the Qualified Plan Advisors operation. While the mother ship focuses on individual investors and families, QPA works with organizations to design retirement plans that help them meet their benefits plan goals. CERTIFIABLE: He also holds FINRA Series 7, 63, and 66 registrations.

COLLEGE: B.S., Agribusiness Economics, Southern Illinois University 2022 REVENUES: $782 million BOOM TIME: The sudden demand for sanitizing products boosted MGP’s top line by nearly 10 percent in 2000, but even as the pandemic has receded, MGP has soared on the sales side, more than dou bling its pre-pandemic revenues of $363 million in just three years. INFLECTION POINT: Colo assumed the duties of COO in March 2020, just in time for American manufactur ing to slam on the production brakes as COVID-19 hit. But Colo marshaled the troops to swiftly retool and begin producing alcohol-based supplies the nation was sorely lacking in its bid to fight an unknown virus. THE ROAD TO ATCHISON: Previous career stops included duties with SunOpta in Toronto, Canada, Diamond Foods in San Francisco, ConAgra Foods, and Nestle-Purina Pet Care. He also worked as an independent industry consultant specializing in organizational optimization and planning and, for two years, was president of the American Dehydrated Onion and Garlic Association.

Matt Condon CEO, BARDAVON HEALTH INNOVATIONS

Jon Cook GLOBAL CEO, VMLY&R

Bardavon has had great success getting others on board with its mission to redefine worker’s compensation management. “We surpassed over 11,000 providers across the country in our network,” Matt Condon said. “All connected on a single tech platform that has been proven to improve care and outcomes.” Because of the network, Bardavon has been able to impact health and wellness of more 65,000 American workers—getting them back to work and keeping them there safely and effectively.”

Leading a marketing company with a worldwide footprint that in cludes Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney, you’d expect some big brands to cross, so we weren’t surprised when we asked about past-year highlights, and he said, “Coca Cola becoming one of our largest global accounts in just a year. We’ve been able to do an array of impactful work in a short period of time.”

COLLEGE: B.S., Kinesiology, Iowa State University; JD/MBA, University of Toledo RECESSION: “We anticipate continued economic uncertainty and a strained market to carry on through 2024.” KC’S NEXT BIG THING: “Another Super Bowl and another World Series!!” ON THE NEW KCI: “The new airport has been everything we hoped it would be and more. So many people that I work with who have traveled into KCI immediately point out what an improved experience and impression it leaves them. Kudos to this region for leaning in and making that happen!” MORNING READ: “I am fortunate to have a friend—who has persevered, been through some remarkable circumstances—send a group of us a daily reflection at 6 a.m., 7 days a week, 365 days a year. I look forward to it every day, and it is incredible how it so often speaks to something I end up facing that day.” LEADERSHIP HIRE PRIORITIES: “A balance of technical skills and the ability to motivate/inspire. Leaders need followers—and the ability to compel others to follow you on a mission/vision is more than just tactical ability; it is an intangible quality that is both rare and yet immediately recognizable.”

2022 REVENUES: $249.9 million COLLEGE: B.A., Journalism, University of Missouri RECESSION ODDS: “High. In the marketing world, we have a unique view of consumer predictors. Canary in the coal mine, so to speak. We see those signs.” KC’S NEXT THING: “An NBA and/or WNBA team.” ON THE NEW KCI: “Absolutely love it. It’s the perfect size and exceeds high expectations. I feel proud walking through the terminal. And the smell of barbeque wafting through the air is magic.” SALUTING MENTORS: “Tons of people have supported me along the way and still do!” MORNING LISTEN: “I’m all about sports radio and sports podcasts in the morning. It’s a relaxing way to ramp up for the day—although I can get pretty worked up about Chiefs news.” LEADERSHIP HIRING TRAIT: “Humanity.” DREAM CHARITY MISSION: “Hyper-local support of metro-area kids caught in abusive, food insecure, homeless or bankrupt family situations.”

38

I n g r am ’ s

September 2023

Ingrams.com