Ingrams September 2023

Marco Ilardi MANAGING PARTNER, V2 VENTURES

Chris Isaacson EXECUTIVE VP/COO, CBOE

The fertile digital mind of Scott Lynn helped reshape the contours of digital marketing with the founding of Adknowledge in 2002. By 2010, with revenues soaring past $300 million, the firm attracted the attention of Marco Ilardi, who signed on as chief strategy officer and eventually became president. In 2017, a new entity called V2 Ventures was formed, and Ilardi was the natural choice for managing partner, a role he still holds today.

Don’t ask Chris Isaacson if he has good news unless you have a few minutes. We asked, and he had quite a list for the past year, including 50 years of Cboe, continued record trading volumes that fueled growth, and extremely strong YTD financial results following record results in 2022. And that’s just naming a few. “While our first 50 years were remarkable,” Chris said, “we look forward to our next 50 years as we continue to build trusted markets around the world.”

COLLEGE: B.S., Truman State University STILL BRANCHING OUT: Ever the entrepreneur, Ilardi also co-founded Pushly, a push-notification platform that helps companies get more out of their digital presence by converting one-time visitors into subscribers. OTHER HOLDINGS: Also part of the V2 portfolio is ReachMobi, a mobile app developer, and Vue Planner, which produces custom placement lists that help leverage the power of Google Ads and DV360 platforms. CLASS OF 2011: Ilardi was in that 40 Under Forty cohort of Ingram’s annual salute to the region’s most influential young executives.

RECESSION ODDS: “We believe things will ultimately depend on the ability of the Fed to navigate a soft landing, if possible, and it’s likely that we’ll see a higher-for-longer interest rate environment given the Fed’s stated commitment to taming inflation.” BIG THING: “Preparation and becoming a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be a great opportunity.” MENTOR: “Joe Ratterman, former CEO and chairman of Bats Global Markets, current board director at Cboe Global Markets. I learned how to build high-performing teams and a world-class work culture.”

MORNING READ: “ The Wall Street Journal , at least daily.” LEADERSHIP HIRE TRAIT: “Humility to be a servant leader.”

CHARITY MISSION: “To teach financial literacy to the masses to unlock generosity and potential in people.” EMPLOYEES: “Approximately 1,600 globally; approximately 300 in KC,” he says, with plans to “add or hold at current levels, depending on geography, function, and business line.”

Bob Jacaway CEO, MAX MOTORS

Roy Jensen DIRECTOR, THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS CANCER CENTER Having secured a $100 million gift from Kansas City’s Sunderland Foundation and $43 million in federal funding, Roy Jensen is happy to be on the way to the creation of a new, signature cancer center building on the University of Kansas Medical Center campus, a center he will oversee. He also hopes Kansas City will recognize that project as something to get behind, establishing this region as a world-class center for cancer care and research.

In the vehicle-sales world, Bob Jacaway’s foot is mashing down the growth accelerator: Just this past year, St. Joseph-based Max Motors, with two recent acquisitions in Nevada, along with others in Rich mond and Lee’s Summit. That will continue to fuel the growth that pushed the company well into the top tier of this year’s Corporate Report 100, Ingram’s ranking of the fastest-growing companies in the greater Kansas City region.

RECESSION ODDS: “As manufactures continue to manage production, the house marketing shifts, and interest rates rise—likely.” MORNING READ: “ Automotive News and The Wall Street Journal .” LEADERSHIP HIRE TRAIT: “We use personality profiles to help assist us with hiring of all personnel in leadership roles so that we place the right candidate in the position.” DREAM CHARITY MISSION: “We donate to many charities that fed the hungry, shelter the home less, and support education.” EMPLOYEES: Now at 335, he says, and “we will continue to expand our franchise, Max Motors Dealer ships, and grow our staff. We believe in the value of education and on-the-job training for growth and retention. That’s why Max Motors also launched our Degrees @ Work program. Max Motors Dealerships provides a no-cost, no-debt college degree for our employees and their families.”

RECESSION ODDS: “Zero.” ON THE NEW KCI: “It is a facility that we all can be proud of. I no longer have to apologize to out-of town speakers about our airport.” SALUTING MENTORS: “I have had multiple mentors throughout my career and I have learned a great deal from all of them. From David Page, my mentor in breast pathology, I learned that you can’t find your ideal job if you haven’t found your passion.” MORNING READ: “My inbox.” ESSENTIAL LEADERSHIP SKILL: “A commitment to excellence.” DREAM CHARITY MISSION: “Easy question. Cure cancer.” EMPLOYEE OUTLOOK: “Depends on who you count, but at a minimum about 225 staff for the clinical research and administrative components. Last I checked, cancer wasn’t planning on any cutbacks. Neither are we.”

Bill Johnson GENERAL MANAGER, KANSAS CITY BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES With more than 100 years under its belt, the Kansas City Board of Public Utilities continues to deliver—power and water. As a four-de cade veteran and now running the show for the primary public utility serving Wyandotte County, Bill Johnson is quite proud about the past year. He cites “our ability to continue to provide safe and reliable electric and water services to our community, despite the inflationary economic conditions and supply chain challenges we faced.”

Jani Johnson CEO, SAINT LUKE’S HOSPITAL

Nearly 40 years into a highly accomplished career in health care, Jani Johnson has earned the title “voice of experience,” and that voice champions collaboration. “I am always looking for collaborative lead ers,” she said. “You must have good relationship skills, which is a part of emotional intelligence. You cannot be successful and navigate the challenges that come with a leadership position without those skills.” She uses those same skills in leading her team of 3,300 employees.

COLLEGE: B.S., Business; MBA, Ottawa University RECESSION ODDS: “I don’t envision that there will be a significant recession on the horizon for the time period mentioned above (2023-24). In looking at our current economic recovery efforts, I would imagine that the higher interest rates we now have should help to slow down any projections for a recession. On the flip side, the higher interest rates will probably cause slower-than-desired economic growth for this year.” KC’S NEXT THING: “It would be great if we could approve a Downtown baseball stadium, especially if it would also spur other economic-development projects surrounding it. I also think linking other parts of the metro to a mass transit plan will help move people in multiple directions.” SALUTING MENTORS: “My mentors have been individuals who have helped me understand when/ where to demonstrate leadership and balance that with when to lend support to others. I have also learned quite a bit about how to bounce back from the setbacks we sometimes face and turn them into achievements that make a difference.”

COLLEGE: B.S. Nursing, Methodist School of Nursing and Webster University; M.S., Nursing, UMKC NEXT BIG THING: “KC has a real passion for sports with the momentum of the Chiefs and the World Cup coming in 2026. We need to build on that momentum to ensure we keep the Royals in KC long-term. Building a new Royals stadium is a prime opportunity to attract fans and boost the city’s economy, espe cially if it is in a centralized location where patrons can stay and support restaurants and other businesses.” SALUTING A MENTOR: “I’ve had many good mentors, but when I look back at who made a big im pression early on, it was my dad. He was a role model for hard work and dependability. I learned how to have a strong work ethic from childhood, which enables you to cultivate other skills like motivation and perseverance. I started working young, and each of those experiences helped me get to where I am today.” ON THE NEW KCI: “I am very impressed. … It is very well done and easy to use. I love that the restaurants and shops are all centered around the KC community and culture. Everyone who said the new terminal would truly make a difference was absolutely right.”

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September 2023

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