KEN CONKLIN

Long commutes aren’t unusual in Kansas City, and even extended international travel is part of the job for some. But two years in London? Ken Conklin did that time, and his service helped put the “Global” in BATS Global Markets. His work there was instrumental in successfully launching BATS Europe in 2008 as the Lenexa-based firm continued its shakeup of the world’s equities trading architecture, taking its innovative technology to a second continent. Conklin, 39, is at it again as senior vice president and global head of business development and marketing—he’s spearheading the firm’s exploration of entry into markets in Brazil. He has been there at virtually every step since the founding of BATS, which sprang from the fertile mind of Dave Cummings, who also had founded Tradebot Systems and employed Conklin there, as well.

Just five years after its launch in late 2005, BATS hit the billion-dollar revenue mark, and it now stands as the world’s third-largest trading platform, behind only the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. Conklin, who started as a software developer at BATS, is now helping close the gap on those legendary names in stock-trading, and maintaining the company’s brand by ensuring consistent messaging across all media.

In addition to his work-related Series 7, 63 and 24 licenses, he holds a degree in economics and business from K-State, and a master’s in computer science—with honors—from KU. He and his wife, Karen, have two children: Ben, 7, and Annie, 6.

TODD CROSSLEY

Fifteen years ago, Todd Crossley went to work at his father’s Ford dealership. But he’s done a lot more than just sell cars. After becoming operating partner in 2005, he orchestrated a move for the longtime Liberty dealership, relocating into Kansas City, North. Since then, the growth has been explosive, the dealership has earned Ford’s Triple Crown Award (the automaker’s highest) and Crossley bought the company from his dad in 2011.

Not a bad track record, but factor in this: While all of that was going on, Todd Crossley and two partners set up a $500-a-month office rental, developed software to help dealers find customers more effectively and retain them at higher levels—then sold that start-up, VinSolutions, to Autotrader.com for $150 million in 2011. Leading up to that sale, Vin-Solutions had climbed to No. 33 on the Inc. 500 list of the nation’s fastest-growing companies.

Crossley’s entrepreneurial zeal didn’t stop with that deal. He’s also owner of Midwest Green Fuels, which specializes in propane-conversion kits for vehicles, and he’s getting ready to lift the curtain on Extreme Grand Prix, a family-oriented indoor go-kart venue in Raytown. He’s also been a partner in Trade Cycle Management and has opened TDR Auto Plaza in Kearney.

In addition to his business interests he has also served on the 20/20 Committee for the Liberty school board, and his work with the Dream Factory of KC has helped raise $25,000 over the past three years. Crossley, 39, and his wife, Carey, have two daughters, Camey and Carley.

TAIRA GARVEY

When Taira Garvey was growing up as a middle child, she learned how to blend in. Until she became a mother, at the age of 18. Then, she said, “I stood out. From that day forward, I made it my mission to stand out and be successful in all aspects of life—career, family and community.” Mission accomplished: Today, she’s a CPA and manager for CliftonLarsonAllen, the nation’s eighth-largest accountancy, a one woman tour de force for civic and community involvement in St. Joseph, and—again—in full mother mode. Last fall, she added a pair of twins, Ike and Bo, to a line-up that includes 19-year-old Jacqueline, Nicholas, age 4, and 3-year-old Katherine. For those who aren’t accountants, that’s four children under the age of five. A lot of us might consider that schedule a hall pass for sleeping in, but Garvey is up at least three times a week for her 6-mile run—starting at 5:15 a.m. Then it’s off to work at the firm, where she specializes in work with contractors and casinos, among others, “helping them reduce income taxes, improve financial ratios (such as working capital to increase bonding or obtain credit), and ultimately obtain their business goals,” she says. Her civic call to action includes work on behalf of Clean Air St. Joe, pro-moting smoke-free workplaces; board membership for the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art and Cathedral Early Childhood Center and Church; and membership in the Junior League. Still not enough? “I am currently training for the 2012 Chicago Marathon, in an attempt to not only improve my physical health, but also my mental capacity to stay the course.”

NATE GERACI

He started out at Freightquote.com as an accounts payable clerk, and was there for a wild growth ride for the next eight years, rising to become director of purchasing and administration. It proved to be a great experience watching entrepreneurship in action—and Nate Geraci took notes. In 2008, he made the leap himself, landing in the financial-services sector with the founding of The ETF Store. It derives its name from exchange-traded funds, securities that track certain assets just as index funds do, but trade like stocks. Since their inception nearly two decades ago, the niche has given rise to more than 1,100 such funds, accounting for more than $1 trillion in assets nationally.

As president of The ETF Store, Geraci has seen its asset base double to $40 million. “In the business realm, I believe strongly in the simple value of hard work and the need to operate with a high level of integrity, confidence and self-motivation,” says Geraci, 36. He has a microphone to preach the benefits of ETFs relative to those of traditional mutual funds, by hosting a weekly radio show on ESPN-1510. It’s the first and only radio program, Geraci says, dedicated to that topic.

A graduate of the University of Kansas, Geraci is a member of the board for the Missouri Council on Economic Education, and has two daughters—Talia, 6, and Isabella, 4, with his wife, Felicia. “While business pursuits and career achievements are certainly important,” he says, “nothing holds greater importance to me than my family.”