Your Chamber at Work - August 14, 2023

FROM THE KC CHAMBER'S PRESIDENT AND CEO

One of the KC Chamber’s most important roles is that of advocate for Greater Kansas City business and the region as a whole. That work is at all levels of government:  local, state, and federal.

This week, our focus is on our federal elected representatives as we host representatives from our U.S. Senate and House delegations. We call it “Spotlight Kansas City” and its purpose is to highlight our region’s successes and priorities. Our audience is comprised of staff members who serve those representatives.

This year, we’ll be hosting key staff members from the offices of all four U.S. Senators (Missouri and Kansas) and from our two states’ House delegation. Our agenda for the three days they’re with us is wide-ranging, covering everything from transportation to health care to Kansas City’s plans for the 2026 World Cup. We’ll talk about efforts to increase access to capital for minority- and women-owned small business, provide a snapshot of the bistate workforce system, and offer a panel of local chiefs of police to talk about crime and violence prevention. Their three days in Kansas City will be packed full of information.

When they head back to DC from KC, we want to make sure they take with them a deep understanding of our community’s hopes and needs, of who we are and where we’re going. The aides and chiefs of staff, after all, play critical roles in the offices of the Senators and Representatives whom they serve.

They’ll go home tired, but with an intensive education in the community they serve. And that’s a good thing.

ALLYSHIP ACTION PLAN PART 1

The KC Chamber has partnered with AllyLab on this year’s free DEI workshops. On Tuesday, August 22, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the KC Chamber Board Room at Union Station, you can use a cultural intelligence framework and self-assessment to hone in on areas for improvement and activation. This first Action Plan workshop is a pre-requisite for the next one. Please register so we can save you a seat. Hope to see you there. Thank you to our DEI sponsors:  Presenting Diversity Sponsor CommunityAmerica Credit Union and Allyship Series Presenting Sponsors Evergy and Hallmark. Our Cornerstone Sponsors are American Century Investments, Bayer, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, JE Dunn Construction, Lockton, REACH Healthcare Foundation, Saint Luke’s Health System, T-Mobile, The University of Kansas Health System.

WHERE MEMBERS PASS THE MIC

Connect with KC Chamber members and the Chamber staff who support our programs and committees at the next Member Standup! It is high-energy networking that you won’t be able to sit down for. Member Standup is held in the KC Chamber’s Board Room at Union Station, 30 W Pershing Road, next door to Pierponts, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Bring your marketing materials, and get logo visibility when you register by August 24. Practice your professional speaking skills, and be a great listener during Members @ the Mic. Please RSVP for this members-only event, which is sponsored by Delta Dental and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City.

CENTURIONS INFORMATION SESSION

Get to know more about the Centurions program, including how to navigate the selection process, how to build a standout application, and program requirements. Find out if this is the right leadership program for you! Ask questions in a relaxed environment from current and former Centurions and the program director. This session will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on September 14 at Spark Coworking, 1475 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO. It is free, but please register. For questions, email Lindsay Jarquio, jarquio@kcchamber.com.

ATHENA AWARDS RECEPTION

Coming soon will be the announcement of the 2023 ATHENA Leadership Award recipient and ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award recipient. But you can already register for the September 20 reception in their honor. From 5 to 7 p.m., at 1515 Wyandotte St., the KC Chamber will present the ATHENA Awards in Greater Kansas City. The awards are presented to individuals for their professional excellence, community service, and for actively assisting women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills. Thank you to our ATHENA Presenting Sponsors, KPMG and UMB, and Leadership Sponsors, McAnany, Van Cleave & Phillips, and McCownGordon Construction.