Your Chamber at Work - November 30, 2020
FROM THE KC CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT AND CEO
One of the highlights of the Chamber’s Annual Dinner meeting was the announcement that David Warm was the 2020 Kansas Citian of the Year. For the past 30 years, David has been at the helm of the Mid-America Regional Council, the Kansas City region’s metropolitan planning agency, dealing with issues ranging from transportation to energy, childcare to the environment.
His leadership, wisdom, and insight became even more apparent since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic as MARC worked to coordinate data and local response. I’ve worked with David for years – first as an elected official and now as head of the Chamber and have great respect for him.
In addition to his work as Executive Director of MARC, David also devotes much of his personal time to working for his community. A shining example of that is the Linwood Area Ministries Project (LAMP) which rescued and renovated the once-grand church at Linwood and 71 Highway, now housing a number of social service groups in the Ivanhoe neighborhood.
Many described him as a servant leader, as one who avoids the limelight and “lets the work speak for itself.” It was a special joy to shine the spotlight on him last Tuesday afternoon. He deserves it.
Click here to see what others had to say about our Kansas Citian of the Year.
Congratulations, David! You deserve it.
PUNDITS AND PILSNERS
The KC Chamber and the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce are proud to bring you our annual Pundits and Pilsners event, Tuesday, December 1, 3 to 5 p.m. There is still time to register. This year’s guests include political gurus Neil Newhouse of Public Opinion Strategies, Patrick Miller from the University of Kansas, and others. You’ll hear their perspectives on what the new year will bring for Kansas and our country. To register, email Ava Delsemme at adelsemme@kcchamber.com.
WELCOMING KC PLAN KICKOFF
Immigrants have a multibillion-dollar impact on our local economy each year. Join the KC Chamber, Welcoming America, and about 40 additional local partnering organizations as we unveil the Greater Kansas City Welcoming Plan, Friday, December 4, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. We’ve spent the past year and a half creating the Welcoming KC Plan with stakeholders across the Metro. This will be the framework as we work to achieve designated Welcoming City status for the region. By welcoming immigrants, refugees, and other newcomers to KC, we are helping our community grow and thrive – and strengthening our workforce. Register here for this inspiring virtual event. Thanks to our Presenting Sponsors CommunityAmerica Credit Union, Evergy, T-Mobile, and Hallmark. Thanks also to our Event Sponsor REACH Healthcare Foundation.
WOMEN TOGETHER: POWER OF COMMUNITY AND SISTERHOOD
Join the Chamber’s Executive Women’s Leadership Council, Small Business Programming, and some of KC’s strongest women advocates, influencers and disruptors for Women Together: Power of Community and Sisterhood, Tuesday, December 15, 3 to 4:15 p.m. Lauren Conaway of InnovateHER moderates a panel of KC women who discuss the immeasurable personal and professional impact of joining or creating your own sisterhood. With many women pushing pause on their careers as they navigate childcare and caregiving during the pandemic, connection is more important than ever. Register here for this free event. Panelists include Klassie Alcine of KC Common Good, Allision Berey of M:CALIBRATE, Thalia Cherry of Cherry Co., Julie Pierce of Henderson Engineers, Sherry Turner of OneKC for Women, and Kelly Wilson of Weave Gotcha Covered. Thanks to Bank Midwest and KPMG for their help with this event.
HEALTHY KC WORKPLACE WELLNESS CERTIFICATION
The Chamber’s Healthy KC initiative looks to honor and recognize those employers that make their team’s health and wellness a priority. The Healthy KC Workplace Wellness Certification examines the actions your organization takes to support health and wellness across five Pillars of Wellness: healthy eating, active living, tobacco cessation, behavioral health, and work-life integration. To apply, click here. You have until December 31 to complete your application.