Your Chamber at Work - July 10, 2023

FROM THE KC CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT AND CEO

Thinking about dipping your toes into an international market? Come to our Heartland Export Accelerator (HEA) Public Showcase this week to learn from three HEA graduates about their plans to expand globally.

HEA is an eight week program that will help you develop a fully-vetted, comprehensive strategic export plan. During the eight weeks, you’ll learn from international financial industry, supply chain, legal, and cultural competency experts as you put together your plan for expansion. HEA is a program of our World Trade Center Kansas City.

This Wednesday, July 12 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., three graduates of HEA will tell their stories and participate in a panel moderated by Joshua Kaplan, Director of the U.S. Commercial Service Kansas City. The session will be held at Plexpod Westport Commons, 300 East 39th Street, Kansas City. Click here to register.

The three featured companies are GLMV Architecture (designing buildings, landscapes, sustainable environments, and master plans throughout the country), Angel Competition Bikinis (bespoke bikinis for power lifting and competitive athletes), and Now System, Inc., and its Tri-Ology brand (providing dental products and online consultations).

Meanwhile, we’re taking applications for our next HEA series. Click here for more information and to register. Looking for motivation? Businesses who engage in international trade weather economic downturns better and see increased profits through access to more consumers. Find out more this Wednesday at Plexpod!

CREATING HEALTHY WORK ENVIRONMENTS

Learn how to create a healthy work environment for your employees at our next Healthy KC networking Forum. 

Even after the rise of hybrid working, employees are still spending a large portion of their time in the office.  Creating a healthy physical work environment is critical to employee physical and mental wellbeing.  On Thursday, July 20, from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m., network and learn from a panel of regional business leaders how they cultivate their work environment and how it impacts their business and the health of their employees. 

The networking forum will be held at Garmin, 1200 East 151st Street in Olathe.  Click here to register and learn how to help your employees thrive. Healthy KC is presented in partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City.

GROW YOUR NETWORK

According to the Harvard Business Review, in today’s world, networking is a necessity. “A mountain of research shows that professional networks lead to more job and business opportunities, broader and deeper knowledge, improved capacity to innovate, faster advancement, and greater status and authority.”

You’ll learn to love networking at the KC Chamber’s Neighborhood Networking. On Friday, July 28 it will be held at Park University, from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. at the Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center, 8502 NW River Park Drive in Kansas City. It’s free for Chamber members and you can register here

Park University was founded in 1875 on land donated by George S. Park, starting in the stone hotel Park owned on the bluffs overlooking the Missouri River. The symbol of Park University – Mackay Hall with its iconic clock tower – was built starting in 1886, built with the help of students who quarried, transported, and cut the limestone used in its building. Today, Park boasts two residential campuses, campus centers across the U.S., and over 60 online degrees.

And don’t forget this Friday’s Neighborhood Networking with Determination Incorporated from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. at Trades CoWork, 1701 Troost Avenue, KCMO. If you haven’t registered yet, here’s the link.

With thanks to our overall networking sponsors, Delta Dental and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, as well as our 2023 Neighborhood Networking sponsors Rock CFO, Southwest Airlines & Unbound.

THE STORIES OF KANSAS CITY ARE DIVERSE

KCUR’s renowned storyteller, Suzanne Hogan, is the featured speaker at the KC Chamber’s upcoming POWER of Diversity Breakfast, Wednesday, July 26, starting at 7:30 a.m. at the Muehlebach Tower of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown Hotel, 1213 Wyandotte, KCMO. Suzanne is the senior producer for KCUR Studios and the creator/host of the podcast “A People’s History of Kansas City,” spotlighting KC’s everyday heroes and visionaries.

We’ll also be presenting our annual Diversity awards, including Lockton Companies as our Champion of Diversity and KC Scholars as our Nonprofit Champion of Diversity. ACE Awards (for mid- to senior-level diverse executives) will be given to Jackie Nguyen – Café Ca Phe; Dr. Ronald Knight-Beck – Kansas City Art Institute; and Godfrey Riddle – ArtsKC. You’ll hear their stories at the breakfast.

We’ll also celebrate Welcoming KC and recognize the contributions of immigrants and refugees as Kansas City prepares to become a Certified Welcoming City.

Join us July 26 by registering here. And many thanks to our Presenting Diversity Sponsor, CommunityAmerica Credit Union.

NETWORK WITH TRADE PROFESSIONALS

Whether you’re a seasoned expert in international trade or are just starting to think globally, our World Trade Center’s Talking Trade networking event is perfect for you.

It’s free and will give you an opportunity to connect both with peers and expert international service providers.

Talking Trade will be held at Denton’s, located in American Century Investments, 4520 Main Street, Suite #1100, KCMO, on Wednesday, August 9 from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. Space is limited so register now.

This event is brought to you by: World Trade Center - Kansas City, the Heartland Black Chamber, and Dentons.