Your Chamber at Work - March 21, 2022

FROM THE KC CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT AND CEO

With an unemployment rate of 3.3 percent and more than 98,000 job postings (at last report), many of our member businesses are finding it hard to find the right talent.

How about considering a veteran? That’s the focus of the Chamber’s Thursday workshop, “Tapping Today’s Talent: Accessing the Veteran Talent Pool.”

Kansas City is located at the epicenter of some of the US military‘s strongest and most prestigious military installations, and veterans bring with them years of exemplary training, work ethic, and skills that translate effectively to the private and public sector. At the workshop, you’ll hear from businesses already implementing veteran hiring practices as well as from veterans in the workforce. This workshop will also provide information on readily available resources to help businesses begin to access this important talent pool.

This is the first in a series of workshops designed to help business recognize non-traditional talent pipelines. It’s brought to you by our Workforce Development Initiative and Military & Veterans Affairs Committee (MAC).

Workforce development is one of the Chamber’s strategic priorities, and our Workforce Development Task Force is focusing on a number of solutions to the workforce problem we’re facing now and will be facing in the future.

The KC Chamber’s Military and Veterans Affairs Committee (MAC) is committed to setting the national standard for civil-military relationships and developing a network of high-quality employees transitioning from military to civilian service. The Chamber’s MAC is working to better connect business and the military for the purpose of military recognition, veteran job placement and advocacy to strengthen our area military interests. Members of MAC are businesses and organizations actively engaged in advancing the region’s military assets and supporting the job placement of transitioning service members and their spouses. MAC regularly supports hiring events, jobs fairs, and transitional service programs, and connects businesses and community members to military and veteran resources.

Thursday’s workshop on veteran hiring will be held from 8 to 9 a.m. in the KC Chamber Boardroom, located on the east side of Union Station’s Grand Hall. Click here to register.

We hope to see you there!

APPLY FOR SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR!

Time is running out to apply for 2022 Small Business of the Year. The deadline is tomorrow, March 22. The top small business receives the coveted Mr. K Award, named for Ewing Kauffman. Applicants are judged on their growth or sustainability, strong employee relations, a record of giving back to the community, and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Apply here! All applicants will be featured in our Candidates’ Showcase on April 21, then the judges will select the Top 10 Small Businesses. It’s not just Small Business of the Year. We also recognize winners of the following Specialty Awards: The Emerging Business Award, the Small Business Equity Award, the Weida Award for International Small Business of the Year, and the Legacy of Kansas City Award. Our Presenting Sponsors are Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City and Evergy. Our CEO Sponsor is Honeywell. Our Candidates’ Showcase Presenting Sponsor is American Century Investments. Our Top 10 Announcement Sponsor is UMB Bank. Our Top 10 Reception Sponsor is Bank Midwest. Our Awards Luncheon Presenting Sponsor is Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Our Executive Sponsor is CommunityAmerica Credit Union. Our Partner Sponsor is H&R Block. Our Associate Sponsors are Arvest Bank, Bank of Blue Valley, Country Club Bank, Enterprise Bank & Trust, Mazuma Credit Union, Menlo, and US Bank.

NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORKING: CRUX KC

Our next Neighborhood Networking is at Crux KC, this Friday, March 25, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. This marketing firm calls itself Kansas City’s first “un-agency.” You can find out why and learn why they’re growing in KC and other markets when you join us this Friday at Crux’s Crossroads location, 2100 Central, Suite 21. Neighborhood Networking is free for Chamber members and $15 for non-members. Register here. The KC Chamber's 2022 overall networking sponsors are Delta Dental and Mazuma Credit Union. Neighborhood Networking sponsors are Unbound, Bardavon Health Innovations and Kansas City Current.

HEALTHY KC BREAKFAST AND VENDOR EXPO

Join us in-person March 29, for the 7th Annual Healthy KC Breakfast and Vendor Expo, 8 to 10 a.m. at Hy-Vee Arena, 1800 Genessee in the West Bottoms. Begin your journey to being a Healthy KC Certified Workplace while celebrating this year’s theme: Reflection, Resiliency, and Recovery. Look back at what we’ve learned from two years of COVID, then look ahead to how we can recover and use these lessons to strengthen us. We’ll also kick off the Healthy KC Workplace Wellness Certification. This certification recognizes employers for innovation and excellence in promoting a culture of health and wellness in the workplace. Registration for Chamber members is $25; it’s $35 for non-members. Register here. Thank you to our 2022 Healthy KC Sponsors. The Healthy KC Presenting Sponsor is Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City. Our Premier Sponsor is Lockton Companies.

FRIENDSHIPS IN BLACK AND WHITE: CAN WE REALLY HAVE INTERRACIAL FRIENDSHIPS? AN EWLC NETWORKING EVENT

The Executive Women’s Leadership Council is exploring friendships and who is in our personal networks. Join the EWLC and other women for Friendships in Black and White: Can We Really Have Interracial Friendships? This free networking event is March 31, 8:30 to 10 a.m. in the Chamber Board Room, on the first floor of Union Station.  Nicole Jacobs-Silvey, President and Founder of Connection Coach KC, and Lindsay Jarquio, Director of Leadership Development at the KC Chamber, lead us through a candid conversation about what many call social segregation. Explore this topic and hear from guest speakers who share their experiences. The interactive session is designed for networking and small group sharing. The Chamber’s Executive Women’s Leadership Council is sponsoring this free event. Register here. There will be a light breakfast served.