Your Chamber at Work February 13 2023

FROM THE KC CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT AND CEO

The Chamber’s offices will be closed on Wednesday, and we couldn’t be happier.

Union Station will be the focal point for Wednesday's Super Bowl Victory Parade and with the hordes of people expected for the celebration, we figured closing the offices and letting our folks work from home was the prudent decision. (Last time, it took some of our staffers two hours to get out of the parking garage!) The parade will start off at noon Wednesday, finishing with an hour-long rally in front of Union Station. The Sports Commission is releasing final parade details this afternoon.

And what a game! The Chiefs come-from-behind win was amazing, heart-stopping, and absolutely fantastic. Like most of you, quarterback Patrick Mahomes limping off the field at the end of the first half made me a little sick to my stomach, but he and the team persevered with an incredible second half performance.

Of course, I would have preferred a blowout victory by the Chiefs (easier on the nerves) but the Eagles and their star quarterback didn’t let that happen. Great respect for Jalen Hurts and the entire Philly team.

It was one of the best Super Bowl games ever, and our Kansas City Chiefs emerged as the winners. Kudos to Head Coach Andy Reid, quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the staff, front office, owner Clark Hunt and everyone involved.

Today the whole town is smiling. Me, too.

SMALL BUSINESS CELEBRATION

Are you the next Small Business of the Year? The next Legacy of Kansas City Award winner? The next Emerging Business of the Year? Apply for these and other Specialty Awards for the 2023 Small Business Celebration. The applications are open through March 15. This event has grown to be one of the biggest small business celebrations in the country over the past 30+ years. If you have questions about your application, make sure you attend one of our Application Workshops on February 28 or March 2. Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor Evergy and our CEO Level Sponsor, Kansas City National Security Campus managed by Honeywell FM&T. Executive Sponsors are Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City and CommunityAmerica Credit Union.

HEARTLAND EXPORT ACCELERATOR INFORMATION SESSION

Ready to expand into the global market? Ready to do it with one-on-one help from experts every step of the way? Learn if the Heartland Export Accelerator is a good fit for your small business at our information session, Friday, February 17, 9 to 10 a.m. in our Chamber offices on the third floor of Union Station. We’re taking applications for the second cohort of this program designed to help small businesses grow through international sales and diversify existing sales. Register today for this free info session. This program is powered by the World Trade Center Kansas City.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION ALLYSHIP WORKSHOP

Diversity and inclusion in the workplace can be more successful when there is strong allyship. The Chamber’s 2023 Diversity & Inclusion Workshop Series focuses on Allyship in the workplace. Register here as we welcome ALLY LAB for an engaging workshop on ally skills, February 28 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in our Chamber Board Room on the first floor of historic Union Station. This workshop is designed to help you create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. This event is free. Thanks to our Presenting Diversity Sponsor CommunityAmerica Credit Union, and our Allyship Series Presenting Sponsors Evergy and Hallmark.

TAKING THE LONG VIEW: EMERGING TRENDS IN REAL ESTATE

Heads up. Taking the Long View: Emerging Trends in Real Estate is now on Thursday, March 2, 3:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. in the KC Chamber Board room. There’s still time to join the Chamber and ULI Kansas City for a deep dive into the future of real estate – both residential and commercial. Hear from industry experts and analysts as they look at inflation, workforce, remote work, supply chain issues, and more. Attendees will receive a copy of the Emerging Trends in Real Estate United States and Canada 2023 report and hear how KC markets will respond. This event is $45 for Chamber members and $60 for non-members.