KC Chamber Officers’ Terms Extended for One Year

With uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic and the future state of the economy, the KC Chamber Board has opted for continuity in leadership.

New officer and Board member terms begin November 1 every year. But this year, the Board approved extending the terms of Chamber officers for another year. The decision was made at the Chamber’s October Board meeting.

Carolyn Watley will continue as Board Chair through October 2021. Ramin Cherafat will continue as Incoming Chair; Mark Garrett as Vice Chair; Lisa Ginter as Treasurer; and Gordon Lansford as Immediate Past Chair.

“Keeping Chamber leadership as it’s been through this tumultuous year will allow us to be more effective, capitalizing on our officers’ experience as we move into the unknown that is 2021,” says Joe Reardon, KC Chamber President & CEO. “This will allow the Chamber to keep moving forward with continuity and focus.”

The Chamber has a long-term commitment to inclusivity on its Board of Directors. This year, 32 percent of Board members are women, up from 28 percent in 2018; 23 percent of Board members are minority, up from 11 percent in 2018.

New three-year-term Board members elected for 2021 include:

• Rick Armstrong, KC Metropolitan Crime Commission
• Billy Douglass, HCA MidAmerica Division
• David Frantze, Stinson LLC
• Phillip Gaskin, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
• Dr. Faisal Khan, Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center
• Deeanne King, T-Mobile
• Pastor Ron Lindsay, Concord Fortress of Hope Church
• Matt Marino, Saint Luke’s
• Kevin McIntosh, Kansas City Southern
• Dean Newton, Delta Dental
• Gayle Packer, Terracon Consultants, Inc.
• Dred Scott, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kansas City
• Kenny Southwick, Cooperating School Districts of Greater Kansas City
• Qiana Thomason, Health Forward Foundation
• Nicole Van Denabeele, Bank Midwest
• Eric Wollerman, Honeywell FM&T

One-year Board appointments were approved for:

• Andrew Dowis – Mr. K Award Winner – Pro Athlete
• Doug Boessen – Chair’s Appointment  - Garmin
• Thalia Cherry – Chair’s Appointment – Cherry Co.
• Charlie Shields – Chair’s Appointment  - Truman Medical Centers
• Demetrius Peterson – Centurions Fall Cohort Chair – Husch Blackwell
• Jessica Blubaugh – Centurions Spring Cohort Chair– Kansas City Sports Commission & Foundation
• Ellie Webb – genKC Chair – Honeywell FM&T

Chair Watley and the other Chamber officers will be featured in the organization’s Annual Dinner meeting on November 24 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Due to the pandemic, the 133rd Annual Dinner will be held virtually, with reduced prices and open to non-Chamber members. The Kansas Citian of the Year will be announced, and featured speakers are Heidi Gardner, actress and Saturday Night Live cast member from Kansas City, MO; and Aaron Thomas, producer and award-winning television and film writer for Friday Night Lights, CSI:NY, and S.W.A.T. from Kansas City, KS.

To register to attend, click here.