Your Chamber at Work - April 3, 2023

FROM THE KC CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT AND CEO

We’ve heard anecdotally about our members’ difficulty in filling open job positions. Now we’d like to take a more systematic approach.

Today, we’re launching a Workforce Survey to better understand the challenges Chamber members are facing. We know the stats (thanks to the Mid-America Regional Council): at last report, there were 85,000 unfilled job openings in our region, with an unemployment rate of just 2.7 percent.

The survey was developed by the Chamber’s Workforce Committee and has three goals:

• Identifying the industry workforce needs of our region;
• Identifying what resources employers are using to address their workforce needs; and,
• Identifying what type of tool employers would find valuable to address workforce needs and find talent.

It won’t take you long to fill out; the Workforce Survey is quick and easy and also thorough. The Workforce Committee will use the results to better understand the workforce situation. We’ll then work with our workforce program providers and partners to match the talent they’re producing to industry needs.

It’s a first step in creating a cohesive workforce ecosystem in KC to ensure our employers and our workforce providers are all on the same page as we look to match talent and employees to jobs.

Thanks – in advance – for your help. Here’s the link again.

SMALL BUSINESS CELEBRATION CANDIDATES’ SHOWCASE

Don’t miss your chance to check out some of Kansas City’s best small businesses at the Small Business Celebration Candidates’ Showcase, April 4 at Union Station. The Grand Plaza opens at 5:30 p.m. as the small businesses vying to bring home a small business award are together under the same roof. From contractors to bakers, marketers to stylists, and so many more, meet the candidates for the Mr. K/Small Business of the Year Award, the Legacy of Kansas City Award, the Small Business Equity Award, the Emerging Small Business Award, and the Weida Award for International Small Business of the Year. Admission is $10 and includes food, drink ticket, and complimentary parking in the West Yards garage behind Union Station. RSVP here.

Our Small Business Presenting Sponsor is Evergy. Our Small Business CEO Sponsor is Kansas City National Security Campus, managed by Honeywell FM&T. Our Small Business Superstars Presenting Sponsor is EAG Advertising and Marketing. Our Media Sponsor is Startland News. Our Superstar Sponsors are Strang Chef Collective and FastSigns Overland Park. Our Top 10 Announcement Event Presenting Sponsor is UMB Bank. Our Top 10 Reception Event Presenting Sponsor is Bank Midwest. Our Awards Luncheon Presenting Sponsor is Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Our Executive Sponsors are Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, CommunityAmerica Credit Union. Our Partner Sponsors are Commerce Bank, Meta. Our Associate Sponsors are Arvest Bank, Country Club Bank, Enterprise Bank & Trust, H&R Block, Mazuma Credit Union, Menlo, PNC Bank, Southwest Airlines, US Bank.

NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORKING: G.I.F.T

Get together with some of your fellow Chamber members to drink strong coffee and make stronger connections at Kansas City G.I.F.T., Friday, April 14, 8:30 a.m. at their 5008 Prospect Location. G.I.F.T. works to close the racial wealth gap, reduce poverty related crime, and reverse the effects of systemic racism across KC. We’re pleased to connect this organization with Chamber members to help grow relationships. Register here. The event is free for Chamber members and $15 for non-members.  The KC Chamber's 2023 overall networking sponsors are Delta Dental and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City. The KC Chamber's 2023 Neighborhood Networking Sponsors are Rock CFO, Southwest Airlines and Unbound.

NOMINATE FOR THE ACE AWARDS; APPLY FOR THE CHAMPION OF DIVERSITY AWARD

Applications are open for the Champion of Diversity, and nominations are open for the Ace Awards! These are two of the biggest awards in the region recognizing the importance and impact of DEI efforts in the workplace. The Ace Awards are awarded to up-and-coming senior level managers who are advocating for expansion of their company's DEI and/or supplier diversity efforts. Submit your Ace Award nominations here by April 21. The Champion of Diversity Award recognizes both a for-profit business and a nonprofit organization that have made an impactful commitment to embrace diversity in their workplace, diversity supplier partnerships, and the community. This Champion of Diversity business will be able to demonstrate their organizational practices are inclusive of all people. This application is due May 1. Award winners will be honored at the POWER of Diversity Breakfast this summer. The Chamber’s 2023 Diversity Sponsors include Presenting Sponsor CommunityAmerica Credit Union; and Cornerstone Diversity Sponsors American Century Investments, Bayer, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, JE Dunn Construction, Lockton Companies, REACH Healthcare Foundation, Saint Luke’s Health System, T-Mobile, and The University of Kansas Healthy System.

HEALTHY KC NETWORKING FORUM

Companies looking to be Healthy KC Workplace Wellness certified can learn more about the four Workplace Wellness pillars at our Healthy KC Networking Forum. We’ve moved the date to May 11, 7:30 a.m. at CommunityAmerica Credit Union’s Hickman Mills Community Access Center, 11501 Blue Ridge Blvd. First up: Enterprise Community Involvement, which focuses on social responsibility. Hear how business leaders in our region engage with the local community and how it impacts their business and the health of their employees. Please RSVP.