Your Chamber at Work - May 17, 2021

FROM THE KC CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT AND CEO

It’s “Shark Tank – Kansas City Style” – and you’re invited.

The Chamber’s annual Small Business Celebration is in full swing, and our Virtual Candidates’ Showcase is next on the schedule. Please join us as the local small businesses vying for the 2021 Mr. K Award show off their wares and services.

Candidates for the Mr. K Award and the title of 2021 Small Business of the Year will each have five minutes to present their businesses and then take questions from our anonymous judges. It will be a fast-paced, Shark Tank style virtual event.

The Showcase will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. over two days – Tuesday, May 25, and Wednesday May 26.

Click here to register for day 1; click here to register for day 2.

The Chamber’s Small Business Celebration is, I think, one of the most enjoyable events of our calendar year. It’s great to get to know many of the outstanding small businesses throughout our area, so I hope you’ll join us for the Virtual Candidates’ Showcase.

VIRTUAL NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORKING: SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Have your questions ready and your coffee cup full for our upcoming virtual Neighborhood Networking free event Friday, May 21, 9 to 10 a.m. We welcome Michael Barrera, District Director at the Small Business Administration. You’ll hear updates on small business relief, what’s next as more and more of us are vaccinated, and you’ll be able to connect with your fellow Chamber members. Register now. Thanks to the KC Chamber's 2021 Neighborhood Networking Sponsors are Menlo and Unbound, and the 2021 overall networking sponsors are Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, Delta Dental, and Mazuma.

DIVERSE VOICES MATTER: WOMEN ON BOARDS OF DIRECTORS

Nearly one in ten boards of directors have no women leadership. Learn how to change that and why it will help your business thrive. Join the KC Chamber as we welcome some of KC’s most successful and well-known women business and civic leaders for Diverse Voices Matter: Women on Boards of Directors on June 9, 2 to 3:15 p.m. Participants include Karen Daniel, Member of the Kansas City Royals Ownership Group, 2020 ATHENA Award Recipient and retired Black & Veatch CFO; Wendy Doyle, President & CEO of United WE; Luann Feehan, President & CEO of Nonprofit Connect; and Nicole Jacobs-Silvey, President & Founder of Connection Coach KC. Register now for this free virtual event. Special thanks to our Women’s Leadership Presenting Sponsors Bank Midwest and KPMG.

CONFIDENCE RETURNING FOR AIR TRAVELERS

In the Aviation survey, 59 percent said employees at their company can travel now with adequate reason, while 29 percent said no one in their company was currently traveling for business. Another 12 percent said travel restrictions existed previously but were no longer in place.

The use of remote work technology during the pandemic seems to be having an impact: 51 percent said remote work has decreased the likelihood of future travel for business.

For more results from our Aviation Survey, click here.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION WORKSHOP: OVERCOMING UNCONSCIOUS BIAS

Join the KC Chamber and Blue Springs Chamber as we co-present the latest in our diversity and inclusion workshop series: Overcoming Unconscious Bias, June 22, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Register here for this free workshop. Recognizing, overcoming, and learning to avoid implicit biases in business interactions is essential to creating a strong and diverse workforce. Implicit bias counselor Henry E. Lyons will teach the four steps people and businesses should take to manage implicit bias. Thank you to our 2021 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Sponsors.  Our Diversity & Inclusion Workshop Series Presenting Sponsor is Commerce Bank. Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Presenting Sponsors are CommunityAmerica Credit Union, Evergy and Hallmark.