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cory lagerstrom Talk about ambitious: When Cory Lagerstrom helped found Frontier Wealth Management in August 2007, he wasn’t expecting that within 18 months he and his four partners would be managing almost $200 million in assets. But Lagerstrom wasn’t prepared to rest on his laurels just because the firm had already exceeded expectations, and he and his partners decided to make doubling that number over the next two to three years their goal. The 37-year-old chief executive officer for the wealth management company brings a Midwest work ethic to everything he does. “As a firm we promote a team concept,” Lagerstrom says. “We believe in a ‘work hard, play hard’ mentality, which creates a strong and positive culture within our firm.” Lagerstrom serves on the board of the University of Kansas Chancellor’s Club, is a committee member for the Hope Center and is a trustee for Heartland Church. Family, though, is the priority for this father of three. “About a year ago my sister fought and beat cancer, which has put everything into perspective,” Lagerstrom says. “We work to stay close as a family, and my wife and I are raising our children with Midwestern values.” |
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richard muller Not every one would have the gumption to leave a successful architectural practice to explore a career in real estate development, but for Richard Muller—director of real estate development for Opus Northwest—the move has paid off. Muller’s risk-taking is the hallmark of his success. At any given time, he’s involved in the kind of city-defining projects that Opus Northwest is known for, such as development and leasing of three buildings in a major Olathe office park development. “Professionally I feel blessed to be a steward of my home town’s built environment,” Muller says. “It is a responsibility I do not take lightly.” Going to night school to earn his MBA from the University of Kansas is another risk that paid off for Muller, whose family grew by two while he was in school. “My success is a testament to the sacrifices my family has made along the way,” says the father of three. Muller is the founding president of the Kansas City chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties and remains active in the org-anization. He also is on the real estate advisory committee for the Kansas City Area Development Council. |
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jon niemuth “I build things,” says Jon Niemuth, principal and design director for Ellerbe Becket. “Whether in life of work, I build things.” At 38, Niemuth has already built an impressive resume. He is one of the youngest partners in the company’s 100-year history and is responsible for the firm’s local creative direction and oversight. He has designed outdoor stadiums and indoor arenas for collegiate and professional use. He has two 40 Under Forty designations (from the Sports Business Journal and from Building Design and Construction) already under his belt. He was on the board of directors for the Missouri council of The American Institute of Architects and is Ellerbe Becket’s firm-wide director of sustainability. Niemuth has built an impressive life outside of work as well. He is a graduate of the Centurions Leadership Program, and he enjoys mentor-ing young professionals. “Although my profession relies on the concrete, I take personal pleasure from creating the intangible: relationships, pro-cesses, culture, growth,” says the married father of three. Niemuth counts woodworking and restoring his historic home among his hobbies. Some-times you just can’t help but take work home. |
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